AMBASSADOR VALLEE WELCOME TO ADM GIAMBASTIANI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000155

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JOINT STAFF FOR VCJCS ADMIRAL GIAMBASTIANI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017
TAGS: OVIP LO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR VALLEE WELCOME TO ADM GIAMBASTIANI


Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) Admiral Giambastiani, it will be my great pleasure to
welcome you to Slovakia on March 29. This will be a rare
high-level visit for U.S. EMBASSY Bratislava, and it comes at
a critical time given the Slovak Government policies and
world-outlook. Your visit will provide an excellent
opportunity for us to highlight the ways in which we assist
and cooperate with the Slovak Armed Forces, as well as the
ways Slovakia can do more to help us and NATO in the Global
War on Terror and the struggle for a safer and more
democratic world.


2. (C) I hope that during your stay, you will emphasize the
importance of Slovak contributions to foreign missions, and
encourage them to do more. We want to build upon the recent
Slovak agreement to the ISAF request to redeploy engineering
troops from Kabul to Kandahar in order to demonstrate to the
Prime Minister and the Slovak people that Slovakia has a
significant world role to play. Slovakia has a fine military,
but one that is too rarely deployed and in too small numbers.
Similarly, after years of ambitious and successful reform of
their armed forces, the Slovaks are now decreasing their
defense budget as a percentage of GDP. It would be useful if
you could emphasize the importance of Slovakia's commitment
to NATO to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense.


3. (U) Admiral, I know that LTC Wallace has sent you a
complete scenesetter cable and organized a full and active
schedule of events for you. I am certain that your visit will
be a success and that our relations with Slovakia will
benefit. I look forward to welcoming you on March 29.
VALLEE