SLOVAK MFA SUPPORTS EU POSITION ON KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000016 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR FOR A/S FRIED AND DAS DICARLO E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2011 TAGS: PREL PGOV SR LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK MFA SUPPORTS EU POSITION ON KOSOVO Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) Summary. In advance of the January 12 NATO Political Directors meeting and the January 26 NATO Ministerial discussions on Kosovo, Ambassador discussed Slovakia's position with MFA PolDir Miro Lajcak on January 10. Lajcak told us that the MFA completed a Kosovo strategy paper to present to President Gasparovic and PM Fico last week, and he welcomed our discussion before FM Kubis makes the pitch to his political bosses. Lajcak told Ambassador that he and FM Kubis will travel to Belgrade Jan. 14-15 for meetings with PM Kostunica and President Tadic. Lajcak was pessimistic about eliciting greater flexibility on Belgrade's part, but said the effort had to be made. He is very much looking forward to his meetings with A/S Fried and DAS DiCarlo. End summary. ¶2. (C) Lajcak told us the GOS position on Kosovo is based on the premise Slovakia has to perform as a responsible ally within the EU and NATO and that its obligations dictate the proper role on Kosovo. Slovakia, Lajcak said, has to help get the EU united behind the Ahtisaari plan. EU disunity presents a great danger, an invitation to Russian opposition to a resolution and Moscow's pursuit of its "very selfish interests." From his soundings with EU colleagues, Lajcak concluded that Spain and Romania would never go against an otherwise unified EU. He does not think that Greece would either, but has not talked to them lately. Lajcak's bottom line is that the EU should not be sending mixed signals, and there is no good reason for it not to reach a positive consensus. The GOS sees the end game in June, so that some could say the proper "negotiations" had taken place. The EU and "especially" the U.S. should use the time until then to work on the Russians. Failure would only create a new "frozen conflict" for Europe. CONVINCING THE PRIME MINISTER -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador informed Lajcak that PM Fico told the British Ambassador Jan. 9 that, while he continued to have different personal view, he would support the MFA-devised position on Kosovo. Lajcak (strictly protect) appeared pleasantly surprised, but remains unsure of the PM's eventual stance. President Gasparovic could be persuaded, and PM Fico had never really opposed the MFA on Kosovo, but Lajcak remains concerned that Fico could be susceptible to Russian persuasion at crunch time, due to his personal nationalist views and emphasis on playing to a strictly local audience. Out of concern for the PM's "all politics is local" approach, the MFA is researching Slovak public attitudes on Kosovo and support for Serbia. KOSOVO AND HUNGARIAN-SLOVAKS -------------- ¶4. (C) Ironically, Lajcak noted, backing the Serbs on autonomy vice independence for Kosovo would actually create a greater precedent for those in the Slovak-Hungarian community who seek autonomy from Bratislava, the great nightmare of Slovak nationalists. Lajcak has argued to the nationalists that their interests would be ill-served by opposition to Kosovar independence and support for substantial autonomy. (Comment. In meetings with Emboffs, leaders of the Slovak National Party (SNS),partners in the governing coalition, habitually equate the situation of ethnic Albanians in Serbia/Kosovo with the situation of ethnic-Hungarians in southern Slovakia. Although the SNS is opposed to Kosovo independence on principle, its leaders have told Emboffs they will accept what they view as the inevitable result. End comment.) VALLEE