Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRATISLAVA251
2007-04-26 11:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
MOD SPINS NTM-I RIGHT-SIZING AS WITHDRAWAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0028 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSL #0251 1161158 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261158Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0885 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0060 RUCJAAA/USCINCSOC MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000251
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2020
TAGS: PGOV MARR NATO IZ LO
SUBJECT: MOD SPINS NTM-I RIGHT-SIZING AS WITHDRAWAL
REF: STATE 54925
Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000251
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2020
TAGS: PGOV MARR NATO IZ LO
SUBJECT: MOD SPINS NTM-I RIGHT-SIZING AS WITHDRAWAL
REF: STATE 54925
Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Slovak MoD Frantisek Kasicky is spinning the return of
five Slovak soldiers from the NATO Training Mission in Iraq
as a withdrawal in keeping with the manifesto of the Fico
government. In fact, the soldiers (three officers and two
NCOs) were sent home after SHAPE determined they were no
longer needed in NTM-I's evolving mission. Six Slovak
officers continue to serve with MNF-I.
2. (C) In response to reftel, Post evaluates there is no/no
chance of GoS consenting to deploy additional military forces
to Iraq. The Slovak Interior Ministry has in the past
indicated it would consider a request from Iraqi counterparts
to send police trainers. We note that reftel requests such
assistance. However, the Iraqi MoI declined to take them up
on the offer and the issue has since lapsed.
3. (C) According to Slovak and USG contacts at NATO, NTM-I is
moving into a "mentoring" phase and thus requires fewer
personnel. Slovakia's NATO mission was informed by SHAPE
that in conjunction with this, the 5 Slovaks serving with
NTM-I are no longer needed. The MoD website on April 25
presented the removal of the 5 soldiers as a political
decision, in keeping with a promise in the government
manifesto to withdraw from Iraq. However, by April 26 the MoD
website contained only a factual description of the awards
the soldiers had been presented upon their return and a brief
history of Slovakia's involvement in Iraq, without discussing
why these 5 soldiers returned to Slovakia now.
4. (C) Following initial press reports, which indicated the
original MoD line that the soldiers were withdrawn in keeping
with the government's manifesto, FM Kubis's Chef de Cabinet
(please strictly protect),told DCM by email that the
portrayal of the soldiers' return as a "withdrawal" was a
"stupid situation". "The decision came as a technical one
from NATO HQ... but Minister of Defense presented it as his
political decision in order to look nice in front of the big
boss."
5. (C) DCM will be raising our dissatisfaction with the MoD's
handling of this with the Deputy Defense Minister May 2, and
Ambassador will raise the lack of prior notification or
consultation with PM Fico May 3. We will continue to
reiterate to MoD that their words are heard outside of
Slovakia as well as inside, and that there is a need to be
truthful about the situation in Iraq and Slovakia's
participation.
VALLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2020
TAGS: PGOV MARR NATO IZ LO
SUBJECT: MOD SPINS NTM-I RIGHT-SIZING AS WITHDRAWAL
REF: STATE 54925
Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe Vallee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Slovak MoD Frantisek Kasicky is spinning the return of
five Slovak soldiers from the NATO Training Mission in Iraq
as a withdrawal in keeping with the manifesto of the Fico
government. In fact, the soldiers (three officers and two
NCOs) were sent home after SHAPE determined they were no
longer needed in NTM-I's evolving mission. Six Slovak
officers continue to serve with MNF-I.
2. (C) In response to reftel, Post evaluates there is no/no
chance of GoS consenting to deploy additional military forces
to Iraq. The Slovak Interior Ministry has in the past
indicated it would consider a request from Iraqi counterparts
to send police trainers. We note that reftel requests such
assistance. However, the Iraqi MoI declined to take them up
on the offer and the issue has since lapsed.
3. (C) According to Slovak and USG contacts at NATO, NTM-I is
moving into a "mentoring" phase and thus requires fewer
personnel. Slovakia's NATO mission was informed by SHAPE
that in conjunction with this, the 5 Slovaks serving with
NTM-I are no longer needed. The MoD website on April 25
presented the removal of the 5 soldiers as a political
decision, in keeping with a promise in the government
manifesto to withdraw from Iraq. However, by April 26 the MoD
website contained only a factual description of the awards
the soldiers had been presented upon their return and a brief
history of Slovakia's involvement in Iraq, without discussing
why these 5 soldiers returned to Slovakia now.
4. (C) Following initial press reports, which indicated the
original MoD line that the soldiers were withdrawn in keeping
with the government's manifesto, FM Kubis's Chef de Cabinet
(please strictly protect),told DCM by email that the
portrayal of the soldiers' return as a "withdrawal" was a
"stupid situation". "The decision came as a technical one
from NATO HQ... but Minister of Defense presented it as his
political decision in order to look nice in front of the big
boss."
5. (C) DCM will be raising our dissatisfaction with the MoD's
handling of this with the Deputy Defense Minister May 2, and
Ambassador will raise the lack of prior notification or
consultation with PM Fico May 3. We will continue to
reiterate to MoD that their words are heard outside of
Slovakia as well as inside, and that there is a need to be
truthful about the situation in Iraq and Slovakia's
participation.
VALLEE