SLOVAK CONCERNS ON BELARUSIAN INVITATION TO OSCE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000298 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE BO LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK CONCERNS ON BELARUSIAN INVITATION TO OSCE REF: MAY 17 EUR DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT ¶1. (SBU) Stefan Rozkopal, MFA Director for CIS and the Balkans, told DCM May 18 that Slovakia shares the U.S. opinion about not accepting the Belarusian invitation to OSCE heads of missions to visit Minsk. He agreed that the program contained no substance and no opportunities to interact with the opposition or the media. He noted, though, there is concern within the EU about an outright refusal of EU members to accept the invitation because others (such as Russia) will accept, and the government of Belarus will still be able to use the visit as a propaganda tool of legitimization. ¶2. (SBU) Rozkopal said he understood some EU members were discussing the idea of telling the GoB that the visit should be postponed entirely to give more time for preparation. VALLEE