SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF EU DEMARCHE ON SEIF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000491 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA, EUR/NCE, DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017 TAGS: EUN JA KDEM PHUM PREL SA LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF EU DEMARCHE ON SEIF REF: STATE 119436 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d) ¶1. (c) DCM, accompanied by PolEcon Chief, delivered reftel demarche to Head of the Asia and Oceania division at the MFA, Drahomir Stos, on August 27. (Both the Director and Deputy of the Middle East Division and the head of the Human Rights office were on leave.) Stos was not familiar with the case of Seif, nor was he aware of the planned EU demarche, but said he would check on the status of the reported demarche and suggested that the Slovaks would be supportive of EU actions to draw attention to Seif's plight. With respect to a national statement, Stos explained that it was not the practice of the Ministry to comment on individual human rights' cases. The DCM provided Stos additional background on Seif, based on his personal acquaintance with him, and urged that the GOS consider making a broader statement regarding human rights issues in Syria. In a follow-up exchange, Stos confirmed Slovakia's full support for the EU demarche in Damascus, but reiterated that the GOS had no plans to issue a national statement. Comment: In light of Slovakia's plans to seek a seat on the Human Rights Council, we will raise with appropriate GOS officials the importance of adopting a more pro-active approach to individual, as well as broader, instances of human rights abuse. End Comment.) VALLEE