TOUR D'HORIZON WITH NEW SLOVAK POLITICAL DIRECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000503

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR, EUR/NCE, EUR/SCE, P, IO/RHS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KCFE LO MEPP
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH NEW SLOVAK POLITICAL DIRECTOR
BUZEK


Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (C) Summary. In a cordial luncheon on September 5, DCM
and new Slovak Political Director Roman Buzek exchanged views
on Kosovo, the Middle East, CFE, and Slovakia's candidacy for
the Human Rights Council. Buzek repeated well-known Slovak
red lines on Kosovo, but confirmed that Slovakia would not,
in the event of a failure to achieve a UNSCR, block an ESDP
Mission to Kosovo. On CFE, Buzek pledged to provide the
Embassy information regarding the Slovak ratification process
within a few days. He stressed GOS insistence on full Russian
implementation of the Istanbul commitments before depositing
the instruments of ratification. Buzek raised the issue of
discussion within the EU to restart communication with Hamas,
which the DCM countered would be a serious mistake. Finally,
Buzek commented on the challenge of promoting higher levels
of foreign aid in the current political climate, and close to
home, of maintaining Foreign Ministry staffing levels in the
face of budget cuts. End Summary.


2. (C) Kosovo: While Slovakia would much prefer a UNSCR on
Kosovo, Buzek (who studied and served in Moscow) sees no
chance that the Russians will change their stance. In that
case, Slovakia cannot recognize an independent Kosovo, nor
could it participate in or even endorse an ESDP Mission
there. Slovak politicians would not countenance Slovak
participation, and Slovak troops, according to Buzek, would
not be welcome in Kosovo, in any case. That said, Slovakia
would not stand in the way of an ESDP Mission, UNSCR
sanctioned or not. Buzek briefed on the visit to Bratislava
of Troika Member Wolfgang Ischinger. In meetings with FM
Kubis and MFA State Secretary Strofova on August 31,
Ischinger stressed the need for EU unity and to prepare for
next steps in case there is no UNSCR.

3.(C) Human Rights Council: Buzek shared Slovak pique that
the Czechs had recently declared their candidacy for a seat
on the Human Rights Council (HRC) after the Slovaks had
announced their intentions several months ago. According to
Buzek, the Czechs are arguing that as holder of the EU
Presidency in 2009, it should also have a seat on the HRC.
Pointing out that the EU term was only for six months, while
the HRC position lasts three years, Buzek expressed
frustration that the Slovaks had not been able to convince
their erstwhile countrymen to stand down, noting that, on
occasion Slovaks and Czechs revert to their "competitive
ways." Buzek fears that the competition between the two
could result in the election of the other two competitors,
Serbia and Ukraine. Buzek also commented that the Croatians
are giving the Czechs a run for their money as a candidate
for the UNSC seat the Slovaks are vacating. He was not at
all certain the Czechs would prevail.

4.(C) CFE: Buzek reiterated FM Kubis's earlier call for a
concrete, reciprocal plan to address the ongoing stalemate
with Russia on CFE. DCM underscored that the U.S. plan met
those criteria: it is reciprocal through the process, with
scheduled benchmarks. Buzek expressed appreciation for our
plan and said that Slovakia would insist on full Russian
implementation of Istanbul commitments before being able to
deposit the articles of ratification; DCM confirmed that this
was precisely the U.S. plan.


5. (C) Middle East: Buzek raised (somewhat apologetically)
the issue of pressure within the EU to restart communication
with Hamas. DCM countered strongly that this would be a
serious mistake. Hamas was not willing to show any
flexibility on the issue of dealing with Israel, and
President Abbas and PM Fayyad need international support now
more than ever. Restarting talks with a violent,
uncompromising Hamas would only damage prospects for progress
between the Israelis and Palestinians. Buzek said he
understood and agreed with our stance.


6. (C) Slovak Foreign Aid: Buzek bemoaned the low level of
funding for SlovakAid and expressed doubt that it would rise
anytime soon. MFA officials had hoped that sharp EU
criticism of the low ratio of aid to GDP would sway the
government. However, neither the government nor the public
appear to feel an obligation to allocate money for projects
overseas. Slovaks still think of themselves as aid
recipients, not donors. According to the government's budget
plan, funding for SlovakAid is slated to rise to 400 million
SK (approximately 16.2 million USD) in a few years (it is now
166 million, or approximately 6.7 million USD),but Buzek
said he would be quite surprised if that were the case.
Buzek reacted positively to the Embassy's willingness to

complement the GOS's projects with our small grants in
promotion of transformational diplomacy.


7. (C) MFA Staff Cuts: MFA has cut 81 positions in response
to Prime Minister Fico's call for a 20 percent
across-the-board reduction in personnel in all ministries.
The MFA reductions don't approach twenty percent (a full 20
percent would be about 230 positions),but it has cut a
higher percentage than any other ministry. Buzek says the
MFA hopes this will shield it from further pressure from
Fico. None of the eliminated positions are in embassies, and
approximately 50 are positions that have not been filled for
years.


8. (C) Bio Note: Buzek is a forthcoming and collegial
interlocutor, though lacking the dynamism of his predecessor,
Miro Lajcak. He was always extremely cooperative as Director
of IO affairs, including the UNSC.
VALLEE