SLOVAKIA CAUTIOUS ON LEBANON BORDER MISSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000518 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE, NEA/ELA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL SY IS LE EUN SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA CAUTIOUS ON LEBANON BORDER MISSION PROPOSAL REF: STATE 128335 Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) PolEcon chief discussed reftel with Deputy Director of the Department of Africa, Middle East and Asia, Klara Novotna, on September 13. Novotna was very appreciative of the timing of the demarche, and pledged to convey our points to the Slovak Mission in Brussels prior to the September 14 PSC meeting. Novotna's comments made clear that Slovak thinking tracks very closely with that of the U.S. Novotna said that while the EU is united in the view that a border mission's main focus should be to support stability and democracy in Lebanon, some EU members see such a mission as a means of promoting Syrian-EU dialogue. Slovakia also would like to promote such dialogue, but there are "other tools" available. Now is not the right time to speed up engagement with Syria, Novotna cautioned, and we must avoid sending the wrong signals. Characterizing the Slovak position as more cautious than most, Novotna said that FM Kubis's discussions with his Israeli counterpart and Slovak participation in UNSC discussions on Lebanon and Syria were key elements shaping the GOS approach. Post will follow up with Novotna, as well as officials from the MFA's EU Directorate, regarding the September 14 meeting. VALLEE