SLOVAKIA WILL WEIGH REQUEST FOR ARRIA MEETING ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000611 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2010 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNSC ZI LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA WILL WEIGH REQUEST FOR ARRIA MEETING ON ZIMBABWE REF: SECSTATE 155826 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence R. Silverman for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Political Director Roman Buzek told DCM on November 14 that Slovakia is seriously considering reftel request, although he also raised some issues that could affect Slovakia's decision. Buzek spoke with the UK Ambassador to Slovakia about the same matter on November 12 and received information from the Slovak DCM in Washington about his meeting at the Department on November 13. He said he understood the importance of this matter to us and the UK. ¶2. (C) Buzek appreciated the proposed timing and the rationale of having a small country with no colonial past in Africa organize the meeting. He also appreciated that organizing an Arria meeting on Zimbabwe would underscore Slovakia's engagement of human rights issues. ¶3. (C) Buzek expressed concern, however, that Slovakia's limited know-how on African issues, reduced staff in New York as their Security Council tenure winds down might, and ambition to be elected to the Human Rights Council in 2008 might dissuade his government from agreeing to organize the meeting. Buzek promised to get back to us soon. VALLEE