SLOVAKIA: FOREIGN MINISTER KUBIS ON KOSOVO AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000612 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PRA, EUR/RPM, EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: PREL LO MARR NATO KV SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: FOREIGN MINISTER KUBIS ON KOSOVO AND MISSILE DEFENSE Classified By: Ambassador Rodolphe M. Vallee for Reasons 1.4 b and d This cable contains an action request. See para 2. ¶1. (C) In a brief one-on-one meeting prior to a luncheon hosted by FM Kubis in his honor, Ambassador Vallee and FM Kubis discussed Kosovo and Missile Defense. On Kosovo, Kubis again highlighted the need for legal "cover" to facilitate an ESDP mission in the absence of a new UNSCR. Regarding Missile Defense, Kubis assured the Ambassador that MoD Kasicky's recent negative comments did not represent the official views of the GOS, which continues to be that decisions on MD assets in Poland and the Czech Republic belong to those two states. Kubis informed the Ambassador that he was planning a visit to New York and Washington in December. End Summary. Kosovo -------------- ¶2. (C) FM Kubis is pessimistic that the Troika process will yield results. As he has indicated before, Kubis would like to establish the conditions for deployment of an ESDP mission -- delinked from UDI complications -- as soon as possible. Ideally, Kubis would like the EU to approve an ESDP mission prior to December 10. Kubis said the EU needs a legal opinion (or at least a nod from the UN Secretary General) that would confirm that existing UN resolutions authorize ESDP, as well as continued UN and OSCE missions. The Europeans, Kubis said, need this legal "fig leaf" in order to move forward. Kubis inquired about the status of USG legal analysis on this issue and asked if we might be able to provide any assistance. Acknowledging strong domestic opposition to UDI, Kubis assured that even if there are fireworks in the parliament in its wake, the GOS would not create problems within the EU for the 20 or so countries which will likely recognize Kosovo. Kubis said he would stake his reputation on cooling the rhetoric and that Slovakia would remain committed to the ESDP and KFOR missions even with UDI. He added, however, that it would be very important to have a transition period, e.g., perhaps until March, before actual UDI. Action Request: Post would appreciate any guidance the Department could provide in response to FM Kubis's query regarding USG legal analysis of 1244's relevance for future missions in Kosovo. End Action Request. Missile Defense -------------- 3.(C) Ambassador Vallee told FM Kubis that the U.S. government doesn,t understand the GOS position on missile defense and that Defense Minister Kasicky's negative intervention at Noordwijk seemed like an official government position. Kubis responded that that DefMin Kasicky was freelancing only to mimic Fico,s rhetoric and that the official government position remained that of the MFA. Ambassador noted that the Bucharest agenda would likely feature Missile Defense, possibly to include a recognition of the threat and to call for work linking the U.S. system (if negotiations with the Poles and Czechs are successfully concluded) with a NATO capability so that all Allies are protected. Ambassador pointedly inquired if the Slovak position at Bucharest would be to reject any U.S. bilateral deal in favor of a NATO only deal. Kubis replied that the bilateral deals were up to the Czechs and Poles. Ambassador Vallee pointed out that Fico's complaint about lack of consultations was outdated and that we resented DefMin and PM Fico using it in the face of substantive and continuing discussions with both Russia and NATO. Ambassador also asked why Minister Kasicky had not raised his concerns with Secretary Gates when they met in Kyiv, rather than blindsiding us at the NATO Ministerial. Kubis pledged to speak with the the PM on the rhetoric and on DefMin,s freelancing. (Comment: Kubis seemed very pleased that President Gasparovic, who is strongly supportive of the Transatlantic relationship, and BRATISLAVA 00000612 002 OF 002 not Fico, would represent Slovakia at the NATO Summmit. End Comment.) U.S. Visit -------------- ¶4. (C) Following a planned visit to New York for the close of Slovakia,s tenure on the Security Council, Kubis would like to spend two days in Washington (December 19-20) to meet with USG officials and Members of Congress, particularly Representative Lantos. He told the Ambassador that he understands it would be difficult to see the Secretary, but made a point of mentioning a possible meeting SIPDIS with Under Secretary Burns. Ambassador Kacer has not yet made any formal meeting requests, he added. Kubis expressed his irritation at Lantos for having leaked to the press his letter to PM Fico regarding Slovak-Hungarian relations before the Prime Minister had seen it, and Kubis would like to express his displeasure to Lantos in person. VALLEE