SLOVAKIA: FIRM ON KOSOVO ESDP MISSION; SAYING THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000623

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/RPM, IO/UNP, L/EUR, EUR/SE, EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: BH KVIR LO PREL
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: FIRM ON KOSOVO ESDP MISSION; SAYING THE
RIGHTS THINGS ON BOSNIA, DESPITE SPIRIC VISIT


Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lawrence R. Silverman


1. (C) Summary. Charge discussed Kosovo, Bosnia and Iran
with Slovak Political Director Roman Buzek on November 20.
On Kosovo, Buzek said Slovakia can accept UNSCR 1244 as the
basis for an ESDP mission in Kosovo, but complained that
"some countries" were pushing the GOS to equate participation
in ESDP with recognition. Buzek confirmed that Slovakia
planned to deploy 8 policemen to the mission, but expressed
concern that EU planning for post-December 10 was moving
slowly. Charge briefed Buzek on the recent visit of BiH High
Representative Lajcak to Washington and urged the GOS to
deliver a strong message of support for Dayton and Lajcak
during the November 22 visit of the recently-resigned Head of
the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Nikola Spiric, to
Bratislava. Buzek said the GOS would deliver the message, and
had already conveyed the same message to Belgrade. Buzek's
reassurances notwithstanding, we are not certain that
pro-Serb PM Fico will keep to this line. Buzek heads to
Tehran November 28-29. It is a long-deferred reciprocal
visit, but, given the current atmosphere in Tehran, the
Slovak embassy has not yet been able to confirm meetings or
pin down interlocutors. Buzek agreed to press the Iranians to
meet their UN and IAEA commitments. Buzek informed Charge
that, due to difficulties scheduling meetings with Members of
Congress, FM Kubis has postponed plans for a trip to
Washington D.C December 19-20. Kubis will still go to New
York City on December 17-19. End Summary.

Kosovo
--------------


2. (C) Buzek noted there is broad consensus within the EU
that an ESDP mission could be deployed under UNSCR 1244.
Regardless of UDI, which Slovakia would not recognize,
Slovakia will not block any decision on ESDP, and is firmly
committed to participating in the mission. He reiterated FM
Kubis' emphasis on the EU being prepared for UDI through an
ESDP mission. Current Slovak planning envisages the
participation of 8 policemen. (The GOS has already approved
and submitted to parliament a resolution providing for
additional contributions to KFOR -- two helicopters and
associated support new personnel will be deployed in
December.) Buzek mentioned, with some irritation, that "some
countries" (nfi) were pushing Slovakia to accept that
participation in ESDP means acceptance of UDI. Slovakia will
not recognize UDI; the two issues are not linked, he
stressed. Buzek stated confidently that under this
formulation the Slovak parliament would not object to Slovak
participation in EDSP. As for the modalities, Buzek stated a
clear preference for an UNSYG call/invitation for an
International Civilian Office mission. He suggested that an
appeal from the Kosovars for assistance could be problematic.
Harking back to well-known Slovak concerns about UDI, Buzek
recounted comments made by Swedish FM Bildt at the GAERC.
Bildt, according to Buzek, said the EU should not speak about
UDI, but about UDIs. Buzek informed Charge that FM Kubis
planned to visit Serbia and Kosovo December 2-4. Kubis would
likely meet with UNMIK and possibly KFOR officials, as well
as a Kosovar Albanian representative.

Bosnia (and Belgrade... and Moscow)
--------------

3.(C) Charge sought this meeting with Buzek because of the
November 22 visit of recently-resigned Head of the Bosnian
Council of Ministers Spiric. He expressed our concern over
the signal the visit could send, just as EU High
Representative Lajcak is fighting against Spiric's
obstructionism. Charge reviewed the recent visit of Bosnia
HiRep Lajcak to Washington and reiterated our strong support
for Lajcak's efforts to implement Dayton. While we would all
prefer that Bosnia's leaders take the necessary steps on
their own, the U.S. backs Lajcak fully in the use of the Bonn
Powers if they do not. Buzek stated that Lajcak enjoys
Slovakia's full backing -- his failure would be "our
failure." Buzek agreed with Charge's analysis, adding that
the "European perspective" may not be sufficiently compelling
to the parties to do what is ultimately in their interest.
Meanwhile, Belgrade and Moscow are exerting strong, negative
pressures. Buzek is worried that Kostunica may see in
Republika Srpska an opportunity to recoup in some fashion the
loss of Kosovo. For Moscow, Bosnia is merely a pawn in a
much larger game.



4. (C) Charge urged the GOS to use the Spiric visit to
reaffirm a message of support for a unified BiH and the
efforts of HiRep Lajcak, and to condemn efforts to link
Kosovo and Bosnia. Buzek stated unequivocally that these
themes would be conveyed by each of Spiric's interlocutors:
FM Kubis, PM Fico and FinMin Pociatek. The fragmentation of
Bosnia is in no one's interest, Buzek said, and would set a
dangerous example for Europe. Buzek explained that Spiric's
visit had been discussed almost two years ago but not
materialized. However, during a recent visit to Republika
Srbska, Czech FM Schwarzenberg encouraged Spiric to visit
both Prague and Bratislava. Buzek acknowledged the timing of
the visit is awkward given Spiric's uncertain mandate, but
claimed it would provide a useful opportunity for dialogue.
Although the GoS originally preferred a working-level visit,
he said Bratislava followed Prague's example and elevated it
to an official visit. In addition to meetings with FM Kubis
and Finance Minister Pociatek Spiric will have a private
meeting, press conference and lunch with PM Fico. Buzek
seemed confident that PM Fico would not freelance away from
the official line of strong support for the High
Representative. (Comment: Post is not as optimistic about
what Fico will say but we have made clear what line we
expect. Post will report septel on results of the visit and
any media coverage. End comment.)
SILVERMAN