Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LJUBLJANA188
2007-03-28 09:51:00
SECRET
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:  

SLOVENIA: MEDIA RESPONSE AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

Tags:  KPAO MARR PREL NATO PGOV MASS SI 
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VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLJ #0188/01 0870951
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 280951Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5670
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHPG/AMEMBASSY PRAGUE 0468
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0369
S E C R E T LJUBLJANA 000188 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR SSADLE, EUR/PPD FOR CMUDGETT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017
TAGS: KPAO MARR PREL NATO PGOV MASS SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: MEDIA RESPONSE AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
EFFORTS ON U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE

REF: A. SECSTATE 30480


B. SECSTATE 26910

S E C R E T LJUBLJANA 000188

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR SSADLE, EUR/PPD FOR CMUDGETT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2017
TAGS: KPAO MARR PREL NATO PGOV MASS SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: MEDIA RESPONSE AND PUBLIC DIPLOMACY
EFFORTS ON U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE

REF: A. SECSTATE 30480


B. SECSTATE 26910


1. (C) Summary. Slovenian media coverage of U.S. missile
defense plans in Poland and Czech Republic has been generally
restrained, with numerous straightforward, factual articles,
but, as is typical, a handful of acerbic anti-American
commentaries from Slovenia's skeptical intellectual elite. A
March 23 DVC featuring Director of the Office of Policy and
Regional Affairs Anita Friedt was widely covered and
generated positive, straightforward articles to counter
negative commentaries. Post is receiving positive personal
feedback from Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, who tell
EmbOffs that Slovenia is currently in the thick of
formulating an official policy on the topic. That said, the
GOS should be expected to come out on the issue wherever
European Union consensus lands. End Summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Media Coverage Mixed On Missile Defense
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2. (U) Media coverage of U.S. missile defense plans has been
muted over the last month, with early coverage coming in the
form of straightforward reports and more recent coverage
coming via commentary. Leading daily Delo carried stories
headlined "Warsaw Expects Bush" indicating that President
Bush was likely to travel to Poland in June to sign a final
agreement on missile defense, and "Shield Turned Toward
Russia" that highlighted Poland's demand for the U.S. to
assess potential damage that could be caused by missiles and
to help persuade Russian leadership that the missiles would
not be aimed at their country. National daily Dnevnik
reported "Poland Officially for Shield Negotiations" while
under the headline "Kremlin Does Not Believe Pentagon," Delo
reported Russian responses to the news. National papers also
carried coverage of NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop

Scheffer's statements that missile defense plans may not
endanger NATO unity.


3. (U) Delo carried two commentaries by Damijan Slabe. One
questions why Russia is not included in the shield (given
that Iran is the "real threat") and saying that Russia's
inclusion would "persuade Russians and several skeptical
European allies that nothing is hidden behind all this." His
second commentary criticizes the U.S. move as destabilizing,
saying that the U.S. is annulling nuclear rules. He calls
for nuclear nonproliferation agreements to be "observed -
equally for all." Dnevnik carried a commentary that said the
EU is now stuck in a "missile defense competition" but the
commentary offered straightforward comments from European
leaders and described Russian arms sales to Iran. Dnevnik
Foreign Editor Igor Mekina authored a highly critical
commentary saying the missile defense program is "an
aggressive weapon" and a "trap" rather than "protection,"
which is intended to give the U.S. an upper hand by
protecting against a Russian response to a U.S. nuclear first
strike.

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Journalists Attend Missile Defense DVC
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4. (U) Journalists from national television (TV Slovenia),
radio (Radio Slovenia),the most widely read national print
daily (Delo),and the Slovenian newswire service (STA)
attended a March 23 digital video conference (DVC) hosted by
Embassy Ljubljana to discuss U.S. Missile Defense plans. Ms.
Anita Friedt, Director of the Office of Policy and Regional
Affairs, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, responded
to questions from reporters. Questions were relatively
straightforward as were their subsequent reports, which were
carried on radio and in the widely read weekend addition of
Delo. Stories quoting Ms. Friedt reached a potential
audience of roughly 1,000,000 or 50% of all Slovenes.


5. (U) STA wire service carried a mention of the DVC in its
international policy roundup juxtaposing Russian Foreign
Minister Sergei Lavrov's warning about U.S. missile defense
stations in Europe with comments from Ms. Friedt saying the
United States is aware of Russia's second thoughts and tried
to eliminate them, but that protection of the U.S. and its
European allies is the objective of the missile defense
program and Russia does not have a veto on this. It also
carried a second, full length story headlined "United States:
Russia Does Not Have a Veto on Missile Defense Stations in

Europe" that was a straightforward summary of Ms. Friedt's
statements and answers from the DVC. The story highlights
Friedt's comments that stations in Europe would be
exclusively for defense along with comments that Moscow knows
the missile defense system cannot be used against it.
Newspaper Delo summarizes the DVC discussion in a story with
an almost identical headline and highlights Friedt's
statements denying that the proposed missile defense stations
will set off a new arms race and that the U.S. is planning
stations in the Caucasus. It also mentions Friedt's
assurances that the stations are compatible with NATO and
that any shot down missiles would be of minimal threat.
Radio Slovenia included a concise story in its main evening
newscast on March 23.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
GOS Formulating Slovenian Position On Missile Defense
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


6. (S) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Security Policy Division
Head Stanislav Vidovic told Charge d'Affaires in a March 14
meeting that he had already met with both the Czech and
Polish Ambassadors to discuss U.S. missile defense plans in
their countries. Vidovic said that the GOS previously
considered this a strictly bilateral issue between the U.S.
and these countries, and the official GOS policy was not to
interfere. However, given that this is becoming a hot issue
at NATO, Vidovic said that staff at the MFA would be coping
with the question over the next few weeks, with hopes of
formulating a basic Slovenian view. Departing from formal
remarks, Vidovic commented that in his personal opinion the
GOS should support the effort, saying that a safer Eastern
Europe means a safer Slovenia.


7. (U) In an encouraging sign, Vidovic also attended the DVC
on March 23 as an observer.

- - - -
Comment
- - - -


8. (C) Given the usual ameri-skeptic nature of the Slovenian
press, coverage of U.S. missile defense plans has been
relatively tame. While MFA staff are giving positive signs
in their personal views on the issue, the GOS should be
expected to come out on the issue wherever European Union
consensus lands. Post thanks Washington for the quick
response to the DVC request and is open to other potential
outreach generated from Washington. Posts will continue to
urge GOS officials to support Poland and the Czech Republic
and to formulate policy in support of U.S. missile defense
plans to further European security.


9. (U) Embassy Ljubljana point of contact forQssile defense
public diplomacy and poQy issues is Political/Military
Officer Philip Beekman, available at BeekmanPM@state.gov and
386 01 200 5676.
ROBERTSON