VCJCS GIAMBASTIANI PRAISES SLOVENIAN CONTRIBUTIONS

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000237

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/NCE SSADLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MCAP MOPS PGOV SI
SUBJECT: VCJCS GIAMBASTIANI PRAISES SLOVENIAN CONTRIBUTIONS
TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY



1. (U) SUMMARY. Defense Minister Erjavec, Chief of Defense
Gutman, and Deputy Chief of Defense Steiner were pleased to
show off the Slovenian Armed Forces' (SAF) progress in
defense transformation and its significant contributions to
international security during a visit March 30 and 31 by Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Giambastiani.
The brief courtesy call served as a progress report from the
Slovenes about their efforts, and Giambastiani's positive
comments were widely reported in the press and appreciated by
the Slovenes. Discussion focused on recent hot topics for
Slovenia, including caveats, defense spending, air policing,
and U.S. assistance with education and training. SAF
leadership also affirmed their long term strategic focus on
the western Balkans. This visit was important to maintaining
an already strong bilateral military relationship with this
NATO ally and presented a good opportunity to encourage the
SAF to continue its comprehensive transformation and maintain
its already high international engagement. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) In his meeting with Minister of Defense Karl Erjavec
and Chief of Defense Albin Gutman, Admiral Giambastiani
thanked them for Slovenia's international contributions,
particularly the recent increase in forces to KFOR. He noted
that Slovenia's efforts to deploy abroad -- currently 11% of
their forces are deployed in support of international
missions -- and the decision to remove major caveats on
troops in Kosovo had been noticed in Washington. Erjavec
told Giambastiani that Slovenia is working hard to reform,
transform and recruit forces while at the same time
supporting efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and
particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, while also
preparing to be part of an EU Battlegroup this year. He
called it a "great amount of work for a young and small
army." Gutman was self-assured and proudly noted that "we
started from nothing to build the SAF, and we've done quite
well," adding that the SAF has "no problem not being a large
force" and that the deployment to KFOR has "eliminated doubts
about (the SAF's) abilities."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
POL-MIL HOT POTATOES: SPENDING, CAVEATS, AIR POLICING
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


3. (SBU) On two long-standing pol-mil issues -- Slovenia's
commitment to bring defense spending to 2 percent of GDP and
its plans to eliminate caveats on troops deployed abroad --
Erjavec repeated past statements. He and Gutman both said
that Slovenia would spend 1.87 percent of GDP in 2008 and
would meet the 2 percent spending target by 2009. Erjavec
repeated that the MoD's ability to keep up with substantial
economic growth (5 percent in 2007 and 4 percent expected
from 2008 to 2010) is a challenge, as is selling the argument
for more spending to parliament. Erjavec called caveats on
Slovenian troops in Afghanistan a "difficult political
situation" but said again that he is working to reduce
caveats despite questions from parliament. Gutman, who has
also told EmbOffs that he advocates the removal of caveats,
was upbeat about the GOS decision to deploy to KFOR with
fewer restrictions, noting that Slovenian soldiers are now
authorized to conduct riot control and deal with
demonstrations, which will be a key challenge given the
current potential for instability in the region as plans for
Kosovo are finalized.


4. (SBU) On the perennial issue of air policing, Erjavec
commented that purchasing aircraft will be too expensive for
the SAF in the short-term, but possible in the long term -
five to ten years out. Because of this, he said Slovenia
must look at other options, including cooperation between
Slovenia and the U.S. Erjavec called one idea introduced by
Slovenian Ambassador in Washington Samo Zbogar -- mixed
U.S.-Slovenian teams for air policing -- a "good idea" and
commented that it would be good to explore the possibility
for Slovenes to get pilot training from the U.S.


5. (SBU) Gutman also mentioned the SAF's recent difficulties
with recruitment, saying that the small size of the country
and the aggressive economic growth meant that people are
looking elsewhere for employment. He said that the MOD and
SAF are working to increase pay for soldiers through a new
military reform law but that he was still concerned about the
issue over the long term.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FUTURE INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


6. (SBU) Erjavec mentioned Slovenia,s planned increase in
troops in Afghanistan -- from 54 to 66 in August -- and
Slovenia,s fall 2006 contribution of 2000 weapons and 2
million rounds of ammunition to the Afghanistan National
Army. He said the SAF does not have additional equipment on
hand to contribute and commented that it has been very
difficult to increase number of forces in Afghanistan while
also deploying a battalion to Kosovo.


7. (SBU) Erjavec, Gutman, and Steiner all reiterated that
Slovenia's number one priority is the Balkans, specifically
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia, saying the
situation in these countries is very important for regional
stability and security. They noted an opportunity for
Slovenia to have a special role in the region given links in
language, culture, and history and said that they are working
on initiatives for defense reform in these countries. Gutman
noted that defense cooperation was good in Bosnia and
Herzegovina and Macedonia, but that border disputes have
impeded cooperation with Croatia. He was optimistic that
soon-to-be signed defense cooperation agreements with Serbia
would improve mil-to-mil relations and allow for the easier
movement of Slovenian troops serving in the region (Note:
equipment for the SAF battalion deployed in Kosovo was
shipped via boat to Greece instead of the more
straightforward train route to avoid traveling through
Serbia.) Erjavec said that he foresees NATO enlargement for
Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia in the future, saying that the
Euro-Atlantic Alliance is a key to stability in the region.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
U.S.-SLOVENIA BILATERAL RELATIONS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


8. (SBU) Gutman called the U.S. Slovenia's "most important
strategic partner" and praised bilateral cooperation between
the two militaries over the past fourteen years. As has been
typical during meetings over the past year, Gutman has shown
particular interest in education and training opportunities
between the U.S. and Slovenian militaries, lauding Slovenia's
long-standing partnership with the Colorado National Guard,
mil-to-mil events, training and education opportunities for
Slovenes in U.S. schools, and the potential for Slovenes to
attend U.S. military academies and receive pilot training.
Gutman and Steiner also mentioned frustration that for the
first time in recent memory Slovenia did not receive a slot
at the National Defense University (NDU),the Army War
College, or the Army Command and General Staff College.
Steiner, an NDU alumni, made note of how well the SAF has
utilized slots in these schools over the past years, noting
that Slovenian graduates of the U.S. schools are currently
serving in high level positions throughout the SAF and the
Slovenian government. Slovenian U.S. school graduates are
also leading Slovenian contingents abroad. For example, an
alumni of the Command and General Staff College is leading
the battalion currently in Kosovo. (NOTE: On April 6,
Embassy Ljubljana's Office of Defense Cooperation was
notified that a slot has opened up for the Slovenes in the
National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed
Forces. Steiner was extremely pleased with the news. END
NOTE.)


9. (SBU) COMMENT. Giambastiani's visit was billed as a quick
courtesy call but his efforts to thank Slovenia for "punching
above its weight" were widely and positively reported in the
press and very much appreciated by Slovenian colleagues. In
defense transformation and international contributions,
Slovenia has a positive story to tell (and does not hesitate
to note that USG support, especially via mil-to-mil events
and training, has been vital to its success.) The SAF has
made great strides over the past few years. While Slovenian
contributions are not tremendous in terms of sheer numbers,
the per capita international contributions from this small
ally leads the pack at NATO. Slovenia can be expected to
continue its strategic focus on security in the western
Balkans, with smaller strategic deployments elsewhere when
possible. END COMMENT.
ROBERTSON