Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LJUBLJANA560
2007-08-30 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO NMT-I
how-toVZCZCXYZ0026 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLJ #0560 2421226 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 301226Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6090 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0033 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMFIUU/USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1164
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000560
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO NMT-I
Classified By: CDA GShelton, E.O. 12958 reason 1.4(b, d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000560
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO NMT-I
Classified By: CDA GShelton, E.O. 12958 reason 1.4(b, d)
1. (C) Slovenia has renewed its commitment to the NATO
Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) by deploying two fresh
troops to Baghdad to replace two soldiers who returned to
Slovenia as scheduled. An officer who will perform
logistical base operations and a non-commissioned officer who
will serve as a military instructor for Iraqi soldiers
arrived in the second week of August. The new contingent
will remain in Iraq for 6 months. Zorica Bukinac Cimpersek
of the MFA Security Policy Division told Emboff that there is
no/no defined end date for Slovenia's participation in NTM-I
and that the Government of Slovenia (GOS) will determine
additional deployments according to future political and
tactical considerations.
2. (C) Slovenia's participation in the NMT-I had been called
into question in February when Slovenia's contribution was
halved by NATO's normal force reductions, leaving just two
trainers in Iraq. Although senior GOS officials had
continued to say they supported efforts in Iraq, media
reports quoted Slovenian Armed Forces spokesman Simon Korez
in mid-May stating the two soldiers would not be replaced at
the end of their tour. The Slovenian press reported the
troop rotation without comment and the deployment has not
drawn any public criticism in the media. Stanislav Vidovic,
Head of the MFA Security Policy Division, recently
acknowledged to CDA that efforts by COM and EmbOffs to
encourage Slovenia's continued presence in Iraq had succeeded
in loosening the logjam that had prevented movement in the
GOS inter-agency debate on a renewed deployment.
SHELTON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA RENEWS ITS COMMITMENT TO NMT-I
Classified By: CDA GShelton, E.O. 12958 reason 1.4(b, d)
1. (C) Slovenia has renewed its commitment to the NATO
Training Mission in Iraq (NTM-I) by deploying two fresh
troops to Baghdad to replace two soldiers who returned to
Slovenia as scheduled. An officer who will perform
logistical base operations and a non-commissioned officer who
will serve as a military instructor for Iraqi soldiers
arrived in the second week of August. The new contingent
will remain in Iraq for 6 months. Zorica Bukinac Cimpersek
of the MFA Security Policy Division told Emboff that there is
no/no defined end date for Slovenia's participation in NTM-I
and that the Government of Slovenia (GOS) will determine
additional deployments according to future political and
tactical considerations.
2. (C) Slovenia's participation in the NMT-I had been called
into question in February when Slovenia's contribution was
halved by NATO's normal force reductions, leaving just two
trainers in Iraq. Although senior GOS officials had
continued to say they supported efforts in Iraq, media
reports quoted Slovenian Armed Forces spokesman Simon Korez
in mid-May stating the two soldiers would not be replaced at
the end of their tour. The Slovenian press reported the
troop rotation without comment and the deployment has not
drawn any public criticism in the media. Stanislav Vidovic,
Head of the MFA Security Policy Division, recently
acknowledged to CDA that efforts by COM and EmbOffs to
encourage Slovenia's continued presence in Iraq had succeeded
in loosening the logjam that had prevented movement in the
GOS inter-agency debate on a renewed deployment.
SHELTON