SLOVENIA SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY AGENDA AT 4TH

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000701 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO G - JOAQUIN FERRAO, DRL/MLGA - LAURA JORDAN, IO/RHS - AMY OSTERMEIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/06/2017 TAGS: KDEM PHUM PREL UNGA SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY AGENDA AT 4TH COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES MEETING IN BAMAKO REF: SECSTATE 151024 Classified By: CDA MCOLEMAN E.O. 12958, reason 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) On November 6, EmbOff met with Blazka Kepic, head of United Nations System Section of the MFA's Division for International Organizations and Human Security, to inquire about Slovenia's delegation list to the 4th Community of Democracies (CD) Meeting, urge the GOS to support the draft declaration for the Bamako Ministerial, highlight the critical role of NGOs and other civil society organizations, and urge the GOS to politically and financially support the newly created CD Secretariat, per reftel. Kepic stated that Slovenia will send a four-person delegation, headed by MFA State SecrQary Andrej Ster and including Ms. Kepic, to the Bamako Ministerial. Kepic noted that the GOS supports in principle the draft Bamako Declaration with just a few "minimal changes" and would prefer to avoid lengthy drafting sessions during the Ministerial. ¶2. (C) Kepic also said that Slovenia generally agrees with the U.S. points on democracy and development and the indispensable role of NGOs. According to Kepic, the GOS plans to work within the EU framework to promote efforts that address these issues. Kepic stressed that Slovenia will offer mainly political support for the CD Secretariat, citing budget constraints as an impediment to the ability to provide financial support. She also emphasized that Slovenia has donated to the UN Democracy Fund every year since 2005 and intends to continue providing funds in 2008. ¶3. (C) Kepic stated that at the 4th CD meeting Slovenia will highlight the importance of regional organizations and cooperation, citing GOS efforts to focus on issues in Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans through the OSCE and Council of Europe. As an example, she discussed Slovenia's initiative, when it chaired the OSCE, on human rights and tolerance education aimed at children in primary schools, and its efforts to expand the scope of the program through UNESCO. Kepic affirmed Slovenia's continued support for the Democratic Neighbors Initiative, especially in Southeast Europe, in conjunction with the EU and other regional organizations. Finally, she noted that the GOS has not yet reached a position on raising the situation of Belarus during the Europe regional roundtable, but will continue to work within the EU framework on this issue. COLEMAN