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