Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LJUBLJANA705
2007-11-09 13:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA SUPPORTS PRESSING GOR ON ODHIR, BUT NOT
how-toVZCZCXRO2989 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLJ #0705 3131310 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 091310Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6248 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0258 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0083
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000705
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO EUR/RUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM RS SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS PRESSING GOR ON ODHIR, BUT NOT
OPTIMISTIC
REF: STATE 153309
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000705
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO EUR/RUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM RS SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS PRESSING GOR ON ODHIR, BUT NOT
OPTIMISTIC
REF: STATE 153309
1. (C) On November 9, Emboff delivered reftel points to
Damjan Bergant, Section Head for OSCE in the MFA Division for
International Organizations and Human Security. Bergant
stated that Slovenia shares US disappointment in the GOR's
approach to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission for the December 2
Duma elections. Despite grave concerns with the restrictions
the GOR has placed on the observation mission, Slovenia still
believes that the mission should go forward because of fears
that Russia will refuse to invite future observation missions
on the pretext that previous invitations had been refused.
2. (C) Bergant observed that the GOR's current approach to
the observation mission is clearly an attempt to pressure the
OSCE into accepting Russian demands for changes to the ODIHR
system. Slovenia is not optimistic that the GOR will change
its mind regarding observation of the Duma election. The GOS
fears that Russia will adopt a similar approach for the
presidential elections in March, a particular concern since
Slovenia will hold the EU presidency.
3. (C) Bergant noted that Slovenia is also particularly
interested in ODIHR's observation of Duma elections because
Boris Ferlec, a former Slovenian FM and the MFA's OSCE Task
Force Head when Slovenia was chairman-in-office, is to head
the mission. Ferlec shares GOS and US concerns, but also
believes that the mission should go forward.
COLEMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PASS TO EUR/RUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PHUM KDEM RS SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS PRESSING GOR ON ODHIR, BUT NOT
OPTIMISTIC
REF: STATE 153309
1. (C) On November 9, Emboff delivered reftel points to
Damjan Bergant, Section Head for OSCE in the MFA Division for
International Organizations and Human Security. Bergant
stated that Slovenia shares US disappointment in the GOR's
approach to the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission for the December 2
Duma elections. Despite grave concerns with the restrictions
the GOR has placed on the observation mission, Slovenia still
believes that the mission should go forward because of fears
that Russia will refuse to invite future observation missions
on the pretext that previous invitations had been refused.
2. (C) Bergant observed that the GOR's current approach to
the observation mission is clearly an attempt to pressure the
OSCE into accepting Russian demands for changes to the ODIHR
system. Slovenia is not optimistic that the GOR will change
its mind regarding observation of the Duma election. The GOS
fears that Russia will adopt a similar approach for the
presidential elections in March, a particular concern since
Slovenia will hold the EU presidency.
3. (C) Bergant noted that Slovenia is also particularly
interested in ODIHR's observation of Duma elections because
Boris Ferlec, a former Slovenian FM and the MFA's OSCE Task
Force Head when Slovenia was chairman-in-office, is to head
the mission. Ferlec shares GOS and US concerns, but also
believes that the mission should go forward.
COLEMAN