SLOVENIA SUPPORTS US PROPOSALS ON MD AND CFE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000736 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR MASS KPAO NATO SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS US PROPOSALS ON MD AND CFE REF: STATE 159773 Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) On November 30, EmbOff used reftel points to brief MFA Security Division Director Stanislav Vidovic on U.S. proposals for Missile Defense (MD) and the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. Vidovic stated that Slovenia supports both U.S. proposals. Regarding MD, Slovenia supports all solutions that will enhance regional security and sees U.S. plans for the interceptor site in Poland and radar in the Czech Republic as bilateral issues between the U.S. and those countries. Vidovic stressed that Slovenia's greatest concern is that MD plans and negotiations be as transparent as possible. ¶2. (C) Vidovic reiterated Slovenia's intent to adopt an adapted CFE Treaty once negotiations with Russia are completed, although he cited lengthy internal procedures and the need to define Slovenia's national ceilings as necessary steps to adoption. According to Vidovic, Slovenia hopes that the issue will be pushed forward within NATO so that a discussion of national ceilings can take place in the first quarter of 2008. Slovenia is concerned that certain States Parties will not be inclined to ratify the treaty if Russia persists in its efforts to abolish the flank regime. Vidovic also noted that Slovenia hopes to avoid any serious erosion in the European security environment during its turn at the EU presidency, set to begin in January. ¶3. (C) Vidovic emphasized that Slovenia wishes to maintain solidarity on CFE within NATO and with the Baltic states, although he noted some differences with the latter. He explained that Slovenia did not join the Baltics in their Joint Consultative Group paper because the Baltic states had preared it in advance and Slovenia was only asked to join afterwards. Vidovic remarked that this process underscored the different starting position of the Baltic states regarding CFE compared to Slovenia, especially with regard to the flank regime. Slovenia also holds a different position than the Baltics on the Istanbul commitments. Although Slovenia agrees with the Baltics in principle, it does not believe that the position on the Istanbul commitments should be so tough as to hamper negotiations with Russia. Despite these differences, Vidovic stressed that Slovenia's desire to stand in solidarity with the Baltics. COLEMAN