SLOVAKIA WILL NOT DISCUSS STATUS ISSUES DURING

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000215 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV YI UNSC SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA WILL NOT DISCUSS STATUS ISSUES DURING UNSC UNMIK MEETING REF: SECSTATE 31796 Classified By: Political Minister-Counselor William J. Brencick, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On March 14, USUN Political Minister-Counselor William Brencick met with Slovak Political Coordinator Michal Mlynar to deliver reftel points regarding the scheduled March 21 UNSC meeting on UNMIK. Brencick emphasized that we hoped for a strong statement of support for Ahtisaari and his process or at a minimum that Slovakia would not undermine him and stressed that Slovakia would be absolutely key to maintaining European unity in the UNSC on Kosovo status with their every statement being scrutinized and amplified. Brencick also noted appreciation that, even though Kosovo was a difficult domestic political issue, FM Kubis had recently made courageous public statements backing Ahtisaari and his effort. ¶2. (C) Mlynar responded that these points were well understood by Slovakia's Permrep and MFA and noted that "fortunately the Slovak Mission's instructions for the UNMIK meeting had come from FM Kubis" and would stick almost exclusively to the issue of progress on standards. Mlynar promised to get the statement and confirm this. Mlynar also commented that PM Kostunica was quoted recently as saying that the issue of Kosovo was talked about so much in Slovakia, especially in the parliament, and the media, that "he would have thought the province was in Slovakia instead of Serbia." Mlynar said he hoped that comment would give some of those trying to exploit the issue some pause and re-focus the debate on Slovakia's real national interests on the issue as a member of NATO and the EU. ¶3. (C) On March 16, USUN followed up with the Slovak Mission at the expert-level to confirm Mlynar's assurances. Slovakia's expert confirmed that the Slovak statement would focus exclusively on standards and avoid saying anything directly about status or Ahtisaari's status proposal and would not even mention Ahtisaari's name. The Slovak expert explained that the logic was that ongoing debate in Slovakia's parliament aimed at adoption of a non-binding declaration. The expert claimed, however, that it was "understood that by the time Ahtisaari appears in the Security Council, the Slovak Mission will be able to speak positively about his proposal and take a united US-EU line." WOLFF