SLOVAKIA SHARES NATO INTEROPERABILITY CONCERNS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000232 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/RPM E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/16/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL MARR NATO LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SHARES NATO INTEROPERABILITY CONCERNS IN OSLO PROCESS REF: STATE 48124 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence Silverman, for Reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief and DATT delivered reftel points to Director of the MFA Disarmament Office (and Slovak delegation lead for Oslo Process negotiations) Karol Mistrik, as well to the MOD representative to the talks, Captain Petrasik. Mistrik and Petrasik stated that the core of their negotiating mandate was to preserve Slovakia's ability to use some types of cluster munitions; to press against a total ban; and to ensure that any munitions banned under an agreement would be subject to a lengthy phase-out period, i.e., to 2020. Mistrik assured Emboffs that the Slovak position on interoperability was in sync with U.S. views, though he refused to be pinned down on next steps regarding problematic language in Article 1 (b) and (c). Both officials implied, however, that interoperability issues were secondary to Slovak-specific interests, i.e., preserving Slovakia's ability to use and more importantly, we assume, to produce cluster munitions. (Comment: Although neither interlocutor mentioned it, the Slovak defense firm "Konstructra Defense" produces 152mm artillery projectiles and 122 mm cluster munitions rockets.) Both Mistrik and Petrasik highlighted the key role the UK would play in the upcoming negotiations (and their concern that NGO pressure would weaken its stance); expressed concern that the "like-minded group" could not sustain unity; and predicted that, in the end, the talks were unlikely to produce a text that the GOS could support. (Comment: as has often been the case under the Fico Government, the GOS stance on cluster munitions appears to have been shaped primarily by commercial concerns. In this instance, the result will likely be a policy in line with U.S. goals.) OBSITNIK