Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRATISLAVA240
2008-05-23 10:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
GAERC MEETING: SLOVAKIA HOPES TO BECOME "LEADER ON
VZCZCXRO1811 OO RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSL #0240 1441059 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231059Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1739 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE IMMEDIATE 0009 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0060 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA IMMEDIATE 0100 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA IMMEDIATE 0029
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000240
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL PGOV ZL IR IZ IS SY LE SO AF
GG, LO
SUBJECT: GAERC MEETING: SLOVAKIA HOPES TO BECOME "LEADER ON
AFGHANISTAN"
REF: A. SECSTATE 54639
B. BRATISLAVA 237
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence Silverman for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000240
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL PGOV ZL IR IZ IS SY LE SO AF
GG, LO
SUBJECT: GAERC MEETING: SLOVAKIA HOPES TO BECOME "LEADER ON
AFGHANISTAN"
REF: A. SECSTATE 54639
B. BRATISLAVA 237
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence Silverman for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered Ref A points to MFA European
Correspondent Albin Otruba on May 22. In preparing for the
upcoming GAERC, FM Kubis is, according to Otruba, putting the
greatest effort into a speech on his recent trip to
Afghanistan (Ref B). Otruba speculated that the Foreign
Minister wants to be recognized as a leader on Afghanistan
within the EU in order to strengthen his ability to promote a
more robust Slovak policy, including military engagement,
than PM Fico may now support.
2. (C) On the Balkans, Otruba said Slovakia has not been as
active in conversation within the EU in the run-up to May's
GAERC as it had in the past when it lobbied for an early
Stabilization and Association Agreement for Serbia and
supported the French plan to extend visa-free travel to
Serbian citizens. Otruba said that FM Kubis's comments on the
Western Balkans will focus on the need to find an
accommodation between UNMIK and EULEX. Otruba believes the
GAERC will produce a strong statement in support of the
pro-EU parties in Serbia.
3. (C) Otruba said that Cuba will not be discussed at this
GAERC. He described Slovakia's position on Cuba, however, as
being "critical," but not as "radical" as that of the Czech
Republic. Otruba described Cuban political prisoners as "a
real problem," but said Slovakia believes dialogue with Cuba
can be helpful.
4. (C) Otruba asked about the status of the U.S. Embassy in
Belarus and if the U.S. sees any hope for a thaw in
relations. Otruba said he has many good friends in the Slovak
NGO community who work with Belarus, and that he has heard
first-hand that the situation is becoming worse. He
predicted, however, that the West is not powerful enough to
force change in Belarus without Russian acquiescence, adding
that the current situation in Georgia would likely lead the
Russians to stand in the way of any rapprochement between
Belarus and the west.
OBSITNIK
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL PGOV ZL IR IZ IS SY LE SO AF
GG, LO
SUBJECT: GAERC MEETING: SLOVAKIA HOPES TO BECOME "LEADER ON
AFGHANISTAN"
REF: A. SECSTATE 54639
B. BRATISLAVA 237
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Lawrence Silverman for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered Ref A points to MFA European
Correspondent Albin Otruba on May 22. In preparing for the
upcoming GAERC, FM Kubis is, according to Otruba, putting the
greatest effort into a speech on his recent trip to
Afghanistan (Ref B). Otruba speculated that the Foreign
Minister wants to be recognized as a leader on Afghanistan
within the EU in order to strengthen his ability to promote a
more robust Slovak policy, including military engagement,
than PM Fico may now support.
2. (C) On the Balkans, Otruba said Slovakia has not been as
active in conversation within the EU in the run-up to May's
GAERC as it had in the past when it lobbied for an early
Stabilization and Association Agreement for Serbia and
supported the French plan to extend visa-free travel to
Serbian citizens. Otruba said that FM Kubis's comments on the
Western Balkans will focus on the need to find an
accommodation between UNMIK and EULEX. Otruba believes the
GAERC will produce a strong statement in support of the
pro-EU parties in Serbia.
3. (C) Otruba said that Cuba will not be discussed at this
GAERC. He described Slovakia's position on Cuba, however, as
being "critical," but not as "radical" as that of the Czech
Republic. Otruba described Cuban political prisoners as "a
real problem," but said Slovakia believes dialogue with Cuba
can be helpful.
4. (C) Otruba asked about the status of the U.S. Embassy in
Belarus and if the U.S. sees any hope for a thaw in
relations. Otruba said he has many good friends in the Slovak
NGO community who work with Belarus, and that he has heard
first-hand that the situation is becoming worse. He
predicted, however, that the West is not powerful enough to
force change in Belarus without Russian acquiescence, adding
that the current situation in Georgia would likely lead the
Russians to stand in the way of any rapprochement between
Belarus and the west.
OBSITNIK