GAERC: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITIONS ON UKRAINE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000336 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL PGOV IR SO SU CD ZI UP LO SUBJECT: GAERC: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. POSITIONS ON UKRAINE AND IRAN REF: STATE 75702 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA European Correspondent Albin Otruba on July 18. Otruba will include U.S. non-papers in the briefing materials acting FM Diana Strofova receives ahead of the July 22-23 GAERC meeting(FM Kubis will be on vacation at the time of the GAERC). ¶2. (SBU) Otruba said Slovakia fully supports the U.S. position with respect to Ukraine, and described Slovakia as proof that a European perspective motivates positive political change. Otruba acknowledged it would be several years before Ukraine is ready for EU membership, but said Slovakia is a vocal advocate of making an explicit commitment to Ukraine in upcoming EU-Ukraine negotiations. Otruba said that there is stiff resistance to Ukraine becoming a member state in some western EU countries. ¶3. (SBU) Slovakia also supports the U.S. position on Iran, including the possibility of autonomous measures that go beyond UNSCR 1803. The priority for this meeting, however, is to see UNSCR 1803 provisions transposed into EU law. Otruba said the Slovak government believes pressing for more strict autonomous measures could prevent any agreement from being reached. He added, as a personal opinion and with reference to U.S. participation in direct talks with Iran, that now may be the wrong time to enact stricter autonomous measures since Iran has made positive statements about upcoming negotiations. OBSITNIK