Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRATISLAVA341
2008-07-29 07:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
FORMER AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ON SLOVAK PLANS FOR
how-toVZCZCXRO8241 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSL #0341 2110712 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 290712Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1855 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000341
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG EPET LO RU
SUBJECT: FORMER AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ON SLOVAK PLANS FOR
TRANSPETROL DEAL WITH MOSCOW
REF: A)BRATISLAVA 310 B) BRATISLAVA 274
Classified By: Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik, for reasons 1.4 b and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000341
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG EPET LO RU
SUBJECT: FORMER AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ON SLOVAK PLANS FOR
TRANSPETROL DEAL WITH MOSCOW
REF: A)BRATISLAVA 310 B) BRATISLAVA 274
Classified By: Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik, for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) During a cordial one-on-one luncheon July 25 with
Ambassador Obsitnik, former Ambassador to the U.S., Rasto
Kacer, stated that he had been told by a well-connected
source that PM Fico has made a secret deal with Russia to
resell a portion of the Transpetrol pipeline after the GOS
purchases it. Kacer -- who will head up a PR/consulting firm
and also serve as Chairman of the Slovak-Atlantic Alliance --
told Ambassador that, following the likely Slovak buyback, he
would advocate a robust public and media strategy to remind
the press that PM Fico has stated that the GOS would purchase
Transpetrol for Slovakia. Kacer's comments lend further
credence to the rumors of a Slovak-Russian deal, which were
also corroborated by a high-ranking MFA official during a
July 23 farewell call with the DCM. The official stated that
it was his understanding that negotiations for such a deal
had already commenced. Comment: Embassy will remain in
close touch with Ambassador Kacer, not only on the
Transpetrol issue, but also in his capacity as Chairman of
the Slovak-Atlantic Alliance, to seek joint opportunities to
promote NATO, transatlantic relations and greater Slovak
engagement in Afghanistan.
OBSITNIK
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/28/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV ENRG EPET LO RU
SUBJECT: FORMER AMBASSADOR TO U.S. ON SLOVAK PLANS FOR
TRANSPETROL DEAL WITH MOSCOW
REF: A)BRATISLAVA 310 B) BRATISLAVA 274
Classified By: Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik, for reasons 1.4 b and d
1. (C) During a cordial one-on-one luncheon July 25 with
Ambassador Obsitnik, former Ambassador to the U.S., Rasto
Kacer, stated that he had been told by a well-connected
source that PM Fico has made a secret deal with Russia to
resell a portion of the Transpetrol pipeline after the GOS
purchases it. Kacer -- who will head up a PR/consulting firm
and also serve as Chairman of the Slovak-Atlantic Alliance --
told Ambassador that, following the likely Slovak buyback, he
would advocate a robust public and media strategy to remind
the press that PM Fico has stated that the GOS would purchase
Transpetrol for Slovakia. Kacer's comments lend further
credence to the rumors of a Slovak-Russian deal, which were
also corroborated by a high-ranking MFA official during a
July 23 farewell call with the DCM. The official stated that
it was his understanding that negotiations for such a deal
had already commenced. Comment: Embassy will remain in
close touch with Ambassador Kacer, not only on the
Transpetrol issue, but also in his capacity as Chairman of
the Slovak-Atlantic Alliance, to seek joint opportunities to
promote NATO, transatlantic relations and greater Slovak
engagement in Afghanistan.
OBSITNIK