Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRATISLAVA392
2008-08-22 10:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 INVASION SLIPS BY QUIETLY
how-toVZCZCXRO6401 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSL #0392 2351023 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 221023Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1930 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000392
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CZ LO
SUBJECT: 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 INVASION SLIPS BY QUIETLY
UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000392
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CZ LO
SUBJECT: 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 INVASION SLIPS BY QUIETLY
1. (SBU) The fortieth anniversary of the Warsaw Pact's August
21, 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia was observed in small,
lightly attended ceremonies around Slovakia. Czech President
Vaclav Klaus attended a short wreath-laying ceremony near
Comenius University in Bratislava with Slovak President
Gasparovic, while Slovak PM Robert Fico spent the day in
Prague with Czech PM Topolanek. (Besides highlighting the
unity of Czechs and Slovaks, the exchange of presidents and
PMs enabled Fico, a former Communist with Russophile
tendencies, the opportunity to avoid most official domestic
observances - and domestic media.)
2. (SBU) Like recent official commemorations of the November
1989 Velvet Revolution, which have been scaled back
dramatically under the current Slovak government, the
fortieth anniversary was observed with less pomp than, for
example, the 37th anniversary during the last year of then-PM
Dzurinda's center-right government. But while the government
coalition members took a low-key approach to the observances,
representatives of the three right-of-center opposition
parties made a point of turning out in force.
3. (SBU) Visiting the Czech Republic, Slovak PM Fico praised
the slogan of the Prague Spring, "Socialism with a human
face," speculating that if 1968 had ended as it began, Czechs
and Slovaks might have attained a standard of living as high
as Austria's by now. Fico declared himself in strong
agreement with the tradition of Alexandre Dubcek, the
ethnic-Slovak leader of the Czechoslovak Communist Party in
1968, who advocated a liberalization process within the
Communist system.
4. (U) Ambassador Obsitnik visited the site of the official
commemoration, Safarikovo Square, where the all-news channel
TA3 was staging live broadcasts throughout the day. During an
interview with TA3, the Ambassador recalled his anger upon
hearing news of Soviet tanks invading Czechoslovakia, but
also said he felt proud of those who had resisted the Soviet
invasion. The Ambassador said Russia's attack on Georgia is
evidence that such events can still happen today. "We must
never forget that such tragedies are still possible, and that
we can prevent them only if we remain vigilant and active in
support of democratic values and human rights," the
Ambassador said.
5. (SBU) Media coverage of the anniversary was light in
comparison to past years. Only one of the major Slovak
dailies (Sme) covered the anniversary as its lead story, and
only the above-mentioned TA3 broadcasts devoted time to the
observances outside of normal news hours. TA3 also hosted an
exhibit of photographs from the days just after the invasion.
When Poloffs visited in the early afternoon, about a dozen
people were viewing the pictures, mostly middle-aged Slovaks
stopping by in their daily rounds.
6. (U) One of the most telling signs of the new perspective
on 1968 was the sudden appearance on August 20th of red
foodprints around downtown Bratislava. On them was printed
"Invasion. 21.8." The prints led invariably to shops where
one learned that the Apple i-Phone was to go on sale at
midnight on August 21. Poloff was unable to find anyone who
thought the advertisement could be considered in poor taste,
although he was able to find a handful of 20-somethings who
did not recognize the reference to 1968.
7. (SBU) Comment: With the fastest-growing economy in the EU
and Euro adoption only a few months away, it is not
surprising to find Slovaks more focused on their relatively
happy present than on the sad events of 40 years ago. It may
also be that 1968 is becoming a date in ancient history for
many Slovaks, who now learn about it in school and perhaps
hear about it from grandparents. Certainly the current
government has no incentive to remind anyone of what happened
then. And while some columnists--as well as the
Ambassador--cited clear parallels between 1968 and the recent
Russian invasion of Georgia, few of the official speakers
made the obvious linkages. End comment.
OBSITNIK
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL CZ LO
SUBJECT: 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 INVASION SLIPS BY QUIETLY
1. (SBU) The fortieth anniversary of the Warsaw Pact's August
21, 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia was observed in small,
lightly attended ceremonies around Slovakia. Czech President
Vaclav Klaus attended a short wreath-laying ceremony near
Comenius University in Bratislava with Slovak President
Gasparovic, while Slovak PM Robert Fico spent the day in
Prague with Czech PM Topolanek. (Besides highlighting the
unity of Czechs and Slovaks, the exchange of presidents and
PMs enabled Fico, a former Communist with Russophile
tendencies, the opportunity to avoid most official domestic
observances - and domestic media.)
2. (SBU) Like recent official commemorations of the November
1989 Velvet Revolution, which have been scaled back
dramatically under the current Slovak government, the
fortieth anniversary was observed with less pomp than, for
example, the 37th anniversary during the last year of then-PM
Dzurinda's center-right government. But while the government
coalition members took a low-key approach to the observances,
representatives of the three right-of-center opposition
parties made a point of turning out in force.
3. (SBU) Visiting the Czech Republic, Slovak PM Fico praised
the slogan of the Prague Spring, "Socialism with a human
face," speculating that if 1968 had ended as it began, Czechs
and Slovaks might have attained a standard of living as high
as Austria's by now. Fico declared himself in strong
agreement with the tradition of Alexandre Dubcek, the
ethnic-Slovak leader of the Czechoslovak Communist Party in
1968, who advocated a liberalization process within the
Communist system.
4. (U) Ambassador Obsitnik visited the site of the official
commemoration, Safarikovo Square, where the all-news channel
TA3 was staging live broadcasts throughout the day. During an
interview with TA3, the Ambassador recalled his anger upon
hearing news of Soviet tanks invading Czechoslovakia, but
also said he felt proud of those who had resisted the Soviet
invasion. The Ambassador said Russia's attack on Georgia is
evidence that such events can still happen today. "We must
never forget that such tragedies are still possible, and that
we can prevent them only if we remain vigilant and active in
support of democratic values and human rights," the
Ambassador said.
5. (SBU) Media coverage of the anniversary was light in
comparison to past years. Only one of the major Slovak
dailies (Sme) covered the anniversary as its lead story, and
only the above-mentioned TA3 broadcasts devoted time to the
observances outside of normal news hours. TA3 also hosted an
exhibit of photographs from the days just after the invasion.
When Poloffs visited in the early afternoon, about a dozen
people were viewing the pictures, mostly middle-aged Slovaks
stopping by in their daily rounds.
6. (U) One of the most telling signs of the new perspective
on 1968 was the sudden appearance on August 20th of red
foodprints around downtown Bratislava. On them was printed
"Invasion. 21.8." The prints led invariably to shops where
one learned that the Apple i-Phone was to go on sale at
midnight on August 21. Poloff was unable to find anyone who
thought the advertisement could be considered in poor taste,
although he was able to find a handful of 20-somethings who
did not recognize the reference to 1968.
7. (SBU) Comment: With the fastest-growing economy in the EU
and Euro adoption only a few months away, it is not
surprising to find Slovaks more focused on their relatively
happy present than on the sad events of 40 years ago. It may
also be that 1968 is becoming a date in ancient history for
many Slovaks, who now learn about it in school and perhaps
hear about it from grandparents. Certainly the current
government has no incentive to remind anyone of what happened
then. And while some columnists--as well as the
Ambassador--cited clear parallels between 1968 and the recent
Russian invasion of Georgia, few of the official speakers
made the obvious linkages. End comment.
OBSITNIK