SEPTEMBER GYMNICH: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. LINE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000405 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2018 TAGS: PREL EU LO GG RU SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER GYMNICH: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS U.S. LINE ON GEORGIA REF: A) STATE 093264 B) STATE 093272 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Keith Eddins for reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (SBU) Pol/Econ Chief delivered reftel points to the MFA's EU Correspondent, Albin Oltruba, and also shared them with the Directors of the Balkan and CIS offices. Oltruba noted that Georgia would be the main focus of the meeting, with continued planning and consultation on the scope and timing of an ESDP Mission front and center. Oltruba said that the September 8 visit to Moscow of President Sarkozy would be critical, and that he thought it likely that the September 15 GAERC would be in a position to officially approve a mission. Oltruba noted strong Slovak support for a reinvigorated Transatlantic dialogue, but offered no comment in response to our concerns about the "universal values" discussion. ¶2. (SBU) On Georgia, MFA CIS Director Rozkapal expressed complete agreement with the U.S. position as laid out in ref A, but was less sanguine about the prospects for progress during the upcoming Sarkozy-Medvedev meetings. Rozkapal highlighted that the same roadblocks preventing agreement on a Military Monitoring Mission (MMO) in the OCSE would pertain to the EU, and that no actions should be undertaken that would convey de facto recognition of South Ossetia or Abkhazia. He also noted that the Slovaks might organize a Ministerial-level meeting on the Slovak-Ukraine border to mark the implementation of a border traffic agreement, but also to show support and solidarity with Ukraine. ¶3. (C) Foreign Minister Kubis will brief the Ambassadorial Corps on September 8 on the Slovak position on Georgia. (He will also provide an update on Slovak-Hungarian relations in the wake of the September 1 meeting in Brussels between Prime Ministers Gyurscany and Fico.) Following PM Fico's initial comments on the Georgian conflict, in which he essentially blamed Georgia for provoking the conflict, Ambassador has reached out to a range of senior officials to urge that Fico moderate his line and express more clearly his support for Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity. On August 27, Ambassador telephoned Fico's foreign policy advisor, Marek Estok, to ask that the Prime Minister include a supportive comment regarding Georgia during his speech in Banska Bystrica on anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising. Fico did so, stating that Slovakia supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. ¶4. (C) Comment: With PM Fico it is often one step forward and two steps back. In Banska Bystrica Fico linked -- as he did in public comments following the EU Summit on September 1 -- Slovakia's position on Kosovo and Georgia. In Brussels, he was quoted as saying: "Slovakia has not recognized Kosovo. I will look directly into the eyes of everyone at the European Council when they speak about Georgia's territorial integrity." He added that: "I would have welcomed it if Georgia's role in this conflict had been emphasized to a greater extent, especially as far as provocations are concerned." Apparently, however, Fico didn't push for such language at the Summit, and the MFA continues to pursue a constructive course. Embassy will send septel thoughts on de-linking Kosovo and Georgia and on how we might move the ball forward on GOS recognition of Kosovo. OBSITNIK