Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRATISLAVA412
2008-09-12 14:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
SLOVAK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ISAF'S
how-toVZCZCXYZ0041 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHSL #0412 2561426 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121426Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1950 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0063 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000412
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE; EUR/RPM AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO LO AF
SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ISAF'S
COUNTER-NARCOTICS AUTHORITIES
REF: STATE 96741
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Keith Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b
and d
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000412
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE; EUR/RPM AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO LO AF
SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ISAF'S
COUNTER-NARCOTICS AUTHORITIES
REF: STATE 96741
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Keith Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b
and d
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel points to new Slovak MFA
Political Director, Ambassador Igor Slobodnik. Slobodnik,
who recently completed a five-year tenure as Slovakia's first
NATO PermRep, was receptive and expressed understanding of
the need to move this topic into the NAC, even if the
Military Committee couldn't reach consensus on guidance. He
also stressed the overall importance of tackling the
counter-narcotics mission.
2. (C) Slobodnik stated that he thought it would be possible
to craft a "creative" solution to facilitate an "opt in"
rather than "opt out" approach, and pledged to discuss the
issue with the Slovak mission. He noted that Slovakia would
consult with the Dutch, since Slovak forces were working most
closely with the Dutch in Afghanistan. Note: A 45-man Slovak
contingent was deployed to Tarin Kowt on September 11 to
provide force protection for the Dutch in Uruzgan.
3. (C) Comment: We have noted a more active GOS stance with
the press on the Afghanistan deployments, including a lengthy
televised interview on September 9 featuring Slovak Brigadier
General Macko (who recently served at ISAF HQ) and the former
commander of the Dutch unit in Uruzgan. During the exchange,
in which the participants described what the Slovaks unit
could expect, there was also a frank discussion about the
inherent risks of such a deployment. In an interview
published in the daily SME on September 12 the Dutch
Commander stated that the Slovaks would be "very well
protected." He went on to say "of course it's not as safe as
going out for a beer at night in Bratislava, which is
precisely why we are sending soldiers there." Little by
little, the nascent public dialogue on Afghanistan is
evolving and slowly, gingerly, the concept of risk is being
introduced into that discussion.
OBSITNIK
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/CE; EUR/RPM AND SCA/A
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2018
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO LO AF
SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON ISAF'S
COUNTER-NARCOTICS AUTHORITIES
REF: STATE 96741
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission, Keith Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b
and d
1. (C) DCM delivered reftel points to new Slovak MFA
Political Director, Ambassador Igor Slobodnik. Slobodnik,
who recently completed a five-year tenure as Slovakia's first
NATO PermRep, was receptive and expressed understanding of
the need to move this topic into the NAC, even if the
Military Committee couldn't reach consensus on guidance. He
also stressed the overall importance of tackling the
counter-narcotics mission.
2. (C) Slobodnik stated that he thought it would be possible
to craft a "creative" solution to facilitate an "opt in"
rather than "opt out" approach, and pledged to discuss the
issue with the Slovak mission. He noted that Slovakia would
consult with the Dutch, since Slovak forces were working most
closely with the Dutch in Afghanistan. Note: A 45-man Slovak
contingent was deployed to Tarin Kowt on September 11 to
provide force protection for the Dutch in Uruzgan.
3. (C) Comment: We have noted a more active GOS stance with
the press on the Afghanistan deployments, including a lengthy
televised interview on September 9 featuring Slovak Brigadier
General Macko (who recently served at ISAF HQ) and the former
commander of the Dutch unit in Uruzgan. During the exchange,
in which the participants described what the Slovaks unit
could expect, there was also a frank discussion about the
inherent risks of such a deployment. In an interview
published in the daily SME on September 12 the Dutch
Commander stated that the Slovaks would be "very well
protected." He went on to say "of course it's not as safe as
going out for a beer at night in Bratislava, which is
precisely why we are sending soldiers there." Little by
little, the nascent public dialogue on Afghanistan is
evolving and slowly, gingerly, the concept of risk is being
introduced into that discussion.
OBSITNIK