SLOVAK GAERC POSITIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000467

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2012
TAGS: EUN PHUM PREL PGOV ZI GG RS LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK GAERC POSITIONS

REF: SECSTATE 108064

Classified By: DCM Keith Eddins for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) POLOFF delivered reftel points to Albin Otruba,
European Correspondent at the Slovak MFA, on October 9.
Slovak views on Zimbabwe, Belarus and Georgia are all nearly
aligned with U.S. views. Slovakia will support lifting visa
restrictions and the Arms Embargo against Uzbekistan. Otruba
expects EU FMs will have little time for substantive policy
debate at this GAERC as their priority will be preparation
for the upcoming European Council meeting.

GEORGIA
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2. (C) Otruba appreciated the U.S. points on Georgia and said
Slovakia's position is "very simmilar." Slovakia wants
Russia's obligation to remove armed forces from South Ossetia
and Abkhazia to be referenced in any communique, even though
it is "clearly not realistic" and the EU's relations with
Russia should not be made conditional on such a withdrawal.

Belarus
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3. (SBU) Otruba said Slovakia "fully agrees" with U.S. points
on Belarus. They view recent Belarusian moves through the
context of the Georgian crisis, and wish to encourage
positive steps without taking the pressure off. To that end,
Slovakia will support a limited suspension of visa
restrictions for second and third level officials of the
Belarusian government. Visas for President Lukashenko and his
closest advisers should remain restricted, according to
Otruba.

Zimbabwe
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4. (SBU) As far as Slovakia is concerned the agreement
between President Mugabe and the MDU has not been implemented
until a new government has been formed. Until that time,
nothing has changed and there is no need to review the EU's
sanctions.

Uzbekistan
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5. (C) Slovakia will support the lifting of visa restrictions
and the arms embargo against Uzbekistan. Otruba said neither
has been effective, and in the context of the Georgia-Russia
crisis such restrictions only serve to limit EU influence in
a strategically important country. Otruba argued that is
"necessary to be relistic about democracy in Central Asia.
There isno chance of a western type democracy arising in
Uzbekistan."

EDDINS