MFA RESPONSE TO BOSNIA DEMARCHE SUGGESTS SLOVAKIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000492 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/CE, EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018 TAGS: PREL EU BH LO SUBJECT: MFA RESPONSE TO BOSNIA DEMARCHE SUGGESTS SLOVAKIA SHARES LAJCAK'S VIEW REF: STATE 113894 Classified By: DCM Keith Eddins, for reasons 1.4 b and d 1.(C) Pol/Econ Chief met with MFA Balkans Chief, Eva Ponomarenkova on October 28 to discuss the deteriorating situation in Bosnia. Although the GOS agrees substantially with the points in reftel demarche, it is also apparent that it, not unlike OHR Lajcak, may believe that the it will be too hard to fulfill the 5-2 agenda. Thus, Slovakia advocates a "flexible approach" because the most important thing it to "get it done." ¶2. (C) Ponomarenkova commented that signing the SAA with the EU had not had the expected positive effects on BiH leaders and agreed that the EU needed to provide stronger guidance to Bosnia. She also agreed that while the time was not right to tackle constitutional reforms, the international community could help frame the debate. 3 (C) Regarding Dodik's provocations, Ponomarenkova acknowledged that they have gotten worse but also stressed the need for the international community to be "balanced" in its approach to BiH leaders. Ponomarenkova commented that it is time for transition because OHR is a spent force. Pol/Econ Chief pushed back, arguing that too much flexibility in the interest of rushing to meet the criteria for OHR closure would serve neither BiH, nor the EU. ¶4. (C) Comment: In citing the "flexibility" that produced the police reform agreement as an example of the sort of "smart and reasonable" approach that is necessary now, Ponomarenkova underscored the divergent approaches of the U.S. and the GOS: whereas we viewed the compromise agreed in November as falling well short of the mark, the Slovaks appear to see it as a template for completing the 5-2 agenda. OBSITNIK