SLOVAK REACTIONS TO U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000512

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK REACTIONS TO U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

1 (U) Summary. On November 5, the MFA issued a statement
expressing its belief that President-Elect Obama would focus
on global issues and international partnership. Prime
Minister Fico, meanwhile, downplayed the significance of the
elections. Asked for his reaction to the election, Fico said
he didn't expect much to change, including the price of bread
in Slovakia. President Gasparovic predicted continued good
bilateral relations and praised the election of a black
American as a expression of democratic thinking in the U.S.
The U.S. Presidential elections have dominated the Slovak
print media and television. Coverage has been largely
positive, but has focused heavily on President-Elect Obama's
race. Many politicians and commentators have said that
Obama's election is the fulfillment of America's promise. As
Slovakia struggles with its own minority issues, the election
also has sparked some dialogue about the participation of
minorities in Slovak politics. End Summary.


MFA -- Positive and Politically Correct
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2. (U) The MFA issued the following statement on November 5:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic
congratulates the 44th President of the U.S. Barack Obama on
his election victory. We are convinced that the
President-Elect through international cooperation will help
find solutions to the global challenges such as the financial
crisis, terrorism, energy security, global warming, famine
and poverty. Slovakia as an EU and NATO member is ready to
face these challenges. We believe that transatlantic
relations, which are the keystone of Slovakia's security,
stability and development, will gain with a new Presidency a
strong impetus for further development based on shared
principles and the strategic character of transatlantic
partnership. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak
Republic expresses its belief that the incoming U.S.
Administration in the bilateral area will build on concrete
positive results, such as the completion of Slovakia's
integration efforts and the country's entry in the U.S. Visa
Waiver Program and will move mutual relations to a higher
level."


Political Parties -- Except SNS -- Find Good Things to Say
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3. (U) With varying degrees of enthusiasm, leading Slovak
politicians spoke in mostly favorable terms about the
election outcome. Some, such as HZDS MP Urbani, welcomed
President-Elect Obama's stated focus on economic development
and social issues. Most politicians, opposition or
coalition, indicated that they did not believe that relations
between the U.S. and Slovakia (or between the U.S. and
Europe) would change markedly with a new U.S. Administration.
Smer MP Jam Valova was more forward-leaning, stating that:
"For Slovakia, it's a good thing. I think that Obama will
bring many positive things to U.S. foreign policy." Members
of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) focused on the example
set by Obama's election and the effectiveness of U.S.
policies toward minorities. SMK MP Jozef Berenyi expressed
the belief that "one day in Slovakia a member of the Roma or
Hungarian minority will be able to become the President of
the Slovak Republic."


4. (U) Former Ambassador Martin Butora said that he believes
Obama's election will inspire young minorities in Slovakia
and that Obama could serve as a role model for young Roma.
Only Jan Slota of the Slovak National Party (SNS) sounded a
wholly sour note. He attributed Obama's victory to the
"arrogant" policies of President Bush, adding that "...Money
and significant economic interests are behind all American
efforts and a united Europe would be too strong a rival for
it. I hope at least the victory of Barack Obama has reduced
the risk of new wars being provoked."


Fico: Studiously Disinterested
--------------


5. (SBU) Upon his arrival at a V-4 meeting in Warsaw, Prime
Minister Fico's spokesperson issued a brief statement of
congratulations to President-Elect Obama. Asked for his
reaction, PM Fico said he didn't want to comment on the
"politicians, the parties or anything about the election,"
but that he would send congratulations through official
channels. Fico added that he didn't expect the election to
bring any changes, noting that the price of bread in Slovakia
wouldn't get any cheaper. In a television interview,
President Gasparovic was more expansive. He conveyed
congratulations, and expressed confidence that U.S.-Slovak
relations would continue to be good.



Election Event: Well Attended, but...
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6. (SBU) The EMBASSY and the American Chamber of Commerce
co-hosted an all-night election event beginning the evening
of November 4. Both the evening reception and the breakfast,
which featured a panel discussion on the election outcome
that included former Slovak Ambassadors to the U.S. Martin
Butora and Rasto Kacer, were well-attended. Despite the
numbers, key groups were notably absent: no members of Smer,
SNS or SMK showed up. No senior government officials, with
the exception of mid-level and junior Slovak diplomats and
the President's diplomatic advisor, came. The only guests
who could be considered representative of the coalition were
a few members of Vladimir Meciar's HZDS party. Comments made
by Slovak guests at the reception and the tenor of the news
coverage following the election suggests that many here are
surprised -- some positively, some incredulously -- that an
African-American could be elected President. The news
coverage has been generally balanced and quite positive with
respect to the question of race. However, the media's focus
on the issue and on African-American, not to mention African,
support for Obama, could, in a country where persons of color
are rare, play a larger than expected role in shaping
perceptions of the President-Elect. The coverage is also
creating very high expectations regarding the impact of
Obama's election on transatlantic relations.


Comment
--------------


7. (SBU) The lack of heavy-weight politicians
notwithstanding, our overnight election-watching party drew
over 400 guests. We used the Ambassador's public comments --
and several subsequent press appearances on the elections --
to emphasize the basic continuity in American foreign policy
Slovak should expect -- particularly on support for
transatlantic security bonds, ties with the EU, shared
commitments in Afghanistan and to the fight against climate
change and poverty. We hope -- as several commentators noted
-- that Senator Obama's election will indeed spark some real
and meaningful dialogue on the potential for broader
participation of Slovak minorities, particularly Roma, in
Slovak politics.
OBSITNIK