NAC MINISTERIAL: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF GEORGIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000560 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/28/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO GA UA LO SUBJECT: NAC MINISTERIAL: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTIVE OF GEORGIA AND UKRAINE Classified By: DCM Keith Eddins for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador met Foreign Minister Jan Kubis on November 28 to discuss the upcoming NATO Ministerial (septel reports Slovak views on NATO support for the Afghan National Army). Both the Ambassador and Kubis acknowledged that recent stories in the European press had led to some misconceptions concerning U.S. policy on Ukraine, Georgia and MAP. The Ambassador assured Kubis that these stories misrepresented the fundamental element of the U.S. position, which remains fully consistent with the Bucharest Summit Declaration and its commitment that both Ukraine and Georgia will eventually become members of the Alliance. Kubis said that he personally had not interpreted these press reports as the U.S. walking back its position on Ukraine and Georgia in any way; he knows, understands, and supports U.S. views. ¶2. (C) While Slovakia continues to endorse MAP for both countries, Kubis said he could also support draft communique language that is being circulated at NATO that makes clear that work on membership could move forward even without MAP, through -- for example -- the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia commissions. Slovakia interprets such language as keeping all options open for the Strasbourg NATO Summit in April ¶2009. In the meantime, he said we should use all available tools to assist Kyiv and Tbilisi with necessary reforms as they move toward eventual NATO membership. OBSITNIK