SLOVAK OFFICIAL: "UKRAINE AS READY FOR NATO AS WE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000562 SIPDIS USNATO FOR RANDY HOAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR UA LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK OFFICIAL: "UKRAINE AS READY FOR NATO AS WE WERE" Classified By: DCM Keith Eddins for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary. USNATO Director for Defense Planning John ¶R. Hoag discussed Ukraine's prospects for NATO accession during a courtesy call with the Director of the Security Policy Department at Slovakia's MFA, Juraj Podhorsky, on November 19. Podhorsky compared Ukraine's readiness for a MAP favorably with Slovakia's readiness when it was given a MAP in 1999, but suggested that it may be simpler to bring Ukraine into NATO by another means. Podhorsky said Slovakia will support a MAP for Ukraine and Georgia at the NATO Summit in December, but said there was no chance of achieving consensus. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) Hoag visited Bratislava to take part in a conference on NATO prospects for Georgia and Ukraine. In a courtesy call with Podhorsky, the two discussed Ukraine's prospects in particular and Slovakia's role and strategy as the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Kyiv. Podhorsky said he is convinced that, due to their common history, experiences and ties of Slavic blood, Slovakia is the best possible advocate for NATO in Ukraine. ¶3. (C) NATO-Russia relations will be the most interesting topic for Slovakia at the December NATO Summit. Podhorsky (protect) said that "unfortunately" Slovakia would argue for continued interaction and cooperation with Russia. Slovakia will support MAP for Georgia and Ukraine, but must otherwise be cautious not to provoke Russia. ¶4. (C) Russian Ambassador-at-large Alexandre Alexejev, who was in Bratislava for the same conference as Hoag, told MFA Political Director Igor Slobodnik that Georgia and Ukraine clearly do not meet the requirements laid down in NATO's 1995 "Study on Enlargement", and should therefore not be offered a MAP. According to Podhorsky, Slobodnik responded sharply, beginning with a reminder to Alexejev that conditions for a MAP and for membership are up to the current NAC, and no one else. Slobodnik went on to say that although he agreed Georgia and Ukraine do not meet the 1995 criteria for membership, MAP is not membership and Slovakia itself did not meet the criteria for membership when it was given a MAP. ¶5. (SBU) Podhorsky described Slovakia's message to Ukraine as "What you do for NATO, you do for yourself." He said this message is based on Slovakia's own experience, in which the country faced its strongest domestic opposition from generals who believed their personal needs were being put second to the desires of SHAPE, and from citizens who had yet to overcome decades of Communist propaganda about NATO's predatory motives. Unfortunately, that message is harder to sell in Ukraine's eastern regions, where cuts in officers and arms purchases will be most painfully felt, and where much of the population identifies more closely with Moscow than Kyiv. It is especially in these regions, however, that NATO benefits from having its message put across by a "Slovak face." ¶6. (C) Podhorsky did not accept a description of the Ukrainian government or General Staff "ignoring" western advice. He said he understands the tense political situation in Ukraine, and that it is not possible for the Ukrainians to do everything at once. Podhorsky hopes allies will show patience with Ukraine for as long as Ukraine shows some perseverance and interest in defense reform. ¶7. (C) Podhorsky was not surprised to hear that young Ukrainian officers who are trained in the U.S. are often ostracized upon their return home. He surmised that more senior officers feel threatened by subordinates who are more qualified, and in line to "steal" their jobs. Podhorsky was sympathetic but did not have any suggestions to resolve the issue. He said similar issues arose in Slovakia when they were reducing the ranks of their officer corps, and many good young officers were probably lost because they couldn't get ahead when they thought it was their time. ¶8. (U) This message was cleared by Randy Hoag. OBSITNIK