SLOVENIA TO CONSIDER INFORMATION FUSION CENTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000245 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/DSS ACTING DS ASSISTANT SECRETARY GREG STARR, DS/IP/EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER MASS ASEC PREL MARR SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA TO CONSIDER INFORMATION FUSION CENTER CONCEPT Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari for reasons 1.4 (b,d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On May 30, DCM Maryruth Coleman met with Director Joze Romsek of the Slovene Ministry of Interior (MOI) Police Directorate (PD) to discuss the concept of an Information Fusion Center (IFC). The DCM suggested that Slovenia consider developing an IFC to facilitate the sharing of intelligence between Slovene law enforcement and intelligence agencies, thereby strengthening Slovenia's counter-terrorism and counter-narcoterrorism capabilities. The DCM's meeting was a follow-on to a May 12 meeting between MOI PD leaders and a USG interagency team, including representatives from DOS, DOJ, DEA, DOD, and RAO, to introduce the concept of an IFC and to demonstrate USG interagency support for the initiative. Although Romsek and his subordinates recognized the utility of the IFC concept in certain contexts, they expressed doubts regarding whether Slovenia needed such a center given that the country has only a single law-enforcement agency and relatively short lines of communication between relevant players. Romsek stated that he would discuss the idea with Minister of Interior Dragutin Mate and stressed that the GOS would need time to evaluate the USG proposal. End Summary. Background -------------- ¶2. (C) In our interactions with various Slovene law enforcement and intelligence agencies, we have noted an apparent lack of communication regarding information and intelligence critical to effectively combat terrorism and narcoterrorism. Of particular concern has been the unwillingness or inertia on the part of the MOI PD, the Slovene Intelligence and Security Agency (SOVA),and the Ministry of Defense Intelligence Service (OVS) to share information with one another, often resulting in lost opportunities to turn intelligence into operations. With this in mind, we decided to approach the GOS to discuss the development of an IFC, which, by collocating representatives of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, could facilitate routine sharing of information. The U.S. European Command Counter Narco-Terrorism Joint Interagency Coordination Group had provided assurances that this would be a project for which they would be willing to provide logistical and financial support. Police Skeptical of IFC -------------- ¶3. (C) During both the May 12 and May 30 meetings, USG officials presented the basic concept of the IFC to the MOI PD in hopes of motivating them to take the lead on the project. Although MOI PD representatives reacted positively to the concept of an IFC, they repeatedly stated that while it may be a useful instrument in the U.S. and elsewhere, they saw little need for it in Slovenia because the country has only one law enforcement agency and therefore does not have any problems with sharing information. Despite numerous references by US officials to the utility of sharing information with agencies beyond law enforcement, the MOI PD representatives refused to acknowledge this nor even mention cooperation with SOVA and other intelligence agencies. Romsek stressed that the MOI PD did not want to convey a negative response to the concept, but that at this time it was difficult to see the value that an IFC would add to their law enforcement capabilities. Romsek promised, however, that he would discuss the concept with Minister Mate and would contact us if the GOS decided to move forward with the initiative. Comment -------------- ¶4. (C) Despite Romsek's assurances that the GOS will seriously consider our proposal, it appears that there is little interest, at least within the MOI PD, to develop an IFC. Resistance to the idea likely stems from an unwillingness within the MOI PD to relinquish any of its law enforcement territory to other Slovene agencies and due to an interagency history marked by rivalry and a lack of trust. Nevertheless, we will continue to encourage the GOS to embrace the IFC concept with the goal of greater cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-narcoterrorism efforts amongst Slovenian agencies and between Slovenia and the United States. We hope to use an expected meeting between the Ambassador and Mate to raise the issue once more. Due to Prime Minister Janez Jansa's historic enmity with Slovene intelligence agencies, however, it is possible that Mate will be disinclined to take action on the IFC concept. Parliamentary elections scheduled for the autumn may lead to a new government and provide a new opportunity to press forward with the initiative. End comment. GHAFARI