Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LJUBLJANA389
2008-08-29 09:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA: EU SPEAKS WITH "ONE VOICE" ON RUSSIA'S
how-toVZCZCXRO1560 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLJ #0389 2420959 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 290959Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6871 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000389
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG RU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: EU SPEAKS WITH "ONE VOICE" ON RUSSIA'S
RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 91894
B. LJUBLJANA 0371
Classified By: DCM Brad Freden, reasons 1.4(b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000389
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG RU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: EU SPEAKS WITH "ONE VOICE" ON RUSSIA'S
RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 91894
B. LJUBLJANA 0371
Classified By: DCM Brad Freden, reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) On August 28, DCM met with Ambassador Ada
Filip-Slivnik, Head of Division for Eastern Europe and
Central Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
encourage Slovenian opposition to Russia's recognition of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia (reftel A). She said that she
was surprised that Medvedev did not even "wait one week"
after the Duma's vote, but that Slovenia and other EU
member states are united in opposition to Russia's
decision.
2. (C) Filip-Slivnik said that finding consensus within the
EU on how to move forward, however, would be more difficult
than a common rejection of Medvedev's announcement.
Similar to the August 26th comments of Ales Balut, FM
Rupel's Chief of Staff (reftel B),Filip-Slivnik
acknowledged that EU dependence on Russia--for both its
natural gas and its significant market for EU
exports--complicated relations. Any disruption of either
gas flows to Europe or exports to Russia would be "a
catastrophe." Because Slovenia is not as dependent on
Russia for gas as some other EU member states, it runs a
trade surplus with Russia of approximately 200 million
euros. "We're pragmatic," she said, describing Slovenia's
businesslike relations with Russia as well as its strong
support for Georgia.
GHAFARI
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG RU SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: EU SPEAKS WITH "ONE VOICE" ON RUSSIA'S
RECOGNITION OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND ABKHAZIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 91894
B. LJUBLJANA 0371
Classified By: DCM Brad Freden, reasons 1.4(b,d)
1. (C) On August 28, DCM met with Ambassador Ada
Filip-Slivnik, Head of Division for Eastern Europe and
Central Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to
encourage Slovenian opposition to Russia's recognition of
South Ossetia and Abkhazia (reftel A). She said that she
was surprised that Medvedev did not even "wait one week"
after the Duma's vote, but that Slovenia and other EU
member states are united in opposition to Russia's
decision.
2. (C) Filip-Slivnik said that finding consensus within the
EU on how to move forward, however, would be more difficult
than a common rejection of Medvedev's announcement.
Similar to the August 26th comments of Ales Balut, FM
Rupel's Chief of Staff (reftel B),Filip-Slivnik
acknowledged that EU dependence on Russia--for both its
natural gas and its significant market for EU
exports--complicated relations. Any disruption of either
gas flows to Europe or exports to Russia would be "a
catastrophe." Because Slovenia is not as dependent on
Russia for gas as some other EU member states, it runs a
trade surplus with Russia of approximately 200 million
euros. "We're pragmatic," she said, describing Slovenia's
businesslike relations with Russia as well as its strong
support for Georgia.
GHAFARI