DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S DECEMBER 2, 2008

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 128519 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KV AF LO SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S DECEMBER 2, 2008 MEETING WITH SLOVAK AMBASSADOR PETER BURIAN (U) Classified by Acting Assistant Secretary Judy Garber, Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (U) Participants: U.S. -------------- The Deputy Secretary EUR DAS Judith Garber Deputy Chief of Protocol Raymond Martinez D Special Assistant Mary Sue Conaway Koray Ertas (Notetaker) Slovakia -------------- Ambassador Peter Burian DCM Andrej Droba ¶2. (C) SUMMARY. Slovak Ambassador-designate Peter Burian presented copies of his credentials to the Deputy Secretary on December 2, 2008. During the meeting the Deputy Secretary asked about Slovak troop contributions to Afghanistan and pressed for Slovak recognition of Kosovo's independence. On Afghanistan, Ambassador Burian said that Slovakia planned to increase its contribution. On Kosovo, he said Slovakia viewed recognition as a long term process. END SUMMARY. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶3. (C) In response to the Deputy Secretary's question on whether Slovakia is considering increasing its troop contribution to Afghanistan, Ambassador Burian said that they planned to boost the number to 240 from 150. He underlined that although the Slovak troops operating in Afghanistan were composed of non-combat elements like engineers, they would soon send 50 "military policemen" to guard the base in Kandahar. He also said that they needed training and financial assistance to prepare their troops for combat operations. Ambassador Burian further stated that the GOS was also considering possible contributions on the civilian side, such as contributing to a PRT. The Deputy Secretary expressed his appreciation for GOS contributions, underscoring that the cause was worth the international allied efforts. -------------- Kosovo Recognition -------------- ¶4. (C) The Deputy Secretary asked Ambassador Burian about the prospects for Slovakia's recognition of Kosovo. Burian responded that Slovakia viewed recognition as a long term process and they were not "rushing into it." He argued that this position was essential to having some leverage with both Serbia and Kosovo on issues such as improving human and minority rights. The Deputy Secretary said that this would be an issue the U.S. Government would continue pressing with the GOS. He stressed the importance of integrating the Balkans into the EU, which would keep existing tensions under control. He pointed out that the sooner the international community left the issue of recognition behind, the quicker the integration of Kosovo and the Balkans into the EU. He reminded Burian how Slovakia and other Central and Eastern European states benefited from this very integration. Burian said that Slovakia also shared these views and was fully on board with supporting the integration of Kosovo and Serbia into the EU. He asserted that the GOS was not ignoring the facts on the ground, as evidenced by the GOS initiative to approach the Kosovar administration on travel facilitation, and Slovakia was now starting to issue visas to Kosovars. RICE