SLOVAK FM KUBIS DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN WITH

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000437 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC AF UNMIK IZ SUBJECT: SLOVAK FM KUBIS DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN WITH AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD ¶1. (SBU) In a May 13 meeting, Slovak FM Jan Kubis told Ambassador Khalilzad that he had just returned from a joint trip to Afghanistan with Dutch FM Verboken. Kubis said he had found the situation in Afghanistan "unclear and unresolved." Kubis speculated that the local Afghan population is unhappy with the looming uncertainty. He stated that the Slovak Ministry of Defense has plans to increase its troop presence in Afghanistan from 100 plus to 250-300, but this has not yet been approved by the Government of Slovakia. Kubis stated that he hopes the upcoming Paris political conference on Afghanistan comes up with three or four priorities. ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad said that he has expressed concerns to President Karzai regarding political polarization as governance is a key issue for Afghanistan. Khalilzad asked Kubis for his assessment of Uruzgan Province. Kubis responded that governance is clearly the biggest problem and the absence of a UN presence in Uruzgan Province is also an issue. Khalilzad noted that recent U.S. actions included adjusting UNAMA's mandate to sharpen its focus and giving new UNAMA SRSG Kai Eide more staff in the field. He said that the U.S. had also asked Eide for a proposed timeline on implementing tasks in the UNAMA mandate. Khalilzad stressed that we are working in the ACABQ to pass a benefits package that will encourage more UN staff to take unfilled positions Afghanistan. ¶3. (SBU) On Kosovo, Kubis said that Slovakia will not remain alone if all other EU members other than Cyprus are ready to recognize it. However, he said he did not see such a situation yet. Ambassador Khalilzad asked Kubis if Slovakia would be re-engaging in Iraq. Kubis responded that Slovakia is looking at ways to get involved in economic projects, but will not re-engage on military or police matters because of a previously made political decision in Bratislava. Khalilzad