GAERC: SLOVAK AND U.S. POSITIONS "NEVER CLOSER"

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000250 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV LO SUBJECT: GAERC: SLOVAK AND U.S. POSITIONS "NEVER CLOSER" REF: J.GIAQUE 6/4 E-MAIL ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Poloff discussed ref points on the June 15-16 GAERC meeting with European Correspondent Albin Otruba on June 9. Otruba enthusiastically declared the U.S. and Slovak positions on GAERC issues are now closer than ever before. Otruba spoke at length about the President's speech in Cairo, and said it has been very well received in Europe. He said U.S. and Slovak positions on Israeli-Palestinian Peace and Syria-Lebanon are "without difference." CUBA -------------- ¶2. (SBU) During the review of EU policy on Cuba, Slovakia will support a measure to require that EU and Member State representatives meet opposition activists and discuss Human Rights during any official visit to the island. WESTERN BALKANS -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Otruba believes pressure is growing on the Netherlands to unblock Serbia's Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU. Slovakia strongly supports concluding the SAA and easing visa restrictions on Serbia citizens. Otruba described this as "the only concrete benefit the EU can afford to offer right now." EDDINS