SLOVAKIA ON EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000033 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ELA ALLISON MONZ AND EUR/ERA JEFF GIAUQUE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2019 TAGS: PREL EU SY LO SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA ON EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT REF: A. STATE 001985 ¶B. 08BRATISLAVA463 Classified By: Political/Economic Chief Susan Ball for reasons 1.5 (b a nd d). ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel A points to Tana Halaszova of the Slovak MFA's Middle East Department. Halaszova stated that she did not believe the EU-Syria Association Agreement would be discussed in upcoming EU Ministerial meetings, as the European gas crisis and the Gaza conflict were causing a reordering of EU priorities in 2009. Halaszova noted that Slovakia maintains a belief that the EU should engage rather than isolate Syria. Halaszova said that during Syrian FM Moallem's September visit to Bratislava (reftel B),Slovak FM Kubis discussed potential future cooperation, but the Slovaks are approaching this relationship extremely cautiously, and within the structure of a common EU foreign policy. Halaszova agreed that the normalization of relations between Syria and Lebanon is critical to regional stability, noting that the Slovak MFA released a press statement praising both countries on this decision. She said the Slovaks are watching carefully for the actual exchange of Ambassadors between Beirut and Damascus. ¶2. (C) Halaszova also agreed that June Lebanese parliamentary elections created a delicate domestic political situation in Lebanon, and conceded that the EU-Syria Association Agreement could, if approved, empower radical, Hizballah-aligned groups in that contest. Halaszova said the Slovaks and their EU partners understand the need to support moderation, rather than extremism, throughout the Middle East. She also said the Slovaks are concerned about the border dispute between Syria and Lebanon and the resultant arms smuggling which occurs in that region. Halaszova reiterated that she thought it very unlikely that the EU-Syria Association Agreement would be on the EU agenda, and said that if it was, Slovakia would have to carefully evaluate the regional situation before agreeing to support it. OBSITNIK