C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000041

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF ZL SU ZI UP BO
SUBJECT: GAERC RESPONSE

REF: SECSTATE 04297

Classified By: CDA Keith A. Eddins as per 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points to Albin Otruba,
European Correspondent at the Slovak MFA on January 21.
Otruba said GAERC's agenda is still subject to change, but
guessed it would include Kosovo, Guantanamo, the Middle East,
Russia/Ukraine, and energy security only. Slovakia will be
represented at the GAERC and preceding meetings by State
Secretary Olga Algayerova. FM Kubis is expected to leave the
MFA as of January 23.


2. (C) Otruba said the EULEX mission is moving according to
plan, and he expects it will assume final operational
capability in the coming weeks. (Comment. Slovakia supports
the EULEX mission without recognizing Kosovar sovereignty.
End comment.)


3. (C) Guantanamo was added to the agenda on Portugal's
initiative. Otruba does not expect any concrete results from
the discussion, and Slovakia will discourage any conclusions
being drawn at this stage. Slovakia's position will be that
accepting Guantanamo inmates should be the prerogative of
each EU Member State. The Slovak Government discussed this
possibility in the last year after a request from the U.S.
Ambassador, and decided not to accept inmates. Otruba does
not expect that position will change during the current
government's term.


4. (C) EU Foreign Ministers are meeting the Israeli FM today,
and will have dinner with the FMs of Jordan, Turkey, Egypt
and the Palestinian Authority on Sunday. Otruba anticipates
GAERC will adopt conclusions with respect to the provision of
humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip.


5. (C) According to Otruba, Slovakia is "in complete
agreement with the U.S. position" on the Russia/Ukraine gas
dispute. Slovakia's supply agreement was with Russia, and
only Russia can be held accountable for the failure of gas to
reach its customers. That said, Otruba described Ukraine's
positions during the crisis as "unhelpful and uncooperative."
Echoing many voices, Otruba predicted the best thing to come
out of the crisis will be renewed efforts in the EU for
diversification of supply.
EDDINS