HUNGARIAN MILITARY OUTREACH TO SERBIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000854 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR RPM AND EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE. PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR JEFF HOVENIER E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2014 TAGS: PREL MARR YI LO HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN MILITARY OUTREACH TO SERBIA Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) During a conversation on the margins of the recent NATO conference in Budapest, CHOD Laszlo Tombol told PolOff of his upcoming trip to Cyprus, accompanied by his Slovak counterpart. Tombol said that he is seeking ways to engage the Serbian military in joint operations with the Hungarian Defense Forces (HDF). Originally proposing inclusion of a small Serbian contingent in the Hungarian PRT in Afghanistan, the CHOD told PolOff that, based on conversations with his Serbian counterpart, that initial cooperative efforts would, instead, focus on peacekeeping operations. With that in mind, Tombol said he is working with his Slovak counterpart in an effort to convince him to reach an agreement for Serbian participation in the UN peacekeeping operations in Cyprus, in which Slovakia is also a participant. ¶2. (C) Tombol stated that he hopes this proposal will move forward, as his Serbian counterpart told him that Serbia looks to Hungary as a role model for further integration with Europe, based on Hungary's past experience with the Partnership for Peace program as a lead-in to NATO membership, as well as transformation to an all-volunteer force. ¶3. (C) Comment. Tombol's comments confirm previous DAO Budapest reporting concerning his efforts to further engage the Serbian military in more active cooperation with the HDF. The CHOD's initiatives reflect the broader Hungarian government's view that it can play a key role in helping orient Serbia towards further integration with European and transatlantic institutions. End comment. LEVINE