Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LJUBLJANA114
2009-04-22 12:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:  

SLOVENIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ON AFGHANISTAN, GUANTANAMO, AND

Tags:  PREL KDRG KCRM NATO CVIS ASEC PHUM PTER PINR SI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6046
PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLJ #0114/01 1121228
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 221228Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7270
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC
RUEAHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000114 

DEPT FOR CA/P/IP, EUR/CE
DHS FOR OFFICES OF POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
DOJ FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL KDRG KCRM NATO CVIS ASEC PHUM PTER PINR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ON AFGHANISTAN, GUANTANAMO, AND
HSPD-6

State 31102, Ljubljana 93

Classified By: CDA B. Freden, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000114

DEPT FOR CA/P/IP, EUR/CE
DHS FOR OFFICES OF POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
DOJ FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

SIPDIS

E.O.12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL KDRG KCRM NATO CVIS ASEC PHUM PTER PINR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIAN INTERIOR MINISTER ON AFGHANISTAN, GUANTANAMO, AND
HSPD-6

State 31102, Ljubljana 93

Classified By: CDA B. Freden, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

SUMMARY
--------------

1. (C) In an April 20 courtesy call on Interior Minister Katarina
Kresal, CDA discussed several current issues in the U.S. - Slovenian
relationship. CDA pressed Kresal to move forward with HSPD-6 and
PCSC agreements, in order to satisfy requirements to remain on the
visa waiver program. He raised the request of a Police Mentoring
Group for Afghanistan (ref A),stressing that the U.S. is hoping to
muster support from allies to build stability in the region. On
Guantanamo detainees, Kresal explained that Slovenia would follow the
EU's lead. If there is a common EU position, Slovenia would
individually review each detainee who requested resettlement in
Slovenia and might accept "one or two." End summary.

HSPD-6
--------------

2. (SBU) CDA stressed that completing HSPD-6 and PCSC was essential
to Slovenia remaining on the visa waiver program, and that we
intended to follow soon with a diplomatic note and proposed text for
beginning discussions. Kresal echoed CDA's call for agreements to be
reached this year. (Note: Though a CA team visited Slovenia in
October 2008 to discuss Slovenian accession to Homeland Security
Presidential Directive 6 (HSPD-6),the issue was left in the air due
to the fact that Slovenia was between governments at that time.
Since that time, repeated efforts to re-engage with the Slovenes have
been met with silence. The Ministry of Interior only recently
notified post that Slovenia will require "formal" notification and a
proposed text to begin the process. Though not specifically
discussed, the Ministry also notified post that an agreement on
Preventing and Combating Serious Crime (PCSC) would have to follow

along similar lines. End Note.)

AFGHANISTAN POLICE MONITORING TEAM
--------------

3. (C) CDA briefed Kresal on the U.S. request for a potential
Slovenian Police Mentoring Team for Afghanistan, noting that we have
already discussed the issue with MOD and MFA (ref B). Kresal stated
that she was aware of the request, and that Slovenia is in the
process of developing a national strategy on its international
cooperation projects, including Afghanistan. She noted that she had
already sent a MOI proposal to the MFA, and that when asked by MOD
when a police team could be ready, she replied "they already are."
She also mentioned an Austrian proposal to train the police units
outside of Afghanistan as a possible alternative.

GUANTANAMO RESETTLEMENT
--------------

4. (C) Anticipating the next item on the agenda, Kresal raised the
issue of accepting former Guantanamo detainees, explaining that
Slovenia is waiting for the EU's final decision before moving ahead.
She stressed that the process would have to be addressed on a
case-by-case basis, and that the detainee would have to have
requested resettlement in Slovenia. She worried that any detainee
resettled in Slovenia would have a very difficult time remaining
anonymous and assimilating into Slovenian society. Thinking aloud,
she speculated that "perhaps a couple" of detainees would be accepted
under the best circumstances.

THE ERASED
--------------

5. (SBU) In a sidebar, CDA praised Kresal for tackling the
long-standing problem of the "erased" and surviving a no-confidence
vote in parliament. Kresal flashed her eyes and said that the
process was now moving forward and could not be stopped, speculating
that it could be completely resolved in the next few months.

COMMENT: A PICTURE OF KRESAL
--------------

6. Post's first formal meeting with Kresal confirmed that she is a
businesslike interlocutor who avoids small talk. She confidently
engaged on the issues that were at hand, but would not move beyond
the papers in front of her to extrapolate on her views. MOI is the
largest ministry in Slovenia, and its competencies range from the
police and border control to immigration policy and the
administrative units found in each town in Slovenia. Kresal is
widely respected by her employees, and one recent interlocutor noted
that when she first arrived, there was concern that the 36 year-old
attorney lacked substantive and management experience. Our contact

LJUBLJANA 00000114 002 OF 002


then noted that everyone is now confident that Kresal is on top of
the issues and knows how the game is played politically; this
combination has enabled her to push ahead on tough initiatives, such
as the issue of the "erased."
FREDEN