SLOVAK RESPONSE TO FAC POINTS

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000028 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV AF BH UA LO SUBJECT: SLOVAK RESPONSE TO FAC POINTS REF: E. KONICK 1/16 EMAIL ¶1. (SBU) European Correspondent Albin Otruba accepted USG points for the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on January 21 and expressed appreciation that the U.S. and EU are so close on the major issues. Bosnia-Herzegovina -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The single item on which Otruba saw a gap between Slovak and U.S. policy is the relationship of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) and the EU Special Representative (EUSR) offices in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Otruba said the EU member states are unanimously in favor of rolling the OHR into EUSR, since an independent OHR is an obstacle to Bosnia's EU integration. The question for EU member states "is not if this should happen, but when. And Slovakia is in favor of it happening as soon as possible." Afghanistan -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Otruba described Afghanistan's 2009 Presidential election as a "fiasco" and "ineffective." He couldn't imagine any EU member state or ISAF contributor being opposed to a delay in the Parliamentary elections, but said the Afghan government must propose, own and defend any proposal for delay. ¶4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Lajcak will lead Slovakia's delegation to the London Conference. Otruba said the MoD State Secretary, Daniel Duchon, is still considering participating as well. Ukraine -------------- ¶5. (U) Ukraine will not be discussed at the January FAC. A conversation on Haiti has been scheduled instead. EDDINS