Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10BRATISLAVA81
2010-02-25 15:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bratislava
Cable title:
SLOVAKS DOUBT EU ARMS EMBARGO OF CHINA WILL BE LIFTED
how-toVZCZCXRO3250 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSL #0081 0561544 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 251544Z FEB 10 FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0441 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0003 RUEHSL/AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA 0509
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000081
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/ERA, EAP/CM, PM/RSAT, ISN/RA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/24/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM CH EUN LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS DOUBT EU ARMS EMBARGO OF CHINA WILL BE LIFTED
REF: STATE 13969
CLASSIFIED BY: Keith A. Eddins, CDA.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000081
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/ERA, EAP/CM, PM/RSAT, ISN/RA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/24/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM CH EUN LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS DOUBT EU ARMS EMBARGO OF CHINA WILL BE LIFTED
REF: STATE 13969
CLASSIFIED BY: Keith A. Eddins, CDA.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Martin Podstavek,
China Desk Officer of the Slovak MFA. Podstavek said that
Slovakia is not one of the most "pro-China" countries within the
EU, though there have been several recent high-level visits
which have focused primarily on expanding economic cooperation
(e.g., DPM Caplovic is currently in China). Podstavek said that
he, and other experts in the EU's Asia-Oceania Working Party
(COASI),find the human rights argument a more compelling reason
for maintaining the embargo than the "security implications,"
and implied that some states which support the embargo are also
selling dual-use technology to China.
2. (C) Podstavek appreciated the U.S. position, but said there
is no cause for worry currently, as he believes the U.K.,
France, and Germany are all against lifting the embargo. He
predicted that in the future, the EU would offer lifting the
embargo in exchange for a more comprehensive political dialogue
with China, among other deliverables. We believe Slovakia is
likely to follow what it perceives to the EU consensus on this
issue.
EDDINS
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/ERA, EAP/CM, PM/RSAT, ISN/RA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/24/2020
TAGS: PREL PARM CH EUN LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKS DOUBT EU ARMS EMBARGO OF CHINA WILL BE LIFTED
REF: STATE 13969
CLASSIFIED BY: Keith A. Eddins, CDA.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Martin Podstavek,
China Desk Officer of the Slovak MFA. Podstavek said that
Slovakia is not one of the most "pro-China" countries within the
EU, though there have been several recent high-level visits
which have focused primarily on expanding economic cooperation
(e.g., DPM Caplovic is currently in China). Podstavek said that
he, and other experts in the EU's Asia-Oceania Working Party
(COASI),find the human rights argument a more compelling reason
for maintaining the embargo than the "security implications,"
and implied that some states which support the embargo are also
selling dual-use technology to China.
2. (C) Podstavek appreciated the U.S. position, but said there
is no cause for worry currently, as he believes the U.K.,
France, and Germany are all against lifting the embargo. He
predicted that in the future, the EU would offer lifting the
embargo in exchange for a more comprehensive political dialogue
with China, among other deliverables. We believe Slovakia is
likely to follow what it perceives to the EU consensus on this
issue.
EDDINS