DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW - U.S./SLOVENIA BILAT: AREAS FOR

UNCLAS ZAGREB 000119 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - DATE CHANGE FROM 24TH TO 20TH SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR-SCE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV HR SI SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY LEW - U.S./SLOVENIA BILAT: AREAS FOR COOPERATION IN THE REGION AND FURTHER AFIELD, INCLUDING AFGHANISTAN ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Deputy Secretary Lew met Slovenian President Danilo Turk in the margins of the February 18 inauguration of new Croatian President Ivo Josipovic. Lew was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Croatia James Foley and Chief of Staff Piper Campbell. Turk was joined by Dusan Snoj, of the Office of the President. Croatia's EU accession, U.S.-Slovenian relations, U.S. disappointment with the EU parliament's failure to support SWIFT, and Slovenia's contribution in Afghanistan were discussed during the meeting, which took place in the Presidential palace in Zagreb. In addition to seeking appointment of a U.S. Ambassador to Ljubjlana, Turk urged the U.S. to send a senior representative to a March 20 regional stability meeting Slovenia and Croatia will co-host. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU)The Deputy Secretary discussed Croatia's EU accession with Slovenian President Danilo Turk February 18 and noted the importance of Croatia and Slovenia having agreed to arbitration to resolve outstanding issues. Turk praised the arbitration agreement reached in November between Prime Minister Kosor of Croatia and Prime Minister Pahor of Slovenia, saying it was in the interests of both parties. Turk noted the important role the EU had played in advancing the arbitration agreement and predicted Slovenia would approve the agreement "in a few months time." (NOTE: Croatia's Parliament has already ratified the agreement. Slovenia has three steps remaining: The Constitutional Court's review, a parliamentary vote, and a referendum. End Note.) Turk said that newly inaugurated Croatian President Josipovic's anti-corruption platform is good for Croatia and the region, and he also extolled PM Kosor's words and actions countering corruption. Turk described Kosor as "serious and capable of delivering" on her anti-corruption campaign. ¶3. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary praised Slovenia's contribution to ISAF in Heart and with an OMLT. Turk noted the challenge European politicians face in managing a "changing political climate" and public opinion in Europe with reference to Afghanistan. He said it was important to stress that this is not a foreign military occupation nor is it something unwelcome to the people of Afghanistan. He said "stability" and the principle of "building an Afghanistan for the Afghan people" were important concepts to emphasize. He said President Obama's December speech was very good, but that Europeans tend to reduce the message to troop increase; Turk urged more U.S. attention to messaging in Europe. Deuputy Secretary Lew noted the crucial role the ANA, ANP and even Afghan politicians are playing as the current campaign proceeds in Marjah and expressed the hope that these facts-on-the-ground would form part of the message that the surge is designed exactly around the concept of building, and using, Afghan capacity. ¶4. (SBU) Turk and Lew discussed a Slovenia-Croatia high level conference scheduled for March 20 to promote an EU perspective in Southeastern Europe, and Turk appealed for significant U.S. participation. Lew expressed U.S. disappointment with the European Parliament's recent negative vote on information exchange (SWIFT) with the United States. While praising the current Charg, Turk appealed for assignment of a new U.S. Ambassador in Ljubljana and noted that the government faces criticism from an opposition which uses the nearly year-long absence of an Ambassador to suggest there are problems in the U.S.-Slovenian relationship. FOLEY