US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA773

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000773 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, TSPL, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA'S EC PORTFOLIO COMPLEMENTS NATIONAL 
STRATEGY 
 
REF: LJUBLJANA 726 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified, please treat accordingly. 
 
1. (U)  By all accounts the European Commission Science and 
Research portfolio assigned to  Slovene Commissioner Janez 
Potocnik is a positive development for Slovenia. Both the 
ruling coalition and opposition parties view this portfolio, 
as opposed to the EU Enlargement portfolio many expected for 
Potocnik, as more in line with Slovenia's natiional strategy 
for growth and development. The Government of Slovenia 
believes that Potocnik's assignment at the EC will contribute 
to Slovenia's own development as a scienctific research and 
technology center.  While expanding the European Union south 
and east through the Balkans remains a top priority, Slovenia 
views Barroso's entrusting Potocnik with this portfolio as 
confirmation that Slovenia, though small, has signifcant and 
varied contributions to make to Europe. 
 
2.(SBU)  Comment:  While there was a great deal of 
speculation and really expectation that Slovenia's 
commissioner would receive the enlargement portfolio, 
Slovenia may now find it somewhat easier to deal firmly with 
Croatia on border issues.   It will be much easier to avoid 
the appearance of trying to leverage its role in expansion to 
gain advantage in the dispute with Croatia.  End Comment 
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