US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA854

C O N F I D E N T I A L  LJUBLJANA 000854 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/RPM, G/TIP 
USDOC FOR: 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, SI, GTIP 
SUBJECT: COM'S FAREWELL CALL ON SLOVENIA'S PRIME MINISTER, 
ANTON ROP 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Johnny Young for reasons 1.5 (b)(d) 
 
1. (C)  Summary:  The Ambassador paid a final visit to Prime 
Minister Anton (Tone) Rop on September 9.  It was a warm and 
cordial meeting and PM Rop appeared more relaxed and 
congenial than in previous meetings.  Despite terming the 
elections too close to call, Rop exuded an air of confidence 
that he seemed to support with many veiled references to 
polls and public opinion about October 3 elections. Rop 
talked about Slovenia being an "efficient" member of the EU 
and "player in the region" in NATO.  Iraq was too sensitive 
to discuss prior to elections, but the upcoming Chairmanship 
in Office of the OSCE is a role that Slovenia will 
enthusiastically embrace.  The Ambassador praised Rop for the 
very constructive engagement of Slovenia in some major 
international issues, and it seems, even got him to agree 
that complaints of a major US investor had not been properly 
handled and that his office would bring some pressure to bear 
on the appropriate authorities.  Before the Ambassador left, 
Rop made a strong pitch for a meeting with POTUS next year. 
End Summary. 
 
"I'm Optimistic!" 
---------------- 
 
2.(SBU)  Rop told the Ambassador that if 50 percent of the 
population showed up to the polls, he was confident his 
Liberal Democracy Party (LDS) would come out on top. However, 
he allowed that the vagaries of democracy might overtake as 
they had in the European Parliament elections in Slovenia in 
May (when the center-right opposition parties gained 4 of 7 
seats.)  In the economic realm, Rop saw no substantial 
argument from the opposition because, "the fact that we 
accepted Europe makes economic policy very fixed."  When 
asked about any potential changes in the Ministerial line-up 
post elections, Rop said that he would likely retain the five 
new ministers he appointed earlier this year, but depending 
on how a coalition was formed, some posts could go to other 
parties. 
 
Iraq, the Hot Potato 
-------------------- 
 
3.(SBU) When the Ambassador mentioned that Slovenia should 
participate in the NATO training mission in Iraq, as we 
expected all members would, Rop shook his head and said this 
issue was "impossible to talk about" prior to elections.  He 
said Slovenia would continue to participate in police 
training in third countries, but public opinion would not 
support sending Slovene troops into Iraq.  On Afghanistan, 
however, Rop was more forthcoming saying that he believed 
Slovenia should be there to help Karzai and democracy.  Rop 
reiterated Slovenia's intention to remain strong players in 
the Balkan region.  Slovenia is planning to have some 230 
troops in Bosnia after the transfer of the SFOR mission to 
the EU. 
 
Slovenia Can Make a Difference 
------------------------------ 
 
4. (C) Rop is looking forward to Slovenia assuming the CiO of 
OSCE.  When offered the services of a US officer in its 
mission either in Vienna or at the MFA in Ljubljana, Rop 
leaned over to his foreign affairs advisor, Iztok Mirosic 
(also Slovenia's Ambassador designate to London) and said 
they should take advantage of this. XX recalled that the 
"real problem was Russia" and with a big sigh, Rop said they 
were a "huge problem." (Note: Slovenia was made a similar 
offer by the Russians and turned it down, thus they don't 
feel they can accept the US offer. End Note.) Slovenia has 
developed some very specialized expertise in the areas of 
de-mining (ITF), psychological treatment for war-affected 
children (Together), and trafficking (Kljuc).  The Ambassador 
encouraged Rop to continue to fund these programs because 
they present a very good image of Slovenia to the world and 
are truly value-added.  Rop mentioned that experts from 
Together were finishing up their work in Jordan (Iraq) and 
would be headed to Beslan, Russia, to help with the aftermath 
of the school hostage debacle.  The Ambassador praised the 
work of Kljuc which was instrumental in maintaining 
Slovenia's Tier 2 statust in the Trafficking in Persons 
report.  He told Rop that Slovenia should be working to 
ensure it was in Tier 1 next year. 
 
 
Rop Embraces Wireless Competition? 
--------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) The Ambassador raised the issue of Western Wireless 
/Vega (WWI) and expressed real disappointment that there was 
still no resolution on complaints brought by WWI over a year 
ago.  Surprisingly, Rop agreed.  Rop said he was prepared to 
push on the appropriate authorities to try to come to some 
resolution of the case.  Rop seemed to recognize that largely 
state-owned Mobitel's position in the wireless market (over 
70 percent share) was not sustainable or defensible within 
the EU, and that the market needed to be opened up. (Note: We 
hope to deliver a letter from Commerce Secretary Evans to PM 
Rop prior to the Ambassasdor's departure on 17 September. 
 
Pitch for WH Meeting 
-------------------- 
 
6.(SBU)  In another demonstration of his electoral 
confidence, Rop made a strong pitch for a meeting in 
Washington with the President.  He qualified the request as 
an afterthought, but he clearly believes he'll be available 
to meet with the U.S. president at any time that should 
become possible. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (C)  COM found Rop relaxed, open and frank in his 
discussion.  Rop even managed a few smiles, which do not come 
easily to him.  While Iraq is currently a very a sensitive 
subject prior to Slovene elections, Rop did not actually turn 
down future involvement.  It would be worth coming back to 
him on Iraq post elections.  COM would also support a White 
House visit assuming Rop is returned to office and once US 
elections are decided.  It would be a good opportunity to 
express our views to Rop and a chance to extract certain 
commitments from the GOS that we might want.  A White House 
visit would certainly make him more inclined to work closely 
with the USG.  Rop is a man of his word and would honor any 
commitments he made. 
YOUNG 
 
 
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