US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA896

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000896 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2014 
TAGS: ECIN, PREL, EU, TU, LO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA STILL UNDECIDED ON TURKISH EU MEMBERSHIP, 
DOMESTIC POLITICAL DEBATE EXPECTED 
 
REF: STATE 204758 
 
Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for Reason 1.4(b). 
 
1. (C) DCM raised reftel message on Turkey's EU accession 
with MFA State Secretary Ivan Korcok, MFA Acting General 
Director for European Affairs Frantisek Ruzicka, and Foreign 
Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister Milan Jezovica on 
September 28 and 29.  Ruzicka said Slovakia was supportive in 
principle, although concerned that Turkey would soak up EU 
structural funds.  On the other hand, he recognized that 
accession talks would take time, which meant that the Slovak 
share of structural funds was safe for the coming EU 
financial period.  Ruzicka's comments meshed with his 
previous statements on the issue, when he said Slovakia 
supported Turkish EU membership but only if Turkey were held 
to the same high standards of political and economic reform 
that Slovakia had been required to meet. 
 
2. (C) Korcok was less forthcoming about Slovakia's position, 
saying Ruzicka's "Yes, but..." could also be "No, but..." 
Jezovica dismissed Ruzicka's concerns about the financial 
aspect of Turkish accession, saying Slovakia will support 
Turkey's European character.  (Comment: We note this is not 
the same thing as supporting EU membership.)  Jezovica agreed 
Central European countries know the positive effects of EU 
membership on domestic policies as a catalyst for reform and 
modernization and he predicted the Commission report would be 
positive.  He admitted Turkey was important in NATO and would 
be helpful in resolving issues in the Middle East.  But he 
stopped short of expressing full support. 
 
3. (C) Jezovica said Prime Minister Dzurinda would soon make 
a statement about his Slovak Democratic and Christian Union 
(SDKU) political party's support for Turkey's EU accession. 
This statement will likely spur debate within and among 
Slovak political parties on where Slovakia will stand in the 
run-up to the December 17 Council meeting. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  We will continue to raise the issue with 
Slovak officials and politicians, offering solid arguments 
for a positive answer on Turkey's EU accession.  The domestic 
debate Jezovica suggested needs to take place before the GOS 
will take a definitive stand. 
 
 
WEISER 
 
 
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