US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA923

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000923 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PARM, CH, LY, TU, EU, LO 
SUBJECT: GAERC ISSUES: CODE OF CONDUCT STRONG ENOUGH; 
POLICY ON TURKEY UNDEFINED 
 
REF: A. STATE 214023 
 
     B. BRATISLAVA 909 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Weiser for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) In response to points raised from ref A, MFA European 
Correspondent Lubomir Rehak on October 6 told polec chief 
that the EU was strengthening the code of conduct regarding 
arms sales to make it more effective than in the past.  He 
said member states were confident that it would suffice to 
prevent inappropriate arms sales to both China and Libya.  He 
did not respond to arguments that lifting the embargoes would 
send the wrong messages to China, to Libya, and to arms 
dealers. 
 
2. (C) Polec Chief used the opportunity to ask for a comment 
on Slovak politicians' recent statements of strong 
reservations about Turkish EU accession (ref B).  Rehak said 
that before October 1, the MFA talking point was that Turkey 
would be welcome to join the EU once it fulfilled all the 
requirements.  On the other hand, several Slovak political 
parties have strong ties with other conservative parties in 
the EU, who have been consistent in expressing strong 
opposition to Turkish membership.  Prime Minister Dzurinda 
and Foreign Minister Kukan had made their statement on Turkey 
from the SDKU party headquarters "in their role as 
politicians, not as statesmen."  Rehak believed the door was 
still open for a compromise that would set a date for 
negotiations to begin with Turkey, but which would allow the 
process to stop if Turkey failed to make the expected 
progress.  In other words, if Turkey did not fulfill all the 
criteria, it would not be guaranteed EU membership.  Rehak 
said that the MFA would soon draft a "government position," 
which would be sent to the cabinet for approval.  Then it 
would go to Parliament for approval, at which point 
Parliament would mandate the position which the MFA should 
take on Turkey in December.  (Comment: This would be one of 
the first test cases of the new law requiring the MFA to 
follow Parliament's instructions on issues before the EU. 
Although cumbersome, it would provide wide political cover 
for government leaders.  End comment.) 
 
3. (U) After the European Commission's report on Turkey was 
made public October 6, Prime Minister Dzurinda's SDKU party 
released a press statement calling the report a useful 
starting point for Decmber's EU summit discussions.  It 
recognized Turkey's progress, as well as doubts about 
fulfilling all the necessary criteria in practice.  It 
questioned the EU's absorbative capacity.  The press 
statement emphasized as key that beginning negotiations was 
not tantamount to a commitment to accept Turkey as a member 
and noted that the Commission's stance was consistent with 
that of SDKU.  SDKU confirmed that it would begin a poitical 
discussion among domestic political parties in the interest 
of reaching a wide consensus. 
 
 
WEISER 
 
 
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