US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA1006

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BRATISLAVA 001006 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2014 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, LO, IZ, AF, NATO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAK TROOPS IN IRAQ AFTER POLISH WITHDRAWAL? 
 
REF: BRATISLAVA 836 
 
Classified By: DCM Scott Thayer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY. Robert Kalinak, Chairman of the Parliamentary 
Security and Defense Committee and member of the opposition 
party SMER, recently questioned the Slovak troop mandate in 
Iraq on a political TV talk show.  While remaining supportive 
of coalition objectives in Iraq, he raised three issues: 
 
-- An allegation that Slovak deminers have been unable to 
leave their camp to work for five months, because the 
security situation is too tense; 
 
-- Slovak troops may be more effective in Afghanistan; and 
 
-- Poland is recosidering its troop commitments and maybe 
Slovakia should too. 
 
Defense Minister Juraj Liska on the same TV talk show 
conceded Kalinak's points may deserve long-term attention. 
We are best served considering a possible government and 
public relations strategy to maintain Slovak commitments in 
Iraq if Poland withdraws or reduces forces. END SUMMARY. 
 
Kalinak: "Deminers Cannot Work in Iraq; Shift to 
Afghanistan?" 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
2. (U) Kalinak argued that parliament should reconsider the 
troop mandate at the time of the next rotation in January, 
since "all they (the Slovak deminers) do is stay in their 
camp."  He pointed out that Slovak deminers have not been 
able to work since the last troop rotation in June due to 
security risks.  He said this policy needlessly risks 
soldiers' lives and costs Slovakia money.  Kalinak said he 
supports the U.S. and its Iraq policy but added Slovakia 
"would be much more of a help in Afghanistan than we are in 
Iraq."  He also suggested Slovakia could train Iraqi police 
in Slovakia to support the coalition effort.  (NOTE: The 104 
Slovak troops in Iraq are on an open-ended mandate, ergo 
Kalinak's focus on rotation dates rather than mandate 
renewal.) 
 
3. (U) Liska responded in the same interview by expressing 
the need for the coalition to succeed in Iraq.  He mentioned 
the positive international marks Slovak deminers have earned 
but conceded Kalinak's point saying, "I think that if our 
troops are kept from doing their job for a long time, it 
might make sense to discuss in parliament whether their 
presence in Iraq is still effective or whether their mandate 
should be changed, come the next rotation." 
 
Slovaks ARE working in Iraq 
---------------------------- 
4. (C) Vladimir Jakabcin, Director General for Defense Policy 
and International Relations at the MOD told emboffs October 
26 Liska knew the deminers were working, but Kalinak's 
"energetic and impatient" style prevented Liska from speaking 
up on television.  Jakabcin said each of the ministries and 
parliament must communicate more effectively amongst 
themselves.  Jakabcin confirmed information that Joint 
Operations Center Chief Col. Ondrej Novosad gave in an 
October 21 press conference: the contingent this rotation has 
demined 25 kilometers, verified 275,000 square meters of 
munitions destruction, and completed eight engineering 
surveys.  The contingent is expecting an increased work load 
when it moves to Al Kut. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
5. (C) Any Polish moves towards disengagement will raise 
further questions from Slovak politicians about possible 
Slovak disengagement.  Not only Kalinak, but also other 
members of the Defense Committee including Vice-Chair Roman 
Vavrik (SDKU) have linked any Polish decrease in forces to a 
need for Slovakia to reconsider the work Slovak troops are 
performing in Iraq.  Slovakia would need a guarantee that its 
contingent's security would be covered and that its mission 
was truly needed.   The German Marshall Fund's Transatlantic 
Trends report indicates 71 percent of Slovaks disapprove of 
the presence of Slovak troops in Iraq (Ref C). 
 
6. (C) The GOS has stood resolute in its defense of the 
Slovak humanitarian mission.  The mandate of the Slovak 
contingent does not allow for combat operations.  From a 
 
government relations and public relations perspective, we are 
well-served by considering the implications of a possible 
Polish draw down or withdrawal now. 
 
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
 
WEISER 
 
 
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