US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA1076

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 001076 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KAWC, EU, HR, LO, ICTY 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SEEKS "BALANCED" EU POSITION ON CROATIA 
 
REF: STATE 254097 
 
Classified By: DCM Scott N. Thayer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) POLEC Chief delivered reftel demarche to the MFA 
European Correspondent Lubomir Rehak on November 30.  Rehak 
said the MFA had sent its delegation in Brussels "a different 
instruction" on November 29.  Slovakia thinks the draft 
language being circulated on ICTY conditionality is "too 
strong," and would like to see a more balanced review of 
Croatia's progress.  Slovakia will insist on compliance with 
the ICTY, but does not want Carla del Ponte's word to be the 
sole decision-making factor on Croatia's progress.  Croatia 
is doing well in other spheres and can serve as a good 
example for other Balkan states. 
 
2. (C) Rehak agreed on the importance of a united front 
between the U.S. and EU and suggested the Slovak position 
"could change." 
 
3. (C) Rehak said that Slovakia was not convinced a hard-line 
approach was the most effective way to win cooperation with 
ICTY.  He shared an informal paper on Kosovo (the Slovak 
contribution to the analysis of SITCEN GS of the Council), 
highlighting the idea that the arrrest of Ramush Haradinaj in 
Kosovo would send a signal to other Balkan countries that the 
ICTY wasn't targeting only certain nations.  Public 
perception against sending other indictees to the Hague 
(Mladic, Gotovina) could be softened.  Partial text follows 
(entire paper faxed to EUR/NCE): 
 
"The situation in Kosovo and in the all-Serbian context could 
be significantly influenced by the realization of Carla del 
Ponte's notified intention to issue a warrant on several 
k/Albanians, above all Ramush Haradinaj.  There is no need to 
be afraid of this step despite threats that Pristina is 
distributing around the whole world; there is no threat of a 
national uprising and the smaller organized riots can be 
handled by KFOR.  Television broadcasting of the trial with 
Haradinaj would, similarly as the Milosevic trial in Serbia, 
contribute to revealing ways the radicals were "fighting" for 
independence of Kosovo and naturally, in the public opinion 
the radicals would slide to the margin of public life.  It 
can be assumed that a trial with Haradinaj would also 
significantly contribute to Belgrade's willingness to 
extradite Ratko Mladic and the Serbian "Kosovo" generals to 
the Hague.  Undoubtedly, the Serbian public stance on Kosovo 
would improve, bringing more willingness to resolving its 
status." 
WEISER 
 
 
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