US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA1090

C O N F I D E N T I A L  LJUBLJANA 001090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE EUR/RPM 
SOFIA PLEASE PASS TO USOSCE DELEGATION 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2014 
TAGS: PREL, SI, OSCE 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR CALLS ON NEW (AGAIN) SLOVENE FOREIGN 
MINISTER, DIMITRIJ RUPEL 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas B. Robertson Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  Ambassador met with Foreign Minister 
Dimitrij Rupel on Dec. 4 prior to the minister's departure 
for the OSCE Ministerial in Sofia.  Rupel appeared relaxed 
and very comfortable in his surroundings, which he had 
vacated less than six months ago.  Rupel said he was looking 
forward to meeting the Secretary and looked forward to 
renewing his acquaintance with Dr. Rice. The discussion 
focused heavily on OSCE issues, particularly selection of the 
next Secretary General, scales of contribution, and 
monitoring the next round of elections in Ukraine.  Rupel 
again described Slovenia's approach to the job as one of 
mediator and consensus builder explaining that, as CiO, 
Slovenia will have to answer to 56 countries and cannot take 
sides.  Rupel and the Ambassador also discussed Iraq and the 
idea of debt forgiveness, radiation detection monitors 
(portals), Embassy security and the ongoing Western Wireless 
dispute. End Summary. 
 
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NO CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON 
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2.  (C) After a late evening parliamentary confirmation of 
new Prime Minister Janez Jansa's cabinet on December 3, 
Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, returning to his job after a 
six month hiatus, received Ambassador Robertson at the 
ministry on Saturday afternoon, December 4.  Rupel was 
planning to leave for Sofia on Sunday.   It was clear that 
the upcoming OSCE ministerial was on his mind as Rupel 
launched almost immediately into the OSCE issues of concern 
he would be bringing with him to Sofia. He then backed up to 
address some bilateral issues.  Rupel was upbeat and thought 
there "were no clouds on the horizon of our bilateral 
relationship."  He expressed his desire to further improve 
Slovenia - U.S. relations, which he thinks are already good 
but have room to develop.   When in his Parliamentary 
hearings, Rupel was asked what he meant by strengthening ties 
with the U.S. and he explained that he wanted to see more 
U.S. investment in Slovenia, cooperate with the U.S. in the 
OSCE and other multilateral organizations since we share 
common values and work toward the same goals.  Rupel raised 
the issue of the Western Wireless claim, and was a little 
surprised when the Ambassador pointed out that next Friday, 
December 10, was the end of the 45 day grace period Western 
Wireless had set before filing a law suit against the 
government.  Rupel gave every indication that he and the GOS 
would want to settle this case somehow and to avoid becoming 
party to a large lawsuit.  The Ambassador mentioned the 
possibility of flexibility on the part of Western Wireless if 
it was convinced the new GOS was moving in good faith to 
respond to its complaints.  Rupel seemed to take this on 
board. 
 
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PORTALS 
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3. (U)  Pitching it as an OSCE as well as a bilateral 
interest, the Ambassador raised with Rupel the ongoing delay 
of receiving comments on the implementing agreement which 
would allow the process of installation of the radiation 
detection monitors (portals) in the Port of Koper.  Rupel 
seemed well briefed on the problem and knew the ball was now 
in the  Ministry of Finance's court.  He promised to see what 
pressure he could bring to bear and to move the process 
forward. 
 
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TABULA RASA 
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4.  (C)  Rupel dearly wants to have some of the stickier 
issues of the current CiO of the OSCE cleared from the slate 
before taking over in January.  He mentioned that he was 
aware the U.S. was supporting the French candidate for 
Secretary General of the OSCE - whom Slovenia also supports, 
 
SIPDIS 
but he also thought there might be another potential 
U.S.-backed candidate in the wings.  Rupel does not want the 
scales of contribution problem to spill over into his tenure 
and wanted to know more about the U.S. position on this 
issue.  Rupel also expressed some mystification about some of 
the discussions surrounding the title of an upcoming seminar 
 
 
on Anti-Semitism. 
 
 
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ALL EYES ON UKRAINE 
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5.  (C)  On the topic of Ukraine, Rupel expounded a bit on 
his theory of democracy lapping at the shores of Ukraine and 
Russia, and how this was a frightening prospect for many in 
those countries.  Even as he expressed support for monitors 
in the next round of Ukraine elections, he seemed skeptical 
that the OSCE an others would be able to cover the country 
adequately.  He hopes also to see this problem in the 
"solved" column before he is sworn in on January 16, 2005. 
 
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EARLY VISIT TO WASHINGTON/SUPPORT ON IRAQ 
----------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C)  As has been mentioned in previous cables and heard 
from the Slovene embassy in Washington, Rupel is pushing hard 
to visit the U.S. early in 2005, and he would like to have 
his Prime Minister lead the delegation.  Responding to this 
request, the Ambassador suggested that further cooperation in 
Iraq and Afghanistan would be welcome news in Washington and 
the commitment of 50, 000 euros (recently deposited in the UN 
Trust Fund) to U.N. protection forces was a good signal.  The 
Ambassador also broached the idea of Iraq debt relief and 
Rupel responded that he thought the GOS was prepared to 
forgive any Iraq debt - but he would need to double check  It 
is a little more complicated for Slovenia than others because 
the debt is old Yugoslav debt and involves succession 
agreements.  He thought that if it had not already been 
worked out, it could be. 
 
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EMBASSY SECURITY 
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6.  (SBU)  The Ambassador again requested high-level 
attention to U.S. Embassy security issues.  He explained that 
the Ministry of Interior, which supervises all police 
services in Slovenia, and the City of Ljubljana need to come 
to agreement on restricting access to Tomsiceva street next 
to the Embassy.  Rupel suggested he would call the Mayor and 
discuss the issue with the Prime Minister.  He is interested 
in meeting this urgent embassy need. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7.  (C)  Rupel appears to have stepped back into his office 
without missing a beat.  As reported earlier, we expect 
already good bilateral relations will only improve, and for 
there to be continuity on the OSCE account.  Rupel did not 
present any new or different ideas from his predecessor in 
this meeting.  Rupel is a true trans-Atlanticist and, working 
with PM Jansa, he should have fewer difficulties inside the 
Cabinet getting his views heard and positions implemented 
than he did in the government of former PM Anton Rop. 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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