US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA1128

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 001128 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT. FOR EUR/NCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2014 
TAGS: EPET, ECON, KPAO, PREL, PHUM, RS, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA ON YUKOS AUCTION 
 
REF: SECSTATE 268633 
 
Classified By: Amb. Thomas B. Robertson Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (C)  Pol/econ chief delivered reftel points to Angelina 
Trajkovski of the MFA's Office for Eastern Europe on December 
20.  Trajkovski explained that no official reaction at the 
minister level had been developed, but that this was clearly 
a step backward for Russia and of concern to Slovenia.  While 
Trajkovski is not aware of any Slovenes involved in the oil 
or gas industry in Russia, there are companies with 
production facilities (drug maker Krka for example) and joint 
ventures or considering expanding business in Russia. 
 
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ONLY A STUDENT OF RUSSIA 
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2.  (C)  Trajkovski spent seven years at Slovenia's mission 
in Moscow, 1993-2000, and said that she was both surprised 
and not surprised at recent developments in Moscow.  She 
thought it was important to note that Putin is extremely 
popular across Russia and this popularity conveys legitimacy 
(in the eyes of the Russians) to his consolidation efforts. 
However, she did not think this popularity would translate 
into an extension of his tenure beyond what is 
constitutionally permitted, nor a Ukraine-style power play. 
Putin, she thought, would have more finesse.  Despite her 
long tenure in Moscow and nearly four years covering Russia 
from Ljubljana, Trajkovski declined to be labeled an "expert" 
on Russia, saying wryly, "one can never become an expert, 
only an eternal student." 
 
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SLOVENIA'S DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIP 
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3.  (C)  When asked about GoS views on an EU statement about 
Yukos, Trajkovski was sure Slovenia would support one, but it 
would be important to work out a message acceptable to all. 
She fully appreciated the neuralgic reaction former Soviet 
bloc countries now in the EU have to issues related to 
Russia, but she also noted that Slovenia does not have any of 
this negative baggage in its own relationship with Russia. 
In fact, since first opening its mission in Moscow, relations 
have been generally positive.  She was careful to add that 
this did not mean the GOS would be soft on Russia, only that 
at this time, there is little strain in this bilateral 
relationship.  (Comment: As OSCE CiO, Slovenia will have to 
draw heavily on its banked good-will with Russia to make 2005 
a successful year in office.  End Comment.) 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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