US embassy cable - 04LJUBLJANA1134

C O N F I D E N T I A L  LJUBLJANA 001134 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/NCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PINR, SI, NATO 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: COM MEETS NEW DEFENSE MINISTER ERJAVEC 
 
Classified By: Chief of Mission Thomas B. Robertson for reasons 1.4(b) 
and (d). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  In a 22 December courtesy call by COM, new 
DefMin Karl Erjavec called for intensifying cooperation 
between the U.S. and Slovenia, particularly in the field of 
training.  Erjavec confirmed that the GoS remained focused on 
its commitment to spend two percent of GDP on defense by 
2008.  He said Slovenia would send more intelligence experts 
to aid EUFOR in Bosnia in 2005, while Defense Policy Director 
Uros Krek said the Slovenes were evaluating options for 
joining a PRT within ISAF.  Krek added that the GoS hoped to 
submit a list of equipment available for Iraqi Security 
Forces by the end of December.  On the issue of no caveats 
for NATO-assigned SAF officers, Krek said no caveats exist 
but that cabinet approval would be required for any onward 
deployment from NATO HQs to Iraq or other destinations.  END 
SUMMARY 
 
2.  (C) As the first ambassador to be received by new DefMin 
Karl Erjavec, COM was accompanied by Pol/Econ Chief, 
Pol-Miloff and Bilateral Affairs Officer (BAO).  Erjavec was 
joined by head of MoD's Defense Policy Directorate Uros Krek 
and Chief of Staff Franc Stanovnik.  Erjavec spoke in Slovene 
throughout the meeting, but he did not ask for English to 
Slovene translations of COM's statements.  After Erjavec made 
initial statements about "intensifying cooperation" that have 
become the GoS mantra in COM's meetings with the new cabinet 
ministers, COM led Erjavec point by point through a series of 
issues, both bilateral and multilateral. 
 
DEFENSE BUDGET:  SPENDING WISELY TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC SUPPORT 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
3.  (C) In response to COM's call for the new GoS to honor 
Slovenia's defense spending commitments, Erjavec confirmed 
that Slovenia's goal remains two percent of GDP by 2008.  He 
acknowledged the need to spend those funds carefully in order 
to maintain public support for Slovenia's gradually 
increasing defense budget.  In this vein, Erjavec said MoD 
would undertake a comprehensive review of SAF equipment to 
ensure Slovenia would be able to reach its NATO Force Goals 
most efficiently. 
 
FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, BOSNIA AND IRAQ 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
4.  (C) Signalling a wish to ensure Slovenia is both meeting 
its commitments to NATO and accruing the benefits of 
membership, Erjavec said Slovenia is evaluating options for 
participating in a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) led 
by another country under ISAF.  Krek added that defense 
establishment leaders met recently in Bohinjska Bela to focus 
on plans to turn Slovenia's Mountain Warfare School into a 
NATO Center of Excellence.  Erjavec thanked COM for USG 
assistance in arranging a planned February visit to 
Afghanistan to see SAF troops deployed to ISAF.  He said 
Slovenia would increase the number of SAF troops stationed in 
Southeastern Europe by sending more intelligence experts to 
EUFOR in Bosnia in 2005.  With respect to Iraq, Krek added 
that, by the end of December, MoD plans to submit to NATO and 
the Embassy a list of equipment available for Iraqi Security 
Forces.  He said the list would include approximately 4000 
AK-47s, among other equipment. 
 
NO CAVEATS FOR SLOVENIAN NATO OFFICERS, BUT... 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
5.  (C) COM pushed Erjavec to consider sending SAF troops to 
a training mission within Iraq, and he urged the GoS to keep 
its policy of placing "no caveats" on the deployment of 
Slovene officers assigned to NATO Headquarters.  Krek 
clarified that - while there are no caveats currently in 
place - Slovenian law requires cabinet approval for SAF 
soldiers to be deployed anywhere outside Slovenia.  Noting 
that the GoS is currently in the process of assigning 
officers to NATO Headquarters billets, Krek confirmed that 
cabinet approval would be required even to send an officer 
already assigned to NATO HQs on a mission to a third country. 
 Barring an amendment to the Law on Defense that would 
require a two-thirds majority in Parliament, COM suggested 
that cabinet approval for NATO-billeted officers might be 
drafted to include approval for onward deployments from 
Brussels. 
 
A FOCUS ON TRAINING; NATO LESSONS FOR CROATIAN LEADERS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
6.  (C) COM highlighted both the BAO-led state partnership 
program with the Colorado National Guard and the Marshall 
Center as opportunities for SAF troops and civilian defense 
officials to participate in training programs and exchanges. 
Erjavec then echoed his call for intensified cooperation, 
noting that Slovenian troops need the best training possible 
to prepare for "higher risk" collective defense missions they 
will undertake in the future.  Erjavec said that "enhancing 
and further expanding" cooperation with the U.S. is written 
into the GoS coalition agreement.  (NOTE:  Erjavec is the 
only cabinet minister in the new center-right governing 
coalition representing DeSUS, the left-of-center Pensioners 
Party.  END NOTE)  Krek acknowledged that Slovenian 
participation in Marshall Center programs had diminished 
recently but vowed to try to reverse the trend in light of a 
recent letter from COM and the German Ambassador highlighting 
new seminars for 2005.  COM asked the MoD to take an active 
training role itself by cooperating on an upcoming Embassy 
Zagreb-organized visit to expose Croatian decision-makers to 
lessons learned on Slovenia's path to NATO membership. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
7.  (C) Erjavec delivered no surprises, but he was clearly 
"learning the ropes" in his first defense-related position 
after his experience in the Justice Ministry and working on 
human rights issues.  We were glad to see the incisive, 
reliable Krek at his side, and we hope Krek will remain a 
respected voice within the MoD under Erjavec's leadership. 
Looking uncharacteristically harried, Krek told COM before 
the meeting that the transition to new leadership had kept 
him and the Ministry extremely busy.  Despite a steep 
learning curve, and perhaps because of Krek's guidance, 
Erjavec seemed in command of his brief.  END COMMENT 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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