US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA61

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000061 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
EUR FOR BETH JONES AND HEATHER CONLEY 
NSC FOR DAN FRIED AND DAMON WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PREL, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA PM CONSIDERING IRAQ DEPLOYMENT: "WE'RE 
NOT NEUTRAL ANYMORE" 
 
REF: LJUBLJANA 20 
 
Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 
1.   (C) On January 27, I called Prime Minister Jansa to 
express my appreciation for his statement on Iraq at his 
January 25 Brussels' press conference.  (NOTE: Jansa was 
quoted as saying Slovenia will consider sending troops to 
Iraq to train the local security forces there..."We will 
consider and debate (these issues). We expect the situation 
in Iraq will improve after Sunday's election.  As a NATO 
member, we will do everything we can to contribute to future 
stability.")  I said both Brussels and Washington would take 
note of his statement, mentioned the considerable -- and 
largely unfavorable -- coverage his statement had elicited 
domestically, and emphasized that it was important that the 
GOS not backtrack in its commitment to go forward with its 
review.  Jansa thanked me for my call and said this was a 
necessary first step.  He chuckled at the press reaction, 
since this was not a change in policy, but, rather a 
commitment to review policy.  When I noted that the Tito days 
of non-alignment were long gone and the press needed to 
remember that, Jansa agreed, saying, "We're now part of NATO; 
we're not neutral any more." 
 
2.   (C)  Jansa further explained that the government had 
discussed this issue and was fully unified about the need to 
revisit the GOS position on Iraq.  He indicated Defense 
Minister Erjavec will travel soon to meet with NATO defense 
ministers in Nice, where he will discuss NATO's needs in Iraq 
after the election.  In a surprise for me, the PM then added 
that last week Slovenia had sent EUR 5 million worth of 
weapons and equipment (17,000 pieces) to Iraq.  (Note:  We're 
trying to track down the details on this.)  Referring to our 
earlier discussion (reftel) on caveats for Slovenians 
assigned to NATO billets, he added that the government had 
lifted all such caveats.  There would now be no further 
limits on Slovenians in NATO slots serving in third countries 
(such as Iraq). 
 
3.   (C)  Comment:  Jansa spoke confidently, and I came away 
with the feeling that his statement at Brussels was no 
accident, but the first part of a strategy to find a way for 
the GOS to be more forthcoming in Iraq.  (This was confirmed 
in a discussion the DCM had with one of Jansa's staffers the 
same day.)  Jansa had told me in two earlier meetings that 
Iraq would be difficult.  It certainly is, especially given 
the considerable, and largely negative, coverage the press 
gives to any mention of a Slovenian role in Iraq.  But as a 
former defense minister who clearly believes in NATO, and 
understands that with membership comes serious 
responsibilities, Jansa is probably our best hope to bring 
about some change.  The almost hysterical reaction of former 
PM Rop, now in opposition, to Jansa's Brussels statement, 
however, indicates that the opposition will do whatever it 
can to make more political hay over an any suggestion that 
Slovenia puts boots on the ground in Iraq.  And the press 
will only pile on.  Clearly, Jansa's task will be made easier 
by progress on the ground in Iraq after elections, and any 
success we have during the President's trip to Europe in 
bringing some of our more recalcitrant allies on board. 
 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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 2005LJUBLJ00061 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL 


 
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