US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA808

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000808 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EU, LO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA CODIFIES RELATIONSHIP WITH US IN NEW 
SECURITY STRATEGY 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED -- PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
1.  (SBU)  On September 27, Parliament approved a new 
Security Strategy for Slovakia which supersedes the previous 
security policies in place since 2001.  The security strategy 
notably acknowledges "special status" for the "Euro-Atlantic" 
security relationship, and calls for Slovakia to support 
"Euro-Atlantic" initiatives in the region which seek to build 
a stable and secure Europe.  COMMENT:  "Euro-Atlantic" 
continues to be used as code for "U.S." to the extent that 
the local media reported that the security strategy mentioned 
the United States by name.  While the strategy uses 
"Euro-Atlantic" in place of "U.S.," post notes the 
significance of an EU member state codifying in such strong 
terms a special security relationship with the United States. 
 END COMMENT. 
 
2.  (SBU)  Voting on the security strategy fell largely along 
party lines, with the pro-U.S. ruling coalition (as well as a 
few crossover MPs from opposition party HZDS and several 
independents) voting in favor of the strategy, while 
opposition parties Smer and KSS, both of whom have expressed 
anti-NATO, anti-U.S. sentiments in the past, voted against it 
en bloc.  We will be discussing this with Smer in the 
Ambassador's upcoming introductory lunch with party leaders. 
 
VALLEE 
 
 
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