US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA831

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BRATISLAVA 000831 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR DAS MARK PEKALA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, EU, IZ, BO, LO, NATO, RU 
SUBJECT: EUR PDAS KURT VOLKER'S MEETING WITH V-10 POLDIRS 
IN BRATISLAVA, OCTOBER 8 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Lawrence R. Silverman for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C)  SUMMARY:  During an October 8 meeting with V-10 
PolDirs, visiting EUR PDAS Kurt Volker heard frank and honest 
opinions -- and some colorful discussion -- about the current 
status of the transatlantic partnership.  The PolDirs, who 
noted that such a meeting could never have been pulled 
together under their own auspices: 
-- welcomed meeting in this format; 
-- encouraged more communication and collaboration between 
the EU and the U.S.; 
-- expressed their disappointment with the current EU Troika 
framework; 
-- noted a lack of a forum for strategic dialogue and 
expressed their hope that NATO could fulfill that role; 
-- expressed concern about the role of Russia in regional 
affairs; 
-- and urged more coordination in the very near term on 
Belarus. 
They were very supportive of the second Bush administration's 
renewed emphasis on strategic engagement with Europe.  They 
also stressed the importance of democracy succeeding in 
Ukraine because of its wider effect on its neighbors to the 
east.  END SUMMARY. 
 
V-10 ON BUSH'S SECOND TERM: FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
2.  (C)  During a frank and colorful October 8 meeting 
between visiting EUR PDAS Kurt Volker and V-10 PolDirs, 
Volker outlined the sense of optimism within the USG for 
working together with Europe to address common challenges in 
the "post-accession" years.  The PolDirs gave a warm welcome 
to the second Bush administration's trans-Atlantic 
engagement, noting that the role of the U.S. in Europe was 
helpful and should be expanded.  Polish Deputy Foreign 
Minister Piotr Switaliski told the group that the role of 
U.S. in Europe was needed even more so today; "just look at 
Ukraine."  He said the Poles worst nightmare is having to 
choose between the U.S. and the EU, so he was grateful for 
the renewed U.S. engagement with Europe.  Czech PolDir Martin 
Povejsil said that the events of September 11, 2001, had been 
"the breaking point" and that it changed America more than it 
changed Europe.  While all had common goals and values that 
they wished to share in the wake of the attacks, he noted the 
"different approaches" taken by Europe and the United States. 
 He welcomed the attempt to "bridge the gap" being made by 
the USG in Bush's second term, but felt that "differences 
remain," and thus more must be done.  There is good 
cooperation, Povejsil said, on Ukraine, Lebanon, and Iran, 
but what is really needed is success that can be presented to 
European citizens. 
 
THE EU TROIKA IS BROKEN 
----------------------- 
 
3.  (C)  Several PolDirs said that the EU Troika was a 
"broken" framework, and that we "must find new ways" of 
managing the U.S. - EU relationship.  They lamented that they 
read second hand reports of "U.S. - EU" consultations, and 
that the Troika does not reflect accurately the views of the 
25.  PDAS Volker suggested a US - PSC meeting at 25, instead 
of with the Troika; while Poland immediately expressed 
concern that it would establish a precedent that could be 
"used" by Russia (see para 5), Estonia noted that something 
had to be done as "we are all of the common position that 
(the Troika) is a disaster." 
 
WHERE TO FIND STRATEGIC DIALOGUE 
-------------------------------- 
 
4.  (C)  The PolDirs were also unanimous in their opinion 
that Europe lacks a forum for strategic dialogue, as the EU 
has been more "reactive" than proactive.  The Czech PolDir 
decried the lack of strategic dialogue later in the 
discussion, and Romanian PolDir  Ovidiu Dranga was also 
insistent on the point that true strategic dialogue -- free 
from the "global interests" of some of Europe's countries 
with "global ambitions" -- was nonexistent, and that current 
frameworks leave "little space for strategic and inclusive 
discussion on global issues."  Lajcak said "there is no EU 
position, just cliches, and then a few members go off in the 
back room, and then we repeat new cliches."  The PolDirs 
agreed that such dialogue doesn't happen in the EU, and that 
while it could happen in NATO, there are NATO members states 
that do not allow the venue to be used as such.  PDAS Volker 
said that this is why Secretary Rice hosted her 
"trans-Atlantic lunch" in New York, and why U/S Burns would 
be meeting with NATO Political Directors in a NAC/R in 
 
 
Brussels on Tuesday, October 11.  The PolDirs welcomed this 
plan.  Volker reminded them that if they value this kind of 
strategic dialogue with in NATO, they needed to say so at the 
table in Brussels, as well. 
 
FOR THE V-10, RUSSIA STILL LURKS ON THE HORIZON 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
5.  (C) Throughout the discussions, the issue of Russia was 
raised.  Lithuanian PolDir Zygimantas Pavilionis immediately 
commented upon the opening of the morning meeting that Europe 
should be more united, as "Russia is trying to cause division 
between Europe and the United States."  There was concern 
that German foreign policy in the region -- which Slovak 
PolDir Miro Lajcak summarized as "we'll support you if you 
don't upset Russia" -- would not change even after the change 
of government in Berlin.  "German needs to re-think Russia," 
he said.  The PolDirs were concerned with what they perceived 
as the evaporation of democracy in Russia and Russia's 
preference for surrounding its borders with broken states and 
dictatorships, and worried that -- if the course were not 
reversed -- a "second Cold War" could be in the making.  The 
group was pleased with PDAS Volker's reiteration of the USG 
position, namely that there would be "no false choices" 
between confrontation and cover-up, but rather frankness on 
Russia's "democracy problems" (a major concern of the 
PolDirs) and openness to practical cooperation on real 
challenges.  After a heated exchange, Hungarian PolDir Ivan 
Udvardi and Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister agreed that 
"Russia's values are not Europe's values." 
 
UKRAINE AND BELARUS 
------------------- 
 
6.  (C)  There was agreement that success in Ukraine was 
imperative to success in the region, and the Polish Deputy 
Foreign Minister again called for more cooperation, 
collaboration, and involvement with the United States.  The 
Polish rep claimed "if Ukraine builds a democracy, Russia 
will follow."  The Hungarian PolDir noted the EU-Ukrainian 
Summit in December and said Yushenko "needs something to take 
home."  In Belarus, there was universal agreement that the EU 
is "non-strategic" on Belarus, and that Belarus is an 
"irritant" within EU-Russia relations.  This timid EU 
approach was one reason that some V-10 PolDirs suggested that 
the U.S. needed to engage the EU more in Belarus, to try to 
"bring the EU along" at a political level, not just a 
technical level.  Slovenia considered it a significant 
problem, and noted that the United Kingdom was reluctant to 
take action for fear of overstepping its bounds while EU 
President.  Poland called for the U.S. to make Belarus a 
priority in the very near term (before the November 7 meeting 
in Brussels).  The Czech PolDir noted that Russia was "not in 
love with Lukashenko" and would "replace him" if they felt 
the time had come, thus stalling future democratic change. 
 
OUTSIDE EUROPE:  V-10 ON EXTERNAL ISSUES 
---------------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C)  PDAS Volker briefed the V-10 PolDirs on the evolved 
U.S. approach to ISAF expansion and eventual "synergy" with 
OEF in Afghanistan, including a "dual-hatted chain of 
command."  The group was interested and generally supportive 
of such a dual-hatting arrangement. 
 
8.  (C)  On Iraq, Bulgarian PolDir Ivan Najdenov said that 
his country would be reducing their presence in Iraq in 
January, but all the other PolDirs expressed their intent to 
stay until asked to leave.  There was consensus that NATO 
should generate its own force protection structures, and the 
Romanians said they have been exploring committing troops to 
force protection for the NTM-I Mission (to join the 
Hungarians), but there was no decision nor time frame on a 
decision yet. 
 
9.  (C)  After congratulating the Czech Republic for its 
principled stance on Cuba (and encouraging others to follow 
suit), Volker was told of the PolDirs general disappointment 
with EU policy in Latin America, where they felt democratic 
values took a second seat to business interests.  They agreed 
that more needed to be done with the EU on Cuba and 
Venezuela, noting that the futures of both countries were at 
stake. 
 
10.  (C)  There were no new commitments on the broader Middle 
East, though the Political Directors were receptive to 
Volker's update of U.S. efforts in the region, and request 
for their support -- nationally and within the EU -- for the 
Foundation and Fund for the Future.  There was noted interest 
 
 
in Palestinian politics, with several PolDirs concerned with 
and surprisingly realistic about the role of Hamas in the 
political process.  They suggested that the EU should be 
tougher on Hamas because of its close ties to terrorism. 
 
 
A CALL FOR MORE V-10 MEETINGS, WITH A NEW NAME 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
11.  (SBU)  There was tremendous enthusiasm for reviving the 
V-10 PolDirs meeting format, though the group noted that a 
similar meeting could never have been organized without U.S. 
impetus.  (Because of Slovene sensitivities, however, they 
agreed to henceforth call the group "Central European 
Democracies" rather than the V-10.)  The group agreed to meet 
again in early 2006 (February or March) in Vilnius, and there 
was some discussion of the merits of inviting the Ukraine, 
Georgia, and Moldova to the next meeting to try to engage 
them as "partners, not students." 
 
12.  (U)  EUR PDAS Kurt Volker has cleared this cable. 
 
VALLEE 
 
 
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