US embassy cable - 05BRATISLAVA926

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BRATISLAVA 000926 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, EU, LO 
SUBJECT: SLOVAK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER 21 GAERC 
 
REF: STATE 208899 
 
Classified By: CDA Lawrence R. Silverman for reasons 1.4 (b) ad (d). 
 
1. (SBU) Polec Chief met with European Correspondent Lubomir 
Rehak November 16 to discuss points provided reftel on agenda 
items at the November 21 GAERC. 
 
2. (SBU) DEFENSE ISSUES:  Rehak noted that 19 states are 
members of both NATO and the EU, and it was in all their 
interests to improve cooperation. 
 
3. (C) IRAQ: Slovakia agrees with the U.S. on Iraq policy. 
Rehak explained the reason that Slovakia has not forgiven the 
bulk of its debt to Iraq as an accounting problem.  Slovakia 
is willing to meet the Paris Club goal of 80 percent debt 
reduction, but because of the way the debt is recorded, the 
Finance Ministry can forgive "all or nothing" of the 
commercial debt.  The amount isn't particularly high 
(approximately 25 million dollars) but forgiving the total 
also creates problems with Slovak statistics for the OECD, as 
they would show an artificial increase one year and then a 
sharp drop-off the next.  The finance ministry is not opposed 
to the debt forgiveness in principle, but has not found a 
solution to the accounting problem that will not affect 
election year budgets and euro aspirations. 
 
4. (C) MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS: Rehak said the EU still has 
financial and security concerns about the Rafah border 
crossing.  Nonetheless, Slovakia is planning to contribute 
one or two policemen to the Rafah mission.  Regarding January 
elections, the GAERC conclusions will call on Israel to 
create the proper conditions for holding elections in the 
occupied territories including East Jerusalem. 
 
5. (C) UKRAINE/BELARUS/RUSSIA:  Rehak expressed surprise that 
the U.S. was critical of the recent high-level contact 
between Ukraine and Belarus.  His impression was that there 
was general agreement to use Ukraine as a conduit for 
communicating with the Lukashenko government.  Poloff 
mentioned the possibility of a joint U.S.-EU approach to 
Lukashenko.  This led to a side discussion of Prime Minister 
Dzurinda's personal views.  Dzurinda has had no contact with 
Lukashenko, and "does not like dictators."  Rehak said 
Dzurinda went to Russia for the first time after six years as 
Prime Minister, and refuses to go to China despite repeated 
appeals by the Slovak ambassador in Beijing for improving 
trade.  Rehak said Dzurinda has no "above-standard" contacts 
with Putin, although in Rehak's personal view Dzurinda could 
be closer in order to influence the Russian elite.  Slovakia 
is a small country which Russia does not view as threatening, 
and although Slovaks do not have fond memories of Russian 
intervention in 1968, they do not have negative 
people-to-people relations. 
 
6. (C) UKRAINE: Rehak emphasized that rule of law principles 
were critical in Ukraine.  He said Slovakia has been arguing 
within the EU that it is unrealistic to expect radical steps 
at reform in Ukraine before parliamentary elections, or else 
the reform-minded politicians will lose the elections. 
Ukraine needs to indicate some progress in democratization 
and economic reform, but sensitive social issues can't be 
dealt with before the elections.  Slovakia will also try to 
persuade EU partners to mention a "European perspective" at 
the December 1 EU-Ukraine summit.  Many member states are 
completely opposed to even mentioning the possibility of 
membership; but in Slovakia's view the possibility of 
membership "someday" will be a big impetus for Ukraine to 
stay the course. 
 
7. (C) BOSNIA:  Rehak said Slovakia was well aware of the 
U.S. role in Bosnia and supports it.  The GAERC conclusions 
will be "very good and very complex."  Slovakia had problems 
with wording calling for national minorities' rights. 
Because of possible misinterpretations by the Hungarian 
minority here, Slovakia preferred language calling for 
"rights of the persons belonging to national minorities," 
according rights to individuals rather than groups.  However, 
Slovakia will express its concerns with this technical issue 
to partners without blocking the final text. 
 
8. (C) KOSOVO: Rehak said that Slovakia has been trying to 
explain to EU partners how difficult the final status talks 
will be for Serbia.  He compared it to asking the U.S. to 
cede New Mexico to Mexico to show "compromise."  Many EU 
countries are unwilling to understand how difficult it is for 
the Serbs; there is a lack of sympathy.  Rehak said UNSC 
membership will be a huge challenge for Slovakia with regards 
to the Western Balkans, and Slovakia risks deteriorating 
relations with both Serbs and Albanians. 
 
9. (C) SYRIA: Rehak was certain Slovakia will not meet with 
Syria on the margins of the Barcelona Summit, saying again, 
"Dzurinda doesn't like dictators." 
 
10. (C) WTO: Slovakia's view is that it is not possible to 
open EU agricultural markets to developing countries without 
further liberalization of non-agricultural sectors.  Rehak 
said Slovakia supports flexibility and a wide mandate for 
Mandleson to negotiate. 
SILVERMAN 
 
 
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