VZCZCXRO4301
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHSL #0562 1911505
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 101505Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0060
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0041
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY S E C R E T BRATISLAVA 000562 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC PASS TO DAMON WILSON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2011 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: NEW SLOVAK FM PROMISES FULL COORDINATION ON 
POSSIBLE TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, REQUESTS VISIT TO 
WASHINGTON 
 
 
Classified By: Lawrence R. Silverman, Charge d'affaires, a.i., 
for reasons 1.4 (b)(d). 
 
 1. (U) This message includes an action request and 
recommendation in para 3. 
 
 2. (S) New Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis told Charge 
today that he would personally "take care of the issue of the 
Slovak troops in Iraq."  Speaking privately just after an 
introductory session with the diplomatic corps July 10, Kubis 
implied to Charge that the Fico government probably would 
ensure that a withdrawal would eventually take place. 
Nevertheless, Kubis stressed that Slovakia understood it 
retained a commitment to the stabilization and 
democratization of Iraq.  Any withdrawal would be gradual and 
only after full "coordination" with Slovakia's allies, and 
with Iraq.  Kubis made a special point of telling the meeting 
with the diplomatic corps that such coordination includes the 
Iraqis (the Iraqi Ambassador to Slovakia, resident in Vienna, 
was in attendance, and Kubis reiterated his pledge directly 
to the Iraqi Ambassador after the session).  Kubis also 
committed Slovakia to find other ways to help the Iraqis with 
both security and governance.  Kubis added that he clearly 
understood the importance of both the issue and the 
appearance of how it was handled to Slovakia's image in 
Washington and more broadly.  He acknowledged that now-PM 
Fico had surprised us with the Iraqi issue during the 
campaign, but promised transparency and no more surprises as 
the government's consideration of the matter moved forward. 
He had coordinated this position with new Defense Minister 
Kasicsky before the latter went to Dubrovnik for the July 
9-10 southern European conference, and said that Kasicsky 
shared his view 100 percent.  He was pleased when Charge told 
him that A/S Fried was planning to meet with Kasicsky in 
Dubrovnik, and asked us to pass his regards to Amb. Fried. 
 
 3. (S) Action request: In connection with Iraq and his larger 
commitment to do all he could to maintain a strong and 
cooperative relationship with the U.S., Kubis asked Charge 
whether it would be possible to obtain meetings with the 
Secretary and NSA Hadley in Washington sometime during the 
 
SIPDIS 
coming few weeks.  Kubis said, "I should wait for the 
publishing of my own government's policy program (which may 
take a few weeks), but I really do not want to wait, if 
possible."  Kubis recognized that this is short notice, but 
he clearly wants to use such a visit to maximize his leverage 
over the foreign policy of the new government.  (Comment: For 
this reason, we strongly support FM Kubis's request for 
meetings in Washington.  He wants to maintain as much 
influence over foreign policy as he can, and it is in our 
interest to help him do so.)  Ambassador will see FM Kubis 
July 12. 
SILVERMAN