VZCZCXYZ0016
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSL #0623/01 3251237
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211237Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1336
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0112
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0005
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0085
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0152 C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000623 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/RPM, IO/UNP, L/EUR, EUR/SE, EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA: FIRM ON KOSOVO ESDP MISSION; SAYING THE 
RIGHTS THINGS ON BOSNIA, DESPITE SPIRIC VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lawrence R. Silverman 
 
 1. (C)  Summary.  Charge discussed Kosovo, Bosnia and Iran 
with Slovak Political Director Roman Buzek on November 20. 
On Kosovo, Buzek said Slovakia can accept UNSCR 1244 as the 
basis for an ESDP mission in Kosovo, but complained that 
"some countries" were pushing the GOS to equate participation 
in ESDP with recognition.  Buzek confirmed that Slovakia 
planned to deploy 8 policemen to the mission, but expressed 
concern that EU planning for post-December 10 was moving 
slowly.  Charge briefed Buzek on the recent visit of BiH High 
Representative Lajcak to Washington and urged the GOS to 
deliver a strong message of support for Dayton and Lajcak 
during the November 22 visit of the recently-resigned Head of 
the Bosnian Council of Ministers, Nikola Spiric, to 
Bratislava. Buzek said the GOS would deliver the message, and 
had already conveyed the same message to Belgrade. Buzek's 
reassurances notwithstanding, we are not certain that 
pro-Serb PM Fico will keep to this line. Buzek heads to 
Tehran November 28-29. It is a long-deferred reciprocal 
visit, but, given the current atmosphere in Tehran, the 
Slovak embassy has not yet been able to confirm meetings or 
pin down interlocutors. Buzek agreed to press the Iranians to 
meet their UN and IAEA commitments. Buzek informed Charge 
that, due to difficulties scheduling meetings with Members of 
Congress, FM Kubis has postponed plans for a trip to 
Washington D.C December 19-20. Kubis will still go to New 
York City on December 17-19. End Summary. 
 
Kosovo 
------ 
 
 2. (C) Buzek noted there is broad consensus within the EU 
that an ESDP mission could be deployed under UNSCR 1244. 
Regardless of UDI, which Slovakia would not recognize, 
Slovakia will not block any decision on ESDP, and is firmly 
committed to participating in the mission. He reiterated FM 
Kubis' emphasis on the EU being prepared for UDI through an 
ESDP mission. Current Slovak planning envisages the 
participation of 8 policemen.  (The GOS has already approved 
and submitted to parliament a resolution providing for 
additional contributions to KFOR -- two helicopters and 
associated support new personnel will be deployed in 
December.)  Buzek mentioned, with some irritation, that "some 
countries" (nfi) were pushing Slovakia to accept that 
participation in ESDP means acceptance of UDI.  Slovakia will 
not recognize UDI; the two issues are not linked, he 
stressed.  Buzek stated confidently that under this 
formulation the Slovak parliament would not object to Slovak 
participation in EDSP.  As for the modalities, Buzek stated a 
clear preference for an UNSYG call/invitation for an 
International Civilian Office mission. He suggested that an 
appeal from the Kosovars for assistance could be problematic. 
 Harking back to well-known Slovak concerns about UDI, Buzek 
recounted comments made by Swedish FM Bildt at the GAERC. 
Bildt, according to Buzek, said the EU should not speak about 
UDI, but about UDIs. Buzek informed Charge that FM Kubis 
planned to visit Serbia and Kosovo December 2-4.  Kubis would 
likely meet with UNMIK and possibly KFOR officials, as well 
as a Kosovar Albanian representative. 
 
Bosnia (and Belgrade... and Moscow) 
---------------------------------- 
 
3.(C) Charge sought this meeting with Buzek because of the 
November 22 visit of recently-resigned Head of the Bosnian 
Council of Ministers Spiric. He expressed our concern over 
the signal the visit could send, just as EU High 
Representative Lajcak is fighting against Spiric's 
obstructionism. Charge reviewed the recent visit of Bosnia 
HiRep Lajcak to Washington and reiterated our strong support 
for Lajcak's efforts to implement Dayton. While we would all 
prefer that Bosnia's leaders take the necessary steps on 
their own, the U.S. backs Lajcak fully in the use of the Bonn 
Powers if they do not. Buzek stated that Lajcak enjoys 
Slovakia's full backing -- his failure would be "our 
failure." Buzek agreed with Charge's analysis, adding that 
the "European perspective" may not be sufficiently compelling 
to the parties to do what is ultimately in their interest. 
Meanwhile, Belgrade and Moscow are exerting strong, negative 
pressures. Buzek is worried that Kostunica may see in 
Republika Srpska an opportunity to recoup in some fashion the 
loss of Kosovo.  For Moscow, Bosnia is merely a pawn in a 
much larger game. 
 
 
 4. (C) Charge urged the GOS to use the Spiric visit to 
reaffirm a message of support for a unified BiH and the 
efforts of HiRep Lajcak, and to condemn efforts to link 
Kosovo and Bosnia. Buzek stated unequivocally that these 
themes would be conveyed by each of Spiric's interlocutors: 
FM Kubis, PM Fico and FinMin Pociatek.  The fragmentation of 
Bosnia is in no one's interest, Buzek said, and would set a 
dangerous example for Europe.  Buzek explained that Spiric's 
visit had been discussed almost two years ago but not 
materialized. However, during a recent visit to Republika 
Srbska, Czech FM Schwarzenberg encouraged Spiric to visit 
both Prague and Bratislava. Buzek acknowledged the timing of 
the visit is awkward given Spiric's uncertain mandate, but 
claimed it would provide a useful opportunity for dialogue. 
Although the GoS originally preferred a working-level visit, 
he said Bratislava followed Prague's example and elevated it 
to an official visit. In addition to meetings with FM Kubis 
and Finance Minister Pociatek Spiric will have a private 
meeting, press conference and lunch with PM Fico. Buzek 
seemed confident that PM Fico would not freelance away from 
the official line of strong support for the High 
Representative. (Comment: Post is not as optimistic about 
what Fico will say but we have made clear what line we 
expect. Post will report septel on results of the visit and 
any media coverage. End comment.) 
SILVERMAN