This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L  BRATISLAVA 000490 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR EUR-CONLEY 
NSC FOR FRIED 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR LO
SUBJECT: FICO PREPARED FOR CRITICISM DURING WASHINGTON VISIT 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald Weiser for reason 1.4(b). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  Robert Fico, the most popular politicaian in 
Slovakia, will visit Washington May 17-19.  Fico has a major 
influence on public opinion and has told the Ambassador on 
several occasions that he wants good relations with the U.S., 
but his public statements are often unhelpful.  Fico hopes 
his visit to Washington will help policy makers get to know 
"Slovakia's future Prime Minister."  He should hear a tough 
message about how the U.S. views the limits of discourse 
between friends and allies.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) Robert Fico's Smer ("Direction") party consistently 
leads popularity polls with 27-30 percent voter support. 
Leading Smer members include businessmen and professionals, 
but the party's main support is found among young voters and 
less-educated voters.  Fico is in a permanent campaign as 
leader of the main opposition party to discredit the Dzurinda 
government by criticizing foreign policy and domestic 
reforms.  One Smer MP told us that his party was happy with 
many of the current government's economic reforms.  He said 
the situation Smer will inherit after 2006 elections will 
have greatly benefited from all the tough measures.  Then he 
smiled and added, "But now we're an opposition party so, of 
course, we oppose everything."  Therefore, it is important to 
keep in mind that the "populist" line Fico uses in public 
often differs greatly from what Smer MP's and Fico himself 
tell us in private. 
 
Foreign Policy 
-------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Because Fico's public statements are not always 
reflective of what he says privately, and because as an 
opposition leader he needs certain political space to 
maneuver, we don't take everything he says at face value, or 
as indicative of the policy he might adopt if he becomes 
prime minister.  That said, sometimes he goes too far.  For 
example, on private TV JOJ on May 8, 2004 Fico said that 
&the attack on Iraq was about natural resources and that was 
the main reason why force was used in Iraq.8  He also 
claimed that PM Dzurinda was lying about Iraq having barrels 
full of weapons of mass destruction and links with terrorism. 
 The Ambassador spoke to him on these remarks, noting that 
even in opposition there was a line between what is 
acceptable criticism and what is simply spreading lies.  The 
Ambassador warned Fico that his visit to Washington would not 
be a mere exchange of pleasantries, but that he should be 
prepared for some constructive criticism about how "friends 
of the U.S." behave.  Fico has called for a parliamentary 
debate on examining the performance of Slovak troops in Iraq 
and discussing the possibility of their withdrawal absent a 
UN mandate.  This debate was originally scheduled for May 12, 
but President of Parliament Hrusovsky postponed the 
discussion until June. 
 
¶4. (U) On April 10, when parliament debated the ratification 
of NATO accession treaty, Fico stated: 8I do not perceive 
any kind of festive atmosphere. There are many reasons for 
that.  NATO as an organization preferred to adhere to 
international law, instead of sanctioning unilateral military 
action against Iraq by the United States.  In spite of that, 
the citizens of Slovakia tend to connect NATO primarily with 
that great superpower and with its style of asserting its own 
national interests...In our opinion, the assault on Iraq is a 
gross violation of international law, which was also espoused 
by the Government of Slovakia.  The background of the assault 
needs to be seen as being motivated by narrow economic 
interests.  I wish to express my regrets that the GOS did not 
even find the courage, although the war in Iraq provided many 
opportunities for that, to sharply condemn the killing of 
civilians, mostly women and children, as a result of allied 
attacks.8 
 
¶5. (SBU) Fico is generally favorable to America and wants 
good relations with the United States, but he does not always 
have pro-U.S. instincts.  He also gives heavy consideration 
to Russian economic opportunities.  Fico started studying 
English five years ago; before that his only foreign language 
was Russian.  He knows English is the language of Slovakia's 
future, but he also values strong ties to Russia and other 
former USSR states. 
 
¶6. (C) An example was his controversial June 2003 trip to 
Belarus.  Belarusian state television used the visit for 
propaganda, claiming that the country is not isolated.  Fico 
neither met opposition representatives nor discussed human 
rights issues. He later defended the visit by explaining that 
he concluded interesting business contracts during his trip. 
Fico learned a lesson from the criticism, and vetted his 
upcoming trip to Libya with the U.S. before firming plans. 
 
He wants to resume traditional business ties between Slovakia 
and Libya. 
 
Domestic Policy 
------------------ 
 
¶7. (U) Fico represents the center-left in Slovakia, and as 
such publicly opposes all of the Dzurinda government's 
economic reforms as too harsh on ordinary people.  Smer 
endorsed the candidacy of Ivan Gasparovic, who will be 
inaugurated as President June 15.  Both Gasparovic and Fico 
insist they have no longer-term political agreement. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Fico generally supports greater social benefits for 
Slovak citizens, but capitalizes on anti-Roma sentiment by 
proposing to limit benefits.  In January 2004 he recommended 
urgent measures because by 2015 there would be more than 1 
million Roma living in Slovakia, out of which 800 thousand 
would be dependent on social benefits.  In February 2004 Fico 
protested against the measures implemented by GOS to help 
Roma, saying &The rules have to be clear for Roma: First of 
all obligations and then rights.  We are very much aware of 
who the Roma are who want to do nothing for the state and who 
simply ask for social security.8 
 
¶9. (U) In April 2004 the Confederation of Labor Unions (KOZ), 
claiming to have 600 thousand members, announced that it had 
made an agreement on cooperation with Fico,s SMER.  KOZ 
leader Saktor said they will strive to integrate the left of 
center political parties and that KOZ would support SMER in 
the next parliamentary elections. 
 
Management Style 
---------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Many Smer MP's have told us that the reason they were 
attracted to join the party is that they knew Fico and had 
been personally persuaded to enter politics with him.  They 
say he is an open person who lets everyone express his/her 
ideas before making a decision.  Others tell a different tale 
of rigid, top-down management.  SDKU MP Vavrik, who co-chairs 
the defense committee led by SMER MP Kalinak, told us that 
before agreeing to anything, Kalinak goes into the hallway to 
call Ficoand get his blessing.  Kalinak has also privately 
expressed surprise to embassy officers when told of certain 
Fico public statements. 
 
¶11. (C) It is no secret among the political class that the 
man behind Fico, wealthy businessman Fedor Flasik, develops 
the public message and orchestrates the series of press 
conferences and media appearances to keep Fico's name in the 
headlines.  Flasik's strategy is to be outrageous in order to 
attract media attention and stay at the top of the polls. 
While it has its intended effect with potential voters, the 
disconnect between what Fico says publicly and privately have 
earned him the reputation of being unreliable, or at least 
unpredictable, among possible coalition partners.  This is 
also considered by many political analysts to be the 
explanation for his surprise defeat in the September 2002 
parliamentary elections, as doubts about where he really 
stood on the issues caused voters to be cautious once they 
got into the voting booth. 
 
Themes for Discussions 
------------------------------ 
 
¶12. (C) Fico is articulate and clever, and should be given 
the opportunity to present himself.  He should also hear the 
U.S. point of view along the following lines: 
 
-- We respect the role of an opposition politician, and 
believe it is important in a democracy to foster healthy 
debate on issues. 
 
-- Nonetheless, there is a line of responsibility that a 
friend of the U.S. and NATO ally should not cross. 
 
-- Perpetuating myths such as "the invasion of Iraq was only 
for oil" and calling leaders who feared Iraq's WMD capacity 
"liars" is crossing that line. 
 
-- It is true that "actions speak," but words matter too.  We 
register everything you say.  Speaking against the U.S. as 
part of a populist political platform will damage your 
credibility with us.  You will note that even at the height 
of disagreements with our European friends we -- and they -- 
do not question motives and principles. 
 
-- Being a true leader doesn't mean just polling voters and 
repeating their sentiments.  It also means taking a 
principled stand and convincing your supporters to go along 
 
with it.  This is especially relevant in foreign policy areas. 
WEISER 
 
 
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