VZCZCXRO6103
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHSL #0406/01 1441415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241415Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9860
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0044
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA 0014

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRATISLAVA 000406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KDEM SR YI LO
SUBJECT: KOSOVO NGO'S RECEIVE TRAINING IN SLOVAKIA 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000406  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Summary: A four-day conference May 17-20 brought Kosovo 
NGO leaders to Bratislava for training and discussions about 
"the role of NGO's in a society undergoing transition."  In a 
conference partly funded by SlovakAid, the NGO leaders named 
the desire for EU membership as the motivating goal for their 
reform efforts.  MFA PolDir responded to accusations that 
Slovak foreign policy was biased in favor of Serbia, and 
encouraged the NGO leaders to focus on showing that Kosovo is 
ready to take its future into its own hands.  The event was 
an example of Slovakia's contribution to "transformational 
diplomacy," and the MFA plans to ask NGO's active in the 
Balkans to increase such programs. End summary. 
 
¶2.  The Slovak NGO "People in Peril" is active in providing 
humanitarian assistance and supporting democratic development 
in countries outside Slovakia, including Cuba and the Western 
Balkans.  Supported in part with funding from SlovakAid (the 
foreign aid arm of the MFA), People in Peril hosted 27 NGO 
leaders from Kosovo, both Albanians and Serbs, for a four-day 
series of roundtable discussions to learn from the experience 
of Slovak NGO experts on the role of NGOs in a society 
undergoing transition.  This May 17-20 event was significant 
because, although Slovakia considers the Western Balkans a 
foreign policy priority, it was the first time a group of 
Kosovars has been able to visit Slovakia in the post-conflict 
period.  There were significant logistical challenges because 
Slovakia's Ministry of the Interior does not recognize UNMIK 
travel documents, and it took over a month to arrange visas. 
 
 
¶3.  One element of the visit was a half-day conference on 
"Kosovo Today--Views from Inside and Outside."  On the first 
panel, five speakers from Kosovo-based NGO's described their 
work.  A common theme was that independence for Kosovo is but 
a step on the road to the ultimate goal: membership in the 
European Union.  All speakers expressed frustration with the 
current economic stagnation, restriction of movement, and 
incompetence of local leaders.  There was pessimism that 
Pristina and Belgrade could negotiate a solution, and an 
expectation that the international community would "impose" a 
final status.  All agreed that the best task for NGOs was to 
focus on fulfilling the "standards" so that, no matter what 
final status looks like, Kosovo will be closer to European 
norms. 
 
¶4.  In the second panel, Slovak NGO experts and MFA Political 
Director Miroslav Lajcak described Slovakia's views of 
Kosovo. Milan Nic of the Pontis Foundation criticized Slovak 
foreign policy as unbalanced because although the country has 
strong historical links to Croatia and Serbia, as one moves 
further south, expertise dissipates.  Nonetheless, Slovakia's 
knowledge and reputation were improving, and the role of 
Lajcak as EU envoy in Montenegro was proof.  On the other 
hand, Nic said, Slovakia was at a distinct disadvantage in 
trying to influence Kosovo policy since it is not represented 
in the contact group, nor on Ahtisaari's team.  Lajcak 
countered that Ahtisaari consulted regularly with UNSC 
members and that Slovakia had contributed ideas and opinions. 
 
 
¶5.  Lajcak's message was consistent with what he recently 
told U.S. officials: 
 
--The quality of the process for resolving status talks is 
important.  All actors must participate.  There should be no 
big winners or big losers.  The talks should not be 
artificially prolonged nor speeded up. 
--Just as removing Saddam Hussein did not instantly solve all 
of Iraq's problems, final status would not resolve all of 
Kosovo's problems 
--Core values in society, such as tolerance and respect for 
the rule of law, depended on Kosovars themselves and not the 
international community. 
 
Lajcak was impassioned as he urged the NGO participants from 
Kosovo,"Leave politics to the politicians, but be the mirror 
for them.  Maybe they won't like what they see reflected back 
and will change.  Focus on improving the lives of citizens. 
Show positive signals that Kosovo is ready to be a serious 
partner and take its future in its own hands." 
 
¶6. One Kosovar participant asked whether the opposition of 
the Slovak public to NATO airstrikes against Serbia was 
reflected in the pro-Serb prejudice of Slovak foreign policy. 
 Lajcak rejected the accusation and said Slovakia aimed to be 
balanced.  It ould soon open a Liaison Office in Pristina. 
He pointed out the advantage that Slovakia had in being 
considered an "honest broker" by Belgrade.  He assured the 
participants that Slovak leaders have tough, direct 
conversations with Serb leaders, including messages like, 
"Don't look back.  Face reality.  Be part of the solution, 
 
BRATISLAVA 00000406  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
not the problem." 
 
¶7. The event was an excellent example of Slovakia's own 
"transformational diplomacy" efforts.  The MFA will follow up 
on May 29 by meeting with Slovak NGO's active in the Balkans 
to ask them to re-double such efforts. 
VALLEE