VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSL #0087/01 0431744
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121744Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0677
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0065
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0035
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0089

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRATISLAVA 000087 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI KOC LO
SUBJECT: FICO OPPOSES INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO 
 
Classified By: Pol-Econ Chief Debra Hevia for reason 1.4 b 
and d. 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: While the SNS and SDKU 2/12 both introduced 
parliamentary resolutions opposing independence for Kosovo 
without the agreement of Serbia, Prime Minister Robert Fico 
made his true feelings known.  Harking back to the Slovak 
public's opposition to NATO airstrikes in 1999, he reminded 
his voters of the innocent people killed by NATO bombs, and 
said independent status for Kosovo would be irresponsible. 
In an indirect slap to Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, Fico vowed 
to push through his viewpoint in the cabinet.  Fico seems to 
have been provoked into this emotional response by his 
political rival Dzurinda.  But some of this outburst may have 
been for show.  Kubis' chief of staff told us 2/12 that 
Gasparovic, Fico, and Kubis met the evening of 2/9 to 
coordinate policy, and that the MFA had flexibility at GAERC. 
 He downplayed the domestic politicking, but emphasized that 
parliament should not tie Slovakia's hands in the UNSC.  We 
will continue engaging members of all parties in parliament 
to retract or tone down the "binding" resolution idea.  We 
will also encourage Slovak NGOs with experience in Kosovo to 
raise their voices in the debate.  End summary. 
 
Parties Demand Parliamentary Resolution on Kosovo 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶2. (U) The furor over potential Kosovo independence invoked 
by Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's proposal continues among 
Slovakia's main political parties.  Foreshadowing the Prime 
Minister's position, during weekend TV debates Culture 
Minister Marek Madaric said "it would be a complete precedent 
if we gave an ethnic minority...the right to its 
independence.  If Ahtisaari's proposal for the future status 
of Kosovo recommends independence, Smer will reject it." 
Chair of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Boris Zala 
(Smer) said "Smer has claimed since the beginning that 
independence for Kosovo is the worst solution. Kosovo 
independence would lead towards the destabilization of all of 
Europe."  Opposition Christian Democrat Movement (KDH) chair 
Pavol Hrusovsky echoed the sentiment, saying no solution 
concerning the future status of Kosovo would be acceptable 
without Serbian agreement. 
 
¶3. (U) On 2/12, both Jan Slota's Slovak National Party (SNS) 
and Mikulas Dzurinda's Slovak Democratic and Christian Union 
(SDKU) presented draft resolutions on Kosovo in parliament. 
SDKU called for a binding resolution that would limit the 
ability of the foreign minister to negotiate, including in 
the UNSC, for an independent Kosovo state without the 
agreement and against the will of Serbia.  SNS toned down the 
language of its original proposal at the request of coalition 
partner Smer, but it too rejected independence for Kosovo 
against the will of the Serbian state. 
 
¶4. (C) Former Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan of SDKU told the 
Ambassador 2/9 that Dzurinda's harsh statements against 
possible Kosovo independence were his own initiative, not a 
demand from the party membership.  He explained that 
sometimes Dzurinda gets an idea in his head that is hard to 
dislodge, but he also expressed his belief that there was a 
way to bring Dzurinda around to a position that would more 
closely mirror our own.  The Ambassador is seeking a meeting 
with Dzurinda to discuss this issue. 
 
Fico Lets Loose 
--------------- 
¶5. (U) Responding to a question on Kosovo at a 2/12 press 
conference, Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the idea of 
Kosovo independence, and said Slovakia could only agree with 
a solution which is "reparable."  Taking the country back to 
the emotional outcry against NATO airstrikes in 1999, he 
asked why Dzurinda was complaining about Kosovo now when his 
government had allowed NATO airplanes free flight over 
Slovakia...knowing full well that the airplanes would not be 
carrying leaflets but bombs.  This resulted in 3,000 dead 
civilians, women, old people, chidren, and these were just 
the official numbers.  He repeated this message emotionally 
several times, saying Dzurinda and Kukan should be silent on 
behalf of those victims. 
 
¶6. (U) Fico continued that independent status for Kosovo 
would be irresponsible and would lead to uncontrolled moves 
in other countries.  Belgrade and Pristina should negotiate 
an agreement, rather than have the issue decided by 
international dictate.  He claimed that his opinion has not 
changed; he has been saying the same thing for the last half 
year (since taking office).  He insisted this would be his 
position in the cabinet, and he would push it through.  Maybe 
the international community has different views, but Fico 
vowed to maintain his.  Regarding the SNS declaration in 
parliament, Fico merely noted that the next session is in 
March so there is plenty of time to discuss the issue. 
 
MFA Not Overly Concerned 
------------------------ 
¶7. (C) FM Kubis' Chief of Staff told PolEcChief late 2/12 
that Gasparovic, Fico, and Kubis had a policy coordination 
meeting 2/9 on Kosovo, and that Kubis had gone to GAERC with 
flexibility.  He said the domestic political debate was 
letting off steam, but so far Fico had not issued Kubis 
instructions to change the MFA's policy stance.  Kubis feels 
he can control the situation and persuade the government. 
The danger, in his view, is the binding resolution threatened 
by Dzurinda.  Kubis sought the Ambassador's help 2/9 "to 
prevent parliament from tying my hands at the UNSC."  Kubis 
plans to give an interview to leading daily Pravda on 2/13 to 
"explain" the GAERC conclusions on Serbia and Kosovo to the 
Slovak public.  He will also speak at the Slovak Foreign 
Policy Association (thinktank) on 2/13 to present an overview 
of Slovak foreign policy. 
 
¶8. (C) Comment: Fico seems to have been provoked yet again by 
his archrival Dzurinda into sharp rhetoric which boxes him 
into a corner regarding future options.  Fico told the 
Ambassador January 29 that Slovakia would not stand alone 
against EU consensus.  Although Fico's public comments seem 
unretractable, the MFA seems optimistic that the domestic 
debate will die down and Kubis eventually will be free to 
maneuver as a responsible member of the international 
community.  We will intensely engage politicians in all 
parliamentary parties to try to pull back the idea of a 
binding parliamentary resolution.  We will also encourage 
NGOs with activities in Kosovo to add their voices to the 
public debate. 
 
 
 
 
 
VALLEE