VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLJ #0237/01 1070849
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170849Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5725
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000237 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
EUR/NCE SSADLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS MCAP MOPS PGOV SI
SUBJECT: VCJCS GIAMBASTIANI PRAISES SLOVENIAN CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO INTERNATIONAL SECURITY 
 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  Defense Minister Erjavec, Chief of Defense 
Gutman, and Deputy Chief of Defense Steiner were pleased to 
show off the Slovenian Armed Forces' (SAF) progress in 
defense transformation and its significant contributions to 
international security during a visit March 30 and 31 by Vice 
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Giambastiani. 
The brief courtesy call served as a progress report from the 
Slovenes about their efforts, and Giambastiani's positive 
comments were widely reported in the press and appreciated by 
the Slovenes.  Discussion focused on recent hot topics for 
Slovenia, including caveats, defense spending, air policing, 
and U.S. assistance with education and training.  SAF 
leadership also affirmed their long term strategic focus on 
the western Balkans.  This visit was important to maintaining 
an already strong bilateral military relationship with this 
NATO ally and presented a good opportunity to encourage the 
SAF to continue its comprehensive transformation and maintain 
its already high international engagement.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In his meeting with Minister of Defense Karl Erjavec 
and Chief of Defense Albin Gutman, Admiral Giambastiani 
thanked them for Slovenia's international contributions, 
particularly the recent increase in forces to KFOR.  He noted 
that Slovenia's efforts to deploy abroad -- currently 11% of 
their forces are deployed in support of international 
missions -- and the decision to remove major caveats on 
troops in Kosovo had been noticed in Washington.  Erjavec 
told Giambastiani that Slovenia is working hard to reform, 
transform and recruit forces while at the same time 
supporting efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and 
particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, while also 
preparing to be part of an EU Battlegroup this year.  He 
called it a "great amount of work for a young and small 
army."  Gutman was self-assured and proudly noted that "we 
started from nothing to build the SAF, and we've done quite 
well," adding that the SAF has "no problem not being a large 
force" and that the deployment to KFOR has "eliminated doubts 
about (the SAF's) abilities." 
 
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POL-MIL HOT POTATOES: SPENDING, CAVEATS, AIR POLICING 
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¶3. (SBU) On two long-standing pol-mil issues -- Slovenia's 
commitment to bring defense spending to 2 percent of GDP and 
its plans to eliminate caveats on troops deployed abroad -- 
Erjavec repeated past statements.  He and Gutman both said 
that Slovenia would spend 1.87 percent of GDP in 2008 and 
would meet the 2 percent spending target by 2009.  Erjavec 
repeated that the MoD's ability to keep up with substantial 
economic growth (5 percent in 2007 and 4 percent expected 
from 2008 to 2010) is a challenge, as is selling the argument 
for more spending to parliament.  Erjavec called caveats on 
Slovenian troops in Afghanistan a "difficult political 
situation" but said again that he is working to reduce 
caveats despite questions from parliament.  Gutman, who has 
also told EmbOffs that he advocates the removal of caveats, 
was upbeat about the GOS decision to deploy to KFOR with 
fewer restrictions, noting that Slovenian soldiers are now 
authorized to conduct riot control and deal with 
demonstrations, which will be a key challenge given the 
current potential for instability in the region as plans for 
Kosovo are finalized. 
 
¶4. (SBU) On the perennial issue of air policing, Erjavec 
commented that purchasing aircraft will be too expensive for 
the SAF in the short-term, but possible in the long term - 
five to ten years out.  Because of this, he said Slovenia 
must look at other options, including cooperation between 
Slovenia and the U.S.  Erjavec called one idea introduced by 
Slovenian Ambassador in Washington Samo Zbogar -- mixed 
U.S.-Slovenian teams for air policing -- a "good idea" and 
commented that it would be good to explore the possibility 
for Slovenes to get pilot training from the U.S. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Gutman also mentioned the SAF's recent difficulties 
with recruitment, saying that the small size of the country 
and the aggressive economic growth meant that people are 
looking elsewhere for employment.  He said that the MOD and 
SAF are working to increase pay for soldiers through a new 
military reform law but that he was still concerned about the 
issue over the long term. 
 
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FUTURE INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS 
 
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¶6. (SBU) Erjavec mentioned Slovenia,s planned increase in 
troops in Afghanistan -- from 54 to 66 in August -- and 
Slovenia,s fall 2006 contribution of 2000 weapons and 2 
million rounds of ammunition to the Afghanistan National 
Army.  He said the SAF does not have additional equipment on 
hand to contribute and commented that it has been very 
difficult to increase number of forces in Afghanistan while 
also deploying a battalion to Kosovo. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Erjavec, Gutman, and Steiner all reiterated that 
Slovenia's number one priority is the Balkans, specifically 
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Serbia, saying the 
situation in these countries is very important for regional 
stability and security.  They noted an opportunity for 
Slovenia to have a special role in the region given links in 
language, culture, and history and said that they are working 
on initiatives for defense reform in these countries.  Gutman 
noted that defense cooperation was good in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina and Macedonia, but that border disputes have 
impeded cooperation with Croatia.  He was optimistic that 
soon-to-be signed defense cooperation agreements with Serbia 
would improve mil-to-mil relations and allow for the easier 
movement of Slovenian troops serving in the region (Note: 
equipment for the SAF battalion deployed in Kosovo was 
shipped via boat to Greece instead of the more 
straightforward train route to avoid traveling through 
Serbia.)  Erjavec said that he foresees NATO enlargement for 
Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia in the future, saying that the 
Euro-Atlantic Alliance is a key to stability in the region. 
 
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U.S.-SLOVENIA BILATERAL RELATIONS 
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¶8. (SBU) Gutman called the U.S. Slovenia's "most important 
strategic partner" and praised bilateral cooperation between 
the two militaries over the past fourteen years.  As has been 
typical during meetings over the past year, Gutman has shown 
particular interest in education and training opportunities 
between the U.S. and Slovenian militaries, lauding Slovenia's 
long-standing partnership with the Colorado National Guard, 
mil-to-mil events, training and education opportunities for 
Slovenes in U.S. schools, and the potential for Slovenes to 
attend U.S. military academies and receive pilot training. 
Gutman and Steiner also mentioned frustration that for the 
first time in recent memory Slovenia did not receive a slot 
at the National Defense University (NDU), the Army War 
College, or the Army Command and General Staff College. 
Steiner, an NDU alumni, made note of how well the SAF has 
utilized slots in these schools over the past years, noting 
that Slovenian graduates of the U.S. schools are currently 
serving in high level positions throughout the SAF and the 
Slovenian government.  Slovenian U.S. school graduates are 
also leading Slovenian contingents abroad.  For example, an 
alumni of the Command and General Staff College is leading 
the battalion currently in Kosovo.  (NOTE: On April 6, 
Embassy Ljubljana's Office of Defense Cooperation was 
notified that a slot has opened up for the Slovenes in the 
National Defense University's Industrial College of the Armed 
Forces.  Steiner was extremely pleased with the news.  END 
NOTE.) 
 
¶9. (SBU) COMMENT.  Giambastiani's visit was billed as a quick 
courtesy call but his efforts to thank Slovenia for "punching 
above its weight" were widely and positively reported in the 
press and very much appreciated by Slovenian colleagues.  In 
defense transformation and international contributions, 
Slovenia has a positive story to tell (and does not hesitate 
to note that USG support, especially via mil-to-mil events 
and training, has been vital to its success.)  The SAF has 
made great strides over the past few years.  While Slovenian 
contributions are not tremendous in terms of sheer numbers, 
the per capita international contributions from this small 
ally leads the pack at NATO.  Slovenia can be expected to 
continue its strategic focus on security in the western 
Balkans, with smaller strategic deployments elsewhere when 
possible.  END COMMENT. 
ROBERTSON