VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSL #0512/01 3111716
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061716Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2065

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000512 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAK REACTIONS TO U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS 
 
1  (U) Summary. On November 5, the MFA issued a statement 
expressing its belief that President-Elect Obama would focus 
on global issues and international partnership. Prime 
Minister Fico, meanwhile, downplayed the significance of the 
elections.  Asked for his reaction to the election, Fico said 
he didn't expect much to change, including the price of bread 
in Slovakia.  President Gasparovic predicted continued good 
bilateral relations and praised the election of a black 
American as a expression of democratic thinking in the U.S. 
The U.S. Presidential elections have dominated the Slovak 
print media and television.  Coverage has been largely 
positive, but has focused heavily on President-Elect Obama's 
race.  Many politicians and commentators have said that 
Obama's election is the fulfillment of America's promise. As 
Slovakia struggles with its own minority issues, the election 
also has sparked some dialogue about the participation of 
minorities in Slovak politics.   End Summary. 
 
 
MFA -- Positive and Politically Correct 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The MFA issued the following statement on November 5: 
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic 
congratulates the 44th President of the U.S. Barack Obama on 
his election victory.  We are convinced that the 
President-Elect through international cooperation will help 
find solutions to the global challenges such as the financial 
crisis, terrorism, energy security, global warming, famine 
and poverty.  Slovakia as an EU and NATO member is ready to 
face these challenges.  We believe that transatlantic 
relations, which are the keystone of Slovakia's security, 
stability and development, will gain with a new Presidency a 
strong impetus for further development based on shared 
principles and the strategic character of transatlantic 
partnership.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak 
Republic expresses its belief that the incoming U.S. 
Administration in the bilateral area will build on concrete 
positive results, such as the completion of Slovakia's 
integration efforts and the country's entry in the U.S. Visa 
Waiver Program and will move mutual relations to a higher 
level." 
 
 
Political Parties -- Except SNS -- Find Good Things to Say 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶3. (U) With varying degrees of enthusiasm, leading Slovak 
politicians spoke in mostly favorable terms about the 
election outcome. Some, such as HZDS MP Urbani, welcomed 
President-Elect Obama's stated focus on economic development 
and social issues.  Most politicians, opposition or 
coalition, indicated that they did not believe that relations 
between the U.S. and Slovakia (or between the U.S. and 
Europe) would change markedly with a new U.S. Administration. 
Smer MP Jam Valova was more forward-leaning, stating that: 
"For Slovakia, it's a good thing. I think that Obama will 
bring many positive things to U.S. foreign policy."   Members 
of the Hungarian Coalition Party (SMK) focused on the example 
set by Obama's election and the effectiveness of U.S. 
policies toward minorities.  SMK MP Jozef Berenyi expressed 
the belief that "one day in Slovakia a member of the Roma or 
Hungarian minority will be able to become the President of 
the Slovak Republic." 
 
¶4. (U) Former Ambassador Martin Butora said that he believes 
Obama's election will inspire young minorities in Slovakia 
and that Obama could serve as a role model for young Roma. 
Only Jan Slota of the Slovak National Party (SNS) sounded a 
wholly sour note.  He attributed Obama's victory to the 
"arrogant" policies of President Bush, adding that "...Money 
and significant economic interests are behind all American 
efforts and a united Europe would be too strong a rival for 
it. I hope at least the victory of Barack Obama has reduced 
the risk of new wars being provoked." 
 
 
Fico: Studiously Disinterested 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) Upon his arrival at a V-4 meeting in Warsaw, Prime 
Minister Fico's spokesperson issued a brief statement of 
congratulations to President-Elect Obama.  Asked for his 
reaction, PM Fico said he didn't want to comment on the 
"politicians, the parties or anything about the election," 
but that he would send congratulations through official 
channels. Fico added that he didn't expect the election to 
bring any changes, noting that the price of bread in Slovakia 
wouldn't get any cheaper.  In a television interview, 
President Gasparovic was more expansive. He conveyed 
congratulations, and expressed confidence that U.S.-Slovak 
relations would continue to be good. 
 
 
 
Election Event: Well Attended, but... 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce 
co-hosted an all-night election event beginning the evening 
of November 4.  Both the evening reception and the breakfast, 
which featured a panel discussion on the election outcome 
that included former Slovak Ambassadors to the U.S. Martin 
Butora and Rasto Kacer, were well-attended.  Despite the 
numbers, key groups were notably absent: no members of Smer, 
SNS or SMK showed up.  No senior government officials, with 
the exception of mid-level and junior Slovak diplomats and 
the President's diplomatic advisor, came.  The only guests 
who could be considered representative of the coalition were 
a few members of Vladimir Meciar's HZDS party.  Comments made 
by Slovak guests at the reception and the tenor of the news 
coverage following the election suggests that many here are 
surprised -- some positively, some incredulously -- that an 
African-American could be elected President.  The news 
coverage has been generally balanced and quite positive with 
respect to the question of race.  However, the media's focus 
on the issue and on African-American, not to mention African, 
support for Obama, could, in a country where persons of color 
are rare, play a larger than expected role in shaping 
perceptions of the President-Elect. The coverage is also 
creating very high expectations regarding the impact of 
Obama's election on transatlantic relations. 
 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) The lack of heavy-weight politicians 
notwithstanding, our overnight election-watching party drew 
over 400 guests.  We used the Ambassador's public comments -- 
and several subsequent press appearances on the elections -- 
to emphasize the basic continuity in American foreign policy 
Slovak should expect -- particularly on support for 
transatlantic security bonds, ties with the EU, shared 
commitments in Afghanistan and to the fight against climate 
change and poverty.  We hope -- as several commentators noted 
-- that Senator Obama's election will indeed spark some real 
and meaningful dialogue on the potential for broader 
participation of Slovak minorities, particularly Roma, in 
Slovak politics. 
OBSITNIK