Cablegate: Slovakia Supports Democracy in Burma Through Eu

VZCZCXRO2049
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHCHI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHDT RUEHFL RUEHHM
RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNH RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR
RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSL #0579 2901451
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171451Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1278
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000579

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM LO
SUBJECT: SLOVAKIA SUPPORTS DEMOCRACY IN BURMA THROUGH EU
AND UN, NOT BILATERAL AID

REF: SECSTATE 142626

1. In response to reftel, Drahomir Stos, MFA Director of the
Asia and Oceania division, confirmed to Poloff that Slovakia
does not have any development assistance programs in Burma
and does not plan to open programs in Burma in upcoming
years. Stos emphasized that Slovakia will continue to
support multiple UN and EU initiatives to apply pressure to
the Burmese regime, and would be glad to actively participate
in delegations to Burma as part of its duties within
international organizations.

2. Stos acknowledged that the request to consider providing
democracy promotion assistance in Burma comes at an
especially bad time, when Slovak Aid (Slovakia's development
assistance agency) is in the process of reducing program
funds available for democratic assistance in neighboring
countries in favor of infrastructure projects. In late
September, Slovak Aid approved 2008 projects for Serbia,
which is Slovakia's largest recipient of development
assistance. None of the 17 approved projects focused on
democracy promotion, local governance, education, or civil
society building, even though several such proposals were
submitted. During the 2004-2007 period, in contrast, 24 of
59 projects focused on one of those categories. (Comment:
Post continues to actively engage MFA, key politicians, and
the NGO community in order to convince the GOS to raise its
overall development assistance levels and to maintain or
increase commitments to democratic assistance projects. To
emphasize our commitment, Public Affairs will provide
complementary funds next year for Slovak Aid democracy
promotion and civil society building projects in priority
countries. MFA says it intends to ask for significantly
greater funding for Slovak Aid from the central budget next
year. End Comment.)

VALLEE

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