VZCZCXRO5379
PP RUEHBW RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHTRO RUEHYG
DE RUCNDT #0437 1361630
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 151630Z MAY 08
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4286
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0670
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0215
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 1230
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000437
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNSC AF UNMIK IZ
SUBJECT: SLOVAK FM KUBIS DISCUSSES AFGHANISTAN WITH
AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD
1. (SBU) In a May 13 meeting, Slovak FM Jan Kubis told
Ambassador Khalilzad that he had just returned from a joint
trip to Afghanistan with Dutch FM Verboken. Kubis said he
had found the situation in Afghanistan "unclear and
unresolved." Kubis speculated that the local Afghan
population is unhappy with the looming uncertainty. He
stated that the Slovak Ministry of Defense has plans to
increase its troop presence in Afghanistan from 100 plus to
250-300, but this has not yet been approved by the Government
of Slovakia. Kubis stated that he hopes the upcoming Paris
political conference on Afghanistan comes up with three or
four priorities.
2. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad said that he has expressed
concerns to President Karzai regarding political polarization
as governance is a key issue for Afghanistan. Khalilzad
asked Kubis for his assessment of Uruzgan Province. Kubis
responded that governance is clearly the biggest problem and
the absence of a UN presence in Uruzgan Province is also an
issue. Khalilzad noted that recent U.S. actions included
adjusting UNAMA's mandate to sharpen its focus and giving new
UNAMA SRSG Kai Eide more staff in the field. He said that
the U.S. had also asked Eide for a proposed timeline on
implementing tasks in the UNAMA mandate. Khalilzad stressed
that we are working in the ACABQ to pass a benefits package
that will encourage more UN staff to take unfilled positions
Afghanistan.
3. (SBU) On Kosovo, Kubis said that Slovakia will not remain
alone if all other EU members other than Cyprus are ready to
recognize it. However, he said he did not see such a
situation yet. Ambassador Khalilzad asked Kubis if Slovakia
would be re-engaging in Iraq. Kubis responded that Slovakia
is looking at ways to get involved in economic projects, but
will not re-engage on military or police matters because of a
previously made political decision in Bratislava.
Khalilzad