This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001147 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2015 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID ETRD LE IR SU ES IN RU ICC EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: RESULTS OF MARCH 16 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING 
(GAERC) 
 
REF: A. STATE 39909 
 
     ¶B. USEU BRUSSELS 1018 
 
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, PolOff, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) In addition to postponing Croatia's accession talks 
(septel), EU FMs at the March 16 General Affairs and External 
Relations Council (GAERC) also noted positive developments in 
the Middle East and issued conclusions on Lebanon calling for 
Syria to withdraw all troops and intelligence services from 
Lebanon "completely, and in accordance with a precise 
timetable."  EU FMs also heard a report on ongoing talks 
between the EU3 and Iran, and welcomed in particular the 
March 11 statement by Secretary Rice "of measures in support 
of these diplomatic efforts."  On Sudan, the GAERC expressed 
hope that negotiations in the UNSC will lead to a consensus 
allowing "resolutions to be adopted for the implementation of 
a UN mission to Sudan and of measures that can end the 
violence and impunity in Darfur through appealing to the 
ICC."  The Council reviewed the state of negotiations for the 
adoption of the four &common spaces8 agreements with Russia 
(a lot of work remains, but the Presidency is optimistic). 
EU FMs also agreed the EU's positions for the on-going UN 
Commission on Human Rights, including support for a Belarus 
resolution.  The GAERC, however, failed to agree a package of 
revisions to the EU's generalized Scheme of Trade Preferences 
for the period beginning on April 1, 2005.  END SUMMARY. 
 
MEPP AND LEBANON 
---------------- 
 
¶2. (U) FMs discussed recent developments between Israel and 
the Palestinian Authority, but the GAERC issued no 
Conclusions.  With the media, Luxembourg FM Jean Asselborn 
for the Presidency noted a "certain optimism" in the region 
based on latest developments, and said the EU welcomed 
finalization of an agreement on transfer of security control 
in Jericho and the resumption of talks in Cairo.  External 
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also welcomed 
discussion of a ceasefire by Palestinain militaias at the 
Cairo meetings.  She said the "new momentum" should be 
translated in terms of donors, commitments, and that the 
Commission is ready to do its part. 
 
¶3. (U) The GAERC Conclusions called for "complete and 
immediate implementation of UNSCR 1559" and underlined that 
"Syrian troops and intelligence services must be withdrawn 
completely, and in accordance with a precise timetable."  The 
GAERC also stressed the importance of holding elections "on 
schedule" and added that the EU would be willing to consider 
deployment of an elections observer mission. Ferrero-Waldner 
was more effusive, speaking to the press about "the will of 
the people spilling into the streets" and commented that the 
elections should be held "as planned in May."  She cited the 
EU,s "wealth of experience" on elections assistance, and 
said the EU had a number of options on how to help.  An EU 
technical mission was on the ground March 16 to explore the 
way forward.  She also noted that the Commission had 
presented an "Action Plan" for Lebanon in the context of the 
European Neighborhood policy (along with similar plans for 
Egypt and the three Caucasus countries).  She hoped the 
Council would approve all five Action Plans in April, 
although negotiations with Lebanon would only begin with a 
new government. 
 
¶4. (C) We have not heard any reports that Hezbollah was 
discussed at all during the GAERC.  A Council staffer told 
us, however, that despite the upbeat language on Lebanon in 
the Conclusions, during the GAERC several FMs expressed 
concern about the possible "collision course" between the 
withdrawal and electoral calendars.  There could be a serious 
issue on how to respond if significant Syrian troops were 
still in the Bekaa Valley at the time of elections.  For now, 
the EU was using the phrase "precise timetable", but hoped 
that specific dates might emerge from the Joint Military 
Committee negotiations by the end of March. 
 
IRAN 
---- 
 
¶5. (C) Solana reported on behalf of the EU3 on the latest 
discussions with Iran. The Council staffer told us there was 
little debate and the issue of a deadline for progress on the 
talks did not come up at all.  The EU was now awaiting the 
outcome of the next Steering Board, but our source commented 
that the EU might find it will need to await the outcome of 
the upcoming elections in Iran before it can really judge the 
course of events.  GAERC Conclusions "welcomed the support 
received from the international community and, in particular, 
the statement made by US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice 
on 11 March of measures in support of these diplomatic 
efforts." With the press, FM Asselborn noted as well the need 
for support from Russia and China.  He added that the EU is 
continuing negotiations on the trade agreement, but also the 
political dialogue and human rights.  He mentioned that the 
EU and Iran met on March 15-16 in Tehran on human rights 
issues. 
 
SUDAN 
----- 
 
¶6. (C) Our source said there was some discussion about the 
"balance" between the mandate of peacekeeping missions in 
Sudan and the resources available to them, but this did not 
result in a clear EU position on the issue. Conclusions said 
the EU hoped talks at the UNSC would rapidly lead to a 
consensus on resolutions allowing for the implementation of 
measures that could lead to cessation of violence in Darfur 
"through appealing to" (in French, "par la saisine de") the 
ICC.  While describing the Conclusions as "ambiguous" in 
order not to short-circuit discussions in New York, the 
Council staffer said the EU's language intentionally stakes 
out a position favoring more than one UNSC resolution and 
inclusion of a specific reference to the ICC. 
 
RUSSIA 
------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) Conclusions focused entirely on efforts to agree the 
four "common spaces" by the time of the EU-Russia Summit on 
May 10.  Asselborn admitted a lot of work remains, but the 
Presidency is optimistic.  Ferrero-Waldner said she would go 
to Moscow on March 21, with Trade Commissioner Mandelson, and 
an EU-Russia minsterial would be held in Luxembourg on April 
¶1. Asked by the press about Chechnya, Ferrero-Waldner made 
reference to a "sub-committee" where the EU and Russia speak 
about human rights.  Its first meeting was in Luxembourg, and 
was "very good".  At the Summit, she said, "all questions" 
will be included.  Our Council source said that during the 
GAERC debate no more than three delegations even made 
reference to their "preoccupation" with Chechnya, but sparked 
no debate.  Russian behavior in nearby states (Georgia, 
Moldova) or at the OSCE was not raised at all, according to 
our source. 
 
COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS 
-------------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) EU FMs announced the EU would join the US in tabling a 
resolution on Belarus at Geneva, and "reaffirmed the need to 
see appropriate condemnation at the CHR of anti-Semitism in 
all its forms."  The EU also noted its concern about the 
human rights situation in both Iran and China, but was 
non-committal about what it would do on these countries at 
the CHR session.  The Conclusions did not mention Cuba. 
 
GSP REVISION 
------------ 
 
¶9. (U) In a bit of a surprise, the GAERC failed to agree a 
package of revisions today for the EU's Generalized System of 
Preferences in trade, that was scheduled to come into effect 
on April 1, 2005 in part to assist the recovery of 
tsunami-struck countries in Asia.  FM Asselborn said the 
 
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outstanding issues were whether to include El Salvador among 
the countries receiving the most generous treatment, and over 
provisions for textiles.  Trade Commissioner Mandelson told 
the press the textile issue, particularly whether India could 
qualify for GSP at its current level of textile exports. 
Press reports indicated Italy had led a group of states in 
refusing to raise the threshold to cover India.  FM Asselborn 
said Luxembourg hopes to secure agreement on March 24 at 
PermRep level to allow implementation of the changes on April 
¶1. 
 
SCHNABEL 
.