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 001175 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2016 
TAGS: PREL EAID PHUM KPAL BO UP XF EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: HAMAS LIKELY TO DOMINATE MEETING OF EU FOREIGN 
MINISTERS 
 
REF: STATE 53022 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Vincent Carver for reason 1.5 (b/d). 
 
SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (C) Judith Gebetsroithner, an advisor to External 
Relations Commission Ferrero-Waldner, told us April 6 that 
discussion of Hamas would likely be the main issue for EU 
Foreign Ministers to tackle at their monthly meeting (GAERC) 
in Luxembourg April 10.  Gebetsroithner noted that member 
states remain divided on how to handle Hamas, with France 
among those supporting a hard line of non-engagement.  The 
GAERC will praise the Ukrainian elections as free and fair 
and likely extend its travel ban to 31 Belarusian officials. 
According to Gebetsroithner, there will be little discussion 
of Iran and no discussion on the Western Balkans.  She added 
that "one large member state" is blocking additional EIB 
loans to Syria.  END SUMMARY 
 
¶2.  (U) We presented points (ref) April 5 regarding the April 
10 GAERC to Judith Gebetsroithner, advisor to External 
Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Margarita 
Comamala of the Council Secretariat.  Gebetsroithner provided 
us April 6 the following reactions: 
 
MEPP:  HOW TO HANDLE HAMAS WILL DOMINATE DISCUSSION 
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¶3.  (C) Member states remain divided over how to handle Hamas 
and will review the issue at a closed-door lunch at the 
GAERC.  France and a number of other member states are taking 
a hard-line approach and continue to insist that Hamas meet 
the international community's three conditions for 
engagement.  Other member states are reasoning that isolation 
will embolden hardliners within Hamas and make the situation 
worse.  According to ambassadors to the EU's Political and 
Security Committee (PSC), the EU is likely to suspend all 
non-humanitarian assistance to the PA April 10.  The Council 
Secretariat's Director for the Middle East told us separately 
 
SIPDIS 
that the EU does not want to antagonize the Palestinian 
people.  EU High Rep Solana told the European Parliament 
April 5 that, "until Hamas shows unequivocal willingness to 
respect the international community's principles, we cannot 
do business as usual with the PA."  Solana reiterated, 
however that the EU would, "continue its aid for the 
Palestinian people." 
 
UKRAINIAN ELECTIONS:  FREE AND FAIR; 
WAIT AND SEE ON COALITION 
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¶4.  (C) The GAERC will praise the conduct of the Ukrainian 
elections and will voice support for a coalition government 
should one be formed by April 10.  Gebetsroithner noted news 
reports that Yushchenko and Tymoshenko had agreed to form a 
government, adding wryly that it will be interesting to see 
how long such a coalition government lasts regardless of who 
becomes prime minister. 
 
BELARUS:  TRAVEL BAN EXTENSION TO 31 OFFICIALS 
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¶5.  (C) The GAERC will extend the EU's travel ban to 31 
additional Belarusian officials, including President 
Lukashenko.  FMs will also condemn the continued detention of 
political prisoners, characterizing the jail sentence for the 
former Polish Ambassador to Belarus as "the last straw" for 
some member states.  The EU, however, has not reached a 
consensus on freezing assets of Belarusian officials, but 
member states have asked the Commission to prepare 
recommendations for PSC review. 
 
¶W. BALKANS:  OFF THE AGENDA; 
FMs SUPPORT GIVING SERBIA ANOTHER MONTH TO ARREST MLADIC 
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¶6.  (C) According to Gebetsroithner, there will be no 
discussion of the Western Balkans.  An advisor to Enlargement 
Commissioner Olli Rehn told us April 6 that Rehn had informed 
EU FMs that ICTY Chief Prosecutor had received a valuable 
"new type" of information that could lead to the arrest of 
Mladic in the coming weeks.  Our contact said that FMs had 
expressed support of Rehn's decision to provide Serbia 
another month before deciding whether to postpone subsequent 
political-level SAA negotiations with Belgrade. 
 
IRAN:  LITTLE DISCUSSION EXPECTED 
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¶7.  (C) FMs may reiterate support for the UNSC and IAEA 
actions on Iran but likely will not discuss Iranian nuclear 
activities in detail.  Gebetsroithner suggested that several 
member states are not yet ready to explore concrete measures 
they might take against Iran should Tehran continue its 
record of non-compliance with its international obligations. 
 
LEBANON/SYRIA:  ONE MEMBER STATE OPPOSING 
ADDITIONAL EIB LOANS TO DAMASCUS 
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¶8.  (C) EU officials (but not including Austrian FM Plassnik 
and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, who will depart Luxembourg 
following a Cooperation Council meeting with Moldova) will 
meet a Lebanese delegation for an Association Council meeting 
the afternoon of April 11   The EU will voice support for 
Lebanon's territorial integrity and reiterate its call for 
Syrian cooperation with the Harriri assassination 
investigation.  Gebetsroithner noted that, while Syria is not 
on the GAERC agenda, one "large" member state has noted 
clearly that it will oppose additional EIB loans to Damascus. 
 
GRAY 
 
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