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Viewing cable 08LJUBLJANA66, SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF FEBRUARY 18 GAERC
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08LJUBLJANA66 | 2008-02-13 16:33 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Ljubljana |
VZCZCXRO7265
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLJ #0066/01 0441633
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 131633Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6445
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0010
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0025
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0102
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0159
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000066
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2018
TAGS: PREL EUN IR IS PGOV AADP
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF FEBRUARY 18 GAERC
Classified By: Charge Maryruth Coleman, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)
Summary
--------
¶1. (C) In their February 13 meeting, European Union Division
Director/Deputy Political Director Matej Marn told A/DCM that
the February 18 GAERC would focus on Kosovo, which would be
the first item on the external relations agenda. He hoped
that the debate on other topics would be short. He expected
the GAERC to issue conclusions on Chad, Kenya, and Burma.
End Summary.
Western Balkans
---------------
¶2. (C/NF) Marn explained that the Slovenian Presidency is
working with other Quint members to prepare the groundwork
for the EU reaching an agreement on Kosovo at the GAERC
meeting. The regional directors of the Quint have been
visiting capitals of countries that have problems with a EU
common position on recognizing Kosovo in order to discover
their real bottom lines. Marn noted that we should not use
"platform" anymore because the Spanish have such an aversion
to it; he added that "Spain is a really tough case." The
regional directors of the Quint and Slovenia have drafted a
consolidated version of the platform. In the next couple of
days, Slovenia will try to coordinate bilaterally with all
member-states in Brussels. Slovenia will give other member
states the opportunity to read the consolidated version and
become familiar with it, but they will not pass along the
text in an effort to prevent any leaks. The political
directors will meet the afternoon of February 17 to try to
consolidate a text. The FMs will then discuss it on February
18 until they reach agreement. The Western Balkans will be
the first item on the agenda after the two general affairs
items.
Middle East Peace Process
-------------------------
¶3. (C) Marn said that Slovenia hoped to keep the debate quite
short. He commented that while everyday there were new
events, in a political sense there had not been any major
improvements since the January GAERC meeting. He predicted
that Ministers who had been in the region would discuss their
visits. Marn noted that at the February 11-12 EU-Arab League
Ministerial Meeting in Malta, the EU had called upon Arab
states to support the MEPP. In addition, the EU had stressed
the importance of translating the contributions promised in
Paris into concrete projects on the ground.
Iran
----
¶4. (C) Marn stated that Solana probably would brief on the
nuclear dossier, but noted that he had not met with Jalili
since the January GAERC. The French, UK and German FMs might
brief the Council. He confirmed that the GAERC would not
discuss the new candidates for designation, but the PSC
would. He noted that most countries wanted to wait for a
discussion in the UNSC on Iran sanctions. He added that if
the UNSC failed to adopt another resolution, it did not mean
that the EU would not - the EU likely then would.
Chad/Kenya
----------
¶5. (C) Marn stressed that Slovenia would try to keep debate
on these two issues as short as possible. There would also
be an expression of appreciation for France's assistance in
the evacuation in Chad. In addition, Commissioner Michel
would report on his visit to Nairobi. The GAERC would issue
conclusions. On Kenya, the GAERC's conclusions would stress
support to Kofi Annan and his proposal. On Chad, it would
express concern about the situation, but include a positive
statement about the deployment of the ESDP mission.
Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)
--------------------------------------
¶6. (C) Marn explained that the FMs would like to hear from
the Commission about the state of play on EPAs and what they
LJUBLJANA 00000066 002 OF 002
could expect in the next months. He agreed with U.S. concern
about interim agreements not respecting regional
institutional cohesion. He noted that the interim agreements
could be counter-productive.
Burma
-----
¶7. (C) Marn doubted that the GAERC would debate Burma. The
British had wanted to at this GAERC, but Marn said the real
debate would take place at the March GAERC, when the EU would
have to decide about prolonging its current sanctions regime.
At that time, it could decide about possible amendments.
The GAERC would issue conclusions taking note of the Burmese
government's announcement of elections in 2010. The
conclusions would still call for cooperation with Gamberi et
al., as well as for improvements in human rights.
Other Issues
------------
¶8. (C) Marn said there would not be a political debate on
European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), but a discussion that
would serve as an introduction to a debate at the April
GAERC. Then the FMs would hear reports on the implementation
of actions plans. In addition, the French had requested that
Commissioner Mandelson brief the FMs on negotiations with the
WTO in Geneva.
General Affairs Agenda Items
----------------------------
¶9. (C) According to Marn, the GAERC would first discuss two
general affairs items. The Commission will present the
progress, or lack thereof, made on the fisheries zone issue
with Croatia. Marn said that Slovenia hopes there is not a
lot of debate and is not planning any conclusions, but that
the Council would recall conclusions of previous GAERCs about
the 2004 commitments made by Croatia. Marn noted that there
would be a short debate on the agenda for the March European
Council, which would focus on three large items, including
the Lisbon strategy and energy and climate change. (A very
tired Marn just could not remember the third item, but he
said it was important.)
COLEMAN