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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