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DE RUEHC #3272/01 2422115
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 292112Z AUG 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 5461
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 3309
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 9114
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 7620
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 5754
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 6455
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6077
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2922

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 STATE 093272 
 
SIPDIS, SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV PHUM GG RU
SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU ON NON-GEORGIA TOPICS IN 
ADVANCE OF THE SEPTEMBER 5-6 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING 
(GYMNICH) 
 
¶1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 11. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary: EU Foreign Ministers will hold an 
informal "Gymnich" meeting in Avignon on September 5-6. 
We expect the agenda to include: Georgia and EU/Russia 
relations, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, updating 
the 2003 EU Security Strategy, Transatlantic Relations, 
and, time permitting, Serbia and Afghanistan/Pakistan. 
This cable contains guidance only on the non-Georgia 
agenda items; guidance on Georgia and EU/Russia relations 
will be sent septel. Posts in EU member states are 
requested to approach host governments as soon as possible 
at the appropriate level to convey U.S. views on these 
topics. Posts are requested to include the SIPDIS caption 
on their response cables. A background section covering 
some of these issues is provided prior to a section 
containing talking points. Points are to be delivered to 
EU members and Brussels institutions only. Other posts 
should not/not deliver these points. 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
----------------- 
 
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Despite the fluid political dynamics in Israel 
and in the Palestinian territories and the public's 
perception of a lack of progress in the negotiations, we 
must respect the parties' consistent reports that the 
negotiations remain professional and substantive and that 
advances on core issues are being made. The parties are 
clear that they do not intend to settle for a provisional 
agreement and that all issues will be addressed in the 
final agreement. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The parties continue to affirm their ongoing 
belief that the current negotiating framework is effective 
and that they intend to proceed in their discussions based 
on the current structure. They emphasize the importance 
of sustaining confidentiality in the negotiations in order 
to maintain the process' integrity and underscore their 
commitment to reaching a comprehensive agreement that 
establishes a Palestinian state. 
 
¶5. (SBU) It is imperative that the international 
community's support of the negotiations is coordinated 
through the Quartet and that unhelpful intervention is 
avoided. Unfocused activism risks diluting international 
efforts and could jeopardize this sensitive process. 
Premature action in the UN Security Council on a select 
set of issues, for example, will contravene the parties' 
efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement. 
 
¶6. (SBU) While the parties continue to welcome the support 
of the international community, they are not interested in 
direct international intervention in the substance of 
their discussions or outside proposals. 
 
 
EU SECURITY STRATEGY 
 
¶7. (SBU) The French have made updating the 2003 EU 
Security Strategy (EUSS) a priority for their current EU 
presidency. The EUSS identifies many of the same threats 
to Europe as the U.S. National Security Strategy 
identifies for the U.S., e.g., international terrorism, 
proliferation, failed states. Given the political support 
for a strengthened European Security and Defense Policy 
(ESDP) that exists in many member states, and consequent 
influence of an updated EUSS on policy priorities, it is 
important that the U.S. and the EU continue to share a 
vision as to the threats faced by our societies. 
 
 
 
STATE 00093272  002 OF 004 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) "Transatlantic relations" will be on the agenda 
for the September 5-6 EU Foreign Ministers' Gymnich 
meeting in Avignon. We understand this is intended to be 
a political assessment of U.S.-EU relations in view of the 
upcoming U.S. presidential elections, and an inventory of 
subjects on which the U.S. and EU will need a shared 
vision. A June statement by French FM Kouchner, Spanish 
FM Moratinos, and Portuguese FM Amado noted four broad 
areas for discussion: restoring "universal values" (e.g., 
Guantanamo, death penalty); enhancing the dialogue on NATO 
transformation, Afghanistan, and WMD/nonproliferation 
(Iran), while constructing a real European defense; 
strengthening the EU role in the Middle East peace 
process; and building a strategic dialogue on financial 
flows, energy security, food supply, and poverty. We 
understand that Russia will be added to this list. We 
should discourage focus on "universal value" issues where 
Europe seeks to export aspects of its legal system to 
which we could not conform for constitutional reasons even 
if we were so inclined. For example, absent 
constitutional amendments, we could not adopt European 
approaches on the death penalty, on the legal framework 
for preventative detention of terror suspects (their civil 
law affords them authorities that in our system fall 
within military legal frameworks, and they accept 
restrictions on freedom of expression that would be 
 
unconstitutional in the U.S.) Focus on these issues will 
consequently be divisive and unproductive. 
 
 
 
SERBIA 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) Although President Tadic has replaced some hard- 
liners and dialed-back the rhetoric, Serbia's Kosovo 
policy still largely tracks that of former Prime Minister 
Kostunica's. For example, Serbia still opposes EULEX 
deployment in Kosovo without a new UNSCR and continues to 
promote rejectionist parallel institutions in the Kosovo 
Serb community. Serbia's effort to seek an UNGA referral 
on Kosovo to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is 
out of step with its Euro-Atlantic ambitions. 
 
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) The United States remains concerned about the 
security situation along Pakistan's western frontier, 
particularly in and around the Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas (FATA) that allows extremists to orchestrate 
operations across the border in Afghanistan and beyond. An 
additional layer of complication is the continuing 
tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, the result of 
various security incidents this year. The United States 
remains committed over the long-term to helping alleviate 
problems in the border region between Afghanistan and 
Pakistan. Without a collective international effort, 
however, it will be difficult to contain the existing 
threat emanating from border region. 
 
 
 
¶11. (SBU)  ACTION REQUEST:   Please deliver the following 
points to the appropriate MFA official(s) as soon as 
possible (in advance of September 5-6 Gymnich). 
 
 
 
BEGIN NON-PAPER TEXT 
 
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS 
 
--We welcome your views on ways that the international 
community could, in consultation with the parties, add 
precision to its role in supporting the negotiations, 
without jeopardizing the integrity of this sensitive 
 
process. 
 
 
STATE 00093272  003 OF 004 
 
SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU ON NON-GEORGIA TOPICS IN 
ADVANCE OF THE SEPTEMBER 5-6 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING 
(GYMNIC 
--Efforts to facilitate dialogue among the Palestinian 
factions must concentrate on reinstating the legitimate PA 
institutions in both the West Bank and Gaza. Sustainable 
political arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza must be 
based on the Quartet principals: renunciation of violence, 
recognition of Israel, and acceptance of past agreements 
between the parties. 
 
 
EU SECURITY STRATEGY 
 
 
--We note the EU's interest in updating its 2003 security 
strategy. We believe that the U.S. and EU member states 
confront many of the same threats and challenges, and 
welcome an open dialogue with you on the direction of your 
discussions, with a view to fostering a shared 
transatlantic vision. 
 
 
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS 
 
-- We understand transatlantic relations will be on the 
Gymnich agenda, to include an assessment of priorities in 
view of the upcoming U.S. elections. We expect that 
maintaining strong transatlantic relations will be a key 
priority for whichever administration succeeds the current 
one. 
 
--In our view, transatlantic relations are best when we 
focus on meeting common threats, such as terrorism, energy 
security, and aggressive Russian behavior, and not when we 
 focus on issues where there are inherent differences in 
our two legal systems. We would appreciate your 
 
perspective on which issues will most require a joint 
approach. 
 
 
 
SERBIA 
 
 
--ICJ Case: Serbia's pursuit of an ICJ advisory opinion 
request from the UNGA is inconsistent with Serbia's Euro- 
Atlantic aspirations. We do not believe that Kosovo's 
independence - or the steps the international community 
has taken in response - were unlawful. But we are 
concerned that an ICJ referral will delay progress on the 
ground, and in international recognition foster division, 
and may result in unpredictable opinions that may be 
destabilizing and could inadvertently set precedents that 
reach far beyond the Balkans and Europe. 
 
--EULEX: We urge EU members to demonstrate strength and 
capacity to execute the full EULEX mandate. A EULEX 
presence in the north is critical, while recognizing EULEX 
may have to gradually ramp up in the north. A robust 
EULEX presence in Serb enclaves south of the Ibar is 
critical to limit separatist tendencies there. We need EU 
capitals to fill EULEX personnel shortfalls, especially in 
Police Units for the North. Tadic needs to hear clearly 
from the EU and from EU Member States that Serbia should 
end its opposition to EULEX and to its deployment 
throughout Kosovo, especially in the north and along the 
border. Belgrade needs to hear that its effort to draw 
closer to Brussels will be impacted by Serbia's actions 
toward Kosovo, particularly EULEX in the north. 
 
 
 
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN 
 
--We would like to work with our EU partners to develop 
the economy in the Tribal Areas, continue military 
operations in the Northwest Frontier Province and the 
Tribal areas, and strengthen Pakistan's cross-border 
relationship with Afghanistan. 
 
-- The USG is committed to supporting the Afghan 
Government's request to expand the Afghan National Army. 
The international community's support for sustaining the 
Afghan National Army is needed. 
 
 
STATE 00093272  004 OF 004 
 
SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU ON NON-GEORGIA TOPICS IN 
ADVANCE OF THE SEPTEMBER 5-6 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING 
(GYMNIC 
-- We encourage our EU partners to carefully align their 
generous pledges from the June 12 Paris Conference to the 
Afghan National Development Strategy and transparently 
report their spending plans to the Afghan Ministry of 
Finance and UNAMA. This information is critical to 
improve aid effectiveness and help the Afghan Government 
build a budget that fulfills the plan we all pledged to 
support. 
 
 
 
 
END NON-PAPER TEXT 
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