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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019 
TAGS: PREL EUN KPAL KWBG HR BM IS GZ WE CE UP MD
IR, BO 
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF GAERC:  CROATIA, BURMA, MIDDLE 
EAST, SRI LANKA, AND MORE 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Greg D'Elia, Reasons 1.4 b, d 
. 
 
¶1.  (C) SUMMARY:  On April 24, French MFA Deputy Chief for EU 
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Mathieu Carmona 
previewed the April General Affairs and External Relations 
Council (GAERC) meeting's discussions on Croatia, Burma, the 
Middle East, Sri Lanka, follow-up from the U.S.-EU Summit 
including Iran, as well as Ukraine, Moldova, and Durban II. 
Carmona acknowledged a lack of substance in the GAERC agenda 
despite its length.  On Croatia, foreign ministers will 
discuss the European Commission's proposals to negotiate an 
end to Slovenia's blockage of the remaining 12 chapters. 
Burma will yield no surprises, as participants will renew the 
EU's Common Position.  Carmona said the EU is missing an 
opportunity to influence the Government of Israel's policy 
review on the peace process by producing no conclusions.  He 
could not predict details of the discussion on Sri Lanka, as 
ministers will have to take into account possible 
developments over the next few days.  Informal follow-up of 
the U.S.-EU Summit in Prague will include a conclusion 
calling on Iran to choose engagement over isolation.  The 
upcoming Eastern Partnership Initiative (EPI) and Southern 
Corridor meetings will also be discussed.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) Croatia:  Carmona said movement on unblocking 
Croatia's entrance into the EU is as important for France as 
for the United States.  He stressed that much progress 
towards decoupling the border dispute with Slovenia from 
Croatian EU accession was the result of French proposals 
taken on by the European Commission.  He said the foreign 
ministers await responses in early May from Slovenia and 
Croatia regarding an agenda for negotiation and a system of 
arbitrage. Carmona expressed hope that Slovenia will lift its 
blockage at that point, rather than require full resolution 
of the border issue, which would make further progress 
possible during the Czech presidency.  Carmona acknowledged a 
second motivation for Croatian accession:  it is a 
requirement for adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, as concessions 
the EU agreed to with Ireland following the failed Irish 
referendum were codified in Croatia's accession package. 
 
¶3. (C) Burma:  The foreign ministers will issue conclusions 
renewing the EU's Common Position and sanctions, given 
Burma's lack of progress.  He said the 2010 elections' best 
outcome would be to give the opposition more voice, which the 
EU will promote through dialogue with ASEAN.  Carmona added 
that the Commission is looking for new tools to deal with 
Burma, as the international community's current policy has 
borne no fruit. 
 
¶4. (C) Middle East:  Participants will discuss recent 
developments, including statements by President Obama and 
Israeli PM Netanyahu, as well as the April 22 meeting of the 
Political and Security Committee with Special Envoy George 
Mitchell.  Carmona said no conclusions would be published due 
to Czech opposition, which France views as a lost opportunity 
to highlight EU concerns prior to PM Netanyahu's trip to 
Washington, which Carmona said was the most important piece 
of the GOI's ongoing policy review of the peace process.  He 
defined those concerns as the need to reopen Gaza border 
crossings for the long term and halt the construction of 
Israeli settlements.  Carmona said France will encourage the 
Commission to find concrete ways to reinforce with Israel its 
opposition to colonization, as the settlement issue could 
torpedo the entire peace process.  The GOF sees potential for 
progress this year, especially as the Arab peace initiative 
will not be on the table forever. 
 
¶5. (C) Sri Lanka:  Carmona highlighted recent French activity 
at the UN focused on the government's obligation to protect 
civilians.  He added that the exact nature of the discussion 
would depend on developments over the next few days, 
including G8 discussions. 
 
¶6. (C) At lunch, the foreign ministers are expected to review 
informally the U.S.-EU Summit in Prague, including its 
outcomes on Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iran.  State 
Secretary for European Affairs Bruno Le Maire, who will 
represent France at the GAERC while FM Kouchner accompanies 
 
PARIS 00000586  002 OF 002 
 
 
President Sarkozy on a state visit to Spain, will speak on 
Iran.  A formal conclusion requested by Italy will support 
President Obama's opening to Iran, and call on the Iranians 
to choose cooperation over isolation.  The statement will 
also add that time is limited, and Carmona said the UNGA next 
fall will likely take stock of progress and discuss 
consequences if necessary. 
 
¶7. (C) Ukraine:  The Germans, and to a lesser extent the 
Poles, insisted that Ukraine be added to the agenda.  Carmona 
said France's viewpoint was that establishing political 
consensus among Ukrainian leadership in order to ensure the 
disbursement of the second tranche of the IMF's Stand-by 
Arrangement was the key to addressing Ukraine's economic 
crisis.  Carmona said France agrees with Germany that the EU 
must encourage Ukraine to take these steps, particularly in 
light of pressures from Russia. 
 
¶8. (C) Moldova:  At Romania's request, Moldova is on the 
agenda.  France's goals are to de-escalate tensions between 
Moldova and Romania, and for the EU to help promote political 
dialogue within Moldova.  Carmona criticized Moldova's 
decision to require visas for Romanians, which discriminates 
against a single member state of the EU, violating the Visa 
Facilitation Agreement. 
 
¶9.  (C) Durban II:  Carmona said Sweden requested discussion 
of Durban II, which France and Sweden agree was a qualified 
success, particularly as the declaration was adopted as 
negotiated.  Carmona stressed that the participation "until 
the end" of most EU states allowed them to insist on European 
red lines, including no anti-Israeli or anti-defamation of 
religion language.  He said EU participation had allowed the 
insertion of language supporting the freedom of expression 
and calls for an "end to impunity" (citing specifically 
Sudanese President Omar Bashir), albeit at the cost of a call 
for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation, 
dropped by EU states during the negotiations.  Carmona said 
France views the EU's main failure regarding Durban II as the 
lack of full participation by all 27 member-states,  which 
Carmona blamed on the Czechs "throwing in the towel" but also 
shows differences within the EU on Middle East issues. 
 
¶10.  (C) Upcoming Meetings:  Finally, the Czech Presidency 
will give updates on preparations for upcoming Eastern 
Partnership Initiative and Southern Corridor meetings. 
Acknowledging that Lukashenka was a dictator who plays off 
the West and Russia, he said shutting out Belarus would hand 
the country to Russia. Citing Ukraine's development and 
political independence from Russia as an example of the 
benefits of EU engagement, Carmona said France supported the 
invitation, while hoping Lukashenka will not attend. 
 
PEKALA