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C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000102 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE AND EUR/ERA LIZ KONICK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL EU RU UA HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE EU FAC MEETING FEBRUARY 
22 
 
REF: KONICK FEBRUARY 18 EMAIL 
 
Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
¶1. (U) MFA EU External Relations and Crisis Situations 
Section Chief Andras Dekany discussed ref email topics with 
PolOff on February 19. 
 
¶2. (C) Dekany provided the following comments on three 
topics: Iran, Ukraine and Libya. 
 
-- IRAN: The recent announcement by Iran that it would 
increase its enrichment program raises serious concerns and 
increases the possibility that Iran is moving towards the 
development of a nuclear weapon.  Hungary maintains its 
consistent position that the EU demonstrate unity, support 
the dual-track approach, and be prepared to take autonomous 
measures in dealing with Iran's nuclear program.  Dekany 
stressed that after more than a year of limited progress "now 
is the time to activate further sanctions," for which Hungary 
believes the UNSC should initially take the lead.  That said, 
Dekany suggested that informal discussions amongst several EU 
members, including the UK, may shift focus towards the human 
rights issues in Iran rather than the nuclear issue, based on 
an impression that "there is not much we can do about the 
nuclear issues."  He asked PolOff if there are any on-going 
negotiations with Iran that include Brazil as a mediator.  In 
closing remarks on Iran, Dekany said, that while human rights 
issues in Iran  are important, Hungary believes that Iranian 
nuclear programs should be the focus. 
 
-- UKRAINE: Dekany said that Ukraine is not on the formal 
agenda, rather it will be a lunch discussion item, which will 
be the venue for the most important issues. According to 
Dekany, Foreign Minister Balazs will outline three broad 
expectations about the new Ukraine government: Yanukovych; 
Tymoshenko; and, Ukrainian foreign policy.  Hungary expects 
Yanukovych to move quickly to gain control over all branches 
of the government and to be an active president providing 
very specific guidance and direction. Smaller parties will be 
willing to work with him in the near term to help ensure that 
they meet the threshold to enter parliament following the 
next elections.  On Tymoshenko, Hungary sees her legal 
challenge to the election results as less about obtaining a 
favorable ruling, and more about sending a message to 
supporters that she is still actively involved in politics. 
She will maneuver in parliament to undermine the Yanukovych 
government. On Ukraine foreign policy, Hungary anticipates a 
multi-dimensional effort focused on improved relations with 
Russia while "not turning away from the EU" and that the 
NATO/Ukraine relationship will not move beyond the current 
status. 
 
Dekany highlighted the following areas as important messages 
for Ukraine: political stability and cooperation are 
imperative; the new government must "get back on track with 
the IMF"; improve energy sector infrastructure; combat 
corruption; the cooperative approach reflected in the 
EU/Ukraine relationship must remain high on the agenda; an 
improved Russian/Ukraine relationship can increase regional 
stability in the  neighborhood, but in some case, i.e. free 
trade, Ukraine will have to make choices. 
 
-- LIBYA: Dekany related that Libya was an added agenda item 
due to the addition by the Swiss of some Libyans on the 
Schengen no-entry list and the Libyan response to not accept 
Schengen visa holders.  Dekany stated he wasn't sure if this 
was a political or a consular issue, but consultations 
between Madrid, Rome and Berlin were ongoing to formulate a 
policy. 
KOUNALAKIS