SLOVENIA: RESPONSE TO US-EU FIRST STEP CIVAIR

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000554

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EB/TRA, EUR/NCE

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA: RESPONSE TO US-EU FIRST STEP CIVAIR


AGREEMENT

REF: A. SECSTATE 124593

B. LJUBLJANA 0543

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.


1. (U) ON 15 JUNE, STATE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL AFFAIRS AT THE
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT BOJAN BABIC EMAILED ECONOFF THE
FOLLOWING NOTE PROVIDING SLOVENIA'S VIEWS ON THE U.S.-EU
FIRST STEP CIVAIR AGREEMENT AS PER REF A.

BEGIN TEXT OF NOTE

THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAX MESSAGE REGARDING AMERICAN VIEWPOINT
ON EU-US NEGOTIATIONS.

WITH REGARD TO NEGOTIATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS AT THE COUNCIL
MEETING IN JUNE WE HOPE THAT FURTHER PROGRESS CAN STILL BE
MADE TO IMPROVE THE BALANCE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE LINKAGE BETWEEN
PHASE ONE AND PHASE TWO OF THE NEGOTIATIONS WOULD BE
DESIRABLE TO ESTABLISH.

WITH REGARDS TO FIFTH TO SEVENTH RIGHTS BEYOND THE EU, WE
WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE OUR POSITION AT THAT STAGE. OUR
POSITION WILL DEPEND ON THE CONTENT OF THE US OFFER AND OF
WHAT OTHER EU MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION (WITH THE
MANDATE TO NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT) WILL DECIDE TOGETHER.

END TEXT.


2. (SBU) COMMENT: BABIC'S RESPONSE IS IN LINE WITH OUR
EXPECTATIONS (REF B). IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE GOS WILL
ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, OPTING
INSTEAD TO FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF ITS TRADITIONAL EU-
MENTORS, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. END COMMENT.

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