Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MADRID4179
2004-10-29 11:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, NOV 2: IRAQ, IRAN, MEPP,

Tags:  PREL SP EUN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 004179 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014
TAGS: PREL SP EUN
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, NOV 2: IRAQ, IRAN, MEPP,
RUSSIA, SUDAN, SOMALIA, UKRAINE, KOSOVO, NORTH CYPRUS

REF: A. STATE 228399


B. STATE 230353

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 004179

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2014
TAGS: PREL SP EUN
SUBJECT: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE, NOV 2: IRAQ, IRAN, MEPP,
RUSSIA, SUDAN, SOMALIA, UKRAINE, KOSOVO, NORTH CYPRUS

REF: A. STATE 228399


B. STATE 230353

Classified By: Political Counselor Kathleen Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Poloff discussed Iraq, Iran, the Middle
East Peace Process, Russia, Sudan, Somalia, Ukraine, Kosovo,
and North Cyprus with Enrique Mora Benavente, MFA Head of EU
Planning, on October 26 and October 28. Mora Benavente said
that EU police training in Iraq would take place after
January elections, most likely in Amman. EU member states
are awaiting the results of further negotiations with Iran
before recommending UN Security Council action. The EU
continues to be focused on improving the security situation
with the Palestinians in order to help the Middle East peace
process. Mora Benavente does not expect much progress in
EU-Russian relations at the bilateral summit at the Hague.
The EU will support Sudan financially and logistically, and
welcomes the restarting of the Abuja peace process. The EU
supports efforts of new Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf, but
Spanish officials are not optimistic that he will succeed.
Spain shares U.S. concerns about the fairness of Ukrainian
elections, but the EU is unlikely to make a statement prior
to the elections. The EU shares U.S. views over recent
Kosovo elections. The next GAERC meetings on November 22
will approve two regulations to North Cyprus, although the
regulation concerning trade with North Cyprus will likely
need to be amended. END SUMMARY

--------------
IRAQ
--------------


2. (C) Mora Benavente said that police training and
assistance would take place after the Iraqi elections in
January. In a best case scenario the training would take
place in Baghdad or Basra, but depending on the security
situation, training will more likely take place in Amman.
When Mora Benavente was presented with the updated talking
point about the Iraqi Interim Government recommending that as
much training as possible take place in Iraq, Mora Benavente
said that this was still possible, but that there is stronger
support within the EU to hold the training outside of Iraq.
The planning team will work within the European Security and
Defense Policy framework, similar to the framework used in

Bosnia.

--------------
IRAN
--------------


3. (C) Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy, met with political
representatives from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and
Iran in Vienna October 27 concerning trying to secure Iran's
agreement to suspend indefinitely all nuclear enrichment
activity. Discussions will continue over the weekend. If
Iran has not suspended its enrichment activities before the
November 25-26 IAEA Board of Governors meetings, the Board of
Governors should tell the UNSC that Iran is non-compliant
with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. If Iran agrees to abandon
its enrichment activities, the EU would recommend no further
Security Council action against Iran, and the EU would offer
to start trade cooperation negotiations.

--------------
MIDDLE EAST PEACE
--------------


4. (C) Mora Benavente agreed with reftel talking points,
but said that EU policy on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is
definitely not U.S. policy. The EU is focused on improving
the security situation with the Palestinians. In expressing
a personal view, Mora Benavente said that Sharon's objectives
have nothing to do with reality.

--------------
RUSSIA
--------------


5. (C) Mora Benavente does not expect any big advances in
the four areas of bilateral relations--external security,
energy, justice / domestic affairs, and economic
cooperation--between the EU and Russia during the EU-Russia
Summit at the Hague. He sees two major stumbling blocks to
increased cooperation. First, Russia has been backtracking
on human rights and its respect for democracy; and second, EU
efforts at cooperation and engagement in the states of the
former Soviet Union are not accepted by the Russians.

--------------
SUDAN
--------------


6. (C) The EU will support Sudan financially, logistically,
and with people, although the AU does not want non-African
troops on the ground. Spain is planning on sending 7-8
planners. Spain will continue to provide financial and
humanitarian aid to the victims in Sudan. Spain welcomes the
restarting the Abuja peace process and hopes for quick
results.

--------------
SOMALIA
--------------


7. (C) Spain welcomes the election of Abdullahi Yusuf as
president of Somalia. The EU will support the transitional
government, but at this time they do not know of Yusuf's
intentions; therefore, financial support is unlikely.
Spanish officials are not very optimistic that Yusuf will
succeed.

--------------
UKRAINE
--------------


8. (C) Spain and the EU share U.S. concerns about the
fairness of the Ukrainian elections. Mora Benavente wondered
how an election could be fair when the press is controlled by
the government's candidate and a foreign head of state,
Russia's Vladimir Putin, campaigned for Viktor Yanukovych,
incumbent Leonid Kuchma's designates successor, for three
days. Mora Benavente said that there would be discussions of
the Ukrainian elections among EU member states, but that an
EU statement condemning the election process before the
election could be counterproductive, as the government could
use a statement as an election issue to condemn foreign
meddling in the process.

--------------
KOSOVO
--------------


9. (C) Mora Benavente said that the elections in Kosovo
were free and fair, but the low Serb turnout was
disappointing. The most urgent priority in Kosovo is to
convene parliament and form a government. Security for
minority communities and the rebuilding of houses lost in
riots should be priorities of the new autonomous authorities.
The EU also supports the efforts of Special Representative
of the Secretary General (SRSG) Soren Jessen-Petersen to
transfer additional non-sovereign competencies to the
Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG) to build
capacity and help them meet standards. Mora Benavente added
that the EU is heavily invested in Kosovo, and has so far
seen few results. He said that the EU currently has no
position on the Eide Report.

--------------
NORTH CYPRUS
--------------


10. (C) Mora Benavente said that the next General Affairs
Council on November 22 will approve two regulations relating
to North Cyprus. There will be no problems approving the
direct aid regulation for North Cyprus. The companion
regulation advocating increased trade and economic
cooperation with North Cyprus will likely face difficulties
being approved and will need to be amended to reach unanimity
among the EU. Direct trade with North Cyprus is dependent on
sovereignty issues found in Cyprus' EU accession treaty and
therefore needs unanimity among all EU states.
MANZANARES