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

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