GAERC: EU FMs ASK SYRIA TO PROMOTE REGIONAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 002735

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SY LE IS IR IZ UZ ZI ID SU IZ CH ZK EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: GAERC: EU FMs ASK SYRIA TO PROMOTE REGIONAL
STABILITY, CONDEMN UZBEKISTAN; EU TO MONITOR ACEH
AGREEMENT

SUMMARY
--------------


1. EU FM's in the July 18 GAERC urged Israel to
exercise maximum self-restraint and the Palestinian
Authority to take immediate and effective action
against those involved in terrorist attacks. They
called on Syria to take action to promote regional
stability, including by supporting the legitimate
new government of Lebanon and cooperating with the
Iraqi authorities to prevent cross-border transit
and support for terrorists. The Council condemned
the refusal of the Uzbek authorities to allow an
independent inquiry into the events in Andijan and
agreed to review the EU-Uzbekistan Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement following a visit to the
region by newly appointed EUSR for Central Asia Jan
Kubis. It also tasked its bodies to consider
further measures, including the introduction of an
arms embargo. The Council hailed the successful
conclusion of the Helsinki negotiations on the Aceh
region of Indonesia and agreed that the EU was
prepared, in principle, to provide observers to
monitor implementation of the agreement. The
Council reviewed the Commission's negotiations
mandate for Turkish accession, but took no position
on it, deferring full discussion instead to the
informal Gymnich meeting in the beginning of
September. Full text of the GAERC conclusions has
been sent to EUR/ERA and can be consulted on
http://ue.eu.int. END SUMMARY.


2. The first GAERC session under the UK Presidency
issued conclusions on many hot spots, but
essentially debated the Middle East, Iran and
Syria/Lebanon. The highlights:

MIDDLE EAST
--------------


3. HR Solana reported on his six-day tour of the
Middle East. UK Foreign Secretary/GAERC chair Straw
told the final press conference ministers had a good
operational discussion on the period between now and
four weeks from now when Israeli forces are expected
to begin withdrawal from Gaza. Noting that the
entire PA government was in Gaza July 18, Solana
expressed hope that their efforts to end violence
will be successful. Solana urged Hamas to prove
that it was complying with the ceasefire with
Israel. He also noted that the EU has an operation
on the ground for upgrading Palestinian Police with
equipment and sophisticated communications gear.
Ministers agreed to provide continued support to the
Palestinian Civil Police in the form of an ESDP
mission, building on the work of the EU Coordination
Office for Palestinian Policing Support. External
Relations Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said most
important now was not to derail the peace process,
calling on all leaders to show "courage and
restraint."

SYRIA/LEBANON
--------------


4. Straw said ministers heard an "extremely
interesting" report by UNSYG Special Envoy for the
implementation of UNSC Resolution 1559 Roed-Larsen.
Ministers adopted what Straw presented as "tough"
conclusions on Syria's role in Lebanon. The
conclusions called on Syria "to take action to
promote regional stability, including by supporting
the legitimate and sovereign new government of
Lebanon and allowing for smooth circulation of goods
between the two countries; supporting the political
process in Iraq by cooperating with Iraqi
authorities to prevent cross-border transit and
support for terrorists; and ending support for
groups that oppose the MEPP and calling them to
abstain from the use of violence." Earlier, French
FM Douste-Blazy told the press that a Syrian
blockade of the Lebanese border was "not
acceptable."

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


5. Straw said the GAERC discussed the Presidential
election result, noting that the inauguration of the
new President was scheduled to take place on August
3, but offering no further comment. He said he
updated colleagues on work toward the presentation
by the EU side in August (vice late July, as
originally planned before the August 3 inauguration
date was set) of a comprehensive package on the
three issues covered by the November 2004 Paris
agreement: nuclear issues; political and security
issues and economic and technological cooperation.

INDONESIA/ACEH
--------------


6. Straw, Solana and Ferrero-Waldner all hailed the
successful conclusion of the Helsinki negotiations.
Solana said the EU received an offer to monitor
implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding
(200 monitors needed, he said) and announced that he
would be visiting Indonesia next week. The GAERC
tasked its bodies to continue planning for a mission
and to make contact with ASEAN and ASEAN countries
with a view to their possible cooperation. Ferrero-
Waldner expressed readiness to commit EC funds on
top of existing post-Tsunami aid to support the
peace process.

UZBEKISTAN
--------------


7. The Council condemned the refusal of the Uzbek
authorities to allow an independent inquiry into the
events in Andijan and agreed to review the EU-
Uzbekistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
following a visit to the region by newly appointed
EUSR for Central Asia Jan Kubis. It also tasked its
bodies to recommend further measures as appropriate,
including the introduction of an arms embargo.

ZIMBABWE
--------------


8. Straw referred to the "strong and widespread
condemnation" of evictions and internal displacement
undertaken under "Operation Murambatsvina" in breach
of international standards. He said the Council
looked forward to a report from the UN Special Envoy
Anna Tibaijuka and supported the decision of the AU
to send a Special Envoy.

CHINA
--------------


9. The Commission (Ferrero-Waldner and Trade
Commissioner Mandelson) presented the agenda for the
EU-China Summit, to take place in Beijing on
September 5, to include a focus on climate change
and energy, according to EU officials. French FM
Douste-Blazy told the press that the Summit would
allow the EU "to reinforce the strategic partnership
with China." Douste-Blazy said it was "regrettable"
that the EU has not respected its political
commitments re lifting the arms embargo. At the
same time, he added, European publics are concerned
about trade and textiles, and the EU should be
careful to have the support of its populations in
dealing with the Chinese. China must also respect
its IPR commitments.

UN SUMMIT
--------------


10. The GAERC adopted conclusions calling for a
"balanced and ambitious" UN summit, listing a series
of steps, inter alia, to improve UN development
assistance, enhance good governance, make progress
on the Doha Development Round and environmental
issues. The conclusions do not comment on UN
Security Council reform, except to recognize "the
need to reform" the main UN bodies.

ESTONIA AND LATVIA BORDER AGREEMENTS WITH RUSSIA
-------------- ---


11. The GAERC heard a presentation by the Estonian
FM on the Estonia/Russia border agreement in the
light of the recent announcement by Russia of its
decision not to ratify the agreement. The Latvian
minister also spoke on the situation regarding the
Latvia/Russia border agreement. At his press
conference, Straw said that Estonia and Latvia
received support in their endeavors for the treaties
to be satisfactorily ratified by the parties.

DECISIONS WITHOUT DISCUSSION
--------------


12. This GAERC also approved a number of items
without discussion, dealing in particular with:

--Terrorism: conclusions condemning the London
attacks as "an affront to everything the EU
stands for";

--Sudan/Darfur: the Council adopted a
comprehensive supporting action to the AU
mission in Sudan (AMIS II) in the civilian and
military fields, such as police, planning,
logistics, strategic and tactical airlift,
,
training and equipment. The Council appointed
former Finnish Minister Pekka Haavisto as EU
Special Rep for Sudan;

--Western Balkans: conclusions on Albania
(elections, stabilization and association
process),Srebrenica commemoration and
cooperation with the ICTY;

--Iraq: conclusions welcoming the success of the
June 22 Brussels international conference,
underlining the EU's commitment to ensure and
effective follow-up, and deploring that the
campaign of terrorist violence is prolonging
the suffering of the Iraqi people and hampering
progress and reconstruction in Iraq;

--Central Asia: appointment of former OSCE
Secretary-General Jan Kubis as EU Special Rep

SIPDIS
for Central Asia.

MCKINLEY
EY