SLOVENIA SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000600 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL TU SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS REF: SECSTATE 150087 Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief spoke with Robert Kremelj of the MFA Department for Integration and Economic Relations. He manages the EU enlargement portfolio. Kremlj repeated Slovenia's consistent position which is that it supports Turkey's accession, assuming it meets all the necessary criteria, and the start of negotiations. Slovenia sees Turkey as the anchor for south east Europe and believes with Turkey in the accession process, the pressure will mount for the rest of south east Europe to intensify reforms and start their own accession processes. Kremlj said that "enlargement has its path and it cannot be put aside because of political differences" (referring to the no votes on the EU constitution.) ¶2. (C) Kremelj described Turkey's recent comments about Cyprus as "not helpful," but on close inspection he did not see that, legally speaking, there was a problem. He did expect an equally political response from the EU, but his expectation was also that negotiations would begin as planned. Sooner or later, Kremlj said Turkey would have to face the "Cyprus question" and it would have to result in a recognition of Cyprus. Kremlj also expected that recent comments by France and others about Turkey's accession would be "food for thought" at upcoming COREPER and Gymnich meetings. ROBERTSON NNNN 2005LJUBLJ00600 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL v1.6.2