Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA1674
2005-11-14 11:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

EUR A/S FRIED MEETS WITH DANISH STATE SECRETARY

Tags:  PREL KDEM KMPI BA EG DE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001674 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI BA EG DE
SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED MEETS WITH DANISH STATE SECRETARY
CARSTEN STAUR, NOVEMBER 12, 2005, MANAMA, BAHRAIN

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 b, d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001674

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI BA EG DE
SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED MEETS WITH DANISH STATE SECRETARY
CARSTEN STAUR, NOVEMBER 12, 2005, MANAMA, BAHRAIN

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 b, d.


1. (SBU) Meeting Held on November 12, 2005, 15:30, at the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain.


2. (SBU) Participants:

U.S.
A/S Fried
Leslie Tsou (TDY Notetaker)

Denmark
State Secretary Carsten Staur
Tomas Christensen, Middle East Department Director


3. (C) Summary. Following the November 12 Forum for the
Future Ministerial Meeting in Bahrain, Danish State Secretary
Carsten Staur and Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
Dan Fried agreed that establishing the Forum is an important
step forward in the global war on terror. A/S Fried noted
that the failure to announce the Bahrain Declaration was
caused by the Egyptians, who insisted on language that would
have restricted regional NGOs. On Iraq, Staur indicated the
Danish government would probably extend its mandate until
July, but would need to consider carefully what role it could
best play after that. A/S Fried pointed out that the
situation in Iraq may have developed favorably by July and
that Denmark might be able to extend its presence in a
different form. Staur expressed Denmark,s concern about
Iraq,s plans for out-of-country voting in the December 15
elections. He said Denmark would consider a possible joint
U.S.-European mission to Belarus to warn President Lukashenko
of the consequences of fraud in next year,s elections.
Staur also agreed that Europe needs to pay greater attention
to events in the South Caucasus and Eastern Europe (Ukraine,
Belarus and Moldova). End summary.

--------------
Danish Support for the Forum for the Future
--------------


4. (C) A/S Fried thanked Denmark for its contribution to the
Forum for the Future. Staur said that despite the Forum,s
failure to issue the Bahrain Declaration, the meeting was a
significant achievement and an important step forward in the
global war on terror. A/S Fried said Egypt,s insistence on
language that would restrict NGO activities was the cause
that the declaration was not announced. In any event, the
important thing now is to keep pushing forward. Staur
agreed, noting the French attitude that the Forum is in
direct competition with the Barcelona Process is also not
helpful.

--------------
Iraq
--------------


5. (C) Staur said that Denmark,s parliamentary mandate in
Iraq expires on February 1, but that the Danish government
will likely succeed in getting a parliamentary continuance
until July. After that, Denmark will need to assess the
situation on the ground. A/S Fried encouraged Denmark to
consider the future in terms of a possibly different
landscape in Iraq, with a new Iraqi government and a
constitutional process underway. Denmark could conceivably
extend in a different form.


6. (C) Denmark is worried about Iraq,s plans to conduct
out-of-country voting in the December elections, Staur said.
Previous efforts required an IOM staff of 100 people and
three months of preplanning, but the Iraqis have just
dispatched a handful of people to Copenhagen with only one
month before the election. The Danish government worries
that if the out-of-country vote ends in chaos, the Danish
public will doubt the entire election. Denmark is also
concerned that the Iraqis are sending their best people
abroad when they need to be focusing on election arrangements
domestically. A/S Fried said he would look into the matter.

--------------
Belarus
--------------


7. (C) A/S Fried said the U.S. is considering a joint
U.S.-European delegation to Minsk as early as December to
convey the strong message to Belarussian President Lukashenko
that the international community is not prepared to recognize
the results of a fraudulent election in 2006, or a fraudulent
referendum on a union with Russia. Staur said such a mission
is an excellent opportunity for U.S.-European cooperation and
that Denmark would consider supporting it.
--------------
Azerbaijan/Former Soviet Republics
--------------

8. (C) On Azerbaijan,s elections, A/S Fried said the U.S.
has called for President Aliyev to address fraud in the
districts where it occurred, but has not outright condemned
the elections or Aliyev himself. Staur agreed that Europe
needs to focus more attention on the Caucasus and the former
Soviet republics. Once Turkey joins, the EU will border
Iraq. A/S Fried noted that this region was a place where
Europe and the U.S. could cooperate closely.


9. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried.


MONROE