SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE 12 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000354 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/16 TAGS: PREL KPAL SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF THE JUNE 12 GAERC REF: SECSTATE 91167 Classified By: Charge d'Affairs Maryruth Coleman reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Polecon Chief discussed reftel points with EU Correspondent at the MFA, Peter Grk on June 7. Grk said Slovenia was supportive of the transition from OHR to an EU Representative in Bosnia and agreed with developing a timeline which would have the transition completed in mid-2007. The GOS also agrees that it is important to get the Serbs to cooperate on the range of issues from separation with Montenegro, cooperation in Kosovo and delivering Mladic to the ICTY. ¶2. (C) Grk did not have a clear idea of the direction the discussion on Iraq would take. The GOS is committed to the programs in which it is already engaged in Iraq. Given limited funds for bilateral and humanitarian assistance, requests for Iraq will be competing with plans for work in the Western Balkans, the European Neighborhood and other NATO and EU initiatives. That said, the GOS is always prepared to see if and where it can provide added value. ¶3. (C) With its UN Human Rights Council membership ambitions in mind, Slovenia has been expanding the scope of its activities on human rights issues. Cuba has not traditionally been an area of significant activity for the GOS, and it lacks representation there. However, the GOS recognizes the importance the USG places on the civil and human rights in Cuba. Grk thought that the EU common position would not be much different from previous years and predicted that concerns voiced by the Czechs would be factored into the final product. Slovenia continues to cover Cuba from its mission in Madrid, which tends also to inform GOS views. (Comment. Traditional policy orientation notwithstanding, recent engagement of the Slovene mission in Washington on Cuba issues along with the belief that a strongly pro-democracy attitude on Cuba is important (to the US) vis a vis a seat on the UN Human Rights Council is having a positive impact. End Comment) ¶4. (C) Grk said Slovenia and the EU viewed Palestinian assistance the same as does the USG. He thought the temporary international mechanism (TIM) would be ready to roll out soon. He said they were also watching with interest how Abbas' call for a referendum would develop. ¶5. (C) Grk expressed surprise that there were no points on Iran this month. He said Slovenia was encouraged by recent developments on the diplomatic front and was hopeful that Iran would grab this opportunity to engage constructively with the U.S. and EU. COLEMAN