ESTONIA: GAERC RESPONSE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 001087 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN TU CH AF EU EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA: GAERC RESPONSE REF: A. STATE 195044 ¶B. STATE 194456 Classified By: DCM Jeff Goldstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Pol/Econ Chief discussed reftel points on GAERC agenda items with Kristina Meius, the MFA's European Correspondent, on November 7. Meius provided feedback on the following issues: -- Afghanistan: The GOE believes the EU should be engaged in the reconstruction process in both Kabul and the provinces. Afghanistan should be the number one priority of the EU. Reconstruction of the legal system, particularly training and advising the police, are suitable tasks for the EU. -- China Arms Embargo: Meius noted that the China arms embargo is only one element of the planned discussion on China at the GAERC. She noted that this issue is on the agenda only because some member states want to link it to the adoption of a common policy on (general) rules governing export of military technology and equipment. Meius said that while the GOE is not against repealing the embargo, it believes this has to be done at the right time and certain conditions should be applied. This is not the right time, Meius added. ¶2. (C) On Turkey, Pol/Econ Chief spoke December 8 with Viljar Lubi, the Director of the General Affairs Division in the MFA's EU Department. Lubi noted that the conclusions on Turkey at the Commission meeting in Brussels today (the morning of the 8th) were not what the GOE had expected and it is not happy with them. In particular, Lubi noted, the conclusions still refer to the November 29 Commission report, which called for the freezing of 8 chapters and did not allow any chapters to be provisionally closed. The GOE believes there needs to be a "proportional response" on Turkey, Lubi said, and the November 29 recommendations are not proportional. Referencing remarks the FM had made to the Parliament on December 7, Labi highlighted the GOE's position that only three chapters - those directly connected with the Ankara protocol (free trade, the tariff union and transport) - should be frozen. The EU and Turkey can "easily" continue negotiating on the other chapters, but if more chapters are frozen, there will be a backlash in Turkey. Lubi said he does not know where the COREPER discussion will lead today, but the GOE will likely be vocal on this issue at the GAERC meeting next week. The GOE wants there to be agreement on Turkey at the GAERC; it does not want this issue on the agenda of the Summit meeting. WOS