GAERC -- DEMARCHES ON IRAN, OTHER POINTS DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 002738 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA - LABARGE AND EUR/AGS - SAINT-ANDRE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/13/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV UN PARM KNNP IR EU AU SUBJECT: GAERC -- DEMARCHES ON IRAN, OTHER POINTS DELIVERED TO AUSTRIA REF: A. STATE 15189 ¶B. STATE 150777 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips. Reaso ns: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) EconPolCouns delivered reftel points on September 13 to Austrian MFA European Correspondent Andreas Riecken. Riecken made the following substantive comments. ¶2. (C) Western Balkans: There will be council conclusions on Bosnia and on Montenegro, Riecken said. The reference to Montenegro will take positive note of the September 10 elections. On Bosnia, the document will look forward to the October 1 elections. Riecken said the EU agreed with U.S. concerns about activities in the Republika Srpska. After the elections, the EU hopes Bosnia will be able to proceed with reforms in order to permit resumption of the Stabilization and Association Agreement discussions. Riecken agreed with our views on the need for OHR to focus on completing its remaining tasks. The draft council conclusions do not mention Serbia, but Riecken said he expected some discussion among ministers. There is general agreement on the need for real progress on the Serbian action plan for cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY),as well as on the importance of helping the Serbs to develop internally. ¶3. (C) Sudan/Darfur: The main issue for discussion at the GAERC will be how to put pressure on the Government of Sudan to move toward the blue-hatting of AMIS (i.e., the takeover of responsibilties by the UN Mission). Riecken said the EU Council Secretariat is preparing a draft apper on how to achieve GOS agreement this Fall. The draft council conclusions also call on non-signatories to the peace accord to join, and to commit themselves to implementing the agreement. The conclusions also call attention to the humanitarian situation in the refugee camps. ¶4. (C) Democratic Republic of Congo: EU High Representative Javier Solana will report to ministers on his visit to Kinshasa, Riecken said. One of his goals was to encourage Kabila and Bemba to sign the code of conduct for the October 29 elections, and his presentation will include this topic. ¶5. (C) Israeli-Palestinian Issues: Riecken said the Gymnich (the informal Foreign Minsiters' meeting) had included a broad discussion of how to adapt the Roadmap to the changed situation. The topic will be a main focus of the GAERC luncheon discussion. Riecken agreed that the Palestinian Authority government needed to accept Quartet principals. He said there was a feeling in the EU that the inclusion of Fatah in the government may make it easier for EU representatives to talk to the government while avoiding contacts with Hamas. Riecken added that EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner had reported to the Gymnich meeting that the Temporary International Mechanism was working well. ¶6. (C) Lebanon: The GAERC discussions will include an analysis of progress on UNSCR 1701, Riecken said. ¶7. (C) Iraq: Riecken did not expect extended discussion of Iraq. On this topic, the draft council conclusions focus on support for the International Compact for Iraq. Concerning attendance at the UNGA Compact briefing, Riecken said Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik would not be in New York until Tuesday, September 19. (She must make a speech to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna on September 18.) Riecken expected the Austrian Mission in New York to attend the Compact briefing. ¶8. (C) Ukraine: Riecken said Ukraine is not on the GAERC agenda. ¶9. (C) Iran: We pressed the need for a UN Security Council resolution on Iran, as outlined ref (b). We also pointed out the need to use bilateral economic leverage and for ministers to make a strong statement at the GAERC. Riecken said the EU was awaiting the results of Solana's meeting with Larijani in Paris on September 14 before formulating positions. ¶10. (C) Black Sea: Riecken reported that Greece had asked to discuss EU relations with the Black Sea Cooperation Council as an item under "Any Other Business." Riecken did not know what had prompted the Greek request. McCaw