DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA IN ADVANCE OF THE FEBRUARY 27

C O N F I D E N T I A L VIENNA 000529 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA - BISHARAT AND EUR/AGS - VIKMANIS-KELLER E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/20/2016 TAGS: PREL KPAL AU EUN SUBJECT: DEMARCHE TO AUSTRIA IN ADVANCE OF THE FEBRUARY 27 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC) REF: STATE 25937 Classified By: Economic-Political Counselor Gregory E. Phillips. Reaso ns: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) EconPolCouns delivered reftel points on February 21 to Klaus Famira, the Austrian MFA's acting European Correspondent. ¶2. (C) Famira made the following substantive comments: -- On the Balkans: Meetings of the Political and Security Committee (PSC) on February 21 and 22 will consider incentives the EU could offer for Belgrade and Pristina. Montenegro will take up the bulk of the discussions, and the EU will likely issue a message of support for Ambassador Lajcak's efforts. Commissioner Rehn will report on the trip he and Barroso made to the region. -- Iran: EU bodies are preparing draft conclusions, and the PSC will discuss reports that Iran wants to suspend cooperation with the EU-3. It will be important for the U.S. and EU not to let Iran split them. -- Hamas: It is not certain that Hamas will be on the agenda. The Commission is working on its position. There is some concern that the Palestinian Authority's inability to meet its financial obligations would contribute to further instability. That said, the U.S. and EU agree on conditions (recognizing Israel's right to exist, renouncing violence and disarming as a militia), -- Iraq: Iraq is on the agenda, and there will be discussions of future developments in the political process. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will brief the GAERC on the state of play on opening a Commission office in Baghdad. -- Congo: There is an options paper on different forms of EU involvement. High Representative Solana will report on the situation in the region. McCaw