Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06VIENNA778
2006-03-15 10:48:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
EU INFORMAL MINISTERIAL IN SALZBURG:
how-toVZCZCXRO9206 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHVI #0778 0741048 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151048Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2740 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS VIENNA 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/ERA, EUR/UMB AND EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UP BO EUN AU
SUBJECT: EU INFORMAL MINISTERIAL IN SALZBURG:
FERRERO-WALDNER ON UKRAINE, BELARUS
REF: A) VIENNA 758 B) VIENNA 761 C) USEU BRUSSELS 886
This is a joint Vienna - USEU cable.
BELARUS
-------
UNCLAS VIENNA 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/ERA, EUR/UMB AND EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UP BO EUN AU
SUBJECT: EU INFORMAL MINISTERIAL IN SALZBURG:
FERRERO-WALDNER ON UKRAINE, BELARUS
REF: A) VIENNA 758 B) VIENNA 761 C) USEU BRUSSELS 886
This is a joint Vienna - USEU cable.
BELARUS
--------------
1. Speaking at the informal "Gymnich" meeting of the EU
foreign ministers in Salzburg on March 10-11, European
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
commented that Belarus was a country "at a crossroads," with
the elections a crucial test for democracy. If the elections
are free and fair, she said, then the EU could offer Belarus
significant benefits in the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy. However, reports from Belarus of
arrests of opposition politicians during the campaign were
deeply disturbing. Ferrero-Waldner called for their
immediate release, and for the government of Belarus to
respect all international democratic standards. Should the
Belarus elections not be free and fair, the EU would say so.
The EU was then prepared to take targeted restrictive
measures against the people who rigged the election.
Ferrero-Waldner said that the EU had not yet composed a list
of Belarusian leaders who might become subject to such
sanctions, however.
UKRAINE
--------------
2. On Ukraine, Ferrero-Waldner lauded the progress it had
made on the EU's Action Plan and said maintaining momentum
was key. She noted that the current election campaign was
fiercely contested, but appeared so far to be free and fair.
Ferrero-Waldner said the EU stood ready to work with any
Ukrainian coalition that emerges from free and fair
elections, and held out the prospect of an EU-Ukraine free
trade agreement. French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy, in a
separate appearance, supported Ferrero-Waldner's comments.
He added that the EU must work with the new Ukrainian
government to resolve the problem of Transnistria.
McCaw
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR, EUR/ERA, EUR/UMB AND EUR/AGS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UP BO EUN AU
SUBJECT: EU INFORMAL MINISTERIAL IN SALZBURG:
FERRERO-WALDNER ON UKRAINE, BELARUS
REF: A) VIENNA 758 B) VIENNA 761 C) USEU BRUSSELS 886
This is a joint Vienna - USEU cable.
BELARUS
--------------
1. Speaking at the informal "Gymnich" meeting of the EU
foreign ministers in Salzburg on March 10-11, European
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner
commented that Belarus was a country "at a crossroads," with
the elections a crucial test for democracy. If the elections
are free and fair, she said, then the EU could offer Belarus
significant benefits in the framework of the European
Neighborhood Policy. However, reports from Belarus of
arrests of opposition politicians during the campaign were
deeply disturbing. Ferrero-Waldner called for their
immediate release, and for the government of Belarus to
respect all international democratic standards. Should the
Belarus elections not be free and fair, the EU would say so.
The EU was then prepared to take targeted restrictive
measures against the people who rigged the election.
Ferrero-Waldner said that the EU had not yet composed a list
of Belarusian leaders who might become subject to such
sanctions, however.
UKRAINE
--------------
2. On Ukraine, Ferrero-Waldner lauded the progress it had
made on the EU's Action Plan and said maintaining momentum
was key. She noted that the current election campaign was
fiercely contested, but appeared so far to be free and fair.
Ferrero-Waldner said the EU stood ready to work with any
Ukrainian coalition that emerges from free and fair
elections, and held out the prospect of an EU-Ukraine free
trade agreement. French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy, in a
separate appearance, supported Ferrero-Waldner's comments.
He added that the EU must work with the new Ukrainian
government to resolve the problem of Transnistria.
McCaw