Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BERLIN1883
2007-10-12 15:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:  

GERMAN MFA RESPONSE TO GAERC DEMARCHE

Tags:  EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL RS LY IS IZ IR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #1883/01 2851545
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121545Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9468
INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0298
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0513
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001883 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL RS LY IS IZ IR
SY, LE, CD, YI, BM, GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN MFA RESPONSE TO GAERC DEMARCHE

REF: A. STATE 141316

B. BERLIN 1877

C. BERLIN 1878

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeffrey Rathke
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 001883

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ETRD ETTC KPAL RS LY IS IZ IR
SY, LE, CD, YI, BM, GM
SUBJECT: GERMAN MFA RESPONSE TO GAERC DEMARCHE

REF: A. STATE 141316

B. BERLIN 1877

C. BERLIN 1878

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Jeffrey Rathke
for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (SBU) Poloff and Econ Counselor met with German MFA and
Economic Ministry officials respectively to discuss ref A.
Deputy European Correspondent Thomas Schieb, who is
responsible for overseeing the drafting of position papers
for the MFA's use at the October 15-16 EU General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC),provided Poloff October
10 with the likely positions Germany will take at the GAERC
as well as the likely conclusions to be announced by the EU
Council at the end of the first meeting day, Monday, October

15. Following is a rendition of MFA's and MOE's major points
regarding ref A.

--------------
WTO/DDA
--------------


2. (SBU) Economic Counselor and Econoff delivered ref A
points on October 9 to Dr. Adrian Bothe, Head of Division for
External Economic Policy/North America, and Dr. Heinz
Hetmeier, Director of Trade Policy, of the Ministry of
Economics. Hetmeier said the Portuguese presidency will
raise the Doha Development Agenda perfunctorily, but German
officials do not expect the GAERC to make a substantive
contribution to the EU's negotiating stance. They believe,
however, that the possibility remains to close the round with
modalities by the end of 2007. Hetmeier said USTR Susan
Schwab's recent commitment to negotiate on the basis of the
WTO committees' texts is a positive step and is helping to
quell rumors of alternative proposals. Hetmeier recommended
the United States and EU continue their good cooperation to
"shape the flexibilities" required to close the round and
said Germany would explore all possibilities to do so in

Geneva.


3. (SBU) Hetmeier was chiefly concerned by the reluctance of
India, Brazil and Argentina to reduce industrial tariffs and
by China's recent flirtation with the NAMA-11. Hetmeier said
a Swiss formula coefficient higher than 20 for developing
countries would make it difficult for Germany to gain
industry's support because it would yield insufficient new
market access for industrial goods. His latest reports from
Geneva suggest Brazil insists the United States must cut its
domestic support to a range between $12.3 and $12.7 billion,
a level Germany acknowledges would be difficult for the
United States to accept. He said German government contacts
in Washington remain concerned about the mood in Congress.

--------------
Kosovo
--------------


4. (C) MFA Deputy European Correspondent Schieb told Poloff
that while Germany and the EU still strongly support the
Troika process, at the same time, they recognize that the
Troika process will likely fail as of its December 10
deadline. Germany and the EU, therefore, see the need for
the EU to develop a position on an alternative solution
before December 10. He added, however, that it is important
that the EU not "let on" that it foresees the Troika as
failing so as not to undermine the current Troika process.
He said that the EU will do its homework to prepare for how
to proceed after December 10 "behind tightly closed doors."
He noted that EU members differ on how best to proceed, but
do agree that the EU must have a unified position. Schieb
added that Germany agrees that an internationally-supervised
independence is the best way forward unless the parties agree
otherwise. The Council's published conclusions on October 15
will likely contain a statement supporting the Troika
process. It will not, he said, discuss alternatives to this
process should it fail.


5. (C) Schieb emphasized that Russia's role regarding Kosovo
is "very difficult." He noted that French President
Sarkozy's October 9-10 meetings with Russian President Putin
did not result in any movement on Russia's part regarding
Kosovo. He added that he had heard reports, however, that
Russian FM Lavrov "signaled" in New York that UNSCR 1244
"could" provide a legal basis for the ESDP Rule of Law
Mission. Schieb stressed the need for a solid legal basis
before the EU could participate in the ESDP mission and noted
that the EU is discussing this issue.

--------------
Russia
--------------


6. (C) Schieb showed Poloff a draft agenda for the October
26 EU-Russia Summit which included Kosovo, the Middle East,
Iran, Afghanistan, Moldova, Central Asia, and internal
developments within the EU and Russia. He said that it is
likely the EU will convey its interest that the upcoming
Russian elections be conducted according to internationally
recognized standards. He said that Georgia will likely be
discussed as well. Regarding an EU energy strategy, Schieb
said that negotiations to renew the Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement with Russia should have started during
the course of Germany's EU presidency but did not and that
they would likely begin again next year.

--------------
Israel-Palestinian Peace
--------------


7. (SBU) The Council's conclusions will include a statement
on the importance of discussions between Palestinian Chairman
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and that the EU looks
forward to the international meeting scheduled in the U.S. in
November.

--------------
Iraq
--------------


8. (C) Schieb said that he has seen a draft of the
Council's finalized conclusions on Iraq and that they will
not contain any surprises. He said that they include
provisions noting EU support for an expanded UNAMI mandate,
the Expanded Neighbors meeting in Istanbul, the work of SRSG
Steffan di Mistura, and the International Compact with Iraq.
The conclusions, according to Schieb, will confirm the EU's
intention to provide the Iraqi government with "practical
assistance" to further its efforts towards stability and
security. It will include a provision calling on the Iraqi
government to mitigate the refugee and IDP problem and
offering EU support to achieve progress. It will call on
neighboring countries to play a constructive role as well as
appeal to the Iraqi government to make progress toward
national reconciliation.

--------------
Iran
--------------


9. (C) Ref C reports on Charg's discussion of Iran with
State Secretary Silberberg October 12. Schieb told Polloff
that Germany supports waiting for the IAEA's November report
on Iran as well as that of EU foreign policy chief Javier
Solana on his talks with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali
Larijani before deciding as to whether further UN sanctions
against Iran are necessary and whether to pursue autonomous
sanctions. Schieb said that supporting autonomous sanctions
as proposed by the French could have a negative impact on the
IAEA and Solana processes. The GAERC will likely discuss
Iran on Monday, October 15, according to Schieb, and it is
likely that the Council will task this issue to a committee
which would then report back to the next GAERC in November,
allowing time for the IAEA and Solana to issue reports.
Schieb said the Council will probably include a strong
statement as part of its conclusions on October 15 referring
back to the September 28 declaration in New York, supporting
Solana's direction, and looking forward to the IAEA's report.
He said the statement will also likely note that the issue
of "further measures," i.e. sanctions, is being tasked to a
committee for further consideration.

--------------
Chad
--------------


10. (SBU) Schieb said that the ESDP/UN peacekeeping mission
is ready for deployment as the EU PermReps in Brussels met
October 11 and agreed on financing issues. He did not know
exactly when the deployment would take place.

--------------
Burma
--------------


11. (C) The EU has had autonomous sanctions against Burma
since 1996, Schieb said, adding that the EU is currently
exploring other ways to put pressure on that country. Schieb
said the Council will likely issue a statement that the EU
will reinforce and strengthen its current sanctions on Burma.

KOENIG