APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 19

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 002080

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV BK BM CH IR IS IZ KV LE PK
SY, ZI, GM
SUBJECT: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE NOVEMBER 19
FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING (GAERC)

REF: STATE 156474

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor William Moeller for reasons 1
.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Thomas Schieb,
Deputy EU Correspondent at the MFA, and relayed the points to
the Chancellery.


2. (C) Schieb provided substantive comments on the following
topics:

--Upcoming EU Summits with China, Africa, and India: The
November 19 GAERC agenda will include a briefing by the
troika (EU Presidency, European Commission, and EU High
Representative Javier Solana) on preparations for the
upcoming EU summits with China, India, and Africa. According
to Schieb, discussions on all three summits are expected to
be "normal" and "routine". He noted that, with respect to
the EU-Africa summit, the Germans view the preparations as
"less than ideal" because a draft of the planned declaration
for the summit has not yet been circulated.

--Kosovo: According to Schieb, Kosovo is the "highest
priority" on the German political agenda right now. At the
November 19 meeting of FMs, Schieb said that EU Envoy
Wolfgang Ischinger will provide a debriefing on developments
with Kosovo. Schieb said that Ischinger is now "more
pessimistic" about the proposed neutral status solution,
which Kosovo has determined is unacceptable. Schieb said
that EU member states are "communicating regularly" about
possible alternatives after the December 10 deadline for the
troika mandate. Although the Germans still prefer a "common
EU line" on Kosovo, Schieb expressed pessimism about
garnering such a common position given ongoing differences
among EU member states. Schieb said there will likely be
short conclusions on Kosovo at the November 19 meeting.

--Bosnia: The political situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina will
be on the November 19 meeting agenda and "everyone is very
concerned" about developments there, Schieb reported. He
said that although the FMs would send a clear message in
support of High Representative Lajcak, the message probably
would not specifically address Russia's role in the situation.

--Iran: Although Iran will be on the agenda for the GAERC
meeting, Schieb said that "no conclusions are foreseen" due
to the release of several reports on November 15 and 16.
These include reports from the IAEA, an "options paper" from
the Council Secretariat, and one from the EU Heads of
Missions in Tehran. The EU will take time to examine these
reports, Schieb said, and emphasized the EU's primary
interest in "promoting and supporting the UN process" on Iran.

--Iraq: Noting that the Iraqi FM is invited to the November
19 GAERC meeting, Schieb said that there would be
"uncontroversial conclusions" on Iraq. Although these
conclusions will probably not include a specific statement
encouraging Arab governments to establish diplomatic presence
in Baghdad, Schieb said that the EU supports this in
principle.

--Israeli-Palestinian Peace: This is one of the main topics
on the FMs' agenda, Schieb said, and added that there will be
general conclusions about the Middle East with a view to
supporting the upcoming USG-sponsored conference in Annapolis
and the Donors' Conference in Paris. Schieb said that EU
High Representative Solana will circulate a draft statement
on the Middle East before November 19.

--Lebanon/Syria: On Lebanon, Schieb reported that there will
be short conclusions presented at the November 19 meeting
that reiterate the EU's support of free and fair, timely
presidential elections that are "free from foreign
interference." He added that the EU is considering a
"simple, low-key, exploratory mission" to the region to
assess border security issues with Lebanon and Syria, but
said that this item is not/not on the November 19 meeting
agenda. He said that this initial mission could take place
as early as in the next few days.

--Burma: Discussion on Burma is not/not on the GAERC agenda,
Schieb said, but there will be conclusions supporting the
Special Envoys. Additionally, the FMs will formally adopt
the EU sanctions text at the November 19 meeting.

--Pakistan: Due to ongoing events in Pakistan, the
Portuguese presidency decided it was important for the FMs to
exchange views at the November 19 meeting. But Schieb said
it would be a short discussion with "no conclusions foreseen."
KOENIG