GERMAN VIEWS ON THE FEBRUARY FOREIGN MINISTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000279 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN GM SUBJECT: GERMAN VIEWS ON THE FEBRUARY FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING REF: A. STATE 13840 ¶B. STATE 15811 ¶C. STATE 16453 Classified By: POL M/C John Bauman for reaons 1.4(b) and (d) Middle East ¶1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarches to Thomas Schieb, Deputy EU Correspondent at the MFA, and relayed the points to the Chancellery. Schieb said that the GAERC conclusions on the new PA unity government were likely to be similar to our points (Reftel C). The announcement of the unity government came after the conclusions were already created, so an extraordinary PSC meeting might occur on Monday to consider the new situation. Schieb thought that any new conclusions would be cautious. On Iran, Schieb stated that there would be a general discussion with no conclusions. The EU is currently trying to implement UNSCR 1737, but the conclusions from the January 22 GAERC, which allowed member states to add additional people to the visa ban list beyond those listed in 1737, was slowing down the creation of a common EU position. Balkans ¶2. (C) The Balkans will be the focus of this month's GAERC, according to Schieb, with Ahtisaari and German Foreign Minister Steinmeier discussing their recent trips to the region. According to Wenke Crudopf, the MFA Serbia desk officer who traveled with Steinmeier, Prime Minister Kostunica called Ahtisaari's plan a violation of international law. However, Kostunica also indicated a willingness to engage with Ahtisaari by assuring Steinmeier that the mandate of the negotiating team would be renewed once the Serbian parliament reconvenes. Emily Haber, MFA Director General for the Balkans, told us she thought the parliament would reconvene on February 12 or 13. According to our MFA contacts, President Tadic was very constructive and stated that there was a consensus among the democratic parties to renew the mandate for the negotiating team. Haber stated that engaging the Serbs in negotiations is key. Haber also said that Romania and Cyprus are the main impediments to reaching a conclusion on Ahtisaari's proposals at the GAERC. ¶3. (C) According to Schieb and Crudopf, EU opinion remains divided over how and when negotiations should resume on Serbia's SAA. While some member states want to weaken ICTY conditionally, Germany remains strongly committed to idea that Serbia must demonstrate complete cooperation with the ICTY before negotiations can resume. Dafur ¶4. (C) On Dafur, Schieb said that Germany hoped to have an EU assistance package available in March with a significant German contribution. The EU would also like to coordinate this with third countries and international aid organizations. TIMKEN JR