Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS3519
2007-12-19 08:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU TROIKA VISIT TO DPRK

Tags:  KNNP PHUM EAID EU EUN KN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5415
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #3519 3530855
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 190855Z DEC 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003519 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EAP, ISN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017
TAGS: KNNP PHUM EAID EU EUN KN
SUBJECT: EU TROIKA VISIT TO DPRK

REF: A. STATE 164429


B. BEIJING 7490

Classified By: A/Deputy PolCouns Vincent Carver for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003519

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA, EAP, ISN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/19/2017
TAGS: KNNP PHUM EAID EU EUN KN
SUBJECT: EU TROIKA VISIT TO DPRK

REF: A. STATE 164429


B. BEIJING 7490

Classified By: A/Deputy PolCouns Vincent Carver for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary: European Commission and Council officials
emphasized that EU engagement with DPRK would proceed on a
cautions track governed by North Korea's progress in meeting
its six-party commitments. During a EU troika delegation trip
to Pyongyang to encourage progress on denuclearization, DPRK
Foreign Ministry officials told EU officials they would
fulfill their obligations on an "action for action" basis and
asked for EU intervention in helping to moderate "hostile"
U.S. policies targeted against the DPRK. End Summary.


2. (C) In response to reftel A points, Commission Deputy Head
of Unit for Korea Jonathan Hatwell and Council Korea officer
Stefan Rab, both members of the December 11-13 EU delegation
to Pyongyang, emphasized that the EU would proceed cautiously
in its relations with DPRK. Hatwell said that the EU message
to their North Korean interlocutors was clear. If DPRK
fulfills its second phase obligations, launches the third
phase "and its meaningful continuation is certain," then the
EU would be open to "enhancing" relations and considering the
possibility of granting development assistance. The EU side
was deliberately ambiguous about the definition of enhanced
relations beyond assistance and perhaps some higher level
engagement. Asked about future visits and plans for
engagement, Hatwell noted that the Slovenians are prepared to
lead another troika visit under their EU Presidency if the
DPRK shows signs of either substantial progress or
backsliding in the coming months. The European Commission is
also considering holding an economic seminar with the North
Koreans in 2008, similar to one held in October, 2007.


3. (C) Hatwell provided a briefing on the troika visit in
line with reftel B. The delegation spent two-thirds of its
time discussing nuclear issues, but also broached regional
stability, human rights, economic and social issues, and
EU-DPRK relations. The broader EU message was one of general
encouragement: the EU will continue to follow developments on
the peninsula closely, sees some positive developments in the
six-party context, strongly encourages DPRK to fulfill its
denuclearization commitments, and will consider mechanisms
for enhancing relations if DPRK makes meaningful progress on
meeting its obligations.


4. (C) According to Hatwell, their DPRK Foreign Ministry
interlocutors said that they would meet their six-party
commitments on an "action for action" basis. Negotiations on
the nuclear declaration were proceeding, but the North
Koreans offered no firm commitment on the timing of its
completion. DPRK MFA officials emphasized the great
importance they attach to their relations with the EU and
encouraged the EU to "use its influence with the United
States" to intercede on the North Koreans' behalf and
encourage the U.S. to "abandon its hostile policies."
Hatwell noted that their MFA contacts frequently raised the
"hostility" of the United States, and to a lesser extent,
that of Japan, as justification for DPRK's need for a nuclear
program. They further argued that they would be more
amenable to engaging in a dialogue on human rights only if
the EU tempered its "confrontational" stance and stopped
introducing human rights resolutions targeted against the
DPRK.

MURRAY


.