GOH HOPES IRAN WILL CHANGE ITS PLANS RE

S E C R E T BUDAPEST 000320 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR AND NEA; PLEASE PASS TO NSC FOR ADAM STERLING E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2017 TAGS: PREL HU IR SUBJECT: GOH HOPES IRAN WILL CHANGE ITS PLANS RE AMBASSADORIAL CONFERENCE REF: STATE 24801 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: POL/C ERIC V. GAUDIOSI; REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (S) DCM met with Senior State Secretary (Deputy Foreign Minister-equivalent) Dr. Marta Fekszi March 2 to deliver reftel guidance in response to the GoH's recent approach re a potential Iranian ambassadorial conference in Budapest. ¶2. (S) Dr. Fekszi expressed her appreciation for our rapid response and clearly understood our concerns. She noted that the GoH had advised the Iranian Ambassador that FM Goncz will be in South Korea during the dates of the proposed Iranian Ambassadorial conference (April 12 - 14),but added that their response had been to suggest new dates (April 5 - 6) and to add a request for a meeting with President Solyom. ¶3. (S) Dr. Fekszi said she had immediately given a negative response, and commented to us that "it would be best just to avoid this entirely." She will undertake to contact the Iranian Ambassador early next week and will attempt to "create the circumstances under which they will change their minds" and not pursue the Ambassador's conference. Even if the Iranians still arrive in Budapest, she will confirm that there will be no reception by the President, PM or FM. (Note: She mentioned that Iran had alluded to other possible venues in addition to Budapest in their previous contacts, so they were not "the only option." End Note.) ¶4. (S) Dr. Fekszi also referred to an "unpleasant" situation involving a local employee of the Hungarian embassy in Tehran as a complicating factor. DCM seized on this opportunity to underscore our point that the conference could create the perception of toleration for Iranian behavior when international solidarity is critical to ongoing diplomatic efforts. Dr. Fekszi agreed to keep us closely apprised. ¶5. (S) PolCouns reiterated our points in a separate conversation with MFA Asia Division Deputy Director Miklos Lengyel, emphasizing our concerns with the level of contact with GoH officials and the importance of countering any Iranian attempts to misrepresent the conference. Lengyel - who was unaware of discussions between the DCM and Dr. Fekszi - noted that our recommended approach would all but guarantee Iran's refusal to proceed with the conference. He recognized that this would be "a political decision" for the GoH. FOLEY