DENMARK ON JANUARY EU GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000069 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/19/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR EAID EUN YI IR SU SO DA SUBJECT: DENMARK ON JANUARY EU GAERC REF: A. STATE 5256 ¶B. COPENHAGEN 68 Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Bill Mozdzierz, reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) Danish EU Correspondent Nicolaj Hejberg Petersen reported January 19 that the main agenda items for next week's GAERC ministerial will be Western Balkans, Iran and Sudan, on which Denmark broadly shares the goals outlined in Ref A. Petersen confirmed that the Danish government will remain resolute in support of Ahtisaari's status plan, echoing Deputy Foreign Minister Federspiel's assurances to the Ambassador the previous day (Ref B). The EU ministers are certain to discuss January 21 Serbian elections and begin to look at options in the event of a pro-democratic, pro-reform victory there. ¶2. (C) On Darfur, Petersen characterized Denmark as among the strongest advocates of sanctions against Sudan should introduction of a hybrid AU-UN peacekeeping force remain effectively blocked. Bashir cannot be allowed to delay or otherwise manage the mission, Petersen insisted. The Danish government is disturbed by UN forecasts of up to year to deploy, Petersen said, and pressure must be applied to accelerate that process. He allowed that Denmark currently has no funds available for AMIS support (despite plenty for development),but is now looking at alternatives. ¶3. (C) Petersen described tough negotiations in recent days within the EU to develop a common position on implementation of UNSCR 1737. He said that the good news it that agreement has been reached to apply "broad definitions" to EU implementation, which can allow for expanded sanctions, visa bans, and action against financial institutions. One compromise that had to be struck, however, is that there will be no formal arms embargo on Iran -- at least not yet, Petersen noted. ¶4. (C) Finally, on Somalia, Petersen reported that the Danish government will reprogram 15 million euros in assistance for Somalia to help cover the costs of the AU peacekeeping mission. CAIN