Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HELSINKI286
2007-04-20 10:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Helsinki
Cable title:
FINNISH RESPONSE - APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO1974 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHHE #0286 1101033 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 201033Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3274 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000286
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY(TAGS)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KPAL PREL EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE
OF THE APRIL 23-24 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)
REF: SECSTATE 51262
UNCLAS HELSINKI 000286
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY(TAGS)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KPAL PREL EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE
OF THE APRIL 23-24 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)
REF: SECSTATE 51262
1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Finnish
CFSP Director and European Correspondent Jarno Syrjala
April 20. Syrjala offered the following comments:
2. (SBU) CENTRAL ASIA: Both Finland and the EU are fully
committed to supporting political and security reform in
Central Asia, Syrjala said, but the process will be a
long one. The FMs will discuss the strategy at the
GAERC, and hope to have it ready for the Council's final
approval in May. On Uzbekistan, the EU will not make
decisions on the sanctions question until after the May
sanctions review. Syrjala suggested that the Uzbeks
appear to be taking the process seriously and that there
have been some signs of real progress in a few areas.
However, he added, there is little inclination in the EU
-- and none in Finland -- "to let the Uzbeks off easy"
by rewarding half-measures.
3. (SBU) MIDDLE EAST/LEBANON: As the several recent
meetings between senior Europeans and Palestinian NUG
ministers would indicated, it is "now a done deal" that
the EU will reach out to non-Hamas ministers, Syrjala
said. However, the EU remains concerned that Hamas has
made no moves toward moderating its stance and is
maneuvering within the NUG to undermine Fatah moderates.
The EU will extend Temporary International Mechanism
(TIM) funding to support the population and bolster the
non-Hamas ministries. Syrjala added that the German
Presidency will briefly raise the German-led border
security mission in Lebanon. The GOF's understanding is
that the Germans do not wish to see this operation
turned into a formal ESDP mission -- a strategy Finland
supports.
4. (SBU) SUDAN: Syrjala reported that the EU continues
to view the sanctions question as a UN issue, not an EU
issue. The EU will not block sanctions and generally
supports the UK's proposals, but several member states
including Finland have questions about how the sanctions
will be monitored, implemented and timed.
HYATT
SIPDIS
C O R R E C T E D COPY(TAGS)
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KPAL PREL EUN FI
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE - APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE
OF THE APRIL 23-24 FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)
REF: SECSTATE 51262
1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Finnish
CFSP Director and European Correspondent Jarno Syrjala
April 20. Syrjala offered the following comments:
2. (SBU) CENTRAL ASIA: Both Finland and the EU are fully
committed to supporting political and security reform in
Central Asia, Syrjala said, but the process will be a
long one. The FMs will discuss the strategy at the
GAERC, and hope to have it ready for the Council's final
approval in May. On Uzbekistan, the EU will not make
decisions on the sanctions question until after the May
sanctions review. Syrjala suggested that the Uzbeks
appear to be taking the process seriously and that there
have been some signs of real progress in a few areas.
However, he added, there is little inclination in the EU
-- and none in Finland -- "to let the Uzbeks off easy"
by rewarding half-measures.
3. (SBU) MIDDLE EAST/LEBANON: As the several recent
meetings between senior Europeans and Palestinian NUG
ministers would indicated, it is "now a done deal" that
the EU will reach out to non-Hamas ministers, Syrjala
said. However, the EU remains concerned that Hamas has
made no moves toward moderating its stance and is
maneuvering within the NUG to undermine Fatah moderates.
The EU will extend Temporary International Mechanism
(TIM) funding to support the population and bolster the
non-Hamas ministries. Syrjala added that the German
Presidency will briefly raise the German-led border
security mission in Lebanon. The GOF's understanding is
that the Germans do not wish to see this operation
turned into a formal ESDP mission -- a strategy Finland
supports.
4. (SBU) SUDAN: Syrjala reported that the EU continues
to view the sanctions question as a UN issue, not an EU
issue. The EU will not block sanctions and generally
supports the UK's proposals, but several member states
including Finland have questions about how the sanctions
will be monitored, implemented and timed.
HYATT