FINNISH RESPONSE: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000682 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF THE SEPTEMBER 7-8 INFORMAL FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING (GYMNICH) REF: A. SECSTATE 123576 ¶B. HELSINKI 675 Classified By: HEATHER PISHKO FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) Subject: Finnish Views on September GYMNICH ¶1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Finnish CFSP Director and European Correspondent Leena-Kaisa Mikkola Sept. 5. Mikkola offered the following: FINNISH GYMNICH PRIORITIES: IRAQ AND RUSSIA PCA -------------- -- ¶2. (SBU) From the Finnish national perspective, FM Ilkka Kanerva will likely raise two issues during his GYMNICH intervention. First, he will highlight the importance of seeking to conclude a new EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which has been stalled since the end of the Finland's Presidency. The Finns are realistic about the fact that ongoing bilateral disputes between Russia and several of the new MS may prevent the adoption of a new PCA during the Portuguese Presidency - - and about the fact that Portugal has not placed the issue high on its Presidency agenda. However, the new agreement has important impacts on Finland's bilateral relationship with Russia, and the GOF still believes that attempts to move it forward must be a priority for the EU-Russia Summit. ¶3. (SBU) Second, Kanerva will likely give his colleagues a brief readout on the Sept. 1-4 peace-building seminar that a leading Finnish NGO, the Crisis Management Institute (CMI),hosted for leading Iraqi Sunni and Shiite civil society leaders (see reftel B). KOSOVO -------------- ¶4. (C) On Kosovo, the GOF fully agrees on the importance of EU-US unity in support of the Troika's final attempt to see Serbs and Kosovars bridge their differences over final status. Meanwhile, Mikkola noted, a generalized concern is emerging within the EU that the CFSP Planning Mission in Kosovo could begin running into funding problems if the final status question remains unresolved. Moreover, Finnish participants in that mission are reporting some morale problems among EU planners, due to the lack of a clear path forward. ¶5. (C) When pressed about how Finland and other Member States might respond if, ultimately, Kosovo declares independence unilaterally, Mikkola emphasized that the GOF has not made a national decision on this issue yet and will not do so before the end of the current time- limited negotiating period. However, she opined unofficially that Great Britain, France and Germany would likely recognize Kosovo in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence, and that she "could not imagine Finland staying outside that group." However, she emphasized that the GYMNICH would be extremely unlikely to produce any public statements regarding beyond support for Troika-sponsored discussions -- and "certainly no public comments regarding a Plan B." HYATT