SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JULY GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000469 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/18/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JULY GAERC REF: SECSTATE 98749 Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson for reason 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Acting PolEcon Chief delivered reftel points to MFA Office of EU Affairs representative Aljaz Arih July 18. Kosovo - Arih expressed hope that a UN resolution can be reached within the additional 120 days allocated for negotiation but is not optimistic. Slovenia has made no official decison on recognizing Kosovo independence without a UN resolution but Arih stated that unity is critical to this decision. The EU will discuss possibilities for an ESDP mission to be sent to Kosovo even without a UN resolution. Albania - He does not believe this will be discussed but agrees that Albania must play a role in calming the region. Ukraine - Ukraine will be discussed in preparation for the annual EU-Ukraine summit. Arih thanked us for our points and said he would pass them on. Agree that increased stability and competition is important and would like to see an enhanced Production Sharing Agreement (PSA). Arih does not expect NAMSA II to be discussed at GAERC but rather at OSCE in Vienna. Iran - Solana will brief PolDirs. Slovenia supports two-track approach to Iran -- maintain open communication and continue talks within UN framework. Slovenia supports additional pressures beyond the UNSCR 1737 and 1747 in theory but not at the expense of ordinary Iranian citizens. He emphasized that implementing additional UN sanctions is a sensitive subject because of the need to keep China and Russia on board. Middle East - Slovenia is cautiously supportive . Arih stated that the EUCOPPS will be resumed. Slovenia sees the Olmert-Abbas meeting in Egypt as a good thing. Saudi Arabia and Egypt need to take their role seriously. Slovenia believes that the Israelis should not be increasing their settlements, that this is detrimental to the peace process. On the other side Palestinians need to be sent a strong message to stop terrorist acts. Slovenia strongly supports Tony Blair's participation in the Quartet and believes he will invigorate the process. Sudan/Darfur - Slovenia supports the plan of having a French-led ESDP presence in Chad as a bridge until UN troops arrive but will need to get Chad's support. The goal would be create a safe haven in Chad. Slovenia would find it difficult to send actual troops but will definitely provide financial support. ¶2. (U) Other issues to be raised at GAERC include the Litvinenko case, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bulgarian nurses, UNSCR 1562 regarding Sierra Leone, and European rapporteur statements regarding CIA rendition flights. ¶3. (U) On the side of the GAERC meeting Slovenian PolDir will attend regular Association Council meetings with Morocco, Chile and Macedonia. ROBERTSON