SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER INFORMAL GYMNICH

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000584 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR L/EUR, EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2017 TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL YI RS CH IN SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER INFORMAL GYMNICH REF: STATE 123576 Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see para. 3. ¶2. (C) PolEcon Chief delivered reftel points to MFA Office of EU Affairs representative Aljaz Arih on September 5. He said that he expected that most of the Gymnich would focus on Russia, rather than on other strategic partnerships with India or China. He offered the following: Kosovo -------------- ¶3. (C) Remarking that Kosovo would likely be the main issue during Slovenia's EU presidency, Arih said that he fully agreed with our points. He stressed that Slovenia would be very interested in U.S. legal opinions on the legal basis for recognizing Kosovo in the absence of a UNSCR. He noted that the Slovenian MFA had been searching for a legal basis for recognition. He explained that because of the differences in opinion on recognizing Kosovo within the EU, Slovenia anticipated it would be a big problem for the EU to put a new mission in Kosovo. The MFA hopes that having a clear legal explanation would help, especially one that would counter the argument that Kosovo's independence would set a precedent. Embassy requests assistance in responding to the MFA's request for a legal opinion regarding the basis for recognizing an independent Kosovo. ¶4. (C) Arih also stated that Slovenia's priority during its presidency would be to build unity regarding Kosovo. He agreed that the Ahtisaari Plan was the basis, but added that an "Ahtisaari Plus" plan might be possible. He stressed, however, that partition was a very big concern to Slovenia, which thought that partition could be "very dangerous." He mentioned that Troika representative Ischinger would meet FM Rupel on the margins of the Gymnich in Portugal. Russia -------------- ¶5. (C) Arih predicted that the EU-Russia summit would not be easy, based on the results of the last discussions at the levels of the foreign ministers and political directors. He commented that it was most important to maintain unity among EU members; however, unfortunately, bilateral issues between member states and Russia had a strong influence on the whole EU-Russia policy. Arih expressed concern that a lack of consensus had blocked the start of negotiations for a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). He explained that Slovenia fully supported the efforts of the Presidency to gain agreement to allow the start of negotiations for a PCA. He also noted that missile defense was a divisive issue among members, as well as CFE and Kosovo. He added, however, that the EU had made it clear to Russia that the EU considered Kosovo a European concern and did not appreciate Russia blocking the process of trying to find a solution regarding final status. He mentioned that energy security would also be an important issue. China and India -------------- ¶6. (C) Commenting that Russia was the most important strategic partner for the EU, Arih stated that Slovenia supports the policy of the Presidency regarding China, which is based on the conclusions reached at the December 2006 GAERC. He said they did not anticipate any discussion on the arms embargo. He said that Slovenia supported concluding a PCA with India. Other Issues -------------- ¶7. (C) Africa - Arih acknowledged that Zimbabwe remained a delicate, unresolved issue. According to Arih, Slovenia supports the efforts of the presidency to hold a Summit. Although Slovenia did not have any strong views on whether Mugabe should come, it hoped that the participation question could be solved. He added that Slovenia believed that it was important that the EU strategy for Africa be adapted before the December Summit. Ukraine - Arih noted that there had been a successful first round of negotiations on a new treaty between the EU and Ukraine. He hoped that negotiations on the agreement, which would enhance the PCA (and have a new name),could be concluded during Slovenia's EU Presidency. ASEAN - Arih said that the EU still had not decided the level of representation on the EU side for the Commemoration ASEAN Summit on November 22. They planned to sign a Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation and a Common Action Plan between the EU and ASEAN. COLEMAN