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