Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LJUBLJANA639
2007-10-11 05:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:
SLOVENIA'S EU PRESIDENCY: THE CHALLENGES OF
how-toVZCZCXRO6406 RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHLJ #0639 2840544 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 110544Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6169 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0031 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0043 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0028 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0032 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0094 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0053 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000639
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA'S EU PRESIDENCY: THE CHALLENGES OF
COVERING ASIA
REF: LJUBLJANA 624
UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000639
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA'S EU PRESIDENCY: THE CHALLENGES OF
COVERING ASIA
REF: LJUBLJANA 624
1. (SBU) On October 2, CDA met with Ambassador Janez Premoze,
Head of the COASI Working Group at the MFA Division for Asia,
Africa, and the Pacific, to deliver a demarche on keeping
pressure on the Burmese regime. The ensuing discussion
revealed that Slovenia has very few diplomatic resources in
Asia. Slovenia's representation in Asia and the Pacific
region is limited to embassies in Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi,
and Canberra. French embassies will serve as EU presidency
hosts in those countries where Slovenia does not have
diplomatic representation. The MFA's COASI Working Group is
limited to Premoze and four diplomats, although a British
diplomat will be seconded to the group in December.
2. (U) Outlining Slovenia's EU Presidency priorities for
Asia, Premoze stated that although Beijing will likely be the
focal point, Taiwan will also command attention due to its
upcoming presidential elections in March. The major events
taking place in Asia during Slovenia's turn at the Presidency
will be the EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo and the Ministerial
Troikas with Pakistan and India.
3. (SBU) In addition to resource limitations on Slovenia's
ability to advance the EU agenda in Asia, Premoze also noted
the difficulty in finding consensus amongst EU members, often
due to China's success at undermining EU unity by directing
efforts at individual members. Premoze stated that US-EU
Strategic Dialogues on Asia have been very helpful. CDA
offered informal dialogues via DVC in advance of the US-EU
Strategic Dialogue or at any other time.
4. (SBU) Bio Note: Premoze has spent the past five years of
his diplomatic career in the Western Balkans as National
Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
and the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI).
Previously he was Slovenia's Ambassador to Japan and Korea
(residing in Tokyo). From 1983-85 he pursued graduate
studies at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo and worked as the
Chief Representative of the Ljubljanska Banka from 1986-92 in
the Japanese capital. His wife is a native of Japan.
COLEMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA'S EU PRESIDENCY: THE CHALLENGES OF
COVERING ASIA
REF: LJUBLJANA 624
1. (SBU) On October 2, CDA met with Ambassador Janez Premoze,
Head of the COASI Working Group at the MFA Division for Asia,
Africa, and the Pacific, to deliver a demarche on keeping
pressure on the Burmese regime. The ensuing discussion
revealed that Slovenia has very few diplomatic resources in
Asia. Slovenia's representation in Asia and the Pacific
region is limited to embassies in Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi,
and Canberra. French embassies will serve as EU presidency
hosts in those countries where Slovenia does not have
diplomatic representation. The MFA's COASI Working Group is
limited to Premoze and four diplomats, although a British
diplomat will be seconded to the group in December.
2. (U) Outlining Slovenia's EU Presidency priorities for
Asia, Premoze stated that although Beijing will likely be the
focal point, Taiwan will also command attention due to its
upcoming presidential elections in March. The major events
taking place in Asia during Slovenia's turn at the Presidency
will be the EU-Japan Summit in Tokyo and the Ministerial
Troikas with Pakistan and India.
3. (SBU) In addition to resource limitations on Slovenia's
ability to advance the EU agenda in Asia, Premoze also noted
the difficulty in finding consensus amongst EU members, often
due to China's success at undermining EU unity by directing
efforts at individual members. Premoze stated that US-EU
Strategic Dialogues on Asia have been very helpful. CDA
offered informal dialogues via DVC in advance of the US-EU
Strategic Dialogue or at any other time.
4. (SBU) Bio Note: Premoze has spent the past five years of
his diplomatic career in the Western Balkans as National
Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe
and the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI).
Previously he was Slovenia's Ambassador to Japan and Korea
(residing in Tokyo). From 1983-85 he pursued graduate
studies at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo and worked as the
Chief Representative of the Ljubljanska Banka from 1986-92 in
the Japanese capital. His wife is a native of Japan.
COLEMAN