SLOVENIAN POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS TRACKS EU

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000762 SIPDIS SIPDIS PASS TO PM/WRA KATHERINE BAKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: NATO PARM PREL SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIAN POSITION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS TRACKS EU REF: STATE 164503 ¶1. (U) On December 11, Emboff delivered reftel points and nonpapers to MFA Security Policy Division Minister Counselor Irina Gorsic, who related that Slovenia supports the common EU position on cluster munitions in both the Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) framework and the Oslo Process. Gorsic reiterated the EU position, stating that "the EU will support every effort to achieve a legally binding instrument that addresses the humanitarian concerns on cluster munitions by the end of 2008." She noted that "the EU is supportive of efforts that will address the prohibition of use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians and includes provisions on cooperation and assistance." Gorsic added that "the EU is effectively taking into account both military requirements and humanitarian concerns." Although Slovenia would prefer to address cluster munitions within the CCW framework, Gorsic claimed that Slovenia will not be able to take a strong position on the issue in the coming months due to its role as EU president (and therefore consensus broker) from January to June 2008. COLEMAN