Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LONDON1196
2007-03-28 15:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy London
Cable title:
UK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE MARCH 30-31 FOREIGN
how-toVZCZCXRO7958 PP RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHLO #1196 0871532 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 281532Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY LONDON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2688 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0392 RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0139 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0444
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KPAL EUN XG IS IR ZI FI UK
SUBJECT: UK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE MARCH 30-31 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GYMNICH)
REF: SECSTATE 37792
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KPAL EUN XG IS IR ZI FI UK
SUBJECT: UK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE MARCH 30-31 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GYMNICH)
REF: SECSTATE 37792
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (U) UK priorities for the upcoming GYMNICH meeting are
maintaining EU unity in support of 1) Ahtisaari's Kosovo
plan; 2) a "middle ground" approach to the new Palestinian
Unity Government, and 3) moving forward on EU-specific Iran
sanctions. Martin Shearman, the Foreign Office's European
Correspondent provided Pol Counselor with the following
comments in response to ref on March 28:
2. (C) KOSOVO. London's goal for the GYMNICH is to maintain
EU unity in support of Ahtisaari's plan. UK's readout from
pre-GYMNICH discussions is that the "usual problem members"
are moving in the right direction -- Sherman said the Slovaks
in particular have made recent positive statements. Other EU
members with "doubts" about Ahtisaari's plan, such as the
Spanish and Greeks, are signaling they will put those doubts
behind the need for EU consensus on Ahtisaari's plan, at
least at this point in the final settlement process.
Shearman added that it is increasingly important for wavering
EU Members, such as Italy and Spain, to hear that the USG is
prepared to make Kosovo a priority with Russia.
3. (C) ISRAEL-PALESTINE. Shearman described a spectrum of
views among EU Members on engaging with the new National
Unity Government (NUG): from those states that want to
maintain a policy of no contact with any of the NUG's
elements, to states that are prepared to fully deal with all
components of the NUG right now. Shearman described the UK
position's on this spectrum as "in the middle," and said
London is waiting to judge the NUG on its actions. The UK's
goal is to keep the EU on this middle ground for now, but,
Shearman added, there is a growing belief within the EU that
it must find some way to engage with the NUG soon or else
President Abbas will become increasingly isolated.
4. (C) IRAN. London is "generally" pleased with progress
made on the implementation of EU-specific sanctions on
Iranian entities and continues to work for additional
targeted sanctions, according to Shearman. The UK will raise
the Iranian seizure of UK naval personnel and expects a
statement calling for their immediate release.
5. (C) EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY (ENP). The UK is "in
agreement" with ref points on this issue, Shearman said. The
UK particularly agrees with the USG on the need to keep
Belarus outside of the ENP until there are tangible human
rights improvements, but Shearman added, "you need to be
making that point to Berlin."
6. (C) SUDAN. Under "other matters," the UK will make the
case for stepping up pressure on the Sudanese Government
through the UNSC; if there is no UNSC action, the UK intends
to lay the groundwork for greater (unspecified by Shearman)
EU action.
7. (C) MISSILE DEFENSE. Shearman's latest information was
that the Germans might raise the missile defense issue under
"other matters," but this was not confirmed. If the Germans
do raise the issue for general discussion, the UK will not
engage in a debate, leaving that to the Poles and Czechs if
they so want, but will underscore that no EU action is
appropriate or called for at this time.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2017
TAGS: PREL KPAL EUN XG IS IR ZI FI UK
SUBJECT: UK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE MARCH 30-31 FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GYMNICH)
REF: SECSTATE 37792
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Maura Connelly for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (U) UK priorities for the upcoming GYMNICH meeting are
maintaining EU unity in support of 1) Ahtisaari's Kosovo
plan; 2) a "middle ground" approach to the new Palestinian
Unity Government, and 3) moving forward on EU-specific Iran
sanctions. Martin Shearman, the Foreign Office's European
Correspondent provided Pol Counselor with the following
comments in response to ref on March 28:
2. (C) KOSOVO. London's goal for the GYMNICH is to maintain
EU unity in support of Ahtisaari's plan. UK's readout from
pre-GYMNICH discussions is that the "usual problem members"
are moving in the right direction -- Sherman said the Slovaks
in particular have made recent positive statements. Other EU
members with "doubts" about Ahtisaari's plan, such as the
Spanish and Greeks, are signaling they will put those doubts
behind the need for EU consensus on Ahtisaari's plan, at
least at this point in the final settlement process.
Shearman added that it is increasingly important for wavering
EU Members, such as Italy and Spain, to hear that the USG is
prepared to make Kosovo a priority with Russia.
3. (C) ISRAEL-PALESTINE. Shearman described a spectrum of
views among EU Members on engaging with the new National
Unity Government (NUG): from those states that want to
maintain a policy of no contact with any of the NUG's
elements, to states that are prepared to fully deal with all
components of the NUG right now. Shearman described the UK
position's on this spectrum as "in the middle," and said
London is waiting to judge the NUG on its actions. The UK's
goal is to keep the EU on this middle ground for now, but,
Shearman added, there is a growing belief within the EU that
it must find some way to engage with the NUG soon or else
President Abbas will become increasingly isolated.
4. (C) IRAN. London is "generally" pleased with progress
made on the implementation of EU-specific sanctions on
Iranian entities and continues to work for additional
targeted sanctions, according to Shearman. The UK will raise
the Iranian seizure of UK naval personnel and expects a
statement calling for their immediate release.
5. (C) EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY (ENP). The UK is "in
agreement" with ref points on this issue, Shearman said. The
UK particularly agrees with the USG on the need to keep
Belarus outside of the ENP until there are tangible human
rights improvements, but Shearman added, "you need to be
making that point to Berlin."
6. (C) SUDAN. Under "other matters," the UK will make the
case for stepping up pressure on the Sudanese Government
through the UNSC; if there is no UNSC action, the UK intends
to lay the groundwork for greater (unspecified by Shearman)
EU action.
7. (C) MISSILE DEFENSE. Shearman's latest information was
that the Germans might raise the missile defense issue under
"other matters," but this was not confirmed. If the Germans
do raise the issue for general discussion, the UK will not
engage in a debate, leaving that to the Poles and Czechs if
they so want, but will underscore that no EU action is
appropriate or called for at this time.
Visit London's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/london/index. cfm
Tuttle