LUXEMBOURG PRESSED TO REIN IN ITS FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000110

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/NCE, EUR/PRA - MAZEVEDO, EURPPD - TCORN, VCI/MDSP -
STEVEN ROSENKRANTZ, NSC - MAHAYWARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL NATO MARR PL EZ RU LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG PRESSED TO REIN IN ITS FOREIGN MINISTER
ON MISSILE DEFENSE

REF: A. LUXEMBOURG 108

B. KRAFT/GALLAGHER EMAIL 03/15/07

C. STATE 30480

Classified By: DCM Steven Kraft for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Following up to ref A, Embassy translated and sent to
EUR/UBI the text of a statement by Foreign Minister Asselborn
made March 13 before the Chamber of Deputies explaining his
public comments crticizing the planned European missile
defense system (MDS)(ref B). Embassy believes that the
statement lacked focus and did not satisfactorily address USG
concerns.


2. (C) Ambassador Wagner raised the issue with senior
Luxembourg government officials March 14 and 15. MFA
International Economic Director and former ambassador to the
U.S. Arlette Conzemius assured the Ambassador that the GOL
position remains that the MDS should be addressed within the
framework of NATO. Similarly, former Minister of Defense and
current Justice Minister Luc Frieden confirmed to the
Ambassador that Asselborn was voicing his own opinions.
Ambassador Wagner emphasized to both officials the very
serious depth of U.S. concerns about the Foreign Minister's
statements.


3. (C) Comment: We are pressing the MFA from all sides on
this issue to keep up pressure on the Foreign Minister to
rein in his rhetoric on MDS. Ambassador Wagner also intends
to raise the matter with Prime Minister Juncker as soon as
possible. End comment.


4. (U) In response to ref C, Mission Luxembourg POC for this
issue is Pol/Econ section chief Tom Boughter,
boughteret@state.gov.





WAGNER