Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SOFIA492
2007-04-17 15:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sofia
Cable title:  

PDAS VOLKER'S MEETING WITH THE "VILNIUS 10" NATO

Tags:  NATO PREL BU 
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2017
TAGS: NATO PREL BU
SUBJECT: PDAS VOLKER'S MEETING WITH THE "VILNIUS 10" NATO
ALLIES IN BULGARIA -- ZFR ZFR


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necessary for a sustainable solution since there was no
chance of a velvet divorce as with the Czechs and Slovaks.
The Bulgarian Political Director, Valentin Poriazov, noted
that such legitimacy is important because the precedent issue
is a concern in the Balkans. PDAS Volker warned that a UNSC
resolution is not assured and used Darfur as an example where
the international community has failed to prevent violence
given its unwavering focus on legitimacy.


6. (C) There was unanimity about the need for Russia to be
part of the agreement. Participants such as Hungary,
Slovakia and Bulgaria believe Russia is pursuing its own
interests rather than being genuinely concerned about Kosovo
or the region. Slovakia and Hungary's representatives argued
that Russia needs a face-saving measure to cooperate. "They
don't want to veto, but will if they are backed into a
corner," stated Slovakia's Lacjak. The V-10 allies broadly
agreed that the "price" for Moscow's cooperation must be
within the Ahtisaari plan and should not include such things
as Georgia's NATO membership or energy. The group also
agreed that better cooperation between NATO and the EU was
essential for the settlement to succeed. The V-10 group was
later joined by representatives from the western Balkan
countries and UNMIK. UNMIK's Steven Shook underscored the
necessity for moving forward on Ahtisaari's proposal, while
Serbia's Deputy Director for NATO, Bratislav Djordjevic,
reiterated Belgrade's opposition to the plan and warned about
the negative internal consequences it could bring to Serbia.
PDAS Volker thanked Djordjevic for Serbia's participation in
the meeting and stressed that the success of the EU is rooted
in overcoming history, whether France and Germany, or Hungary

and its minorities abroad. As painful as it is, Volker said,
success in the Balkans requires those nations to overcome
history and take care of their people today.

MISSLE DEFENSE
--------------


7. (C) The allies agreed Russia's concerns about missile
defense were exaggerated and appear to reflect Moscow's
muscle-flexing. The Czech Republic's Kuchynova-Smigolova
expressed disappointment with "how quickly" allies in Western
Europe accepted Russia's rhetoric on missile defense. All
the participants saw a strong need to better coordinate their
positions before talking to Russia and for the Alliance to
speak in one voice on the issue. The group urged continuing
U.S. public diplomacy efforts to enlighten an ill-informed
European public and "take away the argument" from Russia.
They welcomed the news that the Secretary as well as Defense
Secretary Gates will visit Moscow soon. PDAS Volker pressed

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European leaders to speak up as well.

NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL
--------------


8. (C) The V-10 group shared their disappointment that the
NATO-RUSSIA Council (NRC) has failed to produce constructive
dialogue. Despite seeing the NRC as "broken" and an "empty
shell," allies still regard it as a useful forum for
discussions with Russia and agree NATO needs to continue
pursuing practical cooperation with Moscow. V-10
representatives agreed that other issues such as "frozen
conflicts" and energy security should be discussed in the NRC.

ENERGY SECURITY
--------------


9. (C) Participants agreed energy security is a critical
issue and that Russia is using energy as a political tool.
The V-10 allies share the view that energy is an appropriate
topic for NATO and should be treted as a security issue.
Representatives noted tat the EU is divided over the issue
and that coutries are pursuing separate goals. Bulgaria's
Poiazov remarked that other EU members' interests ar not
taken into account when certain members mak decisions with
Russia. Kuchynova-Smigolova criicized the EU as "acting in
a vacuum" in its effrts to address the issue through
interna restructuring, saying these reforms will not help if
Russia remains in a monopolist position outside the EU. The
group agreed the diversification of energy sources was
crucial and recognized Russia's efforts to buy shares in
Europe's energy infrastructure as a dangerous trend.

AFGHANISTAN
--------------


10. (C) PDAS Volker previewed upcoming discussions in Oslo by
summarizing the priorities that emerged from the Secretary's

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recent talks with NATO SECGEN Hoop Scheffer. These include
the need to increase European "ownership" of a successful
outcome in Afghanistan and calls for greater international
coordination, force generation and consistent messaging.
Many allies confirmed their willingness to increase their
commitments to Afghanistan. Kuchynova-Smigolova announced
that the Czechs are seeking to take over a PRT. Lithuania's
Director for Security Policy, Algis Dabkus, said Lithuania
had made a decision to send an additional special operations
force to Afghanistan. The Deputy Political Director for
Latvia, Nils Janson, noted that Riga is currently working on
a plan for Afghanistan that would increase both their
military and civilian contingents. Hungary's Udvardi
stressed that Budapest considers theirs a "long-term
commitment."

CUBA
--------------


11. (C) PDAS Volker urged V-10 representatives to work toward
an EU policy calling for democratic transition in Cuba. He
noted that Spanish Foreign Minister Moratinos conferred
legitimacy on Raoul Castro while failing to meet dissidents.
Poriazov mentioned that EU's divisions on Cuba extend beyond
the GAERC and were present in the European Parliament as
well. The Czech representative expressed strong support for
the U.S. position but speculated that democracy may not
happen as quickly as we hope.

CLIMATE CHANGE
--------------


12. (C) PDAS Volker stated that the past seven years of
international climate policy had been a disaster because
Kyoto bitterly divided the international community. Those
who opposed it were vilified, even if they cut emissions,
while those who supported it were hailed, even if they did
not reduce emissions. Volker encouraged V-10 representatives
to urge the EU to avoid repeating the mistake of pushing
another global cap-and-trade treaty and to instead support an
approach that welcomes all efforts, by all countries, to
reduce emissions.

BLACK SEA
--------------


13. (C) The allies discussed the Black Sea and efforts,
largely by Romania and Bulgaria, to bring the region to the
forefront of European and Euro-Atlantic agendas. Bulgaria's
NATO Director Petyo Petev said Bulgaria does not want a
closed discussion among littoral states on the Black Sea and
believes NATO should focus more on the region. Romania's
Political Director, Ovidiu Dranga, remarked that EU
membership has opened the door to more opportunities in the
Black Sea on a number of fronts, such as the environment,
economic development and counter-proliferation. PDAS Volker
and others commended Bulgaria and Romania for showing
leadership on the issue, and said Russia should be encouraged
to see that it will benefit from enhanced Black Sea
Cooperation.

EUR PDAS Volker has approved this cable.
BEYRLE