ESTONIA IN ADVANCE OF APRIL 23-24 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000259 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017 TAGS: EUN ETRD KPAL PREL EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA IN ADVANCE OF APRIL 23-24 GAERC REF: STATE 51262 TALLINN 00000259 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: A/DCM Eric A. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On April 20, we delivered Reftel points on U.S. positions in advance of the EU's April 23-24 GAERC meeting to Kart Juhasoo-Lawrence, MFA Counselor for U.S. Affairs, and Kristel Kase, EU GAERC Desk Officer. The majority of the meeting was devoted to discussing the upcoming U.S.-EU Summit. The Estonians were disappointed by the U.S. statement on energy security and climate change and worried that it was a sign of U.S. disengagement on the subject. Other items discussed included Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and an EU resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. End Summary. Transatlantic Relations: U.S.-EU Summit -------------- ¶2. (C) The Estonians were clearly disappointed with the statement put forward by the United States on energy security and climate change. Juhasoo-Lawrence said that the MFA had hoped for concrete proposals to deal with energy security (i.e., the creation of a senior-level steering group to deal with the issue). Instead, she said that the U.S. proposal for a High Level Dialogue that discusses everything from climate change to new technologies to energy security would become a talk-shop - "a forum for everything and nothing." The MFA is wondering if the U.S. statement is a reaction to Germany's heavy lobbying for a deal on climate change and a sign of U.S. disengagement on the issue. ¶3. (C) Since the Germans spearheaded deeper commitments to tackle climate change within the EU in March, Juhasoo- Lawrence opined that many EU member states (also led by Germany) are motivated by fear that European industry will be put at an economic disadvantage unless the U.S. can be brought on board. As a result, the MFA is deeply concerned that energy security is being lost in the debate over climate change. Middle East: Israeli-Palestinian conflict, UNSCR 1737 and Iran, and Lebanon -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Estonia is in full agreement with the U.S. on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The MFA fully supports the continued role of the quartet, but also would like to include more involvement of moderate and/or supportive Arab countries (e.g., Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt). ¶5. (SBU) Like the United States, Estonia doesn't believe Iran has fully implemented UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1737. While it still hopes for a diplomatic or political breakthrough, Kase said that there is a consensus among EU member states on the possibility to implement further sanctions and penalties if need be. ¶6. (C) Estonia fully agrees with the United States that PM Siniora's government must be bolstered by the full implementation of UNSCR 1701. However, as Lebanon will be discussed as a lunch item, Kase said it was unlikely that the discussion would go into much depth. As a result, she doubted that there would be any discussion on those EU member states who still had not met their aid pledges (from the January Paris donors' meeting). Africa: Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe -------------- ¶7. (U) While the MFA condemns the violence in Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe, it is not taking an active role in the discussions as Estonia has no diplomatic relations with -- or presence in -- these countries. However, Estonia will continue to support the common EU positions. Central Asia -------------- ¶8. (C) Estonia fully supports the EU's outreach efforts in Central Asia. The MFA sees it as the logical extension of the EU's European Neighborhood Policy to include neighbors farther afield. Kase said that Estonia hopes the EU eventually expands this outreach to Central Asia to include Afghanistan and Pakistan. She mentioned also that Estonia is considering naming a non-resident ambassador to a Central Asian country. If they do so, the country would probably be Kazakhstan. Death Penalty TALLINN 00000259 002.2 OF 002 -------------- ¶9. (U) Estonia will support Italy's initiative to introduce a resolution calling for a moratorium of the death penalty. Estonia will also continue to support the EU's action plan to encourage more countries to abolish the death penalty. GOLDSTEIN