Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BRUSSELS1244
2008-08-12 17:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

THE AMBASSADOR MEETS RELEX COMMISSIONER

Tags:  PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG EAID ETTC KWBG EUN GG XF 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8893
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 121750Z AUG 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI IMMEDIATE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001244 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG EAID ETTC KWBG EUN GG XF
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR MEETS RELEX COMMISSIONER
FERRERO-WALDNER

Classified By: Ambassador Kristen Silverberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 001244

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS ENRG EAID ETTC KWBG EUN GG XF
SUBJECT: THE AMBASSADOR MEETS RELEX COMMISSIONER
FERRERO-WALDNER

Classified By: Ambassador Kristen Silverberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
)


1. (C) Summary: During the Ambassador's introductory call on
the morning of August 8, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner
for External Relations (RELEX) reported that CFSP High Rep
Solana was irked that Georgian President Saakashvili had
seemed so calm in their August 7 telephone call and had not
let on that he was mobilizing Georgian forces. On the Middle
East (MEPP),the Commissioner was pessimistic about the
Annapolis process and blamed Israel for impeding positive
change on the ground that could enhance dialogue. The
Ambassador countered that it was important not to put
pressure only on the Israelis. Moreover, she cautioned the
EU to avoid making any new proposals which could spook the
parties or disrupt the fragile dialogue. Ferrero-Waldner
supported French efforts to "show Syria carrots" for its
"improved behavior." The Ambassador assessed that Syria's
actions thus far had failed to warrant any such recognition
or positive reinforcement. Ferrero-Waldner supported our
desire to hold a successful TEC meeting this fall. The
Ambassador stressed the need to move forward quickly to adopt
a new UNSC sanctions resolution in the face of Iran's
continued intransigence. Ferrero-Waldner evinced skepticism
about Russian, Chinese or EU willingness to toughen
sanctions. On energy security, the Ambassador informed the
Commissioner of U.S. efforts with the Turks on Nabucco. End
Summary

South Ossetia - Tbilisi's Role
--------------

2.(C) Ferrero-Waldner said the EU did not want hostilities
to become a war, but she was unable to offer any concrete
suggestions. She noted that the Russian response was key,
adding that OSCE Chairman-in-Office Finnish FM Stubb and
French FM Kouchner were getting involved. She hoped
Kouchner's forthcoming statement would be an EU statement and

not just a Presidency statement (Note: The French issued
both types of statements on August 8. End Note.) She said
that CFSP High Rep Solana was irked that Saakashvili seemed
so calm in their August 7 telephone call and did not let on
that he was mobilizing Georgian forces. The Ambassador noted
that Georgia had shown restraint over the last few days, but
that the South Ossetians had not. U.S and EU public
statements should take this into account. Ferrero-Waldner
asserted that the Georgians had only shown restraint due to
U.S. and European intervention and at the same time, Georgia
had put great political pressure on Tshkinvali. Furthermore,
just-launched Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
negotiations and overall relations could be affected by
negative developments in Kosovo and Georgia. Ferrero-Waldner
wondered what role, if any, NATO intended to play.

Abkhazia - Pitching Commission Involvement
--------------

3.(C) On Abkhazia, Ferrero-Waldner said it was important to
press the sides not to push for unacceptable conditions for
dialogue. The Ambassador noted that Secretary Rice supported
a political director's meeting and was interested in using
the UNGA High Level Segment as an opportunity for dialogue,
perhaps at the ministerial level. Ferrero-Waldner said that
the "deviation" to South Ossetia underscored the need to
"bring everyone to the table." She also made a pitch for
Commission presence in any high-level talks, noting that the
Commission had already shared a paper with the Germans on
confidence-building measures in which it could play a role.

MEPP - Commission Downbeat and Critical of Israel
-------------- --------------

4.(C) Ferrero-Waldner said she feared that the Annapolis
process was coming to a halt and complained that the Quartet
had not been very active. She reiterated her usual
criticisms of Israel for "inaction" and "lack of political
will" in its settlements policy, and in its policy on access
and movement which "undermined" economic development in the
PA, especially in Jenin and Nablus. The Commissioner
conceded that security was the IDF's paramount priority.
While the Ambassador agreed that positive changes on the
ground such as institutional and economic development could
enhance the bilateral dialogue track, she warned that outside
parties such as the EU should be careful not to come forward
with any new proposals which could spook the parties or
disrupt their discussions. The process shoiuld be designed
to support and protect discussions between the parties.


BRUSSELS 00001244 002 OF 002


5.(C) Ferrero-Waldner worried about continuity between the
current and next U.S. Administration on the MEPP. The
Ambassador said she expected the next Administration would
seek to keep positive momentum going. It was important not
to put pressure only on the Israelis in this regard. The PA
was receiving unhelpful "support" from its "friends" with
such initiatives as one-sided resolutions in the UNSC.
Ferrero-Waldner insisted that more needed to be done to
support Abu Mazen and Fayaad, but indicated that her own
efforts to lobby Arab governments "whenever I can" had met
with reluctance from the other side in the absence of a
reconciliation process. The Ambassador noted that it was
time for the EU to turn up the heat on Arab governments in
this regard. Ferrero-Waldner expressed interest in the
possibility of a follow-up to Annapolis, in Moscow.

Syria - RELEX supports moving ahead on Association Agreement
-------------- --------------

6.(C) In response to the Ambassador's question,
Ferrero-Waldner said France wanted to move forward with the
EU's stalled Association Agreement with Syria and that the
Commission supported this initiative because it was important
to "show Syria carrots" for its "improved behavior." She
noted that the ultimate decision rested with the Council.
The Ambassador refuted the Commissioner's assessment that
Syria deserved recognition or positive reinforcement for its
decision to go along with the national unity government,
noting Syria's continued violations of UNSC resolutions.

Transatlantic Relations - TEC Meeting Needed
--------------

7.(C) Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said the Slovenia summit
went well. She hoped there would be another TEC, but the
issue remained timing. The Ambassador noted that the last
TEC meeting was disappointing. We wanted to hold a
successful fall meeting so that we could hand over a strong
process to the next Administration. Ferrero-Waldner
requested that RELEX Transatlantic Unit chief Alan Seatter be
closely involved in TEC meeting preparations, including the
upcoming DVC between White House Economic Counselor Dan Price
and Commissioner Verheugen.

Energy
--------------

8.(C) The Ambassador raised recent reports of new Turkmen
guarantees for 10 bcm of gas, Ferrero-Waldner lamented that
Turkey had not been helpful on Nabucco. The Ambassador noted
that we were engaged and that Special Envoy Gray had traveled
to the region for this purpose. Ferrero-Waldner said she
heard that Gazprom was pushing the Turks (NFI). She also
noted the importance of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan-Turkmen
relations.

Iran - Sanctions Increasingly Tough Sell
--------------

9.(C) Ferrero-Waldner said the EU would issue a statement on
the new EU Common Position on UNSCR 1803 to be adopted today.
Iran was "playing with fire" and "playing for time," but
also seemed to be engaged in a growing internal debate
between its "moderates and conservatives." The Ambassador
agreed that the Iranians were playing for time, and that
there seemed to be an internal debate. It was necessary to
move forward quickly to adopt a new sanctions resolution in
the face of Iran's refusal to engage the P5 1 seriously.
Ferrero-Waldner was skeptical about prospects for Russian,
Chinese or EU agreement to deeper sanctions.
SILVERBERG
.