GAERC OUTLINES EU OBSERVER MISSION AND AID TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 001431 SIPDIS EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL EUN RU GG SO ZI YI BO SUBJECT: GAERC OUTLINES EU OBSERVER MISSION AND AID TO GEORGIA ¶1. (U) Summary: Meeting in Brussels September 15, EU Foreign Ministers formally established an independent civilian monitoring mission of at least 200 in Georgia, to be deployed by October 1. They designated Pierre Morel as EU Special Representative for the crisis in Georgia. Welcoming the the Commission's proposal to mobilize 500 million Euros in aid to Georgia for the period 2008-2010, the Ministers called upon the Commission to prepare a donors' conference to take place in October (date TBD) in Brussels. International discussions planned for Geneva will be held shortly after the October 15 date originally set, due to a conflict with the European Council meeting that day. The Council decided to postpone extending EU sanctions against Zimbabwean officials. On Somalia, the Council reaffirmed its willingness to continue the EU's engagement, to include approving a strategic military option for a possible EU naval operation. Despite a positive readout from ICTY Chief Prosecutor Brammertz on his recent trip to Serbia, consensus could not be reached on the question of whether to unfreeze the Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia. While welcoming the release of political prisoners in Belarus, the Commission said that reengagement would not be considered until after the September 28 elections. End Summary. Post-Conflict Georgia -------------- ¶2. (U) EU Foreign Ministers, meeting as the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on September 15, formally established an independent civilian ESDP monitoring mission in Georgia. In accordance with the arrangements set out in the agreement of September 8 and in close coordination with the OSCE and UN, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) will be deployed by October 1. According to a simultaneous EU ESDP press release from the Council, the main objectives of EUMM will be to "contribute to stability throughout Georgia and the surrounding region," while in the short term, EUMM will seek "to contribute to the stabilization of the situation in accordance with the six-point agreement and subsequent implementing measures." The Council's objective is to reach a European presence of "at least 200 monitors by October 1." (French FM Kouchner told the press afterwards that more than 200 monitors have already been identified.) With an expected initial mission duration of 12 months, 31 million Euros have been allocated for the mission. According to the Council Conclusions, the EUMM deployment is to replace Russian troops in zones adjacent to Abkhazia and South Ossetia by October 1. Within ten days of that date, Russian troops are to withdraw to lines held prior to the outbreak of hostilities. ¶3. (U) In addition to the monitoring mission, the Commission announced a 500 million Euro aid program for the period 2008-2010 to assist Georgia with its post-conflict rebuilding efforts. Referring to the "stabilization and growth package," External Relations/European Neighborhood Policy Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said at the post-GAERC press conference that the package includes the continuation of the normal program for Georgia, assistance for displaced people, reconstruction, economic recovery, macro-financial stability plus new infrastructure, especially in the energy sector. Also envisaged is a donors' conference for Georgian reconstruction and economic recovery, to be organized by the Commission "next month in Brussels." The GAERC encouraged member states to prepare significant financial contributions as well for this conference. It also welcomed the Commission's work to accelerate visa facilitation and readmission, and its efforts toward establishing free trade with Georgia. (See para 9 for more on what FM Kouchner had to say about Georgia.) Piracy off Somalia -------------- ¶4. (U) FMs approved a strategic military option for a possible EU naval operation to combat piracy off the Somali coast, saying they "would like to see the current planning work press ahead." The FMs also approved establishment "in the next few days" of a coordination unit in Brussels to support surveillance and protection activities carried out by some member states in the waters off Somalia, to be known as EU NAVCO. In addition to the anti-piracy provisions, Council Conclusions on Somalia approved at the GAERC included language welcoming the official signing of the Djibouti peace agreement by the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia. The EU pledged support for the agreement's implementation, as well as support for capacity-building of the Somali police. At the post-GAERC press conference, FM Kouchner said that, while it is hard to catch pirates in the act, piracy was becoming a well-organized industry requiring a well-organized response. Zimbabwe Sanctions Decision Postponed -------------- ¶5. (U) After a briefing by Commissioner Louis Michel on the power-sharing agreement just reached between President Mugabe and opposition leader Tsvangirai, the foreign ministers postponed adding 10-12 additional names to the list of Zimbabweans subject to financial and travel sanctions approved by the PSC and COREPER last week. Prior to the GAERC, Solana said he was confident the agreement would open "a new page" for Zimbabwe. At the post-GAERC press conference, FM Kouchner said, "power sharing is what we wanted, and we were right." While acknowledging that Zimbabwe's political problems largely remained to be solved, Kouchner said the "French Presidency" will soon visit Zimbabwe. Serbia -------------- ¶6. (U) On Serbia, French FM Kouchner reported at the post-GAERC press conference that ICTY Chief Prosecutor Brammertz had briefed the Council on his September 10-11 visit to Belgrade, providing "his opinion as a lawyer and chief prosecutor, not a political opinion." While Kouchner said that Brammertz had reported "much progress in Serbian administration" and that a large majority of FMs had been in favor of unfreezing the SAA, a consensus could not be reached. EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn praised the French Presidency for its continued commitment to the issue while the Council was focused on other areas, adding "I trust the Serbian government will continue to pursue cooperation with the EU on a sustained basis." Saying that the Commission's view was rather well known and that the Commission felt the arrest of Karadzic should be recognized by starting the implementation of the trade provisions of the SAA, Rehn went on to say that the issue "was in the hands of the member states." Rehn welcomed ratification of SAA by the Serbian Parliament, saying "I would like to encourage Serbia to start implementing its obligations under the SAA," going on to say that this could help Serbia achieve its goal of attaining candidate status in 2009. Reiterating that he had been in favor of unfreezing, Kouchner hinted of possible moves on the fringes of UNGA. Belarus -------------- ¶7. (U) While welcoming the release of political prisoners in Belarus, FMs remained concerned about "other major aspects of the human rights situation." Contingent on the conduct of credible elections September 28, the Council said that it stood ready to reconsider existing "restrictive measures" and to take "positive and concrete" steps leading to a step-by-step reengagement with Belarus. Other Topics Discussed -------------- ¶8. (U) FMs called upon Bulgaria and Romania to intensify their efforts under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, highlighting among other things the importance of "an impartial, independent and effective administrative and judicial system." In response to Ecuador's invitation, FMs decided to dispatch an election observation mission under MEP Ribeiro e Castro to observe the September 28 constitutional referendum. With regard to the annual report on the European Community's Development and External Assistance Policies and their implementation, the Council welcomed improvements in the report, encouraged the Commission to continue its efforts to make the report a tool to assist political decision making, and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to contribute to poverty eradication efforts. More on Georgia at the Press Conference -------------- ¶9. (U) Speaking at the post-GAERC press conference, FM Kouchner said that there was "total unity" on the day's Council Conclusions. While the mediation process has not been perfect, he admitted, Russian troops did not march on Tbilisi, a timetable has been established, and Russian troops have abandoned checkpoints outside Poti, as agreed. In announcing that more than the minimum 200 EUMM observers have been identified, Kouchner said they were "crucial" to ensure the further withdrawal of Russian troops. Kouchner was reportedly somewhat ambiguous in his comments, however, about the extent to which the EUMM would be independent of the UNOMIG and OSCE missions. When asked how he envisioned the EUMM entering Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Kouchner responded, "By not being pessimistic!" He continued that nothing has been said or done to accept any faits accomplis; however, he said referring to the Russians, it takes two to tango. Kouchner said the mandate of EUSR Pierre Morel (septel) was yet to be defined. Noting that the Council Conclusions support the idea of an international inquiry into the conflict, Kouchner said this provision was discussed at the September 6 Gymnich. MURRAY