EU FOREIGN MINISTERS, MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BRUSSELS 001588 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN GG RU BO UZ CG IR ZI MX MO SUBJECT: EU FOREIGN MINISTERS, MEETING IN LUXEMBOURG, DISCUSS RUSSIA, GEORGIA, BELARUS AND MORE ¶1. Begin Introduction and Summary: Meeting in Luxembourg October 13, the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers reviewed draft Presidency conclusions for the European Council meeting of EU-27 heads of state/government to take place in Brussels on October 15-16. Much of that meeting will be on the global economic and financial situation. The European Council will also address the Lisbon Treaty, the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, environmental and energy questions (including energy security),and the crisis in Georgia. ¶2. On Russia/Georgia, the GAERC Conclusions of October 13 highlighted the urgent need to discuss Georgia's upper Kodori valley and the Akhalgori region at the international talks to begin in Geneva on October 15, where, according to French Foreign Minister Kouchner's comments to the press, representatives of South Ossetia and Abkhazia would "probably" be accepted as such. Kouchner added that Foreign Ministers would further discuss future EU/Russia relations on the margins of the October 15 European Council meeting in Brussels, but was categorical in stating that the EU/Russia summit would take place in November. ¶3. To mark and further encourage democratic developments, the GAERC removed travel bans for Uzbekistan and Belarus, with some exceptions for the latter. Belarusian President Lukashenko was reportedly included in the list of names that would be removed from the list. Belarusian Foreign Minister Martynov, after meeting with EU troika counterparts on the margin of the GAERC, told the press that an EU team would travel to Belarus in a few weeks. GAERC Conclusions on Moldova provide for a deeper relationship and reaffirm the EU's engagement in resolving the conflict with the breakaway region of Transnistria. The GAERC authorized the conclusion of an agreement with the U.S. on its participation in EULEX Kosovo. ¶4. The GAERC noted that a government of national unity had not yet been formed in Zimbabwe; however, it reiterated the EU's intention to provided humanitarian assistance to the population. The GAERC decided to establish a strategic partnership with Mexico. Furthermore, the neighborhood policy with Morocco was strengthened. At the press conference, Kouchner and Solana sounded the alarm about the deteriorating situation in the DR Congo. Kouchner also noted with satisfaction the passage of UNSC Resolution 1835 on Iran. End Introduction and Summary. -------------- Georgia/Russia: Council Conclusions Raise Kodori and Akhalgori -------------- ¶5. The Council Conclusions "note with satisfaction" that Russian troops have withdrawn from zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The Council calls on the parties to continue to implement their commitments, including with regard to the role of OSCE and UNOMIG observers, and welcomes UNSCR 1839 to extend the UNOMIG mandate for four months. Reiterating its support for the territorial integrity of Georgia, the Council reaffirms the willingness of the EU to take an active part in the international discussions starting October 15, "under the auspices of the EU, the UN and the OSCE." It makes particular mention of the need to discuss (in Geneva) the upper Kodori valley and the Akhalgori region. The Council thanks the Commission for convening the October 22 donors conference aimed at assisting displaced persons and restarting the Georgian economy, saying the EU will contribute substantially. Finally, the Council states it is preparing to begin negotiations with Georgia soon on visa facilitation and read mission, and invites the Commission to continue preparatory work on a possible free trade area with Georgia. -------------- Georgia/Russia: The Press Conference -------------- ¶6. Noting that the GAERC's discussion on Georgia and Russia lasted three hours, Foreign Minister Kouchner, who was last in Georgia on October 10, reported that the EU maintains its BRUSSELS 00001588 002 OF 004 unity on this crisis. He congratulated the EU monitors for their "remarkable" deployment into the zones adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and he looked forward to the Geneva talks, which he promised would be long. Kouchner said that representatives from the breakaway provinces would "probably" be accepted as such at Geneva. He suggested that Akhalgori would be an early agenda item, noting that, for the time being, only IDPs holding Russian passports are being allowed to return there. ¶7. External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner promised EC support for Georgia's reconstruction, noting that the needs are less than originally foreseen. Both Ferrero-Waldner and Kouchner responded in the affirmative when asked if the November 14 EU/Russia summit (in Nice) was still on. Kouchner stated that the subject of the resumption of negotiations with Russia on a new cooperation agreement with the EU would be further discussed at the EU Foreign Ministers' dinner on October 15 (on the margins of the European Council meeting). -------------- Belarus: Council Conclusions Ease Travel Restrictions -------------- ¶8. In their formal conclusions, the EU-27 Foreign Ministers call upon Belarusian authorities to address the shortcomings which kept the September 28 parliamentary elections below OSCE standards. On the positive side of the ledger, the Council notes that the political opposition in Belarus had broader access to the media and was able to demonstrate peacefully on the evening of the elections. The Council reiterates its approval of the release of the last internationally recognized political prisoners before the elections. ¶9. Hoping for a gradual re-engagement with Belarus, the Council took note of the troika meeting with the Belarusian Foreign Minister (taking place on the margins of the GAERC) and decided to restore contacts with Belarusian authorities, restricted since November 2004. To that end, the Council, while deciding to extend for another year restrictive measures previously adopted, is suspending for six months travel restrictions imposed on certain leading figures in Belarus, including President Lukashenko. (USEU will provide updates on the EU revised visa ban list as the information becomes available.) Meanwhile, it is expected that Belarus will make progress toward reforming its electoral code, and guaranteeing freedom of expression and assembly. Exempt from this relaxation are those involved in the disappearances which occurred in 1999 and 2000 and the President of the Central Electoral Commission. -------------- Belarus Press Stake Out: EU Team "Soon" to Travel to Minsk -------------- ¶10. Javier Solana told the press that the just-completed troika meeting with Foreign Minister Martynov had created a favorable climate and would lead to the visit to Minsk of an EU team soon. Martynov said Belarus was willing to work with the EU, and that the EU team would be traveling in a few weeks. -------------- Uzbekistan: Travel Ban Lifted -------------- ¶11. Noting progress with respect to rule of law and protection of human rights - particularly the release of Mrs. Mukhtabar Tojibaeva, the abolition of the death penalty, the introduction of habeas corpus, the ratification of conventions combating child labor, and the resumption of ICRC prison visits - the Council decided not to renew travel restrictions applying to certain individuals; however, in a decision evidently calculated to reach consensus on Uzbekistan, it did renew, for one year, the arms embargo it imposed in 2007. The Council nonetheless said it is "seriously concerned" about human rights in Uzbekistan, and calls on Uzbek authorities to release all imprisoned human BRUSSELS 00001588 003 OF 004 rights defenders, cease harassing others, accept the accreditation of the new Country Director of Human Rights Watch, and revoke restrictions on NGOs. -------------- Moldova: On Track -------------- ¶12. According to the Council Conclusions, the EU is ready to deepen its relationship and negotiate a "new and ambitious" agreement soon with Moldova, going beyond the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and to include a comprehensive free-trade area. Furthermore, visa-free travel is a long-term perspective. Reaffirming its attachment to the territorial integrity of Moldova, the EU will increase its efforts to resolve the conflict in Transnistria, and calls upon all parties to resume negotiations in the 5 2 format. -------------- Kosovo: U.S. EULEX Participation Agreement Adopted -------------- ¶13. The EULEX Kosovo U.S.-EU Participation Agreement was formally adopted without discussion. -------------- Zimbabwe: Standing By With Assistance -------------- ¶14. The Council noted with concern that a government of national unity has not been formed, and called for continued engagement by SADC, the African Union and the UN. Noting that the Commission had just released another EUR 10 million in humanitarian aid, the Council reaffirmed that the EU stands ready to adopt a package of measures to assist the rehabilitation of the country, once the September 15 agreement is actually implemented. -------------- Mexico: A Strategic Partner -------------- ¶15. Noting the many phases of their relations since 1960, the Council decides to accept the recommendation of the Commission to establish a strategic partnership with Mexico. -------------- Morocco: Advanced Status -------------- ¶16. The seventh meeting of the EU-Morocco Association Council took place on the margins of the GAERC, and it was marked by the launch of the "Advanced Status" that had been requested by Morocco for reinforcing its relations with the EU under the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). (See http://ec.europea.eu/external relations/morocco for details.) -------------- Press Conference: Further on Financial Crisis, DRC, Iran -------------- ¶17. In addition to commenting on Russia and Georgia (see para 3 above),Foreign Minister Kouchner noted the positive reactions in financial markets to the Euro-zone summit which took place on October 12. Kouchner characterized the meeting as a political affirmation of the Euro-zone, and he ventured that the situation would be much worse without the Euro. He pondered a "more moral" financial system, and said that an international conference - a G-7, G-8, or G-14 format - would be needed to revive global finances. Kouchner said that revised draft conclusions for the October 15 European Council meeting on this subject would be circulated on October 14. ¶18. Both Kouchner and Solana expressed growing concern about the security situation in the DR Congo, and especially about the violence perpetrated against women in conflict zones. Solana said he had been in contact with Congolese President Joseph Kabila. For his part, Kouchner lamented that the peace plan is not being implemented and that rebel General BRUSSELS 00001588 004 OF 004 Nkunda seemed ready to launch a major offensive. Sounding the alarm, Kouchner said that massacres could be "frightening." When asked if the EU thought about sending troops to the region (as it did briefly in 2003),Kouchner said anything is possible. In a brief comment on Iran, Kouchner welcomed the passage of UNSCR 1835, saying that it maintained P5 1 unity. MURRAY .