HUNGARIAN FOCUS AT THE HELSINKI OSCE MINISTERIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 001157

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2018
TAGS: PREL OSCE RU HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN FOCUS AT THE HELSINKI OSCE MINISTERIAL

REF: SECSTATE 125626

Classified By: P/E counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) MFA Deputy Director of the International
Organizations and Human Rights Department, Zoltan Pecze,
discussed reftel with PolOff on December 2. Pecze stated
that Foreign Minister Goncz will directly address the
Medvedev Security Treaty proposal during her speech at the
December 4-5 Ministerial. Stressing the importance of the
transatlantic relationship, Goncz will highlight the
following points: the current European and Euro-Atlantic
institutions are functioning properly - key elements of the
Russian proposal are already contained in the basic documents
of existing organizations; there is currently a "lack of
will" to make best use of existing mechanisms - Russia needs
to respect these regimes; while Hungary is open to discuss
the future of security in Europe, "we must be firm in
sticking to a value-based approach; security can only be
based on well-established common values, such as human rights
and sovereignty;" and the OSCE should be the forum for
further discussions. Pecze said that the Foreign Minister's
comments are consistent with the following three points
agreed to by EU members on November 28: structures already
exist to address security issues; North America cannot be
excluded; and the OSCE should be the forum, as it has "the
human dimension."


2. (C) Referring directly to Sarkozy's summit proposal,
Pecze commented, "why should we redesign the current
transatlantic security structure because of a few border
crises in the Caucasus?" Pecze said Hungary agrees that it
is too early for an OSCE summit to address the Russian
proposal, noting that such a decision should only be made
"when it becomes clear what concrete results can be
achieved." Continuing, he said Hungary believes that current
focus should be on internal discussions with "our partners"
in Europe, Canada, and the U.S.


3. (C) During a meeting with PolOff on December 1, Gabor
Horvath, Deputy Director of the MFA's Security and
Non-proliferation Department, echoed the points highlighted
in the reftel. Noting that a well-grounded framework already
exists for security in Europe, he said Russia needs to show
how its proposal would enhance the security environment
already offered within the EU, NATO, and OSCE frameworks.
Horvath emphasized that a "European security proposal" is a
non-starter - any proposal to address security in Europe must
be a "transatlantic security proposal" - always including the
U.S. and Canada. Commenting on the December 2 NATO
Ministerial, Horvath said that Minister Goncz - refering to a
U.S. non-paper on the Russian proposal - will emphasize that
NATO and OSCE statements must be consistent to send Russia
the message that the transatlantic community is together on
the issue of security.
Levine