HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC

UNCLAS BUDAPEST 000902 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV HU GG RS SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON SEPTEMBER 15-16 GAERC REF: A. SECSTATE 97574 ¶B. SECSTATE 96598 ¶1. (SBU) MFA EU External Relations and Crisis Situations Section Chief Andras Dekany discussed reftels with PolOff on September 12, and provided the following comments concerning the agenda items: ¶2. (SBU) Zimbabwe - We are awaiting a clearer picture of the apparent agreement reached this week in Harare. We will await to hear from those EU members who have more experience and closer ties to Africa. ¶3. (SBU) Somalia - We support the establishment of the EUNAVCO coordination cell and the appointment of the Spanish Navy Captain to head EUNAVCO. ¶4. (SBU) Serbia - We support the entry into force of the interim agreement - it serves the interests of Serbia and the EU - and we welcome the direct talks between Belgrade and Brussels. - We welcome the agreement between UNMIK and EULEX, however we see a problem in the handing over of competencies and tasks. (Comment: Dekany provided no details as to specific tasks. End comment.) - Deployment of the EULEX should cover all of Kosovo's territory. It is very important for EULEX to cooperate with the local Kosovo-Serb leadership in the north, as the current political situation in Belgrade provides an opportunity to take advantage of those Kosovo-Serb leaders who are willing to discuss a future within Kosovo. - Belgrade asked for Hungarian support for their ICJ proposal on Kosovo during Foreign Minister Goncz's recent visit -- Goncz "remained noncommittal." Hungary is interested in a common EU position on Serbia's ICJ initiative due to the "weight and complexity" of the issue. ¶5. (U) Turkey - does not expect to be an agenda item ¶6. (SBU) Georgia - We welcome the September 8 supplemental agreement and believe now is the time for the EU to show the political will to develop a forward-looking, comprehensive approach to the crisis as well as moving forward with their ESDP mission. - The October 1 ESDP target deployment date is important for EU credibility. The ESDP mission must be autonomous to, but complementary with, other international organizations - the UN and OSCE missions - with tasks clearly delineated and coordinated. Hungary submitted five law enforcement names for the ESDP mission and is awaiting nominations from their Security Services and Ministry of Defense for other candidates to serve with the mission. - Hungary has offered two candidates for the ESDP advance team mission - one to serve as the POLAD and a second person to serve as a logistics expert. Foley