AMBASSADOR'S VISIT WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KANERVA

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000034 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV FI RS SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S VISIT WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KANERVA Classified By: POLCHIEF GREG THOME FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (SBU) Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva briefed Ambassador Ware on various OSCE-related issues on January 24. He focused mainly on Russia, having just held consultations with visiting Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko earlier in the week. ¶2. (C) FINLAND'S FIRST MONTH AS CiO: Kanerva opened by expressing gratitude to the U.S. for our support during his first month as CiO, saying he greatly appreciated the U.S. response in Vienna to his presentation of the Finnish OSCE agenda for its chairmanship. "The OSCE is a bit of a mess right now," he smiled, and we need to be very realistic about what can actually be achieved in a year given the current circumstances, but Finland is committed to not "giving up" on the organization. ¶3. (SBU) RUSSIA AND ELECTION MONITORS: "Obviously, the OSCE's relationship with Russia will have a tremendous impact on the results Finland can achieve during its chairmanship," Kanerva said. The GOF does not intend to back down on the elections monitoring issue, and Kanerva sent a letter to Russian FM Lavrov on a bilateral level urging that it accept a robust OHDIR election monitoring mission for the upcoming presidential election. Deputy FM Grushko "did not promise anything" on monitors, and "frankly it will be very tough" to ensure a credible observation in the face of clear Russian reluctance, Kanerva suggested. Moscow wants to invite a mission -- or so it says -- Grushko was already making clear that the Russians will seek to heavily limit the number of observers and their actual time in country, as occurred during the parliamentary elections. Kanerva said he argued to the Russians the need to "normalize" their relationship with the OSCE: "You are not special. If you are a democracy, act like one," he reported having told Grushko. ¶4. (SBU) RUSSIA AND KOSOVO: Grushko said that if Pristina issues a unilateral declaration of independence, Moscow will "veto" the prolonging of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (OMIK). Kanerva expressed some pessimim about this, noting that the Russian position apeared immutable. He also noted that he will trael in his capacity as CiO to Kosovo with a delegtion of journaists on February 4-6. ¶5. (SBU) OCE BUDGET: Kanerva acknowledged that the OSCE'sbudget woes are becoming acute in light of the genral disagreement among member about funding. He said that U.S. Congressman Alcee Hastings told him during an early January meeting that the U.S. would support the Finnish proposal for a "flat line" budget. However, Russia's refusal to pay its dues means that OSCE operations are secure until June, but not guaranteed thereafter. WARE