SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF MARCH 10-11 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000114 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2018 TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV ZL PK AF ZI IR GG IS SY LE SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF MARCH 10-11 GAERC REF: STATE 22352 Classified by: Charge Maryruth Coleman, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) Background -------------- ¶1. (C) In their March 5 meeting, European Correspondent Aljaz Arih told ADCM that the Foreign Ministers would issue Council conclusions on Bosnia and Herzogovina, the Stability Pact/Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), Afghanistan, Pakistan, the WTO, and Zimbabwe. He noted that other than the Council conclusions, Afghanistan would not be on the agenda because the Foreign Ministers planned to discuss it at dinner during the European Council. He reiterated that because Slovenia held the Presidency, it was not in a position to present strong national views. Western Balkans -------------- ¶2. (C) Arih said the Ministers would discuss the Western Balkans at lunch, which would make for a more informal discussion as only the ministers would be in attendance. The situation in Northern Kosovo would be the main topic. He noted that Slovenia fully agrees with our assessment of the situation on the ground. He added that Slovenia was participating in a demarche by the Contact Group on the UN that would make similar points, but more detailed than in our demarche. The GAERC would not discuss the Council's conclusions on Bosnia and Herzogovina, which would be a follow-up to a big meeting February 26-27 in Brussels, or on the Stability Pact/RCC, which would contain EU commitments to follow-up work with the Stability Pact's successor, RCC. Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process -------------- ¶3. (C) Arih stressed that the Presidency was vey concerned about the latest developments on the ground and cited the March 3 EU Presidency Statement on further escalation of violence in Gaza and Southern Israel. He explained that Solana was in the region and would report to the PSC on March 6 and to the Ministers on March 10. Arih predicted that there would be an exchange of views on the situation on the ground and how to proceed. Syria/Lebanon -------------- ¶4. (C) Arih commented that he expected the discussion to focus more on Lebanon than on Syria. He added that the positions of the member states on Syria remained divided; with some still favoring engagement over isolation, the EU had not been able to arrive at a common position. On Lebanon, he expressed agreement with our points about fully supporting the Siniora government, as well as Arab League efforts to find a solution, including presidential elections. He noted that Solana was at the ministerial meeting of the Arab League States where the main topic was the upcoming Arab League Summit in Damascus. Pakistan -------------- ¶5. (C) Arih said the FMs would not discuss Pakistan, but issue Council conclusions that would be a follow-up reaction to the election. According to Arih, the conclusions would be in line with our points and expound on the February 22 Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the conduct of the general election. Afghanistan -------------- ¶6. (C) Arih explained that colleagues in Brussels were still drafting the Council conclusions, so he could not be certain what would be in the final form. In draft form, the conclusions reflected our points about increasing the size of the police training mission; they contain language to consider enhancing the EU support/cooperation in the EU POLCOPS mission. Zimbabwe -------------- ¶7. (C) Arih reviewed the Council conclusions on Zimbabwe, which he believed to be in final form. According to Arih, the conclusions would urge Zimbabwe to respect SADC principles, but not press Zimbabwe to invite SADC-PF and others to monitor the elections. The conclusions would, however, note that no formal invitation had been received by the EU to send election observers. They would also express concern about the humanitarian situation, note that the targeted measures (visa ban and arms embargo) are exclusively aimed at leading figures responsible for Zimbabwe's crisis, and confirm the EU's willingness to carry on a dialogue. The GAERC discussion would focus on the elections and the pre-election process. Georgia -------------- ¶8. (C) Arih stated that the FMs would not discuss MAP or Georgia's NATO aspirations, but the situation on the ground and the pre-election time frame. He added that they might start to discuss the possibility of establishing a free trade agreement with Georgia as well as a mandate for a visa facilitation agreement. They would also talk about Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Iran -------------- ¶9. (C) Arih was sure that the Council would welcome the third Iran sanctions UNSCR. Although the discussion should go toward taking appropriate measures against Iran, he noted that, according to his latest information, Italy was still firm about not going beyond the UNSCRs. Other Issues -------------- ¶10. (C) Arih noted that the FMs would also discuss the WTO/Doha development agenda; Commissioner Mandelson would report on the latest state of play. In addition, the Council would issue conclusions (no further information). The GAERC would also prepare for the European Council conclusions, which would be mostly devoted to the Lisbon strategy and the energy/climate package. Arih added that there would be four events on the margin of the GAERC: a quad partite meeting with the Council of Europe, an Association Council meeting with Algeria, the eleventh troika with Albania, and a Cooperation Council with Ukraine. COLEMAN