Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LJUBLJANA255
2008-06-12 12:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Ljubljana
Cable title:  

SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JUNE 16-17 GAERC

Tags:  PREL EUN PGOV PHUM ZL ZK IR IZ IS SY LE CU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7515
RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLJ #0255/01 1641201
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121201Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6731
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0055
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0027
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0030
RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0020
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0032
RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0010
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0043
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0116
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0025
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0026
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0202
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000255 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV PHUM ZL ZK IR IZ IS SY LE CU
SU, CD, CT, SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JUNE 16-17 GAERC

REF: STATE 62450

Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000255

NOFORN
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2018
TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV PHUM ZL ZK IR IZ IS SY LE CU
SU, CD, CT, SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JUNE 16-17 GAERC

REF: STATE 62450

Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. Ghafari, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) On June 12, Pol/Econ Chief delivered the June 16-17
GAERC points to European Correspondent Aljaz Arih. Arih said
the GAERC, which had a very long agenda, would issue
conclusions on Cuba, the Western Balkans, Somalia, Sudan,
DRoC, and Central Asia (without a discussion). The FMs would
send a strong message from Luxembourg to Khartoum. He noted
that Iraq, Chad/CAR, and Belarus were not on the agenda. The
FMs would also discuss preparations for the European Council,
Burma, Zimbabwe, piracy off of Somalia, and the Great Lakes.
The next 18-month trio Presidency would also make a
presentation. End Summary.

Iran
--------------


2. (C) Arih explained that High Representative Solana would
report to the GAERC about his June 13-15 visit to Tehran and
suggest a way forward. The FMs might discuss sanctions. The
member states still could not agree on whether to go beyond
UNSCR 1803, and thus the EU was very unlikely to adopt a
package of new measures during Slovenia's presidency. He
commented that it was possible that the Presidency could put
the issue of designating entities and individuals on the June
23 Agriculture agenda; otherwise France would have to work on
this.

Middle East
--------------


3. (C) Arih stated that he did not expect anything dramatic
or new on Israeli-Palestinian peace. In preparation for the
Association Council with Israel the evening of June 16, the
EU is currently discussing the question of whether to upgrade
relations with Israel. If the June 12 COREPER meeting were
unable to deal with this, then the FMs might have to discuss

it. Arih noted that there would be strong EU support for the
Berlin Conference in support of Palestinian Civil Police and
Rule of Law. He said that under the Middle East agenda item,
the GAERC would also discuss the political situation in
Lebanon after the elections, as well as Israel-Syria peace
talks under Turkey's mediation.

Sudan/Darfur
--------------


4. (C) Arih commented that Sudan/Darfur was quite an
important item on the agenda because Special Prosecutor for
Sudan Campo would host this GAERC. Campo would give insights
on his recent report to the UNSC on Sudan's cooperation with
the ICC. Arih predicted that the FMs would discuss how to
deal with Sudan and consider the possibility of sanctions.
The GAERC conclusions would include a strong demand for Sudan
to cooperate with the ICC, despite signals that Khartoum is
not yet ready to do so. The EU would also express its
readiness to consider possible measures against some
individuals in the government responsible for the lack of
cooperation.

Cuba
--------------


5. (C) Arih said that the EU has had extensive, intensive
discussions about lifting the restrictive measures, but there
is still no agreement. He noted that the majority of member
states believe the EU should have a political dialogue with
Cuba to promote the values of democracy and human rights.
The proposal under consideration would be to lift the

LJUBLJANA 00000255 002 OF 002


sanctions and open a dialogue for one year, at the conclusion
of which the EU would review the dialogue. Arih predicted
there would be a difficult discussion at today's COREPER, and
the FMs might have to make a final decision on June 16.

Western Balkans
--------------


6. (C/NF) Arih noted that he did not expect a discussion on
the Western Balkans as a separate agenda item, but that the
GAERC would adopt Conclusions that would include Macedonia,
Bosnia, and a roadmap for visa liberalization of the region.
He added that the FMs would likely discuss Macedonia under
the item of preparation for the European Council (EC). The
EU is drafting the EC's conclusions, which would include a
paragraph on Macedonia. He explained that the Slovenian
Presidency is "very reluctant" to accede to Greece's demand
to include the name issue in that paragraph. He predicted a
difficult discussion on this. He added that the EU political
directors would discuss Kosovo during their lunch on June 16,
but the FMs decided to wait until more was known from New
York. They plan to discuss Kosovo during their June 19
dinner when they hope to have a clearer picture, which would
make it easier to decide on next steps.

Central Asia
--------------


7. (C) Arih said that the FMs would not discuss Central Asia,
but that there would be short conclusions on implementing the
EU's Central Asia strategy. He added that the European
Council conclusions would also include a reference to this.

Georgia
--------------


8. (C) According to Arih, it was still unclear whether the
FMs would discuss Georgia. Solana might want to report to
the Council on his recent visit and his views on the EU's
role on a solution to the conflict.

Other Issues
--------------


9. (C) Arih noted that the FMs would also discuss
preparations for the European Council and the Council
conclusions. France, the Czech Republic and Sweden would
present on the next 18-month trio Presidency. There would be
a short exchange of views on the political situation in
Burma. The FMs would discuss Zimbabwe before the second
round of elections, sharing ideas on how to support
international observers. Piracy off of the coast of Somalia
would be a short agenda item; two member states want to
express their views of the recent UNSCR. The main point of
the conclusion would be to task the Secretariat and the
Commission to find ways the EU could support the UNSCR on
fighting piracy. Arih expressed the hope that there would
not be a discussion on WTO/DDA, but they would see after the
June 12 COREPER meeting. Over lunch, the FMs would exchange
views on the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, which would
be informed by today's referendum in Ireland. There would
also be a short discussion on Tibet and negotiations between
Beijing and the Dalai Lama. Belgium also requested to brief
on the Great Lakes and DRoC. Lastly, FM Rupel would brief
the GAERC on relations between the EU and the U.S. and report
back on the Summit.
GHAFARI