SLOVENIA HOPES FOR PROGRESS ON CROATIA BY DECEMBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000536 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/CE E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2018 TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV ETRD ZL IS PK CG TU SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA HOPES FOR PROGRESS ON CROATIA BY DECEMBER 8-9 GAERC REF: STATE 127023 Classified By: DCM Brad Freden, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) On December 3, Emboff met with Acting European Correspondent Darja Gruban to deliver reftel's talking points for the December 8-9 GAERC. Gruban predicted that the Foreign Ministers would spend a fair amount of time on the draft conclusions for the European Council, especially on economic and financial questions as well as the climate change and energy package. The GAERC will issue conclusions on Pakistan, India (both still being drafted),the Middle East, DRC, enlargement and the Western Balkans (with a focus on Kosovo and Serbia). She noted that PM Pahor had had meetings in Brussels on December 2-3 about Croatia and the possibility of Slovenia allowing the EU to open more acquis chapters. End Summary. Western Balkans -------------- ¶2. (C) Gruban agreed with all of our points. She noted that the GAERC would focus on Kosovo and Eulex, and Serbia. She said that Slovenia would stress the need for Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet the requirements for closing the OHR and for the EU to emphasize the RS government's need to comply with the conditions. Regarding Croatia, she emphasized that it was in Slovenia's interest for Croatia to continue along the path to EU accession; she hoped for a resolution to the issue by December 19 Enlargement session, if not by the GAERC. She explained that Slovenia had made a counterproposal to the French compromise - in which both sides would agree that nothing in the accession process would prejudge the border issue - stressing Slovenia's redlines. Slovenia does not want any mention made of the disputed border in the EU accession documents fearing that it could prejudge an outcome. Slovenia was now waiting for a response from the French Presidency and Croatia. She added that she had received a positive readout of the December 2 discussion between FM Zbogar and Croatian FM Jandrokovic, but was unsure whether it would be resolved by December 8. EU Enlargement - Stock Taking and conclusions on Turkey -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Gruban stated that there had been no changes in Slovenia's policy on Turkey: it supported opening additional chapters and EU enlargement. Israeli-Palestinian Peace -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Gruban, Slovenia will stress settlement issues and the humanitarian crisis. She added that the GAERC conclusions would include those points plus the need for the negotiating process to continue regardless of elections. She commented that Slovenia supported the idea of a follow-on conference in Moscow in 2009. DRC --- ¶5. (C) Gruban said that Slovenia's position was in line with the draft conclusions, which would condemn human rights abuses, stress the humanitarian situation, and state the need to support MONUC and UN efforts. Although the Defense Ministry had not yet considered contributing forces to MONUC, she doubted that Slovenia would do so. Pakistan -------------- ¶6. (C) Gruban commented that Slovenia's position on Pakistan, which the FMs would discuss at lunch on December 8, were in line with the conclusions (still under discussion at COREPER). Slovenia supported a high-level dialogue between the EU and Pakistan (a Summit would be fine),increased regional cooperation as necessary for regional stability, and stepped-up measures for counter-terrorism. WTO Doha Round -------------- LJUBLJANA 00000536 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Gruban noted that Slovenia supported reaching agreement on Doha. She predicted that the Trade Ministers would meet on the issue later this month. GHAFARI