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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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