EU - RUSSIA TROIKA: CONSTRUCTIVE, BUT NO CHANGE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000069 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/NCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2018 TAGS: PREL PBTS EUN ECON CVIS RS SI SUBJECT: EU - RUSSIA TROIKA: CONSTRUCTIVE, BUT NO CHANGE ON KOSOVO Classified By: CDA Maryruth Coleman for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: All parties involved described the EU - Russia Troika, held in Brdo, Slovenia on February 13, as a "constructive" dialogue. However, as expected, discussions on Kosovo were merely a reiteration of the standard positions, neither side gave any ground. While the lunch discussion was dominated by the Kosovo controversy, the morning meeting focused on EU - Russian relations, including discussion on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, steps toward establishing a Free Trade Agreement, revision of the visa regime, and cooperation on research and education. Talks on external relations touched upon possible Russian participation in the EU's peacekeeping mission to Chad, the Middle East peace process and a possible follow-on conference in Moscow, and Moldova and Transnistria. END SUMMARY. No Movement on Kosovo -------------- ¶2. (C) Slovenia's EU Correspondent Aljaz Arih told Emboff that the discussions on Kosovo went as well as could be expected, noting that although there was no agreement between the parties, the discussion was calm. The French Ambassador to Slovenia, Chantal de Bourmont, told CDA that the dialogue was generally polite on both sides, but reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made clear that although "we won't go to war over Kosovo, we will watch very closely what happens, we will remember what happens, and sometime in the future there will be a cost." ¶3. (U) At the press conference, Lavrov responded to a question regarding possible energy consequences for the EU because of its stance on Kovovo by noting that although there are fundamental differences in EU and Russian perspectives on the issue, it would be "wild" to assert that Russia might take any actions against the EU. Asked by a Serbian correspondent why Russia has not used its power to insist on further negotiations, Lavrov responded that "it would be possible to renew negotiations if no one was holding Kosovo's hand and telling them that independence is inevitable - the negotiations had a real chance, but Kosovo was advised from abroad that negotiations would not lead anywhere. If others on other continents would follow international law and principles, negotiations could still succeed." Lavrov �00A;concluded by saying that although Russia is not optimistic about the February 14 United Nations Security Council discussion on Kosovo, he believes it should be used as an opportunity to "review the treaties that govern these border issues." ¶4. (U) EU officials were at pains to avoid the issue of Kosovo. When asked how long it would take for EU member states to recognize Kosovo if it declares independence on Sunday, Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel replied, "if Kosovo does something, the EU will discuss it. Recognition is the responsibility of individual countries, but the EU will discuss and you will hear more next week." He went on to say that, "I am ignorant about this question." High Representative Javier Solana made no mention of Kosovo during the press conference. External Relations -------------- ¶5. (C) Solana said that this was a very good, constructive meeting and that they discussed the importance of the EU mission to Chad. Lavrov confirmed Russian support for the Chad mission, but noted that Russia is waiting for the EU to signal the specific mission requirements they believe Russia can fulfill. Slovenian MFA Director of the Division for the EU, Matej Marn, explained that the EU needed to work on a few definitions before Russia would participate. ¶6. (C) Solana and Lavrov both noted that EU - Russian cooperation on the Middle East is critical to finding a solution. Marn later reported that Russia had agreed in principal to a Moscow conference on the Middle East, but is hesitant because of the lack of real progress on the ground. Marn related that both Solana and Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner stressed the value of a conference and suggested staying in close touch in the near future. They noted that if momentum builds, a conference could be very useful. Lavrov agreed and confirmed that Russia was ready to organize a conference at any time - it just needed signals from its partners. LJUBLJANA 00000069 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C) Although Solana stated at the press conference that the EU and Russia are cooperating in Moldova in a constructive manner and the process is moving forward, Marn gave a more negative read-out. He said that the EU had pushed on the need to find a settlement, but acknowledged that the EU does not foresee real progress. EU - Russia Relations -------------- ¶8. (C) Ferrero-Waldner stated at that the press conference that progress had been made on the EU - Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and that she expects future breakthroughs. Marn, however, told us that while Russia is ready to start negotiations the EU first had to take some actions which it would preferably do in March so that negotiations could start before the summit. She noted the new agreement will include a Free Trade Agreement, but that Russia will first need to be accepted into the WTO, something she hopes will happen soon. Regarding visa facilitation, Ferrero-Waldner noted that although an agreement was reached long ago, it is now necessary to work on good implementation of the accord. She stated that the EU is looking forward to next summit in Siberia in June. ¶9. (U) Lavrov told the media that he is satisfied with the roadmaps discussed on EU - Russian relations and agreements, noting the importance of several dialogues on energy and transportation. He reported that Russia is satisfied that the EU will improve its negotiating mandate on the strategic partnership. He also noted that the EU supports Russia in its WTO accession and he is satisfied that the EU will not create artificial barriers to Russia's speedy entrance into the organization. Lavrov mentioned that there was discussion of extending Schengen standards for easier Russian transit of the Schengen zone, with the future goal of visa-free travel in the EU. A roadmap to a common strategic secure space was also addressed, but Lavrov stated that they will need to expand on those discussions. COLEMAN