CZECH COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE FEBRUARY EU GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000103

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/ERA JGIAUQUE, EUR/NCE FOR ATRATENSEK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2013
TAGS: EUN BM EZ XG SR CD PGOV PREL UNMIK
SUBJECT: CZECH COMMENTS IN ADVANCE OF THE FEBRUARY EU GAERC

REF: A. STATE 15648

B. PRAGUE 92

Classified By: POLEC Counselor Michael Dodman for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Emboff met with Veronika Musilova, Deputy
Director of the Czech MFA Department of Common Foreign and
Security Policy prior to the January 28-29 EU General Affairs
and External Relations Council (GAERC). Of note were her
comments on Kosovo, Kenya, Chad and Burma. She indicated
that Iran, which was initially slated for discussion, has
been removed from the agenda. End Summary.

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Kosovo - EU Expected to Leave "Recognition" to Member States
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2. (C) According to Musilova, most of the EU Foreign
Ministers' time will be spent on Kosovo at the GAERC, even to
the exclusion of Iran. The EU member states anticipate that
Kosovo will make a declaration on Sunday, February 17 and
that that same evening the EU Political Directors will refine
the draft conclusions on Kosovo prior to the Monday GAERC
discussion. Currently in the draft conclusions, the EU will
"take note" of the situation in Kosovo, stress the EU role in
the Balkans via its ESDP mission, reference UN resolution
1244 and the "uniqueness" of this situation, call for the
protection of the rights of minorities in Kosovo, and
emphasize the importance of maintaining regional stability,
while leaving the decision of recognition of Kosovo's
declaration to individual EU member states. Musilova noted
that the Cypriots abstained earlier this week from approving
the ESDP mission; she does not anticipate any EU country will
try to block these GAERC conclusions as currently drafted.


3. (C) With respect to the timing of individual member state
recognition of Kosovo, Musilova indicated that it is hard to
judge how, and when, each state will act. She anticipates
that much of this will be hashed out by the Foreign Ministers
on Monday given that 20 or so member states plan to recognize
Kosovo soon. She noted though, that even the issue of what
constitutes "recognition" (whether an announcement of an
intention to formally recognize Kosovo counts) is currently a
topic of debate. As the Czech Prime Minister has stated (Ref
B),the Czechs are not likely to be in the immediate first
wave.


4. (C) On the related topic of signing a Stabilization and
Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia, Musilova noted that
while things were initially on track to sign a political
agreement with Serbia ("SAA light"),given the change in
Serbian political sentiment the EU does not anticipate that
they will be able to sign an agreement at this time. She
also highlighted that the EU has reached out several times to
reiterate their interest in signing this agreement with
Serbia. They also hope to sign an SAA, once certain
conditions (i.e. cooperation on bringing Mladic before the
ICTY) are met by Serbia.

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Africa - Kenya and Chad
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5. (C) If there is additional time available to the Ministers
after they discuss Kosovo, Musilova expects that Kenya and
Chad will be discussed, with the topic of the Middle East an
outside possibility. She noted that the ESDP mission to Chad
is being carried out as we speak, and the EU's commitment to
be a positive actor in Chad will be highlighted in the GAERC
conclusions. The conclusions will also stress the need for
political dialogue involving President Deby and call for
calm. On Kenya, the EU plans to discuss Kofi Annan's
recommendations, once his anticipated report is made public.
Musilova anticipates the Foreign Ministers may adopt some of
his recommended measures.

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Burma - Unlikely to be Substantive Discussion
--------------

6. (SBU) To the Czechs' disappointment, it appears that Burma
will be discussed in only a fleeting manner on Monday. There
will be conclusions adopted on Burma, which are likely to
"take note" of the regime's announcement of a referendum in
May 2008 and call for the regime to allow UN Special Adviser
Gambari to return. The Czechs indicated that they, and
others within the EU, share our reservations about a
referendum on a constitution drafted by the Burmese regime
without incorporating the views of opposition parties or all
ethnic groups. Musilova referenced the mid-March COASI
troika as the next key opportunity for a fulsome EU
discussion of Burma (since the March 11 GAERC is likely to be

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consumed with Iran) followed by the April 28 GAERC. While
not a happy circumstance in the eyes of the Czechs, they
acknowledge the significance of the other topics consuming
the agenda.
Graber