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. -------------- Kosovo - EU Expected to Leave "Recognition" to Member States -------------- ¶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. -------------- Africa - Kenya and Chad -------------- ¶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. -------------- 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 PRAGUE 00000103 002 OF 002 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