FRENCH FRUSTRATION WITH SLOVENIAN POSITION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L ZAGREB 000841 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2018 TAGS: PREL NATO EUC SI HR SUBJECT: FRENCH FRUSTRATION WITH SLOVENIAN POSITION ON BORDER ISSUE WITH CROATIA REF: A. ZAGREB 934 ¶B. LJUBLJANA 537 Classified By: Ambassador Robert A. Bradtke, Reasons 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) In a December 10 conversation with the Ambassador, French Ambassador St. Paul bluntly criticized the Slovenian response to the French proposal on a way forward to lift the Slovenian block on Croatia's EU accession negotiations (reftels),calling it "incredible" and "unreasonable." St. Paul said that the French proposal would have allowed the accession process to proceed without prejudice to either side's position on the bilateral border issue between Croatia and Slovenia. However, the Slovenes were insisting that the issue be "prejudiced in their favor." This, St. Paul said, was completely unacceptable to the French and other EU members. St. Paul was scathing in his criticism of the new Slovene government. He described Slovene Prime Minister Pahor as "completely inexperienced" and "not understanding what he is doing." Foreign Minister Zbogar, he said, is "even worse." ¶2. (C) St. Paul said that France would continue its efforts to find a solution prior to the EU-Croatia Intergovernmental Council meeting on December 19 where up to ten chapters in Croatia's accession negotiations could be opened if the Slovenian hold is lifted. However, he was not optimistic France would succeed. St. Paul went on to express concern that the Slovene government performance's raised serious doubts about whether it would be able to manage ratification of Croatia's NATO membership. ¶3. (C) COMMENT: The French Ambassador's sharp criticism of the Slovenes is a departure from his usually more cautious remarks about intra-EU matters. In part, it undoubtedly reflects French frustration that a small country refuses to follow the French lead on this issue. However, we take it as serious sign that Slovenia could well block the opening and closing of key chapters in the EU accession process, thereby throwing into even further doubt the timeline for Croatia's completion of EU accession negotiations by the end of the ¶2009. BRADTKE