JANUARY GAERC - EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS GAZA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 000135 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2019 TAGS: PREL EUN ETTC KTFN IR SR BO XF ZI UP RS SUBJECT: JANUARY GAERC - EU FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS GAZA, GUANTANAMO AND MORE REF: A. BRUSSELS 101 ¶B. BRUSSELS 120 Classified By: USEU POL M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Meeting in Brussels January 26, EU Foreign Ministers focused their energies primarily on recent political and economic developments affecting the EU. The General Affairs Council discussed the incoming Czech presidency's priorities and energy security, while the External Affairs Council discussed the Middle East, Guantanamo Bay, EU relations with Russia and Ukraine, the EU blacklist of terrorist organizations, and Zimbabwe. Despite press reports suggesting otherwise, there were no surprises on Guantanamo Bay as the ministers did not plan to issue a Conclusion going into the meeting. In the press briefing following the GAERC, Czech DPM Vondra suggested that a "very substantial debate" had taken place in the General Affairs Council, with the body supporting presidency plans to tackle Europe's energy dependency through diversification and other efforts. With EU High Representative Solana en route to the Middle East, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner stressed the EU's desire for humanitarian action and a durable cease fire, complaining about a lack of access to Gaza. While welcoming the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and expressing hope that the EU would adopt a "common platform" with regard to detainee resettlement, Czech FM Schwarzenberg sought to limit expectations by cautioning that this had only been a "first discussion." On the margins, the EU troika with the Serbian foreign minister explored ways to satisfy the Netherlands that Belgrade is seriously seeking to comply with ICTY, and the troika with Belarus addressed Russian pressure on Minsk to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia. End Summary. Internal Affairs -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In a session characterized by Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, who chaired it, as a "very substantial debate," the General Affairs Council reportedly focused its attention on two issues - the priorities of the incoming Czech presidency and energy security. The Czech presidency introduced to the Council its work program which stresses what it calls "the three Es" - economy, energy, and "Europe in the World." With regard to energy security, Vondra said that ministers took stock of the gas crisis and attributed the resumption of supplies to the "determined attitude of the presidency and the commission in bringing the parties together." Vondra proclaimed, "We succeeded in maintaining the unity of the 27." He said that there had been broad support in the Council for presidency plans to focus on four main areas - completing the energy market, dealing with infrastructure and interconnections, supply mechanisms, and diversification - with a view to revisiting these issues at the spring European Council meeting. Vondra said that diversification was "another key part of our efforts," with the recent crisis having taught the EU that high dependence must be reduced and that the EU must "immediately launch a substantial discussion on the means of reducing its energy dependency." External Affairs -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The External Affairs Council, chaired by Foreign Minister Schwarzenberg, discussed - and issued formal Conclusions related to - the Middle East, Guantanamo Bay, EU relations with Russia and Ukraine, the EU blacklist of terrorist organizations, and Zimbabwe. Of these, the Council reportedly spent the most time discussing developments in Gaza, focusing primarily on the humanitarian situation and ways to support a durable cease fire. The EU decided to focus its support and assistance in the following areas: immediate humanitarian relief for the population of Gaza, prevention of illicit arms smuggling, a sustained reopening of crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and the resumption of the peace process. The EU will take forward this agenda in close cooperation with its Quartet partners and regional actors, in line with its wider approach to the region including its state-building efforts. To this end, the EU is developing a work plan. The Conclusions also welcome the commitment of the United States to contribute to stopping arms smuggling to Gaza, adding the EU is prepared to cooperate in such efforts. In the press briefing, FM Schwarzenberg expressed the EU's "full support for Egyptian BRUSSELS 00000135 002 OF 003 initiatives" to advance inter-Palestinian reconciliation, as well as support for the idea of an international donors conference in Egypt. While also stating her support of Egyptian efforts ("we are fully backing efforts at reconciliation undertaken by Egypt"),Ferrero-Waldner focused her comments on getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza: "We need access, access, access!" ¶4. (C/NF) While we understand that Belgium and other Member States (including Ireland and Slovenia) wanted to add the Conclusions a call for an international investigation into alleged Israeli violations of humanitarian law during the Gaza fighting, the Dutch, Germans, and Italians reportedly resisted this effort on the grounds that now was not the time to press the Israelis since access for humanitarian assistance was vital. ¶5. (SBU) Despite press reports suggesting otherwise, there were no surprises on Guantanamo Bay as there was no expectation for a Council Conclusion going into the meeting. Ministers welcomed the decision by President Obama to temporarily halt legal proceedings and to close the detention facility within a year. While stressing that the primary responsibility for closing the detention facility rested with the U.S., ministers discussed whether there were ways in which they could assist the U.S. given their shared interest in counter-terrorism, human rights, and the rule of law. Characterizing these exchanges as a "first discussion," FM Schwarzenberg stressed the need to evaluate the legal aspects associated with any detainee resettlement before "we can express a clearer view." While noting that the EU had yet to receive a request for assistance from the U.S., Schwarzenberg expressed hope that the EU would adopt a "common platform for a European response." That said, Schwarzenberg cautioned that this was something that "cannot be solved in weeks or months." (See also REF B.) ¶6. (U) The EU's relations with Ukraine and Russia were also taken up by the External Affairs Council, with the Council discussing plans for future meetings with both countries. The goal of these meetings will be "negotiations on new agreements." Schwarzenberg stressed the need to promote good governance, rule of law, and stability, emphasizing that these principles "would be stressed by the EU in the context of those negotiations." To this, Ferrero-Waldner added that when EU countries speak with one voice, "they are strong enough." She also stressed that energy security had to be a "highest priority" for the EU. ¶7. (C) The Council adopted an updated list of terrorist organizations that no longer includes the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI). This decision was taken as an "A item," meaning the decision was reached without discussion. DPM Vondra noted in the press conference that at least one country appealed the ruling (we later learned that France appealed the decision),adding that the Council could "reinclude the organization in the list if new evidence can be established, but today we had to comply with the decision of the court." (See also REF A.) ¶8. (U) On Zimbabwe, the Council adopted conclusions condemning the Mugabe regime for its failure to address the economic and social needs of its people, and expressed distress at the escalation of the humanitarian crisis there. The Council called on the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and states in the region to work for a durable and equitable political solution, one involving a truly representative democratic government. The Council also decided to extend the EU's restrictive measures against Zimbabwe for another year, adding further names to the list of persons and entities subject to those measures. Troikas -------------- ¶9. (C/NF) Two troika meetings were held on the fringes of the GAERC, an EU-Serbia troika on January 26 and the EU-Belarus troika on January 27. In an effort to address continued Dutch resistance to finding Serbia to be in full compliance with its obligations to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY),Serbian FM Jeremic invited Dutch FM Verhagen to Belgrade, an offer Verhagen reportedly accepted. Well-placed Council Secretariat sources suggest that Jeremic sought - and Commissioner for Enlargement Rehn is considering - the dispatch of an EU fact-finding mission to Serbia, possibly as early as February ¶12. This mission will reportedly investigate whether Serbia BRUSSELS 00000135 003 OF 003 is "cooperating enough" to find a way around Dutch opposition to the unfreezing of the EU's Stabilization and Association Agreement with Serbia. At the concluding press conference, Jeremic said the Serbian government recognized the necessity of full cooperation with ICTY, "certainly this year." For his part, Rehn said there was hope for good news this year regarding visa liberalization, the importance of which Jeremic had mentioned in his remarks. ¶10. (C/NF) On the margins of the Belarus-EU Troika Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels on Jan 27, Belarusian FM Martynov told Helga Schmid privately that Minsk was under tremendous pressure from Moscow to recognize the independence of the two breakaway regions of Georgia. Russia was threatening to cut off gas deliveries if recognition did not happen soon. Schmid reportedly counseled Martynov to make this problem clear to EU member states in bilateral consultations. The EU's Council Secretariat is chagrined by the likely timing of Minsk's decision. The Belarusian Parliament vote on the matter is expected around the first week of April - right around the time of the EU policy debate on sanctions and Eastern Partnership participation. A Belarusian recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia at that time could create a pretext for some EU member states to undo continued suspension of sanctions against the regime and undermine member state support for Belarusian participation in the Eastern Partnership initiative. MURRAY .