EU'S HELGA SCHMID AND S/P SLAUGHTER DISCUSS RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000356 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2019 TAGS: PREL EUN RS GG SUBJECT: EU'S HELGA SCHMID AND S/P SLAUGHTER DISCUSS RUSSIA AT INITIAL MEETING Classified By: USEU POL M-C Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (b. and d.) ¶1. (C) Summary: On the margin of the U.S.-EU Ministerial Troika, S/P Anne-Marie Slaughter met March 6 with EU Council Secretariat Policy Unit Director Helga Schmid. Schmid asked that the prospect of improved U.S.-Russia relations not lead the U.S. to neglect the unfinished Geneva talks on Georgia. Schmid additionally described the review of the European Security Strategy as the kind of product her office produces. Helga Schmid was accompanied by Tania von Uslar-Gleichen, and Dr. Slaughter by USEU Pol M-C. S/P Slaughter's March 6 meeting with Council Secretariat DG Robert Cooper is reported septel. End Summary ¶2. (SBU) In this their first meeting, Helga Schmid described to Dr. Slaughter her function as a double-hatted one of heading policy planning, as well as covering Russia and Eastern Europe (complementing Robert Cooper) for the Council Secretariat. European Security Strategy Review -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Helga Schmid pointed to the recent review of the 2003 European Security Strategy (ESS) as the kind of product her Policy Unit handles. Approved by all 27 member states in December 2008, the review was to have been a full-fledged rewrite of the ESS, had then-EU President Sarkozy had his way, she said. Instead, explained Schmid, Angela Merkel talked Sarkozy into doing an appended review of the ESS. Schmid referred to Dr. Slaughter's article in Foreign Affairs, that contemporary threats are more complex and inter-connected. Thus, said Schmid, the ESS review's three main conclusions are that 1) the EU needs to have better capabilities, especially in the realm of civilian crisis managment, which, she added, would be enhanced were the Lisbon Treaty to be adopted; 2) there are more challenges in the EU's own neighborhood (a reference to Georgia); and 3) effective multilateralism was the preferred course of action. ¶4. (SBU) Helga Schmid said that interlocutors in India and Australia, which she recently visited, continue to see the EU only as a trading block. She said that the EU and its member states, in fact, contribute eight billion Euros in non-military aid to Afghanistan for the years 2002-2010, for example. Dr. Slaughter acknowledged the EU's capabilities and experience in civilian crisis management. Russia: Better, But Don't Forget Georgia -------------- ¶5. (C) Helga Schmid said she had detected a "different atmosphere" in Moscow, where she traveled a few weeks ago, as a result of the new U.S. administration's stated intention to improve relations where possible. Schmid cautioned, however, that Russian leaders might conclude that the U.S. is not as interested in the situation in Georgia as before. She asked that the Secretary, in her meeting later that day (March 6) with FM Lavrov, underscore the importance of the Geneva process regarding Georgia. Schmid specifically lamented the fact that the Head of Mission of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia has no Russian intermediary on the ground. Consequently, when things go array, the HoM calls Schmid, and she calls Russian Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov to try to fix them. Schmid admitted that Russia keeps her inordinately busy and tied down, adding, "You can't just pick up the phone and call the Russians." ¶6. (C) S/P Slaughter and Helga Schmid discussed the idea of a tri-lateral policy planning meeting with the U.S., the EU and Russia, Schmid noting that Russian FM Lavrov always says, "Let's work together." Lavrov, she added, would attend the Brussels Forum later in March. How Best To Meet? -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Schmid explained that she had policy planning consultations, outside the EU, with the U.S., China, Egypt, Israel, Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey, and soon Qatar. She planned to visit Washington in late April and hoped to meet with S/P Slaughter then. Schmid's meetings with EU member state counterparts, collectively, take place at least twice a year, the next time being in late May in Brussels. She suggested that S/P Slaughter could be invited to such a semi-annual gathering, and Dr. Slaughter suggested a meeting in the context of the Like-Minded Group. Dr. Slaughter BRUSSELS 00000356 002 OF 002 noted, however, that preparation for the Summit of the Americas (April 17-20) was currently taking up a lot of her time. ¶8. (U) S/P Slaughter has cleared on this message. MURRAY .