EU SUPPORTS EXPANDED PIRACY CONTACT GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000908 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/PPA DHOPKINS, DFORAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019 TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL EUN SUBJECT: EU SUPPORTS EXPANDED PIRACY CONTACT GROUP REF: STATE 66632 Classified By: Pol M-C Christopher Davis for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On June 29, PolOff delivered reftel points supporting an expanded Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to Didier Lenoir, head of operations and exercises in the EU Council Secretariat. Lenoir, who led the EU's delegation to the May Contact Group meeting in New York, believes EU Member States will accept without hesitation the U.S. logic on Contact Group expansion. He noted, however, that the issue of membership for Cyprus is a political one rather than a simple question of Cyprus meeting the objective criteria for membership. Lenoir said Cyprus is contributing several staff officers to the headquarters for the EU counter-piracy operation and has a large fleet affected by Somali piracy. By objective criteria, he argued, Cyprus's Contact Group membership should be obvious. The EU collectively will therefore not be able to accept any argument that limits Cypriot participation in the Contact Group. Lenoir asked what the U.S. was prepared to do to resolve the question of Cypriot membership. PolOff responded per reftel that we are demarching Contact Group capitals to seek membership for Cyprus and other aspirants, based on the criteria established by the January communique. MURRAY .