Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST34
2009-01-12 14:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION
how-toVZCZCXRO4732 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHUP #0034 0121422 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 121422Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3784 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0023 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0029 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0060 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0126
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000034
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA ALLISON MONZ, EUR/ERA JEFF GIAUQUE
AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION
AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000034
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA ALLISON MONZ, EUR/ERA JEFF GIAUQUE
AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION
AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) PolOff met with MFA EU External Relations Section Head
Andras Dekany on January 9 to discuss reftel. Dekany first
stated that there was no information from their EU
representative in Brussels that the EU-Syrian Association
Agreement would be on the January 26-27 GAERC agenda. He
commented that the EU report of Sarkozy's January 6 visit to
Syria had no reference to discussions of the Association
Agreement. That said, he noted that the Czechs surely would
defer to the French if they pushed to have the subject
included in the discussions. While Dekany said that Hungary
supports the EU-U.S. strategic goal to separate Syria from
Iran, he personally commented that it "would be useful to
provide incentives to Syria, channeling EU funds to them if
conditions, and timing, are appropriate." As a side note,
Dekany mentioned that the MFA's EU Department Chief, Zsolt
Pataki, covered the Syrian/Lebanon issue as part of a broader
middle-east discussion with Israel's Ambassador to Hungary in
December.
2. (C) Comment. While Dekany offered to provide a more
detailed Hungarian position on the issue, if one develops
prior to the January GAERC, Post anticipates that Hungary
will, as Dekany noted, "listen to the big guys" and follow
the EU consensus on the issue. End comment.
Foley
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA ALLISON MONZ, EUR/ERA JEFF GIAUQUE
AND EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2019
TAGS: PREL EU SY HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE EU-SYRIA ASSOCIATION
AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: P/E Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) PolOff met with MFA EU External Relations Section Head
Andras Dekany on January 9 to discuss reftel. Dekany first
stated that there was no information from their EU
representative in Brussels that the EU-Syrian Association
Agreement would be on the January 26-27 GAERC agenda. He
commented that the EU report of Sarkozy's January 6 visit to
Syria had no reference to discussions of the Association
Agreement. That said, he noted that the Czechs surely would
defer to the French if they pushed to have the subject
included in the discussions. While Dekany said that Hungary
supports the EU-U.S. strategic goal to separate Syria from
Iran, he personally commented that it "would be useful to
provide incentives to Syria, channeling EU funds to them if
conditions, and timing, are appropriate." As a side note,
Dekany mentioned that the MFA's EU Department Chief, Zsolt
Pataki, covered the Syrian/Lebanon issue as part of a broader
middle-east discussion with Israel's Ambassador to Hungary in
December.
2. (C) Comment. While Dekany offered to provide a more
detailed Hungarian position on the issue, if one develops
prior to the January GAERC, Post anticipates that Hungary
will, as Dekany noted, "listen to the big guys" and follow
the EU consensus on the issue. End comment.
Foley