HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE JUNE GAERC AGENDA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000423 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE LAMORE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2014 TAGS: PREL EU HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN COMMENTS ON THE JUNE GAERC AGENDA REF: JUNE 4 EMAIL 1.(C) MFA EU External Relations and Crisis Situations Section Chief Andras Dekany discussed ref email with PolOff on June 12, and provided the following comments concerning the agenda items: 2.(C) Western Balkans: -- Serbia: We welcome the report of Serge Brammertz concerning the positive steps Serbia is making. We support putting into force the Interim Agreement - even if we have to resort to some compromises for a solution - as this should not be the last opportunity to ask Serbia to fulfill commitments. In the Foreign Minister's recent talks in Belgrade with the Serb leadership, they said they are looking forward to some type of success in order to demonstrate that the government coalition is moving the country in the right direction. The Serbs told the FM that the "coalition is fragile and needs concrete demonstration" of positive results the EU relationship would bring to the country. -- Bosnia: We appreciate vice-president Biden's and EU representative Solana's visit, as internal politics are a "cause of concern" for Hungary. We believe that the My 14 Republic Srpska resolution is "unacceptable," and new conditions such as constitutional reform cannot be linked to closing the OHR. While Bosnia is lagging in fulfilling requirements for integration, Hungary is reaching out on a bilateral basis to assist them. 3.(C) Israel/Palestine: The Foreign Minister plans to take the floor and express support for President Obama's initiatives outlined in his Cairo speech, welcoming the restated commitment to the two-state solution. We expect Israel to listen to the expectations concerning settlements, provision of humanitarian aid, and assistance to help the Palestinian economy. We support the Quartet principles and the international community should work to strengthen the Palestinian National Authority's leadership. We also support the regional dimension, urging Arab countries - moving from criticism to more active engagement with Israel. As for upgrading EU/Israel relations, this is still a "sensitive issue." The EU/Israel Association will meet on the margins of the GAERC. We must look at ways to upgrade the relationship, but not directly linking upgrade with progress. 4.(C) Cuba: We've proposed that the FM take the floor to underscore that human rights and political freedom are a constant concern in Cuba, and that the EU needs to articulate its position in a straightforward manner. The EU- initiated political dialogue has seen little progress by Cuba over the past year. It is important to restate the common position, and we should look at the results of the dialogue next year to decide as to whether we should continue the dialogue process. 5.(C) Afghanistan/Pakistan: We welcome the decision to work out a joint EU/AFPAK strategy. It should pay close attention to the results of the upcoming elections, using a regional approach to strengthen the civil dimension of a reconstruction. We welcome the decree adopted by the Afghan President to restrict bureaucratic interference in the election process. Hungary has offered civilian election observers to Pakistan. We need to send a straightforward message at the June 17 EU/Pakistan summit that we are ready to provide cooperation, but the EU should only make proposals consistent with "real requirements - strengthening government institutions, economic and commercial cooperation, and development policy." 6.(C) Moldova: We have a common EU responsibility to move Moldova on the path towards EU integration. The EU has the potential to influence internal changes, and we welcome the draft mandate and urge that negotiations start as soon as possible - delay only raises concerns about the future orientation of the country. We believe that Moldova should cease their visa requirement for Romanian citizens, but at the same time we believe the EU should send a positive message to start a dialogue with the EU with the aim to eliminate the visa requirement for Moldavian citizens traveling to EU countries. 7.(C) Georgia: The internal political crisis needs to be solved as soon as possible, without violence and respecting international norms. We support the Geneva process that the EU needs to have a resolute, clear position on Russia's violations of the August 2008 agreements. Russia's behavior is disappointing with respect to the OSCE and UN missions, and the EU should remain "an actor on the spot" in Georgia. Pulling out the EU mission would have a clear, adverse effect, and we would propose to extend the mandate through September 2010. 8.(C) Burma: We condemn the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi. The trial is only a pretext to extend her confinement. Our engagement should include increased outreach to the region, in particular we need to further engage ASEAN on the issues. The EU sanction regime "has not been too successful." It needs to be reformed and refined to be more effective. 9.(C) Lebanon: The defeat of Hezbollah in the recent elections should be a serious message to Syria, Iran and Hamas, but expressing his own views, Dekany said "perhaps we are too optimistic." Levine