HUNGARIAN RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER GAERC AND SRI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000668 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE AND SCA/INSS ANTHONY RENSULLI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2014 TAGS: EU PREL HU SUBJECT: HUNGARIAN RESPONSE TO SEPTEMBER GAERC AND SRI LANKA TALKING POINTS REF: A. A. NARDI E-MAIL & GAERC POINTS 09/09/09 ¶B. B. BUDAPEST 638 Classified By: PolOff Ryan Leong, reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. MFA EU External Relations and Crisis Situations Section Chief Andras Dekany discussed ref email topics with PolOff on September 11 and provided the following comments concerning the agenda items: ¶2. (C) Eastern Partnership and Caucasus: -- Hungary supports the EU Presidency's orientation paper on the Eastern Partnership, with strong support for development within the Caucasus on an individual basis and driven by the ability to perform. Hungary supports the beginning of discussions about association and welcomes steps with Georgia on visa facilitation. The future Hungarian EU Presidency will make the Eastern Partnership initiatives a priority during its tenure. Regarding relations between Turkey and Armenia, Hungary welcomes the peace and stability that would come with a new agreement. The MFA encourages Turkish and Armenian leaders to continue open discussions in order to settle frozen conflicts. Regarding Nagorno-Karabakh, Hungary believes there must be mutual respect of all interested parties, and that recognized ethnic and national groups should have appropriate forms of self-government. This may be achieved through continued discussions among the relevant heads of state in the region. Lastly, Hungary was encouraged by the declaration and principles of the recent G8 Summit in L'Aquila with regard to the Caucasus. ¶3. (C) Sri Lanka and Freedom of Movement --Hungary is prepared to discuss Sri Lanka and the U.S. freedom of movement points as a dinner topic during the GAERC. Hungary plans to clarify what they would like to see in Sri Lanka, which includes: ¶A. Preparation of IDPs for release. ¶B. Improving the situation and living conditions in the camps. ¶C. Access to IDPs by NGOs and human rights organizations. ¶D. Stopping human rights abuses in the camps. Hungary also believes that there must be a national reconciliation, and that it must be inclusive of all parties. Furthermore, the EU should facilitate humanitarian aid to the camps, start development aid to the northern areas, and pressure Sri Lanka to cooperate with the above points or be threatened with exclusion from the GSP trade scheme. LEVINE