Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUDAPEST800
2009-11-06 12:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARY NOT READY TO LIFT BELARUS SANCTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO1142 RR RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHUP #0800 3101210 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 061210Z NOV 09 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4633 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0204 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000800
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/UMB JOE WANG, EUR/ERA RACHEL WOLFE, AND
EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BO HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY NOT READY TO LIFT BELARUS SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 112644
Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000800
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/UMB JOE WANG, EUR/ERA RACHEL WOLFE, AND
EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BO HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY NOT READY TO LIFT BELARUS SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 112644
Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) PolOff discussed reftel November 4 with the MFA's EU
Foreign Policy Department Section Chief Karoly Sardi. Sardi
stated that Hungary holds positions similar to those outlined
in the talking points, commenting that Hungary "is not ready
to lift sanctions now." He expressed the GoH view that they
need to remain in place for at least one more year.
Continuing, Sardi underscored that, in order to lift
sanctions, a sustainable reform process is required to ensure
there is no back-peddling, stressing that democratization and
human rights reforms, along with a free media are currently
not evident in Belarus.
2. (C) Referencing a Belarus sanctions discussion during the
upcoming GAERC, Sardi said that he does not anticipate a
strong debate during the November session, viewing it as a
straight-forward issue. That said, he noted that there are
some EU member States who have a less-than-favorable view of
sanctions in general, preferring to offer "carrots rather
than sticks." Sardi also raised Belarus' debt situation with
Russia as a key element affecting efforts to move reforms
forward.
LEVINE
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/UMB JOE WANG, EUR/ERA RACHEL WOLFE, AND
EUR/CE JAMIE MOORE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2015
TAGS: PREL PHUM EUN BO HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY NOT READY TO LIFT BELARUS SANCTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 112644
Classified By: Political Officer Jon Martinson, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) PolOff discussed reftel November 4 with the MFA's EU
Foreign Policy Department Section Chief Karoly Sardi. Sardi
stated that Hungary holds positions similar to those outlined
in the talking points, commenting that Hungary "is not ready
to lift sanctions now." He expressed the GoH view that they
need to remain in place for at least one more year.
Continuing, Sardi underscored that, in order to lift
sanctions, a sustainable reform process is required to ensure
there is no back-peddling, stressing that democratization and
human rights reforms, along with a free media are currently
not evident in Belarus.
2. (C) Referencing a Belarus sanctions discussion during the
upcoming GAERC, Sardi said that he does not anticipate a
strong debate during the November session, viewing it as a
straight-forward issue. That said, he noted that there are
some EU member States who have a less-than-favorable view of
sanctions in general, preferring to offer "carrots rather
than sticks." Sardi also raised Belarus' debt situation with
Russia as a key element affecting efforts to move reforms
forward.
LEVINE