(C) SRI LANKA: DENMARK SUPPORTING USG DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000396 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INSB:ANTHONY RENZULLI, EUR/NB, S/WCI E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/16/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PREF PTER MASS SOCI EAID EUN CE, DK SUBJECT: (C) SRI LANKA: DENMARK SUPPORTING USG DEMARCHE REF: STATE 92641 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Denmark says it supported the USG position on Sri Lanka (reftel) at the EU's Asia Working Group meeting in Brussels September 16. Afterwards, the European Commission unit that covers Sri Lanka asked the Danes for a copy of reftel points; the Danes told the unit to talk to the Americans. The Danish Embassy in Washington will ask the Department for a copy of a report being readied by S/WCI on war crimes in Sri Lanka. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Lars Bredal, Deputy Head of MFA Asia Department, told Pol-EconCouns September 16 that Denmark agrees with the USG position on Sri Lanka. He had instructed the Danish delegation at that day's meeting of the EU's Asia Working Group to urge working with the USG along the lines in reftel. According to Bredal, Germany agreed but other delegations were not prepared for a detailed discussion. After the meeting, the European Commission unit that covers Sri Lanka asked the Danes for a copy of reftel points, but the Danes told the unit to talk to the Americans. Bredal confided that he thought it likely someone in the EU did have the points already, just not that unit. ¶3. (C) Bredal expected the EU member-state missions in Colombo to get together and report before the next Asia Working Group meeting, responding to the USG ideas for action contained in reftel. He was particularly interested in the suggested visits by UN officials. Denmark, he continued, "insists" that Sri Lanka be on the agenda of the next EU Foreign Ministers meeting October 26-27, and wants the outcome to be more than just a reaching of conclusions. ¶4. (C) A European Commission report due for release September 21 regarding eligibility for GSP Plus trade preferences, "will hit Sri Lanka hard," Bredal said. Denmark's position will be that the Sri Lankan Government must be held accountable. Bredal had heard that S/WCI might be releasing a report on Sri Lankan war crimes the same day; he gave a heads-up that his embassy in Washington would be seeking a copy of that report. ¶5. (U) Bredal mentioned that he had just returned from Sri Lanka where he had visited the north and met with the US Embassy (Paul Carter). FULTON