FINLAND: JUNE GAERC DISCUSSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 000221 SIPDIS EUR/ERA FOR JEFFREY GIAQUE, EUR/NB FOR MIGUEL RODRIGUES E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2019 TAGS: EUN FI MARR PGOV PREL SUBJECT: FINLAND: JUNE GAERC DISCUSSION REF: EMAIL DATED JUNE 5 2009 JEFFREY GIAQUE Classified By: Political Chief Scott Brandon for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) On June 12 PolOff met with the MFA Deputy European Correspondent for European Common Foreign and Security Policy Markku Lampinen to discuss the June GAERC agenda. Lampinen said that the Middle East discussion would dominate in light of the Lebanese elections and since the last discussion was in April. He noted that the Western Balkans, Burma, and Cuba will figure in further discussions. Conclusions are expected on Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan (AFPAK),Moldova, and Somalia. He expects a common declaration on Guantanamo to be accepted. Lampinen said that Georgia was dropped from the agenda and that Sudan was included under other business at the request of the Netherlands to point out that it should be thoroughly discussed during the Swedish presidency. Lampinen indicated that members were asked not to discuss conclusions reached in advance of the meeting in reference to Moldova and Somalia and he offered no further details on either discussion. ¶2. (C) MIDDLE EAST: EU Member States will send a strong message to the Israeli government urging commitment to the two-state solution and previous Israeli government agreements. The EU position has not changed and the Peace Process will dominate the discussion. Lampinen commented that the Gaza situation remains "catastrophic" and is becoming environmental. He remarked that the Israeli government only allows a small part of necessary aid to get through (i.e. twenty per cent of trucks) resulting in a constant lack of materials and necessities. Lampinen said that the continued settlements in spite of U.S. and EU protests present an obstacle and that the East Jerusalem area is critical. The Finnish Foreign Minister may raise the possibility of the EU imposing restrictions on export products from Israeli settlements, described by Lampinen as an effort to get the Israeli government's attention. Lampinen was unsure whether this option was legally available under the EU-Israeli association agreement. The Finnish Government (GoF) currently does not favor deepening EU-Israel relations until they have a greater sense of the new government's commitment to the two-state solution. He said that the foreign ministers will discuss the possibility of expanding the Quartet's authority given to Tony Blair beyond state building and the economy. GoF supports strengthening and expanding Blair's mandate. On Syria/Lebanon, Lampinen expects movement on the Syrian Association Agreement, including an official signing at the September GAERC. ¶3. (C) CUBA: Lampinen described the ministers' discussion on Cuba as the first annual review based on the restarted EU political dialogue. The GoF supports continuing dialogue and development cooperation as well as the EU line on peaceful self-determination in the reform process. The GoF believes that human rights should be the focus of EU policy, including contact with the peaceful opposition, liberation of all political prisoners, more internet connections, and a free media. ¶4. (C) AFPAK: Lampinen said that Afghanistan-Pakistan is not a discussion point for the GAERC although conclusions would be given. The European Council - Foreign Minister dinner on Thursday night is expected to focus on preparations for the comprehensive AFPAK plan, which should be finished before the October European Council meeting. One topic will be a possible expansion of the EU Special Representative to Afghanistan's responsibilities to include Pakistan vis a vis the AFPAK plan. The GoF will emphasize EU unity with regard to AFPAK, their special representatives and Transatlantic positions. Lampinen said that while Special Envoy Holbrooke's meeting with the Ambassadors in Brussels was welcome, FM Stubb likely will raise the question of a meeting with Holbrooke at the minister level. ¶5. (C) WESTERN BALKANS: Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Serge Brammertz will meet with ministers and discuss his recent report. According to Lampinen, in the report, Brammertz failed to characterize the Croatian response to investigations as "full cooperation" so the Netherlands opposes going forward with the stabilization and association agreement. The GoF believes that Croatia should cooperate and provide the documents that the ICTY has requested. The HELSINKI 00000221 002 OF 002 GoF and almost all member states believe that in the case of Serbia the EU-Serbia temporary agreement should be effective immediately as a clear positive signal. Regarding visa facilitation, the EU recently issued visa road maps for each Western Balkan state, and the GoF expects discussions and subsequent political conclusions will support visa facilitation for the Western Balkans. ¶6. (C) BURMA: Lampinen said that the agenda was set for Burma in anticipation of a verdict for Aung San Suu Kyi last Friday (June 5) but Burma has now postponed the verdict beyond the GAERC meeting. Consequently, he believes the discussion in the GAERC will be brief. The GoF would like the discussion to cover all possible ways to influence the Burmese government and to support democratization so that elections next year go forward as free as possible. Lampinen noted that "regional players" (China, India and Russia) and ASEAN countries had watered down EU-U.S. sanction policies, noting, however, that the Chinese attitude appears to be changing. ¶7. (C) IRAQ: On Iraq conclusions, Lampinen said that the EU wants the negotiations underway on the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) finished soon. He said that the EU welcomes the Iraqi announcement of parliamentary and Kurdish regional elections. The GoF supports the UN assistance mission, would like to see further regional cooperation from neighboring countries and would urge Iraq not to implement capital punishment. GoF support will continue for a high level EU-Iraq political dialogue and for stabilization and conciliation efforts (such as the meeting held in Helsinki with former President Ahtisaari's assistance). ¶8. (C) GUANTANAMO: Lampinen said that the EU will propose a common declaration on Guantanamo detainees that MSs will accept without discussion. Lampinen said that the GoF position on Guantanamo remains the same: The GoF prefers a common EU position, but it should be up to each MS to accept detainees if asked to receive them. GoF would like to see Guantanamo closed as soon as possible and notes that the U.S. retains primary responsibility for the repatriation or resettlement of detainees. Lampinen said that the GoF also believes that dialogue on these questions and the fight against terrorism should continue. BUTLER