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