FINLAND: DEMARCHE COMMENTS ON JULY GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000284

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM PTER EUN ER SO IR GG SW FI
SUBJECT: FINLAND: DEMARCHE COMMENTS ON JULY GAERC

REF: EMAIL J. GIAUCQUE DTD 7/16/2009

Classified By: Acting Pol/Econ Chief Wendy Kahler for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) Summary: PolOff delivered demarche to Finnish MFA
Deputy European Correspondent Markku Lampinen on July 23.

Somalia: The Government of Finland (GoF) would like more
concrete political action on Somalia from the EU. The GoF
supports the Djibouti Peace Process and the Somali
Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The Somali Minister
of Justice visited the GoF July 21-22 to request assistance
in rule-of-law training. Lampinen expects initial discussion
on an EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, and
plans to nominate Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Foreign
Minister's Special Representative for the Horn of Africa .

Iran: The GoF continues to support current EU diplomatic
actions on Iran, but is prepared to support a tougher
response with EU consensus. Lampinen expressed regret that
the detentions had dominated discussion and hoped that
attention would soon return to Iran's nuclear program and the
post-election situation. Separately, Lampinen expects some
discussion over how to handle the Iranian presidential
inauguration. GoF is leaning away from a full boycott.

Georgia: On U.S. participation in the EU Monitoring Mission
(EUMM),Lampinen said that the GoF has no formal position and
generally welcomes third country participation, especially
U.S. participation. Lampinen said that the EUMM one-year
extension is an "A-point" and would be approved without
discussion. GoF favors closer relations for Georgia with the
EU and supports negotiations to move Georgia from a
cooperation agreement to an association agreement.

Other External Affairs: Lampinen said that GoF favors
Icelandic EU membership. Lampinen expects a conclusion on how
to move forward on Kenya's slow down in the reconciliation
process and reform agenda implementation.
End summary.

Somalia
--------------


2. (C) Lampinen said that the GoF would like more concrete
political action from the EU on Somalia instead of just
discussion. Working groups have given recommendations based
on an EU options paper and discussion should move forward.
GoF supports the Djibouti Peace Process and the TFG.
Lampinen noted that the Somali Minister of Justice visited
Finland on July 21 and 22 to meet with parliamentarians and
MFA officials as part of a Nordic tour. The Minister
requested humanitarian support for Somalia, as well as Nordic
assistance with long-term training in rule-of-law for
tribunal judges and police. Somalia's Minister of Justice
disagreed with the EU assessment that the EU operation
against Somali pirates is a success, arguing that the problem
is worsening.


3. (SBU) Lampinen expects initial discussion at this GAERC on
an appointment of an EU Special Representative for the Horn
of Africa. He said that the GoF will suggest Pekka Haavisto,
who has been the Finnish Foreign Minister's Special
Representative for the Horn of Africa and has experience in
Sudan and Darfur. Haavisto has said that a broader basis for
reconciliation is necessary and more opposition groups will
need to be included. Lampinen noted that preparing for
Somali long term reconstruction, even starting it now in
stable areas, would be important.

Iran
--------------

4. (C) The GoF continues to support the EU 3 3 and the
twin-track policy, emphasizing EU unity and cooperation with
the U.S. Lampinen noted that the G8 declaration was an
important message to Iran. He added that the GoF expects the
EU to continue working for the release of the French hostage.
Lampinen expressed regret that the detentions had dominated
discussions and hoped that attention would soon return to
Iran's nuclear program and the post-election situation.
Lampinen said that the GoF is prepared to support tougher
action on the post-election situation should the EU find
consensus.


5. (C) Separately, Lampinen expects some discussion over how
to handle the Iranian presidential inauguration. GoF is
leaning away from a full boycott. Logistically, downgrading
Finnish attendance, which is one alternative to a full
boycott, would be difficult as the Finnish Embassy in Iran
has an Ambassador but not a deputy. Lampinen remarked that
the EU should continue to pay attention to the worsening
human rights situation in Iran. He reminded PolOff that the
MFA has summoned the Iranian Ambassador three times: over a
stoning, over the post-election situation and over the
British detentions.

Georgia
--------------

6. (C) On U.S. participation in the EUMM, Lampinen said that
the GoF has no formal position and generally welcomes third
country participation, especially U.S. participation.
Although the EUMM Operations Commander told Finland that EUMM
reinforcement is not currently required, the GoF would
support reinforcement in the future as needed. Lampinen said
that the EUMM one-year extension is an "A-point" and would be
approved without discussion. Lampinen said that the EU
should not become a mediator between the Georgia government
and its opposition groups, especially since the EUMM is the
only remaining international presence.


7. (C) In possible further discussions, Lampinen noted that
GoF supports the following points: (1) A continued
international presence in Georgia remains important (2) The
EUMM should be strong enough and the mandate large enough to
be effective (3) The aim has to be international access to
Abkhazia and South Ossetia (4) The Geneva process should be
continued with all parties. GoF wants Georgia to carry out
promised reforms and find internal consensus with their
citizens themselves. Notably, he said that the GoF is in
favor of closer relations between Georgia and the EU. The
GoF favors starting negotiations in September to move Georgia
from a cooperation agreement to an association agreement.
As a final point, he said that GoF would like to see the EU
send a message on the anniversary of the war, stating that
Georgia should neither provoke nor be provoked.

Other General Affairs
--------------


8. (C) Lampinen said that in general, the GoF supports the
Swedish presidency program as the program represents Finnish
priorities very well. He noted in particular that the Baltic
Sea Strategy is very important to Finland. The Ministers
will discuss Iceland's EU application and the GoF is very
much in favor of Icelandic membership. Lampinen expects a
conclusion on how to move forward on Kenya's slow down in the
reconciliation process and reform agenda implementation.

BUTLER