SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF MAY 17-18 JUMBO GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LJUBLJANA 000144

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/CE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2019
TAGS: PREL EUN GG RS SO IR SI
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF MAY 17-18 JUMBO GAERC

REF: J.GIAQUE 5/8/09 E-MAIL

Classified By: CDA Brad Freden, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

Summary
--------------


1. (C) On May 16, Emboff discussed the U.S. nonpaper (ref)
with new European Correspondent Jernej Muller. Muller said
the EU Foreign Ministers would prepare for the EU-Russia
Summit, where the perception was that the Russians were
trying to "steal" the agenda and focus the summit on their
European security proposal and energy cooperation. Slovenia
believed the EU should send a message to Georgia that it was
prepared to "step closer." The Defense and Foreign Ministers
planned to discuss EU operations in Somalia and Bosnia;
Slovenia was considering contributing one or two people to
Operation Atalanta, and supported the drawdown of EUFOR
Althea operation. Muller expected Council Conclusions on Sri
Lanka, which had recently been added to the agenda at the
UK's request, Somalia, and ESDP. End Summary.

EU - Russia
--------------


2. (C) Muller stated that Slovenia expected the EU-Russia
summit to be a regular summit, although Slovenia was worried
because Russia had proposed that European security, as well
as energy cooperation be the primary items on the agenda. He
said that Slovenia and the EU were not enthusiastic about
that because neither Slovenia nor the EU had had a
comprehensive discussion on energy cooperation. The
preliminary thinking was that the EU would expect Russia to
abide by the energy charter and existing regulations,
although upgrading the existing systems was a possibility.
The view was that because Russia was unhappy with the current
system, it did not implement it, but instead made a new
proposal that would better suit it. Slovenia also agreed
with our points on European security issues.

Moldova
--------------


3. (C) Muller said that Romania had proposed Moldova as an
agenda item, but he did not expect a lot of discussion since
the FMs had covered it at the April GAERC. Although Romania
would like to have conclusions on Moldova, several member
states, including Slovenia, have argued for waiting to give
the political process more time.

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


4. (C) Muller emphasized that Slovenia supported having
missions from the OSCE, the UN, and the EU in Georgia. He
noted that the EUMM was especially crucial given that the
future of the OSCE mission was in doubt. He added that French
FM Kouchner had sent a letter to the Presidency suggesting
implementing the past decisions of the European Council on
Georgia. Slovenia's view was that with the new Eastern
Partnership, and with the current situation, something
concrete should come from the EU, i.e., movement on a free
trade agreement and visa liberalization. Now was the time
when the EU should send the message to Georgia that it was
prepared to step closer.

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


5. (C) Muller noted that Slovenia would be in listening mode
and leave the floor to member states more engaged in Iran.
He added, however, that Slovenia fell into the camp of member
states that were not really enthusiastic about designating
additional individuals and entities for sanctions.

EUNAVFOR Somalia/Operation Atalanta
--------------


6. (C) Muller explained that Operation Atalanta and Somalia
were of increasing importance to Slovenia because quite a few
ships coming and going from Slovenia's port of Koper navigate
through those waters. He mentioned that a ship had arrived
in Koper on May 15 that had been attacked by pirates, but had
managed to escape. Slovenia was now thinking about
contributing one or two people to Operation Atalanta.

LJUBLJANA 00000144 002 OF 002



Bosnia: EUFOR ALTHEA Operation
--------------


7. (C) Muller said that the EU was still working out its
position on EUFOR ALTHEA Operation because it had not
resolved the issue of how the international community would
respond were a security threat to arise after EUFOR's
departure. While Slovenia shared our concerns about
political instability there, it still saw Bosnia as pretty
much secure. Slovenia was thus in favor of a EU drawdown,
also citing the increasing number of bilateral withdrawals of
personnel.
FREDEN