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