SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JULY 27-28 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000197 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/ERA, EUR/CE, EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2019 TAGS: PREL EUN PGOV GG SI SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF JULY 27-28 GAERC REF: J.GIAUQUE 7/17 E-MAIL Classified By: ADCM G. Shelton, Reasons 1.4 (b,d) Georgia -------------- ¶1. (C) On June 10, Emboff discussed the U.S. nonpaper (ref) with European Correspondent Jernej Muller. Muller was unable to provide Slovenia's views on whether/how the U.S. might best support the EUMM because Slovenia has not yet developed its position. He noted that Slovenia has focused more on what the EU could do to strengthen the EUMM. Slovenia strongly supported the EUMM staying in Georgia, and thought it could expand to fill in some OSCE roles, notably working on democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He also welcomed the Vice President's trip as demonstrating U.S. commitment to Georgia. Iran -------------- ¶2. (C) Muller stressed that the EU should keep its actions relating to the nuclear issue separate from the political detentions. On the former, Slovenia maintained its wary stance on sanctions. He stated that UN sanctions were optimal, but if there were sanctions outside the UN regime, the EU needed to talk with PRC and Russia. Slovenia supported a gradual approach in responding to the detentions. He noted that Slovenia hoped that a "go slow" policy with visas would be enough, but mentioned that some EU member states did not have a visa regime with Iran. Somalia -------------- ¶3. (C) Muller said that preparatory discussions about different proposals on Somalia were ongoing in Brussels. He took on board our points. FREDEN