LUXEMBOURG: ALBRIGHT-JUNCKER COURTESY CALL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUXEMBOURG 000302 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/GC AND S/SRAP E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2019 TAGS: KDRG PGOV PREL MARR LU SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG: ALBRIGHT-JUNCKER COURTESY CALL Classified By: Acting POL/ECON Chief Adam Center, reasons 1.4 (b)(d) ¶1. (C) Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker for a brief courtesy call on the margins of the October 15-17 NATO Strategic Concept Conference held in Luxembourg. Juncker committed to maintaining his government's current level of financial and military support in Afghanistan, but went a step further, leaving the door open to perhaps lobby Parliament for an increase in Luxembourg's contributions despite a bitter partisan battle on the proposed budget. On Guantanamo, Juncker reiterated his party's firm opposition to accept detainees, but backed Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn's commitment to provide financial, logistical and career re-training assistance to detainees accepted by a third country (reported septel). Juncker insisted that Russia maintain an important role in shaping a framework on global security policy vis-a-vis current NATO and EU initiatives in the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan. Without Russia's buy-in, he added, consensus on effective sanctions on Iran would never materialize. At the close of meeting, Juncker leveled a parting shot at former Prime Minister Tony Blair, and, making no effort to hide his contempt, stated that Blair "did not deserve" consideration for the post of European Union President. Juncker's name has been floated as a compromise candidate; however, broad-based support within the EU for the Prime Minister seems unlikely and his once high hopes for the post appear to be waning. ¶2. (C) COMMENT The Prime Minister's comments on Afghanistan come in advance of Defense Minister Jean-Marie Halsdorf's planned visit to Washington, December 12-16, to participate in 65th Anniversary commemorations of the Battle of the Bulge and to meet with the Secretary of Defense and other senior USG officials. This visit would mark the GOL's second ministerial-level visit to the Pentagon in two years. Juncker's offer to increase contributions to the Afghan effort and Halsdorf's December visit reinforce the strong US-Luxembourg bilateral relationship and should be acknowledged during official meetings. ¶3. (C) Luxembourg's opposition - or inability - to accept Guantanamo detainees is not new. Juncker's statements, though, may signal a breakthrough. Post's primary interlocutor on the issue has been Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn - a political rival to Juncker. Juncker's reticence on the matter has frustrated our ability to accept assurances of assistance - of a financial nature - from the Foreign Minister. Special Representative Dan Fried met with Asselborn in Luxembourg on September 17 to determine the GOL's anticipated level of support, which included the possibility of using Findel Airport as a landing, refueling and transfer site for detainees. The meeting was followed by a formal written request from the Department outlining possible areas of cooperation (reported septel). As noted above, in the courtesy call with former Secretary Albright, Juncker agreed, in principle, with Asselborn's approach, but noted that there would be no disclosure to the public on the issue of landing rights at Findel Airport for detainees in-transit. END COMMENT. ¶4. (U) Post point of contact is (acting) POL/ECON Chief Adam Center, CenterAM@state.sgov.gov. BIEDLINGMAIER