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