Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PARIS586
2009-04-24 16:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

FRENCH PREVIEW OF GAERC: CROATIA, BURMA, MIDDLE

Tags:  PREL EUN KPAL KWBG HR BM IS GZ WE CE UP MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8634
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHFR #0586/01 1141607
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241607Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6126
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHCH/AMEMBASSY CHISINAU PRIORITY 0517
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0353
RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK PRIORITY
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 6358
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON PRIORITY 0090
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0151
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0286
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0375
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000586 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PREL EUN KPAL KWBG HR BM IS GZ WE CE UP MD
IR, BO
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF GAERC: CROATIA, BURMA, MIDDLE
EAST, SRI LANKA, AND MORE

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Greg D'Elia, Reasons 1.4 b, d
.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PARIS 000586

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2019
TAGS: PREL EUN KPAL KWBG HR BM IS GZ WE CE UP MD
IR, BO
SUBJECT: FRENCH PREVIEW OF GAERC: CROATIA, BURMA, MIDDLE
EAST, SRI LANKA, AND MORE

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Greg D'Elia, Reasons 1.4 b, d
.


1. (C) SUMMARY: On April 24, French MFA Deputy Chief for EU
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Mathieu Carmona
previewed the April General Affairs and External Relations
Council (GAERC) meeting's discussions on Croatia, Burma, the
Middle East, Sri Lanka, follow-up from the U.S.-EU Summit
including Iran, as well as Ukraine, Moldova, and Durban II.
Carmona acknowledged a lack of substance in the GAERC agenda
despite its length. On Croatia, foreign ministers will
discuss the European Commission's proposals to negotiate an
end to Slovenia's blockage of the remaining 12 chapters.
Burma will yield no surprises, as participants will renew the
EU's Common Position. Carmona said the EU is missing an
opportunity to influence the Government of Israel's policy
review on the peace process by producing no conclusions. He
could not predict details of the discussion on Sri Lanka, as
ministers will have to take into account possible
developments over the next few days. Informal follow-up of
the U.S.-EU Summit in Prague will include a conclusion
calling on Iran to choose engagement over isolation. The
upcoming Eastern Partnership Initiative (EPI) and Southern
Corridor meetings will also be discussed. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Croatia: Carmona said movement on unblocking
Croatia's entrance into the EU is as important for France as
for the United States. He stressed that much progress
towards decoupling the border dispute with Slovenia from
Croatian EU accession was the result of French proposals
taken on by the European Commission. He said the foreign
ministers await responses in early May from Slovenia and
Croatia regarding an agenda for negotiation and a system of
arbitrage. Carmona expressed hope that Slovenia will lift its
blockage at that point, rather than require full resolution

of the border issue, which would make further progress
possible during the Czech presidency. Carmona acknowledged a
second motivation for Croatian accession: it is a
requirement for adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, as concessions
the EU agreed to with Ireland following the failed Irish
referendum were codified in Croatia's accession package.


3. (C) Burma: The foreign ministers will issue conclusions
renewing the EU's Common Position and sanctions, given
Burma's lack of progress. He said the 2010 elections' best
outcome would be to give the opposition more voice, which the
EU will promote through dialogue with ASEAN. Carmona added
that the Commission is looking for new tools to deal with
Burma, as the international community's current policy has
borne no fruit.


4. (C) Middle East: Participants will discuss recent
developments, including statements by President Obama and
Israeli PM Netanyahu, as well as the April 22 meeting of the
Political and Security Committee with Special Envoy George
Mitchell. Carmona said no conclusions would be published due
to Czech opposition, which France views as a lost opportunity
to highlight EU concerns prior to PM Netanyahu's trip to
Washington, which Carmona said was the most important piece
of the GOI's ongoing policy review of the peace process. He
defined those concerns as the need to reopen Gaza border
crossings for the long term and halt the construction of
Israeli settlements. Carmona said France will encourage the
Commission to find concrete ways to reinforce with Israel its
opposition to colonization, as the settlement issue could
torpedo the entire peace process. The GOF sees potential for
progress this year, especially as the Arab peace initiative
will not be on the table forever.


5. (C) Sri Lanka: Carmona highlighted recent French activity
at the UN focused on the government's obligation to protect
civilians. He added that the exact nature of the discussion
would depend on developments over the next few days,
including G8 discussions.


6. (C) At lunch, the foreign ministers are expected to review
informally the U.S.-EU Summit in Prague, including its
outcomes on Afghanistan and Pakistan and Iran. State
Secretary for European Affairs Bruno Le Maire, who will
represent France at the GAERC while FM Kouchner accompanies

PARIS 00000586 002 OF 002


President Sarkozy on a state visit to Spain, will speak on
Iran. A formal conclusion requested by Italy will support
President Obama's opening to Iran, and call on the Iranians
to choose cooperation over isolation. The statement will
also add that time is limited, and Carmona said the UNGA next
fall will likely take stock of progress and discuss
consequences if necessary.


7. (C) Ukraine: The Germans, and to a lesser extent the
Poles, insisted that Ukraine be added to the agenda. Carmona
said France's viewpoint was that establishing political
consensus among Ukrainian leadership in order to ensure the
disbursement of the second tranche of the IMF's Stand-by
Arrangement was the key to addressing Ukraine's economic
crisis. Carmona said France agrees with Germany that the EU
must encourage Ukraine to take these steps, particularly in
light of pressures from Russia.


8. (C) Moldova: At Romania's request, Moldova is on the
agenda. France's goals are to de-escalate tensions between
Moldova and Romania, and for the EU to help promote political
dialogue within Moldova. Carmona criticized Moldova's
decision to require visas for Romanians, which discriminates
against a single member state of the EU, violating the Visa
Facilitation Agreement.


9. (C) Durban II: Carmona said Sweden requested discussion
of Durban II, which France and Sweden agree was a qualified
success, particularly as the declaration was adopted as
negotiated. Carmona stressed that the participation "until
the end" of most EU states allowed them to insist on European
red lines, including no anti-Israeli or anti-defamation of
religion language. He said EU participation had allowed the
insertion of language supporting the freedom of expression
and calls for an "end to impunity" (citing specifically
Sudanese President Omar Bashir),albeit at the cost of a call
for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation,
dropped by EU states during the negotiations. Carmona said
France views the EU's main failure regarding Durban II as the
lack of full participation by all 27 member-states, which
Carmona blamed on the Czechs "throwing in the towel" but also
shows differences within the EU on Middle East issues.


10. (C) Upcoming Meetings: Finally, the Czech Presidency
will give updates on preparations for upcoming Eastern
Partnership Initiative and Southern Corridor meetings.
Acknowledging that Lukashenka was a dictator who plays off
the West and Russia, he said shutting out Belarus would hand
the country to Russia. Citing Ukraine's development and
political independence from Russia as an example of the
benefits of EU engagement, Carmona said France supported the
invitation, while hoping Lukashenka will not attend.

PEKALA