CZECH EU PRESIDENCY: COMMENTS ON UPCOMING JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 000324

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

EUR/ERA WLUCAS, EUR/CE FOR ATRATENSEK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/11/2014
TAGS: EUN EZ EG PGOV PREL SU LE CU BM
SUBJECT: CZECH EU PRESIDENCY: COMMENTS ON UPCOMING JUNE
GAERC

Classified By: POLEC Counselor Charles O. Blaha for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (SBU) Summary: On June 11 emboff spoke with Magdalena
Janesova of the Czech MFA Department of Common Foreign and
Security Policy in advance of the June 15-16 EU General
Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). Of note were
her comments on: the Middle East, Lebanon, the Western
Balkans, Georgia, Cuba, Sudan, and Burma. End Summary.

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Middle East - Will Reference Two-State Solution, but Not
Quartet Principles
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2. (C) Janesova noted that there are three conclusions
planned for the upcoming GAERC on Middle East issues - one on
the Middle East Peace Process, one on Lebanon, and one on
Iraq. On the Middle East Peace Process, the EU plans to
reference the two-state solution, specifically because PM
Netanyahu has yet to do so. When it comes to the Arab Peace
Initiative, the EU would welcome ideas as to how the
international community might "breathe life" into this idea.
On Palestinian reconciliation, the Czechs still hope for a
technical government without Hamas. Janesova also flagged
for us that there will be no explicit reference in the GAERC
conclusion to the Quartet Principles, although the substance
of the principles are there. While the Czechs are not
pleased with this, Janesova noted that France, Portugal,
Ireland, and the Swedes have blocked the inclusion of an
explicit reference.

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Lebanon and Syria
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3. (SBU) The EU sees engagement with Syria in a similar light
to the U.S. and as one of the few means of leverage
available. They do not plan to move on the EU-Syria
Association Agreement at this time, since Lebanese elections
have just occurred and the next month could give a better
perspective of how Syria acts as the new Lebanese government
takes shape. Thus, the Czechs anticipate that the
Association Agreement will be discussed at the next GAERC,
with the possibility that the EU will move toward signing in
the early fall. While EU policy on Hizballah is slightly
different than the U.S. (the EU has not put them on the
terrorist list),the EU is pleased with the election results
in Lebanon.

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Western Balkans
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4. (SBU) The Western Balkans will be covered by the EU
Foreign Ministers during the luncheon discussion and will
focus primarily on Bosnia, Serbia, and Slovenia/Croatia. The
EU plans to announce its policy commitment to further develop
visa liberalization for the countries in this region.
Janesova noted that High Representative Valentine Inzko
visited Prague earlier this week to brief Czech FM Kohout and
Janesova characterized his comments as "very positive."
Janesova also commented that there will be a discussion of
Serbia and that the Czechs are hopeful that there may be some
movement from the Dutch on the issue of ICTY compliance that
would perhaps allow the EU to move forward on its interim
trade agreement with Serbia. On the Slovenia/Croatia border
dispute, Enlargement Commissioner Rehn will address the
Ministers. The Czechs are not very optimistic about progress
in this area and note U.S. pressure on both parties would be
welcome.

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Georgia - Extension of EUMM in the Works
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5. (SBU) The Czechs share our views on Georgia and note that
the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) will be discussed at the
GAERC and the paperwork is in train to extend the mandate of
the EUMM for another year.

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Cuba
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6. (C) At the GAERC there will be an evaluation of the EU's
political dialogue with Cuba over the last year. The GAERC
conclusions on this will again reference all three elements
of the European Council decision from June 2008 (release of
all political prisoners, access by international humanitarian
organizations to Cuban prisons, and a call for the Cuban
government to ratify and implement covenants on human rights
to which Cuba has acceded).


PRAGUE 00000324 002 OF 002


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Sudan - EU Election Mission in Future?
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7. (SBU) While Janesova did not have any comments on the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, she did note that the EU is
contemplating/evaluating whether it might be willing and able
to send an election observer mission later this year in
advance of elections. She noted that the major consideration
at the moment is the security environment on the ground.

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Burma Statement
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8. (SBU) Given the current trial of Aung San Suu Kyi, the EU
plans to make a statement about this. It will be relatively
brief, unless there is a verdict in the trial. If there is a
verdict, and it is negative, Janesova opined that this could
be a very long statement and could take some effort to reach
consensus since some countries, such as Britain, will want
very strong language backed up by measures against the
government.

Thompson-Jones