ACTION REQUEST: RESPONSE TO INVITATION SENT TO

UNCLAS STATE 120097

SENSITIVE

C O R R E C T E D C P O Y (SENSITIVE CAPTION ADDED)

SIPDIS
FOR USEU BRUSSELS AND STOCKHOLM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL SW ZL EUN
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: RESPONSE TO INVITATION SENT TO
SECRETARY CLINTON TO ATTEND WESTERN BALKANS CONFRENCE
DECEMBER 9 IN BRUSSELS

REF: SES 200919311

1. (U) PLEASE DELIVER THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE FROM ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS PHILIP H. GORDON
TO SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER CARL BILDT AND EU ENLARGEMENT
COMMISSIONER OLLI REHN. THE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT PLAN TO
RELEASE THE TEXT OF THE MESSAGE BUT HAS NO OBJECTION IF THE
EUROPEAN UNION WISHES TO DO SO. THERE WILL BE NO SIGNED
ORIGINALS.


2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:

Dear Mr. Minister/Dear Commissioner Rehn:

Thank you for your invitation to Secretary Clinton to attend
the December 9 conference in Brussels entitled, &Overcoming
the Economic Crisis: From Regional Cooperation to EU
Membership.8 I commend you for your efforts in working with
Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg to find a solution
to the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I am also very
grateful for our collaboration in resolving the dispute
between Slovenia and Croatia on Croatia,s EU accession.

The United States supports EU enlargement in the Western
Balkans as the best and only means to promote peace,
prosperity, and stability in that region. Your conference
will be yet another contribution to this important venture.
Although Secretary Clinton will be unable to join you in
Brussels, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European
Affairs Stuart Jones, who has been at the forefront of these
efforts, will represent the Secretary at the conference.

Thank you for including the United States in this important
conference. As we work together to promote stability and
prosperity in the region, these kinds of engagements are
critical to our success.

Sincerely yours,


Philip H. Gordon
End Text.
CLINTON