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