SECRETARY CLINTON'S JULY 30 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 088675 E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/31/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV SUBJECT: SECRETARY CLINTON'S JULY 30 MEETING WITH LUXEMBOURGER FM ASSELBORN CLASSIFIED BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY PHILIP GORDON. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (U) July 30; 10:15 a.m.; Washington, DC. ¶2. (SBU) Participants: U.S. The Secretary EUR Acting DAS William Lucas PA Spokesman Ian Kelly Executive Assistant Courtney Beale S Staff Joseph MacManus EUR/WE Director Maureen Cormack (Notetaker) Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn Ambassador Jean-Paul Senniger Ms. Janine Finck, Deputy Director of Political Affairs Mr. Nicolas Mackel, DCM Washington Mr. Marc Hubsch, US Desk, Department for Economic Relations Mr. Eric Muller, US Desk, Department of Political Affairs Mr. Thomas Reisen, Advisor to the Minister 3.(C) Summary. The Secretary met on July 30 with Luxembourger Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn. The two discussed cooperation on resettlement of Guantanamo detainees, cooperation on terrorist screening (HSPD6), Luxembourg's ongoing commitment to NATO operations in Afghanistan, including Luxembourg's possible assistance to the planned Afghan Human Rights Commission, current challenges in the Balkans, and engagement with Iran. End Summary. -------------- Guantanamo -------------- ¶4. (C) FM Asselborn pointed to several ongoing areas of cooperation with the U.S. and indicated a willingness to help with the resettlement of Guantanamo detainees, although in light of Luxembourg's small size, the GoL is considering sponsoring and housing a detainee in conjunction with a partnering state. -------------- Afghanistan -------------- ¶5. (C) The Secretary welcomed Luxembourg's four million Euro commitment to Afghanistan and emphasized that the answer to the current situation there lies in training the Afghan army and police forces. She recognized the $20 million in development funds that Luxembourg has already contributed, and informed the Minister of current plans for an Afghan Human Rights Commission, where she felt that Luxembourg's expertise would be helpful. -------------- Terrorist Screening -------------- ¶6. (C) The Secretary requested the Minister's assistance in moving the HSPD6 terrorist screening agreement through to resolution, acknowledging concerns about what Luxembourg could legally provide. She also expressed thanks for the recent agreement on dual taxation. -------------- -- The Balkans: Possible U.S.-EU Meeting on Bosnia -------------- -- ¶7. (C) The Secretary opened a broad discussion of challenges in the Balkans by saying that EU accession is the best carrot that can be provided. She told Asselborn of her July 29 meeting with the Slovenians, in which she pushed them to work with Croatia on their boundary dispute. On Bosnia, she noted the importance of keeping the country together, and stated her concern that withdrawing the High Representative before solid foundations are in place could be detrimental. FM Asselborn agreed with her assessment, but acknowledged that in Europe, "enlargement is a difficult word for our publics to pronounce." Disputes like that between Slovenia and Croatia are not helpful in pushing the cause of enlargement. He noted that the BeNeLux grouping was founded by overcoming differences, and that the key to such resolution in the Balkans remains Serbia. Asselborn plans to visit Belgrade in a few months, and has been in touch with Greek PM Papandreau about working together on Serbia. Asselborn feels that Serbia will wait for the ICJ response, only after which real discussion will be possible. He indicated that if it is "negative in our sense, they could find a way out; if positive for them, there will be a bigger problem." ¶8. (C) Asselborn noted that with its central location and 8 to 10 million people, Serbia is the most significant of the former Yugoslav Republics. If a way could be found to move the Kosovo issue to another track, he feels that young people in Serbia could move on, as they do not have the same emotional attachment to Kosovo. Asselborn noted that the Netherlands is blocking Serbia's Stabilization and Association Agreement over Mladic. The Secretary said that the U.S. is sending an FBI team to Serbia to help it find Mladic and has told the Dutch, who are very interested in the results of the trip. ¶9. (C) Asselborn described Bosnia-Herzegovina as three communities rather than one country, and urged a U.S.-EU meeting with the Bosnian parties if nothing happens by the end of the year. The Secretary strongly supported the idea of a U.S.-EU sponsored meeting, telling Asselborn that he should inform Carl Bildt that the U.S. supported the idea and would participate. Asselborn concluded by noting the need to pressure Greece and Macedonia to resolve their differences. The Secretary agreed, adding that Macedonia needs to accept a new name. Asselborn raised the Albanian elections, where Luxembourg has observers and is increasingly concerned by the two month delay in counting election results. -------------- Middle East Concerns -------------- ¶10. (C) Alluding to the internal EU debate about attending the upcoming Iranian presidential inauguration, Asselborn stated the need for a common European approach and for a strong P5 plus Germany consensus on Iran sanctions. He urged moving carefully so as not to lose Chinese and Russian support; the Secretary countered that we are working hard with both countries. She noted that Russia had concluded that Iran is more of a potential threat than they had previously understood, due to border problems and Iranian outreach to Caucasus populations. Russia was currently more undecided due to how seriously they take such problems. If Iran decided to pursue nuclear weapons, China will be focused on a possible arms race in the Persian Gulf, the primary area where Beijing is seeing to build better relations. The Secretary noted that much work remains, and that neither the P5 nor Germany had heard a response from Iran, understandable due to recent internal disruptions. This is why the President has said we will take stock of the situation at the G20 in Pittsburgh. China and Russia are keys to the process, and France has been surprisingly strong. The U.S. will appreciate Luxembourg's continued cooperation as we try to find a way forward. She closed by saying that we are trying to convince Israel to work with us, but they will do so only if convinced that U.S. efforts will succeed. Responding to Asselborn's concerns about Israeli-Syrian relations, she noted the return of our Ambassador to Damascus. -------------- Looking Ahead -------------- ¶11. (C) Asselborn noted Luxembourg's aspirations for a UN Security Council seat in either 2012, 2013 or 2014, competing with Australia and Finland. The country is focused on the upcoming 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, and the nation continues to recognize U.S. contributions during World War II. The Minister wished the Secretary "good management of relations with Russia," and closed by inviting the Secretary to Luxembourg. The Secretary indicated that she would be happy to consider his request. CLINTON NNNN