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.

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Guantanamo
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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.

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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.

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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.


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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.

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Looking Ahead
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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


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