NEW COE SECGEN: I WILL HELP ON GITMO RESETTLEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L STRASBOURG 000028

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/WE AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/9/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM BO FR KV NO RS
SUBJECT: NEW COE SECGEN: I WILL HELP ON GITMO RESETTLEMENT

CLASSIFIED BY: Vincent Carver, CG, Strasbourg, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
SUMMARY
- - - - - - - -


1. (C) New Council of Europe (COE) Secretary General Thorbjorn
Jagland agreed November 9 to raise the resettlement of detainees
from Guantanamo with officials from all 47 COE member-states,
including his native Norway. Jagland stressed that the COE
needs to reach out to positive forces in Russia, said Belarus
would not have automatic COE membership if it announced a death
penalty moratorium, and observed that a membership application
from Kosovo would cause controversy within the COE. End summary.

HELPING ON GITMO
- - - - - - - - - - - -


2. (C) During a November 9 courtesy call, we asked new COE
SecGen Thorbjorn Jagland to lobby officials from member-states
that have not already accepted Guantanamo detainees for
resettlement to do so. In light of the President's visit to
Oslo next month, we added, it might be helpful if he raised this
issue early with his Norwegian colleagues. Jagland replied
immediately that he would do so, noting that all European
governments that had criticized Guantanamo should help the U.S.
close it.

RUSSIA: COE MONITORING HUMAN RIGHTS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


3. (C) Jagland turned to Russia, noting that the COE has an
enormous and critical job in helping those inside Russia who
seek to improve the rule of law, democracy, and respect for
human rights. He said President Medvedev and those surrounding
him appear committed to modernize Russia. We observed that
Moscow should be judged by its words but rather by its actions.
In this regard, the continued murders of human rights activists
and journalists are troubling. We also noted that some would
argue that Prime Minister Putin, rather than President Medvedev,
is directing Russian policy. Jagland replied that regardless of
which leader has the ultimate word, the Council of Europe has a
key role in Russia - that of monitoring the human rights
situation - something no other international or regional
institution is doing.

BELARUS: WILL HAVE TO DO MUCH MORE FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


4. (C) We asked what the COE will do if Minsk announces a
moratorium on the death penalty. Jagland acknowledged that the
COE would revive Belarus' associate membership. That said, he
stressed that Belarus must take systematic measures to improve
its domestic record on human rights and democracy if it ever
wants full membership.

KOSOVO MEMBERSHIP: RUSSIA AND SERBIA
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


5. (C) We concluded that we would like to see a membership
application from Pristina earlier, rather than later, in
Jagland's five-year mandate. Jagland commented that both Russia
and Serbia would be problematic on this.


6. (U) Jagland was accompanied by his Private Office Director,
Bjorn Berge.

CARVER