Estonian Response to September GAERC Points

UNCLAS TALLINN 000267 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA ALESSANDRO NARDI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN EN SUBJECT: Estonian Response to September GAERC Points REF: SEPTEMBER 5 NARDI EMAIL ¶1. Pol Chief delivered reftel points to Kristina Meius, Director of the MFA's European Division, on September 10. Meius provided the following responses: ¶2. Iran: Iran was discussed the previous week at the Gymnich, and there is little new. The GOE believes diplomatic pressure must remain on Iran to counter the deteriorating human rights situation, and supports starting discussions on EU sanctions if Iran does not provide a satisfactory answer to the IAEA on its nuclear program. ¶3. South Caucasus: Meius said the Presidency would table a plan to move forward with "draft negotiation directives to Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on the principles of inclusion, differentiation, and conditionality." Meius clarified that this includes association agreements, free trade agreements, and visa liberalization. While the EU will provide equal attention to all three, the pace of negotiations will depend on each country. ¶4. Sri Lanka: Meius stated that this topic has been postponed until the October GAERC as the Swedish Presidency wanted to give the situation more time to develop. However, European Political Directors will discuss Sri Lanka at their next meeting as well. ¶5. Brazilian Visas: Estonia tabled the topic, supported by Latvia, Cyprus and Malta, of Brazilian visas. Meius explained that citizens of these four countries need visas to visit Brazil, while citizens of all other EU member states do not. After five years' of talks on a short-stay visa waiver, Meius said the GOE has grown frustrated. Estonia and the other three are pushing for internal EU consensus so the topic could be resolved during the October 6 EU-Brazil Summit. She added that Brazilian citizens do not need visas to visit any EU states. ¶6. Visas for Czechs: Meius also said the GAERC would discuss Canada's recent decision to reinstate a requirement that Czech citizens receive a visa before traveling to Canada. She explained that Canada had problems with high numbers of Czech Roma entering the country and claiming asylum, and so now demands Czech citizens receive visas. However, Estonia supports the principle of equal treatment for all EU members, and is in favor of urging Canada to lift this requirement. Pol Chief asked if the GOE supports that principle also regarding the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, as some countries - including Estonia - had recently joined while others, such as Poland, do not meet the criteria. Meius opined that if VWP was raised in a similar context, Estonia would likely keep a low profile. DECKER