Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USEUBRUSSELS1078
2009-08-06 14:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0595 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #1078 2181439 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 061439Z AUG 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS USEU BRUSSELS 001078
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SO EAID KPKO MARR
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
TO SOMALIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 79853
B. USEU BRUSSELS 810
C. USEU BRUSSELS 963
D. USEU BRUSSELS 886
UNCLAS USEU BRUSSELS 001078
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SO EAID KPKO MARR
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
TO SOMALIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 79853
B. USEU BRUSSELS 810
C. USEU BRUSSELS 963
D. USEU BRUSSELS 886
1. (SBU) POLOFF delivered REF A points on August 4 to
Jeremy Lester, head of the European Commission unit for the
Horn of Africa, Eastern Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Lester
agreed that the TFG is Somalia's best chance for stability
and said, "If we were to deliver a demarche in Washington on
this issue, we would say almost exactly the same things." He
noted that the European Commission has remained committed to
provide development and humanitarian support to Somalia --
including South/Central, Somaliland, and Puntland -- since
before the Djibouti Peace Process. At present, the
Commission, like the EU Council Secretariat and Member
States, is considering what more it can contribute along the
six lines of action laid out by EU High Rep Javier Solana in
May (REF B). The Commission, like the Member States, has not
reached a decision on additional measures, but has a number
of instruments at its disposal which could provide
humanitarian assistance, governance support, support to
police forces, and indirect support to military forces, but
not lethal aid such as weapons and ammunition (REF C). He
said the Commission and Council General Secretariat would
probably be called upon in mid-September to present new ideas
to EU Ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee,
after which both the Commission and Council could move
forward towards specifics. All parties agreed to stay in
touch regarding future programs for Somalia, in particular
during this time of EU deliberation.
2. (SBU) During the meeting, Lester and staffer Giorgio
Balzarro confirmed that the Commission would be represented
in the UN-led, U.S.-funded Somalia security sector by
Georges-Marc Andre, the Commission's special envoy for
Somalia (REF D). As the assessment develops, they said, the
Commission may be able to send someone with expertise in a
specific area, if necessary. The Council General Secretariat
has likewise been working to volunteer a participant or
participants, and is expected soon to confirm its
participation.
MURRAY
.
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SO EAID KPKO MARR
SUBJECT: EUROPEAN COMMISSION CONSIDERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
TO SOMALIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 79853
B. USEU BRUSSELS 810
C. USEU BRUSSELS 963
D. USEU BRUSSELS 886
1. (SBU) POLOFF delivered REF A points on August 4 to
Jeremy Lester, head of the European Commission unit for the
Horn of Africa, Eastern Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Lester
agreed that the TFG is Somalia's best chance for stability
and said, "If we were to deliver a demarche in Washington on
this issue, we would say almost exactly the same things." He
noted that the European Commission has remained committed to
provide development and humanitarian support to Somalia --
including South/Central, Somaliland, and Puntland -- since
before the Djibouti Peace Process. At present, the
Commission, like the EU Council Secretariat and Member
States, is considering what more it can contribute along the
six lines of action laid out by EU High Rep Javier Solana in
May (REF B). The Commission, like the Member States, has not
reached a decision on additional measures, but has a number
of instruments at its disposal which could provide
humanitarian assistance, governance support, support to
police forces, and indirect support to military forces, but
not lethal aid such as weapons and ammunition (REF C). He
said the Commission and Council General Secretariat would
probably be called upon in mid-September to present new ideas
to EU Ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee,
after which both the Commission and Council could move
forward towards specifics. All parties agreed to stay in
touch regarding future programs for Somalia, in particular
during this time of EU deliberation.
2. (SBU) During the meeting, Lester and staffer Giorgio
Balzarro confirmed that the Commission would be represented
in the UN-led, U.S.-funded Somalia security sector by
Georges-Marc Andre, the Commission's special envoy for
Somalia (REF D). As the assessment develops, they said, the
Commission may be able to send someone with expertise in a
specific area, if necessary. The Council General Secretariat
has likewise been working to volunteer a participant or
participants, and is expected soon to confirm its
participation.
MURRAY
.