Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USEUBRUSSELS414
2009-03-23 18:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
USEU Brussels
Cable title:
EU/CHINA: FERRERO-WALDNER WILLING TO RAISE GAO
VZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBS #0414 0821802 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 231802Z MAR 09 FM USEU BRUSSELS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000414
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA; EAP/CM; DRL/FO SUSAN O'SULLIVAN; DRL/IRF
EMILIE KAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH EUN
SUBJECT: EU/CHINA: FERRERO-WALDNER WILLING TO RAISE GAO
ZHISHENG DURING UPCOMING VISIT
REF: 3/16/09 O'SULLIVAN/KAO/BOWLES E-MAIL
Classified By: USEU Pol M-C Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L USEU BRUSSELS 000414
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA; EAP/CM; DRL/FO SUSAN O'SULLIVAN; DRL/IRF
EMILIE KAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH EUN
SUBJECT: EU/CHINA: FERRERO-WALDNER WILLING TO RAISE GAO
ZHISHENG DURING UPCOMING VISIT
REF: 3/16/09 O'SULLIVAN/KAO/BOWLES E-MAIL
Classified By: USEU Pol M-C Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 3.
2. (C) European Commissioner for External Relations Benita
Ferrero-Waldner plans to visit China during the week of March
30, and may be willing to raise the case of political
prisoner Gao Zhisheng if asked by the United States to do so,
according to Michalis Rokas, Deputy Director for China at the
European Commission's DG RELEX. During a meeting on March
23, Rokas told Poloff that Ferrero-Waldner would meet Chinese
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and hoped to also see Premier
Wen Jiabao during her upcoming visit. Rokas said that
Ferrero-Waldner had been torn about whether to raise the case
during her meetings, but ultimately decided that the U.S.
should bring up the case since Gao's family had escaped to
America. In response to Poloff's question on Gao's status,
Rokas said that there was a "total blackout" on news
regarding Gao's status or whereabouts, and that EU Member
State delegations had no information.
3. (C) Action request: Rokas said he believed that
Ferrero-Waldner would reconsider her decision and raise Gao's
case directly with either Foreign Minister Yang or with
Premier Wen, if the U.S. requested that she do so. Post is
prepared to deliver such a request if so instructed. End
action request.
MURRAY
.
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/ERA; EAP/CM; DRL/FO SUSAN O'SULLIVAN; DRL/IRF
EMILIE KAO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/22/2019
TAGS: PREL PHUM CH EUN
SUBJECT: EU/CHINA: FERRERO-WALDNER WILLING TO RAISE GAO
ZHISHENG DURING UPCOMING VISIT
REF: 3/16/09 O'SULLIVAN/KAO/BOWLES E-MAIL
Classified By: USEU Pol M-C Chris Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 3.
2. (C) European Commissioner for External Relations Benita
Ferrero-Waldner plans to visit China during the week of March
30, and may be willing to raise the case of political
prisoner Gao Zhisheng if asked by the United States to do so,
according to Michalis Rokas, Deputy Director for China at the
European Commission's DG RELEX. During a meeting on March
23, Rokas told Poloff that Ferrero-Waldner would meet Chinese
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and hoped to also see Premier
Wen Jiabao during her upcoming visit. Rokas said that
Ferrero-Waldner had been torn about whether to raise the case
during her meetings, but ultimately decided that the U.S.
should bring up the case since Gao's family had escaped to
America. In response to Poloff's question on Gao's status,
Rokas said that there was a "total blackout" on news
regarding Gao's status or whereabouts, and that EU Member
State delegations had no information.
3. (C) Action request: Rokas said he believed that
Ferrero-Waldner would reconsider her decision and raise Gao's
case directly with either Foreign Minister Yang or with
Premier Wen, if the U.S. requested that she do so. Post is
prepared to deliver such a request if so instructed. End
action request.
MURRAY
.