AUSTRIAN VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE GAERC

UNCLAS VIENNA 000483 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL AU SUBJECT: AUSTRIAN VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF THE GAERC REF: 4/17/09 EUR/ERA EMAIL (GIAUQUE) ¶1. (U) Polchief met April 22 with Klaus Famira, MFA European correspondent, to discuss the agenda items for the upcoming GAERC. Famira offered the following views: ¶2. (U) Iran: There will be no debate on Iran. The EU will adopt a set of conclusions supporting the new U.S. approach to Iran and calling on Iran to engage seriously with the E3 3 on its nuclear program. There will be no new language regarding sanctions. ¶3. (U) Eastern Partnership: Famira said he believed the EU had decided at the last Gymnich to invite President Lukashenka to the May 7 Eastern Partnership launching summit, but did not expect him to attend. ¶4. (U) Croatia: Officials from Croatia, Slovenia, and the European Commission were scheduled to meet April 22 to discuss the border dispute. The outcome of that meeting will determine whether the EU will be able to hold an accession conference with Croatian leaders on the margins of the GAERC. The GOA supports rapid accession for Croatia, which it believes would send a positive signal to other aspiring EU members in the region, particularly Serbia and Bosnia. ¶5. (U) Burma: As expected, the EU will vote to roll over its Common Position on Burma without any changes to the sanctions. ¶6. (U) MEPP/Israel: GAERC participants will hold an informal discussion concerning the status of the MEPP in light of the new Israeli government and the Egyptian effort to help form a Palestinian unity government. The Council will also seek a mandate for holding an EU-Israel summit. However, some EU member states critical of recent hardline statements by members of the new Israeli cabinet will resist the idea of a Summit, so the discussion will likely be inconclusive. ¶7. (U) Transatlantic Relations: Participants will discuss how to follow through on overtures made by President Obama and Secretary Clinton during their meetings in Europe. The GOA is particularly interested in the President's speech on non-proliferation, a high priority for Austria. ¶8. (U) Ukraine: The Ukraine discussion will be focused on a German non-paper on preventing conflict in the Crimea. KILNER