Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09VIENNA78
2009-01-21 15:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

AUSTRIA: GAZA TO DOMINATE JANUARY 26-27 GAERC

Tags:  EUN PREL PGOV AU 
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VZCZCXRO1629
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHVI #0078 0211530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211530Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY VIENNA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1885
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS VIENNA 000078 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: GAZA TO DOMINATE JANUARY 26-27 GAERC

REF: STATE 4297

Polchief discussed reftel points January 21 with Klaus
Famira, MFA European correspondent. Famira offered the
following views on GAERC agenda items:

-- Gaza: Famira said the GAERC would be dominated by issues
related to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israeli FM Livni was
scheduled to meet with EU FMs in Brussels January 21. EU FMs
will hold a meeting with counterparts from the Arab states
and Turkey January 25. At the GAERC on January 26,
participants will discuss three topics related to the Gaza
conflict:
UNCLAS VIENNA 000078

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV AU
SUBJECT: AUSTRIA: GAZA TO DOMINATE JANUARY 26-27 GAERC

REF: STATE 4297

Polchief discussed reftel points January 21 with Klaus
Famira, MFA European correspondent. Famira offered the
following views on GAERC agenda items:

-- Gaza: Famira said the GAERC would be dominated by issues
related to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Israeli FM Livni was
scheduled to meet with EU FMs in Brussels January 21. EU FMs
will hold a meeting with counterparts from the Arab states
and Turkey January 25. At the GAERC on January 26,
participants will discuss three topics related to the Gaza
conflict: 1) maintaining the ceasefire; 2) providing
humanitarian aid for Gaza; and, 3) preventing weapons
smuggling at the Rafah border crossing. Famira said the EU
had recently informally re-started talks with Egypt about
Rafah, which had been suspended when Hamas seized power in
Gaza.

-- Russia-Ukraine Gas Dispute: EU FMs will discuss the need
to diversify member states' natural gas suppliers, in light
of the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute. They will discuss the
South Stream and Nabucco pipeline projects. They will also
raise the issue of nuclear energy, which the GOA strongly
opposes.

-- Belarus: Famira said he does not expect FMs to make a
decision at the GAERC on whether to invite President
Lukashenka to the Eastern Partnership Summit.

-- Guantanamo: Famira said the GOA welcomes a discussion on
the resettlement of Guantanamo detainees, but believes EU
states require more information about USG plans. Before
sending any "positive signals" regarding a willingness to
accept detainees, Famira averred, EU governments need to know
more about the detainees' backgrounds and why they cannot be
resettled in the U.S. (Note: Austrian FM Spindelegger has
twice said publicly that Austria cannot legally accept any of
the detainees. End Note).
KILNER

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