AUSTRIA: GAZA TO DOMINATE JANUARY 26-27 GAERC

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