EU WELCOMES U.S. INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN DRC

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 000081 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL CG XA ZF EUN SUBJECT: EU WELCOMES U.S. INTENT TO PARTICIPATE IN DRC MISSIONS REF: A. STATE 4367 ¶B. STATE 4247 ¶C. USEU BRUSSELS 1606 ¶D. USEU TODAY JULY 27 2009 Sensitive but Unclassified. Please handle accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) On January 20, PolOff conveyed REF A-B points to EU officials in the Crisis Management Planning Directorate (CMPD) and the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, and on the EU's transatlantic desk. Contacts universally welcomed the news that the U.S. is interested in providing personnel to the EU's two security sector reform missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. ¶2. (SBU) Our interlocutors encouraged the USG to consider negotiating a general "framework agreement" for U.S. participation in EU-led crisis management operations, rather than continuing to rely on time and resource intensive case-by-case "technical agreements." The desk officer for security issues on the transatlantic desk suggested that we consider making a framework agreement a tangible U.S.-EU summit deliverable. CMPD contacts provided PolOff with copies of framework agreements signed with other non-EU countries, which we will send to the Department via email. ¶3. (SBU) Our interlocutors suggested that the U.S. respond in writing to the EU's official letters inviting participation in EUSEC and EUPOL (REFs C-Q This will begin the formal process by which the EU Political and Security Committee accepts our offer and initiates negotiations on a legal agreement. Unless otherwise instructed, USEU will draw on REF A-B points to draft an unclassified letter from Ambassador Kennard to High Representative Ashton expressing our intent to second U.S. personnel to the EU missions. We would also welcome unclassified points on this topic that we can use in public diplomacy engagements. KENNARD .