(C) MIDEAST PEACE: DANISH MFA FLOATS A LOW-KEY

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000102

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/SEMEP, NEA, S/P, EUR/ERA, EUR/NB, EUR/SE
NSC FOR DENNIS ROSS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PREL KPAL XF
SUBJECT: (C) MIDEAST PEACE: DANISH MFA FLOATS A LOW-KEY
MULTILATERAL INITIATIVE

Classified By: Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; reason 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA briefed the Embassy on an initiative
it is exploring - pending approval from FM Moeller - to
promote low-key cooperation among Israel and its neighbors.
Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Qatar responded favorably
during an exploratory visit in January. Palestinian interest
will be gauged the week of February 22. Denmark "would not
do anything the U.S. opposed"; encouraged by the Danish
Embassy's consultations with the State Department February
18, MFA staff intend to seek FM Moeller's authorization to
move forward, probably by inviting the parties to a "dialogue
group" meeting in Denmark this spring. The FM is seeking to
meet with the Secretary in late March, ahead of the Ottawa
meeting of the five Arctic littoral states; this initiative
is one of the topics on his agenda. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Allan Pagh Kristensen, Deputy Head of MFA's Middle
East Department, briefed A/DCM February 19 on an initiative
the MFA has been exploring since last summer to encourage
low-key practical cooperation among Israel and its neighbors.
Kristensen made clear that his briefing was in parallel to
consultations the Danish Embassy in Washington had held the
previous day with Anne-Marie Slaughter (S/P) and Fred Hof
(S/SEMEP). Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller - who has long
taken a keen interest in the Mideast - had authorized the
ministry last summer to explore ways Denmark could help bring
the parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict together. However,
Moeller has not yet been briefed on, let alone approved, the
fleshed-out proposal that has emerged. This proposal is the
fruit of a process that included brainstorming in Copenhagen
in November with Egyptian, Jordanian, Israeli, Moroccan and
Turkish participants, and a visit to the region in early
January by Kristensen, accompanied by Canadian Prof. Peter
Jones and a Danish researcher. (NOTE: Kristensen said Prof.
Jones briefed Dennis Ross on February 18. END NOTE.) The
January tour drew encouraging reactions from Israel, Egypt,
Jordan, Qatar, and Turkey, while Syria made clear it was not
ready to engage with Israel, and Saudi Arabia was hesitant,
though interlocutors in its National Security Council were
interested. Kristensen remarked that Denmark may seek USG
help in moving the Saudis forward. Kristensen's boss, Middle
East Department Head Michael Lund Jeppesen, will travel to
Ramallah the week of January 22 to present the proposed
initiative to the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Minister,
and expects a favorable response. Denmark considers
Palestinian participation "on an equal footing with Israel"
to be essential, but the Palestinian Authority would not have
been receptive in January, and the Danes did not approach
them; Kristensen was confident that the PA would be more
receptive now.


3. (C) The concept of the Danish initiative is for the
Mideastern participants, working without publicity, to form a
steering group and, under it, working groups to discuss
subjects of shared interest, with a view to producing
recommendations to governments. The Danes are flexible as to
their own role, and as to whether the Mideastern participants
are government officials or not, provided they have their
respective governments' ear and blessing. Possible subjects
that were identified during the January trip include:
climate change (Denmark has a great deal of expertise),
preparedness against pandemics, regional infrastructure,
vocational training, youth unemployment, and women's rights
and empowerment. Political subjects should be avoided, as
should any where Israel would be too dominant or where the
gaps in technological level between the parties would be too
great. The steering group would decide on subjects.
Kristensen said there might only be two working groups to
start with. If the initiative grows, it will be necessary to
bring in other external partners, but those must be chosen
carefully: some of the larger European nations are viewed as
biased in certain Mideastern capitals. During their January
consultations, the Danes heard that while USG awareness and
support are indispensable, direct USG involvement in the
early stages of the initiative could be counterproductive.

4. (C) Kristensen said Denmark "would not do anything the
U.S. opposed," and the time was ripe to brief the USG. This
was done through the Danish Embassy February 18, and the
response was sufficiently favorable that MFA will put the

proposed initiative to FM Moeller for decision. Assuming the
Palestinians respond favorably and the FM gives his approval,
MFA's next step will probably be to invite the regional
parties to a "dialogue group" (i.e. steering group) meeting
in Denmark this spring.


5. (C) Through the Danish Embassy in Washington, FM Moeller
is seeking a meeting with the Secretary in late March, ahead
of the Ottawa meeting of the five Arctic littoral states;
this initiative is one of the topics on his agenda.
Kristensen hoped to meet again with the Embassy
FULTON