US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS676

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000676 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR EUR KENNEDY; EUR/SE AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2015 
TAGS: PREL, CY, TU, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: MANDATE FOR COMMISSIONER'S NEW CYPRUS ADVISOR 
 
REF: BRUSSELS 659 
 
Classified By: Harry O'Hara, reasons 1.4 b/d 
 
1.  (C) We contacted Jean-Christophe Filori, Commissioner 
Rehn's Cabinet advisor on Turkey and Cyprus, regarding the 
mandate of Jaako Blomberg, the Commissioner's new "Special 
Advisor" on Cyprus.  Filori  (protect) told us Blomberg's 
immediate responsibility will be to pressure the Cypriots to 
end the current impasse/stalemate caused in large part by 
Greek Cypriot unwillingness to state what they are prepared 
to do to help bring the UN back into the game.  Blomberg will 
also work with the Turkish Cypriots, Turkey and Greece. 
Filori said that this should be seen as enhancing efforts to 
keep unification negotiations in the UN.  Filori emphasized 
that Commissioner Rehn opposes having the EU replace the UN 
as the forum for a settlement on Cyprus. 
 
2. (C) Once the UN process is revived, Blomberg would then be 
the EC's point person working with the UN and making 
recommendations to the EC how they could complement the work 
of the UN.  Filori said that the Commission would also be 
talking to the UN about the Blomberg appointment. 
 
3.  (SBU) Filori said that while no starting date had been 
fixed for Blomberg, the expectation is for early spring.  He 
told us that he would convey Ambassador Kennedy's invitation 
to come to Washington and agreed that having such a meeting 
"early" would be important. Filori commented that Blomberg 
has a good reputation for being active as the number two 
person in the Finnish MFA for helping the Finnish EU 
Presidency engineer a Council conclusion in December 1999 
declaring Turkey as a "candidate country." Filori said that 
this should strengthen Blomberg's credibility with Turkey. 
 
4. (C/NF) Filori admitted that the Greek Cypriots have been 
lobbying member states to convince them to have the EU take 
over the settlement talks. He said that Commissioner Rehn 
strongly opposes this as do most member-states. 
 
Schnabel 
.