US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS2252

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002252 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PGOV, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: PREVIEW OF JUNE 13 EU FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING 
 
REF: A. STATE 105235 
     B. USEU BRUSSELS 2231 
     C. USEU BRUSSELS 2165 
 
Classified By: Rick Holtzapple, PolOff, Reason 1.4 (B/D) 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
1. (C) Much of EUFMs' energy at the June 13 GAERC will focus 
on preparing the June 16-17 EU Summit, especially 
negotiations on the EU budget and failed Constitutional 
Treaty.  Decisions on Uzebkistan and Cuba should be as 
reported REFs B and C.  Other topics are unlikely to produce 
much news, although there may be some debate about how 
clearly either the GAERC or the EU Summit should reaffirm the 
EU's commitment to continued enlargement, and on how to 
handle Croatia.  China should not be discussed next week, but 
will almost certainly be on the agenda at the July 18 GAERC. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) We delivered REF A points on the upcoming General 
Affairs and External Relations Council meeting to Judith 
Gebestroithner of Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's cabinet on 
June 10.  Also on June 10 Luxembourg Perm Rep Martine 
Schommer provided a background briefing for the press on the 
Presidency's expectations for the June 13 GAERC.  Both noted 
that a major focus of the EUFMs will be on preparing the 
agenda for the EU Summit on June 16-17, where the dominating 
issues will be how the EU responds to the French and Dutch 
rejections of the EU's Constitutional Treaty, and an effort 
to reach final agreement on the EU budget framework for 
2007-2013.  Both items remain under serious debate within the 
EU, and neither outcome is clear at this point. 
 
MIDDLE EAST 
----------- 
 
3. (SBU) In response to REF A points, Gebestroithner 
indicated there was likely to be no real news from the GAERC 
on the Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Middle East points. 
Participants in the EU-3 negotiations with Iran and in the EU 
Troika visit to Baghdad will report, but no new EU policies 
toward either country are expected to be decided.  (NOTE: We 
understand from a Council source, however, that at least one 
EU Member State is urging the EU to name an EU Special 
Representative for Iraq.  END NOTE.)  Schommer told the press 
that the June 16-17 EU Summit would likely issue a 
declaration on the Middle East Peace Process, but did not 
discuss details of what would be in it. 
 
BALKANS AND ENLARGEMENT 
----------------------- 
 
4. (C) On the Balkans, FMs will discuss a joint paper on the 
EU role in Kosovo prepared by High Rep Solana and 
Commissioner Rehn (a copy of the paper - strictly protect - 
has been sent to EUR/ERA and SCE).  A Declaration supporting 
the ideas in the paper and echoing recent language from 
Contact Group meetings will also be issued at the June 16-17 
Summit.  GAERC Conclusions will also take note of recent 
developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, expressing regrets over 
the failure to agree on police reforms.  The EU Task Force on 
Croatia will also meet on Sunday, June 12 to consider the 
most recent letter from ICTY Prosecutor Del Ponte (copy sent 
to EUR/ERA and SCE).  While most of our contacts indicate 
that Del Ponte's letter will compel the EU to continue 
postponing Croatia's accession negotiations, Gebestroithner 
(who is also an Austrian diplomat) indicated the Austrian 
government would likely insist on a discussion of the issue 
during the GAERC lunch. 
 
5. (C) Gebestroithner added that the Luxembourg Presidency 
was proposing that the EU Summit Conclusions on June 17 
should include a reaffirmation the EU's commitment from 
Thessaloniki in 2003 that the Balkan states have a European 
perspective.  The current draft Summit Conclusions also would 
repeat the December 2004 European Council's decision that 
accession negotiations with Turkey should open on October 3, 
assuming Turkey meets the conditions related to Cyprus. 
Gebestroithner stressed, however, that these draft Summit 
Conclusions had not yet been agreed by all 25 EU Member 
States. 
 
CENTRAL ASIA/UZBEKISTAN 
----------------------- 
 
6. (C) The GAERC will also consider the situation in 
Uzbekistan.  As reported in REF B, the EU is considering 
tougher measures against Uzbekistan that it might take if the 
GoU rejects the EU's call for agreement by end of June on a 
commission of inquiry into the events in Andijon. 
Gebestroithner and Schommer both indicated, however, that 
what precise measures might be taken was still under 
discussion and unlikely to be included in the June 13 GAERC 
Conclusions.  Gebestroithner also added that the Commission 
was very reluctant to see the EU's Partnership and 
Cooperation Agreement (PCA) affected by any punitive 
measures, although the proposal was under discussion in the 
Council.  Schommer told the press the GAERC would likely 
agree in principle to name an EU Special Representative for 
Central Asia. 
 
CUBA 
---- 
 
7. (C) As reported REF C, the EU is unlikely to make any 
significant changes to its policy on Cuba.  Gebestroithner 
said that, while there would be some discussion of Cuba at 
the GAERC, it might be so brief that it was unclear if 
Development Commissioner Michel would even bother to attend. 
 
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS 
----------------------- 
 
8. (U) The GAERC would discuss preparations for the US-EU 
Summit on June 20 and the Canada-EU Summit on June 19, but 
this was unlikely to be a major topic of EU FMs' discussions. 
 
UNITED NATIONS 
-------------- 
 
9. (U) The GAERC will also issue Conclusions on preparations 
for the September UN Summit.  Schommer indicated a focus 
would be on the EU's support for "effective multilateralism" 
and the UN reform process. 
 
CHINA 
----- 
 
10. (U) Gebestroithner confirmed that there should be no 
discussion of China or the Code of Conduct at the June 13 
GAERC.  But she did note that China would be on the agenda of 
the July 18 GAERC in the British Presidency, as that would be 
the last GAERC prior to the EU-China Summit on September 5. 
(NOTE: According to the calendar we have for the UK 
Presidency, the informal EUFMs' Gymnich meeting will be held 
on September 1-2, however, just prior to the China Summit. 
END NOTE.) 
 
SCHNABEL 
.