US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS2802

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRUSSELS 002802 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, PHUM, PREL, UK, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: US-EU JULY 20 TASK FORCE MEETING 
 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: At the July 20 US-EU Task Force meeting, 
both sides emphasized their commitment to implementing Summit 
declarations.  An additional Task Force meeting was proposed 
to follow-up on the US EU Summit economic initiatives and 
other issues.  EU officials reported progress on their 
planned Moldovan-Ukrainian border monitoring operation, 
expressed EU intent to increase civil society assistance in 
Belarus and sought an update on US policy towards Uzbekistan. 
 EU Officials announced a possible observation mission for 
Egypt,s November parliamentary elections and encouraged more 
US-EU dialogue on Israel-PA issues and BMENA contributions. 
Participants discussed next steps for Syria/Lebanon and Iraq. 
 The EU requested US support for UN electoral assistance in 
DRC.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (SBU) US-EU Task Force participants included EUR/ERA 
Director Peter Chase and USEU Political Counselor Kyle Scott, 
who met with UK Foreign Office Deputy Political Director Tim 
Barrow, Stuart Gill of the UK Presidency, Council Director 
for Transatlantic Relations Riina Kionka, and Gunnar Wiegand, 
Head of Unit for US relations, DG RELEX. 
 
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ECONOMIC INITIATIVES AND TRADE ISSUES 
------------------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) Chase said that the White House is keen to follow-up 
the economic initiative declarations and that there will be 
strong interest from Cabinet-level officials.  Wiegand said 
that the EU would provide a list of points of contact for 
each of the different economic initiatives by the end of July 
and asked for a similar list from the US.  The EU wants to 
see full implementation of all elements of the declaration 
rather than focusing on just a few; the EU proposed an 
additional Task Force meeting at the end of September to 
review the economic initiative work programs. On trade 
issues, the Commission noted a desire to see USTR participate 
in Task Force meetings.  Regarding the upcoming WTO decisions 
on biotech and FSC, the Council noted that the January 
deadline for any subsequent sanctions decisions has a 60-day 
window for flexibility.  The Commission asked to be part of 
US decision-making on APIS-60 (the Advance Passenger 
Information System proposal that would compel airlines to 
send passenger data 60 minutes before flight departure).  The 
EU remains unconvinced on need for the changes, given the 
potential disruption to the air traffic system; EU hopes US 
will consider alternative solutions. 
 
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MONITORING OF MOLDOVIAN-UKRAINIAN BORDER 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Barrow remarked that HR Javier Solana visited Kiev 
on July 19 to discuss the EU mission for monitoring the 
Moldovan-Ukrainian border,s Transdniestria section. Kionka 
noted that Transdniestria has also expressed interest in 
participating, but that will not be considered because the EU 
does not recognize their sovereignty.  The EU is sending a 
fact-finding mission on August 25, after which the PSC will 
start discussing concrete details of a mission.  Barrow 
promised to keep the US up to date on the &when8 and 
&how8 of the proposed border monitoring mission. 
 
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BELARUS AND UZBEKISTAN DISCUSSED 
-------------------------------- 
 
5. (SBU) Barrow said that the EU is increasingly involved in 
Belarus and Uzbekistan.  On Belarus, the Commission suggested 
coordinated demarches on donor assistance to civil society to 
avoid duplication and ensure that the country does not slide 
into further isolation. Barrow said that suspending 
assistance to Belarus would not increase leverage in pursuing 
targets for reform.  Gill said that the EU and US must try to 
influence the position of Russia, which considers Belarus to 
be in its area of influence.  Kionka suggested using the G-8 
as an opportunity for conversation with Russia; Chase agreed. 
 
 
6. (SBU) On Uzbekistan, Gill considered the EU &more forward 
than the US8 on invoking the Moscow Mechanism and inquired 
as to US movement, suggesting that &our people in Vienna8 
intensify their communication.  Chase noted that Uzbekistan 
is a fast-moving issue and that guidance from Washington 
needed to be updated.  Scott noted that the new OSCE SecGen 
was not in favor of invoking Moscow Mechanism; Chase 
expressed US concern over the issue of Uzbek refugees in 
Kyrgyzstan.  Gill replied that the EU may &signal distaste 
without taking action to change things.8 
 
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EU MAY OBSERVE EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
7. (SBU) Gill said that the EU will not send an electoral 
observation mission for Egypt,s presidential elections, but 
are waiting for an invitation to observe the parliamentary 
elections in November. Gill said that the EU doubted the 
electoral process would be competitive if Mubarak runs again. 
 Focusing on Egypt,s parliamentary elections, the EU hopes 
that all candidates will be free to campaign and backs the 22 
NGOs supported by the National Election Commission.  If Egypt 
invites international observers for the parliamentary 
elections, the Commission will send an exploratory committee. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
ISREAL/PA AND BMENA STILL ON EU AGENDA 
-------------------------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) On Israel/Palestinian Authority, Gill said that the 
EU will need to reflect on what happens after withdrawal and 
encouraged more US-EU discussion on the Israeli barrier and 
settlements; he stressed that conditions need to be in place 
to sustain economic recovery and remove restrictions on 
movement in the West Bank.  Gill said that EU monetary 
assistance for the process would be equal to that set up by 
the Commission trust fund. 
 
9. (SBU) On BMENA, Chase asked if the EU would contribute 
more funds at the November forum.  Gill replied that the 
Forum of the Future is seen as an additional contribution to 
the current Euro-Mediterranean pledge of 4.4 billion 
Euros/year and said that the EU would see any other fund as 
duplicative.  Chase asked why the Euro-Med democracy facility 
cannot be opened to state and private actors; Gill replied 
that the EU wanted to maintain its own conditions and deepen 
its relationship with Euro-Med partners.  However, Gill 
agreed with Chase that these alternative ideas should be 
discussed in upcoming videoconferences. 
 
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SYRIA/LEBANON AND IRAQ 
---------------------- 
 
10. (SBU) On Syria/Lebanon, Gill noted that Lebanon had 
finally agreed upon a new government and said, &Let,s hope 
they can get a reform plan during the UK Presidency.8  Chase 
asked if progress in the three areas highlighted by the EU 
Foreign Ministers July 18 (supporting Lebanon,s new 
government and allowing for smooth circulation of goods, 
supporting the political process in Iraq, and ending support 
for groups that oppose the Middle East Peace Process) had 
become conditions for signing of the Syria Association 
Agreement; none of the EU officials present had an answer, 
but promised to &take a look at it.8 
 
11. (SBU) On Iraq, Chase asked for a timeline on the 
Commission,s planned opening of a Mission in Baghdad. 
Barrow responded, &Preparations are underway.8  On the 
International Reconstruction Fund facility, the EU wants the 
Canadian Chair to be extended to 2006.  Kionka said that the 
EU was &not meeting its goals8 on police, management and 
justice training; it is only training 40 rather than the 
intended 80 people per month.  On the drafting of the 
constitution, the Commission has committed 20 million Euros 
and said that European experts &can be mobilized quickly8 
once the framework is set; they are being identified and 
contracted. 
 
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IN YEAR OF AFRICA, UK PRESIDENCY FOCUSES ON CONGO 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
12. (SBU) On Africa, both sides agreed the US-EU dialogue on 
assistance must be ongoing, since the issues are too broad to 
cover sufficiently in the semi-annual COAFR Troikas.  The EU 
expressed regret at the &minor sums8 contributed by the US 
on democratic transition in the Congo, noting that MONUC (UN 
Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) 
is experiencing a deficit in operating expenditures for 
logistics, which are necessary in moving the DRC electoral 
process forward.  The Commission asked if the US would 
consider contributing more and supporting a potential UNSC 
resolution to extend MONUC,s mandate to include logistics, 
which would cost 85 million Euros / USD 103 million. 
 
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Non-proliferation 
----------------- 
 
13. (SBU) Both sides agreed that the work program resulting 
from Summit should be carried forward by the CONOPS Troika. 
Chase noted that US is still awaiting a response to our 
proposal for a meeting on verification and compliance; the EU 
said it wanted more information on issues to be raised. 
Chase noted the US desire for EU to police illicit movement 
of nuclear materials within its borders and cited the DOE,s 
recent complaints; Wiegand replied that EU,s role is to 
ensure that agreements meet EURATOM obligations.  The Council 
said that the EU is supporting the &Melange8 program in 
Ukraine aimed at decommissioning weaponry, which needed an 
additional 25 million Euros, and asked Chase if NATO might be 
interested in assisting; Chase urged the EU Council 
Secretariat to approach NATO directly. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES 
--------------------- 
 
14. (SBU) The UK Presidency noted that they hoped to have a 
good informal exchange at the expected US-EU ministerial in 
NY; it was also suggested that there be an SLG meeting on the 
margins of the UNGA.  On the US-EU Summit, EU officials 
considered it a success but suggested that only one document 
be produced for the next summit, with reports by subordinate 
groups on their accomplishments during the year and leaders 
providing consolidated reports on economic and 
political/security issues. 
 
MCKINLEY 
.