US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA600

C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000600 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 
TAGS: PREL, TU, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION PROCESS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 150087 
 
Classified By: COM Thomas B. Robertson for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C)  Pol/Econ Chief spoke with Robert Kremelj of the MFA 
Department for Integration and Economic Relations.  He 
manages the EU enlargement portfolio.  Kremlj repeated 
Slovenia's consistent position which is that it supports 
Turkey's accession, assuming it meets all the necessary 
criteria, and the start of negotiations.  Slovenia sees 
Turkey as the anchor for south east Europe and believes with 
Turkey in the accession process, the pressure will mount for 
the rest of south east Europe to intensify reforms and start 
their own accession processes.  Kremlj said that "enlargement 
has its path and it cannot be put aside because of political 
differences" (referring to the no votes on the EU 
constitution.) 
 
2. (C)  Kremelj described Turkey's recent comments about 
Cyprus as "not helpful," but on close inspection he did not 
see that, legally speaking, there was a problem.  He did 
expect an equally political response from the EU, but his 
expectation was also that negotiations would begin as 
planned.  Sooner or later, Kremlj said Turkey would have to 
face the "Cyprus question" and it would have to result in a 
recognition of Cyprus. Kremlj also expected that recent 
comments by France and others about Turkey's accession would 
be "food for thought" at upcoming COREPER and Gymnich 
meetings. 
ROBERTSON 
 
 
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 2005LJUBLJ00600 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL 


 
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