US embassy cable - 05LJUBLJANA620

UNCLAS LJUBLJANA 000620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, SI 
SUBJECT: SLOVENIA IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER 1-2 GYMNICH 
 
REF: STATE 153187 
 
 1.  Pol/Econ Chief discussed reftel points on August 25 with 
Peter Grk, the European Correspondent in the Dept. of 
European Integration and Economic Relations. 
 
Turkey:  Grk said it would be hard to imagine that the EU 
would set new conditions at this point for opening talks with 
Turkey, but he did expect there to be some very lively 
debate.  In a separate meeting on August 29 with visiting 
Senator Tom Harkin, FM Rupel predicted that linkage between 
Croatia and Turkey would be made and there would be some 
horse trading on the two accounts. 
 
Middle East:  Slovenia is encouraged by the relative 
peacefulness of the Gaza pullout.  Grk said Special Rep. 
Wolfensohn, who he described as "doing a great job" would be 
briefing the EU Gymnich on progress in the region. 
 
Western Balkans:  Grk said that Kosovo would dominate the 
Western Balkans discussion and he expected Croatia would come 
up as well.  He said Slovenia was "on the same page" as the 
U.S. vis a vis the ICTY and Gotovina, Mladic and Karadzic. 
 
Iraq:  While Iraq was not on the Gymnich agenda, Grk expects 
it will come up, given the informal nature of these meetings. 
 
Iran:  Grk suggested Iran would be a key topic in Wales and 
beyond - he thinks it will dominate the Autumn agenda 
particularly since Iran did not accept the EU's recent offer 
on Iran's nuclear program. 
COLEMAN 
 
 
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 2005LJUBLJ00620 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED 


 
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