Cablegate: Estonia: Pre-Gaerc Demarche Delivered

VZCZCXRO1499
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHTL #0660 1990441
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180441Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8837
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATE

UNCLAS TALLINN 000660

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UN EUN YI MW SR BO IR IZ KPAL SU
CG, EN
SUBJECT: ESTONIA: PRE-GAERC DEMARCHE DELIVERED

Ref: STATE 114605

1. (SBU) Summary. Deputy European Correspondent Kristel
Kase told us on June 14 that the June GAERC meeting
would be dominated by the recent escalation of violence
in Lebanon and Gaza (with Iraq and Bosnia being bumped
from the agenda to free up more time). Kase also
briefed us on the Council's pre-Gaerc discussions on
Sudan, Congo, Macedonia, Kosovo, and the WTO. End
Summary.

Middle East and Africa
----------------------

3. (SBU) The GOE condemns the current violence in
Lebanon and Gaza, and encourages all partners to return
to the negotiation table. The Council will adopt
separate Conclusions that will most likely follow the
Finnish Presidency declaration on Israel's need to
restrain itself with a more "proportionate use of
force." On Iran, Kase said that the Council would adopt
Conclusions, though no text has been circulated as
everyone was waiting for the G8 Conclusions.

4. (SBU) On Sudan, the GOE now supports transferring
AMIS responsibilities to the UN. Estonia has also
increased its own bilateral humanitarian aid to Sudan
over the last three years, and will increase its aid to
800,000 EEK ($64,000) for Darfur refugees this year. On
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kase said that the GOE
will support the EU's election observation team by
sending one long-term and two to three mid-term election
monitors.

Balkans
-------

2. (SBU) On Macedonia, the GOE supports the EU common
position, and will press for progress on a Community
Treaty on energy security. However, Kase said that the
GOE hopes that the Government of Macedonia will continue
with its much needed reforms. On Kosovo, the GOE
continues to support UN Special Envoy Ahtisaari. As the
EU will be expanding its role in Kosovo, Kase said that
it is "crucial for the Serbs and the Albanians to agree
on the way forward."

WTO
---

5. (SBU) EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson will give
a "state-of-play" presentation to the Council. The GOE
fully supports the Commission's position, but said that
Estonia would support an extraordinary GAERC meeting on
the matter if needed to ensure Doha's success. While
Estonia still hopes for an agreement, there is a real
sense that failure is becoming likelier as time passes.

WOS

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