Cablegate: Eu Welcomes Agreement On Dprk Second Phase Actions

VZCZCXRO5381
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHBS #3114 2831006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101006Z OCT 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BRUSSELS 003114

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP, ISN, VCI, T AND EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM KN KNNP EUN
SUBJECT: EU WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON DPRK SECOND PHASE ACTIONS

REF: STATE 139753

(U) 1. European Union officials emphasized their support for
the agreement reached at the six-party talks with North
Korea. HR Solana issued a statement on October 4 welcoming
the actions announced in the agreement and congratulating the
parties. He noted that the EU would look forward to the
early implementation of the agreement and reiterated EU
support for the process and willingness to consult with the
six parties to determine "the best means by which it can
assist the implementation of the September 2005 joint
statement." A European Commission official responsible for
North Korea told Poloff that he viewed the terms of the
agreement as lying at "the positive end of the range" for
possible outcomes. He noted that some questions about
details of implementation and verification remained and that
the EU would continue to watch the process with interest.
Officials voiced their appreciation for the United States'
continued transparency and consultation on the six-party
talks.

(SBU) 2. Our Commission contact shared his impression that
the EU's thinking on engagement with North Korea has been
subtly shifting since the February 13th agreement. He added,
however, that the changes in some member state governments
and the fact that member states have not formally discussed
the issue in the past six months make it difficult to
ascertain clear moves in favor of more openness. The EU's
Asia working group (COASI) discussion of this issue on
October 17 will provide a good opportunity to get a sense of
member state positions.

GRAY
.

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