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DE RUEHTL #0261 2461136
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R 031136Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0099
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN
UNCLAS TALLINN 000261
SIPDIS
FOR EUR/ERA ALESSANDRO NARDI
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN EN
SUBJECT: Estonia's Gymnich Agenda
REF: AUGUST 29 NARDI GYMNICH EMAIL
1. (U) PolCouns met with Kristina Meius, Director of the MFA's
European Division, on September 3 to discuss reftel Gymnich topics.
Meius provided the following Estonian positions for the four main
Gymnich topics:
2. (SBU) Iran: The GOE is concerned about the deteriorating human
rights situation since the elections, and particularly the trials
against EU-member mission employees and a French national. Meius
said the GOE considers the trial of the UK embassy employees as an
action against the entire EU. The GOE also supports USG and EU
efforts to encourage Iran to halt its nuclear program. Meius
stated that if Iran does not reply to the 3+3 this fall, or if the
answer is insufficient, then Estonia is prepared to discuss
additional EU sanctions.
3. (SBU) MEPP: The GOE supports a two-state solution, and
encourages Israel and Palestinians to implement their roadmap
commitments. Meius said Israel should halt settlement activity,
and the Arab peace initiative is important. Estonia is pleased by
positive Syrian steps and supports the EU revising relations with
Syria, including work to conclude an association agreement.
However, Meius stressed that Syria must cooperate with the IAEA.
4. (SBU) Afghanistan-Pakistan: Meius was pleased that the Afghan
elections took place, and that they were judged fair by the EU
monitoring mission. She said the EU's role and contribution to
security and development in Afghanistan must increase and become
more visible. The GOE would like Afghanistan to become an EU
priority, and wants the EU to double the size of its EUPOL mission.
The GOE would also like to see greater coordination between the EU
and NATO. (Note: Afghanistan is one of Estonia's main foreign
policy priorities.)
5. (SBU) The EU as a Global Actor: Meius said the EU has been
discussing its role in the world for years, and she is glad that
Sweden is raising this topic again. Because the EU now has global
reach and is the world's largest donor of development assistance,
Meius argued the EU must develop a short list of no more than four
international priorities, and find the resources to act on them.
DECKER