Cablegate: Finnish Response: Approaching the Eu in Advance Of

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RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0039
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C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000682

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN
SUBJECT: FINNISH RESPONSE: APPROACHING THE EU IN ADVANCE OF
THE SEPTEMBER 7-8 INFORMAL FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING
(GYMNICH)

REF: A. SECSTATE 123576

B. HELSINKI 675

Classified By: HEATHER PISHKO FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

Subject: Finnish Views on September GYMNICH

1. (U) PolChief delivered subject demarche to Finnish
CFSP Director and European Correspondent Leena-Kaisa
Mikkola Sept. 5. Mikkola offered the following:

FINNISH GYMNICH PRIORITIES: IRAQ AND RUSSIA PCA
--------------------------------------------- --
2. (SBU) From the Finnish national perspective, FM Ilkka
Kanerva will likely raise two issues during his GYMNICH
intervention. First, he will highlight the importance
of seeking to conclude a new EU-Russia Partnership and
Cooperation Agreement, which has been stalled since the
end of the Finland's Presidency. The Finns are
realistic about the fact that ongoing bilateral disputes
between Russia and several of the new MS may prevent the
adoption of a new PCA during the Portuguese Presidency -
- and about the fact that Portugal has not placed the
issue high on its Presidency agenda. However, the new
agreement has important impacts on Finland's bilateral
relationship with Russia, and the GOF still believes
that attempts to move it forward must be a priority for
the EU-Russia Summit.

3. (SBU) Second, Kanerva will likely give his colleagues
a brief readout on the Sept. 1-4 peace-building seminar
that a leading Finnish NGO, the Crisis Management
Institute (CMI), hosted for leading Iraqi Sunni and
Shiite civil society leaders (see reftel B).

KOSOVO
------
4. (C) On Kosovo, the GOF fully agrees on the importance
of EU-US unity in support of the Troika's final attempt
to see Serbs and Kosovars bridge their differences over
final status. Meanwhile, Mikkola noted, a generalized
concern is emerging within the EU that the CFSP Planning
Mission in Kosovo could begin running into funding
problems if the final status question remains
unresolved. Moreover, Finnish participants in that
mission are reporting some morale problems among EU
planners, due to the lack of a clear path forward.

5. (C) When pressed about how Finland and other Member
States might respond if, ultimately, Kosovo declares
independence unilaterally, Mikkola emphasized that the
GOF has not made a national decision on this issue yet
and will not do so before the end of the current time-
limited negotiating period. However, she opined
unofficially that Great Britain, France and Germany
would likely recognize Kosovo in the event of a
unilateral declaration of independence, and that she
"could not imagine Finland staying outside that group."
However, she emphasized that the GYMNICH would be
extremely unlikely to produce any public statements
regarding beyond support for Troika-sponsored
discussions -- and "certainly no public comments
regarding a Plan B."
HYATT

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