

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06HELSINKI1037, DAS PEKALA,S OCTOBER 4 MEETINGS WITH FINNISH MFA
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06HELSINKI1037.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06HELSINKI1037 | 2006-10-12 08:45 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Helsinki |
VZCZCXRO6775
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHHE #1037/01 2850845
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 120845Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2589
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 HELSINKI 001037
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2016
TAGS: PREL SENV ENRG ECON FI AF GT VE RS GG
SUBJECT: DAS PEKALA,S OCTOBER 4 MEETINGS WITH FINNISH MFA
OFFICIALS
Classified By: Econ Chief Jane Messenger for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
-------
Summary
-------
¶1. (SBU) EUR DAS Mark Pekala visited Helsinki October 4-6 to
participate in the Nordic-Baltic Chiefs of Mission Conference
and to consult with Finnish officials on bilateral and
transatlantic issues. In separate meetings with Finnish
Political Director Pilvi-Sisko Vierros-Villeneuve and
Director General for the Americas and Asia Elina Kalkku,
Pekala discussed Finland,s EU Presidency, the Middle East,
Kosovo, North Korea, NATO, Georgia, and the October 24-25
U.S.-EU High Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy
and Sustainable Development (HLD), which will be hosted by
Finland in Helsinki. Vierros-Villeneuve gave an emphatic
explanation of why Finland was unable to provide AK-47s to
Afghanistan. Pekala raised U.S. support for Guatemala,s bid
for a UNSC seat and the status of the visa waiver program.
End Summary.
-----------------------
Finland,s EU Presidency
-----------------------
¶2. (SBU) Vierros-Villeneuve said that Finland,s EU
Presidency had been "off-track" since the Lebanon crisis
broke in July. Finnish priorities had been subsumed to some
extent by the situation in the Middle East. Now that the
crisis was entering a new phase, the GoF hoped to refocus the
Presidency on upcoming events such at the EU-India Summit
(October) and the EU-Russia Summit (November).
-----------
Middle East
-----------
¶3. (SBU) Pekala noted that Secretary Rice was in the Middle
East to take stock of the situation, not to broker any
particular agreement. Vierros-Villeneuve agreed that her
visit was important, and opined that support for Abbas was
imperative at the present moment. She said that she was
particularly pleased that the Secretary had taken up the
access/movement issue since the GoF was concerned Gaza would
collapse unless progress was made in this area soon.
Vierros-Villeneuve reported that when Abbas had requested
additional EU assistance, Commissioner for External Relations
Ferrero-Waldner had balked. This was unhelpful, and member
states needed to come forward with assistance at this
critical time. DAS Pekala agreed that it was important not
to punish the Palestinian people, but instead to engage in
creative thinking about how to help them without supporting
the current regime.
-------------------------
No AK-47s for Afghanistan
-------------------------
¶4. (C) Vierros-Villeneuve said categorically that Finland
would not provide surplus AK-47s to Afghanistan. She
emphasized that myriad problems made it impossible ranging
from political considerations, to re-export license
difficulties with Germany, to domestic legislation. Finnish
public opinion, as well as Finland,s parliament, would
overwhelmingly oppose any transfer. Vierros-Villeneuve
worried that Finland,s leadership of the UN Small Arms
Treaty process would also be compromised, particularly with
its NGO partners. There were licensing problems, since the
arms originally came from (East) Germany. Finland would have
to secure a German re-export license and it was unlikely the
EU,s Code of Conduct would allow this. Finally, Moscow was
already complaining about other AK-47 re-export issues, and
transfer of the weapons in question would create further
difficulties for Finland with Russia. Vierros-Villeneuve
noted, however, that Finland was interested in exploring
other opportunities for assisting Afghan forces. Pekala said
he understood these serious obstacles; he asked for more
specific information on the export-license issue, on domestic
legislation, and on the number of AK-47s held by the Finns.
He said he hoped to continue this conversation with Finland.
-------------
Serbia/Kosovo
-------------
¶5. (C) Vierros-Villeneuve asked about UN Special Envoy for
Kosovo Ahtisaari,s report at a meeting of EU Defense
Ministers that the U.S. now believed the timeline for an
agreement on Kosovo should be extended given the current
difficulties. Pekala replied that the U.S. continued to seek
a solution before the end of the year. During a recent trip
to Belgrade, A/S Fried delivered a clear and unequivocal
message to the Serbs that there was no going back. The past
(and the status quo) are unacceptable. The only option is to
move forward. Vierros-Villeneuve agreed that there had to be
a "European future" for the Serbs, including in the EU and in
HELSINKI 00001037 002 OF 003
other transatlantic institutions. For its part, Finland was
pushing forward visa facilitation for young Serbs so that
they feel part of Europe and stakeholders in its future. She
added that Kosovo would be a top agenda item at the upcoming
GAERC in Brussels.
-----------
North Korea
-----------
¶6. (SBU) Vierros-Villeneuve said that the ASEM meeting had
highlighted for the EU the importance of the North Korea
nuclear issue for its Asian partners. The international
community needs to send Pyongyang a clear message that
threats to carry out a nuclear test - especially with a
showdown with Iran looming - are unacceptable. If North
Korea actually carried out a test, it should be severely
condemned, and real consequences should result. (Note: The
EU subsequently released a statement condemning North
Korea,s nuclear test.)
-------
Georgia
-------
¶7. (SBU) Vierros-Villeneuve agreed with Pekala about the
seriousness of the situation in Georgia and the need to show
support for Georgian sovereignty. She said that upon his
recent return from Tbilisi, Finnish FM Tuomioja told Russian
FM Lavrov that Moscow,s response was disproportionate.
Vierros-Villeneuve believed that a strong message also needed
to be sent to the Georgians that the time was not right to
challenge Russia. Vierros-Villeneuve observed that the
Russian were feeling strong right now, and that Georgia had
developed an unhelpful tendency to present the EU with
successive "faits accomplis" when bucking Moscow. DAS Pekala
agreed about counseling restraint on Georgia,s part, but
said Tbilisi needed to know that the door was open to EU and
NATO membership and a European future.
----
NATO
----
¶8. (C) Vierros-Villeneuve said that Finland had agreed to
postpone release of the Finnish-Swedish enhanced partnership
proposal until the new Swedish government was formed; the
proposal would carry more weight with the new government,s
backing. DAS Pekala agreed this could be helpful, but
cautioned against waiting too long.
-------------------
High Level Dialogue
-------------------
¶9. (U) MFA Director General for Asia and the Americas Elina
Kalkku summarized preparations for the October 24-25 High
Level Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and
Sustainable Development, noting that it would be hosted
jointly by Finnish Minister for Environment Enestam and
Minister of Trade and Industry Pekkarinen with Commission
participation by DGTREN, DGENV and DGRELEX. The Finns will
also invite the German Ministers of Environment and Energy.
Hinting at bureaucratic difficulties, Kalkku observed that it
had been "quite an innovation" to gather environment and
energy officials together, but agreed that it made perfect
sense given the natural synergies between energy and climate
change. Pekala thanked Finland for its efforts and
particularly welcomed the co-chair role for the Ministers of
Environment and Trade and Industry.
-----------------------
UNSC Seat for Guatemala
-----------------------
¶10. (C) Kalkku stated that Finland would of course vote for
Guatemala and although there had been no formal consultation
among EU member states, she felt quite confident that the
entire EU would vote for Guatemala. She did note with
interest, however, that a recent visitor from Uruguay had
said that Latin America may not favor either Venezuela or
Guatemala and may look for a third Latin American candidate.
She also acknowledged that there was EU concern that Africa
would support Venezuela because of strong oil ties.
-----------
Visa Waiver
-----------
¶11. (U) In response to Pekala,s request for an update on
visa waiver discussions within the EU, Kalkku said that she
just received the Commission report that will form the basis
of Council discussion. She acknowledged that the move to
require diplomatic visas as a proposed countermeasure was a
possibility. Pekala briefed on the visa waiver roadmap
process and underscored that it was a serious and meaningful
effort designed to move countries in the right direction.
Kalkku advocated for any small step, such as Canada had
HELSINKI 00001037 003 OF 003
recently taken with Estonia.
HYATT