C O N F I D E N T I A L LJUBLJANA 000371 SIPDIS STATE FOR GEORGIA TASK 
FORCE, EUR/ERA, EUR/CE E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018 TAGS: MOPS, PREL, 
PHUM, OSCE, UNGA, GG, RS, SI SUBJECT: TFGG01: GORI DEMARCHE: SLOVENIANS 
STRESS EU UNITY REF: STATE 87254 Classified By: Ambassador Yousif B. 
Ghafari, Reasons 1.4 (b,d)

FM Noncommittal on Engaging Russia 
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1. (C) At an August 14 meeting with 
Foreign Minister Rupel, the Ambassador encouraged the Government of 
Slovenia (GOS) to engage the Russian government regarding events in 
Georgia, per reftel. The FM said he shared our concerns about the 
situation, which he termed "alarming, saying he was receiving hourly 
updates. The Foreign Minister said that he had requested a phone call 
with Russian FM Lavrov, but was still waiting for a time. Rupel 
commented that he would first listen to what Lavrov had to say and see 
what new information could be found out about the situation in Gori. The
Ambassador pressed him to convey our concerns, however, the FM did not 
respond. The FM undertook to inform PM Jansa, whom he was seeing later 
that day, of our discussion. 

2. (C) FM Rupel claimed that there was no 
will to break or disrupt EU-Russian relations in any substantial way. 
The Ambassador pushed back, stressing that the EU needed to tell Russia 
that its actions were too excessive if it wanted to be an international 
player. Rupel responded that Lavrov, with careful reading, should get 
the "tough message" that was in the August 13 extraordinary GAERC 
conclusions. Director General Bogdan Benko, who was also in the meeting 
with the Ambassador, assured us that the FMs will analyze the EU's 
relations with Russia at the Gymnich September 5-6 in Avignon

EU Unity a Top Priority ...
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3. (C) FM Rupel stressed 
that the important thing about the GAERC conclusions was that the EU 
remained united. He underlined the necessity that the EU speak with one 
voice. He acknowledged differences within the EU about relations with 
Russia, explaining that "some member states depend quite heavily on 
Russian energy supplies." He noted that the EU FMs did not dwell on the 
question of who was to be blamed. He added that the August 19 NATO FMs 
meeting would be an opportunity to say more, and perhaps the situation 
would have evolved by then. Rupel mentioned that some of his colleagues 
feared that the next EU meeting - the September 5 Gymnich - was too 
late, but Rupel did not see how the meeting could be any earlier.

... and Humanitarian Assistance
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4. (C) FM 
Rupel said that Slovenia had contributed 100,000 euros in humanitarian 
assistance, and planned to provide more, probably through the 
International Committee for the Red Cross. In addition, Slovenia will 
take part in the EU mission to Georgia. He worried about how the EU 
mission would be operative in Georgia/South Ossetia. He added that 
Solana would prepare the mission by the September 5 Gymnich; Rupel 
doubted that they could get there any earlier. He noted that the only 
presence the EU has is the OSCE, which will be increased by 100. Rupel 
and Benko agreed with us that humanitarian assistance was a priority. 

GHAFARI