C O 6 6 9 5 2 9 2 IED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No.

C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019

ft . POEMS Automated Telegram Handler-B26 CONFIDENTIAL 05/02/94 06:05 pm Page: 1

Item Subject: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY

RELEASE IN FULL

PAGE 01 STATE 114096 300415Z APR 94

DECLASSIFIED
SUBJECT: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY
TALBOTT MEETING WITH FINNISH MFA UNDER SECRETARY BLOMBERG -

1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.

2. SUMMARY: MEETING APRIL 20 WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY

TALBOTT AND UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF, UNDER SECRETARY
BLOMBERG SAID FINLAND HAD AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL PEACEKEEPERS FOR THE NORDIC BATTALION IN
MACEDONIA. TARNOFF WELCOMED THE NEWS AND ALSO COMMENDED
THE GOF ON ITS DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN PARTNERSHIP FOR
PEACE. CONCERNING BOSNIA, TARNOFF SAID THE U.S. IS
PREPARING SOME NEW PROPOSALS AIMED AT INCREASIN6'PRESSSURE
ON THE SERBS TO RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS. WE HAVE CONSULTED
WITH THE RUSSIANS, WHO HAVE AGREED WITH THE NEED TO
INCREASE PRESSURE ON THE SERBS. BLOMBERG RELATED
-FINLAND'S EFFORTS TO BROKER ESTONIA-RUSSIAN TALKS AIMED AT
GETTING A TROOP WITHDRAWAL AGREEMENT TALBOTT SAID
RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER MAMEDOV ASSURED HIM IN
BRUSSELS,LAST WEEK THAT THE RUSSIAN TROOPS WOULD BE
WITHDRAWN ON SCHEDULE BY AUGUST 31. END SUMMARY.

3. UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF MET APRIL 20 WITH FINNISH MFA

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS JAAKO BLOMBERG. HE
WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AMBASSADOR VALTASAARI AND POLITICAL
COUNSELOR HARKONEN. DEPUTY SECRETARY STROBE TALBOTT
JOINED THE GROUP ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE MEETING.

MACEDONIA: FINNS TO INCREASE PEACEKEEPERS

4. BLOMBERG OBSERVED THAT THE SITUATION IN BOSNIA WAS

CONSUMING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION THIS WEEK, BOTH IN
WASHINGTON AND AMONG THE NORDIC COUNTRIES. HE CONFIRMED
THAT THE GOF HAD PLEDGED AT THE NORDIC MINISTERIAL MEETING
OVER THE APRIL 16-17 WEEKEND TO SEND ADDITIONAL
EACEKEEPERS TO MACEDONIA. THESE TROOFS WOULD FILL IN
BEHIND THE NORWEGIANS, WHO WERE EXPECTED TO BE REDEPLOYED
TO BOSNIA. TIMING AND FINANCING OF THIS FINNISH TROOP
DEPLOYMENT HAD NOT YET BEEN WORKED OUT, HOWEVER. TARNOFF
WELCOMED THE FINNISH DECISION IN PRINCIPLE TO ROVIDE MORE
TROOPS FOR MACEDONIA.

5. BLOMBERG SAID THE GOF REGRETTED IT WAS NOT ABLE TO

CONTRIBUTE TROOPS FOR PEACE ENFORCEMENT IN BOSNIA. HE
EXPLAINED THAT CURRENT FINNISH PEACEKEEFING LEGISLATION
REQUIRED THAT THERE BE AN AGREED CEASEFIRE AND THE
COOPERATION OF ALL THE PARTIES BEFORE FINNISH PEACEKEEPERS

DECLASSIFICATION AUTHORITY: Geoffrey W. Chapman, Senior Reviewer, A/GIS/IPS

3/25/2019

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019
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Item Subject: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY

COULD BE DEPLOYED. HE SAID THE GOF WAS WORKING WITH THE

PARLIAMENT TO LOOSEN THESE REQUIREMENTS. IN THE MEANTIME,
HOWEVER. THE NORDICS HAD DEVELOPED A NEW ABILITY TO
COOPERATE AMONG THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE ENHANCED
PEACEKEEPING IN BOTH MACEDONIA AND BOSNIA.

BOSNIA: NEXT STEPS

6. TWO WEEKS AGO, FOLLOWING THE ULTIMATUM IN SARAJEVO AND

THE BOSNIA-CROATIAN FEDERATION AGREEMENT TARNOFF SAID,
THE U.S. THOUGHT WE WERE CLOSE TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
SERBS. HOWEVER, RECENT SERB ACTION IN BOSNIA HAS LED US
TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE WILL BE UNABLE TO MOVE THE
DIPLOMATIC PROCESS FORWARD UNTIL WE CAN DEMONSTRATE MORE
MILITARY RESOLVE. ACCORDINGLY, THE PRESIDENT AND THE
SECRETARY HAD BEEN CONCENTRATING THEIR THINKING OVER THE
PAST FEW DAYS ON PREPARING SOME NEW PROPOSALS INVOLVING AN
INCREASE IN NATO ACTIVITY IN AND AROUND THE SAFE AREAS.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE NEW U.S. PROPOSALS WAS TO RESTART THE
DIPLOMATIC TRACK BY INCREASING MILITARY PRESSURE ON THE
SERBS. WE WOULD BE CONSULTING WITH OUR ALLIES ON THE

DETAILS OF THESE NEW PROPOSALS.

7. RESPONDING TO BLOMBERG'S QUESTION, TARNOFF SAID THE

U.S. HAD CONSULTED CLOSELY WITH THE RUSSIANS ON NEXT STEPS
IN BOSNIA. TALBOTT REPORTED THAT IN PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
JUST CONCLUDED TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH PRESIDENT
YELTSIN, HE HAD EXPRESSED EXASPERATION WITH THE SERBS AND
SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF CRANKING UP THE PRESSURE ON THEM TO
RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS. YELTSIN HAD BEEN WORRIED ABOUT
AIR STRIKES FOR TWO REASONS, ONLY ONE OF WHICH HE
MENTIONED: THE POSSIBILITY THAT AIR STRIKES WOULD STIR UP
FURTHER SERB AGGRESSIVE NATIONALISM. AN UNSPOKEN CONCERN,
TALBOTT SAID, WAS THE PROSPECTIVE EFFECT ON RUSSIAN
DOMESTIC POLITICS OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST THE SERBS.

8. BLOMBERG COMMENTED THAT DURING THE VISIT TO FINLAND OF

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT OF THE DUMA RIYBIN, HE HAD SAID THAT HE
"DID NOT MIND WHAT'THE SERBS WERE DOING,-ONLY WHAT THE
OTHERS WERE DOING." TALBOTT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SUCH
SENTIMENT EXISTED IN RUSSIA, BUT ASSERTED THAT YELTSIN AND
KOZYREV DO MIND WHAT THE SERBS DO. TARNOFF COMMENTED THAT
WHILE THE USG COULD NOT EXPECT AN EXPLICIT RUSSIAN
ENDORSEMENT OF MORE AIR STRIKES, IT DETECTED A WILLINGNESS
TO ALLOW IT. TALBOTT ADDED THAT THE ULTIMATE IMPACT OF
ADDITIONAL MILITARY PRESSURE VERY MUCH DEFENDS UPON THE
REACTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO EVENTS IN
GORADZE. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT ENHANCED INTERNATIONAL
SANCTIONS, INCLUDING USE OF FORCE, WILL RESULT IN MORE

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019
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Item Subject: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY

INFLUENCE WITH THE BOSNIAN SERBS.

9. TARNOFF SAID THE U.S. HOPED TO COMPLETE CONSULTATIONS

WITH THE ALLIES AND COME TO AGREEMENT ON A NEW APPROACH IN
BOSNIA BY WEEK'S END. FOLLOWING AGREEMENT ON A MORE
ROBUST MILITARY POSTURE, TARNOFF SAID, THE U.S. HOPED TO
ORGANIZE A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING INVOLVING THE U.S., EU, AND
RUSSIA TO DISCUSS HOW TO FROCEED ON THE DIPLOMATIC TRACK.
HOEVER, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR THE MUSLIMS AND
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN STEMMING SERB NATIONALISM FOR
DIPLOMACY TO RESUME IN THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

10. BLOMBERG ASKED AT WHAT LEVEL THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING

ON THE DIPLOMATIC PROCESS WOULD BE HELD. TARNOFF SAID
THIS HAD NOT BEEN DECIDED; THE U.S. WAS FLEXIBLE. HE
SAID THE USG OFTEN CONSULTED FIRST WITH THE FRENCH,
GERMANS AND BRITISH AND WAS GUIDED BY THEIR ADVICE ON HOW
TO ENGAGE WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

EUROPEAN SECURITY

11. TARNOFF SAID THE USG WAS DELIGHTED AT FINLAND'S

DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE. HE
SAID IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE PARTICIPATION IN
PFF OF NON-WARSAW PACT COUNTRIES WHICH DO NOT JOIN PFP
MERELY AS A STEPPING STONE TO NATO BUT RATHERFOR- ITS- OWN
MERITS. FINLAND'S PARTICIPATION WOULD HELP THE U.S. IN -
ITS EFFORTS TO PERSUADE THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN
STATES OF THE MERITS OF PFP PARTICIPATION.
- -
12. RESPONDING TO BLOMBERG'S QUESTION, TALBOTT-SAID HE
EXPECTS THAT THE RUSSIANS WILL PARTICIPATE=IN'PFP- - -
EVENTUALLY. THEY WILL REALIZE THAT IT IS OVERWHELMINGLY
IN THEIR INTEREST. THERE ARE A FEW COUNTRIES-THAT- WOULD -- , -
STAY OUT OF PFP IF THE RUSSIANS STAYED OUT BUTI-MANY-IMORE -=
WOULD LOVE BEING PARTNERS WITHOUT THE RUSSIANS BECAUSE
THEY WOULD APPEAR CLOSER TO THEIR OBJECTIVE: NATO
MEMBERSHIP. FROM THE RUSSIAN POINT OF VIEW, PFP WITHOUT
RUSSIA LOOKS LIKE AN ALLIANCE AGAINST THEM-,--fSOMETHING THE
RUSSIANS DO NOT WANT. THEREFORE, AT THE END OF THE- DAYV:' - - ,- ;•THg1 , 4, 1

ONCE THE DIFFERENCES OVER BOSNIA WERE RESOLVED-,---TALBOtir--- - -

WAS HOPEFUL THE RUSSIANS WOULD BECOME PARTNERS-.

13. BLOMBERG NOTED THAT AT THE NATO SUMMIT, AGREEMENT HAD

BEEN REACHED ON COOPERATION THROUGH A COMBINED JOINT TASK - di 1 • i• I

FORCE. HE ASKED WHETHER SUCH A STRUCTURE COULD BE USEFUL '

IN BOSNIA. TARNOFF SAID PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE THE CJTF
WAS NOT VERY FAR ALONG IN DEVELOPMENT YET. MEANWHILE
BOSNIA OPERATIONS WERE BEING CARRIED OUT UNDER JOINT UN

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019
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Item Subject: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY

AND NATO LEADERSHIP, WITH UNPROFOR RESPONSIBLE FOR

DEPLOYMENT OF GROUND TROOPS AND NATO DIRECTING AIR
OPERATIONS IN COOPERATION WITH THE UN. TARNOFF ADDED THAT
BOSNIA WAS SOMETHING OF A TEST/NG GROUND FOR ALL OF THESE
EUROPEAN SECURITY STRUCTURES IN THE NEW WORLD ORDER. THE
RUSSIANS, NATO, EU AND UN ARE INTERACTING IN COMPLEX NEW
WAYS IN CONSTANTLY CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.

14. BLOMBERG COMMENTED THAT SINCE FINLAND IS PREPARING TO

ENTER THE EU NEXT YEAR, THE GOF IS INTERESTED IN HOW THE
EU RELATES TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS. THE EU WAS A VERY
COMPLICATED ORGANIZATION, BLOMBERG SAID. HE HOPED IT WAS
EQUALLY VALUABLE. IN JOINING THE EU AND PARTICIPATING IN
THE PFP, FINLAND WAS PREPARED TO OFFER ITS PEACEKEEPING
RESOURCES,•THROUGH PFP, NACC OR EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE
CJTF. FINLAND WAS QUITE HAPPY TO OFFER THIS ASSISTANCE
NOW WITHOUT ENTERING AN ALLIANCE OR RECEIVING A SECURITY
GUARANTEE. THE GOF DOES NOT RULE OUT ANY OPTIONS FOR THE

FUTURE, HOWEVER.

BALTICS

15. BLOMBERG SAID FINLAND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE

BILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE ESTONIANS
AND LATVIANS RESPECTIVELY CONCERNING THE_WITHDRAWAL_OF___ _
RUSSIAN TROOPS. HE SAID THIS WAS A VERY IMPORTANT ISUUE
FOR FINLAND AND OBSERVED THAT SENTIMENT BOTH IN THE --
BALTICS AND IN RUSSIA SEEMED TO BE MOVING TOWARDS LESS
FLEXIBILITY AS A RESULT OF DOMESTIC POLITICAL PRESSURE.
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SAID IN HIS MEETING WITH THE VICE
PRESIDENT LAST WEEK, ESTONIAN PRIME MINISTER LAAR-HAS.', -
SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO THE ASSERTION THAT NOT-ONLY•THE-
RUSSIANS, BUT ALSO THE ESTONIANS HAD TO DEMONSTRATE - —
FLEXIBILITY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AN AGREEMENT:=-TALBOTT
SAID THE LATVIAN NEGOTIATIONS SEEMED CLOSE-TO -7

REAKTHROUGH; WE WERE EXPECTING PRESIDENT YELTSIN TO - -

TELEPHONE PRESIDENT ULMANIS THIS WEEK TO 1NVITE.HIM-TO .A -'
MOSCOW SUMMIT. MEANWHILE, HE SAID, THE USG-HAD - PUT -
FORWARD SOME PROPOSALS TO HELP THE RUSSIANS- MANAGE- THE --- -.-
TROOP WITHDRAWAL ISSUE DOMESTICALLY, SUCH ,AS=HOUSING
VOUCHERS FOR DEPARTING OFFICERS. TALBOTT-SAID IT - WAS-'=-- --
IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN COOPERATION WITH THE NORUIC -AND_EAST--
EUROFEAN STATES TO COME TO CLOSURE ON THE TROOP WITHDRAWAL
ISUE BY AUGUST 31.

16. BLOMBERG SAID THAT TWO MONTHS AGO, THE RUSSIANS HAD
ASKED FOR THE GOF'S HELP IN TROOP WITHDRAWAL TALKS WITH
THE ESTONIANS. THE GOF HAD SET UP A MEETING. HOWEVER
FOLLOWING THE RUSSIAN AGREEMENT WITH THE LATVIANS ON

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019
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Item Subject: UNDER SECRETARY TARNOFF AND DEPUTY SECRETARY

SKRUNDA, THERE SEEMED TO BE A CHANGE OF HEART IN MOSCOW.

AT RUSSIAN REQUEST, THE FINNS POSTPONED THE ESTONIAN
TALKS. NOW IT SEEMED THE RUSSIANS WERE MOVING TACTICALLY
"THIS WAY AND THAT" AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE
PROCESS COULD GET MOVING AGAIN. TALBOTT RESPONDED THAT
THE RUSSIANS UNDERSTOOD THAT IF THEY DID NOT ACHIEVE
WITHDRAWAL BY THE AUGUST 31 DEADLINE, THEY WOULD PAY A
PR/CE NOT ONLY IN THEIR BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH THE
BALTICS BUT ALSO INTERNATIONALLY AS A COUNTRY WHICH DOES
NOT LIVE UP TO ITS AGREEMENTS. HE SAID RUSSIAN DEPUTY
FOREIGN MINISTER MAMEDOV HAD ASSURED HIM LAST WEEK IN
BRUSSELS THAT THE TROOF WITHDRAWALS WOULD BE COMPLETED ON
SCHEDULE. RUSSIA WOULD ENDEAVOR TO GET THE BEST DEAL
POSSIBLE FOR THE RUSSIANS WHO REMAIN HOWEVER. TALBOTT

PTP9503

-COVM/TIMIIIM PTP9503

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R 300415Z APR 94
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
/NFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

STATE 114096

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR

TAGS: FREL, MARR BN, EU, FI

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2017-13804 Doc No. C06695292 Date: 03/29/2019