Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04BRUSSELS3174
2004-07-26 14:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

EXCLUDING THE BELARUSIAN SPORTS AND TOURISM

Tags:  KOLY PHUM PREL USEU BRUSSELS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003174

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2014
TAGS: KOLY PHUM PREL USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EXCLUDING THE BELARUSIAN SPORTS AND TOURISM
MINISTER: EU LEAVES IT TO ATHENS

REF: SECSTATE 160967

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kyle Scott. Reason: 1.4(b)
(d)

(C) Mission deployed reftel points with Carl Hellergard,
point man on Belarus in the Council Policy Unit. He said the
EU was aware of the issue, but considered this fundamentally
a question for the Greeks to decide. He encouraged US to
concentrate our efforts in Athens. Hellergard noted that the
Council Secretariat was sympathetic to the views of the US,
convinced that Sivakov was a questionable figure, and has no
hesitation in relaying this information to Athens. He noted,
however, that the Greeks were already aware of Sivakov's
background, had raised this matter already in Brussels, but
were clearly struggling to find a way forward. Athens feels
constrained, we were told, given their belief that as host of
the Games they should try to keep political considerations
outside technical decisions on participation, lest it have
wider implications on the participation of other
countries/individuals. Still, Hellergard understood the
Greeks were reviewing possible ways and means to perhaps deny
Sivakov entry without setting unfortunate overall
consequences for the Games.

Sammis