EXCLUDING THE BELARUSIAN SPORTS AND TOURISM

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