MOLYVIATIS ON TURKEY/CYPRUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001598

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2014
TAGS: CY GR PREL TU TURKEY
SUBJECT: MOLYVIATIS ON TURKEY/CYPRUS


Classified By: Amb. Charles P. Ries. Reasons 1.4(b/d).


1. (C) At a June 9 lunch, FM Molyviatis and Ambassador
discussed Cyprus and Turkey issues in light of Turkish PM
Erdogan's visit to Washington and Under Secretary General
Prendergast's recent trip to the region. Molyviatis
commented that the idea of a report to the SYG on "the
failures of 2004" was not likely to go far since "Russia,
China and France did not want to bring it up." Molyviatis
confirmed that Prendergast, in Athens last Friday, had pushed
his "building blocks" concept. In response to the
Ambassador's question (did Papadopoulos really want a deal?),
Molyviatis said "Papadopoulos wasn't sure he didn't want a
deal."


2. (C) Molyviatis confirmed that Erdogan and Karamanlis
would meet July 3 on the Turkey-Greece border (for a ceremony
marking the new natural gas link). Molyviatis said he was
deeply concerned about rising nationalism in Turkey and the
strength of the deep state -- "Erdogan is losing control."
The situation had so worsened, he thought, "if Annan was
re-opened now, Erdogan wouldn't be able to deliver it."
Developments in Europe were not helping. In finalizing
conclusions for next week's European Council -- "France," he
said, wanted to downplay/avoid reference to October 3.
Greece, on the other hand, insisted the reference to the
October 3 start date be clear. Whatever the Council outcome,
however, Molyviatis was confident that October 3 remained the
real start date for the EU and Turkey. (Ironically, he
noted, the worse things got in Turkey, the more important it
is to all Europeans to keep some EU perspective in sight for
Turkey.)
RIES