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