EUR A/S FRIED MEETS GREEK FM MOLYVIATIS AT FORUM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001685

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM KMPI BA GR
SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED MEETS GREEK FM MOLYVIATIS AT FORUM
FOR THE FUTURE

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Meeting held on November 12, 2005, 12:00, at the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain.


2. (SBU) Participants:
U.S.
EUR A/S Dan Fried
Leslie Tsou, NEA Watcher from Embassy London
Michael Mussi (Embassy notetaker)

Greece
Foreign Affairs Minister Petros Molyviatis
Ambassador Charalabos Rokanas, Secretary General of the
Foreign Ministry
Ambassador Constantine Rallis, Director of the Diplomatic
Cabinet of Ministers


3. (C) Summary: Meeting with A/S Dan Fried on the margins
of the Forum for the Future, Greek Foreign Minister
Molyviatis urged against United Nations Special
Representative for Macedonia Nimitz offering a third proposal
too soon, as Greece would be compelled to reject it absent
adequate time to prepare. Regarding Kosovo, Molyviatis
suggested that the Serbs need to be offered the promise that
they will be brought into the European fold to alleviate the
pain of losing Kosovo and possibly Montenegro. He urged that
Montenegro be encouraged to delay the referendum on
independence as this may push Serbia over the edge. On
Cyprus, Molyviatis urged the U.S. to tolerate Cypriot
President Papadopoulos' aggressive style. Molyviatis
expressed that he is optimistic for the first time in his
diplomatic career about Turkey's recognition of Cyprus. End
summary.


4. (C) In a meeting on the sidelines of the Forum for the
Future, A/S Fried expressed U.S. appreciation to FM
Molyviatis for Greece's contribution to the Fund for the
Future. He said that Greece's example, along with Denmark,
Switzerland, Spain and other nations, shows that even non-G8
countries, some of which may differ with the U.S. on regional
issues such as the war in Iraq, can still support initiatives
that are in the common interest. FM Molyviatis said that
Greece contributed for two reasons: as a country in the
region it has an interest in the development of the region;
and Greece believes in President Bush's vision to promote
democracy in the Middle East. He cautioned that the road
will not be easy as the region has built-up resistance to
reform, but that this should not prevent our efforts. A/S
Fried added that we will all need to be patient, yet
unyielding in our commitment to promote democratic reforms.

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Bumps in the Road toward Peace in the Balkans
--------------


5. (C) Molyviatis told A/S Fried that Greece is working to
find a solution to the emotionally and politically charged
issue of an official name for Macedonia (he used "FYROM"
throughout). He explained that the GOG would like to move
ahead, but the Greek public is resistant; the GOG has already
lost much political capital over this issue. Molyviatis said
that the GOG extended itself to accept United Nations Special
Representative for Macedonia Matthew Nimitz' first proposal,
but that it could have gone no further. He said Nimitz'
second proposal was not a compromise but accepted 99 percent
of the other side's position, and was therefore not
acceptable to Greece. Due to the sensitivity of this issue
in the minds of the Greek public, Molyviatis urged that
Nimitz not present a third proposal in the near future
because the GOG would be compelled to reject it; it will be
very difficult for the GOG to give ground too soon. A/S
Fried said that Nimitz is independent. Molyviatis said that
even if he believes this statement, the Greek public does
not. He urged that all parties remain patient allowing
Greece to heal politically and Macedonia to institute
reforms; the longer Nimitz waits, the more likely the
possibility for a positive outcome.


6. (C) Regarding Kosovo, Molyviatis told A/S Fried that the
GOG has pledged support for Maarti Ahtisaari, the former
Finnish President now the UN special envoy on Kosovo final
status. He explained that the troika of the South-East
European Cooperation Process (SEECP),Romania, Greece and
Croatia, the most recent, present and future chairs
respectively of the organization, will be visiting Pristina
and Belgrade in the first week of December. Molyviatis
recognized that Kosovo is moving toward some form of
independence, but expressed concern that Serbian politics are
weak and that the Serbian government has not prepared its
public to accept Kosovo's move. He suggested that Serbia
needs to be offered a promise of inclusion in the European
community in parallel with Kosovo's progress. This incentive
will make the loss of Kosovo more palatable; however, in the
absence of this hope, he said the tenuous situation on the
ground may unravel. Molyviatis added that the timing of the
referendum on independence for Montenegro may be too much for
Serbia at this time. He urged that Montenegro be encouraged
to postpone their referendum to avoid a breakdown of the
status quo.
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Greece's Comfort Zone to the North
--------------


7. (C) Molyviatis described the good relations Athens now
has with Belgrade. He explained that Serbia was long the
greatest power in the Balkans, and blamed Yugoslavia for
inciting the Greeks to civil war following World War II. He
said that now Serbia is a group of fragmented states that no
longer present a security threat to Greece. The Serbs had
brought the break-up on themselves. He admitted that the
entrance of these countries into the European Union (EU)
would be long in coming, but that as they progress, they will
join on their own merit. Greece is in favor of EU
enlargement, but that the EU may not be capable of
enlargement in the near future.

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Long Years of Problems in Cyprus
--------------


8. (C) Regarding Cyprus, A/S Fried expressed concern about
the recent aggressive and angry approach of Cypriot President
Tassos Papadopoulos to Cypriot reunification issues.
Molyviatis said that he did not think the U.S. was reading
Papadopoulos correctly. He said Papadopoulos is not just
angry at the U.S. and Turkey, but at everyone; he has an
angry nature. Molyviatis said that he has personally
suggested to Papadopoulos that he tone down his aggressive
rhetoric and agreed to talk with him again. He asked A/S
Fried to give Papadopoulos a chance to prove himself.
Papadopoulos is currently building bridges to European
capitals including France. He understands that it is in
Cyprus' national interest that Turkey be with Europe. He had
two chances to veto Turkey's EU accession process and did
not, even though Turkey had "humiliated" him. Turkey's
support of the Annan plan was a public relations coup for
Turkey, making Cyprus appear the obstruction to progress.


9. (C) Molyviatis said that the U.S. and Greece have the
same ultimate objectives in Cyprus. He expressed that he is
optimistic for the first time in his nearly 50 year career as
a Greek diplomat. For the first time Turkey has an incentive
to recognize Cyprus, and he is confident that eventually
Turkey will do so, but only under a settlement.


10. (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried.

MONROE