IRANIAN FM AND SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS CONFIRM

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001804 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EUR/SE, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PARM IR GR MARR MNUC MOPS PINR SUBJECT: IRANIAN FM AND SOCIALIST PARTY LEADERS CONFIRM ATTENDANCE AT MEETING IN GREECE REF: ATHENS 01780 Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Karen Grissette for Reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Poloff contacted Dimitri Droutsas, advisor to George Papandreou (head of opposition PASOK party and President of Socialist International) to follow-up reftel telcon concerning the attendance of Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki at the July 15 Socialist International meeting. Droutsas reported that Mottaki confirmed his attendance, although Droutsas was not aware of FM Mottaki-GoG meetings on the margins. Droutsas added that invitations had been sent to twenty-five leaders of socialist parties. He noted, for example, that Mexico, Morocco, Turkey, Belgium, UK, Norway, Italy, and Iran have accepted. (Note: Iran participates in Socialist International as an observer under the auspices of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan. End note.) ¶2. (C) Droutsas said Papandreou's position on Iran's nuclear program is well known, and that Papandreou supports the international community's position on the 5 1 nuclear package. Droutsas plans to telephone Ambassador Ries on Thursday morning to further discuss. Post will report additional details septel. RIES