GREECE ASKS FOR U.S. SUPPORT ON DRAFT UNSC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 003229 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR UNDERSECRETARY BURNS, EUR FOR ASST. SECRETARY FRIED, IO FOR ASST. SECRETARY SILVERBERG E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/20/2016 TAGS: UNSC PREL GR FR SUBJECT: GREECE ASKS FOR U.S. SUPPORT ON DRAFT UNSC RESOLUTION ON JOURNALISTS Classified By: Ambassador Charles P. Ries for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador Costas Halastanis, chief of staff to FM Bakoyannis, called Ambassador at 1615 hours, December 20 to ask that the Embassy convey a personal message from FM Bakoyannis to the Secretary concerning the Greek-French draft UNSCR on protection of journalists. The MFA, working with the French, understand that EU members, other members of the E-10, the Russians and the Chinese are willing to support passage of the UNSCR. Their reporting from New York indicates that the U.S. would prefer to handle the substance as a Presidential statement. ¶2. (C) FM Bakoyannis would like to request, as a &personal favor,8 that the Secretary issue instructions to USUN TO support the draft resolution. Timing moreover is short, since the text would need to be agreed by December 21 in order to be adopted during the Greek period on the UNSC. The Greek MFA understand that a vote may be taken December 20 or ¶21. ¶3. (C) Action requested: Guidance for reply to FM Bakoyannis, personal request, and general background on our position on draft resolution. RIES