Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NICOSIA2024
2006-12-13 14:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS UNLIKELY TO BE MUCH OF A PLAYER ON TFTP,
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHNC #2024 3471447 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131447Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7317 INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 3755 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0660 RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PRIORITY 0397 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1266 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 002024
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: EFIN PTER ECON EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS UNLIKELY TO BE MUCH OF A PLAYER ON TFTP,
MAY PROVIDE QUIET SUPPORT
REF: SECSTATE 194473
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD SCHLICHER, REASONS 1.4
b and d.
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 002024
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: EFIN PTER ECON EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS UNLIKELY TO BE MUCH OF A PLAYER ON TFTP,
MAY PROVIDE QUIET SUPPORT
REF: SECSTATE 194473
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD SCHLICHER, REASONS 1.4
b and d.
1. (C) We raised reftel demarche with Finance Minister
Michalis Sarris, MFA Acting PermSec Erato Marcoullis, MoI
PermSec Lazaros Savvides and Commerce Ministry PermSec
Efstathios Hamboullas. All were relatively unfamiliar with
the issue. Finance Minister Sarris promised the Ambassador
that the GoC was likely to be supportive of efforts to find a
way to allow the TFTP to continue. The others,
independently, echoed Sarris' remarks noting that the GoC
regularly cooperates with the U.S. on counter-terrorism
issues and would, in general, support any U.S. program to
prevent the financing of terror that did not violate EU or
Cypriot law.
2. (C) Comment: The controversy surrounding SWIFT and the
TFTP has not been an issue in Cyprus, either with the press,
the public, politicians or government officials. Data
privacy is a relatively new concept in Cyprus and has yet to
gain much of a foothold, although this may change over time
as Cyprus becomes more attuned to EU norms and standards. In
general, Cyprus wants to be seen as supportive of efforts to
combat terrorism. This is especially true in the area of
terrorism finance, where it is trying to overcome its
1990s-era image as a money-laundering haven. That said,
while the GoC may be a quiet ally behind the scenes, it is
unlikely to provide much support in public -- at least not in
opposition to other large EU members. Expending political
capital with fellow EU member states is reserved for issues
directly impacting the Cyprus issue. As with most issues
where it feels it does not have a dog in the fight, the GoC
is likely to sit back and go with whatever consensus emerges
in Brussels. We will continue to look for opportunities to
lobby GoC officials to support the TFTP and will monitor the
GoC's planned response.
Schlicher
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2016
TAGS: EFIN PTER ECON EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS UNLIKELY TO BE MUCH OF A PLAYER ON TFTP,
MAY PROVIDE QUIET SUPPORT
REF: SECSTATE 194473
Classified By: AMBASSADOR RONALD SCHLICHER, REASONS 1.4
b and d.
1. (C) We raised reftel demarche with Finance Minister
Michalis Sarris, MFA Acting PermSec Erato Marcoullis, MoI
PermSec Lazaros Savvides and Commerce Ministry PermSec
Efstathios Hamboullas. All were relatively unfamiliar with
the issue. Finance Minister Sarris promised the Ambassador
that the GoC was likely to be supportive of efforts to find a
way to allow the TFTP to continue. The others,
independently, echoed Sarris' remarks noting that the GoC
regularly cooperates with the U.S. on counter-terrorism
issues and would, in general, support any U.S. program to
prevent the financing of terror that did not violate EU or
Cypriot law.
2. (C) Comment: The controversy surrounding SWIFT and the
TFTP has not been an issue in Cyprus, either with the press,
the public, politicians or government officials. Data
privacy is a relatively new concept in Cyprus and has yet to
gain much of a foothold, although this may change over time
as Cyprus becomes more attuned to EU norms and standards. In
general, Cyprus wants to be seen as supportive of efforts to
combat terrorism. This is especially true in the area of
terrorism finance, where it is trying to overcome its
1990s-era image as a money-laundering haven. That said,
while the GoC may be a quiet ally behind the scenes, it is
unlikely to provide much support in public -- at least not in
opposition to other large EU members. Expending political
capital with fellow EU member states is reserved for issues
directly impacting the Cyprus issue. As with most issues
where it feels it does not have a dog in the fight, the GoC
is likely to sit back and go with whatever consensus emerges
in Brussels. We will continue to look for opportunities to
lobby GoC officials to support the TFTP and will monitor the
GoC's planned response.
Schlicher