DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON MARCH 20 EU FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000433

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016
TAGS: PREL ECON ETRD
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON MARCH 20 EU FOREIGN
MINISTERS MEETING (GAERC)

REF: SECSTATE 39905

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Post delivered reftel demarche on March 13
to relevant action officers at MFA. On Iraq, Charlambos
Hadjisavvas agreed with the US position that the
international community's first priority should be to
encourage Iraqi political leaders to move ahead in forming a
unified government. Stelios Makriyiannis told us that Cyprus
supported the EU positions on the Sudan and Liberia. On the
Balkans, Elena Rafti agreed that the Montenegro referendum
process had produced a broad consensus that was positive for
the stability of Serbia and thus, for the region. On Bosnia,
Rafti remains skeptical that Venice Commission
recommendations will be implemented before the October
elections.


2. (C) Charlambos Hadjisavvas, who handles Middle East
issues in the MFA's Office of Bilateral Affairs, reiterated
the EU's condemnation of the bomb attacks in Samarra. He
affirmed Cyprus' continued support for Iraqi political
leaders to establish a unified government that includes Sunni
participation. Hadjisavvas noted EU plans to establish an
Iraq delegation, which would facilitate high-level contact
with the future new government.


3. (C) Stelios Makriyiannis, who handles the Africa and
Asia portfolios in the MFA's Office of Bilateral Affairs
stressed that Cyprus' policy towards the Sudan was in line
with that of the EU and the United States. He also confirmed
EU support for the restoration of electrical power to
Monrovia.


4. (C) Elena Rafti, who handles the Balkans in the MFA's
European Affairs Division, agreed that the start of direct
talks on decentralization in Kosovo was a positive
development and noted that Serbian President Boris Tadic was
upbeat about the progress during his official visit to Cyprus
last week, noting that a peaceful and negotiated compromise
was the key to stability for the entire Balkan region. She
reiterated EU member-states support for both Belgrade and
Pristina's Euro-Atlantic integration. On Montenegro, Rafti
expressed satisfaction regarding the outcome of the
Montenegro referendum process, which was a binding agreement
by an overwhelming Parliament majority. For this reason, she
agreed that any negative rhetoric from pro-independent
factions would be of no consequence. On Bosnia, Rafti was
hesitant to rush the implementation of any final agreement
resulting from the Venice Commission recommendations and
personally felt it was unrealistic to expect any reforms to
be in effect before the October elections.
SCHLICHER