Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS1039
2007-05-22 07:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO UNSC ACTION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR RU
SUBJECT: GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO UNSC ACTION
REF: STATE 6475
Classfied y: DCM Thomas Countryman or resons .4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001039
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR RU
SUBJECT: GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO UNSC ACTION
REF: STATE 6475
Classfied y: DCM Thomas Countryman or resons .4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On May 14, Charge delivered reftel demarche
on Kosovo UNSC action to Constantine Bitsios, Prime
Minister's diplomatic advisor, and on May 16 to Ambassador
Fotis Xydas, MFA Director of the D1 Directorate for the
United Nations and International Organisations. Bitsios
sought further information on the positions of Russia and
China and conveyed his distaste for the Ahtisaari plan, while
Xydas made clear Greek inclinations to seek more time before
adopting any resolution. Russian DCM, also in the meeting
with Xydas, added that he saw no need to rush the process.
END SUMMARY.
PM'S CHIEF OF STAFF
--------------
2. (C) On May 14, Charge met with Chief of Staff to the Prime
Minister Constantine Bitsios to deliver reftel demarche.
Bitsios' first question was whether the USG thought the
Russians would exercise their veto in the Security Council on
Kosovo. Charge indicated that Russia had made clear its
unhappiness but added that they had also not explicitly
stated that they would use their veto. Charge added that the
Russians were expert at "keeping their options open" but that
the USG was not/not assuming that there would be a veto. "We
came into this with the Russians," Charge said, "and we
expect to go out with them."
3. (C) Bitsios stated that no matter how the message was sold
to them, it was "still a bad deal for the Serbs" because at
the end of the day "it is the loss of a slice of their
territory." Charge noted that he understood the point but
added that the Ahtisaari plan was the "least bad" of all
options available to Serbia and was the one most likely to
ensure that there would not be violent consequences. Bitsios
agreed and stated that Serbia, in the end "will have to
swallow it either way."
4. (C) Bitsios also queried Charge about China's position.
Charge indicated that China would likely follow the Russian
position as they had done on other issues in the past. Asked
by Bitsios what would happen if "things don't go forward,"
Charge responded that we are totally focused on reaching
agreement in the Security Council. Bitsios also noted that
in recent days, Prime Minister Karamanlis has had contact
with several different Serb leaders wherein he expressed his
concern that things go smoothly and that there be no upset or
conflict in the region. "We're counting on you (the U.S.),"
Bitsios told Charge, "to work towards a fair resolution."
I.O. OFFICE
--------------
5. (C) On May 16, DCM also addressed demarche points to
Ambassador Fotis Xydas, Director of the D1 Directorate for
the United Nations and International Organizations, in the
company of the Russian DCM Alexey Rogalev. (NOTE: Russian
and U.S. DCMs were meeting jointly with Xydas on another
matter. END NOTE.) DCM advised that the U.S., along with
our European colleagues on the Security Council and Germany,
had quietly circulated a draft proposal that endorsed the
Ahtisaari plan which also sought to address Russian concerns.
Xydas commented on Kosovo being in Greece's backyard and
stated that both his country and the Russians had been
constructive on the matter to date. He said, however, that
more time was needed for the Serbs "to be able to swallow or
absorb" the situation. "We are just asking for some more
time. That's the position of our Minister and we expect you
to understand it," he stated, adding that a humiliated Serbia
would be the worst thing. Xydas stated that some in New York
ATHENS 00001039 002 OF 002
had said that the situation could not go beyond June, but, he
retorted, "we don't see any need for limited time structures."
6. (C) For his part, Rogalev said there was no 'sword of
Damocles' hanging over the process. He said that Russia
wanted to see more practical steps for the implementation of
standards and the return of refugees along with a more normal
life for ethnic minorities before further action was taken.
7. (C) DCM also discussed the issue May 16 with MFA SecGen
Rocanas, whose very brief response was similar to that of
Bitsios.
RIES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR RU
SUBJECT: GREECE: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON KOSOVO UNSC ACTION
REF: STATE 6475
Classfied y: DCM Thomas Countryman or resons .4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On May 14, Charge delivered reftel demarche
on Kosovo UNSC action to Constantine Bitsios, Prime
Minister's diplomatic advisor, and on May 16 to Ambassador
Fotis Xydas, MFA Director of the D1 Directorate for the
United Nations and International Organisations. Bitsios
sought further information on the positions of Russia and
China and conveyed his distaste for the Ahtisaari plan, while
Xydas made clear Greek inclinations to seek more time before
adopting any resolution. Russian DCM, also in the meeting
with Xydas, added that he saw no need to rush the process.
END SUMMARY.
PM'S CHIEF OF STAFF
--------------
2. (C) On May 14, Charge met with Chief of Staff to the Prime
Minister Constantine Bitsios to deliver reftel demarche.
Bitsios' first question was whether the USG thought the
Russians would exercise their veto in the Security Council on
Kosovo. Charge indicated that Russia had made clear its
unhappiness but added that they had also not explicitly
stated that they would use their veto. Charge added that the
Russians were expert at "keeping their options open" but that
the USG was not/not assuming that there would be a veto. "We
came into this with the Russians," Charge said, "and we
expect to go out with them."
3. (C) Bitsios stated that no matter how the message was sold
to them, it was "still a bad deal for the Serbs" because at
the end of the day "it is the loss of a slice of their
territory." Charge noted that he understood the point but
added that the Ahtisaari plan was the "least bad" of all
options available to Serbia and was the one most likely to
ensure that there would not be violent consequences. Bitsios
agreed and stated that Serbia, in the end "will have to
swallow it either way."
4. (C) Bitsios also queried Charge about China's position.
Charge indicated that China would likely follow the Russian
position as they had done on other issues in the past. Asked
by Bitsios what would happen if "things don't go forward,"
Charge responded that we are totally focused on reaching
agreement in the Security Council. Bitsios also noted that
in recent days, Prime Minister Karamanlis has had contact
with several different Serb leaders wherein he expressed his
concern that things go smoothly and that there be no upset or
conflict in the region. "We're counting on you (the U.S.),"
Bitsios told Charge, "to work towards a fair resolution."
I.O. OFFICE
--------------
5. (C) On May 16, DCM also addressed demarche points to
Ambassador Fotis Xydas, Director of the D1 Directorate for
the United Nations and International Organizations, in the
company of the Russian DCM Alexey Rogalev. (NOTE: Russian
and U.S. DCMs were meeting jointly with Xydas on another
matter. END NOTE.) DCM advised that the U.S., along with
our European colleagues on the Security Council and Germany,
had quietly circulated a draft proposal that endorsed the
Ahtisaari plan which also sought to address Russian concerns.
Xydas commented on Kosovo being in Greece's backyard and
stated that both his country and the Russians had been
constructive on the matter to date. He said, however, that
more time was needed for the Serbs "to be able to swallow or
absorb" the situation. "We are just asking for some more
time. That's the position of our Minister and we expect you
to understand it," he stated, adding that a humiliated Serbia
would be the worst thing. Xydas stated that some in New York
ATHENS 00001039 002 OF 002
had said that the situation could not go beyond June, but, he
retorted, "we don't see any need for limited time structures."
6. (C) For his part, Rogalev said there was no 'sword of
Damocles' hanging over the process. He said that Russia
wanted to see more practical steps for the implementation of
standards and the return of refugees along with a more normal
life for ethnic minorities before further action was taken.
7. (C) DCM also discussed the issue May 16 with MFA SecGen
Rocanas, whose very brief response was similar to that of
Bitsios.
RIES