GREECE: BSEC DEMARCHE DELIVERED

UNCLAS ATHENS 001361 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV PREL KCRM GR SUBJECT: GREECE: BSEC DEMARCHE DELIVERED REF: A. SECSTATE 91451 ¶B. ISTANBUL 565 ¶1. (SBU) On July 2, DepPolCouns, Econoff, and Poloff delivered BSEC environmental symposium demarche points to MFA B2 Directorate for Economic and Commercial Affairs Deputy Director Ioannis Metaxas. Metaxas responded that high-level officials from the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of the Merchant Marine would attend the symposium to discuss the environmental success in the Aegean Sea as a possible model for Black Sea cleanup. He did not, however, provide further details on the Greek participants. ¶2. (SBU) Metaxas took the opportunity to provide a readout of the BSEC Summit of June 25. Covering much of the same information as ref. b, Metaxas also told us that the BSEC-U.S. environmental protection symposium is serving as a coalescent agent, helping to add greater cohesion to BSEC. While Metaxas may have been overstating the impact of the U.S. project, his remarks indicated good will on the part of the BSEC members towards U.S. participation. Metaxas saw a certain convergence of interests among participating countries on practical matters, while acknowledging political realities (e.g., Russia/Georgia tensions). Metaxas argued that practical projects, such as the U.S. environmental efforts, were receiving wide support. Metaxas also believed that the Russians appeared well-balanced in their approach to the BSEC Summit, avoiding a big-brother role. COUNTRYMAN