GREECE: VIEWS ON UPCOMING GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001460

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2017
TAGS: EUN ENRG ETRD ETTC KPAL PGOV PREL SOCI GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: VIEWS ON UPCOMING GAERC

REF: SECSTATE 98749

Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) On July 18, DepPolCouns discussed reftel points on the
July 23 GAERC with MFA European Correspondent Penny Douti.
Responses below are keyed to major issue items:

-- KOSOVO: Douti anticipated Kosovo would be discussed at
lunch. Greece's position was well-known. While Greece
acknowledged that Kosovo's eventual independence appeared
assured, Greece believed the process of continued
negotiations was important so that the "stabilization in one
region does not cause chaos in others."

-- ALBANIA: Not on agenda.

-- UKRAINE: Greece agreed with the U.S. position.

-- IRAN: Greece agreed with the U.S. position. Douti noted,
however, that Greece had little involvement in sanctions on
Iran since, she asserted, there was little Iranian investment
activity in Greece.

-- MIDDLE EAST: Greece was happy with President Bush's
initiative to call a conference this fall on a Palestinian
state. Douti said Greece believed it was important that Gaza
not be isolated and that the Palestinians be encouraged to
re-unite.

-- SUDAN/DARFUR: Greece agreed with the U.S. position. Douti
expected the French to be given a green light on their
planned humanitarian operations in Chad.

-- OTHER BUSINESS: Douti expected that there would be some
discussion of the fate of the Bulgarian nurses in Libya.
COUNTRYMAN