Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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07ATHENS2004 | 2007-10-05 13:50:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Athens |
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #2004/01 2781350 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 051350Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0457 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0387 |
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002004 |
1. (C) SUMMARY: During an October 1-2 State visit to Greece, Georgian President Saakashvili focused on regional tensions with Russia (particularly over Abkhazia), Georgia's NATO prospects, and EU assistance. The Greeks reportedly expressed strong support for Georgia's territorial integrity, while also urging the Georgians to take a "moderate" approach that would not inflame the situation with Russia. On Georgia's NATO aspirations, the Greeks privately encouraged Georgia to continue with its reforms but apparently went no further in endorsing its hopes for a NATO MAP. END SUMMARY. STATE VISIT -------------------------- 2. (SBU) During his October 1-2 visit, President Saakashvili met with Greek President Papoulias, PM Karamanlis, FM Bakoyannis, and embattled opposition PASOK leader Papandreou. Press reports of the meetings cited a broad review of regional topics, including the situation in Turkey, the Cyprus issue, Kosovo, the Macedonia-name issue, and Georgia's concerns for its borders. Reports also highlighted economic ties between the countries and Saakashvili's desire to attract more direct Greece investment. GEORGIAN DCM UPBEAT -------------------------- 3. (C) In a conversation with Charge at an event hosted by the mayor of Athens for Saakashvili, the Georgian DCM said the Greeks were supportive of Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Asked whether he meant NATO, the DCM said the Greeks were positive on NATO. During pre-visit meetings at the PolDir level and the visit itself, according to the Georgian DCM, the Georgians described their problems with Russia in general and moderate terms, not dwelling, for example, on the recent missile incident. MFA READOUT: TENSIONS WITH RUSSIA -------------------------- 4. (C) MFA Georgia desk officer Stella Bezirtzoglou provided a more detailed and somewhat less upbeat summary readout of Saakashvili's meetings. She said discussions focused on two broad themes: regional issues, including NATO, and EU assistance to Georgia. Saakashvili touched often on Russia, which he reportedly said had bad relations with everyone in the region. In this context, Saakashvili was particularly concerned with the question of the rebellious Georgian region of Abkhazia. Bezirtzoglou said Greek leaders -- all of whom she said echoed the same position in their meetings with Saakashvili -- expressed "strong support" for the principle of territorial integrity, while also urging the Georgians to take a "moderate" approach that would not inflame the situation with Russia. Saakashvili said he had established a program "My Home" to create a list of all those who lost property in Abkhazia, which he intended to use in international fora. @hat Greece promised to the project. 5. (C) gia's relationship wit( the Greeks he intended`ership action plan (MA@resident Bush in DecembQSaakashvili hoped to be on the membership track next spring. Asked for Greece's response to Saakashvili's statement, Bezirtzoglou said Greece encouraged Georgia to continue with its reforms but did not go further in endorsing Georgia's desire for a closer relationship with NATO. Bezirtzoglou said Greece was now consumed with the dispute with FYROM (Macedonia) over the latter's name and could not focus on other NATO issues. Saakashvili had also expressed concern to the Greeks about how the Russians would react to developments in Kosovo, though Bezirtzoglou could provide no further details. EU ASSISTANCE TO GEORGIA -------------------------- 6. (C) Bezirtzoglou said the Greek leadership also discussed with Saakashvili Greece's assistance to Georgia within the framework of the EU neighborhood policy. This included assistance with security issues, public sector development and reform, rule of law, agriculture, and the health sector. She also mentioned Greece's assistance to Georgia on tourism, noting the recent opening in Georgia of a joint Greece/Georgia school of tourism. Saakashvili and the Greeks discussed the proposed BSEC plans for a Black Sea highway, which would pass through Abkhazia, as well as Greece's support for giving Georgia an EU visa facilitation agreement, as had been done with Russia last May, though some other EU member states opposed this step. Finally, Bezirtzoglou mentioned that Greece believed EU South Caucasus representative Peter Semneby could play a role in helping to defuse tensions in the region. But this would depend on two conditions: all interested parties, including Russia, had to agree to the EU role, and all had to agree to respect Georgia's territorial integrity. COMMENT -------------------------- 7. (C) The generally cordial atmosphere of the visit and public expressions of support Saakashvili received from Greek officials reflected Greece's long-standing relationship and cultural ties with Georgia. Both countries are majority Orthodox; Greece has a relatively large Georgian migrant population and reportedly is second only to Russia as a source of remittances to Georgia. 8. (C) At the same time, Greek officials appeared to be working hard to balance expressions of support for Georgia with words of caution about Russia, as well as on Georgia's NATO aspirations. The MFA's Bezirtzoglou said they had told the Russians "we have excellent relations with you and with the Georgians," which she said the Russians understood. The bottom line, as she explained, was that Greece was Russia's friend but "first we look out for our own interests." COUNTRYMAN |