GREEK POLITICIANS -- RIGHT AND LEFT -- TURN OUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002075

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR CY
SUBJECT: GREEK POLITICIANS -- RIGHT AND LEFT -- TURN OUT
FOR CLERIDES


Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville. Reason:
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Greek politicians from both government and
opposition parties formed part of an overflow crowd at an
October 17 event in honor of former Cypriot President
Clerides. Two former prime ministers -- Mitsotakis and
Simitis -- defended Greece's past handling of the Cyprus
problem and criticized (if obliquely) the Papaopoulos
government. The audience included curent FM Bakoyannis,
prominent PASOKies, as well as former Cypriot FM (and current
Presidntial candidate) Kassoulides. The event illustated
the complicated impact of the Cyprus probem on Greek
politics. Both major political parties feel they must defend
past decisions, underscore on-going support for Cyprus, and
highlight their pro-solution credentials. And both parties
also tend to leave any criticism of the current Cyprus
government to retired politicians. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Former New Democracy PM Mitsotakis praised past
Greece-Cprus cooperation that resulted in Cyprus's EU etry
without preconditions. Unfortunately for the Cyprus problem,
Mitsotakis said, President Clerides had not been able to
remain President to "finish the job." If Clerides had
remained in office, things would have turned out differently.
Calling the Annan plan "history," Mitsotakis stated that the
Greek-Cypriot veto "must be respected." But he urged that
efforts to find a solution continue; in a reference to their
ages, Mitsotakis suggested to Clerides that they both live
long enough to see Cyprus re-united.


3. (C) Former PASOK PM Simitis recalled his "common
efforts" with Clerides to pave the way for a solution. In a
jab at current Cypriot President Papadopoulos, Simitis
suggested that, since its entry, Cyprus "has been losing
credibility within the EU." Developments following the
Greek-Cypriot rejection of he Annan plan "did not favor
Cyprus" (he cited the danger of a "Taiwan solution").
Simitis noted that, during the Annan Plan negotiations,
Papadopoulos had not expressed objections nor made
alternative proposals. However, Simitis blamed both
Papadopoulos and Talat for the July 8 agreement's lack of
results. Simitis believed the EU card remained key, but
reminded the audience that some in the EU might prefer to
leave the Cyprus problem unsolved to keep Turkey from entry.
The Greek Cypriot side needed to take the initiative, make
proposals, and show it was ready to solve the problem.


4. (C) Former President Clerides spoke only briefly. He
emphasized that he had written his book not to criticize
others but to show the conditions at the time and the
possibilities it had offered. He was flanked by former
Cypriot FM and presidential candidate Kassoulides, who made
the most of his opportunity to mingle with Greek politicians
from both government and opposition.


COUNTRYMAN