GREECE STICKS TO EU LINE ON CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002133 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017 TAGS: PHUM CU UNGA GR PREL SUBJECT: GREECE STICKS TO EU LINE ON CUBA REF: A. SECSTATE 147620 ¶B. SECSTATE 148506 Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) DepPolCouns delivered ref a and b points on, respectively, human rights actionQ embargo resolution toRallis, deputy directorate for International OQatzourou, European corre0 Directorate for the Ehd Security, and Chricounsellor of the MFA A8 Latin America Directorate. On the UN embargo resolution, Maniakis-Grivas said that, as in the past, Greece would abide by the common EU position and vote for the embargo resolution. Rallis explained that while Greece sided with the U.S. "on 99 percent of its UN votes," on this issue Greece would vote with the EU. ¶2. (C) With regard to the proposals for joint U.S.-EU action on human rights issues in Cuba, Maniakis-Grivas again said Greece would abide by the common EU position, whatever that turned out to be. When pushed repeatedly on whether Greece would advocate for the U.S. proposals or, at least, speak positively about the U.S. proposals in internal EU deliberations, Maniakis-Grivas awkwardly replied that Greece was awaiting EU reaction from Brussels. While he argued that Greece's "reputation on human rights issues was well-known," he was "unable to say anything now" on the issue. He did note, however, Greek support last year for Australia's amendment to the annual embargo resolution saying the embargo was motivated by valid concerns about human rights in Cuba. This, Maniakis-Grivas argued, should be taken as a "good sign" about how Greece saw the issue. COUNTRYMAN