GREEK POSITIONS ON NOV 19-20 GAERC ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002236

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2017
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV GR BK BM CH IR IS IZ KV LE
PK, SY, ZI
SUBJECT: GREEK POSITIONS ON NOV 19-20 GAERC ISSUES

REF: SECSTATE 156474

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: On November 15, DepPolCouns delivered reftel
points on the November 19-20 EU Foreign Ministers' meeting
(GAERC) to MFA A11 EU Common Foreign Policy Directorate
Counselor Antonia Katzourou. (NOTE: Katzourou recently
replaced A11 Counselor Penny Douti, who has transferred to
Moscow. END NOTE.) On November 16, DepPolCouns met with
Katzourou to discuss Greek/EU positions. Katzourou said the
main topics of discussion at the GAERC would be the Middle
East and Kosovo. Greece was awaiting a response to its
request submitted through the Embassy in Washington for an
invitation to the Annapolis meeting. The responses below are
keyed to major agenda items in reftel. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) -- Israeli-Palestinian Peace: Katzourou said the GAERC
would hear a report from SYG Solana on his recent tour of the
Middle East and would discuss what it could do to help move
the process along. Greece had submitted a request through
its Embassy in Washington for an invitation to the Annapolis
meeting, based on its credentials as an interested country in
the region, but had not yet received an answer whether it
would be invited. On the December 17 Paris Donors'
Conference, Greece recognized its importance and was
considering a donation, though no decision had yet been made.

-- Lebanon-Syria: Katzourou noted the UN SYG's visit
yesterday, as well as the French FM's recent visit. Greece
was interested to hear their perspectives.

-- Kosovo: Katzourou said Ambassador Ischinger would attend
the GAERC to report on developments. Greece recognized there
was now only a "slim chance" of a positive outcome of talks
before the December 10 deadline. Nevertheless, Greece
believed a negotiated settlement was critical and hoped that
a breakthrough might somehow be possible even at the last
minute. Greece was above all concerned about stability in
the region and feared the consequences of proceeding with the
UDI. It also believed that the outcome had to be legitimized
through the UN.

-- Bosnia: Katzourou thought there would not be a discussion
of Bosnia at the GAERC. Agreed conclusions supported High
Representative Lajcak.

-- Iran: Solana would report on developments with Iran as
well and Greece was waiting to hear the report before drawing
conclusions. In addition, Greece had just received DG El
Baradei's report but had not yet digested it. On the
question of separate EU sanctions, Katzourou said Greece
favored working as far as possible through the UN.

-- Iraq: Katsourou did not expect this issue to be on the
agenda.

-- Pakistan: The EU had not yet formulated its conclusions,
but Katzourou expected them to be virtually identical to the
positions advocated by the U.S.: lifting of the state of
emergency, respecting rule of law and human rights, free and
fair elections, and Musharraf giving up his military position.

-- EU-Africa Summit: Katzourou thought invitations had been
issued yesterday, though she did not know whether Mugabe had
been invited. Greece's position was that the summit was of
utmost importance, whether or not Mugabe attended. But if he
were to attend, Greece advocated a pointed discussion of
human rights in Zimbabwe. "Mugabe should not be allowed to
prevail at the summit," she said.

-- Burma: Greece agreed on the importance of keeping pressure
on the Burmese regime, but Katzourou did not think the issue
would be discussed at the GAERC.

-- Georgia: Though not among the U.S. points, Katzourou said
there would be a discussion of developments in Georgia.
There would be no agreed conclusions, but there would be a
press statement by the Presidency stressing the importance of
freedom of the press and a free and fair presidential
election in January.
SPECKHARD