Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2295
2007-11-30 12:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
UNGA: GREECE WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON ANTI-ISRAEL
how-toVZCZCXRO6851 OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHTH #2295 3341258 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 301258Z NOV 07 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0838 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0276
UNCLAS ATHENS 002295
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS GR
SUBJECT: UNGA: GREECE WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON ANTI-ISRAEL
RESOLUTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 159386
UNCLAS ATHENS 002295
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS GR
SUBJECT: UNGA: GREECE WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON ANTI-ISRAEL
RESOLUTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 159386
1. (SBU) DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on anti-Israel
UNGA resolutions to Ambassador Alexandros Rallis, Deputy Head
of the MFA D1 Directorate for International Organizations,
and to Giorgos Ayfantis, Deputy Head of the MFA A6
Directorate for Arab and Middle East Issues. DepPolCons
stressed the importance of a Greek "no" vote on the
resolutions or, at least, an abstention or absence from the
voting, as Greece had done previously.
2. (SBU) Rallis said he informed FM Bakoyannis' office
regarding the U.S. position and expected Greece to follow the
EU consensus position. Rallis believed that, at a minimum,
this would mean an abstention or absence from the voting,
though he was unable to provide precise details on Greece's
or the EU's intentions.
3. (SBU) Ayfantis further explained that if no common EU
position took shape, Greece would evaluate the issue and make
its decision on how to vote. He said the U.S. demarche would
be "decisive" in helping Greece formulate its position, but
he too could not provide a definitive answer regarding
Greece's intentions. Ayfantis also claimed that Greece's
ambassador to the UN had considerable discretion on such
matters. Because events often developed quickly and Athens
was usually already closed for business when votes took place
in NYC, the ambassador often had to make quick decisions on
votes without instructions from the capital.
COUNTRYMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA IS GR
SUBJECT: UNGA: GREECE WILL FOLLOW EU LINE ON ANTI-ISRAEL
RESOLUTIONS
REF: SECSTATE 159386
1. (SBU) DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on anti-Israel
UNGA resolutions to Ambassador Alexandros Rallis, Deputy Head
of the MFA D1 Directorate for International Organizations,
and to Giorgos Ayfantis, Deputy Head of the MFA A6
Directorate for Arab and Middle East Issues. DepPolCons
stressed the importance of a Greek "no" vote on the
resolutions or, at least, an abstention or absence from the
voting, as Greece had done previously.
2. (SBU) Rallis said he informed FM Bakoyannis' office
regarding the U.S. position and expected Greece to follow the
EU consensus position. Rallis believed that, at a minimum,
this would mean an abstention or absence from the voting,
though he was unable to provide precise details on Greece's
or the EU's intentions.
3. (SBU) Ayfantis further explained that if no common EU
position took shape, Greece would evaluate the issue and make
its decision on how to vote. He said the U.S. demarche would
be "decisive" in helping Greece formulate its position, but
he too could not provide a definitive answer regarding
Greece's intentions. Ayfantis also claimed that Greece's
ambassador to the UN had considerable discretion on such
matters. Because events often developed quickly and Athens
was usually already closed for business when votes took place
in NYC, the ambassador often had to make quick decisions on
votes without instructions from the capital.
COUNTRYMAN