GREECE EAGER TO HELP AFTER ANNAPOLIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002336

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT)

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL AMGT KPAO GR IS LE
SUBJECT: GREECE EAGER TO HELP AFTER ANNAPOLIS

REF: A. SECSTATE 162337


B. SECSTATE 163955

Classified By: DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Greece saw Annapolis as a "very positive
step," particularly in the commitment shown by both the
Israelis and Palestinians, according to top Greek Middle East
expert Ambassador Papaioannou, who accompanied FM Bakoyannis
to the conference. It was important now to keep up the
momentum. Greece believed only an international PKO on the
lines of UNIFIL in Lebanon could control Hamas in Gaza, and
Greece was willing to offer troops to such a force. Greece
would also be "very glad" to host future negotiations and had
proposed a Next Generation Initiative to bring young Israelis
and alestinians to Greece for confidence-building
conferences and meetings. DFM Doukas will attend the
December 17 Paris Donors' Conference. Greece had not yet
decided on a donation but was considering sponsoring a
hospital for children. END SUMMARY.
A BRILLIANT DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS
--------------


2. (C) On December 11, we discussed next steps after the
Annapolis Conference, including the December 17 Paris Donors'
Conference (refs a and b),with FM Bakoyannis' top Middle
East expert (who had attended the conference with
Bakoyannis),Ambassador Vassilis Papaioannou head of the MFA
A6 Middle East Directorate, as well as Papaioannou's deputy,
Giorgos Ayfantis. Papaioannou said Annapolis was a "very
positive step" for the peace process and one much needed at
this moment. Bakoyannis was also "very positive" on the
outcome -- which had been a "big concern" until the last
minute when it became apparent that there would be a joint
declaration on the way forward. Indeed, Ayfantis said the
way President Bush had dealt with the joint delaration
"outflanked" the skeptical Arab counries, who were convinced
it would fail, and represented a "diplomatic success
brilliantly played."

GREECE WILLING TO CONTRIBUTE PEACE-KEEPERS
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3. (C) Key to the success of Annapolis, Papaioannou said,
was the show of commitment by both Palestinians and Israelis
to work together. The process, of course, remained a
difficult one, but their commitment energized the process and
gave reason for hope. The important thing now was to
maintain momentum. But the "elephant in the room," Ayfantis
said, was Gaza and Hamas. The Palestinians, as well as the
Israelis, had to show self-restraint, but we could not expect
Abbas alone to be able to control the situation on his side.
Only an international presence could head off violence.


4. (C) Ayfantis said Israeli DefMin Barak wanted to push the
Palestinian population from Gaza into Egypt then let the
Egyptians sort out the Hamas elements from other
Palestinians, who would be allowed to return. This idea
greatly concerned Bakoyannis, however, since it was likely to
lead to a flare up in violence on the ground and a strong
reaction from Muslims worldwide. A better solution,
according to Ayfantis, was an international presence to curb
the extremists, as UNIFIL was doing in Lebanon. Greece had
already told European allies it was willing to participate in
such a force. Ayfantis said there was even a suggestion
afoot to make this the inaugural mission for the joint
Greek-Turkish peacekeeping battalion, as envisioned in
Greek-Turkish confidence building measures. Not only would
this help strengthen Greek-Turkish ties, but a combined
Orthodox-Muslim force would be especially appropriate in the
Palestinian context since the Palestinian population
contained elements of both religions.


5. (C) Ayfantis said the Scandinavians were the most
supportive of an international PKO mission, while the British
and Dutch -- and to a lesser extent, the French -- were
strongly opposed. British opposition evidently stemmed from
a preference for supporting Tony Blair's efforts. But while
Greece wished Blair every success, he couldn't "work
miracles."

GREECE AS SITE FOR FUTURE TALKS
--------------


6. (C) Papaioannou said Greece would be "very glad" to host
negotiations. It was widely seen as an interlocutor accepted
by all sides and had a strong interest in working for peace
in its own neighborhood. Moreover, Greece -- and the island
of Rhodes, in particular -- had previously played the role of
host for Middle East negotiations in the late 1940s. For
more than the last ten years, Greece was also the site for
one set of "track two" Middle East discussions (the latest
round of which begins this week outside Athens co-funded by
the GOG and NDU through UCLA).


7. (C) But whether or not Greece hosted negotiations, FM
Bakoyannis was also proposing a "Next Generation Initiative"
to bring young Israelis and Palestinians to Greece to give
them time together in a peaceful, stable, yet semi-familiar
environment. Ayfantis explained that Greece saw itself as a
country of similar geography and climate as Israel/Palestine
that had itself experienced much violence but now lived in
peace. In response to our question how an essentially
mono-cultural society such as Orthodox Greece could be a
model for the Israelis and Palestinians, Ayfantis said
Israel/Palestine was similar insofar as it had been
partitioned much as Greece, Turkey, and the Balkan countries
had been in the early 20th century. Israel now needed to
find peace with its neighbors, as Greece had done.

PARIS CONFERENCE
--------------


8. (C) Papaioannou said Deputy FM Petros Doukas would attend
the December 17 Paris Donors' Conference and would make a
pledge on Greek contributions, which were as yet undecided,
though FM Bakoyannis had said Greek projects should be
efficient and visible. One option under consideration was a
Greek-sponsored hospital for children. Greece would finance,
construct, and manage the hospital through a partnership
arrangement with a Greek public hospital. Bakoyannis would
also seek Greek private donations. Palestinian personnel
would be brought to Greece for training, while Greek
personnel would be sent to Palestine to work in the hospital.

COMMENT
--------------


9. (C) The Greeks are obviously very energized about the
peace process and want to help. MFA sources tell us PM
Karamanlis is somewhat cautious, but FM Bakoyannis is very
eager to move ahead. She is driven by an awareness of te
importance of the issue and a calculation tht Greek
assistance in this area could help Greece's image when it is
looking obstreperous on Macedonia and NATO. Bakoyannis is
also undoubtedly concerned about her legacy and wants an
international success to help offset domestic political
blow-back should Greece be forced to swallow a
FYROM/Macedonia NATO accession on terms other than its own.


10. (C) Greece's apparent willingness to contribute troops to
an international PKO for Gaza is evidence of this strong
commitment, particularly in light of Greece's unwillingness
to lift caveats on its troops in Afghanistan despite great
pressure from NATO allies. Greece would probably also make a
good location for negotiations. Close to the Middle East yet
in Europe, Greece could be good neutral territory for talks.
It also continues to enjoy the benefit of U.S.
counterterrorism assistance from the time of the 2004 Olympic
Games and has much experience in hosting international
visitors.
SPECKHARD