KOSOVO: GREECE RECEPTIVE ON RULE OF LAW MISSION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002340 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV YI GR SUBJECT: KOSOVO: GREECE RECEPTIVE ON RULE OF LAW MISSION, CONCERNS ABOUT NEXT STEPS REF: A. STATE 165486 ¶B. ATHENS 2320 Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) A/Pol Counselor met 12/12 with Greek MFA Acting Director for South East Europe Tsoungas to deliver ref A points on Kosovo. Tsoungas made the following points in reply: -- EU Rule of Law Mission: Greece has taken a decision "not to block" an EU decision to establish a ESDP Rule of Law Mission in the event of a unilateral declaration of independence (UDI). Greece also plans to provide personnel and support to the mission. -- Legal Basis: Greece is "skeptical" that UNSCR 1244 actually provides authority for an ESDP Rule of Law Mission, but will not emphasize this point given that there is no likelihood of a new UNSCR. Tsoungas added that Greece accepts that UNSCR 1244 is a sufficient basis for the continuation of KFOR in Kosovo following a UDI. -- Recognition: Greece has taken no decision on how it wishes to handle the question of recognizing a UDI. Greece believes it unlikely that the EU will respond in a "unified fashion." Greece does not plan to be "among the first," but also will not to be "among the very last." Tsoungas added that representatives from three EU Embassies have told Greek MFA officia will never recognize and declined to name the ou Greece believes it is "privileged relationQ will factor into Grepiming of any decision on`. -- Messages to SerbiQs regularly engaging with Serbian interlocutors "at the highest levels" on the need to respond responsibly to events in Kosovo. Tsoungas claimed that although some in Serbia have advocated SIPDIS "dangerous responses," others, including Minister for Kosovo Samardzic, have rejected any call to resort to violence in response to a UDI. Tsoungas was skeptical that a Greek message to the Kosovar leadership on responsible behavior would be well received and said Greece prefers to let the EU speak on Greece's behalf with the Kosovars. -- The Cyprus Angle: Tsoungas noted that Cyprus has legitimate concerns that Kosovo could be an "unhelpful" precedent for Cyprus. A/Pol Counselor emphasized Kosovo's unique nature. Tsoungas responded that "any action can be a precedent." Greece will not block EU actions related to Kosovo, but he asked that the U.S. keep in mind Greece's sympathies for Cyprus' concerns in this regard. -- Next Steps: Greece is "pained" that the negotiations are over and no negotiated settlement could be found. Greece is unlikely to join calls for additional negotiations, but regrets this outcome. Tsoungas emphasized the importance of factoring the timing of the Serbian Presidential elections into EU and U.S. "signals" to Kosovo on timing for a UDI. A UDI prior to Serbian Presidential elections would "be a complete disaster," he concluded. SPECKHARD