Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2340
2007-12-12 12:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
KOSOVO: GREECE RECEPTIVE ON RULE OF LAW MISSION,
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #2340 3461255 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121255Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0888 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY 0760 RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 0501 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO PRIORITY 0083 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 1126 RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 1304 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 0341 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0957 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0100 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0282 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0341 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
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)
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
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