GEORGIA: GREEK OPPOSITION TO PSC PROPOSALS: IT'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000732 SIPDIS SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY: E.O. STATEMENT CORRECTED E.O. 12958: CLASSIFIED BY: THOMAS COUNRYMAN, DCM, ATHENS REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D),DECL: 04/12/2032 TAGS: PREL PGOV GR SUBJECT: GEORGIA: GREEK OPPOSITION TO PSC PROPOSALS: IT'S NOT RESISTANCE REF: BRUSSELS 822 ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On April 12, DCM met with the MFA PolDir Ambassador Vassilopoulos to discuss reftel Georgia issues in advance of P/DAS Volker's imminent visit to Athens. DCM explained the U.S. desire for EU consensus in the PSC and U.S. concern over Greece's role in opposing consensus. Vassilopoulos defended and explained Greece's stance on the remaining PSC proposals, characterized some as resolved, and conveyed Greece's intention to wait for more information before acceding to additional proposals. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During the April 12 meeting, DCM expressed the U.S. interest in the peace and stability of Georgia, and noted the U.S. had taken special care to encourage a peaceful resolution to separatism. The U.S. did not view Georgia as a battleground in a new "cold war" but was motivated by concern for the Georgian people. The U.S. and EU have and must continue to work closely together for the sake of Georgia, and for that reason, the U.S. was eager to see a consensus among EU member states in the PSC in favor of the Semneby proposals. ¶3. (C) DCM observed that the U.S. was aware from multiple sources that Greece had unfortunately taken a leading role in resisting Semneby,s "forward-looking" proposals for positive improvements in Georgia. Ambassador Vassilopoulos objected to the characterization as "resisting," and stated that Greece was only exercising the rights of an EU member state in an EU forum. Furthermore, Vassilopoulos observed that any complaints Semneby had should be submitted to the EU, and he should not attempt to "sidestep" members. Vassilopoulos defended Greece,s PSC position, saying that Greece was particularly concerned with upholding the sovereignty of central governments. (COMMENT: Although never mentioned, it was possible to observe the Cyprus-shaped hole in the conversation. END COMMENT) ¶4. (C) DCM assured Vassilopoulos that Semneby had not asked us to intervene, but that our conversation was the result of U.S. concern for the people of Georgia. Vassilopoulos indicated that Greek concern was focused on the expansion of Semneby,s mandate: Greece had not received indications from Georgia that the government of Georgia desired the mandate expansion; Greece was concerned that any contact between official EU representatives and separatists would inadvertently grant legitimacy to the movements; Greece believed that any expansion of the Special Representative,s mandate must be formally arranged between the EU and Tblisi. ¶5. (C) DCM noted that he was not aware that the Georgian government shared this concern about the expansion of Semneby,s mandate. If Georgia was willing to let the expansion proceed without formal arrangements, the EU should not seek to be "more royal than the king." Vassilopoulos reiterated the need for a formal agreement on the mandate expansion and observed that mandates that expanded and contracted "like accordions" according to the temper of the moment would be "hazardous." Furthermore, Vassilopoulos indicated that the Greek government would continue to wait for Georgia,s approval to be conveyed by their interlocutors in Tblisi. ¶6. (C) In response to other points of concern, Vassilopoulos stated that satellite monitoring of the Roki tunnel was not dropped at Greek request but at the request of other countries. The proposal to co-locate police experts with the OSCE and UN was a "minor issue" because "two policemen will make no difference;" however, it was delayed because of the necessity of communicating with the OSCE and the UN. Greece would continue to wait for responses from its interlocutors. ¶7. (C) DCM reiterated US desire to see EU consensus on proposals that would advance EU and US capability to move ahead on our common goals for Georgia. Vassilopoulos assured us that Greece also was seeking consensus on the very few of Semneby,s proposals still unresolved. RIES