Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS732
2007-04-12 12:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GEORGIA: GREEK OPPOSITION TO PSC PROPOSALS: IT'S
how-toVZCZCXRO6301 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHTH #0732 1021222 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121222Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8733 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0824 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0372
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
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
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