GREECE WELCOMES COLLABORATION ON CFE/RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000865 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017 TAGS: PREL OSCE PARM NATO KCFE GR SUBJECT: GREECE WELCOMES COLLABORATION ON CFE/RUSSIA REF: SECSTATE 57275 Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On April 30, DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on the CFE Treaty and Putin's April 26 remarks to D1 Directorate for NATO Issues deputy chief and Greek HLTF representative Chronis Polychroniou. Polychroniou agreed fully with the proposal to work together to devise a common strategy for allies in dealing with Russia on the issue. He too saw no linkage between CFE and missile defense and agreed that maintenance of the CFE Treaty was important to European security. Polychroniou said he planned to attend the next HLTF at the end of May and would be prepared to discuss the Russia issue then. ¶2. (C) Polychroniou also took the opportunity to relate his understanding of Russian FM Lavrov's talks at the ministerial in Oslo last week. He understood Lavrov to have said that Russia was interested in an exchange of views with NATO on CFE, but that if discussion turned to Istanbul commitments, Russia would stop the dialogue. Polychroniou said this was an unfortunate perspective. Nevertheless, Greece believed continuing dialogue with Russia was important, and we needed to avoid "burning bridges." RIES