KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE FARC POINTS DELIVERED

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001034 SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018 TAGS: PREL COL VE HR EU PTER AF SNAR PGOV GR SUBJECT: KEEPING PRESSURE ON THE FARC POINTS DELIVERED REF: STATE 77205 Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) A/Pol Counselor met July 21 with Christos Maniakis Grivas, Deputy Director of the MFA A-8 Department for Latin America and the Caribbean, to make reftel points on keeping the pressure on the FARC. Maniakis Grivas listened carefully and said that he would ensure that the MFA Political Director would be fully briefed on our views and concerns. He emphasized, however, that Greece does not have "major interests" in Latin America, and tends to simply "follow EU lines," adding that the EU is "generally in sync with the United States on Columbia." He encouraged us to share our points in other EU capitals and in Brussels. A/Pol Counselor affirmed that we were doing so, but pressed Greece - which has an Embassy in Caracas - to engage with Venezuelan authorities on the issue. Maniakis Grivas repeated that he would ensure that the MFA Political Director was aware of the U.S. request, and promised to get back to us with any comment or response. SPECKHARD