Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1070
2008-07-25 13:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG
how-toVZCZCXRO6226 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHTH #1070 2071331 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 251331Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2242 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5232 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1031 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0214 RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK PRIORITY 0019 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0295 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0367
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001070
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/ELA
E.O.12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY LE EU RS TU NO SW
SUBJECT: GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG
REF: . STATE 78880
B. ATHENS 802
Classifie 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 001070
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/ELA
E.O.12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY LE EU RS TU NO SW
SUBJECT: GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG
REF: . STATE 78880
B. ATHENS 802
Classifie By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Pol Counselor delivered ref A points on the Syrian
Arab Republic Government (SARG) on 7/24 to George Ayfandis,
acting Director of the MFA A-6 Directorate for Arab Countries
and the Middle East. Ayfandis said that Greece shared U.S.
concerns about the SARG, highlighting, in particular, Syrian
"misbehavior" in Lebanon, support for Hizballah, and
"intractable behavior" related to the Golon Heights. He
added that the GOG believed the SARG had been pressing
Hizballah to take (unspecified) action against UNIFIL - a
mission in which Greek forces are deployed. Ayfandis noted
that during French President Sarkozy's recent visit to Athens
(ref B),he had raised Syria with PM Karamanlis and FM
Bakoyannis, and the Greeks had perceived that Sarkozy was
"quite focused" on Syria, but "perplexed about what to do."
2. (C) Ayfandis also suggested that Turkey should be "more
realistic" about Syria, noting that the Turks have not been
"sufficiently critical" in their relations with Syria.
3. (C) Ayfandis said that the "EU has a problem with Syria,
because it has a problem in Lebanon." However, he was
skeptical that the EU would be taking decisions related to
Syria anytime soon. Taking a long-term perspective, he said
much would depend on signals related to the Middle East, and
Syria in particular, during the U.S. election campaign and
the views of the next administration.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE AND NEA/ELA
E.O.12958: DECL: 07/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV SY LE EU RS TU NO SW
SUBJECT: GREECE/SYRIA: GREEK VIEWS ON DEALING WITH THE SARG
REF: . STATE 78880
B. ATHENS 802
Classifie By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Pol Counselor delivered ref A points on the Syrian
Arab Republic Government (SARG) on 7/24 to George Ayfandis,
acting Director of the MFA A-6 Directorate for Arab Countries
and the Middle East. Ayfandis said that Greece shared U.S.
concerns about the SARG, highlighting, in particular, Syrian
"misbehavior" in Lebanon, support for Hizballah, and
"intractable behavior" related to the Golon Heights. He
added that the GOG believed the SARG had been pressing
Hizballah to take (unspecified) action against UNIFIL - a
mission in which Greek forces are deployed. Ayfandis noted
that during French President Sarkozy's recent visit to Athens
(ref B),he had raised Syria with PM Karamanlis and FM
Bakoyannis, and the Greeks had perceived that Sarkozy was
"quite focused" on Syria, but "perplexed about what to do."
2. (C) Ayfandis also suggested that Turkey should be "more
realistic" about Syria, noting that the Turks have not been
"sufficiently critical" in their relations with Syria.
3. (C) Ayfandis said that the "EU has a problem with Syria,
because it has a problem in Lebanon." However, he was
skeptical that the EU would be taking decisions related to
Syria anytime soon. Taking a long-term perspective, he said
much would depend on signals related to the Middle East, and
Syria in particular, during the U.S. election campaign and
the views of the next administration.
SPECKHARD