Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1336
2008-09-19 12:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
APPROACHING GREECE ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN GENOCIDE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #1336 2631244 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191244Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2520 INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0392
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001336
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM GR GG RS
SUBJECT: APPROACHING GREECE ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN GENOCIDE
CLAIMS AGAINST GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 98030
B. ATHENS 1288
Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MCCARTHY. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001336
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM GR GG RS
SUBJECT: APPROACHING GREECE ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN GENOCIDE
CLAIMS AGAINST GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 98030
B. ATHENS 1288
Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MCCARTHY. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DCM discussed ref A points on rebutting Russia's
claims against Georgia with the Prime Minister's diplomatic
advisor Constantinos Bitsios. She noted the speciousness of
the Russian claims of genocide, the lack of supporting
evidence from international NGOs, and our request for Greece
to urge the EU to make a strong statement and to make its own
statement. Bitsios was receptive to her arguments on the
groundlessness of the Russian charges, but was noncommittal
on Greece's taking action. He argued that it was more
important to focus on the EU's and U.S.'s long-term
relationship with Russia.
2. (C) DepPolCouns also raised the issue with Elisabeth
Fotiadou, deputy head of the MFA A5 Directorate for CIS
Affairs. Fotiadou likewise agreed the Russian claims had
little basis in fact, but she advised against taking them too
seriously. "Both sides" were likely to make "radical"
charges, she argued. DepPolCouns replied that this was not a
he-said-she-said situation. The Russians were making
irresponsible and wild claims and it was important for the
international community, including Greece, to demonstrate to
Russia that we do not accept such justifications or
rationales for Russia's illegal actions. Fotiadou conceded
that international community solidarity was important and on
this score noted that only Nicaragua had followed the Russian
lead in recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. She said Greece supported the German proposal at
the EU to investigate what had happened in Georgia and that
Greece would await the findings of the investigation before
taking a public stand. (Note: Greece has pledged eight
military personnel and two Humvees to the newly announced EU
observer mission in Georgia, in addition to one Greek already
among the eight OSCE observers there. Also, as reported ref
B, Greece has pledged or delivered well over 469,500 Euros of
in-kind and financial humanitarian assistance to Georgia
since the crisis began in August. End Note.)
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM GR GG RS
SUBJECT: APPROACHING GREECE ON REBUTTING RUSSIAN GENOCIDE
CLAIMS AGAINST GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 98030
B. ATHENS 1288
Classified By: DCM DEBORAH MCCARTHY. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DCM discussed ref A points on rebutting Russia's
claims against Georgia with the Prime Minister's diplomatic
advisor Constantinos Bitsios. She noted the speciousness of
the Russian claims of genocide, the lack of supporting
evidence from international NGOs, and our request for Greece
to urge the EU to make a strong statement and to make its own
statement. Bitsios was receptive to her arguments on the
groundlessness of the Russian charges, but was noncommittal
on Greece's taking action. He argued that it was more
important to focus on the EU's and U.S.'s long-term
relationship with Russia.
2. (C) DepPolCouns also raised the issue with Elisabeth
Fotiadou, deputy head of the MFA A5 Directorate for CIS
Affairs. Fotiadou likewise agreed the Russian claims had
little basis in fact, but she advised against taking them too
seriously. "Both sides" were likely to make "radical"
charges, she argued. DepPolCouns replied that this was not a
he-said-she-said situation. The Russians were making
irresponsible and wild claims and it was important for the
international community, including Greece, to demonstrate to
Russia that we do not accept such justifications or
rationales for Russia's illegal actions. Fotiadou conceded
that international community solidarity was important and on
this score noted that only Nicaragua had followed the Russian
lead in recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and
Abkhazia. She said Greece supported the German proposal at
the EU to investigate what had happened in Georgia and that
Greece would await the findings of the investigation before
taking a public stand. (Note: Greece has pledged eight
military personnel and two Humvees to the newly announced EU
observer mission in Georgia, in addition to one Greek already
among the eight OSCE observers there. Also, as reported ref
B, Greece has pledged or delivered well over 469,500 Euros of
in-kind and financial humanitarian assistance to Georgia
since the crisis began in August. End Note.)
SPECKHARD