MFA SECRETARY GENERAL: NO TO IRAN AND SYRIA ON

S E C R E T ATHENS 001346 SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE, AND IO/UNP, IO/T AND ISN/RA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018 TAGS: PREL IAEA PARM MNUC SR KV AF SY IR GR SUBJECT: MFA SECRETARY GENERAL: NO TO IRAN AND SYRIA ON IAEA BOG - LESS POSITIVE ON SERBIA ICJ RESOLUTION ON KOSOVO REF: A. STATE 99745 ¶B. ATHENS 1261 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Deborah McCarthy for 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (S) MFA Secretary General Agathocles told DCM on 9/19 that Greece opposes the possible election of Syria or Iran to the IAEA Board of Governors (BOG). He said that there is a "common view" within the EU that they should not be elected; however, many in the EU consider Afghanistan "not ready" for the BOG, although there is a "strong following" within the EU for Kazakhstan. Separately, he informed DCM that Greece continues efforts to achieve an EU cknsefsuq to abstain on a Serbian UNGA resklution 4/ refer Kosgvo to the ICJ, but that this #/nsefsuq has not been achieved. Should no EU consensus be aahieved, Agathocles said that the GOG has decided to vote in favor of the Serbian resglution. End Summary. -------------- IAEA Board Of Governors -------------- ¶2. (S) Per ref A, DCM met 9/19 with Agathocles to highlight concerns about the possible election of Syria or Iran to the IAEA Board of Governors, to shore up support for Afghanistan's nomination, and to press for strong national statements on Syria and Iran at the BOG. Agathocles responded that this issue has "been discussed" within the EU, and there "appears to be a consensus" that Iran and Syria should not be elected to the BOG. When pressed on Afghanistan, Agathocles responded that many in the EU "consider Afghanistan not ready." He added, however, that there is a "strong following" within the EU for Kazakhstan. -------------- Serbia/Kosovo ICJ Case -------------- ¶3. (C) Agathocles said Greece continues its efforts to achieve an EU consensus to abstain on Serbia's UNGA resolution to refer Kosovo's independence to the International Court of Justice (ref B). He noted, however, that this has "not been easy," and he was pessimistic about the prospects of success. He added that the Greek Government has decided that in the event an EU consensus to abstain cannot be achieved, Greece will vote in favor of the Serbian resolution. ¶4. (C) Serbian Embassy Counselor Dragan Petrovic told A/Pol Chief that the ICJ referral issue had been "the sole reason" for Serbian FM Jeremic's September 11 brief visit to Athens. Petrovic said that Bakoyannis had told Jeremic that Greece was working to achieve an EU consensus to abstain, but should that not prove possible, Greece "could hardly object" to referring the issue to the ICJ. Bakoyannis made a similar statement in a press availability with Jeremic following their meeting. SPECKHARD