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)

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SUMMARY
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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.

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IAEA Board Of Governors
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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.

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Serbia/Kosovo ICJ Case
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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