GREECE/NATO: POINTS DELIVERED ON "NO BUSINESS AS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001348 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/RPM AND EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2018 TAGS: NATO PGOV PREL GR GG RS SUBJECT: GREECE/NATO: POINTS DELIVERED ON "NO BUSINESS AS USUAL" IN THE NRC REF: STATE 100790 Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) On 22 September, Poloff delivered ref points on "no business as usual" in NATO-Russia relations to Andreas Kintis, NATO desk officer in the MFA's D2 Directorate for NATO and Western European Union (WEU) Affairs. Kintis said he would forward the information to his superiors and to the Greek Mission to NATO, but could offer no immediate response to our demarche. However, Kintis added that "no business as usual" with Russia should not include missile defense cooperation. A/Political Counselor followed-up with D2's acting Director Theodoros Daskarolis. Daskarolis responded that this issue is "under review," but could offer no further information. ¶2. (C) Comment: The GOG continues to seek to walk a fine line between "engaging" Russia and being responsive to Western efforts to respond to Russia's military activity and subsequent recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. FM Bakoyannis has publicly reiterated Greece's commitment to the August 19 decision by NATO Foreign Ministers of "no business as usual" in the NATO-Russia relationship. In that context, however, our Greek interlocutors at various levels of the MFA and Prime Minister's office continue to emphasize Greece's desire that Russia not be "isolated" by the West's response. We understand that som% Allies favor continuing NRC PrepComm m%etincs. In Brussels discussions, we anticipate that Greece will seek to remaif oUt gb the limelight on this issue but will be inclined tk favgr continuation of NRC PrepComm3, pr/vided it is ngt isolated in doing so. E.d Cgm-ent. SPECIHARD