Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1405
2008-10-07 15:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE/KOSOVO: SEEKING EU CONSENSUS TO ABSTAIN ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0388 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #1405 2811522 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071522Z OCT 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2602 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY 0369 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0395
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001405
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE (SHIRATORI AND TOMLYANOVIC),
AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV SR GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/KOSOVO: SEEKING EU CONSENSUS TO ABSTAIN ON
ICJ RESOLUTION - OTHERWISE LIKELY TO VOTE "YES"
REF: A. STATE 105796
B. ATHENS 1346
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001405
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE (SHIRATORI AND TOMLYANOVIC),
AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV SR GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/KOSOVO: SEEKING EU CONSENSUS TO ABSTAIN ON
ICJ RESOLUTION - OTHERWISE LIKELY TO VOTE "YES"
REF: A. STATE 105796
B. ATHENS 1346
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On October 6, Ambassador Speckhard raised with
Ambassador Constantinos Halistanis, FM Bakoyannis' Chief of
Staff, reftel points on the Kosovo ICJ resolution at the
UNGA. The Ambassador highlighted the potentially harmful
effects of referring Kosovo's independence to the ICJ, as it
could detract from stability in the Balkans. The Ambassador
also noted that an ICJ ruling could also have a potential
impact on other sensitive situations around the world of
interest to Greece.
2. (C) Halistanis responded that Greece is following this
issue closely. As a position of principle, Greece prefers
that disputes be settled in international fora, such as the
ICJ. That said, Greece also understands that it is hard to
predict the consequences of referring the case to the ICJ, or
the eventual outcome of any ICJ review. However, Greece also
sees this as an opportunity to get the Kosovo issue "out of
the system" in Serbia for a while. Putting the matter in the
hands of the court would also remove the matter from
day-to-day politics in Serbia, giving the Serbian government
breathing space in dealing with opposition critics.
3. (C) With regard to Greece's vote at the UNGA, Halistanis
reiterated what we have previously heard from GOG officials
(ref B): Greece would welcome an EU consensus to abstain on
the Serbian resolution. Should that consensus not be
reached, Greece would "find it difficult not to support
Serbia's resolution." Halistanis then said that no final
decision has been taken by the GOG on this issue, and he
promised to pass on USG concerns to FM Bakyoannis. He
concluded by noting that Greece has a strong interest in
regional stability and that this interest will guide its
position on the issue.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE (SHIRATORI AND TOMLYANOVIC),
AND IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PREL UNGA UN KV SR GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/KOSOVO: SEEKING EU CONSENSUS TO ABSTAIN ON
ICJ RESOLUTION - OTHERWISE LIKELY TO VOTE "YES"
REF: A. STATE 105796
B. ATHENS 1346
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On October 6, Ambassador Speckhard raised with
Ambassador Constantinos Halistanis, FM Bakoyannis' Chief of
Staff, reftel points on the Kosovo ICJ resolution at the
UNGA. The Ambassador highlighted the potentially harmful
effects of referring Kosovo's independence to the ICJ, as it
could detract from stability in the Balkans. The Ambassador
also noted that an ICJ ruling could also have a potential
impact on other sensitive situations around the world of
interest to Greece.
2. (C) Halistanis responded that Greece is following this
issue closely. As a position of principle, Greece prefers
that disputes be settled in international fora, such as the
ICJ. That said, Greece also understands that it is hard to
predict the consequences of referring the case to the ICJ, or
the eventual outcome of any ICJ review. However, Greece also
sees this as an opportunity to get the Kosovo issue "out of
the system" in Serbia for a while. Putting the matter in the
hands of the court would also remove the matter from
day-to-day politics in Serbia, giving the Serbian government
breathing space in dealing with opposition critics.
3. (C) With regard to Greece's vote at the UNGA, Halistanis
reiterated what we have previously heard from GOG officials
(ref B): Greece would welcome an EU consensus to abstain on
the Serbian resolution. Should that consensus not be
reached, Greece would "find it difficult not to support
Serbia's resolution." Halistanis then said that no final
decision has been taken by the GOG on this issue, and he
promised to pass on USG concerns to FM Bakyoannis. He
concluded by noting that Greece has a strong interest in
regional stability and that this interest will guide its
position on the issue.
SPECKHARD