GREEK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER GAERC ISSUES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001495 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD GR EUN SUBJECT: GREEK VIEWS ON NOVEMBER GAERC ISSUES REF: A. SECSTATE 115017 ¶B. SECSTATE 113894 Classified By: A/POLITICAL COUNSELOR JEFFREY HOVENIER FOR REASONS 1.4(B ) AND (D) ¶1. (S) DepPolCouns and PolOff delivered ref A points to MFA European Correspondent Antonia Katzourou and her future successor Niki Kamba. Her responses below are keyed to the main issue topics of the demarche: -- RUSSIA: Katzourou noted that the Medvedev Security Treaty Proposal had not been discussed in detail and still remained very vague. Greece remained open to hearing what further details Russia may provide concerning the proposal but believed it was premature to formulate a position. Katzourou said Greece was also focused on preparing for the EU-Russia Summit on November 19, 2008. -- IRAN: According to Katzourou, Iran was not on the agenda for the November GAERC. She also noted that Greece had already adopted measures outlined in UNSCR 1803 and remained engaged in the two-track strategy towards Iran. -- SYRIA: Syria was not on the agenda for the November GAERC, and Katzourou had no substantive comment. -- ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PEACE: The peace process was not on the agenda for the November GAERC. -- IRAQ: The situation in Iraq would be on the GAERC agenda. Katzourou said they would consider moving the Commission's office and living accommodations depending on the security situation. -- AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN: A joint session of Ministers of Defense and Foreign Ministers would be held to discuss the EU mission in Afghanistan. Katzourou was not familiar with the U.S. proposal for Pakistan to appoint a high-level government official to oversee a World Bank-administered Frontier Trust Fund. -- CONGO: The escalating situation in the Congo was of great concern to Greece and would be part of the GAERC agenda. -- BURMA: Katzourou said that the situation in Burma remained a concern for the EU and would possibly be on the GAERC agenda. -- TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS: Katsourou said the FMs' meeting on November 3 would provide an open forum to exchange ideas concerning the U.S. election and the outcome's effect on a range of international issues. She noted that while the election outcome was not certain, many Europeans now believed Obama would win. Discussion at the Gymnich, thus, was likely to focus on what an Obama presidency would mean for the EU and international issues. -- DOHA ROUND: Katzourou said her office was not following this issue and she was unaware of whether it would be on the GAERC agenda. -- SOMALIA: The EU anti-piracy operation in Somalia remained very important to Greece, as there have been 2-3 Greek ships that were victims just last month. Katzourou confirmed the participation of a Greek frigate in the NATO anti-pirate operation currently off the Somali coast. She also said Greek would be willing to send additional naval assets to join a similar EU mission currently being planned. ¶2. (C) We also took the opportunity to deliver ref B points on engaging the EU on Bosnia and to seek Katzourou's views on the matter. Katzourou affirmed that this was a big concern for Greece and the EU more broadly and would be discussed at length at the GAERC with the goal of finding a general guideline for the future. Greece was concerned that the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina did not appear to be improving. NOTE: A/PolCouns will discuss ref B demarche in greater detail with MFA A3 Balkans Directorate next week and ATHENS 00001495 002 OF 002 will report septel. END NOTE. SPECKHARD