GREECE/MACEDONIA: FM BAKOYANNIS BRIEFS PARLIAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001498

SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/MACEDONIA: FM BAKOYANNIS BRIEFS PARLIAMENT
ON NAME ISSUE

REF: EMBASSY ATHENS E-MAIL OF 10/21/08

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) FM Bakoyannis told the Parliamentary Committee on
Defense and Foreign Affairs October 29 that Greece will work
from the most recent Nimetz proposal as a basis, but that
certain (unspecified) changes are required. She asserted
that Greece seeks a new, compound name with a geographic
qualifier that will be used for all uses "erga omnes." She
criticized Macedonian PM Gruevski's "nationalist approach" to
the issue, but expressed Greece's desire to see Macedonia
achieve its Euro-Atlantic prospects. Opposition political
parties criticized the GOG's handling of the issue, with a
particular emphasis on perceived "collusion" between the USG
and Nimetz - citing the leaked Embassy Skopje cable and its
concomitant media furor (reftel). From our perspective, FM
Bakoyannis walked a fine line -) using tough language to
reiterate longstanding Greek positions on the name issue,
while declining to join in the opposition's overwrought
conspiracy theories about Nimetz and the "Skopje telegram."
End Summary.


2. (SBU) On October 29 FM Dora Bakoyannis briefed the
Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Foreign Affairs on the
Macedonia name issue and the GoG's position on the latest
Nimetz proposal. MPs had requested her briefing following
release in the Greek press of a July cable from Embassy
Skopje on the name issue and the ensuing media furor
(reftel). Bakoyannis said the most recent Nimetz proposal
"is not satisfactory" for Greece in its present form but
could be the basis for a solution, provided amendments are
made. She said Greece will provide Nimetz with detailed
comments in "the near future." Greece, Bakoyannis said, is
not "going slow," but at the same time it is "not in a
hurry." She underlined that Greece had not changed its
position. It is "crystal clear," she said, that Greece seeks
a compound name with a geographic qualifier for all uses
("erga omnes"),as PM Karamanlis had previously told
Parliament.


3. (SBU) Bakoyannis strongly criticized Macedonian PM
Gruevski for fomenting "nationalism" among the population
with the aim of personal political gain. "The people of
FYROM," Bakoyannis said, should realize that "Greece is a
friend" and that "19th century" attitudes and practices will
lead nowhere. Already, she said, the EU has given the
message that it will not open accession negotiations with
Macedonia. Macedonia's "Euro-Atlantic accession future" has
been similarly affected. Furthermore, Bakoyannis underlined,
Greece receives "conflicting signals" from the Macedonian
leadership, with President and Prime Minister often
expressing opposing views. She said this divergence needs to
be addressed before any progress in the negotiations can take
place -- because Greece is not willing to deal with
"provisional" agreements that do not have universal support
in Skopje. Greece, "in contrast to Mr. Gruevski," believes
in "FYROM's ... Euro-Atlantic future" and wishes to see "all
its neighbors" integrated with Euro-Atlantic structures,
Bakoyannis concluded.


4. (SBU) In their remarks, all opposition parties, with
PASOK leading, keyed off sensationalist allegations in the
press that the USG had supposedly colluded with Nimetz on his
latest proposal, and demanded to know why Bakoyannis did not
ask for an explanation from Nimetz; some referred to him as a
"U.S. agent." PASOK demanded that the Nimetz proposal be
rejected as the basis of negotiations, and the extreme right
LAOS party called for the UN-led talks to cease immediately.


5. (C) Comment: In her public statements Bakoyannis sought
to walk a fine line -) using tough language to reiterate
longstanding Greek positions on the name issue, while
declining to join in the opposition's overwrought conspiracy
theories about Nimetz and the "Skopje telegram." The
opposition's comments should be seen more in the light of
internal Greek politics than an actual expression of
opposition views on the mos recent Nimetz proposal -- which
hs not bee formally released to the public. Given the
media furor over the Embassy Skopje telegram and the
government's myriad other problems -- includin lower poll
numbers and idspread angst ove the financial situation --may Geek undis are star
ting to suggestthat he GG woldbe better advised to wait ntil a ne U.S admnistrat
ion
takes office before making any further moves on the name
issue. However, we assess that the GOG remains willing to

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work from the most recent Nimetz proposal as a basis for work
- albeit with desired changes. Furthermore, Bakoyannis did
not close any doors in her remarks to Parliament. End
Comment.
SPECKHARD