GREECE/OSCE: FM BAKOYANNIS LAYS OUT OSCE PRIORITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001589

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PHUM OSCE GR RS NATO EUN GG
SUBJECT: GREECE/OSCE: FM BAKOYANNIS LAYS OUT OSCE PRIORITIES

REF: A. HOVENIER/EUR-RPM E-MAIL OF 11/13/08

B. ATHENS 1539

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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, who will be
OSCE Chairman-in-Office (CIO) in 2009, laid out her
priorities for the OSCE in a November 13 speech at the Greek
Foreign Ministry. She emphasized the importance of OSCE
cooperation with other IOs, including the UN, the EU, and
NATO. She said Greece will place "the highest priority" on
achieving consensus and that as CIO, Greece will be "an
honest broker," and "an honest mediator." The Caucasus and
Central Asia will be key priorities; Bakoyannis noted that
she had recently spoken with Russian FM Lavrov on these
issues, adding that Greece has consulted with Russia and
"other key players" in the lead-up to its OSCE Chairmanship.
Finally, she expressed Greek readiness to consider Russian
and French ideas for a Summit-level meeting and "dialogue for
a new security architecture in Europe." MFA Secretary
General Agathocles confirmed to Ambassador Speckhard that the
French are pressing Greece to host an OSCE Summit mid-2009,
adding that he (personally) has misgivings. Agathocles has
also confirmed that the Russians are pressing Greece on
security architecture ideas. End Summary.

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The Speech - Greeks Want to Build Consensus
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2. (U) On 13 November 2008, Greek Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyannis gave a speech in Athens entitled "OSCE - The 2009
Greek Chairmanship-in-Office: Challenges and Priorities"
(ref A). The speech was part of the MFA's "Ambassador's
Forum," a periodic event hosted by the MFA on foreign policy
issues, and was open to the Athens diplomatic corps, press,
and think tanks. Joining Bakoyannis on the podium was OSCE
Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and the Greek
Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna, Ambassador
Maria Marinaki.


3. (U) Bakoyannis noted that Greece was taking the helm of
the OSCE at a "challenging" and "sensitive" time. Greece
would be focused on ensuring the OSCE has "strong
cooperation" with other key international organizations
including NATO, the EU, the Council of Europe and "especially
the UN." Bakoyannis claimed Greece had successfully
completed its preparations for the Chairmanship. Greece had
"only one aspiration" as CIO: to be an "honest mediator, and
an honest broker." Key Greek priorities would be enhancing
"respect" for the OSCE; doing more to "build consensus and
convergence;" and striving for a "stronger role" for the OSCE
in early warning, crisis prevention and management, and
post-crisis management and rehabilitation.

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Central Asia and the Caucasus
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4. (U) Bakoyannis said Greece planed to devote "special
attention" to the Caucasus and Central Asia and will work
diligently on "the day after" in Georgia. Bakoyannis
asserted that as CIO, Greece needed to ensure respect for two
key principles: "protection of ethnic communities and
national minorities," and "respect for territorial
integrity." Bakoyannis announced she will travel to the
region shortly after becoming CIO. She noted that she had
recently met with the Georgian Foreign Minister in Athens
(ref B) and spoken with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov by
phone.


5. (C) Comment: Greek MFA sources tell us that the Russians
have been actively engaging with Secretary General
Agathocles, OSCE Task Force head Kalantzianos, and others to
press their OSCE-related agenda. Embassy Athens is also in
frequent contact with these same interlocutors. End Comment.

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Security Architecture and Possible Summit
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6. (U) Bakoyannis said the Georgia crisis had "overthrown
the view of security in the Eurasian region," and "could
trigger a debate on a new global security architecture," as
NATO evolved and Russia clarified its vision. France and
Russia had both argued for such a debate. Whether this issue
would reach the level of a Summit would only become apparent
along the way. The December 2008 OSCE Helsinki Ministerial

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should agree on a "more clear direction," and Greece was
"open" to "dialogue for a new security architecture in
Europe." Greece was also ready to host any meeting agreed
upon by OSCE member states.


7. (C) Comment: MFA Secretary General Agathocles recently
told Ambassador Speckhard that France is "pushing hard" for
Greece to host an OSCE Summit in mid-2008; the French DCM in
Athens confirmed that Paris has asked the Greeks to be ready
to host a Summit in mid-2008. Agathocles said he is
"nervous" about this idea, as there may not be sufficient
time to prepare logistically, and it is not clear what any
deliverables might be. Agathocles intimated that Greece does
not want to be caught in the middle as Russia pushes its
"security architecture" ideas, adding that the Russians have
been in several times to press on the issue. Agathocles said
that the Greek response has been to advise the Russians to
give the new U.S. administration some time. End Comment.

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Other OSCE Desiderata
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8. (U) Bakoyannis said Greece supported further OSCE
outreach to Asia and the Mediterranean. It wanted to
"enhance the OSCE," as the evolution from a "loose Cold War
dialogue" to an "organization" continued. In this regard,
Greece expected to see "tangible progress" on the OSCE's
legal personality. Regarding the OSCE budget, it needed to
respond to "growing requirements and needs." Member states
must "give the resources necessary to make it effective."
Bakoyannis concluded her speech with a pitch to Greek
nationals to apply for OSCE jobs by noting that Greece is
underrepresented in the Secretariat and Field Missions.
After the speech, the head of the Greek Ministry of Foreign
Affairs OSCE Task force, Ambassador Nicolaos Kalantzianos,
told the group that Greece,s "specific priorities and
program" would be unveiled by the Foreign Minister at a
January 15 meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council.


9. (U) OSCE Secretary General de Brichambaut also spoke,
highlighting the importance of the CIO and expressing
readiness to work with Greece. De Brichambaut mentioned a
recent OSCE meeting in Kabul and OSCE decisions to work on
border security, policing and drug trafficking with
Afghanistan. Greek OSCE PermRep Marinaki spoke at length,
reiterating that the Greek Chairmanship's priorities will be
"respect for the OSCE's objectives, resolving disputes, and
pursuit of the highest levels of consensus." Marinaki added
that Greece placed the "highest importance" on EU cohesion in
the OSCE, and made a passing comment that Greece will take
very seriously the CIO's "responsibilities" vis-a-vis
extra-budgetary contributions. She did not specify what she
thought those responsibilities were, or how Greece would
fulfill them.

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COMMENT
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10. (C) We found FM Bakoyannis' speech to be short on
specifics of Greek OSCE plans. Suggestions by Bakoyannis
that Greece would seek to build consensus at the OSCE between
the U.S. and Russia were disquieting, but not surprising. We
have reiterated to Greek interlocutors that certain areas of
OSCE work -- such as ODIHR's elections-related activities --
are not negotiable but are, rather, fundamental to the
institution and its precepts. We will continue to emphasize
these points, as well as the need to proceed very carefully
and in full consultation with the United States on any
initiatives related to a Summit or consideration of Russian
security architecture ideas. End Comment.
SPECKHARD