Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS1600
2008-11-26 12:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE AND ALBANIA AGREE ON MILITARY CEMETERIES IN
VZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #1600 3311242 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261242Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2837 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 1339 RUCNDT/US MISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001600
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2018
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE AND ALBANIA AGREE ON MILITARY CEMETERIES IN
ALBANIA
REF: TIRAN 745
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVNIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001600
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2018
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE AND ALBANIA AGREE ON MILITARY CEMETERIES IN
ALBANIA
REF: TIRAN 745
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVNIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) On November 21, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced
that Greece and Albania had reached agreement on the
establishment of two military cemeteries in Albania (reftel).
The two cemeteries, which will honor Greek soldiers killed
in Albania in WWII, will be located in Gjirokaster and
Kelcyre. The Greeks originally wanted four cemeteries but
after years of talks and negotiations an apparent compromise
on two cemeteries was reached. On November 25, MFA Albania
Desk Officer, Despina Koukoulopoulou, told us that Tirana had
committed to seek to complete all necessary internal
procedures so that the formal agreement could be signed at
the end of this year.
2. (C) Comment: The cemetery issue has been an major
obstacle to improved Greek-Albanian bilateral relations.
Although the Greeks have never drawn any explicit linkages
between the issue and Greek ratification of Albania's
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) (per reftel,
Greece is one of three remaining EU states who have not
ratified the SAA),our MFA contacts have suggested that
Parliamentary consideration of the SAA will be "facilitated"
by completion of the negotiations on the military cemeteries.
We understand that the Albanian SAA is pending in
Parliament, and we will continue to encourage rapid
ratification. End Comment.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/26/2018
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE AND ALBANIA AGREE ON MILITARY CEMETERIES IN
ALBANIA
REF: TIRAN 745
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVNIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) On November 21, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced
that Greece and Albania had reached agreement on the
establishment of two military cemeteries in Albania (reftel).
The two cemeteries, which will honor Greek soldiers killed
in Albania in WWII, will be located in Gjirokaster and
Kelcyre. The Greeks originally wanted four cemeteries but
after years of talks and negotiations an apparent compromise
on two cemeteries was reached. On November 25, MFA Albania
Desk Officer, Despina Koukoulopoulou, told us that Tirana had
committed to seek to complete all necessary internal
procedures so that the formal agreement could be signed at
the end of this year.
2. (C) Comment: The cemetery issue has been an major
obstacle to improved Greek-Albanian bilateral relations.
Although the Greeks have never drawn any explicit linkages
between the issue and Greek ratification of Albania's
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) (per reftel,
Greece is one of three remaining EU states who have not
ratified the SAA),our MFA contacts have suggested that
Parliamentary consideration of the SAA will be "facilitated"
by completion of the negotiations on the military cemeteries.
We understand that the Albanian SAA is pending in
Parliament, and we will continue to encourage rapid
ratification. End Comment.
SPECKHARD