Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS196
2008-02-12 13:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM
how-toVZCZCXRO5860 OO RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #0196 0431315 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121315Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1194 INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0289 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0959 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0349 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI KV EU OSCE GR
SUBJECT: OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM
REF: STATE 14284
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000196
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI KV EU OSCE GR
SUBJECT: OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM
REF: STATE 14284
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor met with MFA Ambassador Petros
Avierinos, Director of the D3 Directorate for OSCE and
Council of Europe Affairs, to make reftel points on the
possibility of Serbia invoking the OSCE's Berlin Mechanism
following a declaration of independence from Kosovo.
Avierinos was categorical in reply: "Greece is aware of the
possibility and has informed Serbia and Russia that it will
not/not support such a step." Avierinos added that the Greek
Mission to the OSCE reports that the Serbs are "pessimistic"
about their chances of obtaining the support of 12
participating States, as is required to call a meeting under
the Berlin Mechanism.
2. (C) In an interesting aside, Avierinos noted that
Belgrade and Moscow have recently shown "signs of greater
moderation" on the question of extending the mandate for the
OSCE Kosovo mission post-independence. "Some in their
ministries have realized," he said, "that they will only be
able to have a presence in Kosovo if the OSCE Mission remains
oen." He provided no more specifics, but did inicate that
Greece has been emphasizing the importance of the OSCE
Mission remaining open to Serb interlocutors.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV YI KV EU OSCE GR
SUBJECT: OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM
REF: STATE 14284
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor met with MFA Ambassador Petros
Avierinos, Director of the D3 Directorate for OSCE and
Council of Europe Affairs, to make reftel points on the
possibility of Serbia invoking the OSCE's Berlin Mechanism
following a declaration of independence from Kosovo.
Avierinos was categorical in reply: "Greece is aware of the
possibility and has informed Serbia and Russia that it will
not/not support such a step." Avierinos added that the Greek
Mission to the OSCE reports that the Serbs are "pessimistic"
about their chances of obtaining the support of 12
participating States, as is required to call a meeting under
the Berlin Mechanism.
2. (C) In an interesting aside, Avierinos noted that
Belgrade and Moscow have recently shown "signs of greater
moderation" on the question of extending the mandate for the
OSCE Kosovo mission post-independence. "Some in their
ministries have realized," he said, "that they will only be
able to have a presence in Kosovo if the OSCE Mission remains
oen." He provided no more specifics, but did inicate that
Greece has been emphasizing the importance of the OSCE
Mission remaining open to Serb interlocutors.
SPECKHARD