OSCE/KOSOVO: GREECE OPPOSES BERLIN MECHANISM

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