MGKV01: GREEK INITIAL REACTION TO KOSOVO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000223 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2018 TAGS: PREL YI KV GR SUBJECT: MGKV01: GREEK INITIAL REACTION TO KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE STAID REF: ATHENS 207 Classified By: A/PolCouns Jeffery Hovenier for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Heavy snowstorms, UN Envoy Nimetz,s imminent arrival for the next round of talks on the Macedonia name issue, and Cyrus elections have drawn Greek attention away from Kosovo's independence declaration. SEPTEL will report on ongoing conversations on recognition. During a February 19 press conference following the GAERC, FM Bakoyannis stated Greece would make its decision after "examining in depth all developments, dimensions, and their repercussions." Bakoyannis reaffirmed that Greece would continue its contributions to NATO and EU Kosovo efforts, and MFA sources have confirmed that Greece is providing personnel to the EU Rule of Law Mission and the International Civilian Office (ICO),and will maintain troop levels in KFOR. Far-left opposition parties challenged the DI and the U.S. role in Kosovo. On February 17, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued an announcement calling Kosovo's independence "guided, controlled, and enforced" by the U.S. and EU. The Coalition of the Left (Syriza) characterized the declaration as a "grave blow to international law." Both parties called on the GOG not to extend recognition. ¶2. (U) Focused on other issues, the Greek media offered generally factual and moderate coverage of the DI as the inevitable conclusion of a "U.S.-led initiative." Critics underscored that Kosovo would likely become a precedent for other independence movements, primarily Cyprus. Perhaps due to the weather, the Greek public also remained uncharacteristically quiet with no group taking to the streets in Athens or Thessaloniki. (Note: The Port of Thessaloniki is particularly important as the main supply route for Kosovo. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Meanwhile, UK Embassy Political Counselor told us that the UK Mission to the EU termed the Greeks "surprisingly constructive" in GAREC discussions to arrive at conclusions on Kosovo. In the end, Spain and Cyprus were "isolated." The UK reported that once Spain had achieved its "difficult" textual fixes, only Cyprus remained opposed to conclusions that would allow EU-member states to recognize an independent Kosovo and would provide the needed cover for the European Commission to provide assistance. The UK Mission reported that Greece helped focus the discussion on areas for compromise and helped get Cyprus to the point were it could accept the conclusions. SPECKHARD