Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS223
2008-02-19 14:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
MGKV01: GREEK INITIAL REACTION TO KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO1416 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #0223 0501456 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191456Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1223 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0961 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0101 RUEHPS/USOFFICE PRISTINA PRIORITY 0351
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)
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
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