Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS369
2008-03-11 08:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT
how-toVZCZCXRO1143 OO RUEHDE DE RUEHTH #0369 0710831 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 110831Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1433 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHMEP/THE MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0215 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0286 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0313
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR NEA/ELA ANN SOMERSET; BEIRUT ALSO FOR SUSANNE
ROSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE
GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24262
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 000369
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR NEA/ELA ANN SOMERSET; BEIRUT ALSO FOR SUSANNE
ROSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE
GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24262
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points on
encouraging attendance at the March 14, 2008 convention in
Beirut to Georgos Ayfantis, Deputy Director of the MFA A6
Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfantis
said Athens was unaware of the convention, but after hearing
that it would be hosted by the March 14 political movement he
said, "I doubt we will go."
2. (C) Ayfantis said Greece is trying to maintain a
"balance" in its relations with the March 14 movement and the
Hizballah-led opposition, as it believes representatives of
both groups will be needed to form a "national unity
government." As a result, Greece tends not to participate in
events called by either side. Greece has no objections with
the agenda of the March 14 movement, but finds the agenda and
rhetoric from the Hizballah-led opposition to be
"unacceptable." Ayfantis took pains to reiterate that
Greece's position is "one of practicality." If it were to
attend events organized by the March 14 movement, it would
feel obliged also to attend events organized by the
Hizballah-led opposition -- which Greece cannot countenance.
A/Political Counselor responded that it is difficult to
understand why Greece should feel that it would need to
"balance" attendance at an event organized to promote
democracy, freedom, and sovereignty with attendance at events
organized by forces of instability and terror. Ayfantis
concluded by noting that he would inform the Greek Ambassador
in Beirut of the "U.S. suggestion," adding that "ultimately
it will be the Ambassador's decision whether to attend."
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR NEA/ELA ANN SOMERSET; BEIRUT ALSO FOR SUSANNE
ROSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER MASS PARM SY IS LE
GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE UNLIKELY TO ATTEND MARCH 14 BEIRUT
CONFERENCE
REF: STATE 24262
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points on
encouraging attendance at the March 14, 2008 convention in
Beirut to Georgos Ayfantis, Deputy Director of the MFA A6
Directorate for Arab Countries and the Middle East. Ayfantis
said Athens was unaware of the convention, but after hearing
that it would be hosted by the March 14 political movement he
said, "I doubt we will go."
2. (C) Ayfantis said Greece is trying to maintain a
"balance" in its relations with the March 14 movement and the
Hizballah-led opposition, as it believes representatives of
both groups will be needed to form a "national unity
government." As a result, Greece tends not to participate in
events called by either side. Greece has no objections with
the agenda of the March 14 movement, but finds the agenda and
rhetoric from the Hizballah-led opposition to be
"unacceptable." Ayfantis took pains to reiterate that
Greece's position is "one of practicality." If it were to
attend events organized by the March 14 movement, it would
feel obliged also to attend events organized by the
Hizballah-led opposition -- which Greece cannot countenance.
A/Political Counselor responded that it is difficult to
understand why Greece should feel that it would need to
"balance" attendance at an event organized to promote
democracy, freedom, and sovereignty with attendance at events
organized by forces of instability and terror. Ayfantis
concluded by noting that he would inform the Greek Ambassador
in Beirut of the "U.S. suggestion," adding that "ultimately
it will be the Ambassador's decision whether to attend."
SPECKHARD