Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS698
2008-05-20 14:51:00
SECRET
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
LEBANON: GREECE SEES USEFUL ROLEIN OPEN CHANNEL
how-toVZCZCXRO8732 OO RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHTH #0698 1411451 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 201451Z MAY 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1836 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0321
S E C R E T ATHENS 000698
SIPDIS
NEA: MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/ERA: JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY IR GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE SEES USEFUL ROLEIN OPEN CHANNEL
TO HIZBALLAH
REF: A. SECSTTE 52061
B. ATHENS 115
C. SECSTATE 10263
Classified By: DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T ATHENS 000698
SIPDIS
NEA: MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/ERA: JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY IR GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE SEES USEFUL ROLEIN OPEN CHANNEL
TO HIZBALLAH
REF: A. SECSTTE 52061
B. ATHENS 115
C. SECSTATE 10263
Classified By: DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) DCM and DepPolCouns delivered ref A points on
supporting the Arab League's efforts in Lebanon to,
resectively, Director of the Foreign Minister's Cabinet
Kostas Chalastanis and Deputy Head of the MFA's A6 Middle
East irectorate Giorgos Ayfantis. On the question of
designating Hizballah as a terrorist organization,
Chalastanis expressed skepticism about the value of that
step, noting the experience of the EU's designation of Hamas,
which had caused problems in terms of further political
maneuvering and negotiations. DCM pushed back, arguing that
Greece's proximity to, and great interest in, the Middle East
-- and particularly Lebanon -- gave it special
responsibilities in the EU. We thus expected Greece to
fulfill its duty and to express serious alarm at Hizballah's
attempt to gain political advantage through violence.
2. (S) A6's Ayfantis took a similar line to Chalastanis on
designating Hizballah. He noted the lack of unanimity on the
issue within the EU and argued that Greece had played a
"mediating role" since the summer of 2006, which would be
eliminated were Greece to designate Hizballah. "We can
designate, if you want, but that will shut down our special
role." Ayfantis said Greece had urged Hizballah not to use
violence against UNIFIL forces, which, if done, would cause
an intense reaction. The best policy, Ayfantis argued, was
to push Hizballah into the Parliament to give it a stake in
the political system.
3. (S) At the same time, Ayfantis said we had to make it more
difficult for Syria and Iran to supply Hizballah. He said
this could be done by boosting the size of the UNIFIL forces.
Asked whether Greece was prepared to move beyond its two
ships in UNIFIL and offer ground forces, Ayfantis said the UN
had asked Greece to supply an air reconnaissance unit. The
MFA was favorable to the idea and had recommended it to the
Greek MOD, though MinDef Meimarakis was "not warm" to the
idea. Ayfantis said further that if French President Sarkozy
were to request Greece to send troops -- whether to UNIFIL or
to fill an EU peacekeeping role in Gaza (refs B, C) -- Greece
would comply. Such a mission would not only be good for
Lebanon or Gaza, it would also get the Greek military out of
its Aegean-centric mindset -- which Ayfantis said the MFA was
advocating -- and could foster cooperation with the Turks,
who presumably might also have an interest in sending troops.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
NEA: MATTHEW IRWIN, EUR/ERA: JEFFREY GIAUQUE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SY IR GR
SUBJECT: LEBANON: GREECE SEES USEFUL ROLEIN OPEN CHANNEL
TO HIZBALLAH
REF: A. SECSTTE 52061
B. ATHENS 115
C. SECSTATE 10263
Classified By: DCM THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) DCM and DepPolCouns delivered ref A points on
supporting the Arab League's efforts in Lebanon to,
resectively, Director of the Foreign Minister's Cabinet
Kostas Chalastanis and Deputy Head of the MFA's A6 Middle
East irectorate Giorgos Ayfantis. On the question of
designating Hizballah as a terrorist organization,
Chalastanis expressed skepticism about the value of that
step, noting the experience of the EU's designation of Hamas,
which had caused problems in terms of further political
maneuvering and negotiations. DCM pushed back, arguing that
Greece's proximity to, and great interest in, the Middle East
-- and particularly Lebanon -- gave it special
responsibilities in the EU. We thus expected Greece to
fulfill its duty and to express serious alarm at Hizballah's
attempt to gain political advantage through violence.
2. (S) A6's Ayfantis took a similar line to Chalastanis on
designating Hizballah. He noted the lack of unanimity on the
issue within the EU and argued that Greece had played a
"mediating role" since the summer of 2006, which would be
eliminated were Greece to designate Hizballah. "We can
designate, if you want, but that will shut down our special
role." Ayfantis said Greece had urged Hizballah not to use
violence against UNIFIL forces, which, if done, would cause
an intense reaction. The best policy, Ayfantis argued, was
to push Hizballah into the Parliament to give it a stake in
the political system.
3. (S) At the same time, Ayfantis said we had to make it more
difficult for Syria and Iran to supply Hizballah. He said
this could be done by boosting the size of the UNIFIL forces.
Asked whether Greece was prepared to move beyond its two
ships in UNIFIL and offer ground forces, Ayfantis said the UN
had asked Greece to supply an air reconnaissance unit. The
MFA was favorable to the idea and had recommended it to the
Greek MOD, though MinDef Meimarakis was "not warm" to the
idea. Ayfantis said further that if French President Sarkozy
were to request Greece to send troops -- whether to UNIFIL or
to fill an EU peacekeeping role in Gaza (refs B, C) -- Greece
would comply. Such a mission would not only be good for
Lebanon or Gaza, it would also get the Greek military out of
its Aegean-centric mindset -- which Ayfantis said the MFA was
advocating -- and could foster cooperation with the Turks,
who presumably might also have an interest in sending troops.
SPECKHARD