Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS734
2008-05-28 13:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM BAKOYANNIS
how-toVZCZCXRO5020 OO RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #0734/01 1491352 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281352Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1873 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM ALT SHAPE BE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0328 RHMFISS/CDRUSANATO SHAPE BE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000734
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO UNSC IR MK GR
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM BAKOYANNIS
REF: A. ATHENS 651
B. ATHENS 678
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000734
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO UNSC IR MK GR
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM BAKOYANNIS
REF: A. ATHENS 651
B. ATHENS 678
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) In a May 23 meeting with Ambassador Speckhard, FM
Bakoyannis said she and PM Karamanlis had told Macedonian
President Crvenkovski that Greece seeks to conclude the name
negotiations quickly. Macedonia must choose an adjective for
"Macedonia" that makes clear the country is part of a broader
Macedonia, and the adjective must precede "Macedonia." The
new name must also be used on all documents, passports,
products, etc. She said Greece does not insist on a change
in the constitutional name, but she did not see how the Greek
view of the scope of application could be achieved without
the new name being reflected in the constitution. The
Ambassador pressed for rapid conclusion to the issue and for
maximum flexibility from the Greeks.
2. (C) Bakoyannis suggested a new UNSCR is required to
obtain "EU unity" on Kosovo, adding what is needed is a
"reaffirmation of 1244." She had recently met SRS President
Dacic in Athens and was pessimistic he would form a coalition
with Tadic. The Ambassador raised the need for further
sanctions in Iran; she agreed the international community
needed to be "firm" with Iran, but did not appear fully
briefed on the issue. She expressed grave disappointment
with the NATO decision not to support the "NOBLE ARCHER"
Aegean exercise, blaming the United States. The GOG is
downplaying the issue for now, but will revisit it with the
U.S. in the future. She expressed gave concern with the AKP
case in Turkey, noting that it has complicated Greece's
ability to make progress with Turkey. She noted that
Greece's last offer on the Visa Waiver MOU was as far as
Greece could go, and pledged to work to conclude the MOU
quickly. She also laid out her priorities for the upcoming
"Women in the Middle East" forum hosted by Greece. End
Summary.
--------------
Macedonia Name
--------------
3. (C) Bakoyannis provided readout of her and PM Karamanlis'
conversations with Macedonian President Crvenkovski on the
margins of the May 21 SEECP Summit in Bulgaria:
-- Name: They told Crvenkovski that Greece would not impose
a name; he could pick the adjective ) "Gorno," "Upper,"
"North," etc., as long as the adjective made clear that the
country in question is only a part of a broader "Macedonia,"
and the adjective precedes the noun. They told him that
"Republic of Macedonia Skopje" will not work.
-- Referendum: Bakoyannis said they had not threatened or
insisted that Greece would require a referendum if the
Macedonians held one. They did tell Crvenkovski it was a bad
move that would lead the Greek opposition to insist there
should be a referendum on the enlargement decision, not the
name. The Ambassador responded that Greece's approval would
be the parliamentary ratification. Bakoyannis responded that
it would be difficult to explain to the public that the
Macedonians could let the public decide, while resisting
similar arguments in Greece or elsewhere in Europe. She
added she was worried about the pressure for referendums on
enlargement in the EU context, and the impact of the furof referendums on TurkeQ-- Scope of Application: They told Crvenkovski the new name
needs to be a name used on documents, passports, products,
etc. The Ambassador pushed back, noting that requiring a
change in the Macedonian Constitution would be a bridge too
far. She responded that Greece does not insist on a
constitutional change, but she added she did not see how it
would be possible to have a name used for all international
usage, including commercial, and not have it reflected in the
Constitution.
-- Timing: They told Crvenkovski that they are serious in
pressing ahead. At the same time, given the time it would
take to form a government in Skopje after the Parliamentary
elections, they were skeptical that there would be sufficient
ATHENS 00000734 002 OF 003
time to arrive at a solution before July 9th. The Ambassador
urged her to press ahead.
-- PM Gruevski: Bakoyannis more generally noted that the GOG
is worried about Gruevski; she said he is using old style
Balkans rhetoric internally that is divisive (Macedonians
versus Albanians),adding that the Bulgarians have similar
concerns.
4. (C) Throughout the conversation, the Ambassador
encouraged FM Bakoyannis to press ahead and be flexible in
the negotiations. The timing is right to seize the
opportunity after the elections to get this issue behind us.
--------------
Kosovo
--------------
5. (C) Bakoyannis affirmed that she had met with Kosovo FM
Hyseni in Bulgaria. She alluded to "problems in the EU," and
added that she believes a UN resolution is needed. A new
UNSCR does not need to be detailed; a simple reaffirmation
that 1244 is still the basis would be sufficient, and it
would not need to address the current situation.
6. (C) The Ambassador pushed back that this seemed like it
would create more problems than it would solve, and asked if
it was not likely the Russians would veto. Bakoyannis
responded that it depends on Serbian developments; Tadic
needs to win the government formation battle. She thought
Tadic could support a resolution limited to a reaffirmation
that 1244 was still germane. The resolution could mean
different things to different people. If Serbia did not have
problems with the resolution, it could be possible to get
Russians on board.
7. (C) The Ambassador expressed great skepticism. She
responded that she knew this would not be easy, but unity in
EU is desperately needed; she thought a new UN resolution was
the only way to obtain this. Bakoyannis would not give any
indication of Greece's timing on recognition, with the clear
implication that it would depend on further developments
within the EU.
--------------
Visit of Serbian Socialist Party Leader
--------------
8. (C) Bakoyannis said she had met with SRS President Dacic
earlier on May 23 when he visited Athens at the invitation of
leading opposition party PASOK President and Socialist
International President George Papandreou. Bakoyannis said
she does not think that the SRS will form a government with
Tadic; their (unspecified) offer is too good from the
nationalists. She encouraged Dacic to think of his party's
future. In the next ten years the SRS' old constituency will
be dying off; they need to reach younger people and will need
a European focus to be able to do that. Bakoyannis was not
optimistic that Dacic had been convinced.
--------------
Iran
--------------
9. (C) The Ambassador pressed Bakoyannis on the need to
support a strengthening of sanctions against Iran. She was
interested in rumors that the Ayatollahs were considering
pushing out Ahmedinijad. She agreed the international
community needed to be firm. She said she thought Greece
could support a strengthening of economic sanctions, as long
as such sanctions did not include oil. (Comment: Bakoyannis
did not seem well briefed on this issue, and given clear
indications - Reftel A - from the Greek MFA of skepticism
about further sanctions, we caution against putting too much
stock in Bakoyannis' initial reaction on this point. End
Comment).
--------------
Aegean Exercise Cancellation
--------------
10. (C) Bakoyannis was very upset by NATO's decision not to
support "NOBLE ARCHER" - Greece's planned exercise in the
Aegean (Ref B). She said that Greece had worked for a long
time to prepare this exercise, had followed the NATO
procedures and rules, and SACEUR had supported it. Everyone
ATHENS 00000734 003 OF 003
always knew the Turks would object to the planned overflight
of the island Agios Efstratios, and Turkish objections should
not have come as a surprise to anyone.
11. (C) Bakoyannis said Greece believes the U.S. was
responsible for pulling the plug on the exercise. She said
that now is not the time to tackle this issue, and the GOG
has tried to show restraint in its response, but we will need
to pick this issue up again, as it is "very important" to
Greece.
--------------
Turkey
--------------
12. (C) Bakoyannis said the GOG is very concerned with the
internal situation in Turkey. The Greeks do not understand
how it is possible potentially to outlaw the political party
that has the support of the majority of the population or to
blacklist over 70 of that party's most prominent politicians.
She said Greece is very worried about the potential for
future instability in Turkey. She added that this situation
also means nothing substantial can be achieved on bilateral
and regional issues until the question of the AKP's status is
resolved.
--------------
Visa Waiver
--------------
13. (C) The Ambassador urged that the GOG be very flexible,
responsive and restrained in the HSPD-6 negotiations that
would take place May 28. She said that the GOG has worked
very hard to resolve all the issues to be included in VWP.
The last offer from Greece on the general VWP MOU is "the
best we can do." She concluded that Greece will support
efforts to conclude rapidly the MOU, but she asked that we
recognize that Greece cannot get "too far out from the EU,"
adding Greece is not a "New Europe" country.
--------------
Conference on Women in the Middle East
--------------
14. (C) Bakoyannis briefly raised the "Women in the Middle
East" Forum she will host as part of the Women Leader's
Working Group. She said she wants results, and not just
talk. There she had tightened the focus of the forum on
entrepreneurship ) which gives women income, a sense of
security, and empowerment.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO UNSC IR MK GR
SUBJECT: TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FM BAKOYANNIS
REF: A. ATHENS 651
B. ATHENS 678
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) In a May 23 meeting with Ambassador Speckhard, FM
Bakoyannis said she and PM Karamanlis had told Macedonian
President Crvenkovski that Greece seeks to conclude the name
negotiations quickly. Macedonia must choose an adjective for
"Macedonia" that makes clear the country is part of a broader
Macedonia, and the adjective must precede "Macedonia." The
new name must also be used on all documents, passports,
products, etc. She said Greece does not insist on a change
in the constitutional name, but she did not see how the Greek
view of the scope of application could be achieved without
the new name being reflected in the constitution. The
Ambassador pressed for rapid conclusion to the issue and for
maximum flexibility from the Greeks.
2. (C) Bakoyannis suggested a new UNSCR is required to
obtain "EU unity" on Kosovo, adding what is needed is a
"reaffirmation of 1244." She had recently met SRS President
Dacic in Athens and was pessimistic he would form a coalition
with Tadic. The Ambassador raised the need for further
sanctions in Iran; she agreed the international community
needed to be "firm" with Iran, but did not appear fully
briefed on the issue. She expressed grave disappointment
with the NATO decision not to support the "NOBLE ARCHER"
Aegean exercise, blaming the United States. The GOG is
downplaying the issue for now, but will revisit it with the
U.S. in the future. She expressed gave concern with the AKP
case in Turkey, noting that it has complicated Greece's
ability to make progress with Turkey. She noted that
Greece's last offer on the Visa Waiver MOU was as far as
Greece could go, and pledged to work to conclude the MOU
quickly. She also laid out her priorities for the upcoming
"Women in the Middle East" forum hosted by Greece. End
Summary.
--------------
Macedonia Name
--------------
3. (C) Bakoyannis provided readout of her and PM Karamanlis'
conversations with Macedonian President Crvenkovski on the
margins of the May 21 SEECP Summit in Bulgaria:
-- Name: They told Crvenkovski that Greece would not impose
a name; he could pick the adjective ) "Gorno," "Upper,"
"North," etc., as long as the adjective made clear that the
country in question is only a part of a broader "Macedonia,"
and the adjective precedes the noun. They told him that
"Republic of Macedonia Skopje" will not work.
-- Referendum: Bakoyannis said they had not threatened or
insisted that Greece would require a referendum if the
Macedonians held one. They did tell Crvenkovski it was a bad
move that would lead the Greek opposition to insist there
should be a referendum on the enlargement decision, not the
name. The Ambassador responded that Greece's approval would
be the parliamentary ratification. Bakoyannis responded that
it would be difficult to explain to the public that the
Macedonians could let the public decide, while resisting
similar arguments in Greece or elsewhere in Europe. She
added she was worried about the pressure for referendums on
enlargement in the EU context, and the impact of the furof referendums on TurkeQ-- Scope of Application: They told Crvenkovski the new name
needs to be a name used on documents, passports, products,
etc. The Ambassador pushed back, noting that requiring a
change in the Macedonian Constitution would be a bridge too
far. She responded that Greece does not insist on a
constitutional change, but she added she did not see how it
would be possible to have a name used for all international
usage, including commercial, and not have it reflected in the
Constitution.
-- Timing: They told Crvenkovski that they are serious in
pressing ahead. At the same time, given the time it would
take to form a government in Skopje after the Parliamentary
elections, they were skeptical that there would be sufficient
ATHENS 00000734 002 OF 003
time to arrive at a solution before July 9th. The Ambassador
urged her to press ahead.
-- PM Gruevski: Bakoyannis more generally noted that the GOG
is worried about Gruevski; she said he is using old style
Balkans rhetoric internally that is divisive (Macedonians
versus Albanians),adding that the Bulgarians have similar
concerns.
4. (C) Throughout the conversation, the Ambassador
encouraged FM Bakoyannis to press ahead and be flexible in
the negotiations. The timing is right to seize the
opportunity after the elections to get this issue behind us.
--------------
Kosovo
--------------
5. (C) Bakoyannis affirmed that she had met with Kosovo FM
Hyseni in Bulgaria. She alluded to "problems in the EU," and
added that she believes a UN resolution is needed. A new
UNSCR does not need to be detailed; a simple reaffirmation
that 1244 is still the basis would be sufficient, and it
would not need to address the current situation.
6. (C) The Ambassador pushed back that this seemed like it
would create more problems than it would solve, and asked if
it was not likely the Russians would veto. Bakoyannis
responded that it depends on Serbian developments; Tadic
needs to win the government formation battle. She thought
Tadic could support a resolution limited to a reaffirmation
that 1244 was still germane. The resolution could mean
different things to different people. If Serbia did not have
problems with the resolution, it could be possible to get
Russians on board.
7. (C) The Ambassador expressed great skepticism. She
responded that she knew this would not be easy, but unity in
EU is desperately needed; she thought a new UN resolution was
the only way to obtain this. Bakoyannis would not give any
indication of Greece's timing on recognition, with the clear
implication that it would depend on further developments
within the EU.
--------------
Visit of Serbian Socialist Party Leader
--------------
8. (C) Bakoyannis said she had met with SRS President Dacic
earlier on May 23 when he visited Athens at the invitation of
leading opposition party PASOK President and Socialist
International President George Papandreou. Bakoyannis said
she does not think that the SRS will form a government with
Tadic; their (unspecified) offer is too good from the
nationalists. She encouraged Dacic to think of his party's
future. In the next ten years the SRS' old constituency will
be dying off; they need to reach younger people and will need
a European focus to be able to do that. Bakoyannis was not
optimistic that Dacic had been convinced.
--------------
Iran
--------------
9. (C) The Ambassador pressed Bakoyannis on the need to
support a strengthening of sanctions against Iran. She was
interested in rumors that the Ayatollahs were considering
pushing out Ahmedinijad. She agreed the international
community needed to be firm. She said she thought Greece
could support a strengthening of economic sanctions, as long
as such sanctions did not include oil. (Comment: Bakoyannis
did not seem well briefed on this issue, and given clear
indications - Reftel A - from the Greek MFA of skepticism
about further sanctions, we caution against putting too much
stock in Bakoyannis' initial reaction on this point. End
Comment).
--------------
Aegean Exercise Cancellation
--------------
10. (C) Bakoyannis was very upset by NATO's decision not to
support "NOBLE ARCHER" - Greece's planned exercise in the
Aegean (Ref B). She said that Greece had worked for a long
time to prepare this exercise, had followed the NATO
procedures and rules, and SACEUR had supported it. Everyone
ATHENS 00000734 003 OF 003
always knew the Turks would object to the planned overflight
of the island Agios Efstratios, and Turkish objections should
not have come as a surprise to anyone.
11. (C) Bakoyannis said Greece believes the U.S. was
responsible for pulling the plug on the exercise. She said
that now is not the time to tackle this issue, and the GOG
has tried to show restraint in its response, but we will need
to pick this issue up again, as it is "very important" to
Greece.
--------------
Turkey
--------------
12. (C) Bakoyannis said the GOG is very concerned with the
internal situation in Turkey. The Greeks do not understand
how it is possible potentially to outlaw the political party
that has the support of the majority of the population or to
blacklist over 70 of that party's most prominent politicians.
She said Greece is very worried about the potential for
future instability in Turkey. She added that this situation
also means nothing substantial can be achieved on bilateral
and regional issues until the question of the AKP's status is
resolved.
--------------
Visa Waiver
--------------
13. (C) The Ambassador urged that the GOG be very flexible,
responsive and restrained in the HSPD-6 negotiations that
would take place May 28. She said that the GOG has worked
very hard to resolve all the issues to be included in VWP.
The last offer from Greece on the general VWP MOU is "the
best we can do." She concluded that Greece will support
efforts to conclude rapidly the MOU, but she asked that we
recognize that Greece cannot get "too far out from the EU,"
adding Greece is not a "New Europe" country.
--------------
Conference on Women in the Middle East
--------------
14. (C) Bakoyannis briefly raised the "Women in the Middle
East" Forum she will host as part of the Women Leader's
Working Group. She said she wants results, and not just
talk. There she had tightened the focus of the forum on
entrepreneurship ) which gives women income, a sense of
security, and empowerment.
SPECKHARD