Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BUDAPEST339
2008-04-01 10:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Budapest
Cable title:
HUNGARY URGED TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE ON NATO
how-toVZCZCXRO9922 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHUP #0339 0921013 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011013Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY BUDAPEST TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2757 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0677
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000339
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY URGED TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE ON NATO
INVITATION FOR MACEDONIA
REF: SECSTATE 32646
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUDAPEST 000339
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY URGED TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE ON NATO
INVITATION FOR MACEDONIA
REF: SECSTATE 32646
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Ambassador Foley delivered reftel points in a
three-pronged approach to senior Hungarian Government
officials in the Prime Minister's Officer, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense on March 31. The
Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, Karoly Banai,
advised that, due to the current coalition political turmoil
in Hungary (septel),he doubted the Prime Minister could be
engaged on the Macedonia name issue prior to the Bucharest
Summit. Banai commented that the Prime Minister will come
back early from the NATO Summit, missing both the partnership
program and Russian engagement sessions. However, Banai
stated he would raise the issue with the Greek Ambassador to
Hungary as well as directing the Hungarian Ambassador in
Athens to do the same with the Greek Government. Banai also
stated he will ask the Foreign Minister and the Defense
Minister to contact their Greek counterparts. When asked by
the Ambassador as to Hungary's position on Albanian
membership if Greek thwarts Macedonia's invitation, Banai
stated Hungary will continue to support the offer of
membership to Albania at the Bucharest Summit.
2. (C) MFA Policy State Secretary Szentivanyi told the
Ambassador that Hungary has been engaged with Greece on the
Macedonian name issue since January, noting Hungary's active
support for the NATO "friends of enlargement non-paper."
Although encouraging Greece to "be open to suggestions for a
solution, efforts have been to no avail." He commented that
they recently received a "missive" from the Greek Government
stating that the Skopje Government has violated the 1995
interim agreement when they pledged only to use the FYROM
name and the Nimetz plan is unacceptable.
3. (C) MOD Policy State Secretary Jozsef Bali received the
Ambassador's call for MinDef Szekeres who is traveling in
Germany. Bali stated he would pass the message on to the
Minister, stressing that "the name issue must not be an
obstacle to membership."
FOLEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PREL NATO PGOV HU
SUBJECT: HUNGARY URGED TO WEIGH IN WITH GREECE ON NATO
INVITATION FOR MACEDONIA
REF: SECSTATE 32646
Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Eric Gaudiosi, reasons 1.4 (b and d)
1. (C) Ambassador Foley delivered reftel points in a
three-pronged approach to senior Hungarian Government
officials in the Prime Minister's Officer, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense on March 31. The
Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Advisor, Karoly Banai,
advised that, due to the current coalition political turmoil
in Hungary (septel),he doubted the Prime Minister could be
engaged on the Macedonia name issue prior to the Bucharest
Summit. Banai commented that the Prime Minister will come
back early from the NATO Summit, missing both the partnership
program and Russian engagement sessions. However, Banai
stated he would raise the issue with the Greek Ambassador to
Hungary as well as directing the Hungarian Ambassador in
Athens to do the same with the Greek Government. Banai also
stated he will ask the Foreign Minister and the Defense
Minister to contact their Greek counterparts. When asked by
the Ambassador as to Hungary's position on Albanian
membership if Greek thwarts Macedonia's invitation, Banai
stated Hungary will continue to support the offer of
membership to Albania at the Bucharest Summit.
2. (C) MFA Policy State Secretary Szentivanyi told the
Ambassador that Hungary has been engaged with Greece on the
Macedonian name issue since January, noting Hungary's active
support for the NATO "friends of enlargement non-paper."
Although encouraging Greece to "be open to suggestions for a
solution, efforts have been to no avail." He commented that
they recently received a "missive" from the Greek Government
stating that the Skopje Government has violated the 1995
interim agreement when they pledged only to use the FYROM
name and the Nimetz plan is unacceptable.
3. (C) MOD Policy State Secretary Jozsef Bali received the
Ambassador's call for MinDef Szekeres who is traveling in
Germany. Bali stated he would pass the message on to the
Minister, stressing that "the name issue must not be an
obstacle to membership."
FOLEY