CYPRUS DOES NOT SUPPORT DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000614 SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO ISN, T, TREASURY, NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2018 TAGS: KNNP EFIN PARM CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS DOES NOT SUPPORT DESIGNATION OF ADDITIONAL IRANIAN ENTITIES UNDER E.O. 13382 REF: SECSTATE 76596 ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel, PolOff demarched Cypriot MFA Middle East Desk Officer, Attach Dionysis Dionysiou, regarding the designation of additional Iranian entities and individuals under E.O. 13382 on July 25. Dionysiou said that the GOC is currently discussing the designation of additional Iranian entities in Brussels, and that the main concern for the GOC regarding UNSCR 1803 is the possibility of scope creep, i.e., moving beyond UNSCR 1803's current boundaries. According to Dionysiou, UNSCR 1803 is the consensus of the P5, and if the EU moves beyond the current parameters of UNSCR 1803, then the EU would be undermining the consensus and unity of the P5 position. Dionysiou stated that it is one thing for the GOC to support "restricted measures" by the EU towards Iran, and it is another thing to "arbitrarily add companies with no proven connection", which the GOC deems beyond the scope of UNSCR 1803. 2.(C) Dionysiou mentioned that Malta and Sweden,among others, share Cyprus's position. He stated that in Brussels, a British representative submitted a list of Iranian-affiliated companies for consideration for restricted measures under UNSCR 1803, and when he was asked to explain the connection between the companies and Iran, he couldn't and said that he would have to "ask London." This discredited the additions in the eyes of the GOC. SCHLICHER