Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA764
2008-09-24 14:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS WILL NOT REBUT RUSSIA'S GENOCIDE CLAIMS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHNC #0764 2681425 ZNY CCCCC ZZH (CCY ADDDA949 MSI5350 538) R 241425Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9179 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1226 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000764
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CHANGED SUBJECT LINE TEXT)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/ERA, EUR/CASC, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM CY GG RS XG XH
SUBJECT: CYPRUS WILL NOT REBUT RUSSIA'S GENOCIDE CLAIMS
AGAINST GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 98030
B. NICOSIA 717
Classified By: DCM Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
(C) Per Ref A, PolOff demarched Cypriot MFA European
Division diplomats Nikos Panayiotou and Selena Shambos on
September 22 regarding spurious Russian claims alleging that
Georgia, among other "crimes," had committed genocide in
South Ossetia. Shambos responded that Cyprus had supported
recent EU statements on the need to end hostilities in
Georgia, ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to
civilians in the conflict zone, and reach a lasting solution
to the Caucasus conflict. The EU was trying to portray
itself as the "honest broker" in the region, and issuing a
critical statement singling-out Russia would undercut its own
efforts. Shambos added that such a declaration could raise
temperatures further in the already-tense region. Rather,
the GOC wanted the situation to stabilize, and desired to
focus "on the long-term" in the Caucasus. Concluding the
discussion, she reiterated Cyprus's "principled position" to
support Georgia's (and all sovereign states') territorial
integrity.
Urbancic
C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (CHANGED SUBJECT LINE TEXT)
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/ERA, EUR/CASC, IO/UNP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018
TAGS: PHUM CY GG RS XG XH
SUBJECT: CYPRUS WILL NOT REBUT RUSSIA'S GENOCIDE CLAIMS
AGAINST GEORGIA
REF: A. SECSTATE 98030
B. NICOSIA 717
Classified By: DCM Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
(C) Per Ref A, PolOff demarched Cypriot MFA European
Division diplomats Nikos Panayiotou and Selena Shambos on
September 22 regarding spurious Russian claims alleging that
Georgia, among other "crimes," had committed genocide in
South Ossetia. Shambos responded that Cyprus had supported
recent EU statements on the need to end hostilities in
Georgia, ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to
civilians in the conflict zone, and reach a lasting solution
to the Caucasus conflict. The EU was trying to portray
itself as the "honest broker" in the region, and issuing a
critical statement singling-out Russia would undercut its own
efforts. Shambos added that such a declaration could raise
temperatures further in the already-tense region. Rather,
the GOC wanted the situation to stabilize, and desired to
focus "on the long-term" in the Caucasus. Concluding the
discussion, she reiterated Cyprus's "principled position" to
support Georgia's (and all sovereign states') territorial
integrity.
Urbancic