CYPRIOT STANCE AT UPCOMING GAERC/GYMNICH

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000859 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD SUBJECT: CYPRIOT STANCE AT UPCOMING GAERC/GYMNICH REF: SECSTATE 115017 Classified By: DCM Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) On October 30, Poloffs delivered Reftel demarche on upcoming Gymnich and GAERC meetings to MFA European Union desk officer Nikos Panayiotou. Turning first to the Gymnich meeting and its focus on transatlantic relations, Panayiotou stressed that Cyprus and the broader EU understood the necessity of forging and maintaining close ties with Washington. He expected to see productive debate on a French non-paper on transatlantic relations, originally tabled at the September Gymnich, but acknowledged that many in the EU preferred to wait until after U.S. elections before giving it fullest consideration. ¶2. (C) Regarding the upcoming EU-Russia summit, Panayiotou was unsure whether the EU would permit renewed discussions on the partnership agreement, especially in light of hard-line positions of other EU member states, especially the Balts. He asserted that Cyprus favored continued dialogue with Russia, as opposed to attempting to isolate it further. While unsure of the exact agenda for RoC President Dimitris Christofias's November 17 visit to Moscow, Panayiotou expected that the Georgia conflict would be discussed. Panayiotou voiced a similar pro-dialogue message in discussing Syria/Lebanon, although he acknowledged the need to evaluate Syria's commitment to normalized relations with Lebanon on deeds, not words. ¶3. (C) Panayiotou turned next to the EU's anti-piracy operations off Somalia. He agreed with Poloffs that modalities established between participating EU and NATO assets boded well for future cooperation between the two organizations. He took a dig at Turkey, however, alleging that it, not Cyprus, constituted the thorn in EU-NATO dealings. Last, on Iran, Panayiotou voiced Cyprus's continuing commitment to honor UNSC resolutions mandating sanctions against Tehran. He avoided comment, however, regarding Cyprus's stance on autonomous EU sanctions. Urbancic