CYPRUS: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON EU REGULATIONS ON RECOGNIZED

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000883 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EWWT EUN IMO CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: DEMARCHE REQUEST ON EU REGULATIONS ON RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS REF: STATE 116998 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Per reftel request, Post delivered on November 4 demarche on EU regulations regarding recognized ship classification societies to Nicholas Emiliou, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We also submitted copies to Makis Constantinides, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Works, and Serghios Serghiou, Director, Department of Merchant Shipping. ¶2. (SBU) In a follow-up conversation on November 7, Serghiou gave us his preliminary reaction to our demarche. He said it was his impression that EU transport ministers, working through the Energy and Transport Directorate General (TREN),had come to an agreement on the draft regulation, including on Article 10. Serghiou did not appear to be swayed by our comment that the European Council and the European Parliament actually remained divided over this issue and that, perhaps, this would be an opportune time for Cyprus to reconsider the issue with a more critical eye. Instead, he noted that Cyprus saw little point in contesting political consensus among EU transport ministers on this matter. Post will report any further GOC reaction. URBANCIC