(S) Bakoyannis: TUAF Overflights Must Stop Before Progress

S E C R E T ATHENS 001015 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2034/06/17 TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL GR SUBJECT: (S) Bakoyannis: TUAF Overflights Must Stop Before Progress can be Made REF: 09 STATE 61209 CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel Speckhard, Ambassador, State, U.S. Embassy Athens, Greece; REASON: 1.4(A),(B),(D) 1.(S) Ambassador met one-on-one June 17 with FM Dora Bakoyannis, to underscore USG concerns expressed reftel at the increase in Aegean tensions, and to reinforce the need for both Greece and Turkey to explore ways to de-escalate the military activity over the Aegean, including in the skies over Agathonisi and Farmakonisi, and develop a dialogue that would ultimately resolve the two countries' outstanding differences in the Aegean. He highlighted the value of reviewing previous agreements and past suggestions on reducing tensions and noted that a number of Greek actions were perceived as provocative in nature, and if addressed, could greatly assist in engendering the response they were looking for from Turkey. Similarly, the U.S. had raised our concerns in Ankara over the repeated overflights of Agathonisi and Farmakonisi, and was approaching the GOT with a similar message on our broader concerns for decreasing tensions and working toward a comprehensive solution to Aegean issues. The Ambassador highlighted that Ambassador Jeffrey had made this approach in Ankara, noted that we were ready to play a supporting role to Greece and Turkey in this effort, and asked the FM's assessment of prospects for progress in establishing a productive dialogue with the Turks. ¶2. (S) Dora said that the GOG senses new opportunities for cooperation with Davutoglu. They had welcomed his message of a desire for "zero problems" with Greece and had ignored reports of other remarks that have been labeled "neo-Ottaminism." On the Aegean, she felt that what was needed was a "new atmosphere" that could provide the context for a renewed push to resolve the outstanding issues and the flexibility on both sides needed to accomplish this. The overflights of Agathonisi and Farmakonisi were making it impossible for Greece to show flexibility. The exact opposite message was needed to create the political space to solve the outstanding disputes. She suggested, given that the two neighbors and their citizens had no desire ever to see war again, that the GOT consider rescind its "anachronistic causus belli" position vis-a-vis a Greek effort to extend its territorial waters. This would create an atmosphere that could be met with a similar show of flexibility on the Greek side. ¶3. (S) The Ambassador suggested that this may be overreaching as a first step and urged the FM to look carefully at a process that would lead to greater confidence between the two sides, starting with addressing the Turkish overflights and some of the Greek actions that were perceived by Turkey as being provocative. The FM rejected this sequence, saying "I won't fall into the trap" of Turks laying an additional chip on the table (the overflights) that required a substantial Greek concession for them to remove. The Ambassador noted Embassy Ankara's belief that this escalation was likely related to last year's NATO exercise that overflew the Aghios Efstratios. She was hard pressed to see how the continuing and repeated overflights over Greek inhabited Islands could be compared to the A.E. exercise. ¶4. (S) However, in coming back to the larger issue, she said the GoG wants a high level engagement that would permit progress to be made on the Aegean. She pointed out that she and the Karamanlis government are holding the line on Greek support for Turkish EU accession in Brussels and at home. It would be politically easier, and could mean the difference for their government in the next election, were they to reverse their support for Turkey's EU perspective. They have resisted because they understand it would not be good for Greece, Turkey or the EU. But Ankara needs to recognize that these overflights are making this attitude increasingly difficult to maintain and they threaten the relationship more broadly. ¶5. (S) The Ambassador pressed on the importance of engaging bilaterally with Turkey and ensuring that the process and method was adequate to the task. He highlighted the importance of addressing the immediate threat of an accident that could cause a serious altercation. She recognized this and said that she had tasked her military advisors to identify confidence building measures that the Greeks could offer at the appropriate time. However, "the overflights must stop" for there to be any progress in discussions on the Aegean and they threaten the relationship more broadly. ¶6. (S) Ambassador noted that Davutoglu will be in Athens for the Acropolis Museum opening this weekend, which would be a good opportunity to start changing the dynamic. The Minister welcomed the visit and looked forward to the opportunity. SPECKHARD