GREEK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER GYMNICH

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001461 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA A.NARDI AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/04 TAGS: EUN GR PGOV PREL SUBJECT: GREEK VIEWS IN ADVANCE OF SEPTEMBER GYMNICH REF: EUR/ERA 08/28/09 EMAIL, INTELLIPEDIA GYMNICH POINTS CLASSIFIED BY: George Frowick, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B) ¶1. (SBU) On September 2 PolOff delivered reftel Gymnich backgrounder and points to Niki Kambas of the Greek MFA Directorate for Common Foreign and Security Policy. Kambas noted that, overall, she does not foresee any big changes from the "usual positions" for issues on the agenda and said Greece will continue to pursue a coordinated approach with the EU, and then with the US. She also noted that the MFA does not prepare new formal position papers for the GYMNICH, as they do for the GAERC, because it is more informal and "up to the Ministers to decide what line they will take." Kambas provided the following Greek views for the main Gymnich topics: ¶2. (C) Iran: Kambas noted that Greece "is not pushing" for additional EU sanctions against Iran but would also not stand in the way of the consensus vote, should sanctions be passed. GoG would prefer sanctions within the UNSC framework. Kambas stressed that any additional sanctions should be targeted against the Iranian regime and oriented toward results. She noted that the GoG would also like Iranian nuclear development to be the top priority for the EU and US. Although the latest IAEA report had minor positive elements, the most immediate goal was still to prevent or at least delay development of an Iranian nuclear program. ¶3. (SBU) Middle East: Kambas conveyed Greek support for recent talks in the region and the work done by Special Envoy Mitchell. The GoG thinks it would be difficult to have a peace agreement that does not include deal with Jerusalem and also expressed concern that the situation in Gaza is still "very unreliable." With Palestinian elections set to be held in four months, Kambas said the focus should be on supporting the elections and ultimately supporting the elected government. Kambas inquired as to UNGA September meetings on the peace process. PolOff said Washington guidance on the matter indicated that we anticipate meetings of the Middle East Quartet and with Arab League Foreign Ministers. ¶4. (SBU) Afghanistan/Pakistan: The GoG continues to support EU efforts to promote good government, rule of law, stability, development and humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons. Following the EU-Pakistan Summit, the EU is looking to quickly implement development programs, facilitate Pakistan-EU trade, and forge close cooperation to achieve their goals. SPECKHARD