Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS1485
2009-09-18 14:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

PASOK Official Foreshadows Foreign Policy Priorities

Tags:  PREL PGOV TU CY SENV GR RS PTER FMC SMIG IMO ECON 
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DE RUEHTH #1485/01 2611414
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 181414Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0697
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA IMMEDIATE 0144
RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA IMMEDIATE 0024
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001485 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/18
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY SENV GR RS PTER FMC SMIG IMO ECON
SUBJECT: PASOK Official Foreshadows Foreign Policy Priorities

CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel V. Speckhard, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)

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Summary

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C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001485

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/18
TAGS: PREL PGOV TU CY SENV GR RS PTER FMC SMIG IMO ECON
SUBJECT: PASOK Official Foreshadows Foreign Policy Priorities

CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel V. Speckhard, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)

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Summary

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1. (C) PolCouns and PolOff met with PASOK International Secretary
Paulina Lampsa September 10 for a wide-ranging discussion on the
October 4 elections and PASOK ambitions for Greek foreign and
economic policy. With PASOK currently polling ahead of Prime
Minister Karamanlis' ND party, Lampsa revealed PASOK is trying to
keep hot-button foreign policy issues out of the campaign and is
intently focused on a strategic communications strategy. Lampsa
also speculated that PASOK party leader George Papandreou might
also act as Foreign Minister, should PASOK secure a parliamentary
majority post-October 4. The discussion shed light on emerging
PASOK foreign policy priorities, to include development assistance,
maritime security and migration, as well as traditional Greek
foreign policy issues related to Turkey and Cyprus.

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Papandreou as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister?

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2. (C) Referencing Papandreou's time as Greece's Foreign Minister
(1999-2004) Lampsa estimated that, if PASOK secures a majority in
the October 4 national elections, Papandreou would either act as
the Foreign Minister himself, or appoint a Foreign Minister with
views close to his own that was not looking to gain more power in
the party through the position. The ideal candidate would have
prestige but not party ambition. Moreover, Lampsa said that
Papandreou's current advisors - many of whom served under him in
the MFA during his time as Foreign Minister - were encouraging him
to take on the role of Foreign Minister because they did not want
to shift to working for another Foreign Minister.

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Criticism of PM Karamanlis and ND

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3.(C) When prompted to discuss how Greek foreign policy would
differ should opposition party PASOK beat out PM Karamanlis' ruling
ND party, Lampsa criticized Karamanlis' close relationships with
the Russians and said that Greece under PASOK would be more
oriented toward economic and national interests rather than making
concessions to Russia and China. Lampsa specifically expressed a
desire to see more balance in Greece's relationship with Russia,
particularly regarding energy security. PolCouns reiterated that
the United States is not opposed to Russian energy exports
flowing to Greece but supports a balanced approach and one that
avoids any one country monopolizing the energy market.


4. (C) PASOK would also develop more proactive foreign policies
than ND, she said, rather than maintain the status quo or be
reactive. Lampsa referenced PASOK party leader George Papandreou's
leadership of Socialist International as a means of leveraging
international influence and building international partnerships.

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US-Greek Cooperation Would Improve...From A Distance

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5. (C) Regarding relations with the United States, Lampsa predicted
that collaboration would "continue and very likely improve" under a
PASOK -majority government. She noted continued support for
working together on issue such as the Middle East peace process,
the environment, Afghanistan and trade but also noted that PASOK
needs a well-prepared communications strategy to distance
Papandreou from right-wing claims that he is an American, which
could pander to lingering Greek anti-Americanism and hurt
Papandreou in the polls. (Note: Papandreou was in fact born in the
United States and in the past has faced political and media
criticism for being too "American." End Note)

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PASOK Priorities - Development, Security

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6. (C) Lampsa also noted emerging foreign policy priorities, to
include development assistance, maritime security, terrorism and
migration. Regarding maritime security, Lampsa felt that Greece
needing to modernize its approach and prepare for new threats.
PolCouns noted that there has been an ongoing discussion regarding
a code of conduct for maritime security, piracy and
counterterrorism. He mentioned that the United States was signing
the New York Declaration on best practices for self-protection of
vessels, and encouraged Greece, a major maritime presence, to
become a signatory as well.


7. (C) Lastly, Lampsa noted that PASOK foreign policy would focus
more attention on counterterrorism measures and money laundering.
She expressed concern that Greece - as host to large numbers of
Western tourists- was vulnerable to terrorism and noted that an
international terrorist attack could have a very large impact on
the Greek psyche and on the tourism economy.


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Migration

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8. (C) PolCouns raised the issue of possible linkages between
terrorism and migration and inquired about the PASOK strategy for
combating illegal immigration. Lampsa revealed that Papandreou is
personally interested in the migration issue and that a
comprehensive strategy on migration would need to entail improved
cooperation with neighboring countries and better control of the
movement of illegal immigrants within Greece, while still
maintaining standards for fair treatment and human rights. She saw
a need to distinguish between trafficking victims and illegal
immigrants and noted that neither issue would be a problem if local
Greeks were not aiding the process. Lampsa asserted that the
government must define what immigration is needed to support the
Greek economy and wants more control to outline who can come to
Greece and for what purpose, through seasonal worker agreements.
PolCouns recommended working directly with Turkey to address the
illegal immigration flow but Lampsa felt Greece would need to
improve relations with Turkey overall before this would be
possible.

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Turkey and Cyprus

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9. (C) Although Papandreou likes to cite his work toward
rapprochement with Turkey during his tenure as Foreign Minister as
an indication of good relations to come, Lampsa acknowledged that,
ten years later, the players in Turkey are now different. However,
she feels Papandreou would have more credibility with Turkey in its
pledge to support Turkish EU accession. She argued that Turkey was
suspicious of the current ND government's pledge of support for
Turkish EU accession, given its close relationship with the French
government.


10. (C) Lampsa views the Cyprus issue as the most important issue
in improving relations with Turkey. If the dispute between Greek
Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots is resolved, it would help to resolve
other Aegean issues and forge the way for better cooperation in
areas such as combating illegal immigration. Acknowledging that
"time is running out on Cyprus," Lampsa stressed that even if a
comprehensive agreement on Cyprus cannot be forged, PASOK would
support striking a partial solution and partial agreement, in order
to "keep the door open."


11. (C) Lampsa acknowledged that Greece should focus on more
global issues but also commented on how local neighborhood issues
such as the Turkey, Cyprus and the Macedonia name issue need to be
"gotten out of the way."

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Economy

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12. (C) With debate over the economy at the forefront of the
national election campaign, Lampsa argued that the Greek middle
class expects a more socialized approach to the economy and that
structural changes are needed in order to change legislation and
the current bureaucracy impeding foreign investment and economic

growth. Addressing economic issues in Greece is also essential to
maintaining credibility in Brussels and with other E.U. member
states, she argued. Lampsa also expressed interest in
collaborating with the United States in order to develop Greece's
green economy and, in particular, hoped to see more U.S.
state-to-Greek prefecture collaboration on issues such as renewable
energy.


13. (C) Comment: While careful not to explicitly say so, Lampsa
gave the impression that PASOK foreign policy moves would be "well
prepared" in terms of communication and would not be a dramatic
break at the start of the new government. The overall message
that Greek foreign policy under PASOK would be fairly similar - at
least to start - corroborates with statements that Lampsa made in
meetings prior to the announcement of early elections. End Comment
Speckhard