Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS1575
2009-10-26 12:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
Greek Response to UNGA Third Committee Demarche
how-toVZCZCXRO0799 OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTH #1575 2991245 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O R 261245Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0886 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0047
UNCLAS ATHENS 001575
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO IO/HR: COLLEEN NEVILLE
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DRL/MLGA: CHRIS SIBILLA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA GR
SUBJECT: Greek Response to UNGA Third Committee Demarche
REF: STATE 109397
UNCLAS ATHENS 001575
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO IO/HR: COLLEEN NEVILLE
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DRL/MLGA: CHRIS SIBILLA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA GR
SUBJECT: Greek Response to UNGA Third Committee Demarche
REF: STATE 109397
1. (SBU) On October 26, Poloff raised reftel points on the UN
General Assembly Third Committee with Elias Photopoulos, Director
of the MFA D4 Directorate of Human Rights, and with Loukas Tsokos,
Second Counselor in the MFA D1 Directorate for the UN and
International Organizations. On no-action motions, Tsokos noted
that Greece voted against the no-action motion on the Iran
resolution in 2008 and there was "no reason for Greece to change
its position this year." Photopoulos said that Greece would
"follow the EU consensus" on the Iran, Burma, and DPRK resolutions
and had no change of position from 2008. (NOTE: Greece voted in
favor of all three resolutions in 2008. END NOTE.)
2. (SBU) Photopoulos and Tsokos had no substantive comment on the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, but welcomed U.S.
engagement. Photopoulos said Greece shared U.S. concerns on the
concept of "defamation of religion" and would follow EU consensus
on the issue.
Speckhard
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT PASS TO IO/HR: COLLEEN NEVILLE
DEPT ALSO PASS TO DRL/MLGA: CHRIS SIBILLA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA GR
SUBJECT: Greek Response to UNGA Third Committee Demarche
REF: STATE 109397
1. (SBU) On October 26, Poloff raised reftel points on the UN
General Assembly Third Committee with Elias Photopoulos, Director
of the MFA D4 Directorate of Human Rights, and with Loukas Tsokos,
Second Counselor in the MFA D1 Directorate for the UN and
International Organizations. On no-action motions, Tsokos noted
that Greece voted against the no-action motion on the Iran
resolution in 2008 and there was "no reason for Greece to change
its position this year." Photopoulos said that Greece would
"follow the EU consensus" on the Iran, Burma, and DPRK resolutions
and had no change of position from 2008. (NOTE: Greece voted in
favor of all three resolutions in 2008. END NOTE.)
2. (SBU) Photopoulos and Tsokos had no substantive comment on the
Convention on the Rights of the Child, but welcomed U.S.
engagement. Photopoulos said Greece shared U.S. concerns on the
concept of "defamation of religion" and would follow EU consensus
on the issue.
Speckhard