Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS1681
2009-12-04 15:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
Greek Views on December 2009 FAC
how-toVZCZCXRO7978 OO RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #1681 3381547 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O R 041547Z DEC 09 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1183 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001681
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO AMCONSUL 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: 2019/12/04
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN GR
SUBJECT: Greek Views on December 2009 FAC
REF: ELIZABETH KONICK EMAIL 12/04/2009
CLASSIFIED BY: Deborah McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001681
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO AMCONSUL 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: 2019/12/04
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN GR
SUBJECT: Greek Views on December 2009 FAC
REF: ELIZABETH KONICK EMAIL 12/04/2009
CLASSIFIED BY: Deborah McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On December 4, POLOFF discussed ref points on U.S.
positions on the December 8 FAC (Foreign Affairs Council) with
Alexandros Ioannidis, European Correspondent in the MFA A11
Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) Division. Ioannidis said the
FAC's agenda would focus on the Middle East peace process, Iran,
EUFOR Althea, and a "get to know" introductory meeting with new EU
High Representative Catherine Ashton.
2. (C) WESTERN BALKANS: Ioannidis said the only Balkans topic
discussed would be EUFOR Althea: how big the mission would be and
how it would change. He noted an "unnamed country" had been
isolated on the issue, but was one of the major EU members and thus
had forced the decision to a ministerial level. The division of
views centered on how the current operational phase would
transition to a training phase.
3. (C) IRAN: Ioannidis said the Greek position had not
changed--proceeding with caution and gradually intensifying
pressure was the preferred tactic. He said additional sanctions at
this point in time would not be beneficial, as Greece didn't want
to corner Iran. Ioannidis noted that Iran policy decisions might
be elevated to the head of state level at the upcoming EU summit.
4. (C) MIDDLE EAST: Ioannidis noted a "very lively debate" among
EU member states, focusing on the issues of using 1967 borders as a
reference as well as the status of East Jerusalem as a potential
Palestinian capital. The decision would thus be addressed at a
ministerial level.
Speckhard
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO AMCONSUL 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: 2019/12/04
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN GR
SUBJECT: Greek Views on December 2009 FAC
REF: ELIZABETH KONICK EMAIL 12/04/2009
CLASSIFIED BY: Deborah McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) On December 4, POLOFF discussed ref points on U.S.
positions on the December 8 FAC (Foreign Affairs Council) with
Alexandros Ioannidis, European Correspondent in the MFA A11
Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) Division. Ioannidis said the
FAC's agenda would focus on the Middle East peace process, Iran,
EUFOR Althea, and a "get to know" introductory meeting with new EU
High Representative Catherine Ashton.
2. (C) WESTERN BALKANS: Ioannidis said the only Balkans topic
discussed would be EUFOR Althea: how big the mission would be and
how it would change. He noted an "unnamed country" had been
isolated on the issue, but was one of the major EU members and thus
had forced the decision to a ministerial level. The division of
views centered on how the current operational phase would
transition to a training phase.
3. (C) IRAN: Ioannidis said the Greek position had not
changed--proceeding with caution and gradually intensifying
pressure was the preferred tactic. He said additional sanctions at
this point in time would not be beneficial, as Greece didn't want
to corner Iran. Ioannidis noted that Iran policy decisions might
be elevated to the head of state level at the upcoming EU summit.
4. (C) MIDDLE EAST: Ioannidis noted a "very lively debate" among
EU member states, focusing on the issues of using 1967 borders as a
reference as well as the status of East Jerusalem as a potential
Palestinian capital. The decision would thus be addressed at a
ministerial level.
Speckhard