Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS19
2009-01-07 17:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

FM BAKOYANNIS ON GAZA, AEGEAN ISSUES, OSCE,

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE GG GR RS TU CVIS CJAN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1557
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #0019/01 0071717
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 071717Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3002
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000019 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE GG GR RS TU CVIS CJAN
MOPS, PTER, KTIA, KCRM
SUBJECT: FM BAKOYANNIS ON GAZA, AEGEAN ISSUES, OSCE,
GEORGIA, U.S.-EU MLAT, VISA WAIVER, AND TERRORISM

REF: A. 08 STATE 134559

B. STATE 1199

C. ATHENS 11

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000019

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE GG GR RS TU CVIS CJAN
MOPS, PTER, KTIA, KCRM
SUBJECT: FM BAKOYANNIS ON GAZA, AEGEAN ISSUES, OSCE,
GEORGIA, U.S.-EU MLAT, VISA WAIVER, AND TERRORISM

REF: A. 08 STATE 134559

B. STATE 1199

C. ATHENS 11

Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a January 7 meeting with Ambassador Speckhard, FM
Bakoyannis led off by expressing concern about the situation
in Gaza, and emphasizing the need for a "humanitarian truce,"
and a UN Security Council Resolution. The Ambassador
responded that the U.S. was also deeply concerned about the
situation, and that this issue was at the top of our agenda,
but the U.S. sought a ceasefire that was sustainable and
durable and not a return to the status quo ante. FM
Bakoyannis said she was concerned about an "increase in
provocative Turkish activity" in the Aegean, including recent
direct overflights of Greek islands and that morning's
interception of Greek aircraft in Greek airspace conducting
rescue operations. These incidents harmed public support for
the GOG's policy to support Turkish EU accession, but she
pledged that the GOG's policy remains "firm." The Ambassador
reiterated the importance of avoiding incidents that could
escalate, and emphasized the need for "reserve and calm" in
response to any perceived provocations.


2. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref A points on Georgia and
noted the importance ensuring the OSCE supports Georgia in
the context of the OSCE mission closure; FM Bakoyannis had no
substantive reply on the "way forward" paper, but said
Georgia was among her highest priorities as OSCE
Chairman-in-Office (CIO). The Ambassador reiterated our
desire for close consultation on OSCE matters, particularly

on European "security architecture." FM Bakoyannis said she
looked forward to early consultations with the new Secretary
of State on OSCE matters, adding that Greece was satisfied
with current security arrangements, but that, as CIO, Greece
had to "promote dialogue," as this was the best way to "move
forward on difficult subjects." The Ambassador said some were
skeptical about the motives behind the Russian proposals, and
reiterated the need to proceed cautiously. OSCE Task Force
Head Kalantzianos said ODIHR was "reluctant" to send a
technical team to assist in observation of the January 31
Iraqi elections. The FM also promised to press the new
Minister of Justice to move the US/EU MLAT and Extradition
Treaties to Parliament for approval, and to press for
completion of the inter-agency review of the criminal data
sharing agreement (PCSC) for the visa waiver program.
Finally, the FM stressed the differentiation between recent
riots and domestic terrorism -- as exemplified in the January
5 shooting of a police officer (ref c),adding that there was
agreement among all political parties to respond aggressively
to a renewed domestic terrorist threat. End Summary.

--------------
Gaza - Desire for "Humanitarian Truce"
--------------


3. (C) FM Bakoyannis led off expressing her "deepest
concern" about the situation in Gaza, terming images of dead
children "really unbearable." Greece was friends of both
Israel and Palestine and had supported the Annapolis process.
Greece understood well "who we are dealing with" in Hamas.
However, it was "important" to achieve at least a
"humanitarian truce," and there was the possibility of
"guaranteed frontiers with other troops." The FM said a
UNSCR was needed as soon as possible, highlighting the risks
of "losing Arab countries who are our partners." She said
that allowing the violence to continue only ran the risk of
creating "more militants." She said Greece had faced
significant problems in providing humanitarian assistance to
Gaza, noting that Greece had sent two aircraft with supplies,
and it had required 5 days for the assistance to get in. She
termed the crisis "unprecedented," and argued that a
"humanitarian truce" was needed to "allow breathing space"
and to "remove the injured."


4. (C) The Ambassador said the U.S. was also deeply
concerned about the situation in Gaza, and that this issue
was at the top of Washington's agenda. Our objective was
also an end to violence in Israel and Gaza, but this required
a permanent and sustainable ceasefire. Our focus was
constructing a ceasefire that endures over the long term.
The United States had also provided humanitarian aid, and has

ATHENS 00000019 002 OF 003


urged all parties to comply with their obligations under
international humanitarian law and condemned the unlawful
targeting of civilians.

--------------
Aegean - "Increase in Provocative Activity"
--------------


5. (C) Bakoyannis said she was concerned about an "increase
in provocative activity" in the Aegean by Turkey. In recent
months, Turkey had directly overflown the Greek islands of
Farmakonisi and Agathonisi. Today, in response to two
requests for assistance (one from a "Greek cell phone" and
the oth%2 "Q!! ! "TQQ*)1( !%$$ Q(one") Greece sent a
he$)!a@Q%Q Ta !* aQ%! "ear Farmakonisi that was )bD%Q!d@Q%$Q
"Q QQ) TQrkish fighter aircraft and QQ$$ !Q Q!Q )Q TQQ))Q`
airspace (septel re0!QQQ 4()Q !"!)$%"Qtherefore made "life harder" for the
GOG in its "steady and determined support for Turkish
realization of its European aspirations."


6. (C) Ambassador Speckhard said the U.S. watched
developments in the Aegean closely and wanted to avoid any
incidents that could escalate tensions. The U.S. believed it
best to be reserved and calm in response to perceived
provocations, and had given this same message to Turkish
officials. The Ambassador noted that some Turkish officials
had felt that the Greek press had "gloated" after NATO's
Noble Archer exercise; Bakoyannis interrupted to insist that
there had been "no gloating." Becoming animated, she
insisted that the GOG had taken deliberate steps to keep
Noble Archer out of the press, making no statements even
though it would have been politically advantageous for her
personally to do so.


7. (C) Bakoyannis said that she had expected "more
reciprocity" from Turkey following the PM's 2008 visit to
Ankara. The government was taking hits in the press and from
the public because its Turkey policies were not delivering
positive benefits. The Ecumenical Patriarchate's status
remains restricted, Halki seminary has not been reopened
despite efforts by 4 U.S. Presidents, and Turkey maintains
its "casus belli" against Greece should it extend its
territorial waters from 6 nm to 10 nm as it is entitled to do
under the Law of the Sea Convention.

--------------
OSCE Matters
--------------


8. (C) The Ambassador delivered ref A points on our strategy
for dealing with the separatist regions of Georgia to the FM.
She had no substantive reply to our strategy. The
Ambassador also asked that she, as OSCE CIO, pay close
attention to how the OSCE could best support Georgia now that
the mission is closing. Bakoyannis said that Georgia would
be among her top priorities as OSCE CIO.


9. (C) The Ambassador emphasized our interest in the OSCE's
core principles and institutions, and our concern that Russia
was seeking to weaken core human rights and democracy
activities. He also said that any discussion of European
"security architecture" would need to be carried out in close
consultation and in a "thoughtful, prepared way." He advised
against any effort to skip the preparatory work in favor of
high-profile higher-level meetings. The U.S. was not against
consultations but had questions about the motives behind this
initiative, which may be to diminish or weaken existing
European institutions. FM Bakoyannis said Greece was
"satisfied" with current security structures. However, as
CIO, Greece intended to "promote dialogue" and be an "honest
broker" to achieve "as much consensus as possible." Any
discussion of European "security architecture" would need to
be "extraordinarily well prepared;" otherwise it could
"backfire." But Greece believed dialogue was a way to "move
on difficult subjects." The Ambassador again underscored our
reservations and highlighted the need to proceed carefully
and in full consultation. FM Bakoyannis responded that she
"counted on U.S. support" and wanted close cooperation. For
this reason, she had already requested an early meeting with
the incoming Secretary of State. The Ambassador responded
that he was certain that the new Secretary would be in touch
on OSCE matters, but that since the new administration was
not yet in place, he was not able to discuss timing for such

ATHENS 00000019 003 OF 003


contacts. Bakoyannis said she fully understood, but again
expressed hope for an "early" meeting.


10. (C) The Ambassador raised the Iraqi government's request
for observers for the January 31 election, adding that USOSCE
had asked CIO/Greece and EU states to consider sending a
small technical team to assist. MFA OSCE Task Force Head
Kalantzianos rapidly responded that the OSCE's Office of
Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) was
disinclined to send a team to Iraq, and that "most"
participating states had reservations about the idea. The
Ambassador asked FM Bakoyannis to review the matter, arguing
that few could argue with the common interest in supporting
good elections in a new democracy that as suffered so much.

--------------
U.S.-EU MLAT and Visa Waiver
--------------


11. (C) Per ref B, the Ambassador said the U.S. had
completed its approval of the U.S.-EU MLAT and Extradition
Treaties. The Ambassador noted they had been concluded under
the Greek EU Presidency, and that Greece was one of only four
EU states that still had not ratified them. He asked FM
Bakoyannis to help achieve ratification as soon as possible.
FM Bakoyannis said it should move and that she would talk to
the new Minister of Justice "next wek" (septel reports on
Greece's cabinet reshufle) and press him to move them to
Parliament as soon as possible.


12. (C) On visa waiver, the Ambassador noted that the HSPD-6
Agreement was substantially completed, that the Memorandum of
Understanding was well advanced, but that the U.S. awaited
Greek comments on the criminal data sharing agreement (PCSC),
which Greece had received on October 17. Bakoyannis said
that the document had received close scrutiny by the Greek
inter-agency, and that she would again raise this "next week"
with the new Minister of Justice to obtain comments back to
the U.S. ASAP.

--------------
Domestic Terrorism
--------------


13. (C) Asked her views on recent events, FM Bakoyannis said
it was important to decouple the recent riots -- an
"unfortunate response to a tragic shooting of a youth" with
domestic terrorism. On the riots, she noted that there had
been "some caution" on whether the police should respond more
aggressively, as some felt that a "strong reaction" by the
police might lead to a "Los Angeles experience" (apparently
referring to the Rodney King riots). However, she termed the
January 5 shooting of a police officer by Revolutionary
Struggle (RS) a different thing all together. She said RS
"is or wants to be" a terrorist organization, and the GOG
will "spare no effort to get rid of it as soon as possible."
She noted that some in Greece had become complacent about the
domestic terrorist threat. Now, there is recognition by all
political parties of the need to "restart talking about
domestic terrorism," and there is a political consensus on
the seriousness of the situation. Greek politicians and the
public "see a difference between demonstrators and killers."
The Ambassador thanked her for the cooperation the Embassy
has received from the police and security forces and
expressed U.S. support for the right against terrorism.
SPECKHARD