Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS336
2009-03-18 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE AGREES "COMPLETELY" WITH U.S. ON RUSSIA,
VZCZCXRO2902 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #0336 0771440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181440Z MAR 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3384 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000336
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE GR RS GG BO
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES "COMPLETELY" WITH U.S. ON RUSSIA,
ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: SECSTATE 24186
Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000336
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE GR RS GG BO
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES "COMPLETELY" WITH U.S. ON RUSSIA,
ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: SECSTATE 24186
Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DepPolCouns discussed reftel points on Russia
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and basing plans
with OSCE Special Envoy for Protracted Conflicts Greek
Ambassador Charalambos Christopoulos and, separately, with
MFA A5 Directorate for CIS Countries Counselor Lambros
Kakissis. Both said that Greece agreed "completely" with the
U.S. position. Christopoulos expanded with the comment that
this was exactly Greece's position as well and that they
welcomed U.S. assistance in ensuring others embraced it.
Kakissis likewise expressed "total agreement," noting that he
would like to use the points for his own drafting of talking
points.
2. (C) At the same time, Kakissis took the opportunity to
note that during A5 Director Ambassador Tsamados' visit to
Belarus ten days ago -- the first time that a Greek
delegation had done so -- the Belarus authorities complained
that the EU was leaning too heavily on Belarus trying to
dissuade it from recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The
Belarusians claimed this represented a "double standard"
because the EU dealt amiably now with Russia and it had
recognized the two rebel regions, whereas Belarus was only
rumored to be thinking about recognition and was being
subjected to enormous pressure.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV OSCE GR RS GG BO
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES "COMPLETELY" WITH U.S. ON RUSSIA,
ABKHAZIA, SOUTH OSSETIA
REF: SECSTATE 24186
Classified By: POLCOUNS ROBIN QUINVILLE. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DepPolCouns discussed reftel points on Russia
recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and basing plans
with OSCE Special Envoy for Protracted Conflicts Greek
Ambassador Charalambos Christopoulos and, separately, with
MFA A5 Directorate for CIS Countries Counselor Lambros
Kakissis. Both said that Greece agreed "completely" with the
U.S. position. Christopoulos expanded with the comment that
this was exactly Greece's position as well and that they
welcomed U.S. assistance in ensuring others embraced it.
Kakissis likewise expressed "total agreement," noting that he
would like to use the points for his own drafting of talking
points.
2. (C) At the same time, Kakissis took the opportunity to
note that during A5 Director Ambassador Tsamados' visit to
Belarus ten days ago -- the first time that a Greek
delegation had done so -- the Belarus authorities complained
that the EU was leaning too heavily on Belarus trying to
dissuade it from recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The
Belarusians claimed this represented a "double standard"
because the EU dealt amiably now with Russia and it had
recognized the two rebel regions, whereas Belarus was only
rumored to be thinking about recognition and was being
subjected to enormous pressure.
SPECKHARD