FM BAKOYIANNIS PLANS CALL TO SECRETARY SEEKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000338


DEPARTMENT FOR D, P, EUR (FITZPATRICK, BRINK) NSC FOR
GERMANO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2010
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR TU OSCE
SUBJECT: FM BAKOYIANNIS PLANS CALL TO SECRETARY SEEKING
SUPPORT FOR OSCE INFORMAL MINISTERIAL

Classified By: AMBASSADOR DANIEL V. SPECKHARD. REASON:
1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: At a March 17 dinner, Foreign Minister
Bakoyiannis told Ambassador Speckhard that, in her capacity
as OSCE Chairperson in Office, she wanted to speak with the
Secretary to discuss two linked issues: her plans to move
forward on OSCE's mission in Georgia and her proposal to host
an informal OSCE ministerial in July to discuss European
security architecture. Bakoyiannis also underscored the
domestic pressure she is under as a result of the upcoming
POTUS visit to Turkey; she urged a stopover in Greece or an
early invitation for the Prime Minister to visit Washington.
END SUMMARY.

OSCE INFORMAL MINISTERIAL IN JULY?


2. (C) Bakoyiannis told the Ambassador that she wanted to
speak to the Secretary about her plans, as Chairman in
Office, for dealing with continued Russian resistance to the
OSCE mission in Georgia. She was determined to succeed, and
would be travelling to Georgia the week of March 23.
However, to be successful, she believed she needed to be able
to give the Russians something more on the discussion of
European security architecture.


3. (C) Bakoyiannis noted that she had talked to a number of
her European counterparts and received a positive reaction to
the idea of an informal Gymnich-style OSCE meeting at the
ministerial level in early July, either in Corfu or Crete
(she was considering July 9). Her idea would be an informal
exchange of views at the ministerial level that would serve
as a kick-off for follow-up working level discussions. These
in turn would lead to an opportunity for a "Helsinki plus"
engagement at the formal OSCE ministerial in December.
Bakoyiannis did not provide further details, simply noting
that while the discussion at Helsinki was a good start, her
proposed informal ministerial would allow participants to
show their serious willingness to engage in the dialogue --
even if there was no commitment to the Russian proposals.
Bakoyiannis said she was hopeful that, with a commitment by
Secretary Clinton to participate in the informal meeting in
July, she would have enough to get Russian support on Georgia.

POTUS TRIP TO TURKEY RAISES PROBLEMS FOR GREEK POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP


5. (C) The Foreign Minister also took the opportunity to
raise with the Ambassador her frustration over the breaking
of precedent: a Presidential visit to Turkey without a visit
to Greece. This was causing her and the Government serious
political problems that they could ill afford at a sensitive
time in Greek domestic politics. Bakoyiannis expressed
concern that it would undermine efforts to renew and
strengthen Greek-US relations at this new juncture.


6. (C) In response, the Ambassador urged Bakoyiannis to see
the visit in a different light. Greece stood to benefit
greatly by the additional attention the new Administration
was paying to its neighbor and to the Muslim world in
general. Bakoyiannis remained unmoved, highlighting the
renewed Aegean tensions between Greece and Turkey which, she
said, made it critical that the President consider a
stop-over on his way to or from Ankara. Ambassador Speckhard
told her this was highly unlikely, emphasizing all the ways
the administration was engaging Greece at a high level: her
own visit to Washington, the upcoming Greek Independence Day
ceremony at the White House, and the Minister of Defense's
visit in April. Bakoyiannis nevertheless urged that, at a
minimum, an invitation be extended soon to the Greek PM to
visit Washington at some point in the future.

COMMENT


7. (C) FM Bakoyiannis was more agitated than we have seen
her in a long time, with the perceived slight to Greece
through the upcoming visit causing her serious trouble in
Greece's highly charged politcial environment. We believe
she is sincere in saying she needs the informal ministerial
to work the Russian angle on the OSCE mission to Georgia (an
idea that may have been in the works prior to the
announcement of the POTUS visit). But clearly an OSCE
ministerial would also give her some relief in the press, not
only through the prominent role Greece would play in hosting
such an event, but also through an early visit to Greece by
Secretary Clinton.


SPECKHARD