Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS45
2009-01-14 13:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREEKS TIGHT-LIPPED ON EU-SYRIA AGREEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6605 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHTH #0045 0141343 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141343Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3023 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000045
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL GR SY
SUBJECT: GREEKS TIGHT-LIPPED ON EU-SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: A/POLCOUNS JEFFREY HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000045
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL GR SY
SUBJECT: GREEKS TIGHT-LIPPED ON EU-SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: A/POLCOUNS JEFFREY HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on the EU-Syria
Association Agreement to MFA C1 Directorate for EU External
Relations Counselor Katerina Varvarigou. Varvarigou said
Greece would take a "balanced approach," which would be in
line with the common EU position. An EU working group -- not
the GAERC -- would take up the issue later this month, and it
would take the U.S. position into consideration. She
declined to provide further details on the Greek position
going into the working group discussion, despite repeated
requests.
2. (C) COMMENT: Greece has good relations with Syria --
described as a "long-standing friendship" by the MFA. Deputy
FM Doukas led a trade delegation to Damascus last year, and
other high-level contacts are common. While our contacts
declined to provide specific information on the Greek
position on the EU-Syria Association Agreement, we believe
Greece is likely amongst those countries supporting the
agreement, given the relative close ties between Athens and
Damascus.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2019
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL GR SY
SUBJECT: GREEKS TIGHT-LIPPED ON EU-SYRIA AGREEMENT
REF: SECSTATE 1985
Classified By: A/POLCOUNS JEFFREY HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) DepPolCouns delivered reftel points on the EU-Syria
Association Agreement to MFA C1 Directorate for EU External
Relations Counselor Katerina Varvarigou. Varvarigou said
Greece would take a "balanced approach," which would be in
line with the common EU position. An EU working group -- not
the GAERC -- would take up the issue later this month, and it
would take the U.S. position into consideration. She
declined to provide further details on the Greek position
going into the working group discussion, despite repeated
requests.
2. (C) COMMENT: Greece has good relations with Syria --
described as a "long-standing friendship" by the MFA. Deputy
FM Doukas led a trade delegation to Damascus last year, and
other high-level contacts are common. While our contacts
declined to provide specific information on the Greek
position on the EU-Syria Association Agreement, we believe
Greece is likely amongst those countries supporting the
agreement, given the relative close ties between Athens and
Damascus.
SPECKHARD