GREECE -- ENLARGING WITH STATES ON ICJ ADVISORY OPINION ON

UNCLAS ATHENS 000523 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC PREL ICJ KV GR SUBJECT: GREECE -- ENLARGING WITH STATES ON ICJ ADVISORY OPINION ON KOSOVO'S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION REF: SECSTATE 29385 1.(U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on engaging with states on the ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo's independence declaration to MFA D1 Directorate for International Organizations Counselor Ana Anagnostopoulou. In response to the inquiry whether the Greek government intended to file a brief, Anagnostopoulou reminded us that the GOG had voted in favor of the original Serbian request at the UNGA, and said that Serbia had asked Greece to submit a brief, but that the decision to submit one had not been made. She noted this would be a political decision made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis. Anagnostopoulou implied the issue had been discussed in the MFA but did not provide an answer on what the possible position of the brief might be. ¶2. (U) COMMENT: In the past, Greece has stated that it would not be the first nor the last to make this decision, though Greece is now feeling the pressure of being one of the final five EU member sates that have not recognized Kosovo. SPECKHARD