Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS53
2009-01-15 14:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE: PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ALBANIA-EU
how-toVZCZCXYZ0026 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTH #0053 0151445 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151445Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3028 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA PRIORITY 1341 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0410
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000053
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE: PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ALBANIA-EU
STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT RATIFIED
REF: A. 08 TIRANA 745
B. 08 ATHENS 01600
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000053
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE: PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ALBANIA-EU
STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT RATIFIED
REF: A. 08 TIRANA 745
B. 08 ATHENS 01600
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) The Greek Parliament ratified the EU/Albania
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) January 14.
The ruling New Democracy party and main opposition party,
PASOK, (who collectively hold 253 of the 300 seats in
Parliament) both backed the agreement. Deputy Foreign
Minister Yiannis Valinakis said the agreement would bring
Albania under the direct monitoring of the EU, thus promoting
reform in Albania and better protection of the Greek
minority's human rights. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
and the far-right popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party both
strongly criticized the agreement. KKE blasted the
government and main opposition for supporting with the
"manipulation" of Albania by NATO and the EU, while LAOS
berated ND and PASOK for "ignoring ongoing abuses of the
Greek minority."
2. (C) On November 21, Greece and Albania finally reached
agreement on the establishment of two cemeteries for Greek
soldiers killed in WWII in Albania (ref b). MFA contacts had
previously suggested that Parliamentary consideration of the
SAA would be "facilitated" by completion of the negotiations
on the military cemeteries.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2019
TAGS: GR PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GREECE: PARLIAMENT RATIFIES ALBANIA-EU
STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT RATIFIED
REF: A. 08 TIRANA 745
B. 08 ATHENS 01600
Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (U) The Greek Parliament ratified the EU/Albania
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) January 14.
The ruling New Democracy party and main opposition party,
PASOK, (who collectively hold 253 of the 300 seats in
Parliament) both backed the agreement. Deputy Foreign
Minister Yiannis Valinakis said the agreement would bring
Albania under the direct monitoring of the EU, thus promoting
reform in Albania and better protection of the Greek
minority's human rights. The Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
and the far-right popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) party both
strongly criticized the agreement. KKE blasted the
government and main opposition for supporting with the
"manipulation" of Albania by NATO and the EU, while LAOS
berated ND and PASOK for "ignoring ongoing abuses of the
Greek minority."
2. (C) On November 21, Greece and Albania finally reached
agreement on the establishment of two cemeteries for Greek
soldiers killed in WWII in Albania (ref b). MFA contacts had
previously suggested that Parliamentary consideration of the
SAA would be "facilitated" by completion of the negotiations
on the military cemeteries.
SPECKHARD