Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS695
2009-04-30 16:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

Ambassador, FM on Resetting Bilateral Relations,

Tags:  PREL PTER MOPS TU AF GR 
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DE RUEHTH #0695/01 1201604
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 301604Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0129
INFO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE IMMEDIATE 0001
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0023
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0003
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000695 

SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO S/E HOLBROOKE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/04/30
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS TU AF GR
SUBJECT: Ambassador, FM on Resetting Bilateral Relations,
OSCE/Georgia, Turkey and Afghanistan

REF: ATHENS 657

CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel Speckhard, Ambassador, DOS, U.S. Embassy
Athens; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000695

SIPDIS
DEPT PLEASE PASS TO S/E HOLBROOKE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/04/30
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS TU AF GR
SUBJECT: Ambassador, FM on Resetting Bilateral Relations,
OSCE/Georgia, Turkey and Afghanistan

REF: ATHENS 657

CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel Speckhard, Ambassador, DOS, U.S. Embassy
Athens; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a meeting with FM Bakoyiannis on April 30,
Ambassador Speckhard outlined our strategy for re-focusing the
U.S.-Greece bilateral relationship toward common strategic
challenges, and away from the more narrow parochial interests that
have defined our relationship in recent years (reftel).
Bakoyiannis agreed, but noted that we needed to show concrete
results to be successful. Progress on Visa Waiver would be a good
foundation -- as would a PM Karamanlis visit to Washington "soon."
Noting Greek efforts, as OSCE Chairman, to reach agreement on the
Georgia Mission, Ambassador Speckhard suggested that any further
consultations be "brisk," so a decision could be put on the table.
Progress was important, not least because of the impact on the
atmosphere at the proposed Corfu Ministerial. Bakoyiannis said her
own deadline was May 15; if there was no progress by May 8, she
would call Russian FM Lavrov. She asked for U.S. help with a
related issue: Georgian acceptance of plans for the OSCE's Annual
Security Review Conference. Bakoyiannis also pressed for
confirmation of the Secretary's participation in the Corfu meeting,
and raised her concern that continued Turkish military provocations
in the Aegean will force a Greek response - which could imply a
change in support for Turkey's EU accession. She concluded with a
comment on Greek assistance to Afghanistan and a request for
support to find women victims of terrorism to participate in her
planned "Women Against Terrorism" conference. While she wishes to
visit Iraq to open the Greek consulate in Irbil, she had no current
plans for travel to Afghanistan, though she said she would consider
such a trip before the end of the year in her capacity as OSCE CIO.
END SUMMARY.
REFOCUSING OUR RELATIONSHIP - ON A NEW FOUNDATION


2. (C) Ambassador Speckhard noted that, with the new
administration and the Greek public's positive view of President
Obama, the United States and Greece had an important opportunity to

re-focus our bilateral relationship. While continuing to work on
difficult issues such as Cyprus, Macedonia, and Aegean overflights,
we should not let them define our relationship. Rather, we should
sharpen our focus on common strategic challenges: outreach to the
Muslim world; stability in Afghanistan; counter-terrorism, and;
non-proliferation (including the Proliferation Security
Initiative). Bakoyiannis agreed; this was a unique moment. While
issues such as overflights were serious for Greece, there is much
more that we can do together - as NATO allies, OSCE partners, and
through Greece's connections in the Middle East. Taking up the
Ambassador's suggestion on PSI, Bakoyiannis said she would engage
again with Greek ship owners (for whom piracy concerns could
provide added motivation).


3. (C) Bakoyiannis emphasized that our re-focused relationship
needed to show concrete results to build a strong foundation; how
close were we to agreement on Visa Waiver? Ambassador Speckhard
noted that a Greek team would meet with Washington agencies next
week to try to close the gap on the last remaining piece (the
PCSC). Bakoyiannis pressed for a PM Karamanlis visit to Washington
before summer, saying the President and PM had agreed it would be
"soon." Ambassador Speckhard pointed out that such a visit should
be part of an overall strategy. Bakoyiannis had seen the Secretary
in February; President Obama met PM Karamanlis in April; and MoD
Meimarakis was in Washington now. With a potential visit by the
Secretary to Corfu in June, a Karamanlis visit would not likely
occur before autumn (at the earliest). However, we would ask for
Washington's thoughts on timing.

WORKING THE OSCE GEORGIA MANDATE


4. (C) Ambassador Speckhard noted difficulties in reaching
agreement with Russia on OSCE's Georgia mission. We understood
that the Chairmanship wanted to conduct another round of
consultations in Vienna - but it should be brisk. We were frankly
skeptical about Russia's willingness to find a solution; the time
was coming to put this to decision. Bakoyiannis agreed, saying we
were in a "vicious circle." The Russians, she believed, were
divided; the military opposed an OSCE mission while the MFA would
be willing to agree (after tough negotiations). On the other
hand, she did not believe the Georgians were keen on the OSCE
office either, though they would never say that. Bakoyiannis said
her own deadline was May 15; if no progress had been made by May 8,
she would call FM Lavrov. That would be the point at which they
would determine whether a mission was feasible or not, and "the
Russians will have to take responsibility." Ambassador Speckhard
noted that movement on this issue was important, not least because
of its potential impact it would have on the atmosphere at the
Corfu ministerial. Bakoyiannis took the point, pressing for



confirmation of the Secretary's attendance.


5. (C) Bakoyiannis added that the Georgians were posing problems
on a different issue, the agenda for OSCE's Annual Security Review
Conference (ASRC). According to Bakoyiannis, the Georgian FM had
initially agreed to the Chair's proposals, only to be vetoed in
capital. She asked for U.S. help in getting the Georgians to move
forward.

WE'LL HAVE TO RESPOND TO TURKISH OVERFLIGHTS


6. (C) Bakoyiannis turned the conversation to Turkish military
"provocations" in Greek airspace, noting that she understood that
President Obama had not raised this issue in Turkey. She said the
Greek MFA had reached out to Turkish counterparts at all levels;
she herself had just spoken to Turkish FM Babacan directly, stating
Greek concerns that the increased tempo and recklessness of Turkish
military overflights "cannot continue." The Turks, she said, are
buzzing inhabited Greek islands at an altitude of only 300 meters,
distressing the people there and violating previous agreements on
safety such as the maintenance of airspace between Greek and
Turkish planes. Sooner or later, she feared, this would lead to an
accident, and the Greek government was under intense pressure to do
something.

7. (C) Professing not to understand where in the Turkish
government the orders are coming from for these provocations,
Bakoyiannis said Greece and Turkey need a "positive - or at least
neutral atmosphere" in which to discuss improving their relations
and address their different views on the Aegean. Noting that
President Obama had expressed U.S. support for Turkey's EU
accession, Bakoyiannis said Greece, too, has been a key supporter
from among the "old EU." However, she said, Turkish military
violations in the Aegean will affect the GOG's ability to sustain
that support, "and I fear the time is running out." She recognized
that diminishing Greece's support would not be in their interest,
but they may be left with no choice if the aggressive actions don't
stop.
AFGHANISTAN

8. (C) Ambassador noted that MoD Meimarakis had had good meetings
in Washington at which Greece's military contributions in
Afghanistan were discussed, and inquired Bakoyiannis' plans for
civilian assistance. Bakoyiannis noted that Greece would help in
police training, and continue its support for the Hungarian-led
PRT. (NOTE: she had her OSCE team in the room but not her
Afghanistan team, and appeared not to have been fully briefed on
Afghanistan issues. END NOTE). She became animated when discussing
her proposed "Women Against Terrorism" conference, which she
announced as a theme for her Chairmanship of the OSCE. Indicating
that she believes it important to change the message vulnerable
populations get, she said this is an area where she foresees a
strong symbolic partnership with the U.S. She asked for USG
support in identifying "Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian" women
victims of terrorism who can send a strong message on its human
costs. She said she had mentioned this to Special Envoy Holbrooke
who responded enthusiastically.

9. (C) COMMENT: On OSCE/Georgia, Bakoyiannis clearly has been
actively involved and is seized with the need to move the issue
towards a resolution. We expect she will in her
characteristically frank and direct style confront Lavrov on
Russia's responsibility for the likely failure to agree on a
mandate for an observer mission. Her comments on Turkey reflect
and sharpen what we are hearing from other sources. The GOG does
have a larger strategy to ease Greece-Turkey tensions, in part by
leveraging EU accession. However, they are getting more pressure
from the Greek public to respond to substantive changes in the
nature of the overflights to a frequent buzzing of inhabited
islands. While Bakoyianni's outreach to FM Babacan is a positive
step, it is clear she feels the government will, at some point,
have to respond with more visible steps. Those could heighten
tensions, increase the risk of an accident and potential conflict,
and detract from U.S. strategic objectives for the region. Efforts
to encourage our friends in Ankara to alter their current strategy
of overflights of inhabited islands would be a very welcome step by
Athens and would reduce the risk of a significant incident. We
welcome Embassy Ankara's views on how we can move Greece and Turkey
off the path towards either an accident or confrontation that would
derail their larger efforts at reconciliation. END COMMENT.



SPECKHARD