CYPRIOT STANCE AT MARCH GAERC/GYMNICH

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000181

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV SU GZ HR MW IR IS BO SY CY
SUBJECT: CYPRIOT STANCE AT MARCH GAERC/GYMNICH

REF: POINTS FOR MARCH GAERC/GYMNICH FROM INTELLIPEDIA

Classified By: DCM Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)


1. (C) On March 12, Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA
European Union desk officer Nikos Panayiotou. Starting with
the upcoming GAERC, and in particular with its Western
Balkans discussion component, Panayiotou assured that the GOC
position on Bosnia remains the same, and that the GOC
believes that all closure objectives should be fulfilled
before the closure of the Office of the High Representative
(OHR). At the same time, Panayiotou qualified the GOC
position by stressing that "Bosnia must be encouraged to move
ahead." On Montenegro -- which has now come off the GAERC
agenda -- Panayiotou volunteered that the GOC fully supported
its integration into Europe.


2. (C) Moving on to Belarus, Panayiotou acknowledged that the
GOB had taken positive steps but was unconvinced the trend
would continue. Further reforms are needed, Panayiotou
noted, particularly in human rights and democratization. The
GOC believes that continued EU engagement could provide the
desired results. A debate regarding the level of Belarus's
participation at the May 7 Prague Summit is ongoing within
the EU, he added, in which the GOC is trying to keep a low
profile. The GOC believes that Belarus should receive an
invitation, but the level of participation should be
appropriate, i.e., below that of President Lukashenko.


3. (C) Panayiotou said the GOC sees a worsening humanitarian
situation in Sudan. Full implementation of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement (CPA) is of the utmost importance to the GOC.
While recognizing that the warrant for President Bashir will
have repercussions, a deferral of this warrant would not be
supported by the GOC, short of a UNSCR calling for one
specifically -- highly unlikely given the USG position, he
thought.


4. (C) Transatlantic relations would be a last-minute
addition to the agenda for the upcoming GAERC, Panayiotou
said. The GOC welcomes increased cooperation and dialogue on
a broad range of issues with the new US administration,
including on the Middle East, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.


5. (C) Moving to the Gymnich, Panayiotou raised
Israel-Palestine and said that the GOC agrees that the
Palestinian Authority needs to be supported, as do Egypt's
efforts to stabilize the region. At the same time, the GOC
is not averse to the formation of a unity government. The
GOC supports the Quartet Principles, Panayiotou said;
however, there should be more flexibility in the evaluation
of how those principles are fulfilled. If Hamas were to
indicate acceptance of Quartet Principles, there perhaps was
space to cooperate with them (within a unity government).
More humanitarian aid for the Palestinians is needed,
Panayiotou added, and his government hopes that the new GOI
will itself adhere to the Quartet Principles. Worrying were
recent "negative signs" from certain Israeli politicians,
however.


6. (C) Panayiotou next raised Syria, stressing the GOC belief
that continued engagement is crucial. He admitted, however,
that the international community needs to continuously
monitor the Syrian government to ensure it is "taking the
proper steps." On Iran, Panayiotou said that Cyprus, much
like the international community writ large, is waiting to
see how the position of the new US administration will
develop. The EU is ready to discuss further restrictive
measures, he said, but "having the whole international
community (i.e., the UNSC) on board would be most effective."
Panayiotou also stressed that any additional measures could
have a negative counter-effect, particularly in light of June
elections in Iran.
Urbancic