CYPRIOT STANCE FOR MAY GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000325 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/15/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV IR SO IS RS MD CG CY SUBJECT: CYPRIOT STANCE FOR MAY GAERC REF: POINTS FOR MAY GAERC FROM INTELLIPEDIA Classified By: DCM JONATHAN COHEN, REASONS 1.4 (B),D) ¶1. (C) On May 14, Poloff delivered reftel points to MFA European Union/CFSP desk officer Nikos Panayiotou. First taking up Iran, Panayiotou stated that the GOC welcomes the new USG direction and agrees that the U.S. and EU must remain united in message. The GOC strongly supports the "E3 3" approach, and while there has been a delayed response from the GOI whether it will accept the "E3 3" invitation for talks and "freeze for freeze" proposal, the GOC remains hopeful that a positive answer will be forthcoming. The GOC is steadfast in supporting a "carrot and stick" approach towards Iran; Panayiotou stressed that should a stick be necessary, the GOC would not hesitate to take necessary measures, provided that such measures are called for by the UN Security Council. ¶2. (C) Moving on to the issue of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Panayiotou said that this is an issue of natural concern to Cyprus, with its large shipping fleet. The GOC stands firmly behind the EU's Operation Atalanta and will support an extension of its mandate to December 2010. International cooperation against piracy is essential, Panayiotou noted, and the GOC would welcome the opportunity to participate in the ongoing Contact Group on Piracy, particularly the upcoming May 29 meeting in New York. As to whether Cyprus would prosecute apprehended pirates in its courts, Panayiotou said that this is a legal issue the GOC is still looking at. ¶3. (C) Panayiotou next raised Israel-Palestine, and stressed that the GOC "couldn't be more in agreement" on the need for a two-state solution. While Cyprus's support for the Quartet Principles remains steadfast, according to Panayiotou the GOC will be flexible in evaluating how those principles are fulfilled. Moreover, while Cyprus is waiting to see the approach of the new GOI, first impressions have not left the GOC feeling encouraged. In particular, Panayiotou stressed that the GOC remains concerned that settlement activity is hindering prospects for peace. ¶4. (C) On Russia, Panayiotou stated that the GOC is pleased to see the U.S.-Russia relationship heading in a positive direction. The EU is "intensively" discussing a new Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia, but Panayiotou assured that on European security issues, existing institutions -- and in particular the OSCE -- would not be undermined. Regarding Moldova, Panayiotou stated that while the GOC has seen small signs of progress on the part of the GOM, the EU needs to remain engaged, and to that end it is sending a fact-finding mission to determine what measures it can take to assist. ¶5. (C) Panayiotou next raised EUFOR/ALTHEA, stating that the EU has not yet made a final decision on drawdown or withdrawal. While Cyprus does share the concern that the security situation in Bosnia remains volatile, as a non-participant in EUFOR's mission it has been reluctant to challenge the prevailing views of those countries that do participate. On Georgia, Panayiotou said that the GOC remains firm in its support for Georgia's territorial integrity. Moreover, it backs the Greek proposal for a revised OSCE mission, and will support renewals for the UN Observer Mission (UNOMIG)and EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) mandates. Urbancic