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