Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NICOSIA44
2009-01-23 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: GAZA, GUANTANAMO AND GAS LIKELY TO
how-toVZCZCXRO3667 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNC #0044 0231358 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231358Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9522 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE RUEHKV/AMEMBASSY KYIV 0040 RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA 0009 RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0007 RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 0054 RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 0047 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1318 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000044
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ZL ZJ CY IS GZ RS UP BO YI
HR, MK, BK
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: GAZA, GUANTANAMO AND GAS LIKELY TO
DOMINATE JANUARY GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 04297
Classified By: A/DCM Warren Hadley, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000044
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ZL ZJ CY IS GZ RS UP BO YI
HR, MK, BK
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: GAZA, GUANTANAMO AND GAS LIKELY TO
DOMINATE JANUARY GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 04297
Classified By: A/DCM Warren Hadley, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Poloffs on January 21 delivered Reftel points on the
January 26-27 meeting of the EU,s General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) to MFA European Union desk
officer Nikos Panayiotou. Panayiotou said that the agenda
would likely be truncated, focusing mostly on Gaza,
Guantanamo and the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute. On Gaza,
Panayiotou said that the GOC would like to see greater EU-US
cooperation to improve the situation on the ground, as well
as a monitoring agreement and an arms trafficking mechanism
to preventing future hostilities. The GOC disapproved of
Israel,s use of &disproportionate force8 and "targeting of
UN facilities,8 Panayiotou said, and would support a UN
investigation into the legality of Israel,s use of certain
munitions.
2. (C) On the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute, Panayiotou claimed
the subject would be addressed on a technical and political
basis, but that the bulk of the discussion would occur during
the March meeting of EU Heads of State. Nevertheless, the EU
foreign ministers will discuss diversifying gas supply,
upgrading infrastructure, and investing in renewable sources
of energy. On Ukraine,s EU membership, Panayiotou would
take no position as EU membership is still only "a
possibility" and "not currently being discussed," but said
Cyprus does support Ukraine,s participation in the Eastern
Partnership (EP). As for EP membership for Belarus,
Panayiotou stated that Cyprus shares USG concerns and he
expects the EU would only consider extending an invitation in
the spring if it sees significant demonstrated reforms.
Panayiotou said that the GOC supports EU integration for
Serbia, Croatia and the broader region, provided that all
criteria are met. However, Macedonia would need to work to
resolve the name dispute before it could be considered. On
the EULEX mission in Kosovo, Panayiotou said that he believed
things are still "on track" for full operational capability
being reached in the coming weeks, but admitted he had
received no recent updates.
3. (C) Turning finally to Guantanamo and the resettlement of
detainees, Panayiotou said that the EU has not yet held
extensive discussions. It is taking a "wait and see
approach8 while awaiting more specific information from the
incoming US administration.
Urbancic
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2019
TAGS: EUN PREL PGOV ZL ZJ CY IS GZ RS UP BO YI
HR, MK, BK
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: GAZA, GUANTANAMO AND GAS LIKELY TO
DOMINATE JANUARY GAERC
REF: SECSTATE 04297
Classified By: A/DCM Warren Hadley, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) Poloffs on January 21 delivered Reftel points on the
January 26-27 meeting of the EU,s General Affairs and
External Relations Council (GAERC) to MFA European Union desk
officer Nikos Panayiotou. Panayiotou said that the agenda
would likely be truncated, focusing mostly on Gaza,
Guantanamo and the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute. On Gaza,
Panayiotou said that the GOC would like to see greater EU-US
cooperation to improve the situation on the ground, as well
as a monitoring agreement and an arms trafficking mechanism
to preventing future hostilities. The GOC disapproved of
Israel,s use of &disproportionate force8 and "targeting of
UN facilities,8 Panayiotou said, and would support a UN
investigation into the legality of Israel,s use of certain
munitions.
2. (C) On the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute, Panayiotou claimed
the subject would be addressed on a technical and political
basis, but that the bulk of the discussion would occur during
the March meeting of EU Heads of State. Nevertheless, the EU
foreign ministers will discuss diversifying gas supply,
upgrading infrastructure, and investing in renewable sources
of energy. On Ukraine,s EU membership, Panayiotou would
take no position as EU membership is still only "a
possibility" and "not currently being discussed," but said
Cyprus does support Ukraine,s participation in the Eastern
Partnership (EP). As for EP membership for Belarus,
Panayiotou stated that Cyprus shares USG concerns and he
expects the EU would only consider extending an invitation in
the spring if it sees significant demonstrated reforms.
Panayiotou said that the GOC supports EU integration for
Serbia, Croatia and the broader region, provided that all
criteria are met. However, Macedonia would need to work to
resolve the name dispute before it could be considered. On
the EULEX mission in Kosovo, Panayiotou said that he believed
things are still "on track" for full operational capability
being reached in the coming weeks, but admitted he had
received no recent updates.
3. (C) Turning finally to Guantanamo and the resettlement of
detainees, Panayiotou said that the EU has not yet held
extensive discussions. It is taking a "wait and see
approach8 while awaiting more specific information from the
incoming US administration.
Urbancic