CYPRUS POSITIVE ON RESULTS OF U.S.-RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000470 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL RS CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS POSITIVE ON RESULTS OF U.S.-RUSSIA PRESIDENTIAL SUMMIT REF: A. SECSTATE 71326 ¶B. SECSTATE 70576 ¶1. (C) On July 15, Poloffs delivered reftel points to MFA Russia Desk Officer Selina Shambos. Shambos stated that the GOC believed "things had gone quite well" during President Obama's visit to Moscow and that "a lot of ground was covered." In fact, she noted, a similarly positive report had been given to Cyprus by the GOR. With the U.S. and Russia tackling so many bilateral issues, she noted, mutual trust was sure to increase. The concern now, according to Shambos, is how the EU will fit in with this new atmosphere of engagement; with 27 sovereign governments, it will be difficult for the EU to craft a common message. Nevertheless, Shambos expects that the EU will adapt its approach in the coming months and take a more active role in dialogue with Russia. Urbancic