CYPRUS--SOMALIA PIRACY CONTACT GROUP: GOC PLANNING

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000537 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR, AF, PM, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2018 TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR TU CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS--SOMALIA PIRACY CONTACT GROUP: GOC PLANNING MONETARY CONTRIBUTION, PRESSING FOR PARTICIPATION REF: A. NICOSIA 14 ¶B. NICOSIA 479 ¶C. AUGUST 17 PANICO-NETOS E-MAIL Classified By: CDA Jonathan Cohen, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This message contains an action request--please see Paragraph 4. ¶2. (C) MFA Political Director Amb. Rea Yiordamlis on August 17 called in the Charge to convey an urgent request that the USG give its opinion on whether a planned Cypriot contribution of Euro 50,000 to the Trust Fund of the Contact Group on Somali Piracy (CGSP) meets the threshold for participation/membership in the group. Per reftels, Cyprus has been seeking membership since the CGSP's inaugural January 14 meeting. Yiordamlis said that Cyprus remains very keen to participate and had taken part in working groups as an observer and cited the last CGSP communiqu's language encouraging all countries to participate via material contributions in any way they can. She noted that Cyprus had three officers on duty aboard a Spanish Frigate that is part of the EU "Atalanta" effort and that Cyprus had contributed the equivalent of Euro 150,000 to French training of Somalis. Yiordamlis noted as well Cyprus' large merchant fleet and pointed out that several Cypriot-flagged ships had already been attacked by pirates. ¶3. (C) Yiordamlis said the political decision to contribute had already been taken but Cyprus sought our advice on the size of the planned contribution before making any announcement, which Cyprus hoped to do at the next CGSP meeting on September 10 in New York. She added that Cypriot participation/membership in the CGSP could also serve to deepen bilateral relations with the US. The Charge told her that Cypriot support was very much welcome and that he would seek information regarding her request from the Department. 4.(C) ACTION REQUEST: Please provide guidance soonest in response to GoC request regarding the size of its planned financial contribution to the Contact Group and any information we can share with Cyprus on the latest USG position on the membership vs. participation debate in CGSP. Cohen