CYPRUS RECEPTIVE TO U.S. CLARIFICATIONS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000575 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE AND WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019 TAGS: MARR PREL CO CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS RECEPTIVE TO U.S. CLARIFICATIONS ON COLOMBIA DEFENSE COOPERATION AGREEMENT REF: SECSTATE 86734 Classified By: DCM Jonathan R. Cohen, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) (C) On September 8, Ambassador previewed reftel points and outlined the spirit of the U.S. - Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with MFA Permanent Secretary Nicolas Emiliou in advance of ROC President Christofias' September 26 trip to Cuba, where this matter may arise. Ambassador also noted that the Embassy of Venezuela had circulated a Note Verbale to the diplomatic community here criticizing the agreement, suggesting to the MFA PermSec that this might be an abuse of that channel. On September 10, Poloff followed-up by formally delivering reftel points to Counselor Fillipos Kritiotis and Attache Andreas Hadjithemistos in the Cyprus MFA's Department of the Americas. In response to questions raised by both Kritiotis and Hadjithemistos, Poloff stressed that there will be no U.S. bases in Colombia, the number of U.S. personnel will not increase, and the purpose of the DCA is to facilitate activities within Colombia. Kritiotis welcomed Poloff's clarifications and shared that the GOC looks forward to discussing the issue further with its counterparts in the EU. Poloffs also shared reftel points August 27 with Leonidas Pantelides, Chief of President Christofias' Diplomatic Office. URBANCIC