Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NICOSIA75
2009-01-29 09:25:00
SECRET
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: M/V MONCHEGORSK ANCHORED OFF LIMASSOL
how-toVZCZCXRO7789 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV DE RUEHNC #0075 0290925 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 290925Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9566 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 2129 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 0284 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 6460 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1335 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T NICOSIA 000075
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, NEA, ISN, P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC SY IR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: M/V MONCHEGORSK ANCHORED OFF LIMASSOL
REF: A. NICOSIA 73
B. NICOSIA 58
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
S E C R E T NICOSIA 000075
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, NEA, ISN, P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC SY IR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: M/V MONCHEGORSK ANCHORED OFF LIMASSOL
REF: A. NICOSIA 73
B. NICOSIA 58
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (S) Ship's Location and Status: USS Barry reported that
the M/V Monchegorsk entered Cypriot territorial waters at
0315 Zulu on January 29. Roughly four hours later, it
arrived at the port of Limassol, where it remains at
anchorage.
2. (C) Diplomatic Activity: The evening of January 28,
Israeli DCM informed Embassy Econoff that GoI Ambassador
Avrahaam Haddad had been in close contact with RoC Diplomatic
Coordinator Leonidas Pantelides regarding the Monchegorsk.
Haddad telephoned the Ambassador on January 29 to brief on
his activities and request a recap of USG actions.
3. (C) The Ambassador at 1030 hrs local (0330 DC) telephoned
Pantelides to commend Cyprus's decision to bring the
Monchegorsk to Limassol. Ambassador reminded Pantelides that
the Cypriots' letter of recall which he (Pantelides) had
shared with us specifically informed the Monchegorsk "that
any cargo not in conformity with UN Security Resolutions 1747
and 1803 must be unloaded in Limassol to avoid infringement
of the UNSCRs and violation of RoC shipping rules and
regulations." Ambassador again offered U.S. technical
assistance in the matter. He also solicited the RoC's
envisioned way-forward, and consulted on a strategy for
handling media inquiries -- Ambassador told Pantelides that
the Embassy would refrain from making any comments beyond
what was already in the press and would refer questions to
the Foreign Ministry. (Note: Leading daily "Phileleftheros"
on January 29 ran an article on the Monchegorsk, essentially
a translation of a days-earlier AP story in which CJCS ADM
Mullen allegedly voiced U.S. disappointment over its
inability to detain the Monchegorsk in the Red Sea.)
4. (C) Pantelides confirmed that the Monchegorsk was at
anchor in Limassol, but would provide little specific on
Cyprus's planned course of action. Early reports from RoC
maritime officials had corroborated the existence of large
quantities of high explosives on board, a fact, Pantelides
noted, that troubled the Cypriots on safety grounds. He
confirmed his government would undertake a more thorough
inspection, but deflected the offer of U.S. assistance,
claiming the RoC wanted to go "step by step" before
committing to off-load any cargo. As to press, he concurred
with the proposed strategy, requesting the Embassy limit its
commentary to confirmation that U.S. forces had boarded the
vessel a week earlier in the Red Sea.
Urbancic
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, NEA, ISN, P
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL MNUC SY IR CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: M/V MONCHEGORSK ANCHORED OFF LIMASSOL
REF: A. NICOSIA 73
B. NICOSIA 58
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (S) Ship's Location and Status: USS Barry reported that
the M/V Monchegorsk entered Cypriot territorial waters at
0315 Zulu on January 29. Roughly four hours later, it
arrived at the port of Limassol, where it remains at
anchorage.
2. (C) Diplomatic Activity: The evening of January 28,
Israeli DCM informed Embassy Econoff that GoI Ambassador
Avrahaam Haddad had been in close contact with RoC Diplomatic
Coordinator Leonidas Pantelides regarding the Monchegorsk.
Haddad telephoned the Ambassador on January 29 to brief on
his activities and request a recap of USG actions.
3. (C) The Ambassador at 1030 hrs local (0330 DC) telephoned
Pantelides to commend Cyprus's decision to bring the
Monchegorsk to Limassol. Ambassador reminded Pantelides that
the Cypriots' letter of recall which he (Pantelides) had
shared with us specifically informed the Monchegorsk "that
any cargo not in conformity with UN Security Resolutions 1747
and 1803 must be unloaded in Limassol to avoid infringement
of the UNSCRs and violation of RoC shipping rules and
regulations." Ambassador again offered U.S. technical
assistance in the matter. He also solicited the RoC's
envisioned way-forward, and consulted on a strategy for
handling media inquiries -- Ambassador told Pantelides that
the Embassy would refrain from making any comments beyond
what was already in the press and would refer questions to
the Foreign Ministry. (Note: Leading daily "Phileleftheros"
on January 29 ran an article on the Monchegorsk, essentially
a translation of a days-earlier AP story in which CJCS ADM
Mullen allegedly voiced U.S. disappointment over its
inability to detain the Monchegorsk in the Red Sea.)
4. (C) Pantelides confirmed that the Monchegorsk was at
anchor in Limassol, but would provide little specific on
Cyprus's planned course of action. Early reports from RoC
maritime officials had corroborated the existence of large
quantities of high explosives on board, a fact, Pantelides
noted, that troubled the Cypriots on safety grounds. He
confirmed his government would undertake a more thorough
inspection, but deflected the offer of U.S. assistance,
claiming the RoC wanted to go "step by step" before
committing to off-load any cargo. As to press, he concurred
with the proposed strategy, requesting the Embassy limit its
commentary to confirmation that U.S. forces had boarded the
vessel a week earlier in the Red Sea.
Urbancic