CYPRUS: FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL POINTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000104 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/ERA AND EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2020 TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: FEBRUARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL POINTS DELIVERED REF: FEBRUARY FAC POINTS FROM INTELLIPEDIA Classified By: CDA Jonathan R. Cohen for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) On February 19, PolOff delivered ref points to MFA European Correspondent Helena Mina, Department of Common Foreign and Security Policy. Mina welcomed the points, which she noted would be helpful as Cyprus finalized its FAC position papers. ¶2. (C) On Iran, Mina noted that Cyprus was "much more concerned than before" after Iranian President Ahmadinejad's recent statements on increased nuclear enrichment; she added that the issue would be discussed with urgency during the upcoming FAC. Mina also noted that Cyprus shares most of the USG's concerns about Ukraine. On Haiti, Mina noted that Cyprus has already donated and delivered via Athens EURO 120,000 of humanitarian relief supplies, such as blankets and tents. She said that Cyprus hopes to donate more supplies soon, but that high transportation costs were a major concern. ¶3. (C) Mina identified three other agenda items for the February FAC. Poland is expected to raise the issue of discrimination against the Polish minority in Belarus. Malta and Italy are expected to raise a dispute between Libya and Switzerland over consular issues. At the request of France, the FAC also plans to discuss the status of elections in Afghanistan and the EU Special Representative in Afghanistan. COHEN