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OO RUEHAG RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #0807/01 1351210
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 151210Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0198
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0025
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000807 
 
SIPDIS 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/05/15 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: Greek Views on May GAERC 
 
REF: JEFFREY GIAUQUE EMAIL 5/9/2009 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Alan Purcell, Political Officer; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
 1. (C) On May 14, PolOff delivered ref points on U.S. positions on 
the May 18-19 GAERC to MFA European Correspondent Niki Kamba. 
Kamba said the agenda for the GAERC would include: the May 21-22 
EU-Russia summit, Moldova, Iran, Georgia, the Atalanta anti-piracy 
mission, Sri Lanka, and Operation Althea in Bosnia.  Kamba noted 
that Israeli-Palestinian issues would not be on the GAERC agenda 
but would be discussed at the EU Political Directors' lunch.  EU 
Defense Ministers and Development Ministers would also meet during 
the May GAERC. 
 
 
 
 2. (C) The following comments from Kamba are grouped by agenda / 
issue item: 
 
 
 
EU-RUSSIA SUMMIT:  Kamba said that the GAERC would discuss agenda 
items for the EU-Russia summit in Khabarovsk and stated that 
Afghanistan and Georgia would be on the summit agenda.  She 
characterized the EU view of Russia as a "strategic partner," 
noting that a recent "thaw" in U.S.-Russia relations would 
contribute to a more positive, open atmosphere in Khabarovsk. 
Kamba also said that the GAERC would discuss the "technical 
details" of the upcoming second round of negotiations on a new 
EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).  Economic 
issues for the Khabarovsk summit were still to be determined. 
 
 
 
MOLDOVA:  Kamba stated that Greece was concerned about the 
post-election environment in Moldova both bilaterally and within 
the EU framework.  She said EU High Representative Javier Solana's 
April visit to Chisinau was a positive step that showed EU 
engagement on Moldova.  Greece fully supports and hopes for the 
resumption of 5 plus 2 talks, hopefully by this autumn, but Kamba 
said that even further 3 plus 2 talks would be positive.   The EU's 
primary vehicle of engagement with Moldova continues to be the 
Eastern Partnership, but Kamba admitted that each EU country would 
likely continue to view Moldova through the lens of bilateral 
political and economic interests. 
 
 
 
IRAN:  Poloff expressed appreciation for Greece's advocacy efforts 
on behalf of recently released American journalist Roxana Saberi, 
as well as for Esha Momeni and Robert Levinson.  Kamba promised to 
relay any new information on Momeni or Levinson.  Kamba said Greece 
viewed U.S. involvement in the E3 plus 3 talks as "positive" and 
confirmed that Greece supported the "dual track" approach affirmed 
at the April GAERC.  On tightening sanctions, Kamba expressed doubt 
on their effectiveness, opining that increased sanctions might 
"strengthen the radical elements" in the upcoming Iranian 
elections.  Kamba admitted that EU member states were divided on 
how tough to act on Iran, but said further designations of 
individuals and entities were "unlikely." 
 
 
 
GEORGIA:  Kamba said that the Greek OSCE Chairmanship's decision to 
suspend consultations on an OSCE presence in Georgia did not 
necessarily mean that the issue would immediately be elevated 
politically or brought to formal negotiations.  Poloff pointed out 
that Russia was clearly isolated on this issue, but Kamba said that 
it was important for Greece to continue to take all points of view 
into account.  Kamba affirmed that Greece strongly supports 
Georgia's territorial integrity. 
 
 
 
ATALANTA / ANTI-PIRACY:  Kamba said that the GAERC would review a 
report on the first six months of the operation.  Kamba said that 
Atalanta was very successful and that Greece would support an 
effort to extend the mission. 
 
 
 
SRI LANKA:  The British had pushed strongly for Sri Lanka's 
inclusion as a GAERC agenda item, according to Kamba, but 
 
ATHENS 00000807  002 OF 002 
 
 
discussion would likely be brief and a statement would be focused 
mainly on humanitarian concerns.  Kamba noted that the EU statement 
would parallel President Obama's recent remarks of concern on Sri 
Lanka. 
 
 
 
BOSNIA:  Kamba stated that EUFOR ALTHEA would be a "technical 
discussion" between Defense Ministers during the GAERC but expected 
that no major decisions on EUFOR ALTHEA's future would be made 
until the Peace Implementation Council's final decision on the 
Office of the High Representative.  Spain strongly desired to draw 
down its troop presence, according to Kamba, while Greece, having a 
relatively small presence on the ground, was not expecting to cut 
the size of its force by much. 
 
 
 
ISRAEL-PALESTINE PEACE:  Kamba said that this had been dropped from 
the GAERC agenda, but that EU states' Political Directors would 
discuss the issue informally during a lunch. 
SPECKHARD