Cablegate: Greeks Get Russia Message in Time for Gaerc

VZCZCXRO7396
OO RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTH #1534 3151201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101201Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2755
INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS ATHENS 001534

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EUN PGOV PREL RS GR
SUBJECT: GREEKS GET RUSSIA MESSAGE IN TIME FOR GAERC

REF: SECSTATE 119280

1. (SBU) On November 8, DepPolCouns discussed reftel GAERC
points on dealing with Russia with Haris Lalacos, head of the
MFA A11 Directorate for the EU CFSP. Lalacos was grateful to
receive the information over the weekend because he was
departing along with the rest of FM Bakoyannis' party on
Sunday November 9 so as to be in Brussels for the Monday
November 10 GAERC. Lalacos said he would convey our message
to the FM.

2. (SBU) Lalacos believed Russia would be the main topic of
the GAERC. Only the ministers would attend the meeting, a
format designed to encourage more frank discussion.
Different countries had "different lines of thought" on
dealing with Russia, but all believed Russia must meet its
obligations in terms of the Georgian cease-fire agreements.
The GAERC would provide a good opportunity to discuss the
common EU approach before the EU-Russia summit November 14.
On Medvdev's proposal on a new security treaty, Lalacos said
there was general perplexity about what it really entailed.
Even the Russians, he noted, were not in a position to fill
in any details. Sarkozy had made clear the EU position. On
the PCA, Lalacos was unable to provide a substantive response
since another directorate in the MFA (C1 for EU External
Relations) had responsibility for that issue. Lalacos said
he would pass our message to C1 and the FM.
SPECKHARD

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