US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS3174

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003174 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2014 
TAGS: KOLY, PHUM, PREL, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EXCLUDING THE BELARUSIAN SPORTS AND TOURISM 
MINISTER: EU LEAVES IT TO ATHENS 
 
REF: SECSTATE 160967 
 
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Kyle Scott.  Reason: 1.4(b) 
(d) 
 
(C) Mission deployed reftel points with Carl Hellergard, 
point man on Belarus in the Council Policy Unit.  He said the 
EU was aware of the issue, but considered this fundamentally 
a question for the Greeks to decide.  He encouraged US to 
concentrate our efforts in Athens.  Hellergard noted that the 
Council Secretariat was sympathetic to the views of the US, 
convinced that Sivakov was a questionable figure, and has no 
hesitation in relaying this information to Athens.  He noted, 
however, that the Greeks were already aware of Sivakov's 
background, had raised this matter already in Brussels, but 
were clearly struggling to find a way forward.  Athens feels 
constrained, we were told, given their belief that as host of 
the Games they should try to keep political considerations 
outside technical decisions on participation, lest it have 
wider implications on the participation of other 
countries/individuals.  Still, Hellergard understood the 
Greeks were reviewing possible ways and means to perhaps deny 
Sivakov entry without setting unfortunate overall 
consequences for the Games. 
 
Sammis