US embassy cable - 04BRUSSELS3224

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 003224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/UMB AND EUR/ERA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2009 
TAGS: KOLY, PHUM, PREL, GR, BO, EUN, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU MAY ACT TO BAN BELARUSIAN SPORTS MINISTER FROM 
OLYMPICS 
 
REF: A. STATE 159971 
 
     B. THE HAGUE 1880 
 
Classified By: USEU POLOFF LEE LITZENBERGER; REASONS 1.4 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C)  Summary.  The EU is looking seriously at steps it 
can take to ban Belarusian Sports Minister Sivakov from the 
Olympic games.  Greece supports a ban, but wants to approach 
the International Olympic Committee first, as visas are 
issued along with IOC credentials, and Sivakov is likely to 
appeal to the IOC should his visa be denied.  The EU also 
plans to approach the GOB in Minsk to dissuade Sivakov from 
traveling to Athens.  Finally, assuming the IOC will go along 
with a ban, the EU could take action as early as August 3, 
based on Minsk's failure to investigate several politically 
motivated disappearances reported in the "Pourgerides Report" 
in May.  At the time the report was released, the EU said it 
might consider further actions if the GOB did not 
investigate; the report cited Sivakov and two other GOB 
ministers as being implicated.  The EU ban would be on all 
three ministers.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Despite earlier indications that the EU would not 
move to bar Belarusian Sports and Tourism Minister Sivakov 
from the summer Olympics, the EU is now seriously considering 
taking action.  According to the Council's acting Belarus 
desk officer, Carl Hallergard, the EU's Political and 
Security Committee (PSC) held a lengthy discussion of the 
issue on July 29. 
 
Greece supports a ban; but notes IOC wrinkle 
-------------------- 
3.  (C)  Greece supports a ban, but noted that visas for 
ministers are issued as part of the accreditation they 
receive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 
Belarus would likely appeal any action by Greece to cancel or 
deny a visa directly to the IOC.  Therefore, Greece plans to 
approach the IOC in coming days to see if the IOC would 
support a visa denial for Sivakov.  Greece hopes to have a 
response by the time of the PSC's next meeting on August 3. 
Other EU member states are free also to approach the IOC on 
this issue over the next few days.  (Comment. Presumably, the 
US and other non-EU states could do likewise; doing so would 
add weight to the argument for a ban.  End Comment.) 
 
Moral dissuasion 
-------------- 
4.  (C)  The EU also plans to approach the GOB informally in 
an attempt to dissuade Sivakov from attending the Olympics, 
regardless of whether the EU succeeds in denying him a visa. 
(Comment.  Here again, the US could consider making a 
parallel approach in Minsk, coordinated with EU missions 
there.  End Comment.) 
 
Some Members oppose a ban, but EU may have found a way... 
----------------- 
5.  (C)  Hallergard said that while some member states oppose 
a specific ban preventing Sivakov from traveling to the 
Olympics, arguing that this is an issue for Greece to decide, 
PSC Ambassadors have found an alternative means to achieve 
the  same goal.  On May 14, the EU issued a statement on the 
so-called "Pourgerides Report" on disappearances in Belarus. 
The statement cited three Belarusian ministers -- including 
Sivakov -- as being implicated, and included a warning that 
the EU would consider further action if the GOB did not 
investigate the disappearances.  The GOB has done nothing, 
and now PSC Ambassadors may be prepared to institute a ban on 
the three ministers cited in the report; this would prevent 
Sivakov from traveling to Athens. 
 
If all else fails, Sivakov won't be allowed to mingle 
-------------------- 
6.  (C)  Greece also informed the PSC that, even if Sivakov 
is able to travel to Athens, the GOG has decided not to 
invite him to the two ceremonial events where he would have 
an opportunity to mingle with other dignitaries:  at the VIP 
Tribunal for the opening ceremonies; and at the reception 
following the opening that will be hosted by the Greek 
President. 
 
Timeline 
-------- 
7.  (C)  The EU could act as quickly as next week; but much 
depends on the position of the IOC.  If the IOC will not 
dispute with Greece a visa denial, prospects are good that 
the PSC will impose a ban next week on Sivakov and the two 
other ministers named in the Pourgerides report. 
 
SAMMIS