US embassy cable - 05ATHENS181

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000181 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/SE AND EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2009 
TAGS: GR, PREL, MACEDONIA 
SUBJECT: GREEK FM STRESSES GRADUAL INTEGRATION IN THE 
         BALKANS, CONTINUES TO PRESS FOR U.S. 
         INVOLVEMENT ON MACEDONIA NAME ISSUE 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Charles P. Ries. Reasons 1.4(b/d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: In their introductory meeting on January 13, 
Greek FM Molyviatis told the Ambassador that Greece wanted to 
bring Serbia into the European family, which would also be a 
way to ease the way forward on Kosovo.  An "intermediate 
trusteeship" for Kosovo would be more stabilizing for the 
region than full independence, he asserted.  Molyviatis urged 
the U.S. to remain firmly committed to UN-sponsored talks on 
the Macedonia name issue as the quickest way to resolve this 
longstanding dispute and allow relations between Athens and 
Skopje to normalize.  Other issues reported septels.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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LESS THAN INDEPENDENCE FOR KOSOVO IS BETTER FOR THE REGION 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
2.  (C) Molyviatis told the Ambassador at their first meeting 
on January 13 that he supported the full, but "gradual", 
reintegration of the Balkans into Europe.  The violence that 
tore apart the ex-Yugoslavia in the 90s was not an 
exceptional event in Europe's long and bloody history, and, 
therefore, it was not a reason to exclude the Balkans from 
Europe now.  Specifically, Molyviatis was very concerned 
about Kosovo and Serbia.  Of all the ex-Yugo and Balkan 
states, Serbia and Montenegro was the only one that was not 
really on a track toward European integration (because, he 
admitted, of Serbia's lack of cooperation with ICTY). 
Molyviatis believed that if a way could be found to bring 
Serbia more fully into the European family, this would ease 
the way forward on Kosovo.  Admittedly, Serbia was plagued by 
internal political wrangling, which did not help the 
situation. 
 
3.  (C) Molyviatis urged caution in deliberations on Kosovo's 
final status.  Independence might stabilize Kosovo itself, 
but Molyviatis strongly believed it would be destabilizing 
for the region.  He told the Ambassador he was thinking about 
different solutions for Kosovo and floated as one idea an 
"intermediate trusteeship by the UN or the EU" as a temporary 
first measure. 
 
4.  (C)  Note: MFA Balkans Director Ambassador Alexandros 
Mallias will travel to Washington the week of January 17 for 
meetings with Department, NSC and NGO officials to discuss 
next steps in the Balkans, particularly review of Kosovo's 
final status.  Mallias, who recently traveled to Belgrade and 
Pristina, can be expected to push for greater U.S. engagement 
and believes that 2005 will be a crucial year for the region. 
 We will want to make clear to Mallias our continued desire 
to see Greece play more of a leadership role, such as using 
its UNSC seat and upcoming SEECP chairmanship to highlight 
sensitive Balkans issues and implementing its 500 million 
euro Balkan Reconstruction Fund.  End Note. 
 
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MACEDONIA NAME ISSUE 
-------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Referring to the January 14 talks in New York between 
Athens and Skopje on the Macedonia name issue, Molyviatis 
told the Ambassador that Greece and FYROM needed to resolve 
this dispute soon.  Greece, he claimed, was prepared to make 
a "substantial concession," and indeed, had put an offer on 
the table in December that included the words "Republika 
Makedonija".  What Greece would like now is a response from 
Macedonia.  "They don't have to agree, just put a proposal on 
the table" said Molyviatis.  He characterized resolution of 
the issue as a contractual matter between the two countries, 
and said the Greek position was fully supported by the EU. 
Unfortunately, he was not optimistic about the prospects for 
the January 14 talks in New York as he did not expect the 
Macedonians to come to the table prepared to deal. 
 
6.  (C) Molyviatis stressed that without active U.S. support 
for the talks, the issue could not be fixed.  "If the U.S. 
doesn't convince Skopje to unstick the issue, the issue will 
not get unstuck," said Molyviatis bluntly.  He added that the 
practical implications for both sides were huge: for 
instance, the MFA was holding 24 bilateral treaties with 
Macedonia that have not been passed to the Parliament for 
ratification because the name issue is not solved.  The 
Ambassador underscored that the U.S. remained committed to 
the UN process.  Molyviatis urged the U.S. to reinforce this 
message on a continual basis in Skopje, adding that Greece 
would gladly entertain a counter-proposal from Skopje on the 
name as a way to give the talks new momentum. 
RIES