US embassy cable - 05MANAMA1685

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001685 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, KMPI, BA, GR 
SUBJECT: EUR A/S FRIED MEETS GREEK FM MOLYVIATIS AT FORUM 
FOR THE FUTURE 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (SBU) Meeting held on November 12, 2005, 12:00, at the 
Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Manama, Bahrain. 
 
2.  (SBU) Participants: 
U.S. 
EUR A/S Dan Fried 
Leslie Tsou, NEA Watcher from Embassy London 
Michael Mussi (Embassy notetaker) 
 
Greece 
Foreign Affairs Minister Petros Molyviatis 
Ambassador Charalabos Rokanas, Secretary General of the 
Foreign Ministry 
Ambassador Constantine Rallis, Director of the Diplomatic 
Cabinet of Ministers 
 
3.  (C) Summary:  Meeting with A/S Dan Fried on the margins 
of the Forum for the Future, Greek Foreign Minister 
Molyviatis urged against United Nations Special 
Representative for Macedonia Nimitz offering a third proposal 
too soon, as Greece would be compelled to reject it absent 
adequate time to prepare.  Regarding Kosovo, Molyviatis 
suggested that the Serbs need to be offered the promise that 
they will be brought into the European fold to alleviate the 
pain of losing Kosovo and possibly Montenegro.  He urged that 
Montenegro be encouraged to delay the referendum on 
independence as this may push Serbia over the edge.  On 
Cyprus, Molyviatis urged the U.S. to tolerate Cypriot 
President Papadopoulos' aggressive style.  Molyviatis 
expressed that he is optimistic for the first time in his 
diplomatic career about Turkey's recognition of Cyprus.  End 
summary. 
 
4.  (C) In a meeting on the sidelines of the Forum for the 
Future, A/S Fried expressed U.S. appreciation to FM 
Molyviatis for Greece's contribution to the Fund for the 
Future.  He said that Greece's example, along with Denmark, 
Switzerland, Spain and other nations, shows that even non-G8 
countries, some of which may differ with the U.S. on regional 
issues such as the war in Iraq, can still support initiatives 
that are in the common interest.  FM Molyviatis said that 
Greece contributed for two reasons:  as a country in the 
region it has an interest in the development of the region; 
and Greece believes in President Bush's vision to promote 
democracy in the Middle East.  He cautioned that the road 
will not be easy as the region has built-up resistance to 
reform, but that this should not prevent our efforts.  A/S 
Fried added that we will all need to be patient, yet 
unyielding in our commitment to promote democratic reforms. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Bumps in the Road toward Peace in the Balkans 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Molyviatis told A/S Fried that Greece is working to 
find a solution to the emotionally and politically charged 
issue of an official name for Macedonia (he used "FYROM" 
throughout).  He explained that the GOG would like to move 
ahead, but the Greek public is resistant; the GOG has already 
lost much political capital over this issue.  Molyviatis said 
that the GOG extended itself to accept United Nations Special 
Representative for Macedonia Matthew Nimitz' first proposal, 
but that it could have gone no further.  He said Nimitz' 
second proposal was not a compromise but accepted 99 percent 
of the other side's position, and was therefore not 
acceptable to Greece.  Due to the sensitivity of this issue 
in the minds of the Greek public, Molyviatis urged that 
Nimitz not present a third proposal in the near future 
because the GOG would be compelled to reject it; it will be 
very difficult for the GOG to give ground too soon.  A/S 
Fried said that Nimitz is independent.  Molyviatis said that 
even if he believes this statement, the Greek public does 
not.  He urged that all parties remain patient allowing 
Greece to heal politically and Macedonia to institute 
reforms; the longer Nimitz waits, the more likely the 
possibility for a positive outcome. 
 
6.  (C) Regarding Kosovo, Molyviatis told A/S Fried that the 
GOG has pledged support for Maarti Ahtisaari, the former 
Finnish President now the UN special envoy on Kosovo final 
status.  He explained that the troika of the South-East 
European Cooperation Process (SEECP), Romania, Greece and 
Croatia, the most recent, present and future chairs 
respectively of the organization, will be visiting Pristina 
and Belgrade in the first week of December.  Molyviatis 
recognized that Kosovo is moving toward some form of 
independence, but expressed concern that Serbian politics are 
weak and that the Serbian government has not prepared its 
public to accept Kosovo's move.   He suggested that Serbia 
needs to be offered a promise of inclusion in the European 
community in parallel with Kosovo's progress.  This incentive 
will make the loss of Kosovo more palatable; however, in the 
absence of this hope, he said the tenuous situation on the 
ground may unravel.  Molyviatis added that the timing of the 
referendum on independence for Montenegro may be too much for 
Serbia at this time.  He urged that Montenegro be encouraged 
to postpone their referendum to avoid a breakdown of the 
status quo. 
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Greece's Comfort Zone to the North 
---------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C) Molyviatis described the good relations Athens now 
has with Belgrade.  He explained that Serbia was long the 
greatest power in the Balkans, and blamed Yugoslavia for 
inciting the Greeks to civil war following World War II.  He 
said that now Serbia is a group of fragmented states that no 
longer present a security threat to Greece.  The Serbs had 
brought the break-up on themselves.  He admitted that the 
entrance of these countries into the European Union (EU) 
would be long in coming, but that as they progress, they will 
join on their own merit.  Greece is in favor of EU 
enlargement, but that the EU may not be capable of 
enlargement in the near future. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Long Years of Problems in Cyprus 
-------------------------------- 
 
8.  (C) Regarding Cyprus, A/S Fried expressed concern about 
the recent aggressive and angry approach of Cypriot President 
Tassos Papadopoulos to Cypriot reunification issues. 
Molyviatis said that he did not think the U.S. was reading 
Papadopoulos correctly.  He said Papadopoulos is not just 
angry at the U.S. and Turkey, but at everyone; he has an 
angry nature.  Molyviatis said that he has personally 
suggested to Papadopoulos that he tone down his aggressive 
rhetoric and agreed to talk with him again.  He asked A/S 
Fried to give Papadopoulos a chance to prove himself. 
Papadopoulos is currently building bridges to European 
capitals including France.  He understands that it is in 
Cyprus' national interest that Turkey be with Europe.  He had 
two chances to veto Turkey's EU accession process and did 
not, even though Turkey had "humiliated" him.  Turkey's 
support of the Annan plan was a public relations coup for 
Turkey, making Cyprus appear the obstruction to progress. 
 
9.  (C) Molyviatis said that the U.S. and Greece have the 
same ultimate objectives in Cyprus.  He expressed that he is 
optimistic for the first time in his nearly 50 year career as 
a Greek diplomat.  For the first time Turkey has an incentive 
to recognize Cyprus, and he is confident that eventually 
Turkey will do so, but only under a settlement. 
 
10.  (U) This message has been cleared by A/S Fried. 
 
MONROE