VZCZCXRO0568
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHNC #0774 3421520
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 081520Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0360
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000774 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EUN CY
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: DECEMBER FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL POINTS 
DELIVERED 
 
REF: DECEMBER FAC POINTS FROM INTELLIPEDIA 
 
Classified By: DCM Jonathan R. Cohen for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) On December 7, Poloff delivered ref points to Cyprus 
MFA Deputy European Correspondent Nectarios Soteriou in the 
Department of Common Foreign and Security Policy and Attache 
Dionysis Dionysiou in the Department of Middle East and 
Africa.  They shared the following views on behalf of the 
Government of Cyprus (GOC) on the Western Balkans, Iran, and 
the Middle East. 
 
¶2. (C) WESTERN BALKANS.  Soteriou relayed the GOC's 
conviction that all Western Balkan states should eventually 
be part of the EU, but stressed that in the accession 
process, all states should be treated in an equal manner. 
Cyprus believes Bosnia needs to take steps to reverse the 
deteriorating political situation and hopes the U.S.-EU 
Butmir package will bear fruit. On Albania, Cyprus welcomes 
the progress achieved in certain areas, but notes the need to 
strengthen rule of law.  On Macedonia (Note: Cyprus, like 
Greece, uses the term FYROM, or Former Yugoslavian Republic 
of Macedonia), Cyprus seeks a solution to the name dispute 
"as soon as possible," which will enable the commencement of 
accession negotiations.  Like the U.S., Cyprus looks forward 
to further progress on EU integration efforts in Montenegro, 
Serbia, and Croatia. 
 
¶3. (C) IRAN.  According to Dionysiou, Cyprus shares U.S. 
concern, and the European Council plans to discuss and issue 
a statement on Iran's nuclear program.  Dionysiou believes 
that the inconsistencies coming from Iran on its nuclear 
program stem from an internal power struggle in the country 
following the unrest of June 2009 and, thus, it is not 
capable of coming up with a single coherent position at this 
time.  Cyprus favors exerting pressure on Iran though a UN 
Security Council resolution over any autonomous measures from 
the EU, but is keeping all options open.  Cyprus also 
believes that increased dialogue on Iran between the EU and 
the Gulf States would be beneficial. 
 
¶4. (C) MIDDLE EAST.  Dionysiou noted that Israel's West Bank 
moratorium is a limited but positive step and noted Cyprus's 
concern for peace and security in its neighboring region. 
Cyprus would like to see greater positive recognition of 
improved Palestinian security efforts, suggesting that Israel 
could grant the Palestinian Authority (PA) control over 
additional areas of Jericho and East Jerusalem.  Generally, 
however, Cyprus is pessimistic about the prospect for the 
resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Based on his 
discussions with interlocutors from the Arab League, Egypt, 
and the PA, Dionysiou believes the parties will only come to 
the table once there is an "end game" offering more tangible 
political objectives and a timeframe; the EU hopes the U.S. 
will draw the Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations 
by making specific recommendations to reach a practical plan. 
 Regarding additional support for the PA, Dionysiou noted 
that Cyprus, within its means, is supporting the PA through 
contributions to training programs, inter alia, and attended 
donors conferences in Paris and Sharm el-Sheikh. 
URBANCIC