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INFO RUCNOSC/ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000427 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2018 
TAGS: OSCE PGOV PREL PHUM KRIF GR AF ZL
SUBJECT: GREECE/OSCE:  BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS ON 2009 
CHAIRMANSHIP - ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Tom Countryman for 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (U) This is a joint Embassy Athens/USOSCE Cable. 
 
¶2.  (C) Summary.  USOSCE Ambassador Finley, EUR A/DAS 
Robbins, and Embassy Athens and USOSCE personnel met March 17 
with Greek officials to consult on Greek plans for the 
upcoming 2009 Chairmanship of the OSCE.  The Greeks have 
identified key personnel for the Chairmanship, and have begun 
thinking about their priorities.  They plan to reappoint the 
three Personal Representatives on Tolerance - although they 
want further dialogue on the "personalities" and "support 
structures" for the representatives.  The Greeks agreed that 
it is essential to protect the autonomy and mandate of the 
OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights 
(ODIHR).  However, they expressed some concern about the 
modalities for the annual human dimension implementation 
meeting, hinting at potential restrictions for some NGOs.  We 
pushed back on this point.  Finally, the Greeks were 
non-committal on the question of OSCE programs to train 
Afghan customs and border officials, saying that they did not 
want to compete with EC efforts.  The Greeks also placed 
emphasis on maintaining an "evenhanded" approach with the 
Russians during their Chairmanship, but did not provide 
specifics.  USOSCE and Embassy Athens will continue to press 
the Greeks on our OSCE agenda.  End Summary. 
 
------------ 
Participants 
------------ 
 
¶3.  (U) 
 
Greece 
------ 
-- Ambassador Christos Zaharakis, Future Special Envoy of the 
Chairman-in-Office; 
-- Ambassador Nicolaos Kalantzianos, Director General for 
International Organizations and International Security and 
Cooperation, and head of the MFA OSCE Task Force; 
-- Ambassador Mara Marinaki, Greek Permanent Representative 
to the OSCE; 
-- Louis Abatis, DCM, Greek Mission to the OSCE; 
-- Petros Averinos, Director, MFA D3 Directorate for OSCE and 
Council of Europe Affairs; 
-- Nicolas Patakias, OSCE Coordinator, MFA D3 Directorate; 
-- Nicolas Skembas, Attache, MFA D3 Directorate; 
-- Sotirios Demestichas, Attache, MFA D3 Directorate. 
 
United States 
------------- 
-- Ambassador Julie Finley, USOSCE; 
-- Gary Robbins, Acting DAS, EUR; 
-- Thomas Countryman, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy Athens; 
-- Samuel Laeuchli, Political Counselor, USOSCE; 
-- Jeff Hovenier, A/Political Counselor, Embassy Athens; 
-- Diana Brown, Deputy Political Counselor, USOSCE 
-- Elaine A. Paplos, Embassy Athens (notetaker) 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Tolerance Representatives -- Will Be Reappointed 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4.  (C) Ambassador Finley said the U.S. places great 
importance on the three personal representatives on 
tolerance, and pressed Greece to reappoint them during its 
Chairmanship.  Ambassador Kalantzianos responded that Greece 
did indeed plan to appoint the three personal 
representatives, but he added that Greece had questions about 
the "personalities" involved and the "support structures." 
He provided no further information on which "personalities" 
among the current personal representatives on tolerance 
Greece may wish to review, but said that this was an issue 
that Greece would "follow-up" with the U.S. delegation in 
Vienna.  On structures, he simply noted that the OSCE does 
not currently provide adequate support for the three personal 
representatives on tolerance, and he wanted to have further 
conversations with the United States and other key OSCE 
states on how the OSCE structures might better support the 
tolerance representatives.  Ambassador Finley expressed U.S. 
readiness to consult further on this issue noting that she 
also believed that the tolerance representatives could 
benefit from greater administrative support from the OSCE, 
and she reiterated U.S. commitment to the three tolerance 
representatives. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
ODIHR ) Autonomy "Yes" / HDIM ) some concerns 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Ambassador Finley emphasized that the U.S. places the 
highest priority on ensuring that ODIHR maintains its 
 
ATHENS 00000427  002 OF 003 
 
 
autonomy and mandate; the U.S. will oppose any efforts to 
diminish ODIHR, which is "the backbone of the OSCE." 
Zaharakis responded that Greece shares this view.  Greece 
will not support any effort to restrict ODIHR's autonomy, 
particularly in the field of election observation, which he 
termed the OSCE's "crown jewel." 
 
¶6.  (C) Kalantzianos then noted that although Greece strongly 
supports ODIHR's autonomy, Greece does believe there could be 
utility in reviewing the modalities for the annual human 
dimension implementation meeting (HDIM), particularly with 
regard to the participation of some NGOs who at times raised 
"delicate issues."  (He mentioned in particular the Aurelian 
religious group, whose "princess" claims to be an alien and 
attends the HDIM each year.)  Averinos added that Greece is 
aware that many participating states are concerned by a "lack 
of geographic balance" among participating NGOs.  Ambassador 
Finley pushed back on the idea of restricting participation 
by NGOs ) no matter how much some may consider them to be on 
the "fringe."  She added that the HDIM provides a rare 
opportunity for NGOs to speak freely, and the U.S. would 
oppose going down this dangerous path of implementing rules 
about which NGOs should attend.  Robbins asked the Greeks to 
identify any specific elements of the HDIM modalities that 
are problematic, noting that we should not revise modalities 
simply in response to complaints.  He suggested that perhaps 
the criticism that ODIHR is receiving is because it is doing 
its job so effectively, adding that we should be more 
concerned if there were no criticisms of ODIHR, given its 
mandate to promote human rights and compliance with OSCE 
commitments. 
 
--------------------------------- 
OSCE/Afghanistan ) Tepid Response 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Ambassador Finley raised the issue of possible OSCE 
work in Afghanistan, focused on training border and customs 
officials.  She noted that implementation of any such 
decisions would likely take place during the Greek 
Chairmanship, and asked for full Greek commitment to 
achieving this result.  Kalantzianos said that the European 
Commission is also reviewing how it can assist in Afghanistan 
and is considering providing border and customs training.  It 
is important that the OSCE and the EC not duplicate efforts. 
We agreed, but reminded the Greeks that EC plans are more 
limited in scope than what the United States has proposed for 
the OSCE.  Kalantzianos responded that Greece is "not 
negative" to ideas in this area, but said that Athens would 
get back to us on the issue of Greek support for OSCE 
customs/border training in Afghanistan. 
 
¶8.  (C) Comment:  Greece's innate caution on this issue is 
largely driven by the Greek EU-centric view of European 
institutions.  We would anticipate that Greece will not be 
prepared to be more positive about OSCE customs/border 
training in Afghanistan until/unless any possible, separate 
EC role is hammered out.  End Comment. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Russia ) Greek desire to be "evenhanded" 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) In introductory remarks, Zaharakis said Greece will 
place particular importance during its Chairmanship to 
represent "all of the OSCE."  In this regard, Greece will 
seek to be "evenhanded" in its dealings with Russia. 
Zaharakis did not provide any specifics on how Greece intends 
to achieve this goal.   He said that as CiO, Greece will 
inevitably have to take positions that "do not satisfy all 
sides," adding that "evenhandedness is not always easy to 
achieve." 
 
¶10.  (C) Ambassador Finley responded that the United States 
also seeks a partnership with Russia, both bilaterally and at 
the OSCE.  However, she cautioned that any effort to be 
"evenhanded" with regard to Russia should not cross red-lines 
or impede the OSCE's operational capabilities.  She also 
emphasized that the United States continues to pursue and 
welcome close consultations with the CiO on all key issues on 
the OSCE agenda. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
OSCE/Economic Dimension ) Migration and Climate Change 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶11.  (C) When asked about Greek plans for the Economic 
Dimension, Ambassador Marinaki said the Greek CiO plans to 
focus on migration, and in particular the relationship 
between climate change and migration and its impact on 
Europe.  USOSCE suggested strongly that the Greeks focus on 
OSCE value-added areas instead, such as good governance, rule 
 
ATHENS 00000427  003 OF 003 
 
 
of law, and legislation.  We added that the USG has been 
skeptical about OSCE involvement in climate change, given its 
lack of experience in this area. 
 
-------------------- 
Unresolved Conflicts 
-------------------- 
 
¶12.  (C) When we raised the question of how Greece planned to 
manage its CiO responsibilities with regard to unresolved 
conflicts, the Greeks responded that Ambassador Zaharakis 
would be "responsible" as the "Special Envoy" of the CiO.  He 
had nothing to add, other than to inquire as to U.S. views 
related to Kosovo and the prospects that it would also become 
an unresolved conflict. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Preparing and Managing Kazakhstan 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶13.  (C) We suggested that Greece may have a particularly 
important role to play in helping Kazakhstan to prepare for 
its 2010 Chairmanship.  The Greeks agreed this would be an 
important priority, adding that they are already in frequent 
contact with the Kazakhstanis.  An unnamed Kazakstani Under 
 Secretary will visit Athens next month to begin the 
consultation process. 
 
¶14.  (C) Ambassador MarinQish to 
see the mission "restructured."  We underscored the 
importance of the mission's work in human rights, and 
cautioned that we will need to be very cautious about any 
effort to change the mission and should resist any Kazakstani 
attempt to close or diminish work in the human rights field. 
Marinaki countered that by selecting a nation to serve as 
CiO, the OSCE has already indicated that it is "satisfied" 
with its compliance with OSCE human rights commitments.  We 
responded that we had a different view, and that the United 
States believes it essential to continue to use OSCE 
structures, including the mission in Kazakhstan, to help the 
Kazakstanis comply with their OSCE commitments. 
 
------------------------------ 
Comment ) Room for Improvement 
------------------------------ 
 
¶15.  (C) We scheduled these consultations to get the Greeks 
thinking early about their Chairmanship and to flag our 
highest priorities.  In that regard, they were successful. 
The Greeks have been apprised of our priorities and they have 
begun organizing themselves for the Chairmanship earlier than 
they otherwise might have.  However, we have some work ahead 
of us in getting the Greeks to back away from some 
problematic ideas on the HDIM, and to take a more proactive 
stance on Afghanistan.  We are somewhat disquieted by their 
approach to managing the Russians at the OSCE and engaging 
Kazakhstan in advance of its OSCE Chairmanship.  However, it 
is also clear that future CiO Bakoyannis has not yet taken an 
active role in OSCE preparations.  We expect her to be an 
energetic and capable CiO and likely more responsive - at 
least in private - to U.S. desiderata at the OSCE than these 
consultations might suggest.  As we get closer to the Greek 
Chairmanship, we will need to continue to press the Greek 
bureaucracy on our OSCE agenda and begin to make it part of 
our dialogue with Bakoyannis herself.  End Comment. 
 
¶16.  (U) EUR Acting DAS Robbins has cleared this cable. 
SPECKHARD