GREEK FM PREVIEWS PM'S TRIP TO TURKEY, OTHER ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002809

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2009
TAGS: ECON MARR PGOV PREL GR AMB
SUBJECT: GREEK FM PREVIEWS PM'S TRIP TO TURKEY, OTHER ISSUES


Classified By: Ambassador Charles P. Ries. Reasons 1.4(b/d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In a tour d'horizon October 27, Greek
Foreign Minister Molyviatis previewed for Ambassador the
Prime Minister's proposed trip to Ankara in November, raised
the latest public flap over the proposed purchase of 30 F-16s
by Greece and promised to follow up on the status of the
U.S.-EU MLAT protocol that Greece has not yet signed.
Septels report the Balkans, BMENA/Foundation for the Future
and Cyprus arms. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Regarding press reports that Prime Minister
Karamanlis will travel to Turkey, Molyviatis reported that:

-- Dates of November 24-25 are agreed in principle;
-- He has received assurances from Turkish FM Gul that Turkey
will "keep things quiet" over the Aegean before and after the
visit, and to keep fishing boats away from the disputed islet
of Imia/Kardak (Molyviatis was embarrassed by both activities
during his May visit to Turkey);
-- This will be a "goodwill" visit -- while the two PMs will
"discuss everything, Molvyiatis does not anticipate any
agreements as a result (or during) the visit.


3. (C) Referring to several critical press reports
concerning the sale of F-16s to Greece, Molyviatis assured
Ambassador that the Greek Government was working to correct
the record. (The basis for this articles was the difference
between the low-ball cost estimate offered by MOD
Spiliotopoulos in the early stages of the acquisition process
and the high-end "not-to-exceed" estimate of USD 3.1 billion
given in the Congressional notification and a DSCA press
release.) While Molyviatis felt the MFA had been taken by
surprise by the DSCA announcement of the parameters of the
sale, he welcomed the news that the Embassy had previewed the
process with the MOD and would be working closely with the
Ministry of Defense to get the story straight.


4. (C) Ambassador asked Molyviatis whether it was possible
to arrange for a signing of the U.S.-Greece bilateral
protocol to the U.S.-EU MLAT and Extradition treaties. The
protocol had been agreed in all details (and languages).
Ambassador explained the protocol signing had been held up by
the Minister of Justice who, wanting to stress the EU
character of the protocol, preferred to sign together with
another EU country, despite the fact that Ambassador had
repeatedly made clear that the agreement need not be signed
in a high-profile way. Further, Ambassador cautioned, most
other EU countries had already signed. Molyviatis agreed to
check details with his head of EU affairs (as will the
Embassy) and to bring this matter to closure.

.
RIES