MFA SECRETARY GENERAL: "QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCE" TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000315 SIPDIS FOR EUR/SE, EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV GR TU TURKEY SUBJECT: MFA SECRETARY GENERAL: "QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCE" TO RECENT ALLEGED AIRSPACE INCURSIONS BY TURKEY REF: ATHENS 292 Classified By: AMB. CHARLES P. RIES FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: MFA Secretary General Gennimatas complained to Ambassador and visiting EUR DAS Kennedy during a January 28 meeting about reported airspace incursions by Turkey, claiming formations of Turkish fighters had flown within two nautical miles of the Greek islet of Antipsara -- a "qualitative difference" for such incidents. He also faulted the Turks for initiating mock dogfights with Greek pilots. While the GoG was disturbed by what it argued was increased Turkish incidents in recent weeks, Gennimatas said this development would not change the GoG's support for Turkey's EU prospects. Reftel reports discussion of Cyprus issue. END SUMMARY. "Qualitative Difference" to Recent, Alleged Turkish Incursions ¶2. (C) At a January 28 meeting with Ambassador and visiting EUR DAS Kennedy, MFA Secretary General Gennimatas complained about what he said was a "qualitative difference" in reported Turkish incursions into Greek airspace. Specifically, he claimed that on January 26 seven formations of Turkish fighters, traveling at 15,000 feet, had passed within two nautical miles of the Greek islet of Antipsara (near the island of Chios). Gennimatas said this particular incident represented a new and "very bad" development. To make matters worse, he added, this incident happened during the first-ever visit of the Greek CNO to Ankara. ¶3. (C) Gennimatas went on to describe the longstanding Greek-Turkish dispute over the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR). He explained that Turkish pilots do not file flight plans, nor do they provide information about entry and exit points -- "they just give us flight times." (NOTE: Gennimatas said that recently the Turks had asked whether the U.S. files Athens FIR flight plans. END NOTE.) ¶4. (C) Gennimatas further complained that the Turks use airspace incursions to initiate mock dogfights with Greek pilots. DAS Kennedy noted the potential for miscalculation and argued for the two sides to develop some CBMs to reduce this threat. Asked what could be done to reduce the tension in the Aegean, Gennimatas answered that he talks with his Turkish counterpart "almost every day," at times requesting that a Turkish vessel change course if it appears to be approaching too close to a disputed islet. These conversations "usually work," he admitted, but occasionally the Turkish MFA doesn't know or cannot affect Turkish military movements of concern. Gennimatas acknowledged that the relationship was very different before 1999, when essentially there was no contact between the two countries' foreign ministries. Gennimatas said it was troubling to the GoG that the Turks appeared to be increasing their incursions in recent weeks, but that this development would not change the GoG's strategic policy of supporting Turkey's EU prospects. ¶5. (C) COMMENT: Reports of alleged Turkish airspace incursions and FIR violations in the Aegean occur almost daily in Greece's media, as do Greek MFA complaints about such activity. While there is no doubt that increased contact between the Greek and Turkish MFAs is a good thing, it has yet to produce a way out of this long-running dispute. There has been no apparent progress in Greek-Turkish Aegean talks since New Democracy took power in March 2004, even as reports of incursions and violations go up in the post-Olympic period. END COMMENT.