GREEK PROCESS FOR RATIFYING INTERNATIONAL TRACING

UNCLAS ATHENS 001657 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS EUR/SE, EUR/OHI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNAR PHUM GR SUBJECT: GREEK PROCESS FOR RATIFYING INTERNATIONAL TRACING SERVICE AMENDMENTS REF: SECSTATE 106075 This message is sensitive but unclassified, please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) Poloff spoke with Fotini Tomai-Constantopoulou on June 28 regarding reftel points. Tomai-Constantopoulou, Expert Counselor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Service of Diplomatic and Historical Archives, and Greece's representative to the International Commission of the International Tracing Service (ITS),reiterated that Greece will sign the amendments on July 26 in Berlin. She also mentioned that she has agreed to stay in Berlin for the press event following the signing. ¶2. (SBU) Tomai-Constantopoulou explained that the Greek Parliament must approve ratification of the amendments, a process that normally takes in excess of one year. She plans to speak to the President of the Parliament to request that the amendments are ratified by the "earliest possible" date. While she hoped the ratification might be done before the end of the year, Tomai-Constantopoulou could make no guarantee when Parliament will finish the work. She reminded poloff of the significance the GoG places on these amendments, and of the special Greek efforts to "overcome the many obstacles" presented by some other Commission members (she named Belgium, Italy, and Germany) and see that these amendments were approved in May. ¶3. (U) COMMENT: There is no better way to move an amendment with limited domestic interest through the unpredictable and often protracted Greek parliamentary process than with a dynamic proponent. Tomai-Constantopoulou has expressed her dedication to seeing the Bonn Accords amended, and noted that Foreign Minister Bakoyannis supports her in this effort. RIES