GREEK MFA SHOWING NEW INTEREST IN IPR ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002145

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: ECON GR KIPR
SUBJECT: GREEK MFA SHOWING NEW INTEREST IN IPR ISSUES

REF: A. ATHENS 1630


B. SECSTATE 66964

Classified By: Ambassador Charles Ries, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Summary: Personnel changes at the MFA may be
positioning it to play a more positive role on IPR.
Washington's efforts to engage the Greek embassy are also
helping heighten the MFA's attention to the issue. Embassy
officials met with the MFA Ambassador responsible for IPR
issues, Georgios Poukamissas, on August 11, after the MFA
expressed an interest in the Embassy's impression of the
recent visit to Greece by DOC Senior Advisor to the U.S. IPR
Coordinator, Wayne Paugh. Although Poukamissas, recently
arrived in the B-4 monetary affairs office, is still in a
learning mode on IPR, he was not slow to grasp the
implications of the special 301 process. He was interested
in the topic, showing particular interest in the public
health and technological aspects of IPR violations. While
Poukamissas was not sure that the MFA would be able to find
the right levers to move other ministries in the months
remaining before the next Special 301 process, post is
encouraged by Poukamissas' openness and energy, and believe
he will be useful in helping in the battle against piracy in
Greece. End summary.


2. (SBU) Embassy officials met with MFA Ambassador
Poukamissas and B-4 Director Hondropoulou on August 11, after
MFA expressed an interest in the Embassy's impression of the
recent visit to Greece by Senior Advisor Wayne Paugh.
Hondropoulou informed econoff that Greek Ambassador to the
U.S. Mallias was scheduled to meet with DOC Deputy Secretary
Samson. Hondropoulou clearly hoped to hear that Paugh had
given Greece a clean bill of IPR health and that IPR would
not be on the agenda for the Mallias-Samson discussion.
Econoff explained that while the visit had been productive,
it did not relieve Greece of the need to react meaningfully
in regard to the USG action plan (reftel B). Econoff
highlighted the impending deadline of the Special 301 review,
and the need for Greece to take serious steps to address USG
and industry concerns. Poukamissas, although clearly
learning about his new role as Ambassador of the B-4 unit at
the MFA, immediately grasped the implications of the Special
301 process. Econoff outlined the need to show greater
enforcement of existing Greek IPR laws, especially from
customs, police and special tax police authorities, as well
as for judges to apply meaningful deterrent sentences to IPR
violators brought before the courts. Poukamissas was
interested in the proposal to include IPR training at the
Hellenic Judicial Academy for all judges in training, as well
as for periodic IPR seminars for sitting judges.


3. (SBU) Poukamissas took on board the health ramifications
linked to IPR protection particularly vis-a-vis
pharmaceuticals. Poukamissas, obviously well aware of the
aging Greek population's growing dependency on
pharmaceuticals, was very interested in hearing about this
growing problem. Econoff pointed out that while Greece has
IPR problems currently, these will pale in comparison to the
future as home computer penetration and high speed Internet
connection rates in Greece begin to grow. Poukamissas
acknowledged that this was not something the GoG had begun to
focus on, but that connection speeds were increasing and
connection fees were falling, so that it was, in fact, only a
matter of time.


4. (C) Comment: Poukamissas is a breath of fresh air and our
first meeting was quite productive. Poukamissas appeared to
"get it" and may well turn out to be forward leaning on the
issue. He clearly picked up on possible consequences and the
need for a positive timeline from Greece faster than anyone
with whom econoff has met to date. His energy was a welcome
relief to the lethargy, or outright defensiveness, of the B-4
unit. However, he was frank in his appraisal that the MFA
could only play an advisory/hortatory role, as it has no
actual control over the Ministries of concern to the U.S.
action plan. Nevertheless, this meeting presents the
possibility that the MFA will now play a positive,
coordinating, role in the IPR arena. End comment.
RIES