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