GREEK DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000430 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EUR/SE AND EUR/RPM, DOD FOR OSD/ISA - ELLEHUUS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016 TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PINS PREL AF IZ GR IRAQ SUBJECT: GREEK DONATIONS TO IRAQI AND AFGHAN SECURITY FORCES REF: STATE 22896 Classified By: Ambassador Charles P. Ries for reason 1.4 (B/D) ¶1. (C) Greece has contributed and transported to the Iraqi armed forces significant amounts of equipment from the NTECG inventory of hardware needed. In 2005, Greece donated 36 extensively refurbished BMP-1 armored personnel carriers, 1000 AK-47s, and more than one million rounds of ammunition to the Iraqi military. It delivered this equipment, along with the Hungarian contribution of 72 T-77 tanks, in time to be used to provide security during the December 15 elections in Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Attache in Athens told DAO that this equipment was very welcome. The AK-47s in particular, he said, filled a critical need at a critical time. The BMPs, he said, were quickly integrated into the 9th Iraqi Infantry Division commanded by Major General Bashir, who complemented the Greeks on providing equipment in such excellent condition. ¶2. (C) In 2006, Greece plans to recondition and donate another 64 BMP-1s and has also offered 4 pallets of BMP main gun ammunition. Ultimately, the government has pledged to contribute to Iraq its entire inventory of 500 BMPs (less any that cannot be brought up to acceptable working condition). To our knowledge, no transportation arrangements have been made for these follow-on donations. In conversations with embassy officials and DOS visitors, MOD officials have emphasized that Greece's announced contribution of equipment did not include the cost of delivering to Iraq. In January, however, CHOD Chinofotis told the DATT that FM Molyviatis vetoed a plan to transport the next tranche of BMPs on a Danish ship carrying heavy trucks, insisting that a Greek-flagged vessel transport the Greek vehicles. This issue is far from settled, but we will encourage this willingness to shoulder the burden. ¶3. (C) Post will continue to deliver to senior Greek government officials the message contained in reftel, and the ongoing visit to Washington by a delegation of senior Greek officials responsible for NATO affairs offers an excellent opportunity to drive this point home. Concerning Iraq, in particular, we will make the case that the political process there, most importantly the democratic election of a sovereign government, demands a commensurate change in Greece's engagement. We will urge the government here to once again review the NTECG list, to see what additional critical Iraqi needs it can meet. RIES