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