FOREIGN MINISTRY ON GREEK AID TO IRAN, LEBANON,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000123 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS EB/IFD/ODF FOR EMILY WAECHTER NEA/ELA FOR KATHERINE ALLEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON EAID EXIM UNSC OECD GR IR LE SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY ON GREEK AID TO IRAN, LEBANON, OTHER COUNTRIES REF: A. A) SECSTATE 2781 ¶B. B) SECSTATE 2659 ¶C. C) SECSTATE 4760 ¶D. D) ATHENS 97 ¶E. E) ATHENS 85 ¶F. F) ATHENS 83 Classified By: Charge Thomas Countryman for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: EconCouns met January 17th with George Pandremenos, Diplomatic Director, Office of Deputy Foreign Minister Stylianides, to discuss reftels. Regarding the Paris donors' conference for Lebanon (Reftel A),Pandremenos stated that Foreign Minister Bakoyiannis and General Secretary of International Economic Relations and SIPDIS Developmental Cooperation Skylakakis would be attending. Greece has not yet determined the amount of its pledge. Regarding export credits to Iran (Reftel B),Pandremenos stated that he doesn't believe the GoG provides export credits to any countries, let alone Iran, but he would confirm. Regarding democracy programming in Iran (Reftel C), Pandremenos gave EconCouns a list of several projects that the GoG has funded in Iran during the last three years, although most are not specifically democracy promoting. He said the GoG would welcome ways to coordinate USG and GoG efforts. Pandremenos also discussed several other Balkan and Middle Eastern countries in which the GoG is funding development projects. All three demarches were also delivered by DCM to MFA DG for Mid-East Papaioanou, who had little substantive response. End Summary. -------------- Lebanon -------------- ¶2. (C) EconCouns met with Pandremenos to follow up on reftel demarches. Pandremenos stated that the level of contribution by the GoG at the International Conference for Support to Lebanon was currently being determined. He also stated that of the 5 million Euros pledged by the GoG at the Stockholm donors' conference, roughly half was humanitarian aid and had already been dispersed and half was reconstruction aid and the GoG is now calling for proposals to fund with that money. Pandremenos said that he supposed more money would be committed at this conference but he was unaware how it would be allocated. -------------- Export Credits to Iran -------------- ¶3. (C) Pandremenos also told EconCouns that he thinks it is the GoG's policy not to provide official export credits to any country. He will confirm this with the relevant directorate. See Ref D for Ambassador's conversation with FM Bakoyannis on this same topic. -------------- Iran: Democracy -------------- ¶4. (C) EconCouns and Pandremenos also discussed GoG democracy programming in Iran. Pandremenos highlighted the creation of a branch of the Greek Institute of Constitutional Law as one of the major GoG assistance programs in Iran. This project was begun in 2005, and the director of this center is a Professor at the Law School of Athens. Pandremenos gave EconCouns lists of all GoG aid to Iran over the past three years, projects totaling $2.46 million, although the majority of these projects were for disaster relief or education. Some of these projects have been completed. Pandremenos stated that aid to Iran is usually not a priority for the GoG but more could perhaps be programmed this year if the USG so desired. -------------- Other GoG Assistance -------------- ¶5. (C) Pandremenos also mentioned assistance projects that the GoG is conducting in several countries. The GoG is currently focusing on the Balkans and the Black Sea regions. He mentioned specific projects regarding SME financing in Albania and agricultural sector financing in Armenia. He also stated that there is a significant Greek presence in Bosnia, where a Greek NGO has financed a public aid center. ATHENS 00000123 002 OF 002 The GoG is also working on projects in Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, and Pandremenos plans to travel to all three of these countries in the next month. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Comment: We plan to meet with the director to find out more about the Institute of Constitutional Law and its work in Iran. End Comment. COUNTRYMAN