Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS1262
2007-06-19 14:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE ENDS M.A.S.H. MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO9572 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHTH #1262 1701440 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191440Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9514 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0372 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: GR MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: GREECE ENDS M.A.S.H. MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001262
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: GR MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: GREECE ENDS M.A.S.H. MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) At the end of May, Greece withdrew its unit of
approximately 50 medical personnel serving in Afghanistan.
According to Ambassador Ioannis Bourlogiannis, diplomatic
advisor to the Minister of Defense, the unit was withdrawn
following the end of its mandate and was replaced by a Czech
medical unit. Bourlogiannis said there were no plans at this
time to send any additional Greek troops to Afghanistan.
2. (C) MFA D2 Directorate for NATO deputy head Theodoros
Daskarolis explained that the unit's mandate technically
ended in February 2007, but Greece had extended its service
for up to six months while a replacement unit from another
ally was identified. Daskarolis said Greece had offered to
send tanks (but no personnel to man or maintain them) to
Afghanistan, but the offer had been rejected by the Afghan
National Army (ANA). Greece maintains a unit of
approximately 90 engineers in Afghanistan, and Daskarolis
said there had been "no discussion" of their withdrawal. The
engineering battalion does not have a limited mandate.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Our understanding from both Greek and non-Greek NATO
sources is that the MASH unit was well-respected for the
services it provided to NATO and ANA personnel, as well as to
Afghan civilians. In addition to providing medical
treatment, the unit also trained Afghan physicians in
emergency techniques. We utilized the experience of the unit
a number of times to generate positive press about Greece's
involvement in Afghanistan, which is usually misunderstood
here. The withdrawal of the unit was handled very quietly,
with little ceremony, following the usual Greek pattern of
downplaying its foreign missions for domestic audiences. The
return was not reported in the Greek press.
4. (C) The MASH unit was subject to the Greek government's
caveats, which restricted its operations to Kabul. The Greek
engineering battalion is subject to the same caveats. The
Embassy will continue to press the GOG to remove the caveats
on its troops and to do more to meet NATO requirements in
Afghanistan. During his June 11 meetings in Athens, Under
Secretary Burns QReQq%d PE I!Ra%!&l)1$ FM Bakoyiannis, and
SIPDIS
D%&M)& M%i%a2!))1 Q- da -%re in Afghanistan, but (% d)d *iTQQ
Qe#e)Q% a 0)sitive response. END CKMMEJT*
CKUJTRYEAB
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2017
TAGS: GR MARR MOPS NATO PGOV PREL PTER
SUBJECT: GREECE ENDS M.A.S.H. MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).
1. (C) At the end of May, Greece withdrew its unit of
approximately 50 medical personnel serving in Afghanistan.
According to Ambassador Ioannis Bourlogiannis, diplomatic
advisor to the Minister of Defense, the unit was withdrawn
following the end of its mandate and was replaced by a Czech
medical unit. Bourlogiannis said there were no plans at this
time to send any additional Greek troops to Afghanistan.
2. (C) MFA D2 Directorate for NATO deputy head Theodoros
Daskarolis explained that the unit's mandate technically
ended in February 2007, but Greece had extended its service
for up to six months while a replacement unit from another
ally was identified. Daskarolis said Greece had offered to
send tanks (but no personnel to man or maintain them) to
Afghanistan, but the offer had been rejected by the Afghan
National Army (ANA). Greece maintains a unit of
approximately 90 engineers in Afghanistan, and Daskarolis
said there had been "no discussion" of their withdrawal. The
engineering battalion does not have a limited mandate.
COMMENT
--------------
3. (C) Our understanding from both Greek and non-Greek NATO
sources is that the MASH unit was well-respected for the
services it provided to NATO and ANA personnel, as well as to
Afghan civilians. In addition to providing medical
treatment, the unit also trained Afghan physicians in
emergency techniques. We utilized the experience of the unit
a number of times to generate positive press about Greece's
involvement in Afghanistan, which is usually misunderstood
here. The withdrawal of the unit was handled very quietly,
with little ceremony, following the usual Greek pattern of
downplaying its foreign missions for domestic audiences. The
return was not reported in the Greek press.
4. (C) The MASH unit was subject to the Greek government's
caveats, which restricted its operations to Kabul. The Greek
engineering battalion is subject to the same caveats. The
Embassy will continue to press the GOG to remove the caveats
on its troops and to do more to meet NATO requirements in
Afghanistan. During his June 11 meetings in Athens, Under
Secretary Burns QReQq%d PE I!Ra%!&l)1$ FM Bakoyiannis, and
SIPDIS
D%&M)& M%i%a2!))1 Q- da -%re in Afghanistan, but (% d)d *iTQQ
Qe#e)Q% a 0)sitive response. END CKMMEJT*
CKUJTRYEAB