U/S BURNS REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001314 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR GR SUBJECT: U/S BURNS REVIEWS INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC SECURITY ISSUES WITH GREEK MOD, CHOD, MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER Classified By: CHARGE D' AFFAIRES THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 11, U/S Burns reviewed security issues in both the region and within NATO with Minister of Defense Meimarakis and CHOD Chinofotis. Burns pressed the MOD and CHOD to increase Greece's contribution to Alliance efforts in Afghanistan, which both officials contended was difficult given Greece's "regional" imperatives (i.e., Turkey). Burns reviewed the state of play on Kosovo Final Status, emphasizing that independence was inevitable. Meimarakis expressed concern regarding Macedonia's readiness for NATO entry, suggesting that Macedonia had not fulfilled its part of the 1995 Interim Agreement on the name issue. Burns counseled patience, noting that NATO would not review the country's readiness for several months. In a separate meeting with Minister of Public Order Polydoras and Police Chief Dimoschakis, Burns thanked the GOG for its cooperation to date, pressed for results in the investigation of the RPG attack on the Embassy, and encouraged additional counter-terrorism efforts. END SUMMARY. U/S BURNS PRESSES MOD ON AFGHANISTAN CONTRIBUTION ¶2. (C) In his meeting with Defense Minister Meimarakis and CHOD Chinofotis, Under Secretary Burns focused on the importance of successful NATO operations in Afghanistan. Meimarakis agreed that operations were at a critical juncture and that military efforts needed to be closely linked with reconstruction and reform efforts. But while Meimarakis acknowledged that the Alliance needed to do "whatever it takes" to succeed in Afghanistan, he did not indicate any change from current Greek commitments. Burns pressed for Greece to contribute more, including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and lifting caveats on its troops. Meimarakis and Chinofotis reiterated previous arguments that Greece's "regional" imperatives (i.e., the "threat" from Turkey) precluded any larger contribution. Meimarakis noted that Greece's January offer to provide a company of M-60 tanks to the Afghan National Army had been turned down, but he said Greece was now considering providing training for Afghanis, though only outside the country -- as Greece has done in its training of Iraqi officers. UPDATE ON KOSOVO ¶3. (C) Burns update Memarakis o theU.S.approach to Kosovo final status. Meimarakis stressed that Greece was interested in a "balanced" approach that would take into account the interests of both Serbians and Kosovars, avoiding "winners" and "losers." Greece favored extending negotiations, as had been proposed at the G-8 Summit, but would support KFOR as long as necessary. Burns likewise pledged U.S. support for KFOR, but emphasized the very strong U.S. position that independence for Kosovo was inevitable. Burns urged Greece to use its influence in Belgrade to smooth the transition. NATO ENLARGEMENT AND MACEDONIA ¶4. (C) On NATO enlargement, Meimarakis saidGreee believed the three current MA aspirants -- roatia, Albania, and "FYROM" (Macedonia) -- should be considered separatey and tha no ompromise should be made in th eigibility criteria. Greece had determinedthat Croata wa ready but that Albania and "FYROM" had much left to do in terms of rule of law, corruption, and reform of their judiciaries. On the name issue, Meimarakis insisted "FYROM" had not shown the willingness Greece had shown to reach a solution. It continued to delay, observing neither the letter nor the spirit of the 1995 Interim Agreement, and thus was not showing the "good neighborly relations" required by NATO. Burns underscored USG support for enlargement, noting that we believed Croatia had likely already met MAP criteria. As for Albania and Macedonia, Burns noted President Bush's statement in Tirana the previous day expressing hopes that, through further reform efforts, both countries would be able to meet the entrance requirements. The USG had not made any decisions yet on their eligibility, which NATO would not address until the beginning of 2008. CFE, CYPRUS ARMS ¶5. (C) Burns noted the upcoming CFE review conference, pointing out that it was Russia, not NATO, that was in violation of the Treaty by failing to fulfill its Istanbul commitments. Meimarakis agreed, stating that the Treaty was the "cornerstone of European security." Burns welcomed progress made in resolving the issue of Greece's illegal transfer of U.S.-origin arms to Cyprus; Meimarakis said resolution of the issue was in its "final stages" and now ATHENS 00001314 002 OF 002 represented a positive development in U.S.-Greek relations. Meimarakis and CHOD Chinofotis also thanked Burns for his remarks in Washington clarifying the status of the Greek island of Agios Efstratios. MINISTER OF PUBLIC ORDER PROVIDES UPDATED SECURITY ASSESSMENT ¶6. (C) Burns' meeting with Minister of Public Order Polydoras and Chief of the Hellenic Police Dimoschakis focused on domestic security and counter-terrorism issues. Polydoras suggested that tacit sympathizers in the journalistic, university, and legal communities provided ideological, if not direct, support to the new generation of anarchists in Greece. However, Polydoras noted, the Greek authorities were monitoring the activities of anarchists, and had recently arrested several arsonists red-handed in Athens. According to Polydoras, while the perpetrators were young, the tactics they used to plan and prepare for the attack demonstrated a level of sophistication indicative of a larger organization. On the positive side, these anarchists had so far minimized human casua,4)e1* J)R ha$ t(e AReek authorities been ab$% tg &)fd $ifiQ "%Tw%ef local anarchists and )&QeR&!Qig&!$ teR2%R)QQ groups. Polydoras assuR%d B5R"1QQ 4(aT AQ%%!% was following closely th% p)1Q)"i,)QQ c" i"$)viduals who fought against c!adiQ)eb ")RceS ib Iraq and Afghanistan u1)&% A2%%#% !Q ! Q2!"1&%2 point to return to E52%0%" T' $!4%$ Ereek authorities had not discovered any significant flows of such individuals. ¶7. (C) Analyzing the January 12 RPG attack on the Embassy, Polydoras admitted shortcomings in the security measures -- particularly on the streets adjacent to the Embassy. Polydoras stressed that the police shared all information and leads with their counterparts at the Embassy, but added that Greek law restricted the police's ability to aggressively pursue suspects. Burns pointed out that the current laws limited effective prosecution, rather than apprehension of suspects. Polydoras agreed, stating that the police was following several suspects but was working to ensure that the case against them would hold up in the Greek courts. Polydoras highlighted changes in the police counter-terrorism unit, including the establishment of a CT unit in Thessaloniki. ASSURANCES ON VWP PREPAREDNESS ¶8. (C) Burns asked Polydoras for his assessment of Greek passport security, given the country's interest in participating in the visa waiver program (VWP). Polydoras stated that the new Greek passport was the most secure available in the world. Burns praised Greece's leadership role in the Balkans, stressing that Greece should work together with law enforcement authorities there to take concrete steps to address organized crime and other criminal law issues. COUNTRYMAN