Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS1487
2007-07-25 22:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREECE URGENTLY REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE IN

Tags:  MOPS PGOV PREL GR 
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VZCZCXRO2509
OO RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHTH #1487 2062227
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 252227Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9759
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBM/AMEMBASSY BUCHAREST IMMEDIATE 0951
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE IMMEDIATE 1050
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA IMMEDIATE 1243
RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI IMMDIATE 1414
RHMFIUU/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC IMMEDATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATERUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
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RUEHRC/DEPT OF ARICULTURE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/NAVSPPACT SOUDA BAY GR IMMEDIATE
RUEPGCA/USEUCOM AIDES VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEPGDA/USEUCOM JIC VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUDKSR/EUCOM PLANS AND ANALYSIS STAFF STUTTGART GE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS ATHENS 001487 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL GR
SUBJECT: GREECE URGENTLY REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE IN
FIGHTING FIRES

UNCLAS ATHENS 001487

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS PGOV PREL GR
SUBJECT: GREECE URGENTLY REQUESTS U.S. ASSISTANCE IN
FIGHTING FIRES


1. (U) On July 25, Greece formally requested U.S. assistance
in its efforts to fight forest fires, which have devastated
many areas of the country and are overwhelming the Greek fire
service. The request was made by Foreign Minister Dora
Bakoyannis to Charge D'Affaires, a.i., Tom Countryman and
reflected a similar request from Greece to the EU.
Bakoyannis asked for any assistance the U.S. could offer but
did not specify any particular type of equipment or support.
From our monitoring of Greece's efforts to fight the fires,
it appears that the Greek fire service is stretched beyond
its limits. We believe any firefighting aircraft, ships,
trucks, equipment, or other assistance from military and/or
civilian sources would be most welcomed and much appreciated.


2. Over the last few weeks, hundreds of fires in many parts
of the country have destroyed valuable forest areas and
caused widespread damage to private property. Several deaths
have also been reported, including two Greek firefighters.
Although forest fires are a regular seasonal occurrence in
Greece, the large number and the size of the fires this year
have overwhelmed the Greek fire service. Firefighting
aircraft are an almost daily occurrence in the skies over
Athens, which has seen several fires burning in its outskirts
-- including one last week visible from the Embassy.
COUNTRYMAN