GREECE LIKELY TO SUPPORT ARGENTINE REQUEST FOR

S E C R E T ATHENS 002159 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2017 TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PGOV KJUS IR GR SUBJECT: GREECE LIKELY TO SUPPORT ARGENTINE REQUEST FOR INTERPOL NOTICES FOR IRANIANS REF: SECSTATE 147320 Classified By: DEPPOLCOUNS PAUL CARTER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (S) Following consultations with Argentine Embassy Political Minister Counsellor Laura Bernal, DepPolCouns delivered reftel points supporting Argentina's request for Interpol approval of Red Notices against Iranian officials to MFA D1 International Organizations Directorate Counsellor Photis Bourlogiannis. D/Legatt delivered reftel points to two Hellenic National Police (HNP) officials who would be attending the November 5-8 Interpol meeting: Major General Stefanos Skotis, HNP State Security Division, and Lieutenant Colonel Ioanna Bekiari, HNP Interpol Division. ¶2. (S) Bourlogiannis said he had heard from the Argentine Embassy on the issue as well and that he forwarded our points to the relevant offices at the MFA and other agencies. On November 2, he was unable to provide a definitive answer whether Greece intended to support the Argentine request. He said the Greek delegation intended to consult with the Argentine delegation at the conference. Additionally, on such matters, Greece normally followed the EU common position, which was yet unclear. Nevertheless, Bourlogiannis said he was "80 percent sure" that Greece would vote with Argentina. Finally, he said he had heard the Iranians were planning to block the vote coming to the floor of the conference. COUNTRYMAN