GREEKS EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000532

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2017
TAGS: PTER MCAP PINR PINS PARM PREL KNNP GR
SUBJECT: GREEKS EXPRESS STRONG SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL
INITIATIVE TO COMBAT NUCLEAR TERRORISM

REF: A. SECSTATE 21284


B. ATHENS 497

Classified By: CDA THOMAS COUNTRYMAN. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) In response to March 6 joint demarche on the Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism delivered by
Ambassador Ries and Russian Ambassador Vdovin (ref b),MFA
Secretary General Charalambos Rocanas on March 12 sent a

SIPDIS
letter to Ambassador stating that Greece "gladly" endorsed
the Global Initiative Statement of Principles. Rocanas said
Greece was determined to contribute as a partner to the
program and congratulated us on launching this important
initiative. He also mentioned that Greece looked forward to
participating in the Initiative's third meeting in Kazakhstan
this summer. The text of Rocanas' letter is printed in full
in para 3.


2. (C) COMMENT: Greece's endorsement of the Global Initiative
provides a nice deliverable on the eve of Putin's March 15-17
visit to Greece and Bakoyannis' scheduled March 22-23 visit
to Washington. The endorsement may also help Bakoyannis move
beyond the recent blow-up in Athens over the MFA's February
22 critical statement on the Russian CHOD's
mischaracterization of the Missile Defense program, which had
led to press speculation about a rift between Bakoyannis and
PM Karamanlis (septel). END COMMENT.


3. (C) BEGIN TEXT OF MFA SECRETARY GENERAL ROCANAS' LETTER TO
AMBASSADOR RIES:

March 9, 2007

Following our recent meeting concerning the "Global
Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism," I would like to
announce that the Greek Government gladly endorses the Global
Initiative Statement of Principles.

We are determined to contribute as a partner nation in
combating the risk of nuclear terrorism on a systematic
basis. Greece supports and remains fully committed to the
relevant international legal framework which addresses this
risk. Our country has ratified the International Convention
on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and has signed
the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of
Nuclear Terrorism in September 2005. It also fully
implements United Nations Security Resolutions 1373 and 1540.
Moreover, Greece actively supports the principles of the
Proliferation Security Initiative.

It is our firm belief that steps to deepen and broaden
cooperation among nations in combating nuclear terrorism is
vital. Therefore, we congratulate you on your success in
launching this important initiative.

Finally, we look forward to participating in the third
meeting of the Initiative in Kazakhstan this summer.

Charalambos Rocanas
Ambassador

END TEXT OF ROCANAS LETTER.
COUNTRYMAN