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