SEA CHANGE AT SOUDA BAY: NEW LOCAL POLITICIANS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000625 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL GR SUBJECT: SEA CHANGE AT SOUDA BAY: NEW LOCAL POLITICIANS SEEK BETTER RELATIONS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a March 22 visit to Crete to attend the retirement ceremony for departing Captain Sale, Ambassador met local mayors and the new nomarch (governor) of Chania. The positive reception Ambassador received was markedly different from his very frosty meetings with the old leftist leadership and augured well for good cooperation between the local communities and Souda Bay NSA. The new local politicians stressed their desire for more USN ship visits and promised to do what they could to resolve outstanding issues, such as the stalled Marathi fuel pipeline. END SUMMARY. SEA CHANGES AT SOUDA BAY -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On March 22, Ambassador traveled to Crete to deliver the keynote address at the retirement ceremony for Souda Bay Naval Support Activity (NSA) commander Captain Steven Sale. Ambassador also paid calls on several local politicians with whom Souda NSA deals on a regular basis, including Governor (Nomarch) of Chania Grigoris Archondakis, Mayor of Chania Kiriakos Virvidakis, and Mayor of Akrotiri Mikalis Kynigos. Virvidakis had previously served as mayor and was re-elected in the October 2006 local elections. Archondakis and Kynigos are new to their positions. All three are members of New Democracy. ¶3. (SBU) Overall, the meetings focused on the need for good relations and cooperation. Such discussions in another context would be unremarkable but in the case of Souda Bay represented a radical change from the situation that had prevailed for the last several years. Previously, local leftist politicians were openly hostile to Souda Bay NSA and had little interest in visits by USN ships, despite the substantial financial benefits local communities reap from port calls. The tenor of the Ambassador,s meetings with the new local leadership, in contrast, augured well for cooperation and good relations. Indeed, the new atmosphere was evident from the start of the day, when the governor and two mayors attended the retirement ceremony -- the first time in memory that local Cretan politicians had attended an official function at Souda Bay NSA. GOVERNOR PLEADS FOR SHIP VISITS -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Chania Governor Archondakis, owner of a small local pharmacy chain, as well as a resort hotel that caters to handicapped customers, told Ambassador a "radical change" had taken place in local politics. One of his top priorities was to strengthen ties between the Chania community and the U.S. Naval base. That would not only bring economic benefits but would also demonstrate the changed political atmosphere. Ambassador underscored the desire of Souda Bay NSA and the Embassy to increase the number of port calls by USN ships, explaining that fewer ships had visited recently because of the increased tempo of USN operations in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. These operations left little time for shore leave and goodwill visits, though Ambassador expected that situation to change in the near future. ¶5. (SBU) Ambassador also noted the impact of the black-dye fuel issue. (NOTE: GoG regulations require tax-exempt fuel sold on local markets to international buyers to contain black dye as a safeguard against re-sale, but USN rules require purchasing only "clear and bright" fuel. Many USN ships, thus, have taken their business to other countries. END NOTE.) Another important issue was the construction of a new fuel pipeline from the Marathi piers to the Souda Bay air station. The governor understood both issues well and promised to do what he could to get them solved. He had already spoken to the mayor of Akrotiri, where the dig permits for the pipeline must be issued, and believed he was favorably disposed. OLD HAND IN CHANIA -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Mayor of Chania Virvidakis -- a physician and a cousin of FM Dora Bakoyannis -- already demonstrated goodwill toward Souda Bay NSA during his first term but was equally focused on getting more ships, both military and tourist, to visit. The mayor had two projects in the works to make Chania more attractive: an infrastructure renewal focused on ATHENS 00000625 002 OF 002 repairing roads and planting more trees, and a cultural renewal focused on repairing monuments and building museums and other cultural attractions. In response to the mayor,s plans to establish a Mediterranean architectural center, the Ambassador offered to invite his brother-in-law, a professor of architecture at the University of Hawaii specializing in energy efficient designs, to address one of the center,s conferences. With the mayor, Ambassador also noted the negative impact of the fuel-dye issue on USN ship visits. A GREENHORN, BUT SAVVY -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Akrotiri mayor Kynigos noted a somewhat anti-American climate in Crete but argued that it was no worse than elsewhere in Greece. He also argued that it was directed not at Americans, but at American foreign policy. He added, however, that his job was not foreign policy but the well-being of Akrotiri. He said he had already met Captains Sale and McDonough and looked forward to good relations. He lobbied for locals getting more jobs at Souda Bay NSA, which would help improve their attitude towards the base, and suggested the base make an effort to buy more local agricultural products for provisioning ships. ¶8. (SBU) Ambassador thanked the mayor for attending the retirement ceremony, noted the desire of the Embassy and Souda Bay NSA to increase the base,s economic benefits to the community -- particularly through more ship visits -- and asked the mayor for his help with approval of the fuel pipeline, which was not only necessary but also a gesture of good will. The mayor responded that he had been in office only two months and such things took time. Nevertheless, the mayor said he would do what he could to help. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Embassy Athens is sorry to see Captain Sale retire. Steve has done an excellent job in reaching out to the local communities on Crete, in addition to managing Souda Bay NSA very well. He is a first-rate diplomat. We look forward to working with his successor, Captain McDonough, who intends to continue Captain Sale,s outreach efforts. Embassy will do everything it can to support him and Team Souda. RIES