CYPRUS ARMS: COMING TO CLOSURE ON EXCHANGE OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000772 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV GR SUBJECT: CYPRUS ARMS: COMING TO CLOSURE ON EXCHANGE OF LETTERS REF: A) ATHENS 686 B) STATE 41819 C) STATE 35756 Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES RIES. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On April 17, MFA Secretary General Rocanas presented four suggested changes to the proposed exchange of letters between the U.S. and Greece to resolve the long-standing issue of the illegal transfer of U.S.-origin equipment to Cyprus. Rocanas noted that none of the proposals changed the intent of the letters. Ambassador welcomed the GOG response and its clear determination to resolve the issue. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Rocanas told the Ambassador wryly that while CHOD Chinofotis had five pages of comments on the proposed texts, the actual changes he recommended boiled down to the following items: -- GREEK LETTER to the U.S.: In the penultimate paragraph, first line: remove the phrase "All necessary measures for." The one-paragraph sentence would then read: "The implementation of the above arrangements may be confirmed through visits in situ by U.S. personnel; such visits shall be facilitated by Greek military and civilian authorities whenever requested." -- GREEK LETTER to the U.S.: Replace the existing final paragraph with the following: "The implementation of the aforementioned arrangements will bring Greece into meeting its commitments, arising from the U.S. legislation concerning the arms transfer, and will lead to the resolution of this issue and removal of the constraints that the issue has placed on the relationship between the United States and the Government of Greece, allowing thus the lifting of the restrictions imposed on U.S. grants and arms sales." -- U.S. RESPONSE LETTER to Greece: Paragraph 5: remove the phrase "in conformity with U.S. standards." Sentence would then read: "The number of guards must be sufficient to provide adequate security and control." (Rocanas pointed out that, while the GOG would certainly provide adequate guards at the facility, it was difficult for the GOG to sign onto unspecified U.S. standards. In any case, he pointed out, since the phrase is in the U.S. letter, the meaning is that it would be the U.S. definition of "adequate" that would apply.) -- U.S. RESPONSE LETTER to Greece: Paragraph 6: change the current wording to read as follows: "No persons other than those of Greece or the United States may be provided access to any defense articles provided by the United States." (Rocanas explained that the revised wording kept the intent of the original text intact, but avoided singling out the Cypriots specifically.) ¶3. (C) COMMENT: A couple of the changes are largely cosmetic and appear to be driven by a particularly Greek sensitivity. To our eyes, the most important proposed change is to the final paragraph in the GOG letter to the U.S., which -- if altered -- would spell out more fully the expected benefits for Greece of resolving this issue. Our assessment is that none of the proposed changes dilutes or changes the meaning of the exchange. For that reason, post would appreciate Washington guidance on the acceptability of the changes requested asap. RIES