Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS872
2007-05-02 15:16:00
SECRET
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO3408 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHTH #0872 1221516 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 021516Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8944 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T ATHENS 000872
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER IZ GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRAQ
REF: A. SECSTATE 55436
B. ATHENS 763
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES RIES. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T ATHENS 000872
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER IZ GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRAQ
REF: A. SECSTATE 55436
B. ATHENS 763
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES RIES. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) SUMMARY: Per ref a, Embassy has assessed Greece's
ability and willingness to contribute military or civilian
resources to enhance the security mission in Iraq. Greece
has made financial, logistical, equipment, and training
contributions to Iraq and may be amenable to further similar
contributions. Greece has not contributed troops or other
personnel, however, and is highly unlikely to do so in the
future. END SUMMARY.
GREECE'S RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS
--------------
2. (C) GoG contacts have told us Greece contributed more than
14.5 million euros to Iraq, three million of which went to
the UNDP trust fund (500K for elections, 600K for general
development projects, and 1.9M for de-mining). The remainder
(11.5M) represented bilateral assistance to Iraq focused on:
health, education, de-mining, emergency situations relief,
and aid to vulnerable women and children. Our contacts
underscored that these contributions
represented only those undertaken through the MFA. They
noted that Greeks were generous in giving to humanitarian
causes, and it was possible that private Greek organizations
had also contributed substantial sums in addition to the MFA
amounts, though they had no data on possible private
contributions. In 2004-2005, Greece also contributed 500K
euros to the UN trust fund for protection of UN forces in
Iraq and is considering doing so again following the December
2006 appeal by the UN SYG.
MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS
--------------
3. (C) At the start of the Iraq war, Greece provided
extensive support for aircraft refueling and other logistical
activities at Souda Bay in Crete. Greek Special Forces teams
were employed on the high ground above Souda Bay for several
months to provide security for U.S. military operations
there. The Greek military took every available fuel truck
and driver to help deliver aircraft fuel to the U.S. Naval
Support Activity airfield, which enabled U.S. KC-135
refueling aircraft to refuel every B-52 striking Iraq from
the west. When it became evident that even more fuel was
needed, the Greek Air Force diverted 100 percent of their
115th Fighter Wing's fuel pipeline at Souda Bay to serve the
U.S. effort. In the last 18 months, the Greek MOD has
contributed 100 former East German armored personnel carriers
(BMPs) and 4.5 tons of ammunition to the Iraqi army, provided
training in Athens for five Iraqi physicians, and trained 30
Iraqi military personnel in Bulgaria for two weeks last
August.
WHAT MORE TO EXPECT
--------------
4. (S) The GoG may be amenable to making further financial,
equipment, or training contributions. Deputy FM Stylianides
was to attend the signing of the International Compact with
Iraq, which we interpret as a signal of the GoG's willingness
to continue to play a role in Iraqi reconstruction.
Opposition to the war in Iraq remains very high in Greece,
however, and politicians from the governing New Democracy
party and opposition PASOK would regard as political suicide
any suggestion of sending Greek forces or other personnel to
Iraq. This is even more true with elections likely as early
as September or October.
RIES
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/30/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS MOPS PREL PTER IZ GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO IRAQ
REF: A. SECSTATE 55436
B. ATHENS 763
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES RIES. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (S) SUMMARY: Per ref a, Embassy has assessed Greece's
ability and willingness to contribute military or civilian
resources to enhance the security mission in Iraq. Greece
has made financial, logistical, equipment, and training
contributions to Iraq and may be amenable to further similar
contributions. Greece has not contributed troops or other
personnel, however, and is highly unlikely to do so in the
future. END SUMMARY.
GREECE'S RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS
--------------
2. (C) GoG contacts have told us Greece contributed more than
14.5 million euros to Iraq, three million of which went to
the UNDP trust fund (500K for elections, 600K for general
development projects, and 1.9M for de-mining). The remainder
(11.5M) represented bilateral assistance to Iraq focused on:
health, education, de-mining, emergency situations relief,
and aid to vulnerable women and children. Our contacts
underscored that these contributions
represented only those undertaken through the MFA. They
noted that Greeks were generous in giving to humanitarian
causes, and it was possible that private Greek organizations
had also contributed substantial sums in addition to the MFA
amounts, though they had no data on possible private
contributions. In 2004-2005, Greece also contributed 500K
euros to the UN trust fund for protection of UN forces in
Iraq and is considering doing so again following the December
2006 appeal by the UN SYG.
MILITARY CONTRIBUTIONS
--------------
3. (C) At the start of the Iraq war, Greece provided
extensive support for aircraft refueling and other logistical
activities at Souda Bay in Crete. Greek Special Forces teams
were employed on the high ground above Souda Bay for several
months to provide security for U.S. military operations
there. The Greek military took every available fuel truck
and driver to help deliver aircraft fuel to the U.S. Naval
Support Activity airfield, which enabled U.S. KC-135
refueling aircraft to refuel every B-52 striking Iraq from
the west. When it became evident that even more fuel was
needed, the Greek Air Force diverted 100 percent of their
115th Fighter Wing's fuel pipeline at Souda Bay to serve the
U.S. effort. In the last 18 months, the Greek MOD has
contributed 100 former East German armored personnel carriers
(BMPs) and 4.5 tons of ammunition to the Iraqi army, provided
training in Athens for five Iraqi physicians, and trained 30
Iraqi military personnel in Bulgaria for two weeks last
August.
WHAT MORE TO EXPECT
--------------
4. (S) The GoG may be amenable to making further financial,
equipment, or training contributions. Deputy FM Stylianides
was to attend the signing of the International Compact with
Iraq, which we interpret as a signal of the GoG's willingness
to continue to play a role in Iraqi reconstruction.
Opposition to the war in Iraq remains very high in Greece,
however, and politicians from the governing New Democracy
party and opposition PASOK would regard as political suicide
any suggestion of sending Greek forces or other personnel to
Iraq. This is even more true with elections likely as early
as September or October.
RIES