GREECE/AFGHANISTAN: STILL CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001073 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (TEXT) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS MASS NATO GR SUBJECT: GREECE/AFGHANISTAN: STILL CONSIDERING A POSSIBLE PRT REF: A. STATE 19516 ¶B. ATHENS 323 Classified By: A/POL COUNSELOR JEFF HOVENIER. REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Ambassador Heracles Asteriades, Director of the MFA D-2 Directorate for the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) and the Western European Union (WEU),told A/Pol Counselor and Poloff that Greece continues to evaluate the U.S. request that it lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Afghanistan (Ref B). Asteriades noted that senior levels of the Greek government continue to look at ways Greece could further contribute in Afghanistan, noting that PM Karamanlis had said at the NATO Bucharest Summit that Greece was reviewing how it could further support the ISAF mission. Asteriades added that he personally has been pressing the issue of a Greek-led PRT within MFA and with MOD. ¶2. (C) Asteriades said that although the U.S. had asked Greece to consider leading a PRT in the Dai Kundi province, it iS becoming clear to Greece that Dai K5ndi poses significant logistical chall%nges, noti.e its isolation and lack of an ai2qtrip. AsteRiades added, however, that Greece is now also looking carefully at the Samagan prov)nce, which "appears to be more doable." Asteriades qaid he has been talking to Itadian, C:ech, Austrian, and France colleagues to obtain additional information on both areas, but asserted that Samagan is a much more likely place for any possible Greek PRT, adding that even in Samagan, Greece would need logistical and security support. Finally, Asteriades said that the Greek MOD is adamant that it cannot spare any additional forces for overseas missions, so any military forces devoted to a PRT in Afghanistan would have to be taken from existing Greek forces in ISAF or in KFOR. Asteriades concluded by emphasizing that this issue remains under review, that no decision has yet been taken, but that he is pressing to have a positive decision on an Afghanistan PRT - most likely in Samagan. ¶3. (C) A/Political Counselor responded that we understood that a Dai Kundi PRT remains a high priority, but that we are unaware of any effort by international actors in Afghanistan to press for a PRT in Samagan, and that Greece could make a more meaningful contribution in Dai Kundi. However, he added that we would carefully review any Greek proposal to lead a PRT in Afghanistan and would welcome an expanded Greek role in Afghanistan, particularly any role in which Greek forces deployed beyond the current Kabul-only regional caveat. (Note: We are following up with MOD to determine their thinking on any Greek-led PRT in Afghanistan. End Note). SPECKHARD