GREECE/NATO: GREECE WITHDRAWS FROM NATO AEGEAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 01400


SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: MOPS NATO PGOV PREL TU GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/NATO: GREECE WITHDRAWS FROM NATO AEGEAN
TABLE TOP EXERCISE

REF: ATHENS 966

Classified By: DCM Deborah McCarthy for reasons 1.4
(b and d)

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Greece informed NATO military authorities October 6
that it has withdrawn from a NATO table top exercise ("Noble
Aspect 08") on the Aegean. Greece sought to include "tracks"
of a civilian aircraft overflying Agios Efstratios island
(reftel) - an island that Turkey maintains is
"demilitarized." NATO authorities demurred on this request.
"Noble Aspect 08" was scheduled to commence October 7, 2008.
End Summary.

Greece's Withdrawal
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2. (C) In an October 6 letter from Lieutenant General
Athanasios Karamitsos to LTG Lee McFann (U.S.),Commander of
NATO's Southern Air Coordination Center (CC-AIR IZMIR),
Karamitsos states that Greece's "national assets are not
available to support this year's exercise" (Note: NATO
military authorities have regularly carried out a Fall table
top exercise related to the Aegean. End note). Karamitsos'
letter refers to a July 2008 visit to Athens by CC-AIR
Commander LTG McFann (reftel),in which the Greeks raised
NATO's decision not to support a May 2008 Greek-proposed
exercise in Aegean that would have overflown Agios Efstratios
("Noble Archer"). The Greek letter states that Greece had
expressed "concerns" about the issue of overflights of Agios
Efstratios to McFann during this visit. Given that Greece
had "not received any feedback to indicate that the planning
of the exercise has been amended to reflect our operational
concerns," Greece will not support the exercise.


3. (C) We understand that in preparations for the exercise,
the Greeks submitted "tracks" that would include a civilian
aircraft overflying Agios Efstratios island - which Turkey
asserts is demilitarized. NATO practice has been not to
support exercises that involve disputed areas. Reftel
provides additional background on the Agios Efstratios issue,
including USG suggestions that Turkish claims related to
Agios Efstratios appear specious. NATO authorities demurred
on including the Greek "tracks" in the exercise.


4. (C) Comment: Per reftel, the Greeks received no
assurance from CC-AIR Commander McFann that he would revisit
NATO's practice of not supporting exercises and activities
involving overflights of Agios Efstratios island or other
locations that Turkey claims are either demilitarized or of
uncertain sovereignty. Rather, in his meetings, McFann was
direct with his Greek interlocutors that this was a
"political problem" and that Greece needed to address it by
consulting with NATO political authorities; he also
recommended that Greece seek written guidance from NATO
political authorities prior to seeking further NATO support
for any activity overflying Agios Efstratios (or any other
Aegean area under dispute). We are not aware of any Greek
attempt to raise these issues with NATO political authorities
since the McFann visit; however, the Greeks have again raised
their concerns with SACEUR Craddock during his July visit to
Greece. The Greeks continue to be concerned that NATO's
policy not to support NATO activities in areas that Turkey
has identified as "disputed," even when that claim is fairly
specious - as in the case of Agios Efstratios - creates an
increasingly elastic "no fly" area for NATO and Greece.
Greek military commanders have also expressed concerns that
Greece's ability to be prepared to defend the Aegean is
affected. Greece's withdrawal from "Noble Aspect 08" may
become a public story in Greece. Should this occur, although
this was a NATO and not/not a USG decision, the Greek public
is likely equate the United States with NATO and criticize
the United States. End Comment.
SPECKHARD