101ST U.S.-GREEK JOINT COMMISSION: MEETING SUMMARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 001445 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL GR SUBJECT: 101ST U.S.-GREEK JOINT COMMISSION: MEETING SUMMARY REF: 08 ATHENS 0236 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: On September 29, DCM led USG delegation to the 101st meeting of the U.S. and Greek Joint Commission. The commission focuses on bilateral political-military issues, particularly the relationship between Souda Bay Naval Support Activity (NSA) and the Government of Greece. The meeting successfully resolved final approval for construction of Marathi Fuel Pipeline. Other issues discussed were delays in obtaining concealed weapon permits and delays in the projects to improve the firing range and widen the runway at Souda Bay, and USG desire to conclude a bilateral Shipboarding Agreement under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Deputy Chief of Mission Deborah McCarthy, U.S. Joint Commission co-chairman, began by thanking departing Greek co-chair, MFA North America Acting Director Grigoris Vassilokonstandakis for his tremendous assistance in the Joint Commission. Vassilokonstandakis said he was personally proud of the work the JC has accomplished the last 26 months and some of the issues it has overcome. The meeting then turned to agenda items. ¶3. (SBU) Regarding widening the security perimeter at Souda, Alexandra Megouli, the Architect-Engineer for the Hellenic Air Force General Staff, informed the delegations that the GOG had finalized the lease of the required land and an announcement would be made in the next week. (The U.S. officially made the request for more land in September 2001 for the force protection purpose of widening the perimeter. Greece agreed at the time, but the land owners had caused a series of delays.) Deputy Chief of Mission McCarthy stated a fence was required to outline the perimeter and noted the fence was tied to FY-08. Vassilokonstandakis said there was no objection and the U.S. could proceed. Telephone Circuits -------------- ¶4. (SBU) DCM informed the JC the United States intended to increase capacity for telephone circuits to run from Souda Bay to Larissa. Vassilokonstandakis thanked her for the information, noting that since NATO would also benefit, formal Joint Commission approval was not required. Weapons Permit Delays -------------- ¶5. (SBU) DCM conveyed concerns over the delays for the Greek weapon permit required by certain U.S. personnel at Souda Bay. In the past U.S. servicemen were able to get their concealed weapons permits from the Greek authorities within 30 days from the local police in Crete. Greek Co-chair Vassilokonstandakis provided a list of 13 names that have now received weapon permits. The U.S. noted that his list comprised all personnel whose permits had been outstanding. DCM asked that there be a procedure in place to expedite future permits. Vassilokonstandakis said he did not think the delay occurred in the Ministry of Interior but at the local official level and suggested that the U.S. take action there first. DCM countered the U.S. will provide a list of names to the Ministry of Interior if permits encounter delays longer than 45 days and efforts with the local Greed authorities are exhausted. (NOTE: Major Gletsos of the HAFGS noted that permit delays for Greek personnel are also 30 days. END NOTE.) Firing Range and Runway Widening Process -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Vassilokonstandakis announced the firing range is ready to proceed and a public announcement will be made shortly but he said the runway shoulder widening project was still in discussion and would not be finalized until September 2009 when the final design will be completed. He admitted he was not satisfied with this update. DCM stressed this project is U.S. funded and longer delays increase costs. Captain McDonough interjected and said the funds were committed but would be withdrawn if there was not movement. DCM recommended accelerating the process in order to safeguard the funding. Vassilokonstandakis agreed the runway project was mutually beneficial and the GOG would do its best to expedite the proceeding. Marathi Pipeline Project -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The GOG stated that the final hurdle for approval of the long delayed upgrade to the pipeline had been overcome and the project could proceed. (The Marathi Pipeline Project replacing the existing JP-5 pipeline has been on the JC agenda since 2004.) The U.S. has received all permits and easements required for the project but in early 2008 an historic Minoan site was discovered in the path of the pipeline. Due to this discovery, the Iraklion Archaeological ATHENS 00001445 002 OF 003 Council had objected to the project. In June 2008, the MOD appealed this decision to the Ministry of Culture. Vassilokonstandakis informed the JC the appeal had been approved and the project could proceed. ¶8. (SBU) It was apparent the Greek delegation anticipated that the HAF would administer the project. The DCM informed the Greek delegation the pipeline project is funded by MILCON funding which could not be turned over to the GOG. Chairs on both sides agreed that legal staffs should start to work on the details and provide an updated status in 30 days. Other Business -------------- ¶9. (SBU) High Level Consultative Committee: DCM McCarthy said the dates have been set for October 23-24 2008 in Washington, D.C. ¶10. (SBU) Fuel Dye: DCM McCarthy used this opportunity to thank the Greek delegation for their assistance in resolving the issue. ¶11. (SBU) Status of previously submitted construction projects: At the 99th Joint Commissin in July 2007, the U.S. requested approval fr two projects at NSA Souda: an auto hobby shop and an annex for the Admin building. DCM McCarthy noted that both these projects were submitted in the "5 Year Plan" required by the Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement (MDCA). Greek Co-chair Vassilokonstandakis stated once the MOD approved the projects then the MFA will grant approval. Captain McDonough stated that without JC approval FY08 funding for these projects would be lost. Vassilokonstandakis consulted with his legal advisor and then approved the auto hobby shop but said they needed more time for the annex. ¶12. (SBU) Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI): The DCM raised the PSI Ship Boarding Agreement which has been pending since 2004. Vassilokonstandakis responded PSI is not within the mandate of the JC but he would inform members of the HLCC it might be on the agenda. ¶13. (SBU) Customs at Araxos: At the 100th Commission, the Greek Chairman requested an update of a customs discrepancy associated with departing U.S. personnel from Araxos. The Araxos Air Station is a Hellenic Air Force Installation which hosted the 731st Munitions Support Squadron from 1972 to 2001. When the unit deactivated, all records were sent to Aviano for disposition and storage, and were subsequently destroyed. Embassy stated such by Dipnote in February 2008. The DCM reiterated the issue was resolved. She also noted the Comprehensive Technical Agreement (CTA) specifically addresses the customs data obligation and this was not signed until after the U.S. personnel left Araxos. Vassilokonstandakis responded it was unfortunate the records were not found but it was not the fault of either party. ¶14. (SBU) Weather Radar: Since 2000, NSA Souda Bay has shared weather data collected from its Supplemental Doppler Weather Radar with the Hellenic Air Force. Over time the radar became problematic with rising costs. Initially the HAF offered to fix and operate the radar themselves and the Navy agreed. In the spring of 2008, the U.S. Navy developed a requirement to keep the radar and initiated repairs. DCM McCarthy stated the U.S. now had the means and method to provide the HAF the weather product. Colonel Tsakoumis, HAF Commander of the 115th Combat Wing requested a time table. Souda Bay NSA Executive Assistance Bruce Gale then said they were working for a 30 day completion of all radar repairs. ¶15. (SBU) 101st Joint Commission Participants U.S. Delegation Ms. Deborah McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission and Joint Commission Co-Chairman Mr. Jeff Hovenier, Acting Political Counselor Ms. Dawn Hillman, Political-Military Officer Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC): Colonel Steve Boukedes, ODC Chief Lt Colonel Chris Leavey, ODC Legal Advisor Ms. Alexandra Karavasili, Host Nation Attorney, ODC Souda Bay NSA: Captain Thomas McDonough, Base Commander Mr. Bruce Gale, Executive Assistance Lt Ryan Santicola, Naval Legal Advisor Greek Delegation: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Greg Vassiloconstandakis, Acting Director A7 Directorate and ATHENS 00001445 003 OF 003 Joint Commission Co-Chairman Mr. Kodellas Konstantinos, Attache Political-Military Mr. Michail Stellakakos-Loverdos, Legal Department Hellenic National Defense General Staff Colonel Dimitrios Vaxevanakis Maj Apostolos Ms. Alexandra Megouli-Architect-Engineer AF Souda Air Base/115th Combat Wing Colonel Vassilios Tsakoumis, Commander Major Theodosios Papadakis SPECKHARD