GREEK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON POTENTIAL PAKISTAN

UNCLAS ATHENS 001618 SIPDIS SCA/PB - MARY TOWNSWICK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN GR SUBJECT: GREEK RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON POTENTIAL PAKISTAN DONORS CONFERENCE IN MID-DECEMBER REF: SECSTATE 124618 ¶1. (SBU) A/DepEconCouns delivered reftel points on November 26 to Dr. Nike-Catherine Koutrakou, Hellenic Aid, Director of Emergency Humanitarian and Food Aid Programs. On December 3, Dr. Koutrakou advised A/DepEconCouns that the GoG has not made any firm decisions on whether it will provide assistance to Pakistan. Hellenic Aid understands Pakistan's needs in light of the significant reforms they are undertaking, but Koutrakou advised that Pakistan is not a strategic priority for Greece's limited assistance. That said, Koutrakou believes that some targeted assistance in the governance area would be useful. She will recommend to Ambassador Mercourios Karafotias, Director General of Hellenic Aid, that the GoG provide governance assistance through the UNDP or the UN's Office on Drugs and Crimes, both of which have programs in Pakistan, according to Koutrakou. She does not know by when the GoG will make a decision on this assistance, but she will update Post once a decision is made. On attendance at a potential December 16 Donors' Conference, Koutrakou indicated that the date conflicts with the European Council meetings in Brussels. If the Conference takes place on this date in New York, it is more likely that Greece will be represented by their Ambassador to the UN. SPECKHARD