MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER VOULGARAKIS ON MACENDONIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000378 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2018 TAGS: ECON EINV EWWT GR PGOV PREL MK SUBJECT: MERCHANT MARINE MINISTER VOULGARAKIS ON MACENDONIA NAME AND SHIPPING ISSUES Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In his March 4 courtesy call on Minister of Merchant Marine, Aegean and Island Policy George Voulgarakis, Ambassador Speckhard took the opportunity to press the New Democracy (ND) party insider for maximum flexibility on the Macedonia name issue. Voulgarakis told Ambassador Speckhard he thought agreement on the issue would be very difficult and potentially destabilizing, alluding that ND,s slim majority and infighting within PASOK, the main opposition party, could allow an emergence of the far left (Syrisa/Synaspismos). The two also touched upon other issues of importance between the Ministry and the United States, including recent developments regarding the Liberty Ship museum, port privatization and security issues, and GoG concerns over lax Turkish border control. -------------- The Minister on the Name Issue -------------- ¶2. (C) Minister Voulgarakis told the Ambassador that he believes U.S.-Greek relations are entering a crucial period, and that the resolution of the Macedonian name issue will play an important role in the evolving U.S.-Greek bilateral relationship. Ambassador Speckhard agreed, but stressed that the post-Bucharest summit time period would be equally as crucial to the relationship. The Ambassador underlined the importance of negotiating in good faith. He emphasized that the U.S. has impressed upon Skopje the importance of being flexible and coming to closure with Greece on this issue, but said that the U.S. cannot force either Greece or Macedonia to accept a particular plan. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador took the opportunity to seek Voulgarakis,s views on whether there was any flexibility on the margins of the GoG,s public calls for a universal name. (Note: Although Voulgarakis enjoys a good relationship with Prime Minister Karamanlis, his career was somewhat sidetracked by his removal as the Minister of Public Order following the Vodafone tapping scandal in 2005.) Voulgarakis responded that he believes agreement will be very difficult. Voulgarakis alluded to the fact that PASOK, the main opposition party, is a bit unstable at the moment, and if the current ND-led government fell as a result of the name issue, this could bolster the position of the far left. -------------- -------------- Shipping Ministry Issues: Liberty Ship Museum and Port Privatization and Security -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Minister thanked the Ambassador for hosting the dinner in December to help raise funding for the Liberty ship (aka ss Arthur Huddell) museum. The Minister indicated that he had met with Liberty museum Project Manager Spyros Polemis the day before (March 3),and that the two had a good meeting. According to Voulgarakis, since the GoG has appointed Polemis as the Project Manager, he has the authority to sign and transmit the project business plan to MARAD, which he has already done. ¶5. (SBU) The Ambassador also raised the issue of port privatization. (Note: Greece is upgrading the security of its 12 largest ports in order to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility (ISPS) code. The GoG is undertaking this upgrade through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) whereby the winning consortium would invest approximately 342 million euros in the security upgrades and collect fees for 8 years. Several U.S. companies have expressed their interest in bidding on this PPP tender.) The Ambassador indicated the interest of U.S. firms in bidding on this project, and underscored the importance of creating a level playing field for all companies. The Ministe stated that since all stages of the tender mst first go through Parliament, the process would be transparent and open to all interested parties. ¶6. (SBU) The Minister said that he is pleased with the U.S.-Greek bilateral maritime relationship, and he indicated that there is very good cooperation on port security issues. He pointed to the U.S. Container Security Initiative, which is helping to boost security at Greek ports. The Minister said that Greece has five years to implement an action plan ATHENS 00000378 002 OF 002 to bring Greek ports into compliance with the ISPS. The main issue with implementation of the action plan will be raising the funding necessary to implement it without passing on the various costs to the end user. -------------- Illegal Immigration across Turkish Border -------------- ¶7. (C) The Minister raised the issue of lax Turkish border control. He indicated that many illegal immigrants cross the Turkish border into Greece, and that the GoG is concerned that many of these immigrants could be engaged in issues such as trafficking and terrorism. The Minister promised to send to the Ambassador a short paper on this issue that will include practical ways the U.S. Embassy and the GoG might work with each other and the Government of Turkey. SPECKHARD