Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ATHENS55
2008-01-15 14:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
ESDP DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R.: GREEKS
how-toVZCZCXRO2514 OO RUEHTRO DE RUEHTH #0055 0151444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151444Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1008 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA PRIORITY 0010 RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0286 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0054
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD MOPS GR UN
SUBJECT: ESDP DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R.: GREEKS
SUPPORTIVE
REF: STATE 3208
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD MOPS GR UN
SUBJECT: ESDP DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R.: GREEKS
SUPPORTIVE
REF: STATE 3208
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points to
Greek MFA EU/ESDP Department Head Sofia Grammata on January
14. Grammata responded that Greece is committed to the
establishment of an ESDP PKO Mission to Chad and CAR and has
already pledged military support for the mission; Greece has
pledged a C-130 aircraft for tactical airlift and officers
for the HQ. Grammata said that Greece understands that the
EU still has not acquired sufficient helicopters and in-field
medical personnel. Greece has been asked by France to
consider filling some of these gaps, and this request is
under review at the Ministry of Defense.
2. (C) We also delivered the points to the MFA NATO Office
urging the EU to consider ways to seek increased NATO support
for the mission. MFA NATO interlocutors had no substantive
response.
3. (C) Comment: The Greeks have helicopters and medical
personnel/field hospitals that could fill some of the
remaining gaps for the ESDP PKO mission to Chad and CAR.
However, based on our recent experience with Afghanstan, this
could be a tough sell. In the course of 2006, the Greeks
withdrew the field hospital they had deployed in Afghanistan,
and the Greeks have not responded positively to requests that
they provide needed rotary airlift capability for ISAF.
Although the Greeks find it politically easier to provide
support to an EU/ESDP mission than to a NATO mission, they
have tended to be skeptical about any deployment beyond their
immediate region. They are likely to claim that their
existing pledge to the ESDP Mission to Chad and CAR is the
most they can offer. End Comment.
4. (U) Tripoli - minimize considered.
SPECKHARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CD MOPS GR UN
SUBJECT: ESDP DEPLOYMENT TO CHAD AND C.A.R.: GREEKS
SUPPORTIVE
REF: STATE 3208
Classified By: A/Political Counselor Jeff Hovenier for 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) A/Political Counselor delivered reftel points to
Greek MFA EU/ESDP Department Head Sofia Grammata on January
14. Grammata responded that Greece is committed to the
establishment of an ESDP PKO Mission to Chad and CAR and has
already pledged military support for the mission; Greece has
pledged a C-130 aircraft for tactical airlift and officers
for the HQ. Grammata said that Greece understands that the
EU still has not acquired sufficient helicopters and in-field
medical personnel. Greece has been asked by France to
consider filling some of these gaps, and this request is
under review at the Ministry of Defense.
2. (C) We also delivered the points to the MFA NATO Office
urging the EU to consider ways to seek increased NATO support
for the mission. MFA NATO interlocutors had no substantive
response.
3. (C) Comment: The Greeks have helicopters and medical
personnel/field hospitals that could fill some of the
remaining gaps for the ESDP PKO mission to Chad and CAR.
However, based on our recent experience with Afghanstan, this
could be a tough sell. In the course of 2006, the Greeks
withdrew the field hospital they had deployed in Afghanistan,
and the Greeks have not responded positively to requests that
they provide needed rotary airlift capability for ISAF.
Although the Greeks find it politically easier to provide
support to an EU/ESDP mission than to a NATO mission, they
have tended to be skeptical about any deployment beyond their
immediate region. They are likely to claim that their
existing pledge to the ESDP Mission to Chad and CAR is the
most they can offer. End Comment.
4. (U) Tripoli - minimize considered.
SPECKHARD