INTERIOR MINISTER PLEDGES COUNTERTERORRIST

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000081

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTER KCRM ASEC KHLS EAGR SENV TU GR
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER PLEDGES COUNTERTERORRIST
COOPERATION/CONCERNS WITH BIOMETRICS


Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d)

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SUMMARY
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1. (S) On 16 January 2008, Ambassador Speckhard, accompanied
by Regional Affairs (RAS) Counselor Chadason, paid a courtesy
call on Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Deputy
Interior Minister for Public Order Panayiotis Chinofotis. In
his first official meeting with them, the Ambassador stressed
the danger posed by terrorism, whether international or
domestic, and illegal immigration to U.S. and Greek
interests. Pavlopoulos acknowledged the problem, and claimed
that Turkey exacerbated illegal immigration into Europe by
failing to adequately police its borders. The Ambassador
also raised the threat posed by the Kurdistan People,s
Congress (KGK) ) formerly the PKK ) and Pavlopoulos
responded by highlighting the Greek intelligence service,s
cooperation with its Turkish counterpart. The Ambassador
stressed USG concern with the lack of progress in the
investigation into last year,s rocket attack against the
Embassy. Pavlopoulos agreed that the Greek Government needed
to do more, and along with highlighting police cooperation
with the Embassy, offered to have the counterterrorism
prosecutor brief the Ambassador. The Interior Minister,
however, expressed particular discomfort with the issue of
cooperation on biometric identification technology to
strengthen border controls, irrespective of its legality
under the Greek law. Turning to the Visa Waiver Program, the
Ambassador urged the Greek Government to eliminate unresolved
issues and informed Pavlopoulos that another DHS team would
be coming soon. End Summary.

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SUGGESTION TO AVOID INTERNAL POLITICS
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2. (S) The Ambassador began the meeting by soliciting
Interior Minister Pavlopoulos,s advice for a new ambassador.
Pavlopoulos suggested that the Ambassador should get to know
the country and its people, who despite harboring dislike for
American politics, have a strong affinity for the American
people. He cautioned the Ambassador to avoid Greek internal
politics and the perception that he is attempting to
influence it. He said some U.S. Ambassadors in the past had
been too public in their views on Greek internal affairs and
advised the Ambassador to express opinions on such matters in
private instead of publicly.

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COUNTERTERRORISM DOMINATES DISCUSSION
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3. (S) Turning to counterterrorism issues, the Ambassador
stressed the need for Greece to be attuned to the threat of
international terrorism. Drawing from his experience in
Brussels, the Ambassador noted that Belgian modal of
non-confrontation toward extremists did not work in the long
term. The Ambassador highlighted the problem of illegal
immigration and the real threat stemming from the potential
for jihadis and extremists to hide among the thousands of
Iraqi, Pakistani and other illegal immigrants entering Greece
or transiting the country to other destinations in Europe.
Pavlopoulos acknowledged the problem and said that the Turks
exacerbated illegal immigration from the Middle East and
South Asia. Pavlopoulos claimed Turkish authorities do not
make serious efforts to control illegal migrants who cross
their territory and allow -- and in some cases facilitate --
their passage to Greece. He asserted that currently there
are 120 thousand Iraqi, Afghani and Pakistani migrants in
Turkey waiting to cross into Greece. The Turks are aware of
the problem but are not willing to do anything.


4. (S) The Ambassador also raised the threat posed by the
Kurdistan People,s Congress (KGK) -- formerly known as the
Kurdistan Workers, Party (PKK) -- and the need for greater
cooperation against this organization. Pavlopoulos assured
the Ambassador that the Greek National Intelligence Service
(EYP) cooperated closely with the Turkish intelligence
service on this issue. He said that a senior Turkish
intelligence officer is now posted in Athens and enjoys a
close relationship with EYP Director General Ioannis
Corandis. Pavlopoulos cited an example where two members of
KGK were caught and extradited to Turkey following the
bombing of a Turkish resort. Pavlopoulos claimed, however,
that the Turks label many Kurds as KGK/PKK without evidence,
and such allegations have to be investigated. These
investigations, in turn, cause the EU to beat up Greece for
having to slow its political asylum system.


5. (S) On domestic terrorism, the Ambassador pressed

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Pavlopoulos on the investigation of the RPG attack on the
U.S. Embassy last year, emphasizing that such an attack on
the symbol of our coutnry and diplomatic compound needs to be
met with a firm and determined response to ensure the
perpetrators are found and punished. The Ambassador said
that the Embassy planned to send an FBI special agent to
assist this investigation. Pavlopoulos welcomed this and
stated that the Hellenic Police enjoys a very close
relationship with Embassy security and intelligence
professionals and are sharing all the data. He offered the
services of the Prosecutor for Counterterrorism Dimitrios
Papangelopoulos, who is prepared to brief the Ambassador on
progress in the investigation of the attack. Pavlopoulos
assured the Ambassador that the police were not letting up
their efforts in the investigation. At the same time,
however, he noted that under his leadership Greek authorities
had shifted away from confronting anarchists directly as
former Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras had done.
Pavlopoulos claimed that he and the police were working
quietly to address the anarchist problem, claiming this lack
of public confrontation denies anarchists publicity and
legitimization.

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OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTERTERRORISM . . .
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6. (S) To assist international efforts to identify illegal
immigrants and potential radical jihadis among them, the
Ambassador described the Mission,s proposal to assist Greece
in acquiring and using biometric data verification
technology. The program would work within the parameters of
Greek law and upgrade their paper and ink fingerprint methods
with digital technology that would allow for rapid
verification through databases that the U.S. Government could
provide for Greek authorities. Pavlopoulos was cool to the
idea, expressing discomfort with biometric systems. He did
not reject the proposal out of hand, but cited not only legal
but political sensitivities associated with privacy laws in
Greece. He underscored his misgivings by noting the role of
the EU and scrutiny from human rights organizations and the
media, and asked that we work with Prosecutor Papangelopoulos
on this project. Pavlopoulos said the U.S. should push
Turkey to more effectively control illegal migration at its
borders and to collaborate more on this issue. (Comment:
Pavlopoulos was noticeably cooler to this proposal then
former MPO Minister Polydoras or the current Chief of the
Hellenic Police Anastasios Dimoschakis, who agreed in
principle. End comment).


7. (S) The Ambassador queried whether Greek counterterrorism
laws were adequate to allow the Minister to do his job.
Pavlopoulos said that they were adequate and that he had a
hand in drafting them. He asserted that counterterrorism
laws in Greece are stricter than most in other European
countries. He said Greek law included provisions for
prosecution for support to terrorist organizations, inciting
terrorism, terrorism threats and intentions, as well as the
use of the internet for terrorism.

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. . .AND FIREFIGHTING
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8. (S) Describing his recent visit to the ancient site of
Olympia, the Ambassador told Pavlopoulos that the United
States would like to assist Greece with the problem of
seasonal forest fires. The Ambassador reminded Pavlopoulos
that United States donated 200 complete firefighting suits
and had been surprised to learn that none had made it to
Olympia. Pavlopoulos was grateful for any U.S. assistance and
said his subordinates would be in touch with the Embassy's
point-of-contact on the issue.

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THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
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9. (S) The Ambassador reviewed the visa waiver process and
the recent visit of the team from the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and thanked Pavlopoulos for the Greek
Government's excellent preparation for the visit and
hospitality. The Ambassador urged the Greek Government to
think creatively to eliminate any unresolved issues and
informed Pavlopoulos that another team may be coming soon.
Pavlopoulos expressed gratitude for the Embassy,s role in
preparing the Greek Government for the DHS visit and the hope
that the Visa Waiver Program would be enacted soon.

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ATMOSPHERICS
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10. (S) Both Pavlopoulos and Chinofotis were gracious hosts;
the meeting was informal and lasted over an hour.
Pavlopoulos, nevertheless, was particularly uncomfortable
with the issue of cooperation on biometric border controls in
the context of EU cautiousness on privacy issues,
irresective of its legality under the Greek law.
Chinofotis, however, remarked that the Hellenic Police are
already cooperating quietly with U.S. intelligence. He
indicated that more public USG participation may not be
welcomed but did not close the door on overt biometric
cooperation on illegal immigrants. Chinofotis asked that the
Ambassador pass on his regards to the Under Secretary of
State Burns, whom he knows well.
SPECKHARD