DEFENSE MINISTER: MACEDONIA VETO THREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000088

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y TEXT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/212018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS MASS MK AF GR
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER: MACEDONIA VETO THREAT
REAL/KOSOVO FORCES TO REMAIN/CONSIDER FURTHER ISAF SUPPORT

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

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SUMMARY
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1. (C) Ambassador Speckhard paid an introductory call on
Minister of Defense Meimarakis January 18. On Turkey,
Meimarakis noted that Greece considers Turkey an ongoing
threat, but termed PM Karamanlis' pending trip on January 23
a step forward. Meimarakis reiterated the Greek desire to
see Macedonia integrated into NATO, but affirmed Greece will
block a NATO invitation absent an agreed solution on the
name. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of compliance
with the Interim Accord, while recognizing the need to obtain
progress through the Nimetz process. Meimarakis said Greece
will maintain its troop levels in Kosovo. He demurred on
providing helicopters to ISAF, but said Greece would consider
"what else it could do" and offered to redeploy a field
hospital to Afghanistan and to assume control of the Kabul
airport. The Ambassador also emphasized the importance of a
fair, transparent, and non-political defense procurement
process, and raised specific cases with Meimarakis.
Meimarakis was accompanied by CHOD Grapsas, Procurement
Directorate Head Vassilakos and Diplomatic Advisor Stoidis.
A/DATT, ODC Chief, and A/Political Counselor accompanied the
Ambassador.

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U.S./Greece Defense Relationship Strong
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2. (C) Meimarakis began the meeting by expressing his
pleasure at hosting a "strategic and important" partner. He
noted that the U.S./Greek relationship, particularly in
defense matters is based on years of positive experience, and
he emphasized that Greece sees the United States as a
"strategic partner." Meimarakis said that he and CHOD
Grapsas were available to U.S. interlocutors "whenever
necessary." Meimarakis also expressed desire for frequent
contact with the Ambassador.

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Turkey -- Threat and Opportunity
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3. (C) Meimarakis said Greece seeks and values good and
peaceful relations with all of its neighbors; however, Greece
does consider Turkey to be its "greatest threat." He later
noted that Greece is alone among European States in actually
requiring its armament systems to provide territorial
defense; he claimed that the average Greek aircraft flew
100,000 hours, the average Greek ship was on deployment 260
days a year, and the average tank company exercised daily.
This high level of activity inhibits Greece's ability to
deploy abroad. Ambassador Speckhard observed that many saw
Greece's security tied to the NATO Alliance, and that by
supporting NATO and its operations, Greece is also building
greater security with Turkey.


4. (C) Meimarakis confirmed that PM Karamanlis will visit
Ankara January 23 - 25. Meimarakis said he did not expect
any "direct, measurable results" from the visit. Rather, it
will "help build an atmosphere of confidence." He said that
both the Greek and Turkish governments are "trying to find
ways to decrease potential friction." Ambassador Speckhard
reiterated U.S. willingness to assist in obtaining more
concrete outcomes, noting that this is an important moment to
build on better Greece-Turkey relations.


5. (C) In a later aside, Meimarakis emphasized the
importance of "defining the role of NATO and the EU in
peacekeeping operations." Turkey should "not be able to
object to Cypriot participation." Greece understands Turkey
has concerns with Cyprus, but these concerns should not get
in the way of "important peacekeeping operations," and Greece
believes that Cypriot participation should not be a barrier
to effective working relations between NATO and the EU.

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Macedonia -- Want in NATO But With New Name
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6. (C) Meimarakis laid out the familiar arguments on
Macedonia, emphasizing that Greece seeks to see Macedonia
integrated into NATO structures along with rest of the
Balkans. However, Greece has made a significant compromise
by accepting the previously unthinkable -- a compound name
REAL/KOSOVO FORCES TO REMAIN/CONSIDER FURTHER ISAF SUPPORT
with the term "Macedonia." Macedonia has not made any
reciprocal compromises and remains "intransigent." Greece
does not wish to create problems at NATO or in the region; on
the contrary, Greece has placed a high priority on "playing a
leading role in helping the region integrate into NATO and
the EU." However, Greece hopes the international community
can "convince Skopje to do what needs to be done," and wants
U.S. help in obtaining this outcome. Greece's position to
block a NATO invitation absent an agreed solution is firm.


7. (C) Ambassador Speckhard said that the United States sees
the 1995 Interim Accord as the best way forward. It has
provisions on how to handle Skopje's entry into NATO absent
an agreed solution. The United States also expects Macedonia
to be evaluated on NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP)
criteria. He noted that he had recently been in Washington
and had consulted with senior leadership on this issue.
There is "a good understanding" of where Greece is on this
issue, and a recognition of the importance of focusing on a
successful summit and seeking to resolve the name issue prior
to the summit. But, if Macedonia meets the NATO criteria, we
should not lose this historic opportunity to advance regional
stability and European integration. Ambassador Speckhard
added that the Bucharest Summit is a unique opportunity for a
NATO invitation, and if an invitation is not secured at
Bucharest, there is no guarantee that the next opportunity
will come anytime soon. Ambassador Speckhard asked
Meimarakis to educate his colleagues that this is a unique
window of opportunity.

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Kosovo -- Greece In And Staying
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8. (C) Meimarakis said Greece has concerns about a "solution
that does not take into account the majority view of one
side." Such a solution is "not stable." That said, Greece
accepts that no matter what happens KFOR has an essential
role to play, and Greece will maintain its force levels and
"respond to any additional requirements" that arise.


9. (C) Ambassador Speckhard expressed appreciation for
Greece's contribution to KFOR. We recognize that Greece has
a special relationship with Serbia and we hope we can draw on
this relationship as we seek to help guide Serbia through a
difficult period. Meimarakis responded positively, noting
that Greece is also encouraging investment in the region.
Greek officials have also been in touch with the Kosovar
Albanian leadership to ask them "not to be too celebratory."

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Afghanistan -- Need to Succeed
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10. (C) Ambassador Speckhard said there is a growing
recognition that the Alliance is at a turning point in
Afghanistan, and the stakes are high for NATO to succeed,
both for Afghanistan and for the Alliance. He expressed
appreciation for Greek contributions to ISAF, but said more
is needed, asking directly for Greek provision of helicopters
and additional Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams
(OMLTs).


1. (C) Meimarakis responded that Afghanistan isthe
Alliance's greatest challenge, and that sccess is "essential
for NATO." We are "doomed to succeed," he added, and there
is "no room for failure." On the question of Greece's
contribution, he said that he would "look to see whether we
can do more," but stated that Greece's contribution "already
exceeds our capacity" given regional threats. Greece had
provided a field hospital and "if needed it could be
contributed again." Greece had also operated the Kabul
Airport and is willing to renew that service, if desired. He
ruled out provision of helicopters to ISAF, noting that
Greece requires all of its helicopters for domestic missions;
he later added that Greece would be buying additional
helicopters this year, and perhaps would be able to provide
helicopter support at that time. He did not respond directly
to the request for additional OMLTs, but we will follow-up.

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Souda Bay -- Thanks
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12. (C) Ambassador Speckhard thanked Meimarakis for Greek
support to U.S. military operations through provision of
overflights but also for its superb assistance at Souda Bay.
He noted that the Greek contribution to OEF and OIF through
Souda is not widely understood.

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Defense Procurement -- Transparent and Non-Political
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13. (C) Ambassador Speckhard said the United States has no
objections if it sees U.S. firms lose procurement tenders
when the competition is fair; all we ask is that Greece do
what is best for the Greek people and base its procurement
decisions on price and quality, and that the process be
transparent. However, we are frustrated when U.S. firms
offer the best price and quality and discover that political
factors came into play. He then raised two pending cases: a
tender for tank ammunition, where a less competitive German
firm was enjoying success, and a pending acceptance of
delivery from Boeing to Greece of 12 Apache helicopters.


14. (C) Meimarakis said Greece understands that the U.S.
offers good prices and high quality; that is why so many
Greek weapons systems are of U.S.-origin. He said that Greek
decisions are made on quality, price, and what is needed.
There is another factor important to Greece, however, and
that is possibilities for co-production, which is important
for the Greek economy and industry. He said that
co-production opportunities were an important factor in the
tank ammunition decision. CHOD Grapsas and MOD Procurement
Head Vassilakos added that the problem with the Apache
helicopters was one of "quality assurance" and that the Greek
MOD was in talks with Boeing on these "technical problems."
Vassilakos said that Greece makes its sovereign decisions on
procurements based on Greece's interests. He added that
political factors "always exist."
SPECKHARD