Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08NICOSIA917
2008-11-21 08:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: DEFENSE MINISTRY COMPLAINS U.S. BLOCKING
how-toVZCZCXRO6422 RR RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHNC #0917 3260836 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 210836Z NOV 08 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9346 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1265 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000917
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, PM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL CY TU RU
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: DEFENSE MINISTRY COMPLAINS U.S. BLOCKING
ARMS UPGRADES
REF: IIR 6823 0028 09
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000917
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, PM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL CY TU RU
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: DEFENSE MINISTRY COMPLAINS U.S. BLOCKING
ARMS UPGRADES
REF: IIR 6823 0028 09
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) The Ambassador on November 14 paid a courtesy call on
Minister of Defense Costas Papacostas and MoD Permanent
Secretary (Deputy Secretary-equivalent) Petros Kareklas.
After initial pleasantries, Papacostas commented on the good
bilateral relationship between the US and the Government of
Cyprus and then allowed Kareklas to raise a complaint about
the United States. He said that Cyprus was able to purchase
military equipment from nearly any country in the world but
the United States. It was an insult that the U.S. would not
sell equipment or components to Cyprus, while it supplied
whatever arms were requested by Turkey. Kareklas went on to
say that Cyprus was unable to acquire upgraded avionics for
their French Gazelle helicopters because the fuel gauge was
manufactured in the U.S., their proposed purchase of Swiss
PC-9 aircraft was blocked by the U.S. since the ejection seat
was a U.S. component, and that the U.S. should reconsider
this unfair policy.
2. (C) The Permanent Secretary then said that a few days
previously, local newspapers had announced a Ministry of
Defense decision for a large defense purchase in 2009. Their
information was taken totally out of context, he clarified,
and the 2009 budget would not support such a purchase anyway.
When the Ambassador asked Kareklas whether these
acquisitions from Russia were compatible with the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization equipment, he responded with a
long-winded sermon on how Russia is a European country,
Cyprus has a procurement system that is transparent and does
not involve kickbacks, and that the procurement process is
honest and above reproach.
3. (C) COMMENT: While Papacostas was friendly and amicable,
Permanent Secretary Kareklas seemed agitated and
confrontational. It was clear as well that both of these
senior RoC defense officials admire Russian equipment and see
Russia as a viable source for EU arms purchases. The RoC
delegation led by RoC President Demetris Christofias is in
Moscow this week (Septel).
Urbancic
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE, EUR/RPM, PM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PREL CY TU RU
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: DEFENSE MINISTRY COMPLAINS U.S. BLOCKING
ARMS UPGRADES
REF: IIR 6823 0028 09
Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) The Ambassador on November 14 paid a courtesy call on
Minister of Defense Costas Papacostas and MoD Permanent
Secretary (Deputy Secretary-equivalent) Petros Kareklas.
After initial pleasantries, Papacostas commented on the good
bilateral relationship between the US and the Government of
Cyprus and then allowed Kareklas to raise a complaint about
the United States. He said that Cyprus was able to purchase
military equipment from nearly any country in the world but
the United States. It was an insult that the U.S. would not
sell equipment or components to Cyprus, while it supplied
whatever arms were requested by Turkey. Kareklas went on to
say that Cyprus was unable to acquire upgraded avionics for
their French Gazelle helicopters because the fuel gauge was
manufactured in the U.S., their proposed purchase of Swiss
PC-9 aircraft was blocked by the U.S. since the ejection seat
was a U.S. component, and that the U.S. should reconsider
this unfair policy.
2. (C) The Permanent Secretary then said that a few days
previously, local newspapers had announced a Ministry of
Defense decision for a large defense purchase in 2009. Their
information was taken totally out of context, he clarified,
and the 2009 budget would not support such a purchase anyway.
When the Ambassador asked Kareklas whether these
acquisitions from Russia were compatible with the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization equipment, he responded with a
long-winded sermon on how Russia is a European country,
Cyprus has a procurement system that is transparent and does
not involve kickbacks, and that the procurement process is
honest and above reproach.
3. (C) COMMENT: While Papacostas was friendly and amicable,
Permanent Secretary Kareklas seemed agitated and
confrontational. It was clear as well that both of these
senior RoC defense officials admire Russian equipment and see
Russia as a viable source for EU arms purchases. The RoC
delegation led by RoC President Demetris Christofias is in
Moscow this week (Septel).
Urbancic