Pakistan Displaced Persons Crisis-Greek Response

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001023 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/18 TAGS: EAID PREF PHUM PK PGOV SUBJECT: Pakistan Displaced Persons Crisis-Greek Response REF: 58282; 57298 CLASSIFIED BY: George Frowick, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B), (E) ¶1. (SBU) On June 12 Ambassador Speckhard delivered reftel points to Greek Ambassador Chalistani, Chief of Staff to Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakayiannis. Ambassador Speckhard asked that the information be passed to the Foreign Minister (Note: who was then travelling in Scandinavia). The Ambassador highlighted the significance of the humanitarian problem in Pakistan and the recent U.N. appeal for assistance. He noted the lack of a pledge by the Government of Greece and emphasized this as a great opportunity for the U.S. and Greece to work together on an issue of mutual strategic importance. Ambassador Speckhard underscored his belief that Greece should accept the importance of this issue as Greece is the second largest recipient of Pakistani migrants in the European Union. The Ambassador expressed his understanding of the difficult financial times Greece is facing but stressed that the Greek people would support additional GoG expenditures to accommodate Pakistani displaced persons in Pakistan rather than in Greece. There are increasing concerns over migrant problems in Greece. (Note: A swelling migrant population has brought migration issues to the forefront of the population's awareness and political platforms; this was reflected in the drift to the right in the recent EU parliamentary elections. End note.) ¶2. (SBU) Ambassador Chalistani said the GoG fully understands the issue. He noted several problems that may stand in the way of Greek assistance. Chalistani noted that GoG, as chair of the Organization for Security Council of Europe (OSCE),is pushing for an increased OSCE role in Afghanistan's upcoming elections. As such they recently pledged 100,000 Euros to Afghanistan; this would make it difficult to provide further pledges and would require reallocation of funds. Chalistani also mentioned budget cuts and the economic downturn. ¶3. (C) On June 15, the DCM raised reftel points with Secretary General Ioannis Sidiropoulos of the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The DCM made the point that pledging more resources to help alleviate Pakitan's displaced persons crisis might give the GoG more leverage and credibility when it works with the GOP to return illegal Pakistani migrants. Sidiropoulos indicated he understood that this was a high priority, but he pushed back, asserting that the Greek budget is under severe pressure as a result of lower tax and other collections. He stated that despite GoG actions to date, budget earnings in the first five months of the year already are lagging behind the target by over 3 billion euros. In this austere budget environment, Sidiropoulos intimated, it would be difficult politically to make the case to Greek citizens that the GoG was increasing their taxes in order to provide assistance to Pakistanis. The DCM pushed back, arguing that failure to provide assistance to Pakistanis in Pakistan would only result in Greece facing more illegal Pakistani immigrants in the future. ¶4. (C) On June 15 Ambassador Chalistani informed Ambassador Speckhard that FM Bakoyiannis was sensitive to the U.S. demarche and instructed that GoG find an additional 100,000 Euros for humanitarian assistance for displaced persons in Pakistan. The Director of Hellenic Aid will be requesting direction from post as to the best way to provide assistance. Though this is not a large amount, due to the fiscal constraints Greece is currently facing, it demonstrates Greek desire to be responsive to the new administration. ¶5. (C) Comment. Despite its dire fiscal realities, it is clear that the GoG is sensitive to the high priority the new U.S. Administration is placing on assistance to Aghanistan and Pakistan and is trying to be responsive. In addition to the 100,000 euros Ambassador Chalistanis said FM Bakayiannis has told the GoG to find for humanitarian assistance for Pakistan, according to Hellenic Aid (HA),the GoG has already pledged 400,000 euros in food aid via the World Food Program (earmarked for Pakistan out of 3 million euros the GoG plans on providing to the WFP in 2009). HA also advises that the GoG is considering earmarking an additional 200,000 euros for Pakistan out of 300,000 euros that the GoG has pledged to the UN's Office of Drugs and Crime. Post will continue to raise the need for additional contributions for Pakistan and Afghanistan with various Greek interlocutors at the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance, and with HA. SPECKHARD