Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ATHENS1079
2009-06-26 07:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Athens
Cable title:
GREECE AGREES AN INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT IS NOT THE RIGHT
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UNCLAS ATHENS 001079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES AN INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT IS NOT THE RIGHT
DIRECTION
REF: STATE 58579; ATHENS 735
UNCLAS ATHENS 001079
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES AN INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT IS NOT THE RIGHT
DIRECTION
REF: STATE 58579; ATHENS 735
1. (SBU) We delivered ref A non-paper, "An International Piracy
Court: Not the Right Direction," to the Greek MFA June 9, and
discussed it in a follow-up meeting with D1 Directorate (UN and IO
Affairs) Counselor Dimitrios Papandreou and Legal Advisor Fani
Livada on June 18. Echoing earlier comments from Greek officials
(ref B),Papandreou and Livada indicated that Greece shares U.S.
concerns about an international piracy court. Livada noted that
German officials had been pushing the idea with her and other Greek
officials, but the Greeks had three main objections:
-- The time lost in establishing such a tribunal.
-- The cost, both for establishing and maintaining the tribunal.
Livada noted that if the tribunal was established by a UN Security
Council Resolution, it was unclear how states would be assessed to
provide contributions.
-- The fact that piracy was a lower order of crime than those for
which other international tribunals have been established, such as
genocide, war crimes, and other crimes against humanity.
2. (SBU) Livada said that Greek legislation provided for universal
jurisdiction over piracy, which in theory would permit Greece to
try in domestic courts any piracy cases that occurred in
international waters, regardless of whether Greek interests were
victims. She said Greece was pleased with the Kenya arrangement,
but she acknowledged that even if other regional countries agreed
to take some pirates we would eventually reach the limit of their
capacity. She said it was Greece's position that the flag of the
ship attacked by pirates was the primary factor determining
responsibility. She added that Greece would be hesitant to start
accepting pirates for prosecution as long as other major states
were taking few if any pirates for prosecution.
3. (SBU) Papandreou and Livada expressed strong support for
continued close cooperation with the U.S. in the fight against
piracy, including through the Contract Group on Piracy off the
Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) where they have both taken part in working
group meetings. Papandreou stressed the importance of greater
information and intelligence sharing, including information gained
from trials and interrogations of pirates in Kenya.
SPECKHARD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT MARR PGOV PHSA PHUM PREL GR
SUBJECT: GREECE AGREES AN INTERNATIONAL PIRACY COURT IS NOT THE RIGHT
DIRECTION
REF: STATE 58579; ATHENS 735
1. (SBU) We delivered ref A non-paper, "An International Piracy
Court: Not the Right Direction," to the Greek MFA June 9, and
discussed it in a follow-up meeting with D1 Directorate (UN and IO
Affairs) Counselor Dimitrios Papandreou and Legal Advisor Fani
Livada on June 18. Echoing earlier comments from Greek officials
(ref B),Papandreou and Livada indicated that Greece shares U.S.
concerns about an international piracy court. Livada noted that
German officials had been pushing the idea with her and other Greek
officials, but the Greeks had three main objections:
-- The time lost in establishing such a tribunal.
-- The cost, both for establishing and maintaining the tribunal.
Livada noted that if the tribunal was established by a UN Security
Council Resolution, it was unclear how states would be assessed to
provide contributions.
-- The fact that piracy was a lower order of crime than those for
which other international tribunals have been established, such as
genocide, war crimes, and other crimes against humanity.
2. (SBU) Livada said that Greek legislation provided for universal
jurisdiction over piracy, which in theory would permit Greece to
try in domestic courts any piracy cases that occurred in
international waters, regardless of whether Greek interests were
victims. She said Greece was pleased with the Kenya arrangement,
but she acknowledged that even if other regional countries agreed
to take some pirates we would eventually reach the limit of their
capacity. She said it was Greece's position that the flag of the
ship attacked by pirates was the primary factor determining
responsibility. She added that Greece would be hesitant to start
accepting pirates for prosecution as long as other major states
were taking few if any pirates for prosecution.
3. (SBU) Papandreou and Livada expressed strong support for
continued close cooperation with the U.S. in the fight against
piracy, including through the Contract Group on Piracy off the
Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) where they have both taken part in working
group meetings. Papandreou stressed the importance of greater
information and intelligence sharing, including information gained
from trials and interrogations of pirates in Kenya.
SPECKHARD