Greek Views on July 2009 GAERC

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001269 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/07/17 TAGS: EUN GR PREL PGOV SUBJECT: Greek Views on July 2009 GAERC REF: JEFFREY GIAUQUE EMAIL 7/16/2009 CLASSIFIED BY: David Muehlke, Acting Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) On July 17, Poloff delivered ref points on U.S. positions on the July 27-28 GAERC to Evgenios Kalpyris, Head of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) Division of the MFA. Kalpyris had no comment on Iran issues. On Somalia, he said Greece fully supported the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and that the EU was currently considering different ideas on how to support the TFG. Among the ideas: appointing a EU special representative to Somalia; sending an EU factfinding mission to Somalia; and providing additional support and training to the Somali coast guard and security forces. Kalpyris noted that Greece liked a French initiative to train Somali forces in Djibouti. ¶2. (C) On Georgia, Kalpyris had no specific comment on U.S. support for the EUMM, but stated that in general, Greece thought U.S. involvement in EU ESDP missions was positive and welcome (such as U.S. involvment in Kosovo and African ESDP missions). ¶3. (U) Kalpyris asked Poloff to follow up with him next week. Post will report on any additional information septel. SPECKHARD