GREECE WILL LOOK AT ISAF OMLTS, BUT NOT KEEN ON FURTHER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001665

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/27
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR NATO GR AF
SUBJECT: GREECE WILL LOOK AT ISAF OMLTS, BUT NOT KEEN ON FURTHER
CONTRIBUTIONS

REF: A.) STATE 120807, B.) ATHENS 1629

CLASSIFIED BY: Deborah A. McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission; REASON:
1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) Ambassador Speckhard drew on reftel A points in a November
27 discussion with Minister of Defense Venizelos, emphasizing the
importance of Greek solidarity with the President's upcoming
Afghanistan announcement both in the form of a public statement by
the Prime Minister and at the upcoming NATO Foreign Ministerial.
He stressed U.S. expectations that our NATO Allies come forward
with increased contributions in the wake of what we believe will be
significant additional U.S. civilian and military contributions.
While thanking Greece for its existing contributions, including a
recent decision to donate 3 million euros to the ANA Trust Fund,
the Ambassador told Venizelos that Washington had been disappointed
in Greece's recent decision not to re-deploy its engineers from
Kabul to Herat as the prior government had pledged to the
President, and urged him to look at sending more forces,
particularly trainers.




2. (C) MOD Venizelos said he supported the idea of a public
statement by the Greek government, and would coordinate with the
MFA. He agreed on the importance of Afghanistan and Pakistan at
the upcoming NATO Ministerial, highlighting Pakistan's critical
role. He welcomed the upcoming Presidential announcement, and
conveyed his wish that the U.S. would be successful in implementing
its decisions. Venizelos expressed continuing dissatisfaction with
the Karzai government, questioned its integrity, capacity, and
legitimacy, and highlighted that this sours Greek public opinion,
as well. Ambassador Speckhard assured him that we had communicated
a strong message to Karzai that his performance must improve and
that the President's plan would include measures against which to
gauge progress and performance. He concluded that the stakes in
Afghanistan were too high to warrant anything other than full
engagement.




3. (C) Venizelos portrayed the recent Greek government decision
(reftel B) as a 60% increase in Greek personnel on the ground,
stating that once the decision was implemented, Greece would have
223 personnel in-country. Ambassador Speckhard noted we hoped for
contributions from Allies totaling the equivalent of a
multinational combat-brigade equivalent, 1200 military and police
trainers, and significant financial contributions to trust funds.
While every Allied contribution was important and we recognized the
financial difficulties of the Greek government, he said, he asked
Venizelos to look hard again for Greek maneuver units to deploy to
Afghanistan, and to pay close attention to enhancing Greece's
training contributions.




4. (C) Looking specifically at OMLTs, Ambassador Speckhard told
the Minister it was now our understanding that the additional 19
trainers announced by the government would not form an OMLT, per
se, but would be integrated into the multinational structure that
works with the ANA's Capital Division. This would leave Greece as
one of the few NATO nations without a nationally flagged OMLT, and
Ambassador Speckhard again urged strenuous Greek efforts to put
their flag on the OMLT chart with a national, stand-alone OMLT.
Venizelos acknowledged our understanding, and said Greece was doing
this because it could not provide logistical support and force
protection on its own, and was concerned about casualties. He said
he would discuss this request with the Prime Minister, but that any
decision would come from the KYSEA, Greece's NSC equivalent body.





5. (U) Greece's Current Contributions to ISAF:



-- Special Composition Engineering Battalion which consists of an

ATHENS 00001665 002 OF 002


Engineer company and Security and Support Company -122 personnel,
plus vehicles and equipment, restricted to Kabul due to national
caveat



-- 3 members deployed to an OMLT working with the ANA 201 Corps at
Pol-e-Charki



-- 10 ISAF HQ staff officers



-- 2 staff officers and 4 military policemen deployed at Kabul
airport (KAIA)



-- One-time, 600,000 euro contribution to the French-British
helicopter initiative



-- Multiple contributions totaling 800,000 euros to the
Hungarian-led Baghlan PRT



-- Declared availability to train Afghan officers and NCOs in Greek
schools, Training Centers, and Facilities.




6. (U) Proposed additional contributions to ISAF from November 13
KYSEA decision:



-- 19 trainers to the multinational structure that works with the
ANA's Capital Division



-- From April 2010 to October 2010 53 personnel will be deployed to
KAIA and will assume responsibility for the administrative command
and operation of the airport



-- 3 million euro contribution to the ANA Trust Fund



--Send two, 8-person Medical teams deployed for elections support
from July 19 - October 26 back to RC-North
Speckhard