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 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO AMCONSUL 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: 2019/11/27 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