GREECE/NATO: GREECE SUPPORTS CONTINUATION OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000270 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR EUR/RPM DAVY E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2019 TAGS: MARR MOPS NATO PREL IZ GR SUBJECT: GREECE/NATO: GREECE SUPPORTS CONTINUATION OF THE NATO TRAINING MISSION-IRAQ REF: STATE 16188 Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville for 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Pol-Mil Chief met March 3 with MFA D2 NATO Department Deputy Director Theodoros Daskarolis and his staff to review reftel points on continued support for the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. Reftel points had been shared with the MFA prior to the February 27 Policy Coordination meeting at NATO, but Daskarolis had been unable to provide a substantive response to us until March 3. Daskarolis said Greece shares the U.S. view that NTM-I should be continued in response to requests from senior Iraqi officials, and Greece will support efforts to have the April 3-4 Summit highlight the NTM-Is' activities. Greece is also "ready" to discuss further at NATO the question of developing NATO's overall relationship with Iraq, following-up on ideas circulated by the Italians. Daskarolis confirmed that Greece is not providing personnel to NTM-I and is unlikely to have political support to do so in the future, but does intend to continue to make financial contributions to the mission and continue provision of Greek "mobile training teams" that support training of officers under NTM-I auspices outside of Iraq. SPECKHARD