GREECE: Response to Afghanistan-Pakistan Stragegic Review

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000435

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/04/01
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF NATO
SUBJECT: GREECE: Response to Afghanistan-Pakistan Stragegic Review

REF: STATE 28929 STATE 29482 ATHENS 417

CLASSIFIED BY: Robin Quinville, Political Counselor, STATE, POL;
REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) POLCouns delivered ref a points to the Greek MFA's NATO on
March 26 and to the MFA's Asian Affairs Department on March 27.
MFA Counsellor Caterina Dimakis noted that, as the Hague conference
was not a pledging conference - FM Bakoyiannis did not plan to make
specific proposals for additional Greek contributions. POLCouns
delivered ref B paper to FM Bakoyiannis' deputy chef de cabinet on
March 30; he confirmed that the minister would offer political
support for a cooperative, comprehensive approach and - as OSCE
Chairman in Office - would also focus on the importance of free and
fair elections. In POLCouns' March 31 discussion of refs a and b
with MFA Secretary General Agathocles, Agathocles noted that the
MFA was considering appointing a coordinator to work with other
ministries on Afghanistan contributions. For example, Agathocles
had sought a small number of police from the Ministry of Interior
for service in Afghanistan. The MOI insisted that any police be
drawn from the MFA's already-small force dedicated to protecting
Greek missions abroad; Agathaocles planned to identify which
missions could spare security personnel. Agathocles had also
identified at least one expert with language ability, and was
working with the Ministry of Defense to make him available for
possible Afghanistan-related tasks. A coordinator could pursue
this interagency process more effectively.




2. (C) As noted ref c, in the DCM's meeting with Director of
Hellenic Aid Karafotias on March 31, Karafotias said that
Afghanistan was also a top priority for Foreign Minister
Bakoyiannis and assistance funding for Afghanistan was secure.
Currently, Greece foresaw focusing its civilian assistance on
anti-trafficking, support for women, and preservation of historical
records. (See ref c for additional details.)




3. (C) COMMENT: While generally supportive of the strategy, none
of our contacts were prepared to offer specifics on deliverables -
either at The Hague or at the upcoming NATO and EU Summits. Their
interagency deliberations continue. Greece's ND government (with
its narrow parliamentary majority) remains concerned about
security. In the coming days, we will continue pressing the GOG,
encouraging flexibility and creative thinking on ways the GOG can
contribute.
SPECKHARD