GREECE: NATO'S LONG-TERM COUNTER-PIRACY OPERATIONS IN THE

UNCLAS ATHENS 000975 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR NATO PGOV PREL GR SUBJECT: GREECE: NATO'S LONG-TERM COUNTER-PIRACY OPERATIONS IN THE HORN OF AFRICA REF: STATE 58992 (SBU) We discussed the June 10 force generation conference for NATO's Operation Ocean Shield on June 9 with Greek MFA NATO desk officer Komini. Komini said that the Greek MOD would have a representative at the conference. Komini predicted that Greece would likely wait until further information about the plans for the operation became available before deciding whether to contribute. She said that Greece supported NATO's counter-piracy efforts, which were consistent with Greece's efforts in the EU's Operation Atalanta, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS),and other initiatives. Nevertheless, she said Greece had unresolved questions about the NATO operation, related to the legal framework for boarding ships, a risk assessment for re-directing assets from NATO's Standing Naval Maritime Group (SNMG),and other issues. SPECKHARD