US embassy cable - 05ATHENS415

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000415 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PASS EUR/SE FOR PARENTE AND YOUNTCHI, EUR/PPD FOR C. TEAL 
PASS G/TIP FOR DONNELLY 
PASS INL/CTR 
PASS DEA FOR OIE; OEE; TR; TRD-1; TRD-2 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, GR, AMB 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND HEALTH MINISTER DISCUSS NARCOTICS, 
TIP, HIV/AIDS AND ROMA 
 
 
This message is Sensitive but Unclassified, please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (U) Summary: During Ambassador's February 7 introductory 
call on Health and Welfare Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis, the 
Minister requested U.S. assistance in the form of training 
and consultations with USG experts to combat narcotics and 
alcohol addiction.  On trafficking in persons (TIP), 
Ambassador received assurances on continued cooperation with 
NGOs and a MOH commitment to study the magnitude of the 
problem.  Kaklamanis agreed that while his ministry has the 
tools to fight HIV/AIDS, the subject remains somewhat taboo 
in Greek society.  End Summary. 
 
GoG Requests Training to Fight Narcotics Addiction 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
2. (U) Warmly welcoming Ambassador to his office, Kaklamanis 
mentioned the constructive past collaboration between his 
ministry and the Embassy.  First on his agenda was a request 
for assistance in Greece's "fight against narcotics." 
Kaklamanis mentioned training specifically, but then asked if 
it would be possible for Greek officials to go to the U.S. 
for consultations.  He also noted that alcohol abuse was 
becoming a serious national problem among the teenage 
population and asked whether a U.S. project on alcoholism 
prevention might serve as a model for Greece.  Ambassador 
mentioned the State Department's Voluntary Visitor program as 
a good mechanism for exposing Greek officials to U.S. 
practices on both subjects.  Embassy's Pol and PD sections 
will follow-up. 
 
Pushing on TIP 
-------------- 
3. (SBU)  Regarding trafficking in persons (TIP), for which 
the Ministry of Health (MOH) has key responsibilities, 
Ambassador congratulated Kaklamanis on opening shelters and 
launching a TIP hotline.  Both agreed that the next critical 
step is victim screening and referral.  However, Kaklamanis 
and his Secretary General who handles the TIP portfolio, 
Ioanna Despotopoulou, said the ministries of justice and 
public order are primarily responsible for the screening and 
referral functions.  Ambassador urged continued TIP 
cooperation with NGOs, a primary responsibility of the MOH 
under Greece's National Action Plan to combat TIP. 
Despotopoulou suggested that corruption or political agendas 
of certain NGOs make them difficult partners, but she 
disclosed that her Ministry has excellent cooperation with 
other "key" NGOs in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Ioannina. 
Asked about greater unaccompanied NGO access to Amygdeleza 
Detention Center, where unidentified TIP victims may remain 
due to inadequate screening, Despotopoulou said certain 
cooperative NGOs have access in association with MOH staff, 
and others should request access through the MPO.  As there 
are currently no reliable estimates of the number of TIP 
victims in Greece, Ambassador asked whether the Ministry had 
plans to undertake research into the magnitude of the TIP 
problem in order to track trends.  Though Kaklamanis 
initially indicated no plans for such a study, Despotopoulou 
concluded that the Ministry could "for sure" complete one. 
 
HIV/AIDS and Roma Issues Under Control 
-------------------------------------- 
4. (U) Responding to Ambassador's query about the HIV/AIDS 
situation, Kaklamanis said his ministry has reliable 
statistics and capable staff to handle the problem.  He 
added, however, that it remains "difficult to speak freely" 
in Greek society about the disease.  Related to TIP, 
Kaklamanis agreed that HIV/AIDS risk from an unregulated sex 
industry is another important reason to control the 
trafficking phenomenon.  Asked about health issues among 
minority groups, especially Roma, the Minister related that 
complete medical coverage is provided to Roma, and that an 
inoculation program for Roma children was recently completed 
in Athens and will start soon in Thrace.  (Note: Post will 
check with Roma organizations to see how this free medical 
care policy and inoculation program have been implemented. 
End Note.) 
 
5. (U)  Comment: Greece's Organization for Combating 
Narcotics (OKANA), which coordinates and manages treatment 
policy and demand reduction in Greece, has at least one 
U.S.-educated medical doctor on staff.  Post officers will 
work with the MOH to refine the Minister's request for 
training and consultations, and to identify possible 
candidates for Voluntary Visitor programs.  While additional 
U.S. training would be beneficial, raising public awareness 
is critically needed.  On TIP, Minister Kaklamanis can point 
to some progress, but we will continue to raise the 
benchmarks at every opportunity and to encourage further 
cooperation between the GoG and anti-TIP NGOs.  End Comment. 
RIES