US embassy cable - 05ATHENS2809

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 002809 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2009 
TAGS: ECON, MARR, PGOV, PREL, GR, AMB 
SUBJECT: GREEK FM PREVIEWS PM'S TRIP TO TURKEY, OTHER ISSUES 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Charles P. Ries.  Reasons 1.4(b/d) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  In a tour d'horizon October 27, Greek 
Foreign Minister Molyviatis previewed for Ambassador the 
Prime Minister's proposed trip to Ankara in November, raised 
the latest public flap over the proposed purchase of 30 F-16s 
by Greece and promised to follow up on the status of the 
U.S.-EU MLAT protocol that Greece has not yet signed. 
Septels report the Balkans, BMENA/Foundation for the Future 
and Cyprus arms.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) Regarding press reports that Prime Minister 
Karamanlis will travel to Turkey, Molyviatis reported that: 
 
-- Dates of November 24-25 are agreed in principle; 
-- He has received assurances from Turkish FM Gul that Turkey 
will "keep things quiet" over the Aegean before and after the 
visit, and to keep fishing boats away from the disputed islet 
of Imia/Kardak (Molyviatis was embarrassed by both activities 
during his May visit to Turkey); 
-- This will be a "goodwill" visit -- while the two PMs will 
"discuss everything, Molvyiatis does not anticipate any 
agreements as a result (or during) the visit. 
 
3.  (C) Referring to several critical press reports 
concerning the sale of F-16s to Greece, Molyviatis assured 
Ambassador that the Greek Government was working to correct 
the record.  (The basis for this articles was the difference 
between the low-ball cost estimate offered by MOD 
Spiliotopoulos in the early stages of the acquisition process 
and the high-end "not-to-exceed" estimate of USD 3.1 billion 
given in the Congressional notification and a DSCA press 
release.)  While Molyviatis felt the MFA had been taken by 
surprise by the DSCA announcement of the parameters of the 
sale, he welcomed the news that the Embassy had previewed the 
process with the MOD and would be working closely with the 
Ministry of Defense to get the story straight. 
 
4.  (C) Ambassador asked Molyviatis whether it was possible 
to arrange for a signing of the U.S.-Greece bilateral 
protocol to the U.S.-EU MLAT and Extradition treaties.  The 
protocol had been agreed in all details (and languages). 
Ambassador explained the protocol signing had been held up by 
the Minister of Justice who, wanting to stress the EU 
character of the protocol, preferred to sign together with 
another EU country, despite the fact that Ambassador had 
repeatedly made clear that the agreement need not be signed 
in a high-profile way.  Further, Ambassador cautioned, most 
other EU countries had already signed.  Molyviatis agreed to 
check details with his head of EU affairs (as will the 
Embassy) and to bring this matter to closure. 
 
. 
RIES