VZCZCXRO6294
OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV
DE RUEHTH #0081/01 0181609
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 181609Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1039
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000081 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KTER KCRM ASEC KHLS EAGR SENV TU GR
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER PLEDGES COUNTERTERORRIST 
COOPERATION/CONCERNS WITH BIOMETRICS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard for 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (S) On 16 January 2008, Ambassador Speckhard, accompanied 
by Regional Affairs (RAS) Counselor Chadason, paid a courtesy 
call on Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Deputy 
Interior Minister for Public Order Panayiotis Chinofotis.  In 
his first official meeting with them, the Ambassador stressed 
the danger posed by terrorism, whether international or 
domestic, and illegal immigration to U.S. and Greek 
interests. Pavlopoulos acknowledged the problem, and claimed 
that Turkey exacerbated illegal immigration into Europe by 
failing to adequately police its borders.  The Ambassador 
also raised the threat posed by the Kurdistan People,s 
Congress (KGK) ) formerly the PKK ) and Pavlopoulos 
responded by highlighting the Greek intelligence service,s 
cooperation with its Turkish counterpart.  The Ambassador 
stressed USG concern with the lack of progress in the 
investigation into last year,s rocket attack against the 
Embassy.  Pavlopoulos agreed that the Greek Government needed 
to do more, and along with highlighting police cooperation 
with the Embassy, offered to have the counterterrorism 
prosecutor brief the Ambassador.  The Interior Minister, 
however, expressed particular discomfort with the issue of 
cooperation on biometric identification technology to 
strengthen border controls, irrespective of its legality 
under the Greek law.  Turning to the Visa Waiver Program, the 
Ambassador urged the Greek Government to eliminate unresolved 
issues and informed Pavlopoulos that another DHS team would 
be coming soon.  End Summary. 
 
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SUGGESTION TO AVOID INTERNAL POLITICS 
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¶2.  (S) The Ambassador began the meeting by soliciting 
Interior Minister Pavlopoulos,s advice for a new ambassador. 
 Pavlopoulos suggested that the Ambassador should get to know 
the country and its people, who despite harboring dislike for 
American politics, have a strong affinity for the American 
people.  He cautioned the Ambassador to avoid Greek internal 
politics and the perception that he is attempting to 
influence it.  He said some U.S. Ambassadors in the past had 
been too public in their views on Greek internal affairs and 
advised the Ambassador to express opinions on such matters in 
private instead of publicly. 
 
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COUNTERTERRORISM DOMINATES DISCUSSION 
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¶3.  (S) Turning to counterterrorism issues, the Ambassador 
stressed the need for Greece to be attuned to the threat of 
international terrorism.  Drawing from his experience in 
Brussels, the Ambassador noted that Belgian modal of 
non-confrontation toward extremists did not work in the long 
term.  The Ambassador highlighted the problem of illegal 
immigration and the real threat stemming from the potential 
for jihadis and extremists to hide among the thousands of 
Iraqi, Pakistani and other illegal immigrants entering Greece 
or transiting the country to other destinations in Europe. 
Pavlopoulos acknowledged the problem and said that the Turks 
exacerbated illegal immigration from the Middle East and 
South Asia.  Pavlopoulos claimed Turkish authorities do not 
make serious efforts to control illegal migrants who cross 
their territory and allow -- and in some cases facilitate -- 
their passage to Greece.  He asserted that currently there 
are 120 thousand Iraqi, Afghani and Pakistani migrants in 
Turkey waiting to cross into Greece.  The Turks are aware of 
the problem but are not willing to do anything. 
 
¶4.  (S) The Ambassador also raised the threat posed by the 
Kurdistan People,s Congress (KGK) -- formerly known as the 
Kurdistan Workers, Party (PKK) -- and the need for greater 
cooperation against this organization.  Pavlopoulos assured 
the Ambassador that the Greek National Intelligence Service 
(EYP) cooperated closely with the Turkish intelligence 
service on this issue.  He said that a senior Turkish 
intelligence officer is now posted in Athens and enjoys a 
close relationship with EYP Director General Ioannis 
Corandis.  Pavlopoulos cited an example where two members of 
KGK were caught and extradited to Turkey following the 
bombing of a Turkish resort. Pavlopoulos claimed, however, 
that the Turks label many Kurds as KGK/PKK without evidence, 
and such allegations have to be investigated.  These 
investigations, in turn, cause the EU to beat up Greece for 
having to slow its political asylum system. 
 
¶5.  (S) On domestic terrorism, the Ambassador pressed 
 
ATHENS 00000081  002 OF 003 
 
 
Pavlopoulos on the investigation of the RPG attack on the 
U.S. Embassy last year, emphasizing that such an attack on 
the symbol of our coutnry and diplomatic compound needs to be 
met with a firm and determined response to ensure the 
perpetrators are found and punished.  The Ambassador said 
that the Embassy planned to send an FBI special agent to 
assist this investigation.  Pavlopoulos welcomed this and 
stated that the Hellenic Police enjoys a very close 
relationship with Embassy security and intelligence 
professionals and are sharing all the data.  He offered the 
services of the Prosecutor for Counterterrorism Dimitrios 
Papangelopoulos, who is prepared to brief the Ambassador on 
progress in the investigation of the attack.  Pavlopoulos 
assured the Ambassador that the police were not letting up 
their efforts in the investigation.  At the same time, 
however, he noted that under his leadership Greek authorities 
had shifted away from confronting anarchists directly as 
former Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras had done. 
Pavlopoulos claimed that he and the police were working 
quietly to address the anarchist problem, claiming this lack 
of public confrontation denies anarchists publicity and 
legitimization. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
OFFER OF ASSISTANCE FOR COUNTERTERRORISM . . . 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶6.  (S) To assist international efforts to identify illegal 
immigrants and potential radical jihadis among them, the 
Ambassador described the Mission,s proposal to assist Greece 
in acquiring and using biometric data verification 
technology.  The program would work within the parameters of 
Greek law and upgrade their paper and ink fingerprint methods 
with digital technology that would allow for rapid 
verification through databases that the U.S. Government could 
provide for Greek authorities.  Pavlopoulos was cool to the 
idea, expressing discomfort with biometric systems.  He did 
not reject the proposal out of hand, but cited not only legal 
but political sensitivities associated with privacy laws in 
Greece.  He underscored his misgivings by noting the role of 
the EU and scrutiny from human rights organizations and the 
media, and asked that we work with Prosecutor Papangelopoulos 
on this project.  Pavlopoulos said the U.S. should push 
Turkey to more effectively control illegal migration at its 
borders and to collaborate more on this issue.  (Comment: 
Pavlopoulos was noticeably cooler to this proposal then 
former MPO Minister Polydoras or the current Chief of the 
Hellenic Police Anastasios Dimoschakis, who agreed in 
principle.  End comment). 
 
¶7.  (S) The Ambassador queried whether Greek counterterrorism 
laws were adequate to allow the Minister to do his job. 
Pavlopoulos said that they were adequate and that he had a 
hand in drafting them.  He asserted that counterterrorism 
laws in Greece are stricter than most in other European 
countries.  He said Greek law included provisions for 
prosecution for support to terrorist organizations, inciting 
terrorism, terrorism threats and intentions, as well as the 
use of the internet for terrorism. 
 
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. . .AND FIREFIGHTING 
--------------------- 
 
¶8.  (S) Describing his recent visit to the ancient site of 
Olympia, the Ambassador told Pavlopoulos that the United 
States would like to assist Greece with the problem of 
seasonal forest fires.  The Ambassador reminded Pavlopoulos 
that United States donated 200 complete firefighting suits 
and had been surprised to learn that none had made it to 
Olympia. Pavlopoulos was grateful for any U.S. assistance and 
said his subordinates would be in touch with the Embassy's 
point-of-contact on the issue. 
 
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THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM 
----------------------- 
 
¶9.  (S) The Ambassador reviewed the visa waiver process and 
the recent visit of the team from the Department of Homeland 
Security (DHS) and thanked Pavlopoulos for the Greek 
Government's excellent preparation for the visit and 
hospitality.  The Ambassador urged the Greek Government to 
think creatively to eliminate any unresolved issues and 
informed Pavlopoulos that another team may be coming soon. 
Pavlopoulos expressed gratitude for the Embassy,s role in 
preparing the Greek Government for the DHS visit and the hope 
that the Visa Waiver Program would be enacted soon. 
 
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ATMOSPHERICS 
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ATHENS 00000081  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶10.  (S) Both Pavlopoulos and Chinofotis were gracious hosts; 
the meeting was informal and lasted over an hour. 
Pavlopoulos, nevertheless, was particularly uncomfortable 
with the issue of cooperation on biometric border controls in 
the context of EU cautiousness on privacy issues, 
irresective of its legality under the Greek law. 
Chinofotis, however, remarked that the Hellenic Police are 
already cooperating quietly with U.S. intelligence.  He 
indicated that more public USG participation may not be 
welcomed but did not close the door on overt biometric 
cooperation on illegal immigrants.  Chinofotis asked that the 
Ambassador pass on his regards to the Under Secretary of 
State Burns, whom he knows well. 
SPECKHARD