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DE RUEHTH #1445/01 2901308
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O 161308Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2639
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RHMFIUU/NAVSUPPACT NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMNAVREG EUR NAPLES IT PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/NAVSUPPACT SOUDA BAY GR PRIORITY
RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 001445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MARR PREL GR
SUBJECT:  101ST U.S.-GREEK JOINT COMMISSION: MEETING SUMMARY 
 
REF:  08 ATHENS 0236 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT:  On September 29, DCM led USG 
delegation to the 101st meeting of the U.S. and Greek Joint 
Commission.  The commission focuses on bilateral political-military 
issues, particularly the relationship between Souda Bay Naval 
Support Activity (NSA) and the Government of Greece.  The meeting 
successfully resolved final approval for construction of Marathi 
Fuel Pipeline.  Other issues discussed were delays in obtaining 
concealed weapon permits and delays in the projects to improve the 
firing range and widen the runway at Souda Bay, and USG desire to 
conclude a bilateral Shipboarding Agreement under the Proliferation 
Security Initiative (PSI). END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Deputy Chief of Mission Deborah McCarthy, U.S. Joint 
Commission co-chairman, began by thanking departing Greek co-chair, 
MFA North America Acting Director Grigoris Vassilokonstandakis for 
his tremendous assistance in the Joint Commission. 
Vassilokonstandakis said he was personally proud of the work the JC 
has accomplished the last 26 months and some of the issues it has 
overcome.  The meeting then turned to agenda items. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Regarding widening the security perimeter at Souda, 
Alexandra Megouli, the Architect-Engineer for the Hellenic Air Force 
General Staff, informed the delegations that the GOG had finalized 
the lease of the required land and an announcement would be made in 
the next week. (The U.S. officially made the request for more land 
in September 2001 for the force protection purpose of widening the 
perimeter. Greece agreed at the time, but the land owners had caused 
a series of delays.)  Deputy Chief of Mission McCarthy stated a 
fence was required to outline the perimeter and noted the fence was 
tied to FY-08. Vassilokonstandakis said there was no objection and 
the U.S. could proceed. 
 
Telephone Circuits 
------------------ 
¶4. (SBU) DCM informed the JC the United States intended to increase 
capacity for telephone circuits to run from Souda Bay to Larissa. 
Vassilokonstandakis thanked her for the information, noting that 
since NATO would also benefit, formal Joint Commission approval was 
not required. 
 
Weapons Permit Delays 
--------------------- 
¶5. (SBU) DCM conveyed concerns over the delays for the Greek weapon 
permit required by certain U.S. personnel at Souda Bay.  In the past 
U.S. servicemen were able to get their concealed weapons permits 
from the Greek authorities within 30 days from the local police in 
Crete.  Greek Co-chair Vassilokonstandakis provided a list of 13 
names that have now received weapon permits.  The U.S. noted that 
his list comprised all personnel whose permits had been outstanding. 
 DCM asked that there be a procedure in place to expedite future 
permits.  Vassilokonstandakis said he did not think the delay 
occurred in the Ministry of Interior but at the local official level 
and suggested that the U.S. take action there first.  DCM countered 
the U.S. will provide a list of names to the Ministry of Interior if 
permits encounter delays longer than 45 days and efforts with the 
local Greed authorities are exhausted.  (NOTE:  Major Gletsos of the 
HAFGS noted that permit delays for Greek personnel are also 30 days. 
END NOTE.) 
 
Firing Range and Runway Widening Process 
---------------------------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) Vassilokonstandakis announced the firing range is ready to 
proceed and a public announcement will be made shortly but he said 
the runway shoulder widening project was still in discussion and 
would not be finalized until September 2009 when the final design 
will be completed.  He admitted he was not satisfied with this 
update. DCM stressed this project is U.S. funded and longer delays 
increase costs.  Captain McDonough interjected and said the funds 
were committed but would be withdrawn if there was not movement. 
DCM recommended accelerating the process in order to safeguard the 
funding.  Vassilokonstandakis agreed the runway project was mutually 
beneficial and the GOG would do its best to expedite the 
proceeding. 
 
Marathi Pipeline Project 
------------------------ 
¶7. (SBU) The GOG stated that the final hurdle for approval of the 
long delayed upgrade to the pipeline had been overcome and the 
project could proceed.  (The Marathi Pipeline Project replacing the 
existing JP-5 pipeline has been on the JC agenda since 2004.)  The 
U.S. has received all permits and easements required for the project 
but in early 2008 an historic Minoan site was discovered in the path 
of the pipeline.  Due to this discovery, the Iraklion Archaeological 
 
ATHENS 00001445  002 OF 003 
 
 
Council had objected to the project.  In June 2008, the MOD appealed 
this decision to the Ministry of Culture.  Vassilokonstandakis 
informed the JC the appeal had been approved and the project could 
proceed. 
 
¶8. (SBU) It was apparent the Greek delegation anticipated that the 
HAF would administer the project.  The DCM informed the Greek 
delegation the pipeline project is funded by MILCON funding which 
could not be turned over to the GOG.  Chairs on both sides agreed 
that legal staffs should start to work on the details and provide an 
updated status in 30 days. 
 
Other Business 
-------------- 
¶9. (SBU) High Level Consultative Committee:  DCM McCarthy said the 
dates have been set for October 23-24 2008 in Washington, D.C. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Fuel Dye:  DCM McCarthy used this opportunity to thank the 
Greek delegation for their assistance in resolving the issue. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Status of previously submitted construction projects:  At 
the 99th Joint Commissin in July 2007, the U.S. requested approval 
fr two projects at NSA Souda: an auto hobby shop and an annex for 
the Admin building.  DCM McCarthy noted that both these projects 
were submitted in the "5 Year Plan" required by the Mutual Defense 
Cooperation Agreement (MDCA).  Greek Co-chair Vassilokonstandakis 
stated once the MOD approved the projects then the MFA will grant 
approval.  Captain McDonough stated that without JC approval FY08 
funding for these projects would be lost.  Vassilokonstandakis 
consulted with his legal advisor and then approved the auto hobby 
shop but said they needed more time for the annex. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI):  The DCM raised 
the PSI Ship Boarding Agreement which has been pending since 2004. 
Vassilokonstandakis responded PSI is not within the mandate of the 
JC but he would inform members of the HLCC it might be on the 
agenda. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Customs at Araxos:  At the 100th Commission, the Greek 
Chairman requested an update of a customs discrepancy associated 
with departing U.S. personnel from Araxos.  The Araxos Air Station 
is a Hellenic Air Force Installation which hosted the 731st 
Munitions Support Squadron from 1972 to 2001. When the unit 
deactivated, all records were sent to Aviano for disposition and 
storage, and were subsequently destroyed.  Embassy stated such by 
Dipnote in February 2008.  The DCM reiterated the issue was 
resolved.   She also noted the Comprehensive Technical Agreement 
(CTA) specifically addresses the customs data obligation and this 
was not signed until after the U.S. personnel left Araxos. 
Vassilokonstandakis responded it was unfortunate the records were 
not found but it was not the fault of either party. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Weather Radar: Since 2000, NSA Souda Bay has shared 
weather data collected from its Supplemental Doppler Weather Radar 
with the Hellenic Air Force.  Over time the radar became problematic 
with rising costs.  Initially the HAF offered to fix and operate the 
radar themselves and the Navy agreed. In the spring of 2008, the 
U.S. Navy developed a requirement to keep the radar and initiated 
repairs.  DCM McCarthy stated the U.S. now had the means and method 
to provide the HAF the weather product.  Colonel Tsakoumis, HAF 
Commander of the 115th   Combat Wing requested a time table.  Souda 
Bay NSA Executive Assistance Bruce Gale then said they were working 
for a 30 day completion of all radar repairs. 
 
¶15. (SBU) 101st Joint Commission Participants 
 
U.S. Delegation 
Ms. Deborah McCarthy, Deputy Chief of Mission and Joint Commission 
Co-Chairman 
Mr. Jeff Hovenier, Acting Political Counselor 
Ms. Dawn Hillman, Political-Military Officer 
 
Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC): 
Colonel Steve Boukedes, ODC Chief 
Lt Colonel Chris Leavey, ODC Legal Advisor 
Ms. Alexandra Karavasili, Host Nation Attorney, ODC 
 
Souda Bay NSA: 
Captain Thomas McDonough, Base Commander 
Mr. Bruce Gale, Executive Assistance 
Lt Ryan Santicola, Naval Legal Advisor 
 
Greek Delegation: 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 
Mr. Greg Vassiloconstandakis, Acting Director A7 Directorate and 
 
ATHENS 00001445  003 OF 003 
 
 
Joint Commission Co-Chairman 
Mr. Kodellas Konstantinos, Attache Political-Military 
Mr. Michail Stellakakos-Loverdos, Legal Department 
 
Hellenic National Defense General Staff 
Colonel Dimitrios Vaxevanakis 
Maj Apostolos 
Ms. Alexandra Megouli-Architect-Engineer AF 
 
Souda Air Base/115th Combat Wing 
Colonel Vassilios Tsakoumis, Commander 
Major Theodosios Papadakis 
 
SPECKHARD