Cablegate: Greece: Contact Group for Piracy Off the Coast of Somalia

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TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0640
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UNCLAS ATHENS 001457

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT KCRM PHSA PHUM PREL UNSC SO GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: CONTACT GROUP FOR PIRACY OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA
(CGPCS) AND COMMITMENTS REGARDING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

REF: STATE 90045

1. (SBU) On August 31 we delivered reftel message to Greek MFA D1
Directorate (UN and International Organizations Affairs) Counselor
Dimitris Papandreou, inviting Greece to join other countries that
are among the 20 largest ship registries to sign the Commitment to
Best Management Practices to Avoid, Deter or Delay Acts of Piracy
on September 9 in New York. Papandreou expressed appreciation for
the invitation, and he subsequently disseminated the draft text for
comment within the Greek government and shipping industry, setting
an internal deadline of September 4 for input. Papandreou, who
will attend the CGPCS meeting in New York, expressed interest in
any information we could provide about which other countries were
willing to sign the declaration. He pledged to provide the Greek
response as soon as possible.

2. (SBU) We also discussed the issue September 2 with Greek
Ministry of Mercantile Marine diplomatic advisor Nicolas
Protonotarios, encouraging his Ministry to support the initiative.
Protonotarios confirmed he had received our proposal from the MFA,
and said that although he could not provide a final answer yet he
did not see any problem in principle with the proposal. He noted
that piracy was a major concern of the Ministry of Mercantile
Marine, and expressed eagerness to work with the U.S. and the rest
of the international community on further steps to combat it.

3. (SBU) Post remains in contact with both ministries and will
inform Washington of any further Greek response when it is
received. We would appreciate additional information from
Washington on plans for the signing ceremony and the number of
countries who have agreed to sign, when such information becomes
available, so that we could share it with the Greeks.
SPECKHARD

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