Cablegate: Head of Hellenic Aid: Afghanistan Is Our Top Assistance

VZCZCXYZ0018
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #1691 3421702
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081702Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1205
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS

UNCLAS ATHENS 001691

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SCA/A FOR TOM GRAMAGLIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PREL GR EAID AF
SUBJECT: HEAD OF HELLENIC AID: AFGHANISTAN IS OUR TOP ASSISTANCE
PRIORITY

REF: A. STATE 123222; B. STATE 122731; C. ATHENS 1665
D. 12/24/09 EMAIL FROM TOM GRAMAGLIA; E. ATHENS 1585

1. (SBU) In response to the GoG's request (see reftel E),
DepEconCouns delivered to Ambassador Karafotias, the
Director-General of Hellenic Aid, a list of USG-suggested projects
in Afghanistan to which Greece may contribute funds (see reftel D).
Per the GoG's previously expressed interest, the list included
projects in the areas of preservation of cultural history,
education, and health. Ambassador Karafotias expressed his
gratitude for the list and indicated he believes that Greece will
be willing and able to fund one or more projects on the list. He
will try to make every effort to fund one of these projects by the
end of this year. Barring that, he will seek to announce this
month the GoG's intent to fund projects on this list. Karafotias
indicated that by the end of the year, Greece already will have
provided 4.85 million euro for projects in Afghanistan, mostly via
contributions to allied donors with a presence on the ground. He
hopes to more than double this amount next year to 10 million euro.
In order to send a signal of support for the Administration's new
Afghanistan strategy, Karafotias said he will try to get the GoG to
announce publicly and soon that Afghanistan will be Greece's top
development assistance priority in 2010. He also will try to
ensure the public announcement links this prioritization with the
new Afghan strategy.

2. (SBU) The following list is a breakdown of the 4.85 million euro
Greek contribution to Afghanistan in 2009. Contributions to the
World Food Program (WFP), the UN election fund, and the Hungarian
PRT have been made; the remaining contributions will be made by the
end of 2009, according to Karafotias. In most cases, specific
projects are still under negotiation but likely will be in the
areas of health and education, with a focus on women and children.

-- 400,000 euro to WFP

-- 100,000 euro to UN election fund

-- 300,000 euro to Hungarian PRT

-- 600,000 euro to Lithuania

-- 300,000 euro to Czech Republic

-- 600,000 euro to Estonia

-- 700,000 euro to Spain

-- 700,000 euro to Germany

-- 1 million euro to Canada

-- 150,000 euro to Slovakia
Speckhard

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