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OO RUEHAG RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #1487 2641022
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 211022Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0700
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0033
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 001487 
 
SIPDIS 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA 
AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG 
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG 
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/21 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: GREEK RESPONSE TO U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE PLAN 
 
REF: STATE 96526 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Daniel V. Speckhard, Ambassador; REASON: 1.4(B), (D) 
 
 1.  (C) On September 18, Post delivered reftel points to the Greek 
MFA's NATO Directorate.  They viewed the President's announcement 
in general terms as a positive recalibration of U.S. efforts, and 
queried as to the location of any future radar or launcher sites, 
given recent speculation in the Greek media about Turkey's role in 
future missile defense plans, and intentions for the U.S. to sell 
Patriot missiles to Turkey.  Our interlocutors clarified their main 
interest was simply following events in their region, and not any 
sense of concern.  They noted any Greek government would have to 
deal with sensationalistic stories in the Greek press in such a 
scenario.  The Greeks appreciated the September 17 high-level 
briefing at NATO, and our commitment to work closely with Allies in 
the future. 
 
 
 
 2.  (C) Comment: An enhanced role for Turkey in our missile defense 
architecture will indeed be of concern to Greek policymakers as 
well as the average citizen.  Sensationalistic "news" stories from 
the notorious Greek press could stand to box in leaders during this 
highly charged political season.  We believe that our senior Greek 
interlocutors do understand the threat from Iran and the 
potentially important role Turkey can play.  Proactive engagement 
with Greece as U.S. planning moves forward on future sites can help 
us keep the Greek government informed and on our side, and help 
them help us as they operate in and manage their domestic politics. 
Speckhard