Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ATHENS193
2005-01-18 16:25:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH MPO FOCUSED

Tags:  ASEC GR PTER AMB 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000193 

SIPDIS

NOFORN

FOR S/CT, EUR, DS, DSS, DS/IP/EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2015
TAGS: ASEC GR PTER AMB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH MPO FOCUSED
ON RECENT ATTACK

REF: A. ATHENS 4660


B. TD 314/002126-05

C. ATHENS 4040

D. SECSTATE 9866

Classified By: AMB. CHARLES P. RIES, REASONS 1.4 (B)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000193

SIPDIS

NOFORN

FOR S/CT, EUR, DS, DSS, DS/IP/EUR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2015
TAGS: ASEC GR PTER AMB
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY MEETING WITH MPO FOCUSED
ON RECENT ATTACK

REF: A. ATHENS 4660


B. TD 314/002126-05

C. ATHENS 4040

D. SECSTATE 9866

Classified By: AMB. CHARLES P. RIES, REASONS 1.4 (B)


1. (S/NF) Summary: The Ambassador paid an introductory
call on the Minister of Public Order, Yeorgos Voulgarakis on
Tuesday, January 18. The MPO provided an update on the
investigation into the shooting of a Hellenic Police Special
Guard on December 31, and discussed his views about terrorism
in Greece. The MPO indicated that it is not clear yet
whether or not this was a terrorist incident, but he said he
is satisfied with the investigation to date. The MPO told
the Ambassador that he may travel to the U.S. at the end of
February and was interested in an official schedule in
Washington. RMAS Chief provided the information in reftel B.
End Summary


2. (S/NF) The Ambassador held his first meeting with
Minister of Public Order, Yeorgos Voulgarakis on Tuesday,
January 18. Ambassador was accompanied by the RSO and RMAS
Chief. After the Ambassador offered condolences for the
recent murder of the Hellenic Police Special Guard (reftel
A),the MPO gave an update on the investigation, stressing
that it was difficult to make a final determination as yet
whether this was a terrorist incident. Nothing in the
December 31 incident was typical of previous N17 or ELA
attacks. The MPO believed that this attack was particularly
"cruel;" terrorists didn't typically fire so many shots
(total of 16 were fired) at their victim. Furthermore, while
his investigators expected a proclamation by the perpetrators
to be delivered sometime after the attack; this has yet to
occur. The MPO did seem to lean towards linking the attack
on the Special Guard to the attack on the police bus convoy
in October (Reftel C). There had been no proclamation left
after that attack either, but in his mind, that was clearly
an extremist attack. He stated that if these attacks were
terrorist attacks, they were something totally new and
demanded extensive and systematic investigation from Day 1.


3. (C) The MPO then confided to the Ambassador that there
was some indication that this may not be a terrorist attack,

but that he didn't want to provide the details at this point.
He would have a better handle on this situation in about one
month's time with the help of several witnesses who are
enabling the police to construct a picture of what happened.
This information includes surveillance at the British
residence a month prior to the attack. The MPO feared that
if he went public with this information, the pace and
intensity of the investigation (in his own building) would
slow, and that it was critical to investigate this as a
terrorist attack until proven otherwise. The MPO told the
Ambassador that both the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister
are being routinely apprised as to the exact status of the
investigation.


4. (S/NF) The RMAS chief provided the MPO with the
information provided in reftel B. The MPO's reaction was
that the group responsible for the attack could be a new one
that is receiving its inspiration from previous terrorist
attacks in Greece. The MPO described Greek attempts to
investigate this new wave of terrorism (multiple recent
attacks against the police, but not necessarily this specific
attack alone),but admitted they were having difficulties
penetrating domestic groups due to the fact that foreigners
(Albanians and Bulgarians specifically) were being recruited
to commit the crimes. He indicated that the GoG would
attempt to utilize foreignors itself to penetrate these
groups. He stated that the Hellenic police were proceeding
positively in their exploitation of cell phones and that he
was satisfied with the results of the investigation so far.
Ambassador offered the services of US law enforcement
agencies, especially forensics assistance, stating that we
needed to know whether or not we have to change our security
profile to better protect ourselves against an impending
attack. Ambassador assured MPO that if he utilized
assistance, the USG would work to keep that fact out of
public view. The MPO reiterated his view that this attack
was not meant to target the UK military attache. He stated
that the Attach had not wanted extraordinary protection
(other than the Special Guard who was killed). On December
31, in fact, he had been outside of the residence for quite
sometime before the attack saying good-bye to guests. Had
the terrorists wanted to attack him, it could have been done
easily. The MPO also asked the Ambassador if the Embassy was
satisfied with our current police protection. The RSO stated
that for now, we were happy with the coverage.


5. (SBU) The meeting concluded with the MPO advising the
Ambassador that he intended to travel to the U.S. during the
last ten days in February--in NY, Washington and possibly
Chicago-- to speak on the Summer Olympics to Greek-American
groups. In this connection he would be seeking official
meetings in Washington. The Ambassador inquired if the MPO
had heard about the planned Counterterrorism conference in
Riyadh scheduled for early February (reftel D). The MPO
stated he had heard nothing about it from the MFA, but would
look into it.


6. (C) Comment: The MPO seemed open in his discussions
about the attack on the Special Guard. He also appeared
frustrated and unwilling to offer any firm conclusions about
the attack. Given that reftel B hit so close to home, it
should provide an impetus for deeper cooperation with US
authorities in this investigation, possibly opening the doors
for better discussions during the MPO's proposed trip in
February. End Comment.