Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ATHENS2376
2005-09-12 12:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GOVERNMENT FINALLY BANS PLANNED RACIST

Tags:  PHUM PREF PGOV KCRM GR HRIGHTS 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ATHENS 002376 

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV KCRM GR HRIGHTS
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FINALLY BANS PLANNED RACIST
"HATEFEST"


UNCLAS ATHENS 002376

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/SE, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PREF PGOV KCRM GR HRIGHTS
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT FINALLY BANS PLANNED RACIST
"HATEFEST"



1. Summary: On September 6 the Greek government said
it would ban a planned pan-European "festival" of
extreme right-wing political groups, sponsored by the
Greek racist, neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn. The
gathering, scheduled for mid-late September and
reportedly to include far-right groups such as Italy's
Forza Nuova, had been strongly criticized by Jewish
and anti-racist organizations, opposition political
parties, local officials and the Simon Weisenthal
Center. The GoG initially took no action for fear of
drawing attention to an event that it originally
deemed unimportant. End Summary.


2. On September 6 GoG spokesman Roussopoulos stated
that the GoG would take all measures to prevent a
planned gathering of European extremist and racist
organizations from taking place. The self-styled
"Hatefest 2005" event, scheduled for mid-late
September, in a place not revealed and changed several
times due to local reactions, was initiated by the
Greek neo-Nazi group "Chryssi Avghi" (Golden Dawn) and
was to include far-right organizations from throughout
Europe, including Germany's NPD, Italy's Forza Nuova,
and Spain's Falange. Public Order Minister
Voulgarakis echoed Roussopoulos' comments, saying the
event was not welcome.


3. The event had promised a "unique gathering,"
including "racial rock music" and "inspiring
messages," according to the Golden Dawn's website. In
addition, the event would have "Turkey, Out of Europe"
as one of its main slogans. Members of the far right,
including Ugo Voigt, who leads the National Democratic
Party in Germany, and Roberto Fiore of the Italian
party Forza Nuova were set to address the crowds.
Organizers said that they were hoping for a surprise
appearance by Jean-Marie Le Pen, the French far-right
leader who once called the Nazi gas chambers a "mere
detail" of history.


4. The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece
had been very critical of the Greek government's delay
in condemning the planned event, while the Simon
Wiesenthal Center called on the GoG to block what it
called "the defamation of the 60th anniversary of the
end of the Holocaust." The Center called on PM
Karamanlis "to prevent this profanation of the
sixtieth anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, and
to draw its lessons by ensuring Greek commitments to
the European Union, the Council of Europe and the
OSCE, to prosecute all incitement to hatred." The
President of the Central Board of Greek Jewish
Communities (KIS),Moses Konstantinis, expressed
satisfaction "that the efforts of KIS finally had as a
result the banning of the festival"


5. Local officials in the places where the event was
rumored to take place vowed to block the festival for
fear of violence stemming from the reaction of anti-
racism activists.


6. COMMENT: Although alerted to the event in early
summer, the government delayed in issuing a banning
because it believed the event was unimportant and that
it would only draw more attention, if prohibited. In
the end, however, growing domestic and international
criticism compelled the GoG to act.