Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ATHENS1145
2006-05-05 03:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

COUNTRY CLEARANCE AND THREAT ASSESSMENT

Tags:  AMGT AFIN ASEC GM GR IZ OREP TU 
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VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #1145/01 1250357
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050357Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5333
UNCLAS ATHENS 001145 

SIPDIS

CODEL
SIPDIS

H FOR FLECK AND PARKS
H PLEASE PASS TO CODEL PENCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE AND THREAT ASSESSMENT
FOR CODEL PENCE + 8 (MAY 5-6)

REF: STATE 66587

UNCLAS ATHENS 001145

SIPDIS

CODEL
SIPDIS

H FOR FLECK AND PARKS
H PLEASE PASS TO CODEL PENCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE AND THREAT ASSESSMENT
FOR CODEL PENCE + 8 (MAY 5-6)

REF: STATE 66587


1. Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for
the visit of the House International Relations Committee
Delegation led by Rep. Mike Pence and including Rep. Mike
Ferguson, Rep. Lincoln Davis, Rep. Jim Costa, Rep. Joseph
Pitts. Control Officer for the visit will be Marielle
Martin, who can be reached during office hours at 30-210-
2413, at home at 30-210-674-0086 or on cellular at 30-6948-
04-4298. Her unclassified email is MartinMH@state.gov and
her fax is 30-210-725-3025. The Embassy's after hours duty
receptionist can be reached at 30-210-729-4444


2. Reservations have been made at the Hilton Athens, 46
Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Athens 10160,Greece. The hotel
phone number is 30-210-728-1000; fax 30-210-728-1111. We
understand CODEL's fiscal data cable will authorize actual
room rates and embassy will pay for rooms out of fiscal
data. Room rates will be charged in euros, and these rates
are inclusive of taxes and breakfast. Travelers are expected
to pay their own hotel bills prior to departing. If the
room reserved is not to be used, the reservation must be
canceled prior 24 hours prior to expected arrival date,
otherwise the CODEl or the traveler is responsible for the
cost of the unused room.


3. The official schedule for Athens will begin on Friday May

5. The schedule will include a country team briefing, a
meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Valinakis, and cultural
activities.


4. It is important that all visitors carefully read the
information and instructions provided below. Post wants to
ensure the best possible service to all official visitors
and will work closely to arrange details of each visit.


5. Transportation is being arranged as requested and as per
e-mail correspondence from the control officer.


6. Documents required: Diplomatic and official passport
holders must have Greek diplomatic visas, a valid Schengen
visa or diplomatic ID from any other Schengen country, in
addition to their passport, in order to enter Greece. The
Embassy will be unable to obtain planeside visas for USG
employees arriving in Greece without proper documentation.
Holders of tourist passports do not/not require visas. USG
employees who plan to operate a motor vehicle while in
Greece must be in possession of a valid U.S. drivers'

license as well as a valid International Drivers' License
and must carry proof of third party liability insurance
while operating the vehicle.


7. Each visitor requiring support from the embassy,
regardless of length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data
to pay for direct costs of the visit. Each military TDYer
requesting embassy support should be able to provide the
sponsoring military entity at post fiscal data, even if
staying at post less than thirty days. Each agency,
organization or visiting delegation will be charged for the
actual costs attributed to its visit. Direct charge costs
include, but are not limited to: American and LES overtime
(for such services as airport expediting, cashier
accommodation exchange, control room staffing,
representational event support),travel and per diem costs
incurred by post personnel in support of visitor's field
travel, rental of vehicles and other equipment, long
distance telephone calls, office supplies, gasoline and
other vehicle maintenance costs, departure tax and other
airport fees. Post will not provide service if fiSc!d d!TaQ
)s f#T provided for the direc4 c(aRc%Q&

(* A5Rrency: Greece is a mem"er g" t(e EuQo0%a* Eonetary
Union, and 4he E5Rm i1 4(e #uRRency of the country.
Accommodation exchange is available on a limited basis
(responsible agency/section signed authorization) at the
Embassy cashier office - hours are M-F 0930 - 1030, 1200 -
1300 and 1430 - 1530. However, ATMs are readily available
throughout the country (there is also one at the Embassy);
they will accept U.S. debit cards. In addition, most banks
and major hotels provide accommodation exchange services.
Post is unable to provide reverse accommodation.


9. Office space/laptops/mobile phones: CODEL control room
will have computer connectivity and accessibility as per
CODEL request. Office space in both classified and
unclassified areas is extremely limited. For those

SIPDIS
employees planning on bringing laptops and modems to use in
their hotels, please remember that this equipment can be
used for processing unclassified (non-SBU) information only.

Current here is 220 volt, 50 cycles, and outlets are two-
pronged. Bring along a plug adapter and equipment that can
handle the voltage. Laptops are not permitted in controlled
access areas of the Embassy. European GSM mobile phones
function normally in Greece.


10. Presidential Directive - Trafficking in Persons: All
TDY personnel are reminded that President Bush has signed a
National Security Presidential Directive to advance the
fight against trafficking in persons. The United States is
committed to eradicate trafficking both domestically and
abroad. Trafficking in persons exists in Greece. A
significant number of the people involved in prostitution,
pornography and the sex tourism phenomenon, are trafficked.
They are compelled by force, fraud and coercion to submit to
sexual exploitation. TDY personnel are advised that any
involvement with the commercial sex industry is unacceptable
in light of the diplomatic and foreign policy goals of the
United States and the ethical standards of the Department of
State and this Mission. Embassy Management will not tolerate
any such involvement by Mission personnel and, in this
regard, will enforce all relevant regulations regarding
conduct and suitability of U.S. Government employees
stationed abroad.


11. Security information:


A. Embassy Athens is designated "high" for indigenous
terrorism. In the past, local Greek terrorist groups have
targeted prominent Greeks as well as certain non-Greek
Officials, including Americans. We believe that the threat
to official US Government personnel on short-term
assignments to Greece or visiting for tourism is relatively
low. The indigenous groups historically have engaged in
extensive operational surveillance over long periods of
time. In 2003 and again in 2004, the Greek Government made
significant progress to combat domestic terrorism by
successfully convicting the leader and key hit men of the
November 17 terrorist organization and of the ELA. 17N was
responsible for assassinating prominent Greeks and five
members of the US Mission over the course of its 30-year
history. Convicted ELA members were responsible for several
bombings, attempted murders and were involved in at least
one assassination. While these convictions likely impacted
on the operational capabilities of 17N and ELA, it is too
soon to assess whether the threat from domestic terrorism is
completely eliminated. There have been several attacks
against Greek police over the last year, including the
December 2004 assassination of a special police guard in
front of the residence of the British military attach. We
urge vigilance and caution, as the worldwide threat from
other terrorist groups against Americans in general remains
high. Official Americans should assume they are potential
targets.


B. Over the past year, the U.S. Embassy has experienced
bomb threats, protest marches, and anti-U.S. demonstrations.
These protests are generally peaceful though a few provoked
random acts of violence. Travelers to Greece are advised
that protests or demonstrations could occur at any time;
unwitting observers or bystanders might be identified, to
their disadvantage, as Americans. RSO recommends that
official U.S. travelers in Greece remain alert when moving
about in public places and avoid certain places where
demonstrators frequently congregate. These places include
the Polytechnical University area, located on 28 October
(Patission) Street between the National Archeological Museum
and Omonia Square; Exarchion Square, located near Kolonaki;
Omonia and Syntagma Squares, which are often used as launch
sites for large demonstrations; and Mavili Square, located
near the U.S. Embassy. Visitors should keep abreast of news
about large demonstrations and avoid these areas and metro
stops.


C. The 4th European Social Forum is taking place in Athens
all this week, with activities culminating this Friday and
Saturday. The Regional Security Office expects potentially
violent and dangerous demonstrations in and around the city
to include the U.S. Embassy on Saturday afternoon.
Anarchists are expected to be even more active than usual,
and a likely location for such activity is in the
Monastiraki and Plaka areas, as well as in Exarchia. It is
strongly advised that these areas of town be avoided this
entire week and especially this coming weekend.



D. Crime is rated "medium" in Greece. For TDY visitors,
pick pocketing and purse snatching are the most common
crimes. Taxis are generally safe though metered cabs are


recommended. Taxis too will often pick up more than one
passenger unless prior arrangements are made. Crimes of
opportunity - thefts, break-ins, and occasional scams - are
on the rise. Travelers should be especially cautious with
wallets, purses, and parcels when traveling on crowded
streets, public buses, trolleys, and/or subways. There have
been several instances of motorcyclists approaching cars
stuck in traffic, reaching through open windows or smashing
closed ones, and stealing whatever is within reach. We have
also recently learned of a new method in which motorcyclists
open the trunk of a vehicle and remove the contents. The
Embassy recommends keeping purses, parcels, handbags, etc.
out of sight under the seat or on the floor of the car.
Windows should be kept closed and doors locked. Pedestrians
may also be confronted by beggars and other street people
who may attempt to divert attention, then steal unprotected
valuables - either by pick pocketing or snatch-and-grab
techniques. Women are generally safe from violent crime in
Greece. Men are aggressive by American standards however
when pursuing women.


D. Traffic in Greek urban areas, especially Athens and
Thessaloniki, is undisciplined. Greece has a poor record
within the European Union for traffic fatalities, mainly due
to excessive speeding. Road rage is always a risk.
Accidents can result in fistfights. Drivers in Greece
should exercise caution and common sense. Drivers and
pedestrians alike should exercise extreme caution when
operating motor vehicles or when walking along roadways.
Moreover, tourists who rent motorbikes either on the Greek
mainland or its islands must wear helmets and must take
special precautions on the local roads that are typically
poorly maintained and frequently pothole-ridden. Greece
also has a poor record within the European Union in
motorcycle deaths.

Ries