SOUTHERN CORRIDOR ENERGY OFFICERS' CONFERENCE,

UNCLAS ATHENS 001656 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET GR SUBJECT: SOUTHERN CORRIDOR ENERGY OFFICERS' CONFERENCE, JULY 14, ATHENS, GREECE (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified. Please treat accordingly. ¶1. (U) This is an action cable; please see paragraph 6. Embassy Athens is pleased to invite officers from addressee posts to the Southern Corridor Energy Officer's Conference, which will be held July 14 in Athens, Greece. The conference will take place at the Hotel Grand Bretagne, Athens, Greece. The following information is provided to allow post personnel to plan for and make travel arrangements to the conference, and to notify personnel of the conference agenda. ¶2. (SBU) All Energy Officers, Economic Counselors and other appropriate officers from addressee posts are invited to attend the conference. The purpose of the conference, which will be chaired by EUR DAS Matt Bryza, is to advance USG support for efforts to utilize the Greece-Turkey-Italy Gas Interconnector and the "Nabucco" pipeline as ways to bring Caspian gas economically to Europe. -------------- Conference Agenda -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The conference agenda is as follows: 0900 Ambassador Ries Welcomes Participants 0905 Conference Objectives and State of Play Presenter: EUR DAS Bryza 1000 Caspian Energy Reserves/Potential Means and Timing of Delivery to Europe Presenter: U.S. Government Analyst 1030 Energy -- The Policy Geography Group Session (Session lays out action forcing events such as conferences,infrastructure projects and intergovernmental meetings that will influence USG approach.) 1130 The Russian Strategy Embassy Moscow or EB How Gazprom and the GOR may attempt to counter USG policy. 1200 Sequencing: Who Needs to Do What When to Get Caspian Gas to Europe Presenters: DAS Bryza and USG Energy Analyst 1300 Lunchtime Discussion on Greek Role in EU Energy Security Presenter: Representative of Greek Natural Gas Company (DEPA) 1430 Linking Strategies: The Role of the Southern Corridor in the USG's Overall European Energy Strategy Presenter: DAS Bryza, USEU, Group Discussion 1530 Next Steps Group Discussion 1600 Open Discussion/Q and A 1800 Reception at Ambassador's Residence 2030 (Optional) Dinner at Restaurant in Plaka -------------- Administrative Arrangements -------------- ¶4. (U) In view of conference agenda, please ensure that travel arrangements provide for arrival in Athens no later than the evening of Thursday, July 13. The Embassy has block-reserved lodging at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens. The room rate is $178 USD per night including VAT and breakfast. There will be an additional one-time conference fee of $50 per person to cover the cost of the conference facilities. Conference participants are responsible for paying for any extra personal nights or extra person charges upon checkout. The current per diem rate in Athens is $178 for lodging and $136 for MIE. Embassy Athens is also willing, on a limited basis, to host conference participants with Embassy families. Hotel information is as follows: Hotel Grande Bretagne Constitution Square Athens 10563 Phone (30)(21) 03330000 Fax (30)(21) 03228034 Check-in is 1400 hours and check-out is 1200 hours. ¶5. (U) Participants are requested to provide the names and itineraries of each attendee in the following format. Please e-mail Kiriaki Lamnatou (lamnatouka@state.gov) the following information asap in order to allow post to make all necessary administrative arrangements. Name of participant Accompanied by (if applicable) Post/Office Arrival and Departure Dates Arrival/Departure Flight/Times Room preference (specify single or double occupancy and smoking or non-smoking, request to stay with Embassy family) ¶6. (U) Economic Counselor Clark Price will serve as Control Officer for the conference. He can be reached at: (O) 30-210-720-2304; (C) 30-694-825-1830; (H) 30-210-671- ¶0565. ¶7. (U) Visas are required for U.S. citizens entering Greece on diplomatic passports. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens entering Greece on tourist passports. Requirements to enter Greece for citizens of other countries vary. Each non-U.S. citizen should check with his/her local Greek consulate to determine visa requirements. ¶8. (U) Security Advisory: ¶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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 provoke 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. Crime is rated "medium" in Greece. For TDY visitors, pick-pocketing and purse snatching are the most common crimes. Taxis are generally safe thought metered cabs are recommended. Taxis 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 also may be confronted by beggars and other street people who may attempt to divert attention and then steal unprotected valuables - either by pick-pocketing or snatch-and-grab techniques. Women are generally safe from violent crime in Greece. However, men are aggressive by American standards 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 RIES