Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ATHENS533
2006-02-24 10:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREECE: RESPONSE TO AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING

Tags:  PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO PTER GR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7567
OO RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ
DE RUEHTH #0533 0551052
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241052Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4532
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0032
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ATHENS 000533

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KPAO PTER GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: RESPONSE TO AL-ASKARIYA SHRINE BOMBING

REF: STATE 28802

ENTIRE TEXT IS UNCLASSIFIED.

Per reftel, Embassy poloffs raised the Al-Askariya bombing
with MFA officials on February 23 and provided text of USG
statements to MFA Spokesman George Koumoutsakos, who later
released the following statement on behalf of the Greek
Government:

BEGIN TEXT:

We unequivocally condemn the attacks carried out yesterday on
the Holy Shrine of Samarra and other religious sites in Iraq.
Given the historic, cultural and religious significance of
the shrine, this attack is a crime against global cultural
heritage.

Such criminal acts result in the flaring up of ethnic
tensions and undermine the prospects for peace and stability
in the country and the region.

We reiterate our support for the forming of a fully
representational government that will work to build a
peaceful, prosperous and united Iraq.

END TEXT.
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