G/TIP MESSAGE: MORE WORK NEEDED IN GREECE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 002226

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR G/TIP AND EUR/PGI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM
SUBJECT: G/TIP MESSAGE: MORE WORK NEEDED IN GREECE


Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) In a series of meetings in late October with MFA, MOJ,
police contacts and NGOs, G/TIP and EUR/PGI representatives
discussed the GOG's efforts to combat trafficking in persons
(TIP). The Greeks pushed hard for Greece's inclusion in Tier
One in the 2008 TIP Report. U.S. representatives
acknowledged Greek efforts and lauded Greek successes but
noted continuing problems, including limited victim
identification, ongoing prosecution of victims, early or easy
release of convicted traffickers, under funding of NGOs, and
no action for two years on a public awareness campaign. It
was unclear whether GOG officials understood that unless
there was positive movement on these issues, Greece risked an
eventual downgrade, not upgrade, in its status. We will make
sure they get the message and focus on the essentials
necessary not only to stay at Tier Two, but to reach their
Tier One goal. End summary.

GOG OFFICIALS: UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
--------------


2. (SBU) On October 24, G/TIP representative Brittany Brown
and EUR/PGI Representative Jody Buckneberg met with MFA A7
Director of the North American Desk Greg Vassilokonstandakis,
Director of Emergency Humanitarian and Food Aid for Hellenic
Aid (YDAS) Niki Koutrakou, Trafficking in Persons Expert
Advisor to YDAS Hercules Moskoff, Ioanna Efthimiadou Director
of Cabinet for the Secretary General of the MFA, and Danny
Esdras, representative of IOM in Greece. During the meetig,
Brown and Buckneberg received a not-so-subtle message from
Vassilokonstandakis that Greece believed it merited placement
onto Tier One in the 2008 TIP report. Vassilokonstandakis
said the number of arrests had increased, as had the length
of sentences for traffickers (although he cited no specific
statistics); he referred to the interministerial committee
that deals with trafficking (although it reportedly had not
met since March 2007),and to a "recent" public awareness
campaign (aired in 2005),as well as to "recent fruitful
police operations."


3. (C) Brown and Buckneberg congratulated Greece on its
successes, while stressing remaining areas of concern,
including victims still being punished alongside traffickers,
identification of a relatively low overall number of victims,
short sentences imposed on traffickers, access to bail for
unreasonably long periods of time, as well as insufficient
availability of reliable TIP statistics. On the final point,
MFA officials said they would be open to training from USG
officials on how the U.S. gathers TIP-related data.


4. (SBU) On October 26, (after a day of meetings in
Thessaloniki) Brown and Buckneberg met with Ministry of
Justice (MOJ) Secretary General Panos Panouris and separately
with the former (recently-promoted) Chief of the Greek
Anti-Trafficking unit and members of her team. The MOJ
officials discussed their desire to increase cooperation with
anti-TIP NGOs as well as to see more training for officers
throughout Greece in victim identification and other TIP
related issues. Panouris also said that the interministerial
committee on TIP was scheduled to meet within weeks.

NGOS: SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT FUNDING STILL PROBLEMATIC
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Brown and Buckneberg also met with trafficking NGO
leaders, who noted some improvements as well as problems
(such as under funding). NGO KLIMAKA director Eva Roussou
said that there were problems getting sufficient funding from
the GOG to run her shelter and its related programs. The GOG
required NGOs requesting assistance of more than 100K euro to
guarantee they already held at least half that amount in
their back accounts. This was impossible, she said, adding
that in addition to this requirement (which forced them to
request less than 100K euro) the GOG also required NGOs to
cover 25 percent of the total budget through self-funding --
also a nearly impossible task. She complained about
submitting receipts for expenses to be reimbursed later
rather than being given up-front grants for programs, which
she had been told was "too bureaucratic."


6. (SBU) Nevertheless, some things were improving. Most
notably, Roussou said her staff had been called in advance of

ATHENS 00002226 002 OF 002


a major trafficking operation by the Athens Vice Squad
Anti-TIP team last July, a first. Nearly 60 women were
arrested in the operation; KLIMAKA staff were able to
interview many (though no all) of he women. She noted,
however, that the police kept the women in offices and
corridors in the police station with the 20-30 men arrested
at the same time as traffickers.


7. (SBU) Amcit Emma Skjonsby at the faith-based NGO Nea Zoi
(New Life) (whose members are among the only people in the
streets and going into brothels to speak to women working in
prostitution) said there had been a climb in numbers over the
last three years in African women -- especially from the
State of Ido in Nigeria -- who have been trafficked into
Greece. Skjonsby spoke of a new program being run between
Greece and Nigeria for women who wish to return to their
homes. (Note: This may present an opportunity for
cooperation between Embassy Athens and Embassy Abuja. End
note.) Her staff also described promising new cooperation
with a deportation detention center which allows her staff
access. Skjonsby expressed concern about the detention and
deportation of TIP victims, commenting that victims
complained about mistreatment and abuse while in police
custody.

LEGAL PROBLEMS AS WELL
--------------


8. (SBU) Greek attorneys specializing in trafficking agreed
on what issues were most critical. Former IV Eleni Glegle
and Greek Council of Refugees lawyer Vassilis Terzidis cited
the lack of minimum bail amounts for incarcerated traffickers
and the ability of too many defendants to remain free during
lengthy appeals or to later pay fines in lieu of serving jail
time. But, according to Glegle, the most serious problem was
societal acceptance and public awareness about TIP issues.
She saw a need to improve awareness among officials and the
general public. Glegle also believed that punishment for the
customers of trafficked women should increase.


9. (SBU) For Terzidis, the greatest danger was two-fold: the
fact that there had been virtually no training of judges and
prosecutors outside Athens and Th(heavy case loads of mQ appropriate to
have jury trials for trafficking cases. "After all, he said,
"the whole purpose of trafficking is money laundering but
this crime is very rarely, if ever, prosecuted in trafficking
cases." Terzidis also suggested that the GOG should start
using its forfeiture laws against traffickers' assets.

COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) While Greek officials have made plain (at every
opportunity) their desire to be in Tier One on the 2008
Trafficking in Persons Report, they are overlooking real
concerns that must be addressed. We will continue to engage
with the GOG and encourage them to look realistically at the
likelihood of a TIP Report upgrade/downgrade and to renew
their commitment to a massive public awareness campaign,
better victim identification (especially to ensure that
victims are not being incarcerated or punished for crimes
committed as a result of thQr being traffickQ, better
cooperation with NGOs, possible ways for convicted
traffickers to remain in jail pending appeal, and better
statistics gathering. Greece may be eligible for Tier One in
the not-too-distant future, but Greek officials need to stop
resting on their recent laurels and show positive results.


11. (U) This message has been cleared by Ms. Brown and Ms.
Buckneberg.
COUNTRYMAN