STAFFDEL TALWAR - ATHENS (JULY 25-28)

UNCLAS ATHENS 001064 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR H AND RM/F/DFS+FO/AA/CAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AFIN OREP GR SUBJECT: STAFFDEL TALWAR - ATHENS (JULY 25-28) REF: A. STATE 79721 ¶B. STATE 78131 ¶C. MURRAY/TALWAR E-MAIL OF JULY 25 2008 ¶1. Embassy Athens welcomes Professional Staff Member Puneet Talwar to Athens, Greece, on July 25-28, 2008 in order to attend the Middle East Regional Security and Cooperation meeting. ¶2. Embassy Athen's Administrative POC for STAFFDEL Talwar is: Kelsie Murray, Political Assistant (Office) 30 210.720.2015 (Cell) 30 694.904.5937 (Fax) 30 210.729.4307; Unclassified e-mail address: MurrayKX@state.gov ¶3. Per ref C, hotel accomodations been arranged with the organizers of the conference for the duration of Mr. Talwar's stay. Political Assistant Murray will deliver per diem for the Athens' stay upon arrival. The Embassy is also arranging transportation from the airport to the hotel on July 25 and from the hotel to the airport on July 28. Further details of Mr. Talwar's schedule provided ref C. ¶4. Visa Requirements: 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 require visas for a stay up to 90 days only. -------------- THREAT ASSESSMENT -------------- ¶5. 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. �0A;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. 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. 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 ons, and stealing whatever is within reach. We have also recently learned of a new method n which motorcyclists open the trunk of a vehice and remove the contents. Security recommens 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. Traffic in Greek urban areas, especially Athens and Thessaloniki, is undisciplined. Greece has a poor record within the European Union for traffic fatalities. SPECKHARD