Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08THESSALONIKI48
2008-06-11 16:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Thessaloniki
Cable title:
THESSALONIKI: KIDNAPPING OF PROMINENT INDUSTRIALIST STUNS
how-toVZCZCXRO6767 PP RUEHIK DE RUEHIK #0048 1631604 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 111604Z JUN 08 FM AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0346 INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0254 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 0387
UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000048
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PTER ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: KIDNAPPING OF PROMINENT INDUSTRIALIST STUNS
POLICE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY
UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000048
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PTER ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: KIDNAPPING OF PROMINENT INDUSTRIALIST STUNS
POLICE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 09, three gunmen abducted the chairman
of the Federation of Northern Greek Industries and CEO of Alumil
S.A. Giorgos Milonas outside his home in Thessaloniki. Media
have reported that the family has received a ransom demand for
30 million Euros. The victim is a prominent businessman with
professional activities in many countries. He is an outspoken
advocate of free trade and critic of government bureaucracy and
incompetence. Police have told Post that available evidence
suggests that his kidnapping is criminal in nature with no
terrorism-related or political motives. Athens Legal Attachi
has offered assistance to the Greek police. END SUMMARY
POLICE DO NOT SUSPECT TERRORISTS
2. (SBU) According to media and police reports, the chairman of
the Federation of Northern Greek Industries and CEO of Alumil
S.A. Giorgos Milonas was abducted in front of his house by three
armed assailants as he and his wife returned home shortly before
midnight on Monday, June 09. The gunmen ordered Milonas's wife
to leave the car, then used it to take Milonas to a second
vehicle that they used for escape. They left Milonas' cell
phone, wristwatch and wallet in his car, perhaps concerned that
the items might facilitate their being traced by police. Media
reported that they also left a note, asking for 30,000,000 in
ransom. Media have also speculated that Milonas' successful
business dealings in the Balkans may have attracted attention
from mafia gangs. Police contacts have told us they are
treating this as a criminal case and do not believe it is
terrorism-related, though all possibilities are being
investigated. Athens Legal Attachi has offered assistance.
OUTSPOKEN PRO-BUSINESS GOVERNMENT CRITIC
3. (U) Giorgos Milonas is the chairman of the Federation of
Northern Greek Industries, a member of the board of the
Federation of Greek Industries and a member of the board of the
Greek Association of Aluminum. He is also the vice-chairman of
the Greek-Chinese Business Council and a member of the
Greek-Serbian Business Council. He is the CEO of Alumil S.A., a
successful aluminum extrusion company. Its production sites
include 13 factories, in four cities in Northern Greece and six
abroad. It has 25 subsidiaries around the world and employs
over 2,000 staff. Listed in the Athens Stock Exchange since
1998, the Group's sales have exceeded 179m in 2004. In the
U.S., the company has a showroom in New York, while further
investments and the establishment of subsidiaries are in
progress. Born in 1959, Milonas holds a BScs in Mathematics and
Business Administration and an MSc in Operational Research.
4. (SBU) The victim has been very vocal in his advocacy on
behalf of northern Greek businesses. He has drawn media
attention for his direct criticism of government policy and
sometimes combative tone. He has urged that "Free Transactions
Zones" be set up in border regions and that the zones be
accessible to the workforce of the neighboring countries.
Though close to governing New Democracy politicians, he has
regularly criticized the GoG for not helping to create an
attractive business environment, through reduction of
bureaucracy, anti-corruption measures, more flexible labor laws,
and tax incentives etc. Despite his often controversial views,
he is a popular and well-liked personality. He is a close post
contact.
RARE KIDNAPPING RECALLS 1995 CASE
5. (U) Since 1995, there have been eight abduction cases in
Thessaloniki. In all of them, the victims returned safe to
their families, and in most cases the perpetrators were
arrested. Only one previous case was of a magnitude comparable
to the present case. That was the abduction of Alexandros
Haitoglou in 1995. Haitoglou was the owner of the company
"Macedonian Halva" and was released after his family paid a
ransom of about 734,000 ($1.16m.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The kidnapping of one of northern Greece's
most well-known respected businessman has shocked northern
Greeks, who are used to the occasional anarchist Molotov
cocktail but not to crime of this nature. Police are taking the
case seriously, aware that their performance will be closely
scrutinized in the wake of several highly publicized gaffes over
the past year. END COMMENT.
YEE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/SE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SOCI PTER ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: KIDNAPPING OF PROMINENT INDUSTRIALIST STUNS
POLICE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 09, three gunmen abducted the chairman
of the Federation of Northern Greek Industries and CEO of Alumil
S.A. Giorgos Milonas outside his home in Thessaloniki. Media
have reported that the family has received a ransom demand for
30 million Euros. The victim is a prominent businessman with
professional activities in many countries. He is an outspoken
advocate of free trade and critic of government bureaucracy and
incompetence. Police have told Post that available evidence
suggests that his kidnapping is criminal in nature with no
terrorism-related or political motives. Athens Legal Attachi
has offered assistance to the Greek police. END SUMMARY
POLICE DO NOT SUSPECT TERRORISTS
2. (SBU) According to media and police reports, the chairman of
the Federation of Northern Greek Industries and CEO of Alumil
S.A. Giorgos Milonas was abducted in front of his house by three
armed assailants as he and his wife returned home shortly before
midnight on Monday, June 09. The gunmen ordered Milonas's wife
to leave the car, then used it to take Milonas to a second
vehicle that they used for escape. They left Milonas' cell
phone, wristwatch and wallet in his car, perhaps concerned that
the items might facilitate their being traced by police. Media
reported that they also left a note, asking for 30,000,000 in
ransom. Media have also speculated that Milonas' successful
business dealings in the Balkans may have attracted attention
from mafia gangs. Police contacts have told us they are
treating this as a criminal case and do not believe it is
terrorism-related, though all possibilities are being
investigated. Athens Legal Attachi has offered assistance.
OUTSPOKEN PRO-BUSINESS GOVERNMENT CRITIC
3. (U) Giorgos Milonas is the chairman of the Federation of
Northern Greek Industries, a member of the board of the
Federation of Greek Industries and a member of the board of the
Greek Association of Aluminum. He is also the vice-chairman of
the Greek-Chinese Business Council and a member of the
Greek-Serbian Business Council. He is the CEO of Alumil S.A., a
successful aluminum extrusion company. Its production sites
include 13 factories, in four cities in Northern Greece and six
abroad. It has 25 subsidiaries around the world and employs
over 2,000 staff. Listed in the Athens Stock Exchange since
1998, the Group's sales have exceeded 179m in 2004. In the
U.S., the company has a showroom in New York, while further
investments and the establishment of subsidiaries are in
progress. Born in 1959, Milonas holds a BScs in Mathematics and
Business Administration and an MSc in Operational Research.
4. (SBU) The victim has been very vocal in his advocacy on
behalf of northern Greek businesses. He has drawn media
attention for his direct criticism of government policy and
sometimes combative tone. He has urged that "Free Transactions
Zones" be set up in border regions and that the zones be
accessible to the workforce of the neighboring countries.
Though close to governing New Democracy politicians, he has
regularly criticized the GoG for not helping to create an
attractive business environment, through reduction of
bureaucracy, anti-corruption measures, more flexible labor laws,
and tax incentives etc. Despite his often controversial views,
he is a popular and well-liked personality. He is a close post
contact.
RARE KIDNAPPING RECALLS 1995 CASE
5. (U) Since 1995, there have been eight abduction cases in
Thessaloniki. In all of them, the victims returned safe to
their families, and in most cases the perpetrators were
arrested. Only one previous case was of a magnitude comparable
to the present case. That was the abduction of Alexandros
Haitoglou in 1995. Haitoglou was the owner of the company
"Macedonian Halva" and was released after his family paid a
ransom of about 734,000 ($1.16m.)
6. (SBU) COMMENT: The kidnapping of one of northern Greece's
most well-known respected businessman has shocked northern
Greeks, who are used to the occasional anarchist Molotov
cocktail but not to crime of this nature. Police are taking the
case seriously, aware that their performance will be closely
scrutinized in the wake of several highly publicized gaffes over
the past year. END COMMENT.
YEE