GREEK FM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 000009 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER MOPS SOCI GR IS SUBJECT: GREEK FM CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA; U.S. EMBASSY DAMAGED BY PROTESTERS REF: ATHENS 1728 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis -- who became Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE on January 1 -- has also taken an activist role in the EU response to the Gaza crisis. On January 4, she issued a statement criticizing Israeli ground operations in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and urging consideration of deploying international observers in the region. On Sunday, Bakoyannis also discussed developments with Palestinian Authority President Abbas and the Egyptian, Spanish, and French foreign ministers and is scheduled later today to call UK Foreign Secretary Miliband. Hyperbolic press reports are feeding the Greek public's anger over Gaza developments. The Israeli and U.S. Embassies were the targets of large, sometimes violent, demonstrations on January 3 and 4. Sixteen windows were broken in the U.S. Embassy Chancellery by rocks and other projectiles thrown by protesters. We remained concerned about the potential for violence on January 9 during previously scheduled mass student protests and on January 12, the two-year anniversary of the RPG attack against the U.S. Embassy. END SUMMARY. BAKOYANNIS AND GAZA -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In her statement (the full text of which is reprinted below in para 7),Bakoyannis criticized Israeli ground operations in Gaza as a "very negative development," which would lead to a number of bad consequences and must be stopped immediately. She said the operations would exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, increase instability and extremism in the wider region, and deal a serious blow to the peace process, which was the "only path to a solution." Bakoyannis went on to say that the international community could not be a passive observer to developments, and that the UN had a "pivotal role" to play in finding a solution. Echoing calls we have heard in the past from the MFA about sending peacekeepers or observers to Gaza, Bakoyannis said consideration must be given to deploying international observers in the region. Finally, Bakoyannis urged implementation of the three-point policy (ceasefire, humanitarian aid and the peace process),which she claimed had been Greece's position from the start of the crisis, and which she had suggested to, and had been accepted by, the EU as its common position. ¶3. (SBU) On January 4, Bakoyannis also made a number of phone calls to discuss the three-point policy with international leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Abbas and the foreign ministers of Egypt, Spain, and France. She is scheduled later today to call UK Foreign Secretary Miliband. GREEK PRESS FEEDING ANGER -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Greek press has for the most part taken the Palestinian side on the Gaza crisis, and hyperbolic reports appear to be feeding the public's anger over developments. Nearly all papers have criticized the U.S. and the perceived pro-U.S. Czech EU Presidency for backing Israel in its continued action against "non-combatants and children." Some headlines include: "Continuous Massacre with U.S. Backing" (Ta Nea),"Crime Against Humanity" (Eleftherotypia),"The American Fifth Column in Europe and the Attack against Gaza" (Eleftherotypia),and "Holocaust" (Apogevmatini). Even serious papers, such as Kathimerini, which has printed contributions from the Israeli Amos Oz and others, and To Vima, which ran columns by both the Palestinian and Israeli envoys this weekend, strongly disapprove of the Israeli operation. U.S. EMBASSY DAMAGED BY PROTESTERS -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On January 3 and 4, three to four thousand protesters, made up of Palestinians and other Arabs, as well as members of the new-left SYRIZA coalition and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE),targeted the U.S. and Israeli Embassies. The protests began at the central Syntagma Square in front of Parliament, advanced the mile or so to the U.S. Embassy, then another approximately two miles to the Israeli Embassy. Protesters hurled rocks and other projectiles at the American Embassy, breaking 16 windows in the Chancellery on Saturday. Violence also broke out in front of the Israeli Embassy, where protesters set fires and police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. ATHENS 00000009 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) We remain concerned about the potential for violence directed against American officials and property on January 9, when previously scheduled mass student demonstrations may combine with Gaza demonstrations. We are also concerned about the possibility of an attack against the Embassy or U.S. personnel in connection with the two-year anniversary of the 2007 RPG attack, which occurs on January 12. We will hold an Embassy EAC meeting January 7 to discuss and plan for developments. The RSO and other agency offices remain in close contact with the Hellenic Police and the security services. BAKOYANNIS' GAZA STATEMENT -------------- ¶7. (U) BEGIN TEXT OF FM BAKOYANNIS' JANUARY 4 STATEMENT ON GAZA: The ground operations in Gaza are a very negative development. They exacerbate the tragic humanitarian crisis. They exacerbate the dangerous instability in the wider region, strengthening unacceptable and extremist positions. They are dealing a serious blow to the prospects of the peace process, which is the only path to a solution. The international community cannot simply play the role of observer or commentator with regard to these developments. The UN Security Council has a pivotal role. No more time must be lost. The bloodshed must be stopped. Violence is not the solution. Ground operations must be stopped immediately and a ceasefire must be achieved. We need to see the implementation of the three-point policy (ceasefire, humanitarian aid, peace process) that has been Greece's position from the outset and was decided upon by the Foreign Ministers of the European Union on 30 December in Paris. Serious consideration must also be given to the possibility of deploying an international presence -- international observers, for instance -- in the region. END TEXT OF BAKOYANNIS GAZA STATEMENT SPECKHARD