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