Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09THESSALONIKI2
2009-01-21 10:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Thessaloniki
Cable title:  

THESSALONIKI EMERGENCT ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING

Tags:  ASEC GR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1234
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHIK #0002 0211026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 211026Z JAN 09
FM AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0415
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY 0304
RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 0458
UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000002 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI EMERGENCT ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING

REF: 08 THESSALONIKI 0085, 0086

UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000002

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC GR
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI EMERGENCT ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING

REF: 08 THESSALONIKI 0085, 0086


1. Consulate General Thessaloniki's Emergency Action Committee
convened in January to review all aspects of the Consulate's
security after the recent violent demonstrations in Thessaloniki
and throughout Greece (Reftels). The Consulate General's
location in a downtown commercial building located on the street
where most demonstrations are conducted makes close cooperation
with local police essential to the security of the Consulate.
Post asked for and usually received additional police coverage
during the recent demonstrations and continues to work closely
with police for post security issues.




2. In early January Athens Engineering Services Center
(ESC)completed an upgrade to post's cameras and monitors that
improves our ability to monitor events from a security
standpoint, especially events on the main street in front of the
consulate building where most demonstrations take place. ESC is
planning an additional improvement in the near future.




3. Because the building is an open commercial shopping area,
access up to the outside door of the Consulate is not limited.
Thus the hard line door remains post's main protection against
unauthorized entry into the building. To minimize the
vulnerability that occurs when the door is opened, post has
taken steps to minimize the occasions during which the door will
be opened by placing commonly requested literature in a stand
outside the door. Previously, the door was being frequently
opened to hand out requested materials. Consulate staff have
also been reminded to be alert when opening the hard line door
for visitors and when entering and exiting.




4. On January 14, CG met with the Hellenic Police's Head of
Security in Thessaloniki, Brigadier General Doulieris to thank
the police for their support for the Consulate, including during
the recent demonstrations, and to pass on some observations.
The CG and Doulieris exchanged views on "lessons learned" from
the demonstrations, including some possible vulnerabilities
observed by Consulate staff. In particular, Consulate staff had
noticed that during the riots in December the police presence
guarding the rear entrance to the Consulate building sometimes
dropped below usual levels. Also, shortly before one
demonstration in early January, "advance" protesters managed to
surprise police and prevent them from closing the protective
gate blocking the main entrance to the building in which the
Consulate is located. Doulieris assured the CG the level of
police protection for the Consulate had not changed, and that
any decrease in police presence last month had been temporary.
Police would do their best, he added, to close the protective
gate in advance of a demonstration near the Consulate as early
as possible, without disrupting normal business of building
occupants unduly. [Note: during subsequent demonstrations on
January 15 and 19, police closed the gate well before the
protesters neared the Consulate, and a beefed up contingent of
riot police arrived to guard the rear entrance. End note]
Doulieris said he believed the worst period of demonstrations
was over, and that the smaller, less-violent demonstrations
would also "calm down" soon.

YEE