GREECE: THESSALONIKI TRADE FAIR DEMONSTRATIONS WELL MANAGED

UNCLAS THESSALONIKI 000040

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE, DS/IP/EUR, DS/DSS/TIA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV ECON GR
SUBJECT: GREECE: THESSALONIKI TRADE FAIR DEMONSTRATIONS WELL MANAGED
BY POLICE

The following text was initially sent on 09 September, but
appears to have failed to transmit properly (most likely due to
operator error on the part of the new CG). We are repeating
transmission and apologize for any inconvenience caused by the
reporting delay.


1. (SBU) Details on demonstrations occurring around the opening
of the 74th annual Thessaloniki International Trade Fair,
historically known for anti-government mass protests, follow
below. In general, the Fair was considered one of the most
peaceful in recent memory, with violent demonstrations kept to a
minimum and well controlled by approximately 2,500 national
police deployed preventatively around the city. The Consulate
building received expanded police coverage during protest
periods. No incidents took place in front of the Consulate or
other U.S. interests around the city.


2. (SBU) On 05 September at 19:00 approximately 500 uniformed
policemen, firefighters and coast guard officers gathered in
front of the White Tower in downtown Thessaloniki and marched
peacefully to the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace shouting
slogans against GoG economic policy.


3. (SBU) On 06 September at 20:00, three groups of
approximately 8,000 protesters each gathered at Aristotle
Square, Syntrivaniou Square, and the Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
in downtown Thessaloniki. The protestors included members of
the General Confederation of Workers (GSEE),the Confederation
of Public Servants (ADEDY),Labor Unions (PAME),Farmers (PASY),
several other left wing groups and some anarchists. The
demonstrators marched from those three locations to converge at
the YMCA square across the street from the south entrance of the
Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the I. Vellidis
convention center, where PM Karamanlis was officially opening
the Trade Fair with his annual state-of-the-economy address.
The event was attended by senior GoG officials and diplomats
from Thessaloniki and Athens, including the DCM and Consul
General. The protestors were blocked at the YMCA square by
police and were not permitted to approach the Vellidis center.
They remained in the square for approximately two hours,
shouting slogans protesting GoG economic policy and left
peacefully, passing in front of the Consulate without incident.
The DCM and all U.S. Mission employees departed the Convention
Center safely after the speech.


4. (SBU) Separately, on 06 September a group of anarchists
marching in the city center several blocks from the Consulate
hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at the police guard booth
outside the Turkish Consulate and at several nearby bank
branches. Police responded quickly and effectively, using tear
gas, and arresting 25 suspects for participation in the
disturbances. Five ATMs, a Millennium bank branch, and an
Agricultural bank branch suffered significant material damage
due to fires caused by the Molotov cocktails.


5. (SBU) This was the third consecutive year that police
received advance authorization from the district attorney during
the duration of the Fair to intervene and to pursue perpetrators
of violent acts onto university campuses, thereby waiving normal
"asylum" law prohibitions restricting police access to
universities. No Fair-related incidents required police to test
this authorization by entering a campus in hot pursuit, however
police did successfully block anarchists from entering
university areas during the demonstrations.

KAY