VZCZCXYZ0019
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #0170/01 0251500
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251500Z JAN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 0448
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7944
RUENAAA/OLA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY UNCLAS ATHENS 000170 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
H FOR MARK SMITH 
H PLEASE PASS TO CODEL SMITH 
DEPT FOR EUR, EUR/SE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS:            
SUBJECT: GREECE: COUNTRY CLEARANCE AND THREAT ASSESSMENT 
FOR CODEL SMITH 
 
REF: A. STATE 006300 
      B. STATE 08759 
      C. ATHENS 108 
 
 1.  Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for 
the visit of the Congressional Delegation led by Senator 
Gordon Smith (reftel B for names of all participants), to 
travel to Athens, Greece, January 28 - 29, 2007.  Embassy 
point of contact is Political Officer Patrick Connell, who 
can be reached during office hours at 30-210-720-2551, on 
cellular at 30-694-405-7009, and via email to 
ConnellPD@state.gov.  The Embassy,s after hours duty 
receptionist can be reached at 30-210-729-4444.  Lodging is 
at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, Constitution Square, tel. (30) 
210-333-0000. 
 
 2.  Embassy assistance has been arranged per reftel A for all 
meetings, lodging, and transportation.  Ref C provided 
scenesetter for CODEL's meetings with GOG officials and 
relevant background information.  Per e-mail from H, security 
information is provided below. 
 
 3.  It is important that all visitors carefully read the 
information and instructions provided below.  Post wants to 
ensure the best possible service to all official visitors and 
will work closely to arrange details of each visit. 
 
 4.  Documents required:  Diplomatic and official passport 
holders must have Greek diplomatic visas, a valid Schengen 
visa or diplomatic ID from any other Schengen country, in 
addition to their passport, in order to enter Greece. 
Holders of tourist passports do not/not require visas. 
 
 5.  Currency:  Greece is a member of the European Monetary 
Union, and the Euro is the currency of the country. 
Accommodation exchange will be provided upon arrival and 
prior to departure. 
 
 6.  Security information: 
 
 A.  Embassy Athens is designated &high8 for indigenous 
terrorism.  In the past, local Greek terrorist groups have 
targeted prominent Greeks as well as certain non-Greek 
Officials, including Americans.  We believe that the threat 
to official US Government personnel on short-term assignments 
to Greece or visiting for tourism is relatively low.  The 
indigenous groups historically have engaged in extensive 
operational surveillance over long periods of time.  In 2003 
and again in 2004, the Greek Government made significant 
progress to combat domestic terrorism by successfully 
convicting the leader and key hit men of the November 17 
terrorist organization and of the ELA.  17N was responsible 
for assassinating prominent Greeks and five members of the US 
Mission over the course of its 30-year history.  Convicted 
ELA members were responsible for several bombings, attempted 
murders and were involved in at least one assassination. 
These convictions likely impacted on the operational 
capabilities of 17N and ELA, however the threat from domestic 
terrorism has not been completely eliminated.  We urge 
vigilance and caution, as the worldwide threat from other 
terrorist groups against Americans in general remains high. 
Official Americans should assume they are potential targets. 
 
 B.  On January 12 of this year, the U.S. Embassy was struck 
by a rocket-propelled grenade.  Over the past year the 
Embassy has experienced numerous bomb threats, protest 
marches, and anti-U.S. demonstrations.  These protests are 
generally peaceful though a few provoked random acts of 
violence.  Travelers to Greece are advised that protests or 
demonstrations could occur at any time; unwitting observers 
or bystanders might be identified, to their disadvantage, as 
Americans.  RSO recommends that official U.S. travelers in 
Greece remain alert when moving about in public places and 
avoid certain places where demonstrators frequently 
congregate.  These places include the Polytechnical 
University area, located on 28 October (Patission) Street 
between the National Archeological Museum and Omonia Square; 
Exarchion Square, located near Kolonaki; Omonia and Syntagma 
Squares, which are often used as launch sites for large 
demonstrations; and Mavili Square, located near the U.S. 
Embassy.  Visitors should keep abreast of news about large 
demonstrations and avoid these areas and metro stops. 
 
 C.  Crime is rated &medium8 in Greece.  For TDY visitors, 
pick-pocketing and purse snatching are the most common 
crimes.  Taxis are generally safe though metered cabs are 
recommended.  Taxis too will often pick up more than one 
 
passenger unless prior arrangements are made.  Crimes of 
opportunity ) thefts, break-ins, and occasional scams ) are 
on the rise.  Travelers should be especially cautious with 
wallets, purses, and parcels when traveling on crowded 
streets, public buses, trolleys, and/or subways.  There have 
been several instances of motorcyclists approaching cars 
stuck in traffic, reaching through open windows or smashing 
closed ones, and stealing whatever is within reach.  We have 
also recently learned of a new scenario in which 
motorcyclists open the trunk of a vehicle and remove the 
contents.  The Embassy recommends keeping purses, parcels, 
handbags, etc. out of sight under the seat or on the floor of 
the car.  Windows should be kept closed and doors locked. 
Pedestrians may also be confronted by beggars and other 
street people who may attempt to divert attention, then steal 
unprotected valuables ) either by pick-pocketing or 
snatch-and-grab techniques.  Women are generally safe from 
violent crime in Greece.  Men are aggressive by American 
standards however when pursuing women. 
 
 D.  Traffic in Greek urban areas, especially Athens and 
Thessaloniki, is undisciplined.  Greece has a poor record 
within the European Union for traffic fatalities, mainly due 
to excessive speeding.  Road rage is always a risk. 
Accidents can result in fistfights.  Drivers in Greece should 
exercise caution and common sense.  Drivers and pedestrians 
alike should exercise extreme caution when operating motor 
vehicles or when walking along roadways.  Moreover, tourists 
who rent motorbikes either on the Greek mainland or its 
islands must wear helmets and must take special precautions 
on the local roads that are typically poorly maintained and 
frequently pothole-ridden.  Greece also has a poor record 
within the European Union in motorcycle deaths. 
RIES