This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ATHENS 000571 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
FOR EUR/SE, EUR/PGI, G/TIP, INL/HSTC, G, DRL, PRM, IWI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG KFRD PREL ELAB GR TIP
SUBJECT: GREECE PART 3: TIP REPORT SUBMISSION 2006 
 
REF: A. STATE 3836 
     ¶B. THESSALONIKI 25 
     ¶C. ATHENS 538 
     ¶D. ATHENS 512 
     ¶E. ATHENS 431 
     ¶F. ATHENS 414 
     ¶G. THESSALONIKI 14 
     ¶H. ATHENS 369 
     ¶I. ATHENS 346 
     ¶J. ATHENS 328 
     ¶K. 05 ATHENS 3157 
     ¶L. 05 ATHENS 3144 
     ¶M. 05 ATHENS 3110 
     ¶N. 05 ATHENS 2959 
     ¶O. 05 ATHENS 2927 
     ¶P. 05 THESSALONIKI 86 
     ¶Q. 05 ATHENS 2802 
     ¶R. 05 THESSALONIKI 81 
     ¶S. 05 ATHENS 2779 
     ¶T. 05 ATHENS 2742 
     ¶U. 05 ATHENS 2113 
     ¶V. 05 ATHENS 1626 
     ¶W. 05 TIRANA 968 
     ¶X. 05 ATHENS 1268 
 
¶1.  The following is Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please 
Protect Accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Below are Embassy Athens' responses to the 2006 TIP 
report questionnaire.  Text is keyed to Ref A request for 
"Investigation and Prosecution" Section.  This is the third 
of four cables. 
 
¶3.  INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF TRAFFICKERS: 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
For questions A-D, posts should highlight in particular 
whether or not the country has enacted any new legislation 
since the last TIP report. 
 
-- A. Does the country have a law specifically prohibiting 
trafficking in persons--both trafficking for sexual 
exploitation and trafficking for non-sexual purposes (e.g. 
forced labor)? If so, what is the law?  Does the law(s) cover 
both internal and external (transnational) forms of 
trafficking? If not, under what other laws can traffickers be 
prosecuted?  For example, are there laws against slavery or 
the exploitation of prostitution by means of coercion or 
fraud?  Are these other laws being used in trafficking cases? 
 Are these laws, taken together, adequate to cover the full 
scope of trafficking in persons?  Please provide a full 
inventory of trafficking laws, including civil penalties, 
(e.g., civil forfeiture laws and laws against illegal debt). 
 
Greek law 3064/2002 signed in October 2002 and Presidential 
Decree 233/2003 specifically prohibit trafficking in persons 
for sex or labor inside or outside Greek territory, and are 
considered by NGO legal experts to be model pieces of 
anti-trafficking legislation. 
 
In 2005, the Parliament passed a new Immigration Law 
(3386/2005), which, among general immigration provisions, 
also provides for central issuance and renewal of residence 
permits for TIP victims with no fee, special care for minor 
victims, and a one month reflection period, which can be 
extended for minors. (Ref 05 Athens 2113)  Excerpts of the 
relevant articles are available in English for review. 
 
The Law on Organized Crime (2928/2001), which applies to TIP 
cases when an organized network is involved in the 
trafficking, governs investigative capabilities of law 
enforcement and provides for witness protection. 
 
In 2004, the MOJ amended certain provisions of Presidential 
Decree 233/2003.  The amended Presidential Decree guarantees 
victim benefits from the provisions on protection, support 
and assistance, as well as requires that NGOs be accredited 
to offer assistance during screening procedures and victim 
support.  The Ministry of Interior's 2004 amendments to the 
Presidential Decree to allow foreign victims of trafficking a 
combined residence and work permits and to exempt victims 
from paying a deposit for the permits were included in the 
2005 Immigration Law.  Other laws on pimping, illegal 
prostitution, violence, rape, exploitation, and coercion have 
been used in the past to combat TIP and are sufficient to 
cover the full scope of trafficking. 
 
-- B. What are the penalties for traffickers of people for 
sexual exploitation?  For traffickers of people for labor 
exploitation? 
 
Penalties for trafficking in people for sexual or labor 
exploitation vary, but include incarceration for up to ten 
years and a fine of 10,000 to 50,000 euros.  Offenders who 
exploit minors, exploit employees, or cause serious physical 
injury to victims face a minimum ten year imprisonment and 
fine of 50,000 to 100,000 euros.  Traffickers who kill their 
victims face life imprisonment.  Because felony trials 
usually require at least 5-6 years to fully make their way 
through the appeals process, there has not yet been a fully 
appealed conviction under the 2002 anti-trafficking law. 
There are numerous ongoing trials, including trials resulting 
from 2005 arrests, which have not yet been appealed.  NGOs 
and the Embassy will follow the two trials of convicted 
trafficker Dimitris Pallas scheduled to be heard on April 5 
and 6 in Northern Greece. 
 
-- C. What are the penalties for rape or forcible sexual 
assault?  How do they compare to the penalty for sex 
trafficking? 
 
Penalties for rape and forcible sexual assault vary depending 
on the circumstances surrounding the crime and the damage to 
the victim, but range from five years to life imprisonment. 
The penalties compare appropriately to those for sex 
trafficking. 
 
-- D. Is prostitution legalized or decriminalized? 
Specifically, are the activities of the prostitute 
criminalized?  Are the activities of the brothel 
owner/operator, clients, pimps, and enforcers criminalized? 
Are these laws enforced? If prostitution is legal and 
regulated, what is the legal minimum age for this activity? 
Note that in many countries with federalist systems, 
prostitution laws may be covered by state, local, and 
provincial authorities. 
 
Prostitution and brothel ownership are legal and regulated by 
the state.  Prostitutes must register at the local prefecture 
and carry a medical card that is updated every two weeks. 
The minimum age is 18 (according to Article 6 of law 
1193/81).  Most prostitution in Greece that occurs is 
illegal, that is, the prostitutes are not licensed by the 
state - and they work through newspaper ads, private 
operators, in bars, or in strip clubs. 
 
-- E. Has the Government prosecuted any cases against 
traffickers?  If so, provide numbers of investigations, 
prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, including details 
on plea bargains and fines, if relevant and available.  Are 
the traffickers serving the time sentenced:  If no, why not? 
Please indicate whether the government can provide this 
information, and if not, why not? (Note:  complete answers to 
this section are essential. End Note) 
 
The Government reported that in 2005, there were 60 cases of 
trafficking investigated by law enforcement authorities; 59 
cases of sexual exploitation and 1 case of labor 
exploitation.  17 were committed by organized crime networks. 
 There were 202 perpetrators arrested and charged under 
articles 323A (Trafficking in Persons) and 351 (Trade in 
Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation) of the anti-trafficking 
law (3064/2002).  Of the 202 perpetrators arrested in 2005: 
 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to eighteen months 
imprisonment and fined 8,000 euros under law 2910/01 for 
trafficking related crimes, but a trial is pending under the 
law 3064. 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment 
and fined 10,000 euros under law 2910/01 for trafficking 
related crimes, but a trial is pending under law 3064. 
--(33) are being held in pre-trial detention. 
--(19) were detained and deported based on minor charges and 
are barred from re-entering Greece for a period of 
approximately 5 years. 
--(30) were released but a trial date has been set. 
--(50) were granted conditional release (defendant must post 
bail, report to the police every 15 days, and not leave the 
country) pending trial. 
--(55) were released pending completion of final 
investigation. 
--(12) were charged but have not yet been arrested pending 
completion of investigation. (MPO reports that the last two 
categories cover arrests made in late 2005 where 
investigations were ongoing because the trafficker was not 
caught in the act of trafficking.) 
 
Under Greek law, each conviction will be appealed at least 
one time and can also go to the Supreme Court for a second 
appeal.  The conviction will not be final until appeals are 
completed.  GoG reps could not provide info about whether 
traffickers were serving the time sentenced until the cases 
had worked through the appeals process. 
 
Some cases in which perpetrators were arrested in 2004 came 
to trial in 2005.  Of those perpetrators: 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to 12 years and fined 
50,500 euros. 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to 12 years and 10 months. 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. 
--(2) were convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. 
--(1) was convicted and sentenced to 20 months imprisonment. 
 
Again, these convictions are pending appeal.  There were 
press and NGO reports of trials during the year where 
perpetrators were convicted but released on bail.  In 
October, for example, a court in Serres, near the Bulgarian 
border, sentenced three Greek nationals (two men and a woman) 
to 15-17 years imprisonment for trafficking.  However, the 
three suspects were released on bail pending appeal, and 
those appeals have not yet come before the courts. 
 
-- F. Is there any information or reports of who is behind 
the trafficking?  For example, are the traffickers freelance 
operators, small crime groups, and/or large international 
organized crime syndicates?  Are employment, travel, and 
tourism agencies or marriage brokers fronting for traffickers 
or crime groups to traffic individuals? Are government 
officials involved?  Are there any reports of where profits 
from trafficking in persons are being channeled?  (e.g. armed 
groups, terrorist organizations, judges, banks, etc.) 
 
Arrest statistics and police reports indicate that Greek and 
Eastern European criminals and mafia are the primary movers 
in illegal trafficking rings, though the size and nature of 
trafficking organizations is said to vary widely.  MPO 
statistics show that 202 perpetrators were arrested and 
charged in 2005 with violations of Article 323A and 351 of 
the anti-TIP law (3064/02).  There were 133 Greek 
perpetrators, 28 Romanian perpetrators, 13 Albanian 
perpetrators, 12 Bulgarian perpetrators, 3 Russian 
perpetrators, 3 Moldovan perpetrators, and 1 perpetrator each 
from Armenia, India, Ukraine, Pakistan, and Turkey.   NGOs in 
Greece and abroad, the media, and police report that some 
travel agencies, especially those that deal with Eastern 
Europe, are involved in trafficking rings.  NGO activists and 
journalists reported that some Greek consular officials 
abroad facilitate trafficking by granting visas, possibly via 
bribery or coercion, to TIP victims.  There are no reports to 
indicate profits going to terrorist organizations; 
information from arrests indicates that most profits go to 
criminal entrepreneurs. 
 
-- G. Does the government actively investigate cases of 
trafficking?  Does the government use active investigative 
techniques in TIP investigations? To the extent possible 
under domestic law, are techniques such as electronic 
surveillance, undercover operations, and mitigated punishment 
or immunity for cooperating suspects used by the government? 
Does the criminal procedure code or other laws prohibit the 
police from engaging in covert operations? 
 
The MPO has the lead in actively investigating trafficking 
cases.  The Hellenic Police have deployed specialized 
anti-trafficking units in Athens and Thessaloniki since 2003. 
 The Chief of Police established 12 new anti-trafficking 
police units throughout Greece in January 2006.  The units 
were established in the prefectures of Arcadia, Achia, 
Ioannina, Kozani, Larisa, Rodopi, Serres, Fthiotida and the 
islands of Crete, Corfu, Lesbos, and the island chain of the 
Cyclades.  The units are specially trained to conduct all TIP 
operations and respond to all TIP incidents encountered by 
other officers.  NGOs complain that if a TIP case does not 
lead to a crime and arrest, the police are often unwilling to 
pursue the case solely on the basis of victim protection. 
 
Police officials use active techniques -- posing as clients, 
collecting intelligence, and answering newspaper ads -- to 
investigate cases.  Greek witness protection programs are far 
less advanced than in the U.S. Greek law does not prohibit 
undercover operations, as long as prosecutorial permission is 
obtained.  Police regularly break up trafficking rings and 
arrest suspected traffickers.  Law enforcement authorities 
can actively investigate TIP cases under the provisions of 
the Organized Crime law and do so to the extent possible 
under domestic law.  Greek law allows for limited electronic 
surveillance, though it is not always admissible in court. 
 
-- H. Does the government provide any specialized training 
for government officials in how to recognize, investigate, 
and prosecute instances of trafficking? 
 
From October to December 2005 the MFA funded training 
seminars for over 1,300 police officers and other law 
enforcement officers in eight cities throughout Greece.  The 
International Police Association, in cooperation with the 
European Law Center, trained the police with the active 
participation of judges, prosecutors, IOM and nine different 
NGOs who provided speakers and lecturers.  In 2006, the MFA 
signed an agreement with the President of the Union of 
Prosecutors for TIP training for prosecutors throughout 
Greece.  This is a key development since prosecutors have 
responsibility for characterizing TIP victims and trying TIP 
cases. 
 
--I. Does the government cooperate with other governments in 
the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases? If 
possible, can post provide the number of cooperative 
international investigations on trafficking? 
 
Greece is a leader in promoting increased regional law 
enforcement cooperation.  During the reporting period, the 
GoG organized major regional conferences (Ref Athens 346, 
Thessaloniki 14), and an SEECP Justice and Home Affairs 
Ministerial on improved regional cooperation to combat TIP 
(Ref Athens 512).  In April 2005, a protocol of cooperation 
was signed between Greek and Albanian law enforcement 
authorities, and in 2005, Greek and Albanian law enforcement 
officials held meetings in both countries to strengthen 
cooperation and discuss improvements in jointly fighting 
trans-border organized crime, including TIP (Ref 05 Thess 
87).  In February 2005, Greece and BiH signed bilateral 
agreements governing police cooperation. 
 
-- J. Does the government extradite persons who are charged 
with trafficking in other countries?  If so, can post provide 
the number of traffickers extradited?  Does the government 
extradite its own nationals charged with such offenses?   If 
not, is the government prohibited by law form extraditing its 
own nationals?  If so, what is the government doing to modify 
its laws to permit the extradition of its own nationals? 
 
The Greek Government can extradite persons charged with 
trafficking to other countries, however we have no 
information on such extraditions.  Greek citizens can be 
extradited to EU countries that are parties to the "EU arrest 
warrant," but are protected from extradition to certain 
countries.  For example, Greek nationals are protected from 
extradition to the U.S. based on article 8 of the 1931 
extradition treaty. 
 
-- K. Is there evidence of government involvement in or 
tolerance of trafficking, on a local or institutional level? 
If so, please explain in detail. 
 
There is no evidence of government involvement in trafficking 
on an institutional level.  NGOs and the media report that 
some local police take bribes or free sex services from 
traffickers, patronize establishments implicated in TIP, or 
ignore the problem.  Anecdotal reports support this 
phenomenon.  There were accusations made by an NGO of 
corruption at a Greek consulate in Russia because it had 
issued legitimate visas to TIP victims with little 
documentary evidence and no personal interview, either of 
which might have uncovered misrepresentations on the visa 
applications.  (Note: Not all Russian applicants are asked to 
travel to Moscow for interviews.  End Note.) 
 
Though there was no evidence of a direct relationship to TIP 
in the following case, in 2005, a retired Greek MFA employee 
was arrested and charged with fraudulently issuing some 2,400 
valid Schengen Visas to Ukrainian nationals while he was 
assigned to the Greek mission in Kiev between November 2001 
and March 2002.  (Ref 05 Athens 3144) 
 
-- L. If government officials are involved in trafficking, 
what steps has the government taken to end such 
participation?  Have any government officials been prosecuted 
for involvement in trafficking or trafficking- related 
corruption? Have any been convicted?  What actual sentence 
was imposed?  Please provide specific numbers, if available. 
 
The GoG provided no information about government officials 
involved in trafficking. 
 
Local press in Northern Greece reported in July 2005 that a 
trafficking ring operating in Thrace under police protection 
had been dismantled.  Five traffickers were accused of 
bringing dozens of young women from Eastern Europe into 
Greece over the last four years.  Three unnamed policemen - 
two of them described as "high-ranking" officers - face 
charges of bribery and abetting a criminal enterprise.  A 
former local mayor and members of his staff were allegedly 
involved in document fraud.  At last report, the 
investigation was ongoing. 
 
-- M. If the country has an identified child sex tourism 
problem (as source or destination), how many foreign 
pedophiles has the government prosecuted or 
deported/extradited to their country of origin? Does the 
country's child sexual abuse laws have extraterritorial 
coverage (like the U.S. PROTECT Act)? 
 
Greece has not been identified to have a child sex tourism 
problem either as a source, transit, or destination country. 
In February and October 2005, the police dismantled networks 
dealing in child pornography through the Internet.  Six 
Greeks, identified to be members of international networks, 
were arrested and charged under child pornography statutes. 
The newly established Internet Crime Police Division arrested 
9 persons and filed lawsuits against 19 others for dealing in 
Internet child pornography during the coordinated EU 
operation "Purity" in April 2005.  The division, which 
prioritizes and aggressively pursues child pornography cases, 
reported a 600 percent annual increase of crime through the 
Internet in 2005. 
 
-- N. Has the government signed, ratified, and/or taken steps 
to implement the following international instruments? Please 
provide the date of signature/ ratification if appropriate. 
 
The GOG ratified ILO convention 182 on June 15, 2001; ILO 
convention 29 on June 13, 1952; and ILO convention 105 on 
June 19, 1961. 
 
The GoG signed the optional protocol to the Convention of the 
Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child 
Prostitution, and Child Pornography on September 7, 2000. 
 
The GoG signed the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress, and Punish 
Trafficking in Persons, supplementing the UN Convention 
against Transnational Organized Crime on December 13, 2000. 
 
Additionally, Greece signed the Council of Europe Convention 
Against Trafficking in Human Beings 17 November 2005 and 
reports it will soon ratify this instrument.  The convention 
is said to contain more binding language than the Palermo 
Protocol and establishes mechanisms to ensure compliance. 
The Council of Europe calls it "a comprehensive treaty that 
mainly focuses on the protection of victims of trafficking 
and safeguarding of their rights."  It also aims at 
preventing trafficking and prosecuting traffickers.  The 
Convention applies to all forms of trafficking, national or 
transnational, related to organized crime or not, any type of 
victims - women, men, or children, and any form of 
exploitation, sexual, forced labor or services, etc, which is 
in line with the existing Greek legal framework.  The 
Convention provides for setting up an independent monitoring 
mechanism guaranteeing parties compliance with its 
provisions. 
 
Greece 2006 TIP Report Submission Continued Septel. 
Ries