VZCZCXYZ0007
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTH #1133/01 1231235
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031235Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5313
INFO RUEHNC/AMEMBASSY NICOSIA PRIORITY 2520

UNCLAS ATHENS 001133 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SE BAXTER HUNT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA CY GR VISIT
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR GREECE FOR EUR/SE DEPUTY 
DIRECTOR BAXTER HUNT 
 
REF: STATE 69087 
 
¶1.  Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for 
the visit of EUR/SE Deputy Director Baxter Hunt, to travel to 
Athens, Greece, May 9 - 12, 2006 to meet with government 
officials, foreign press correspondents, and embassy 
officials.  Embassy point of contact is Political Officer 
Kirsten Bauman, who can be reached during office hours at 
30-210-720-2015, on cellular at 30-694-895-4428, and via 
email to baumanks@state.gov.  The Embassy,s after hours duty 
receptionist can be reached at 30-210-729-4444.  Lodging is 
at the Alexandros Hotel at a room rate of 99 euros per night. 
 The confirmation number is 136447 and the address for the 
Alexandros Hotel is 8 Tim Vassou St., Athens. 
 
¶2.  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. 
 
¶3.  Early morning check-in:  For those coming from 
Washington, D.C., often on the early morning Delta flight 
arriving at 1005, please note there is no guarantee of early 
check-in at the hotel.  Normal check-in time is 1400. 
Although post can request early check-in for travelers, the 
only way to guarantee a room waiting is to reserve it for the 
preceding night.  Travelers who wish to book the previous 
night must request post to make this reservation.  The 
traveler is responsible for this expense. 
 
¶4.  Arrivals:  Post is unable to provide transportation from 
the airport upon arrival.  Please plan to use taxis.  The 
price of a taxi from Athens airport to downtown is 
approximately 28 - 30 euros.  Depending on traffic, the trip 
to the Embassy takes 30 to 60 minutes. 
 
¶5.  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.  The 
Embassy will be unable to obtain plane-side visas for USG 
employees arriving in Greece without proper documentation. 
Holders of tourist passports do not/not require visas.  USG 
employees who plan to operate a motor vehicle while in Greece 
must be in possession of a valid U.S. drivers, license as 
well as a valid International Drivers, License and must 
carry proof of third party liability insurance while 
operating the vehicle. 
 
¶6.  Embassy access:  Embassy Athens has installed a new 
identification badging system, which requires that all 
Department of State employees bring their Global ID and/or 
Smart Card that will be acknowledged as proper Embassy ID. 
DOS employees will be expected to stop by the RSO Office to 
program their ID to be compatible with the Athens system. 
 
¶7.  Regional Medical Office:  The Health Unit at the Embassy 
is fully staffed.  A State Department medical clearance is 
required by all employees of agencies participating in ICASS 
who will be traveling TDY for more then 60 days a year. 
Health Unit access is not guaranteed without this clearance. 
Family members will not have access to the Health Unit unless 
they are on employees, travel orders.  We strongly recommend 
that TDYers bring with them proof of current medical 
insurance coverage and medevac coverage if obtained. 
 
¶8.  Each visitor requiring support from the embassy, 
regardless of length of stay, must bring/forward fiscal data 
to pay for direct costs of the visit.  Each military TDYer 
requesting embassy support should be able to provide the 
sponsoring military entity at post fiscal data, even if 
staying at post less than thirty days.  Each agency, 
organization or visiting delegation will be charged for the 
actual costs attributed to its visit.  Direct charge costs 
include, but are not limited to: American and LES overtime 
(for such services as airport expediting, cashier 
accommodation exchange, control room staffing, 
representational event suport), travel and per diem costs 
incurred by post personnel in support of visitor's field 
travel, rental of vehicles and other equipment, long distance 
telephone calls, office supplies, gasoline and other vehicle 
maintenance costs, departure tax and other airport fees. 
Post will not provide service if fiscal data is not provided 
for the direct charges.  For TDYers remaining at post over 30 
days, there is a charge for ICASS support services.  This 
charge is for the following ICASS services: Basic Package, 
CLO and Health Services.  The charge per month is 
approximately $125.  Agencies will not be billed until the 
accumulated invoice cost for TDY support exceeds $2,500 for 
the fiscal year.  If your sponsoring agency is not signed up 
 
for ICASS services at post, please be prepared to sign a 
Memorandum of Understanding for ICASS support services upon 
arrival.  Each agency should provide post with a written 
communication, generated by the traveler's headquarters, that 
confirms the agency will pay ICASS charges for the TDYer, 
provides the agency ICASS billing code the TDY support 
charges should be applied to, and authorizes the traveler to 
sign the ICASS invoice generated by the TDY module.  Where 
travel is urgent, the TDYer should bring this documentation 
with him/her to ensure there are no interruptions in the 
provision of service.  Post will not provide any service to a 
TDYer staying in excess of thirty days without provision of 
this documentation before day 31 of the TDY. 
 
¶9.  Currency:  Greece is a member of the European Monetary 
Union, and the Euro is the currency of the country. 
Accommodation exchange is available on a limited basis 
(responsible agency/section signed authorization) at the 
Embassy cashier office ) hours are M-F 0930 ) 1030, 1200 - 
1300 and 1430 ) 1530.  However, ATMs are readily available 
throughout the country (there is also one at the Embassy); 
they will accept U.S. debit cards.  In addition, most banks 
and major hotels provide accommodation exchange services. 
Post is unable to provide reverse accommodation. 
 
¶10.  Office space/laptops/mobile phones:  Office space in 
both classified and unclassified areas is extremely limited. 
For those employees planning on bringing laptops and modems 
to use in their hotels, please remember that this equipment 
can be used for processing unclassified (non-SBU) information 
only.  Current here is 220 volt, 50 cycles, and outlets are 
two-pronged.  Bring along a plug adapter and equipment that 
can handle the voltage.  Laptops are not permitted in 
controlled access areas of the Embassy.  European GSM mobile 
phones function normally in Greece. 
 
¶11.  Presidential Directive - Trafficking in Persons:  All 
TDY personnel are reminded that President Bush has signed a 
National Security Presidential Directive to advance the fight 
against trafficking in persons.  The United States is 
committed to eradicate trafficking both domestically and 
abroad. Trafficking in persons exists in Greece.  A 
significant number of the people involved in prostitution, 
pornography and the sex tourism phenomenon, are trafficked. 
They are compelled by force, fraud and coercion to submit to 
sexual exploitation.  TDY personnel are advised that any 
involvement with the commercial sex industry is unacceptable 
in light of the diplomatic and foreign policy goals of the 
United States and the ethical standards of the Department of 
State and this Mission. Embassy Management will not tolerate 
any such involvement by Mission personnel and, in this 
regard, will enforce all relevant regulations regarding 
conduct and suitability of U.S. Government employees 
stationed abroad. 
 
¶12.  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. 
While these convictions likely impacted on the operational 
capabilities of 17N and ELA, it is too soon to assess whether 
the threat from domestic terrorism is 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.  Over the past year the U.S. 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. 
 
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