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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 001523 
 
CODEL 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN GR
SUBJECT: GREECE -- STAFFDEL TURNER (OCTOBER 8-13) 
 
REF: STATE 97917 
 
ATHENS 00001523  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  Embassy warmly welcomes the visit to Greece of CSCE 
Congressional Staff Delegation members Alex Johnson and Winsome 
Packer from October 8-13 in order to join CODEL Cardin for the OSCE 
Parliamentary Assembly Meeting in Athens. 
 
 
 
¶2.  Embassy has assigned Political Counselor George H. Frowick as 
principal point of contact.  He can be reached at +30-210-720-2381 
(office), +30-695-800-8680 (cell), and via email at 
FrowickGH@state.gov.  The administrative point of contact is 
General Services Officer Ramon Menendez-Carreira who can be 
contacted at +30-210-720-2387 (office), or via email at 
Menendez-CarreiraR@state.gov. 
 
 
 
¶3.  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. 
 
 
 
¶4.  Currency: Greece is a member of the European Monetary Union, 
and the Euro is the currency of the country.  ATMs are readily 
available throughout the country and they will accept U.S. debit 
cards.  In addition, most banks and major hotels provide 
accommodation exchange services. 
 
 
 
¶5.  Office space/laptops/mobile phones: 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. 
 
 
 
¶6.  Security information: 
 
 
 
¶A.  Embassy Athens is designated "critical" 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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. There is a resurgent threat 
of domestic terrorist groups, including Revolutionary Struggle 
(which launched an RPG at the U.S. Embassy in 2007) and the new 
group Sect of Revolutionaries, which killed a Greek police officer 
on June 17, in the first such fatal attack in years.  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 
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 
 
ATHENS 00001523  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
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 "medium" 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 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. 
McCarthy