VZCZCXRO6829
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHIK #0040 2821435
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091435Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0472
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 0348
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 0515

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