US embassy cable - 05ATHENS341

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 000341 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FRANKFURT FOR TSA/CASIFO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAIR, PTER, ASEC, OTRA, KHLS, CTRYCLR 
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE AND THREAT ASSESSMENT FOR 
TSA INSPECTOR BLAKE REID 
 
SIPDIS 
 
REF: FRANKFURT 902 
 
1.  Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country 
clearance for the visit of Blake Reid to conduct air 
carrier inspections at the Athens International 
Airport from Feb 22 through 25 2005.  Control Officer 
for the visit will be TSA Rep, Ray Montgomery, who can 
be reached during office hours at 30-210-720-2091, at 
home at 30-210-965-0175 or on Cellular at (0030)-6932- 
707071.  The Embassy's after hours duty receptionist 
can be reached at 30-210-729-4444. 
 
2.  Hotel reservations have been made at the Athens 
Hilton 46, Vas. Sofia's Avenue, telephone (30) 210- 
728-1000 and Fax (30) 210-728-1111.  Traveler's 
confirmation number is 308522. Cost per night is 135BB 
and it is within per diem. Traveler is expected to pay 
his own hotel bill prior to departing.  If the room 
reserved is not to be used, the reservation must be 
canceled prior to the option date of Feb 21st 2005. 
Otherwise, the traveler is responsible for the cost of 
the unused room. 
 
3.  Pursuant to State 66580 dated March 25, 2004, 
country clearance for any person on TDY for 30 days or 
more is granted contingent on completion of the 
mandatory personal security training.  The Department 
of State's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) conducts 
the approved minimum four-day training class, "Serving 
Abroad for Families & Employees (S.A.F.E.)."  This is 
the same course required for employees and highly 
recommended for their eligible family members over the 
age of 18. 
 
4. 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. 
 
5.  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.  Travelers 
should be prepared to go from the airport directly to the 
office/meetings if they have not paid for a room the night 
before.  The Embassy has a cafeteria that serves breakfast 
and lunch. 
 
6.  Arrivals:  We expect to be able to provide 
transportation for official visitors at the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary level and above upon arrival at the 
airport.  Other visitors should 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 40 to 60 minutes. 
 
7.  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. 
 
8.  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. 
 
9.  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. 
 
10. 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 0900  1100 and 1400 
 1600.  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. 
 
11.  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. 
 
12.  Presidential Directive - Trafficking in Persons:  All 
ll 
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. 
 
13.  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 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 "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 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 
r 
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 chaotic.  Greece leads the European Union 
in traffic fatalities.  Road rage is common.  Accidents 
often lead to fist fights.  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 
leads the European Union in motorcycle deaths. 
 
Ries