Condemning the Attack (Athens,US Embasy Attack details, future pictures,CNN was not there)

http://news.ert.gr/en/1/22719.asp ^ | January 12, 2007 | staff

[longtermmemmory]

Greece’s political world unanimously condemned the hit at the US embassy compound in central Athens. A rocket-propelled device was fired early on Friday morning from across the street and hit the third floor of the building, causing minimal damage only. The Greek Government declared its determination to stamp out reviving terrorism, whose latest hit is but a blow against Democracy and Greece’s interests, and affects the bilateral ties between Greece and the USA. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis was immediately briefed on the attack, and then chaired a meeting at Maximos Mansion attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Public Order, Dora Bakoyannis and Byron Polydoras respectively. Dora Bakoyannis sent her US counterpart Condoleezza Rice a letter, vehemently condemning the hit. The US ambassador to Athens spoke of a "senseless" act of violence, further underlining that he has joined the Greek authorities’ efforts to solve the case.

	All Scenarios Are Open State-run television network NET broadcast the Russian-made rocket was 2.63 inches long, equipped with a built-in catapult and that was fired from nearby Lampsakos Street. Never before has such a rocket been used in attacks in Greece, nor has been used by the Greek army. The rocket, which was launched from 100 metres away, hit the third floor of the embassy, breaking the window and exploding in the interior of the building, near American Ambassador Charles Ries’ office. Promptly responding, police rushed to the crime scene and cordoned off the area around the US embassy compound until 9am. As a result, a mass traffic jam in the wider area gave commuters a hard time. There have been reports that the security firm it had been assigned the guarding of the embassy compound received two anonymous calls, claiming that leftist group "Epanastatikos Agonas (Revolutionary Struggle) orchestrated the attack. Both the calls and the evidence collected so far are under investigation. Public Prosecutor Dimitris Asprogerakas is supervising the investigation, while Greek Police Deputy Chief Stelios Syros will be heading a police team that will investigate the case. Meanwhile, the police are examining in its laboratories the remains of the rocket, as well as the videos taken by US cameras. Besides, the police have taken finger prints from cars parked in Lampsakos Street. In the afternoon, the representative of the Greek Police Panagiotis Stathis briefed journalists on the course of investigations on the hit. As he said, the anti-tank projectile was produced in Russia in 1962, adding that similar ones can be found mainly in Balkan countries. However, he pointed out that no similar weapon had ever been used in Greece. The rocket consists of two parts, the projectile and the launcher with a 300-metre range.   He also stressed that the Criminal Service is examining all findings in close cooperation with the American authorities. Regarding the telephone call that was made at 07:27 to Ermis security Company by the terrorist organization Revolutionary Struggle, he said the police are examining its credibility. Finally, he described the hit a violent act, aiming to create social unrest. He concluded by saying that the police would deal with the incident with persistence and in a systematic and calm way.
	"Terrorism Will not Bend us Down. "The embassy was attacked in a senseless act of violence," commented US ambassador to Athens Charles Ries. Having described the incident as "very serious," he underlined he is working alongside with the Greek authorities to solve the case. Ries said he contacted with Dora Bakoyannis shortly after the explosion, and was told to rest assured that the Greek Government would fully cooperate to track down the attackers. The American Ambassador and the US State Department spokesman stated that the Greek government was handling the case in a serious way. Greek Public Order Minister Byron Polydoras, after his meeting with Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, said that the PM requested a task force monitored and coordinated by Police Vice Chief Stelios Syros be set up. Premier K. Karamanlis was briefed from the first moment of the attack and was kept contact with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Public Order, who visited the American Embassy, assuring the American Ambassador that the government would all it could to solve the case and arrest the culprits. A little after 10:00 Karamanlis chaired a meeting at Maximos Mansion participated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis, Public Order Minister Byron Polidoras and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos. After the meeting, Bakoyannis and Polidoras stated that the government was handling the case with calm and determination, adding that it is determined to eradicate and remains of terror. Bakoyannis sent US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a letter, bitterly condemning the hit and voicing the Greek side’s unwavering will to uproot and fight terrorism. Bakoyannis will have the opportunity to hold talks with her US counterpart on the sidelines of the 25 January Summit on Lebanon and the 26 January emergency NATO Summit on Afghanistan.
	General Condemnation The President of the Hellenic Republic, the government and the political parties condemned the attack. The President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias expressed the Greek people’s disgust and the Hellenic State’s sympathy through the Secretary General of the Presidency Ambassador Georgiou. The Government and the Greek nation is repulsed over the rocket attack against the US embassy, commented Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, arguing that such moves target democracy and Greece’s interests. Roussopoulos stated that the Greek-US ties are and will remain excellent. The Government spokesman then went on to reiterate a previous statements of his, whereby terrorism in Greece has basically been uprooted. However, as is the case in other countries, isolated cases may turn up. "And this is what today’s hit is all about," concluded he. Socialist leader George Papandreou vehemently condemned the hit in his phone contact with the US envoy, adding that today’s terrorist act was against Greek interests. In parallel, he said that "having worked meticulously, PASOK [Panhellenic Socialist Movement] delivered a blow to terrorism by breaking up November 17. The Government ought to follow suit," commented PASOK Press spokesman Petros Efthimiou. A press release issued by KKE (Greek Communist Party) branded that claims whereby the hit against the US embassy tarnished Greece’s image as meaning to divert attention from major issues. The attack, continued the press release, independently of its origin, gave the USA the chance to decode it within the framework of its generalized attack against nations. However, the incidence must not serve as an alibi for the intensification of policing measures and the involvement of several agencies." Coalition of the Left (SYN) also blasted the attack against the US embassy compound. In his statements, Nikos Hountis, SYN Secretary, stressed, "Such acts of violence should not be exploited to nourish terror frenzy, strengthen means of restraints and trim personal and democratic freedoms." Greek political party spokesmen, as well as the international community also denounced today’s attack. Meanwhile, the American Embassy issued an announcement on Friday evening expressing its thanks to the Greek security authorities’ fast and professional response, appearing satisfied over the political support offered by the Greek government and the political parties. Also, Mr Ries stated that efforts to afflict US-Greek strong relations would not yield fruit.
	International Media Coverage Reuters was the first international news agency to report that the rocket-propelled device hit the US embassy compound from across the street. CNN, which re-broadcast television pictures and information taken from NET, and SKY NEWS television networks rushed to cover the story, broadcasting footage from the US embassy compound and the traffic jam outside the embassy as the area was sealed off. All news agencies invariably highlighted the prompt response of the Greek Police and that the US embassy in Athens is tightly guarded, as it is a frequent destination for protest groups.
	Read the story on other sources:   ABC: Blast at U.S. Embassy Called 'Terrorism'   NY Times: Explosion Hits U.S. Embassy in Athens   BBC: Blast rocks US embassy in Athens

[longtermmemmory]

It is very worth noting that CNN did not even realy bother to cover this story. It seems someone is now feeding the same equiptment as the middle eastern terrorists are using. (russian rockets)

Thanks to Clinton and Albright in botching up the Balkans. It seems this was an outsourced attack. They provide the equiptment and take the heat.

This comes after Somalia, after the Iranian embassy is raided in Iraq.

Too conincidental.

Feel free to ping out to lists.

[longtermmemmory]

ping

[Kolokotronis]

"This comes after Somalia, after the Iranian embassy is raided in Iraq.

Too conincidental. "

I don't buy it. Its homegrown Greek anarchists. This is their modus.

[apro]

"In the afternoon, the representative of the Greek Police Panagiotis Stathis briefed journalists on the course of investigations on the hit. As he said, the anti-tank projectile was produced in Russia in 1962, adding that similar ones can be found mainly in Balkan countries. However, he pointed out that no similar weapon had ever been used in Greece. The rocket consists of two parts, the projectile and the launcher with a 300-metre range."

I smell a rat. Wasn't Greece and the US suppose to hold some serious talks regarding certain major Balkan interests which involve Greek issues next week? Yup, I smell a rat alright. Thanks for the posting this info, longtermmemmory.

[ZULU]

Well, contrast the nearly unqualified condemnation of the attack ( except - predictably, the Commies) of the Greek Government with the hedging, parcing and shift the blame attitude of Muslim states like Turk whenever something like this happens on THEIR watch.

I wonder what the average Greek in the streets thinks?

[longtermmemmory]

I agree it was the home grown useful idiots.

I think they were provided the russian rocket and outsourced to do the job. A common enemy theme.

The article says this is the firt time they were using this type of rocket.

Early reporter speculation was that it was one of the four remaining LAW rockets stolen in 1983.

It could have been any number of triggers.

I think the post Nov. 7th election speeches of the democrat party emboldened all the bad guys around the world.

[longtermmemmory]

It was the same day discussions were to happen regarding FYROM.

The yougoslav are pushing the issue by naming their airport alexander the great airport among other things.

Dora Baccogianis was supposed to put the USA on notice to stop the pussyfooting games by the USA.

[Kolokotronis]

"Dora Baccogianis was supposed to put the USA on notice to stop the pussyfooting games by the USA."

Dora is good people! In fact she's great! I suspect she has, but Washington either doesn't listen to Athens, or when on rare occasions it does, it dismisses them.

[longtermmemmory]

I think you can trace the political disregard by washington's elites back to when the Kennedy's referred to Onasis as "that swarthy Greek" for taking they presidential widow away from their political arsenal.

In that part of the world, the Greeks have the largest military service despite their population. If we want stabilty in the area we are going to have to pay attention to them.