Close cooperation between Greek-US authorities

    US ambassador to Greece Charles Ries referred to the close cooperation between the Greek and American authorities, after the explosion at the US embassy in Athens, while Greece's Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos stressed that the government's determination to fully solve the case and lead the perpetrators to justice was a given fact.

    "The government, just as the entire Greek people, condemn with absoute abhorrence the rocket attack against the embassy of the United States," government spokesman Roussopoulos said, adding that such actions were tarbgeted against democracy and the interests of the country.

    Greece's rrelations with the US were excellent and would remain excellent, Rousspoulos said.

    He said that the authorities were investigating the case with seriousness and calm, adding that the government's determination to fully solve the case and lead the perpetrators to justice was a given fact.

    Actions such as these, he added, have no backing whatsoever from the Greek people.

    The spokesman further explained that prime minister Costas Karamanlis had been briefed from the first moment, and was in constant contact with public order minister Vyron Polydoras and foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis.

    The government's determination is a given fact and the fight against terrorism was lasting and uncompromising, Roussopoulos said, adding that Bakoyannis and Polydoras had both met with the US embassador after the incident, expressed the government's abhorrence to him, and briefed him on the investigations being conducted by the Greek authorities, in cooperation with the services of the US and other countries.

    Replying to press questions, Roussopoulos said that ELAS (Greek Police) deputy chief Stelios Syros was heading the team investigating the case, noting that Syros was a former chief of the counter-terrorism service, and was now ELAS deputy chief with other responsibilities.

    Asked whether footage from the traffic surveillance cameras would be used in the investigation of the attack, Roussopoulos explained that there was a standing decision by the independent Personal Data Protection Authority that material from the traffic surveillance cameras cannot be used for other purposes, but added that the Public Order ministry has taken recourse to the Council of State to be given permission to use the surveillance cameras' material.

    US ambassador Ries also referred to the Embassy's close cooperation with the Greek authorities in seeking the assailants. Replying to a relevant question, he stressed that the incident would not affect the relations between the two countries. "Greek-American relations are excellent, and will remain so," Ambassador Ries stressed.

    Also, in an interview with CNN, Ries said that there had been an immediate response on the part of the Greek authorities, stressing also how quickly public order minister Polydoras and foreign minister Bakoyannis had arrived on the scene.

    Meanwhile, Ries expressed his gratitude for the speedy and professional response of the Greek security forces following Friday's early-morning rocket attack at the US embassy, according to an embassy announcement, which added that the Greek Police, the Explosive Mechanisms Neutralisation Department and other officers had cooperated well and effectively with the embassy's security personnel during the examination of the crime scene.

    According to the embassy announcement, ambassador Ries noted that he was very satisfied with the political support forthcoming from the Greek government and the main political parties, and with their determination for the arrest of the perpetrators of the attack and for averting new attacks.

    Ries further expressed his conviction that the effort to harm the strong relations between the US and Greece would not succeed.

    The US embassy will remain closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King day, a US national holiday, and will open normally on Tuesday.

   

    The Greek government and opposition parties on Friday condemned an early morning projectile attack against the US embassy in Athens, which caused minor damage but no injuries, while prime minister Costas Karamanlis conferred with foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis and public order minister Vyron Polydoras after their visits to the Embassy.

   

   

   

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