Assassination in Athens

Dateline: June 9th, 2000
British military attache Brig. Stephen Saunders has been assassinated in Athens, apparently as retaliation for his supposed role in coordinating NATO attacks on Kosovo, an allegation Britain has denied. November 17th, a Greece-based terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for the Thursday morning attack, Greek and international news agencies reported. The shooting preceded by one day a major UN Security Council meeting marking the completion of the first year of the UN action in Kosovo, an anniversary the anti-NATO, anti-EU November 17th may have been marking.

The shooting also occurred just days after a U.S. report urged sanctions against Greece due to its perceived passivity in the war against international terrorism, though it is not known if the timing of this attack was meant to respond to that report. US Embassy officials in Greece have sought to assure Greece that the report is not a wholesale condemnation of Greek policy, but is only directed to those who persist in maintaining "a dark and antiquated past of conspiracy".

However, Greece may receive a status of "uncooperative", which could mean increased visa requirements for Greeks visiting the US. This move, if implemented, could in turn cause Greece to respond with additional requirements for US citizens visiting Greece, though nothing has changed as of this writing.

While terrorist acts attract negative international attention, most Greeks shrug it off.

The November 17th group, originally formed in response to the military junta which took over Greece and named for the date that the colonels violently suppressed a student uprising at Athens Polytechnic University in 1973, was also seen as a threat to Clinton's security when he visited Athens last November. That visit passed without incident, however.

The Athens 2004 Olympic Games, already beleaguered by what International Olympic Organization officials see as disorganization and slowness in preparing for the Games, now has this additional disaster to overcome. The attack occurred not far from the main stadium, CNN noted.

The immediate impact on tourism and travel is expected to be slight; unlike terrorist groups in many other nations, November 17th has so far limited its attacks to business, diplomatic, and military targets, leaving ordinary Greeks and visitors untouched. Hopefully, this attitude will continue, though security throughout the nation will be stepped up in response to Thursday's attack on Saunders.

Related Links:

British attache gunned down in Athens
From the Athens News Agency, a detailed account of the incident and Greek reaction.

Complete Text of "Global Patterns of Terrorism"
The official US report on global terrorism which recommends sanctions against Greece. Here's the Greece section. Note: the travel advisory referred to is the one issued in April 1999, not a new one.

November 17th Profile
From Emergency.com, another look at the terrorist group.

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