[ALBSA-Info] Greece Fiddles as Terrorists Work

[Uk Lushi]

>The Los Angeles Times
>Thursday, June 15, 2000
>
>EDITORIAL
>
>Greece Fiddles as Terrorists Work
>
>Brig. Stephen Saunders, the British military attache in Athens, was shot
>to death last week, apparently by members of the November 17 group, the
>same terrorist organization that killed CIA station chief Richard Welch in
>the
>Greek capital in 1975 and at least 20 Greeks and other foreigners since
>then.
>Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis has vowed to hunt down the Marxist
>gunmen, but until he produces results his promise rings hollow in London
>and Washington.
>
>Greek leaders have consistently been soft on political violence in the
>streets and have given little help when foreign authorities attempted to
>track
>down killers on Greek soil. If Greek police and security agents cannot 
>offer
>more help in these cases, they should not expect the support of European
>Union authorities when the tables turn and Greek institutions come under
>threat.
>
>In the 25 years since the Welch assassination, Greek police have proved
>incapable or unwilling when it came to solving these cases. Domestic
>politics are at the root of their refusals and delays. Anti-American
>sentiment
>among Greeks stems from Washington's support for a military junta that
>ruled the country in the late 1960s and early 1970s, plus resentment over
>the
>U.S. bombing of Serbia in last year's war in Kosovo.
>
>If Athens wants to be fully accepted in Europe, it has to get in step. 
>Prime
>Minister Simitis and his government must take action now in the fight
>against terrorism, specifically by bringing in the killers of Brig.
>Saunders.
>
>Being part of the European Union requires in Athens the same standards
>of justice that other EU nations provide. Delay invites retaliation. Greeks
>should consider whether they want to risk loss of passport-free access to
>other European countries, for instance, or the possibility of a boycott of
>the
>2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. EU membership is not without cost.
>
>Copyright 2000 Los Angeles Times

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