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Δημοσιεύθηκε: Κυρ Ιαν 17, 2010 12:04 am Θέμα δημοσίευσης: |
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Ταξιδιωτική Οδηγία προς Αμερικάνους πολίτες που ταξιδεύουν στην Ελλάδα.
Ολόκληρη, εδώ : http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1127.html
Απόσπασμα σχετικό με την ασφάλεια και την προστασία των τουριστών.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: The U.S. Government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. Like other countries that are members of the Schengen Agreement for free cross-border movement, Greece’s open borders with other members of the EU’s Schengen zone allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. As the first entry point into Schengen from points south and east, Greece’s long coastline and many islands also heighten the possibility that foreign-based terrorists might try to enter Europe through Greece’s borders.
Domestic terrorist organizations such as Revolutionary Struggle and “Sect of Revolutionaries” have become increasingly active against both domestic and foreign targets in Greece. Recent attacks and attempted attacks have included the use of Molotov cocktails (gasoline bombs), small arms and rifle fire, and improvised explosive devices, the largest being a 100-kilo ammonium nitrate car bomb detonated at the Athens Stock Exchange. The Greek police forces, other Greek governmental agencies, private American and Greek businesses, and the United States Embassy have been attacked in the last three years. Recent attacks have occurred with shorter warning times and have had a higher potential for an indiscriminate impact. The risk of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” in the event of a terrorist action is a concern for residents and visitors. In January 2010, a bomb exploded at 8:00 pm near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma square, an site popular with tourists until late evening. U.S. tourists or residents in Greece should remain vigilant, exercise caution, and monitor local developments.”
Strikes and demonstrations are a regular occurrence. Greece is a stable democracy and these activities for the most part are orderly and lawful. However, a wave of incidents started when a teenager was shot and killed in an encounter with the police n December 2008. Incidents occurred throughout Greece, but the primary sources of violence were in Athens and Thessaloniki. Protestors engaged in violent confrontations with the police and carried out destructive vandalism and rioting in localized areas, some of which are areas frequented by tourists, injuring numerous police officers.
Riot control procedures often include the use of tear gas. Visitors should keep abreast of news about demonstrations from local news sources and hotel security. When there are demonstrations, visitors should be aware of and avoid places where demonstrators frequently congregate, such as the Polytechnic University area, Exarchia, Omonia, and Syntagma Squares in Athens, and Aristotle Square in Thessaloniki. University campuses are exploited as refuges by anarchists and those involved in crime and Greek police are generally prohibited from entering their premises. The Omonia and Exharchia areas of Athens are at particular risk for crime and politically-motivated violence; U.S. Embassy personnel and their families have been urged strongly to avoid these areas between 9 pm and dawn. Visitors should be aware that demonstrations occur annually on November 17th, the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising against the military regime in power at the time.
Information regarding demonstrations which have been brought to the attention of the U.S. Embassy can be found on the Embassy web site. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current the Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad. |
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