Saturday, August 28, 2004 11:19:08 AM
Powell Scraps Plan to Attend Olympics Ceremony
Greek activists display banner on the Acropolis hours before a scheduled visit
by the Secretary of State Colin Powell to Greece August 28, 2004.
Photo by John Kolesidis/Reuters
Sat Aug 28, 2004 07:39 AM ET
By Michele Kambas
ATHENS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell abruptly canceled plans to attend the Olympics closing ceremony in Athens on Sunday, a visit that had triggered angry protests from anti-war groups.
The State Department said the cancellation was forced in part because of events in Iraq and Sudan.
U.S. and Greek officials denied Powell changed plans because of protests against U.S. foreign policy that were dispersed when police hurled tear gas on Friday at about 1,000 demonstrators headed in the direction of the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
But Greek activists, who said the threat of street protests also forced Powell to cancel a trip in 2003, were crowing with victory.
"Of course, the cancellation was linked to our protests," activist Yiannis Sifakakis told Reuters. "This is a huge victory for the anti-war movement which protested by the thousands in the streets of Athens last night."
U.S. foreign policy on issues ranging from the Middle East conflict, its war on terror and the war in Iraq is deeply unpopular among Greeks.
On Saturday Greek activists hoisted a massive banner saying "Powell Killer Go Home" on the Acropolis hillside towering over Athens to protest against his planned 24-hour visit. A Greek government source described the use of the site as deplorable.
Later, about 1,500 members of the Greek Communist Party peacefully marched through Athens chanting "Get the Killer Imperialists Out of Greece."
"Secretary of State Colin Powell informed Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis that due to the press of business in Washington the secretary would not be able to travel to Athens to attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.
Powell called Molyviatis on Friday and "expressed his congratulations to the government and people of Greece for hosting a spectacular, safe and successful Olympics."
The Greek government said the two agreed Powell would visit Greece in the first half of October.
The fact that Powell would come was the "best answer to all the wrong speculation claiming that the demonstrations were the reason for the cancellation," a Greek foreign ministry source said.
The International Olympic Committee declined to comment on Powell's decision.
Some Americans in central Syndagma Square appeared startled at a procession of red flag-waving Greeks carrying posters vilifying Powell.
"Powell is anything but a killer. This makes me sick to the stomach. It is very disheartening," said Judith Foudy, a tourist from California.
Before news of the cancellation became known, activists had been secretly planning to stage further protests over the weekend, sources in the anti-war movement said.
A senior U.S. official hinted that Powell's trip might have caused unspecified difficulties for Greece, which has mounted a major security operation to keep the Olympics safe.
"The Greeks have done a terrific job with the Olympics and the last thing that we want to do is have complications with a trip that might detract from their success," said the official, who asked not to be named.
© Copyright Reuters 2004. All rights reserved. Any copying, re-publication or re-distribution of Reuters content or of any content used on this site, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent of Reuters.
Greek activists display banner on the Acropolis hours before a scheduled visit
by the Secretary of State Colin Powell to Greece August 28, 2004.
Photo by John Kolesidis/Reuters
Sat Aug 28, 2004 07:39 AM ET
By Michele Kambas
ATHENS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell abruptly canceled plans to attend the Olympics closing ceremony in Athens on Sunday, a visit that had triggered angry protests from anti-war groups.
The State Department said the cancellation was forced in part because of events in Iraq and Sudan.
U.S. and Greek officials denied Powell changed plans because of protests against U.S. foreign policy that were dispersed when police hurled tear gas on Friday at about 1,000 demonstrators headed in the direction of the U.S. Embassy in Athens.
But Greek activists, who said the threat of street protests also forced Powell to cancel a trip in 2003, were crowing with victory.
"Of course, the cancellation was linked to our protests," activist Yiannis Sifakakis told Reuters. "This is a huge victory for the anti-war movement which protested by the thousands in the streets of Athens last night."
U.S. foreign policy on issues ranging from the Middle East conflict, its war on terror and the war in Iraq is deeply unpopular among Greeks.
On Saturday Greek activists hoisted a massive banner saying "Powell Killer Go Home" on the Acropolis hillside towering over Athens to protest against his planned 24-hour visit. A Greek government source described the use of the site as deplorable.
Later, about 1,500 members of the Greek Communist Party peacefully marched through Athens chanting "Get the Killer Imperialists Out of Greece."
"Secretary of State Colin Powell informed Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis that due to the press of business in Washington the secretary would not be able to travel to Athens to attend the closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement.
Powell called Molyviatis on Friday and "expressed his congratulations to the government and people of Greece for hosting a spectacular, safe and successful Olympics."
The Greek government said the two agreed Powell would visit Greece in the first half of October.
The fact that Powell would come was the "best answer to all the wrong speculation claiming that the demonstrations were the reason for the cancellation," a Greek foreign ministry source said.
The International Olympic Committee declined to comment on Powell's decision.
Some Americans in central Syndagma Square appeared startled at a procession of red flag-waving Greeks carrying posters vilifying Powell.
"Powell is anything but a killer. This makes me sick to the stomach. It is very disheartening," said Judith Foudy, a tourist from California.
Before news of the cancellation became known, activists had been secretly planning to stage further protests over the weekend, sources in the anti-war movement said.
A senior U.S. official hinted that Powell's trip might have caused unspecified difficulties for Greece, which has mounted a major security operation to keep the Olympics safe.
"The Greeks have done a terrific job with the Olympics and the last thing that we want to do is have complications with a trip that might detract from their success," said the official, who asked not to be named.
© Copyright Reuters 2004. All rights reserved. Any copying, re-publication or re-distribution of Reuters content or of any content used on this site, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without prior written consent of Reuters.
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