Dendias Meets Papoulias Το Discuss Domestic Terrorism & Escape Of November 17 Terrorist (VIDEOS)

Domestic terrorism is a major issue for Greece, Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday, during a meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Hall.

     "The country faces a problem of terrorism. And unfortunately, it does not only face a problem of imported terrorism, like other countries, it also has a major problem of domestic terrorism", Dendias said, adding that this year was off to a bad start, with the disappearance on Tuesday of November 17 convict Christodoulos Xiros after being granted leave from prison.
     "Today, we have this unfortunate incident", noting that the Greek Police are doing a very good job. "During the past few years, police have brought dozens of terrorists to justice. Unfortunately, I have to say, many of them are free men as we speak. And today, we have this unfortunate incident with the convicted terrorist who was granted a leave. Honestly, it is particularly upsetting", he stressed.

The Minister appeared confident that terrorism issues can be dealt with, if the Greek society is united and if the State's institutions do a proper job.

The Greek president noted that a sense of security is crucial and agreed with Dendias that "terrorists' bullets actually aim at the unemployed, and they harm the unemployed more than anything else". Papoulias added that "The effort should focus on that. Fight unemployment, fight all those things that have led to the crisis. If there is terrorism, then we are weak".

Nov. 17 convict's disappearance 'consistent with his views', his attorney says

Christodoulos Xiros' decision not to present himself at a police station during his nine-day leave from prison is "a political escape" consistent with his political activities and his views on freedom, his attorney Fragiskos Ragoussis said on Tuesday in an interview at private TV station Skai.

He stressed, however, that he has not contacted his client and that he had not been aware of his intentions.

Christodoulos was one of three brothers arrested in 2002 for their participation in the terrorist group November 17. He was given permission to leave Korydallos prison in Piraeus on New Year's day and was supposed to report daily to the police of Nea Kallikratia, on the Halkidiki peninsula, near the northern city of Thessaloniki. But he failed to show up, leading police to launch a search for him in Halkidiki and Thessaloniki.

Reffering to the same issue, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou in an interview on Tuesday stressed the need for changes to the leave system for certain prisoners.  (AMNA)