“We didn’t learn anything new … everybody can monitor anybody … Greece’s intelligence service (EYP) had managed to tap the phones of the U.S. ambassadors in Athens and Ankara during my term in office,” Pangalos added.But he said since more than 20 years have elapsed that it doesn’t matter anymore and that the spying stopped because “the Americans figured it out.”
“It wasn’t anything big but it was entertaining to hear the US ambassador in Athens talking to the ambassador in Ankara and the State Department using inappropriate language and calling me bad names,” Pangalos said.
Pangalos’s claim came in the wake of German news magazine Der Spiegel citing leaked information from CIA whistle blower Edward Snowden that indicated a joint Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and National Security Agency (NSA) group known as the Special Collection Service operated 90 surveillance facilities worldwide, including at the US Embassy in Athens.
The Athens facility, allegedly located on the roof of the US Embassy on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, is among 14 that were operated remotely.
“The National Intelligence Service (EYP) carries out its mission within the framework of the constitution and the law, while respecting friends and allies,” said government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou (after Pangalos who was foreign minister between 1996 and 1999, made his allegations on a radio show).American security officials have had a dim view of the Greek intelligence unit, and because it is considered to be poor in keeping secrets it was nicknamed “The Sieve”.
“EYP has been working for years with the equivalent US agencies and other countries to combat terrorism.”
Watch the video below, where veteran reporter George Tragas also reveals more on the Greek James Bond. (lol)
On Wednesday, and following T.B(lubber)ond's statements, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said that the former foreign minister "has no business saying these things.”
On its part the SYRIZA party criticized the government for its silence on the reports and one of the party's star MPs Dimitris Papadimoulis wrote on his Twitter account that "Pangalos’s gift to the USA in the mega scandal involving wiretaps cannot hide the government’s ongoing and loud silence.” (Of course SYRIZA doesn't really care about the whole thing, because the Left in Greece is helping the Americans... But hey five minutes of fame always helps MPs to get reelected.)
On the other, the Independent Greeks party said that Pangalos' statements were a "sabotage on national interests".
"The Minister of Imia, Ocalan and Derynia, once again armed the hands of those who conspire against our nation" said an announcement, while it added that irresponsibility is no longer an excuse, in Pangalos' case:And if that wasn't enough, a lawyer filed a lawsuit against the former minister and there even was a warrant issued for his immediate arrest. (No such luck unfortunately...)
On Thursday, the head of the National Intelligence Service (EYP), Theodoros Dravillas, faced Parliament’s ethics committee and was questioned by lawmakers about the agency’s operations following reports suggesting that officials of the main leftist opposition SYRIZA, as well as other MPs were being wiretapped. Some reports in the Greek press said that he denied all charges, but then again EYP’s operations are strictly confidential, and the proceedings were not made public. (In other words, anyone can say anything they want after that.)
In Washington, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said that the U.S. government is in contact with Greece and other allied countries in relation to the recent revelations about the wiretapping operations around the world. Asked to comment on information about a "wire tapping hub" on the terrace of the U.S. Embassy in Athens and another 18 locations in Europe, including Berlin, and whether there was a reply by the Greek government on the issue, Psaki said that the US is "open to participate and discuss on any concerns on such programs."
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