Embassy of the United States in Athens

The Embassy of the United States in Athens is the embassy of the United States in Greece, in the capital city of Athens. The embassy is charged with diplomacy and Greece–United States relations. The United States Ambassador to Greece is the head of the diplomatic mission of the United States to Greece.

Daniel V. Speckhard is currently the United States Ambassador.

Facilities

The chancery building in Athens was designed by famed Bauhaus architect Walter Gropius with consulting architect Pericles A. Sakellarios. It was constructed between 1959 and 1961 and is a protected architectural landmark. Gropius' famous design was in the characteristic simple Bauhaus form, inspired by the architecture of the Parthenon. [ [http://athens.usembassy.gov/about_us/annex.pdf Public Affairs Handout] ] [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,809680-1,00.html|title=Architecture for Athena|publisher=Time Magazine|date=July 15, 1957|accessdate=2007-09-23 ]

In 2003, the U.S. Embassy and the Athens Municipality celebrated the addition of a welcoming green space, the Makedonon Street Park. The landscaping of this pedestrian walkway was prompted by heightened security requirements. [ [http://athens.usembassy.gov/about_us/annex.pdf Public Affairs Handout] ]

In 2007, an office building, parking garage, compound entrances, fuel station, Marine Corps Security Guard quarters, swimming pool, and basketball court were completed. The design of the new office building is intended to integrate well with the Chancery, as well as with the Megaron Mousikis (Athens Concert Hall) next door. The new office building enabled the embassy to bring onto the compound employees who have been working in leased space for many years.

The office building is 5026 m² and includes office space for over 150 people.

Offices and sections include:
*Ambassador
*Deputy Chief of Mission
*Political Section
*Economic Section
*Consular Section (Visa and American citizen services; federal benefits)
*Public Affairs Section (Press Office, Cultural Office, Information Resource Center)
*United States Commercial Service
*Foreign Agricultural Service
*The Office of Defense Cooperation
*U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigrations Services [ [http://athens.usembassy.gov/about_us/annex.pdf Public Affairs Handout] ] [ [http://www.usembassy.gr/us_info/pr17_2007.htm Embassy Press Release, May 9, 2007] ]

Infobox terrorist attack
title=2007 United States embassy attack


caption=United States embassy building
location=Athens, Greece
target=Embassy of the United States in Athens
date=January 12, 2007
time=5:58am
timezone=UTC+2
type=Rocket propelled grenade
fatalities= No fatalities
injuries= No injuries
perps=
motive=

Terrorism

:"Previous Attacks, see Revolutionary Organization 17 November"A minor terrorist attack occurred in the early morning of January 12, 2007. No casualties were reported. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070112/ap_on_re_eu/greece_us_embassy U.S. Embassy damage in Greek blast scant] - Associated Press] [ [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/78676.htm State Press Briefing] - 1/12/2007] A rocket propelled grenade was fired into the embassy's modern, glass-fronted building [http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/01/12/ap3324642.html Blast at U.S. Embassy Called 'Terrorism'] Forbes, 01.12.07, 10:44 AM ET] . The Greek public order minister, Byron Polydoras, said an anonymous phone call claiming to be from the left-wing terror group Revolutionary Struggle had taken responsibility. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/12/world/europe/12cnd-greece.html U.S. Embassy in Athens Hit by Rocket Attack] - "The New York Times"] On January 25, 2007, Revolutionary Struggle announced in local news outlets they took responsibility for the attack. [George Gilson. "Terrorists issue anti-US manifesto", Athens News, January 26, 2007] . On March 20th, the Government of Greece and the United States Rewards for Justice Program announced equal, parallel rewards for information leading to the perpetrators - Greece offering 800,000 Euros and the US "up to $1 million or more". [ [http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=139317&version=1&template_id=39&parent_id=21 "$2mn for info on US embassy attackers"] , Gulf Times, March 21, 2007 accessed on March 22, 2007, 1:15 PM EET]

ee also

*United States Ambassador to Greece
*List of embassy attacks
*Revolutionary Struggle
*Revolutionary Organization 17 November
*Consulate General of the United States in Thessaloniki

References

External links

* [http://athens.usembassy.gov/ Official website]
* [http://www.mosaiko.gr/ Mosaiko.gr, US Embassy in Athens e-Magazine]