Seventy-third edition of the N&O column / Spooks newsletter

(Date: Fri, 04 Jun 2004 13:09:20 +0200)

Intelligence profile: Greece

Background

Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of Communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the European Community (now EU) in 1981.

General

Country name	:	Hellenic Republic (Greece)
Local name	:	Elliniki Dhimokratia (Ellas)
Capital	:	Athens

Administrative divisions	:	51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos);
Administrative divisions		Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos and 1 autonomous region; Agion Oros (Mt. Athos)

Military branches

Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force, Police, National Guard

Intelligence

Kentriki Ypiresia Pliroforion (KYP)
Ethniki Ypiresia Pliroforion (EYP)
Military Intelligence
Intelligence Council
Joint Steering Committee
Foreign Affairs and Defense Government Council (KYSEA)
Special Security Group
Special Forces

Kentriki ypiresia pliroforion (KYP)
Central Intelligence Service

Ethniki ypiresia pliroforion (EYP)
National Intelligence Service

The Kentriki Ypiresia Pliroforion (KYP) was established under Article 1 of Legislative Decree 2421/1953. Law #1645/1986 meant the end of the KYP and a new agency, the Ethniki Ypiresia Pliroforion (EYP) was established in 1986. A reorganization in 2000 re-shuffled the powers of the EYP and the 400 police officers who were part of the EYP were gradually removed to the National Police. A further change was the removal of the military intelligence tasks from the EYP. The military intelligence tasks were transferred to the YEETHA (Armed Forces General Staff) which has formed a military intelligence unit under the Second Branch of the General Staff.

Head of the EYP is the Director General. Several people report directly to him; the Deputy Director A, Deputy Director B, the legal advisor and the heads of the Security department, Audit department and Directorate B.

The heads of Directorates A, C, D, E and the Regional Support Units, all report to Deputy Director A. The heads of Directorates F, G, H, report to Deputy Director B.

DIRECTOR GENERAL.
Head of the EYP and the Prime Minister's security advisor.
DIRECTORATE B.
Directorate B coordinates the collaboration between the EYP and foreign intelligence agencies. The directorate is also responsible for education, training and the contacts with bodies like the Intelligence Council and the Joint Steering Committee.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR A.
Second in command of the operational sector and head of Directorates A, C, D, E and of the RSU -the Regional Support Units.
DIRECTORATE A.
Responsible for planning and guiding intelligence collection abroad.
DIRECTORATE C.
This directorate collects, processes and disseminates intelligence with regards to terrorism, traffic in drugs, arms, ammunitions, nuclear weapons, explosive materials, money laundering, illegal immigrants, etc.
DIRECTORATE D.
Directorate D processes/analyses the collected intelligence.
DIRECTORATE E.
This is the SIGINT/ELINT branch of the EYP, also responsible for EYP's telecommunications and coding and decoding.
REGIONAL SUPPORT UNITS.
The RSUs are agencies and bodies established in various regions of the country and abroad.
DEPUTY DIRECTOR B.
Second in command of the AdmiEYPtrative, Financial and Technical Sectors and head of Directorates F, G and H.
DIRECTORATE F.
Technical, secretarial and computer-aided support.
DIRECTORATE G.
Personnel department.
DIRECTORATE H.
Logistic support.

The EYP co-operates with other Greek agencies, such as:

The Directorate of State Security under the Minister of Public Order.
The Intelligence Offices and General Staff of the Armed Forces.
The D.A.E.E.B., a special crime fighting directorate, of the Hellenic Police.
The SDOE (Economic Crime Prosecution Agency)

Special security group

Formed in 1976, this special unit of the National Police has counter terrorist responsibilities. The group has also a seaborne unit.

Military intelligence

The "A2" Military Intelligence Unit operates under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense and handles military intelligence collection and counter-intelligence.

In 2000, YEETHA (Armed Forces General Staff), established an independent information collection and processing service which operates under the Second Branch of the General Staff. The new service has planned to use AWACS and UAV's to fulfill its tasks.

Special forces

Ediko Tmima Alexiptotiston (ETA) is Greek's primary Special Forces unit. ETA is a highly secret organisation that specializes in direct action raids, sabotage missions, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. Its main theatre is Cyprus and the Turkish border region. According to unconfirmed sources, ETA's A Commando and E Commando are based in Thrace, the B Commando and D Commando are based in Macedonia, C Commando and the 13th Commando Counter-Terrorist Regiment are based in Athens.

Intelligence council

The following description was derived from Law 1645:

1.	An Intelligence Council will operate within the EYP, whereof the powers and manner of operation will be specified according to Article 4 (= Statute of Law 1645)
2.	The following persons will participate in the Intelligence Council:
	a.	The EYP's Director General as Chairman.
	b.	The Director of the Security Sector of the Ministry of Public Order.
	c.	The Director of the 2nd Joint Staff Group of the National Defence General Staff.
	d.	One representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs being appointed, along with his substitute, by the Foreign Minister.
	e.	Up to two persons being appointed along with an equal number of substitutes by the Prime Minister according to the nature of the issues being discussed.
3.	The Chairman and the members of the Intelligence Council referred to in sub-paragraphs b and c of paragraph 2 will be substituted for by their lawful substitutes.
4.	In the Intelligence Council will be entitled to participate without a right to vote, following an invitation by the Chairman, representatives of other public agencies or legal entities belonging to the public sector.

Joint steering committee

Established in 1992 to coordinate the activities of the EYP and to oversee the coordination between the EYP and other government bodies.

Foreign affairs and defence government council (KYSEA)

Successor to the National Security Council and established in 1986.

KYSEA sets the guidelines on general security and public policy issues.

Sources / background info

The official website of the EYP http://www.nis.gr/
Articles in the Kathimerini newspaper
Greek Law 1645
CIA World Factbook 2003
Brassey's Intelligence Yearbook 2002
Espionage, an encyclopedia of spies and secrets