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F:\CabIe\Data_Source\Cables\CD024\mar97\msgs\M2679639.html Page 1 of 5 Cable PREC: ROUTINE CLASS: UNCLASSIFIED LINE1: RAAUZYUW RUEHTHA2243 0771307-UUUU--RHEHAAX. LINE2: ZNR UUUUU ZZH LINE3: R 181307Z MAR 97 LINE4: FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS OSRI: RUEHTH DTG: 181307Z MAR 97 ORIG: AMEMBASSY ATHENS TO: RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2596 INFO: RUEHIK/AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI 1244 SUBJ: PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION IN GREECE TEXT: UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ATHENS 002243 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KOCI, CASC, GR SUBJECT: PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION IN GREECE 1. SUMMARY: ALTHOUGH GREECE BECAME PARTY TO THE HAGUE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION IN 1993, CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES IN GREECE CONTINUE TO INVOLVE SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEMS FOR ANY U.S. PARENT SEEKING RETURN OF A CHILD WRONGFULLY REMOVED TO OR DETAINED IN GREECE. ALTHOUGH THE GREEK CENTRAL AUTHORITY IS WILLING TO COOPERATE, SPECIAL OBSTACLES IN THE GREEK JUDICIAL SYSTEM RENDER THE PROCESS LONG, FRUSTRATING, AND SOMETIMES FRUITLESS. GREEK OFFCIALS HAVE PROMISED TO LOOK INTO WAYS TO SPEED IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEK COURT DECISIONS IN HAGUE CASES. FROM THE GREEK GOVERNMENT POINT-OF-VIEW, U.S. IMPLEMENTATION ALSO FALLS SOMEWHAT SHORT OF IDEAL. THE EMBASSY DRAWS ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND CONVERSATIONS WITH GREEK OFFICIALS AND LAWYERS TO OFFER SEVERAL PIECES OF ADVICE. END SUMMARY. HAGUE IMPLEMENTATION IN GREECE 2) EMBASSY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE UPCOMING ASSIGNMENT OF EMBASSY CONOFF CHRIS LAMORA TO CA/OCS/CI TO HAVE A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF CHILD CUSTODY ISSUES WITH MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS ON 2/19/97. THE GREEK OFFICIALS, INCLUDING NIKOLAOS FARMAKIS, DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL LAW DIVISION, WERE CORDIAL AND GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE INVOLVING COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. 3) THE GREEK OFFICIALS READILY ADMITTED SOME PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF HAGUE IN GREECE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE DIFFICULTIES ARISE FROM THE GENERAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM HERE AS REGARDS HANDLING