GOVERNORS DEMAND GREECE ACT AGAINST TERRORISM -- HON. LAWRENCE J. SMITH (Extension of Remarks - May 04, 1989)

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HON. LAWRENCE J. SMITH

in the House of Representatives

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1989


OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,

State Capitol,
Salem, OR March 31, 1989.

The President,
The White House, Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President: As Governors of our respective states, we wish to express our strong support for your commitment to combat terrorism. We respectfully urge your attention to a pending issue involving the extradition from Greece of a person suspected of terrorism against American citizens, and whom our government wishes to bring to justice in this country.

We deplore the Greek government's breaking an agreement with Italy on December 6, 1988, to extradite Abdel Osama el-Zomar, a terrorist wanted for murder for a 1982 machine-gun attack against a synagogue in Italy in which a two year old boy was killed, and 37 others wounded.

We believe that the Greek government, in full conformance with applicable law, the extradition treaty between the United States and Greece, and Greece's ostensible commitments to fight terrorism, should extradite Mohamed Rashid, who is wanted by the United States for the 1982 mid-flight bombing of a Pan-American World Airways jetliner.

Based on these two cases and others, including the June 1988 car bomb assassination of U.S. Navy Captain William Nordeen by the `November 17' terrorism group, we are urgently concerned over the Papandreou government's policies toward terrorists operating in and out of Greece.

We therefore call upon you and the Department of State to:

(1) Express to Greece the grave concern of the United States regarding the necessity of Greece undertaking serious, concrete, and positive steps to significantly improve its anti-terrorism efforts and join the Western allies in combatting world terrorism; and

(2) Advise the government of Greece that the imposition of stringent measures affecting the nature of our bilateral relations is under active consideration.

We have a responsibility to protect the safety and welfare of the citizens of our states who travel to Greece and throughout the world.

The requested extradition of Mohamed Rashid is a test of our ability, and the commitment of an ally, to bring to justice those suspected of terrorism.

It is our hope that our voice will strengthen your hand and the resolve of our government to fight terrorism without hesitation and without exception.

Sincerely,

Governor Steve Cowper, Alaska; Governor Joseph Ada, Guam; Governor Rudy Perpich, Minnesota; Governor George A. Sinner, North Dakota; Governor William P. Clements Jr., Texas; Governor Booth Gardner, Washington.

Governor Bill Clinton, Arkansas; Governor Cecil D. Andrus, Idaho; Governor Stan Stephens, Montana; Governor Neil Goldschmidt, Oregon; Governor Norman H. Bangerter, Utah.

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