Μake us preferred on Google Athens is set for heightened security, major traffic restrictions and a temporary ban on public gatherings in parts of central Athens as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives Tuesday for a two-day visit.
Thousands of police officers from various services, including public-order units, the Athens Police, security services and traffic police, will be deployed as part of the operation. Drones will also be used for aerial surveillance.
According to the Hellenic Police, traffic restrictions will begin Tuesday afternoon and continue through the early hours of Thursday, October 8, with the measures reaching their peak on Wednesday, October 7.
Temporary traffic stoppages and diversions will be imposed on major roads in central Athens, particularly around Syntagma Square and on major thoroughfares including Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue and Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, as well as Panepistimiou and Stadiou streets and other areas as necessary.
The restrictions will be expanded or lifted gradually depending on prevailing conditions. Police are advising drivers to avoid traveling by car in central Athens altogether, particularly on Wednesday, and to use public transportation instead.
“Drivers traveling in the wider area of central Athens are asked to strictly follow the instructions of traffic officers who will be stationed at key points to facilitate traffic,” the police said, calling for drivers’ cooperation to avoid additional traffic problems.
Public gatherings banned in central Athens
Separately, police said that, by decision of the Director of the Athens Police Directorate, all public outdoor gatherings and motorized marches in Athens will be prohibited from 6 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, until 6 a.m. Thursday, October 8.
The ban covers an area bounded by Rizari, Ploutarchou, Kleomenous, Melinas Merkouri, Koniari, Anastasios Tsochas, Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Kaisareias, Michalakopoulou, Alkmanos, Ionos Dragoumi, Vasileos Alexandrou Avenue, Efthroniou and Rizari streets.
According to the police announcement, the ban was imposed because gatherings and motorized marches could pose a serious threat to public safety through the possible commission of serious offenses, including against life, physical integrity and property, as well as seriously disrupting socioeconomic activity in the area and the wider Municipality of Athens.
Senior police officers said efforts would be made to avoid unnecessary disruption for people seeking to reach central Athens, including keeping Metro stations closed only for short periods and only when necessary.
Evangelismos Metro station will remain open because of the operation of the hospital there.
Rubio arrives in Athens
Rubio’s visit comes against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
His visit comes as relations between Greece and the United States continue to deepen, with Athens emphasizing its role as a factor of stability and security in the region.
The visit is also notable because Rubio, during one of his relatively rare trips outside the United States, is not combining his stop in Greece with a visit to Turkey, departing from a traditional practice of the U.S. State Department.
The move underscores the separate nature of Greek-U.S. relations, independent of the broader Greek-Turkish framework.
The United States has consistently supported the 3+1 format bringing together Greece, Cyprus, Israel and the U.S., and has expressed support for connectivity projects across the Eastern Mediterranean.
