Stern warning for Greece from US over possible release of N17's Xeros

The US Ambassador to Greece David Pearce has said Washington will view as a ?profoundly unfriendly act? legislation that paves the way for November 17 terrorist Savvas Xeros to be released from prison early.

?If Savvas Xeros?or anyone else with the blood of American diplomats and US Mission members on their hands?leaves prison, it will be seen as a profoundly unfriendly act,? said Pearce ahead of talks between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington.

?There is no place for convicted terrorists in civilized political discourse or back in Greek society. These are violent criminals and they belong in prison, nowhere else.?

MPs are due to cast a final vote on a bill that would allow prisoners suffering from heavy disabilities to be released from prison early to serve the rest of their sentences under house arrest.

?The issue is not prison reform, or alleviating overcrowding, or providing access to medical care, or improving humanitarian conditions. All of which are important,? said Pearce.

?The issue is that convicted terrorists and murderers?people who have committed terrible, heinous crimes?should serve their full sentences in prison. Not in the comfort of their homes, surrounded by their friends, families, and associates. Releasing these murderers from prison dishonors the memory of those they have killed, and violates the rights of the family members whose lives they have shattered.?

Pearce revealed that he spoke to Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos on April 2 to raise his concerns about the draft law and the Kerry also raised the matter last week with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a telephone conversation.

Xeros was convicted, among other things, of murdering...