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Tensions between Athens and Washington in connection with the possible release of 17 November’s terrorist Savvas Xiros from prison have escalated due to an act that many commentators describe as "aggressive diplomacy".

The US Department of State has put Christodoulos Xiros and Nikos Maziotis on the "black list" of terrorism. In particular, they have been designated under Executive Order 13224 that affects terrorists and those who support terrorists or acts of terrorism. It is the most important list of terrorists of the US that included head of the terrorist group al-Qaeda Osama bin Laden.

As a result of this action, all assets of Xiros and Maziotis that are under US jurisdiction are frozen. US citizens are prohibited from having any contacts with both terrorists as well as contacts to the benefit of Xiros and Maziotis.

The communication of the Department of State reads that its action is the result of cooperation with the Departments of Justice and Treasury, adding, "We will continue to take such actions against terrorists and terrorist groups in Greece and elsewhere."

After reading it carefully, it becomes clear that this action on the part of the US means that the US authorities may pursue the two terrorists, including on Greek territory and regardless of any decision taken by Greece.

"Christodoulos Xiros was one of the chief assassins of 17 November until his arrest in 2002. In January 2014, he did not return to Korydallos prison after his leave from prison, which he had been granted to visit his family.  17 November was active from the early 1970s to 2002, claiming attacks against Greek politicians and businessmen, as well as Western interests. After his escape, he publicized a manifesto focusing on his discontent with the Greek government. Xiros was re-arrested by the Greek police in January 2015 while planning to carry out armed assaults in Greece, possibly with the intent to free other prisoners. At the time of his arrest, Xiros was probably coordinating with members of Conspiracy of Fire Nuclei, a group designated under Executive Order 13224 in 2011."

The message continues with the second terrorist Nikos Maziotis, "He is the leader of the terrorist group Revolutionary Struggle. He was arrested along with six other alleged members of the group in 2010, but went missing in the middle of his trial (Maziotis and his girlfriend and mother of his child Paula Roupa were released from custody due to the expiry of the 18-month period stipulated by law. They appeared at several sessions and then subsequently went underground - author’s note). In April 2014, under the leadership of Maziotis, Revolutionary Struggle claimed responsibility for a bomb blast in front of the National Bank of Greece in Athens. On 16 July, Maziotis was re-arrested by Greek police after a shootout in central Athens, which left four people wounded. Revolutionary Struggle was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US Department of State on 18 May 2009 and is most well-known for an attack on the US Embassy in Athens in 2007."