-3Response of the Government of Greece to the report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) following its visit to Greece from 20 to 27 February 2007 The Greek Government is pleased to provide the following response to the Report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment following the Committee’s visit to Greece from 20 February to 27 February 2007. In the framework of its ongoing efforts to improve the deficiencies of the prison system, the police stations and the detention facilities for aliens, the Government of Greece has taken into consideration the findings and recommendations of the Committee with the greatest seriousness and trusts that the measures that are being taken in response to them, in accordance with article 3 of the Convention, will have a positive effect in the desired direction. Cooperation between the CPT and the Greek authorities Introductory remarks on paragraphs 4 and 8: It is to be noted that prior to the sending of the letter referred to in par. 4 of the report, a meeting took place on 12 December 2006 between the Secretariat of the CPT and a member of the Permanent Representation of Greece to the Council of Europe, during which the decision by the CPT to organize high level talks with the Greek authorities in early 2007 (26-27 February 2007) was communicated. Due to that fact, the letter referred to in par. 4, as addressed to the Greek authorities on 18 December 2006, containing no deadline for answering it, was interpreted as the de facto agenda of the already announced high-level talks expected to take place in February 2007. The reply that the CPT received from the Ministry of Public Order by letter of 5 July 2007, as referred to in footnote 4 of the report, addressed the points raised by the CPT delegation during the high level talks that took place in Athens on 26 February 2007. Furthermore, it is to be noted that, in response to the points raised during the high level talks, an answer by the Ministry of Justice was also sent to the CPT in July 2007. It apparently coincided with the publication of the CPT 2007 report on Greece and was therefore not taken into account during the report’s drafting. Following the suggestion of the Ministry of Justice, the content of this reply is reattached to the current document, since it also addresses a lot of the recommendations of the current CPT report. Therefore, it becomes clear that the organization of the CPT visit to Greece had already been decided upon and announced by the CPT to the Greek authorities on 12 December 2006, before the sending of the letter referred to in paragraph 4 on 18 December 2006. With regard to paragraph 8, it is to be noted that the relevant office at the Greek Ministry for Foreign Affairs is the D3 Department, having the general responsibility for OSCE and Council of Europe Affairs. The official correspondence should continue to be forwarded to the Greek authorities via the Permanent Representation of Greece to the Council of Europe. Due to the technical character, complexity and variety of the issues raised by the CPT, in each case, the evaluation of the relevant competent Ministry’s response takes place within the framework of each Ministry’s own organizational structure.