Well-known Greek socialite Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki’s plans to have former U.S. President Bill Clinton attend her conference in Athens June 23 and 24 were reportedly foiled after the US administration expressed a highly critical stance on the prospect of Savvas Xiros’ prison release.

Xiros, a convicted November 17 urban terrorist, serving a life sentence for his participation in the far-left Marxist N17 group, became eligible for release due to his recorded disabilities, some of which are from severe injuries he sustained when a bomb he was planting exploded prematurely at the port of Piraeus in June 2002.

The US State Department expressed shock and anger concerning a recently passed law that allows for the release and subsequent home remand, dampening the prospect of the former president visiting the country.

Hillary Clinton, at the start of her pre-election campaign, could not allow a visit by Clinton to cloud her chances. 

The official excuse was that due to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, the Clinton Global Initiative foundation could not take part in conferences out of the United States after May.