ATHENS Ñ Greece has conducted an exercise meant to determine the
success of counter-terrorism measures planned for the Olympic Games in 2004.
"We have demonstrated that when we make the right preparations, when we
act with precision, when we handle all contingencies in an incident in the
right way, then we emerge victorious," Greek Public Order Minister Mihalis
Chrysohoidis told reporters. "
"This exercise was the product of at least a
year's worth of preparations with British officers from Scotland Yard."
Officials said British security experts participated in the exercise,
which was based on a British model. Both Britain and the United States have
served to help bolster Greek security in advance of the games. U.S.
ambassador to Athens Thomas Miller said over the weekend that his country
and Greece have resolved all of their differences regarding the need to
fight insurgency groups.
The exercise was meant to test the response by police and security forces to
an insurgency attack on the city and the area of the Olympic games.
The exercise took place at the international airport and seaport in
Athens and was deemed successful. Officials said the exercise will test
Greece's response to two
scenarios. One is the hijacking of an aircraft; the other, is a bomb threat
against a ship.
In all, 1,800 police and security officers participated in the exercise.
They also included emergency services, special forces, the civil aviation
authority and Olympic Airways.
The scenario included an attempt by insurgents to capture a ship in the
port of Piraeus.
At that point, police and special forces were meant to regain control of the
ship and kill the attackers.
"I think that the exercise is one step forward for an even more
professional Greek police force, for even better preparation ahead of
the Olympics, preparation for the police and other authorities taking
part in security for the games," Chrysohoidis said.
