Brussels, 20/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the presidency of the Council welcomed the "very professional" measures for ensuring the security of the Olympic Games in Athens. The Dutch minister of the interior, Johan Remkes, declared in a press conference that the security plan covering all the territory was "very impressive. The Greek ministers of justice and public order presented the Council of Justice and Home Affairs with the complete measures taken (cost around EUR 1.2 bn and mobilisation of 70,000) to protect the games. The Dutch minister, the president of the acting JHA Council said that "the games should be able to continue as best they can".
Greece is benefiting from NATO support, which is providing its AWACS reconnaissance planes, its fleet for monitoring the coast and a specialised battalion for responding to nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical attacks (NRBC). Greece and NATO are discussing additional aid for the presence of terrorism experts, under pressure from the USA, indicated a European diplomatic source. In 2001 Athens formed a group of experts from seven countries (Germany, Australia, Spain, USA, France, United Kingdom and Israel) for developing security measures.