Moscow offers help on security
Russian officials offered yesterday to send Greece mobile laboratories for the detection of weapons of mass destruction during the Summer Olympics, and to share any intelligence regarding terrorist threats to the Games. During talks on Olympic security with Russian government and intelligence officials, Public Order Minister Giorgos Floridis – who started a two-day visit to Moscow yesterday – received pledges for the loan of mobile units to detect nuclear, biological or chemical weapons during the Games. Furthermore, Russia will send a fleet of firefighting aircraft, with their crews, to Greece this summer to address the threat of major forest fires during the Olympics. And officials from Russia’s foreign intelligence service (SVR) promised to keep Athens updated on information regarding international terrorist threats to the Games. Furthermore, it was agreed that Russian observers should attend the three-day Blue Odyssey Olympic security drill that opens on Friday. Athens is expected to weigh the Russian offer over the next few days.
