Athens, Nov 26: China's Air Force chief Deng Xiang Yu met Greek Deputy Defence Minister Lazaros Lotidis here to discuss security issues for next August's Athens Olympics.
During the visit General Deng stressed "the need for continuous and intense cooperation between the two countries because Greece assembles security-related expertise and knowhow that will be valuable in the organisation of the 2008 Beijing Olympics."
Lotidis explained the operational plans of the Greek army and air force during the games next August, during a visit to their air force bases of Tanagra, north of Athens, and Anchialos in central Greece.
Also in Athens Monday was Scotland Yard assistant commissioner David Veness who was making one of his regular visits to Greece to review security issues with senior Greek police officials, state television net reported.
Greece are being assisted in security plans for the games by the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Spain, France and Israel. Early November, the director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Robert Mueller, visited Greece for security talks.



Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday played down security fears ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics the day after deadly suicide bombings in Istanbul.



"We've taken all the necessary measures to have an Olympic Games which are absolutely secure," said Simitis after two suicide bomb attacks against British interests in Istanbul killed 27 people and injured nearly 400.



The costs of putting security in place for the 2004 games is expected to rise to an unprecedented 745 million dollars.


Bureau Report