Greek Public Order Minister Yiorgos Voulgarakis denied on Wednesday that Greece has agreed to allow armed foreign guards at next month’s Olympics.
”Athletic delegations have escorts. But these escorts cannot be armed,” Voulgarakis told private radio station Flash.
”Greek authorities will be exclusively responsible for the security of athletic delegations,” Voulgarakis added in a press release.
Foreign armed guards only come in question to accompany foreign leaders, as foreseen under international rules and bilateral agreements, Voulgarakis said.
A New York Times report, confirmed by sources in Athens, had said that Greece had relented to pressure to allow 400 United States Special Forces soldiers and US, Israeli and British security officers to be armed at the Games.
A Nato official quoted by The New York Times said the US government has persuaded Greece to ask for Nato sponsorship for the American Special Forces contingent to avoid stirring up a political storm in Greece.
The agreements will not be formally acknowledged to avoid raising anti-American sentiment in Greece, Greek and US officials told The New York Times. — Sapa-AFP