Visiting US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Tuesday presented the Greek government the stationery and portable radiation detectors to be used during the Athens Olympic Games.  

The presentation was made during a special ceremony held in the Development Ministry at the presence of Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis.

Abraham said that the radiation detector devices would upgrade the ability of a rapid action force to offer protection to the public in case of such an attack, and help in detecting and confiscating any nuclear substances smuggled across the country.

"The summer Olympic Games will be a success and the best ever," he said.

Greek Atomic Energy Committee President Leonidas Kamarinopoulos said that the detection systems will be installed in 32 gates of entry to Greece (seven airports, 12 seaports and 13 border crossings), while customs stations and special police forces will also be supplied with portable radiation detectors.

The protection systems in sensitive industry facilities, in 22 hospital clinics and the research reactor at the "Democritos" Research Center in Athens will also be upgraded, he added.

"Radioactive materials have never been used before by terrorists and the impact of radiation substances on human lives was particularly limited compared with the impact of chemical or biological attacks," he said.

He stressed that measures to deal with a possible radioactive danger was evidence of the importance placed by Greece on safety issues ahead of the Olympic Games.

"This program is unprecedented around the world and is considered as a model by the International Atomic Energy Organization," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2004)