Greek Soldiers Complete Chemical Attack Training

A second group of Greek military specialists finished training Friday in the Czech Republic on preventing and responding to potential chemical attacks at this summer’s Olympic Games in Athens, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, June 4).

Two teams of 24 soldiers each received a week of training, which included working with substances such as sarin, soman, VX and mustard gases, according to the Czech Defense Ministry.

Maj. Zagas Ioannis, who led the second Greek trainee group, said he believes the two countries’ armed forces are likely to work together in the future on WMD-related security. The Greeks also hoped to acquire equipment used by the Czech specialists.

“Greece has expressed interest in several special items of equipment and material that the Czech chemical specialists use,” said Czech Defense Ministry spokesman Jan Pejsek.

Some Czech specialists could also be deployed in Athens during the games, according to Agence France-Presse (Agence France-Presse, June 11).

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