ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - Greece, the host of this Summer's Olympic Games, is looking to benefit from Turkey's experience in providing security at the NATO summit.
Greek Minister of Public Order Georgios Voulgarakis arrived in Istanbul on Monday as a guest of Turkish Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu.
The Greek Minister reportedly arrived in Turkey to exchange views with Turkish officials on security and to receive help from the Turkish police who successfully provided the security at the NATO Summit, the Foreign Ministers Summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Eurovision Song Contest and at the meeting of the World Association of Newspapers.
Minister Voulgarakis was received by Istanbul Governor Muammer Güler, Security Chief Celalettin Cerrah and other officials at the Ataturk Airport.
Aksu and Voulgarakis met for dinner at the Ceylan Hotel.
Security is a top priority for Greece as Athens prepares to host the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
Greek Defense Minister Spilios Spilotiopoulos said that the € 650 million being spent on security for the games is three times higher than the amount spent on the Sydney games. A total of 50,000 security personnel, including 16,000 military personnel, will be on duty for the games.
Security arrangements for the Olympic games in Greece are being prepared in collaboration with NATO, Turkey, Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Spain and the US.