PIRAEUS, Greece, July 16 - A Greek officer will take command of NATO`s Mediterranean fleet, military official said Friday, in a move that may boost public support for the alliance`s involvement in the massive security operation for the Athens Olympics.
Commodore Yiannis Karaiskos was due to take command of NATO`s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED) in September, but the transfer was brought forward to August 5 in view of the the August 13-29 Athens Olympics, Greek Navy Spokesman Alexandros Diakopoulos told AFP.
Greece plans to mobilize 70,000 security personnel for the Games, or about seven officers for each athelete.
Athens hadn`t wanted to call upon foreign support to help safeguard the Olympics, but asked NATO for assistance a day after the Madrid terrorist bombings in March that killed 191 people.
NATO agreed last month to provide AWACS radar planes, maritime surveillance, intelligence sharing and a battalion trained to defend against chemical and biological attack.
All of STANAVFORMED`s eight ships will help protect the Olympics, the fleet`s current commander, German Rear Admiral Hans-Jochen Witthauer, told reporters on board the frigate Schleswig Holstein which called at the Athens port of Piraeus for an official visit.