EU Summit a Test for 2004 Olympics
Apache attack helicopters darted over the pristine beaches of northern Greece, escorting army transport helicopters ferrying Europe’s leaders to a seaside resort hotel. Sweeping in for a landing near a golf course, the transports flew over what has been billed as an impenetrable security cordon — dubbed the red zone — covering 2 miles around the Porto Carras hotel complex, one of the largest casino resorts in the region. Security for the three-day European Union summit, which opened Thursday, is unprecedented even by Greek standards. An estimated 15,000 police officers and troops have been deployed to protect 33 heads of government. An anti-aircraft missile battery protects the hotel from air attack. A frigate, two corvettes and 25 coast guard patrol boats monitor the adjacent Gulf of Kassandra, while frogmen scour the seabed. Lines of cargo containers and nets stop any beachgoers from approaching. Full Story