Greece Joins U.S. Container Security Initiative

Greece yesterday agreed to become the 18th country to join the U.S. Container Security Initiative, under which U.S. customs agents are stationed at international seaports to screen U.S.-bound cargo shipments for WMD-related contents (see GSN, June 22).

Under the agreement, U.S. customs officials will be deployed at the Greek port of Piraeus.  In addition, the United States plans to loan special inspection devices to Greece so that cargo screening can begin by the middle of next month, ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

“I am deeply grateful for the support of the Hellenic Republic for the implementation of CSI in Piraeus, Greece. This is another important step in the war on terrorism,” U.S. Deputy Homeland Security Secretary James Loy said in a press statement (U.S. State Department release, June 24).

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