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Greece has decided to provide military equipment and personnel for the operation of the international community in Libya, but not to participate in raids or in direct military actions in the country. This became clear after the special meeting that ended late in the afternoon, called by the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, involving the Minister and Deputy Minister of Defence Evangelos Venizelos and Panos Beglitis, the Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, senior militaries and diplomats.

In particular, Greece has decided to provide its NATO allies with four F-16 fighters, military helicopters and Super Puma helicopters but with the proviso that they will not participate in any military operations on the territory of Libya. The military equipment will be included, however, in all auxiliary operations such as the monitoring of the compliance with the arms embargo against Libya, the maintenance of the ceasefire as well as in rescue operations.

Greece will place at its allies’ disposal the military base in Souda in Crete, but bombers or planes, which will directly attack Libya, are not allowed to take off. The base will only be used for stopovers and refuelling. The Greek national television reported that Souda is in fighting trim and that American warplanes are already on its runways.  Athens has also undertaken to provide specialized radar and the presence of two frigates near the Libyan coast to be used for research and support operations. The final mode of the Greek participation in the international military operation against the regime of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi will be decided in Brussels, where the operational headquarters of NATO are in session, on Saturday afternoon.

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou spoke by telephone with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and they both have agreed to open a telephone line, operating during the military operation of the international community in Libya.

Meanwhile, Interpol has officially warned Cyprus to strengthen its border controls, since there is evidence that members of the Qaddafi family will try to transfer part of their property to the Mediterranean island.