Swans find sancturary in warmer northern Greece
NEWS IN DETAIL
Athens welcomes Hebron accord
The Greek government today greeted the Hebron withdrawal agreement between
Israelis and Palestinians signed yesterday.
"A very important obstacle to continuation of the peace process has been
overcome," Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said.
He said the Greek government hoped that "the parth has opened for the
resolution of other important issues that will enable just and lasting
peace in the region".
Prime minister to attend Rome Socialist International
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will attend the Socialist International
meeting in Rome on 20-22 January at which a number of international issues
will be discussed ranging from the Middle East peace process to possible
solutions for the crisis in central Africa.
Also on the agenda are measures for consolidating peace in former
Yugoslavia and matters pertaining to the renewal of Socialist International.
Simitis will be accompanied by ruling PASOK party secretary Costas
Skandalides, executive bureau member Paraskevas Avgerinos and the secretary
of the party's foreign policy section Yiannis Kranidiotis.
Greece responds to Turkish foreign ministry statements
The government responded today to Turkish foreign ministry statements
saying that the political and military leadership in Ankara was continuing
a series of statements aimed at creating ''conditions of crisis'' in the
region.
''We have made it quite clear that we will not follow Ankara along the road
which we believe is incompatible even with the true interests of the
Turkish people,'' foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said.
He was commenting on statements by his Turkish counterpart, Omer Akbel, who
said yesterday that the crisis which blew up in the eastern Mediterranean
following Nicosia's decision to purchase and deploy Russian anti-aircraft
missiles could not be considered over.
''It is not possible to claim that the crisis is over until the Greek-
Cypriot decision has been revoked,'' Akbel said.
Bikas said Greece had repeatedly expressed its positions ''with steadfastness
and determination and without nationalistic and emotional bombshells''.
British Labour MPs support Cyprus' right to defence
Two visiting British Labour Party MPs today underlined what they said was
Cyprus' inalienable right to take any measures it deemed appropriate for
its defence, during a meeting with Parliament President Apostolos
Kaklamanis.
The two MPs, Tom Cox and Eddy O'Hara, are currently on a five-day visit to
Greece at the invitation of the Greek parliament.
They said that they had pointed out to their government the need for more
substantial involvement of Britain, as a guarantor power, in efforts for a
settlement of the Cyprus problem, above and beyond London's formal support
for UN resolutions on Cyprus.
Welcoming the stance of the two MPs, Kaklamanis asked them to intensify
their efforts in this direction, while pointing out the dangers entailed by
the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Turkey and Ankara's expansionist
policy at the expense of its neighbours.
Cox and O'Hara expressed the hope that a Labour victory in forthcoming
elections in Britain would facilitate the upgrading of Greek-British ties
through various means, including joint cultural and other events, and
particularly during Britain's presidency of the European Union in the first
half of 1998.
EU can help resolve Cyprus issue, foreign ministry says
''We believe in the capabilities of the European Union to contribute
towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem and naturally, we consider that
under no circumstances can Cyprus' accession to the EU become the object of
blackmail by Turkey,'' foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas said
today.
The spokesman was commenting on statements by Dutch Foreign Minister Hans
Van Mierlo who yesterday spoke for the first time on the present Dutch
presidency of the EU while addressing the European Parliament.
Van Mierlo said that a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem could be
found only in intensive dialogue.
After talks with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in Athens on Tuesday,
Van Mierlo said the talks for Cyprus' accession to the EU would not be
easy.
The talks are scheduled to begin in 1998.
Greece opposes Turkey's efforts to link Cyprus to Aegean
Greece will oppose Turkey's efforts to link the issues of Cyprus and the
Aegean, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed in
Parliament yesterday, reiterating that the first issue relates to invasion
and occupation.
He added that Turkey had also changed its aggressive doctrine since 1995,
seeking to change the status quo in the Aegean.
"The Cyprus issue is one of invasion and occupation, and Turkey's
aggressiveness is due to the fact that Cypriot entry to the European Union
is approaching. Faced with this aggressiveness, Greece shows cool-
headedness and resolve and supports Cyprus' en try to the EU, but also the
completion of its defensive capability," he said.
He described the recent Turkish reaction to Cyprus' intended purchase of
Russian S-300 surface-to-air missiles by Cyprus as "hysteria", which he
said was countered by repeated statements by US State Department spokesman
Nicholas Burns.
"It is precisely this hysteria which confirms Turkey's aggressive and
destabilising role," he said, adding that he would submit specific facts
and information regarding this role during next week's session of
Parliament's defence and foreign affairs committee.
"We are not the aggressors, but a force of peace, security and cooperation,
and the readiness and competence of the Greek armed forces gives us the
confidence to face this threat," he added.
Turkish arms deal cancelled after Athens criticism
The Belgian government announced yesterday that it was cancelling a deal to
supply Turkey with US-made surface-to-air Hawk missiles, saying it wanted
to avoid throwing further "oil on the fire" of Greek-Turkish relations.
Athens has criticised the sale - handled through French electronics giant
Thomson - by both the Belgian and Dutch governments to supply the missiles
to Turkey.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch Organisation (HRW) has accused Ankara of
acquiring excessive quantities of modern weapons systems that could be used
in an opaque way for suppression of the Kurdish rebellion in its southeastern
provinces and engage in systematic violation of the human rights of
inhabitants in the region.
Opposition party committee meets
The organising committee formed to oversee preparations for the main
opposition New Democracy (ND) party's forthcoming congress met for the
first time today, chaired by former premier George Rallis, taking several
unanimous decisions.
A three-member committee was appointed to examine issues relating to the
congress to be held in late March.
The organising committee today discussed a range of issues relating to the
congress, from delegates to technical matters.
Rallis and the other members of the committee will move to ND party
headquarters on Rigillis Street on Monday, when the next meeting will be
held.
Striking seamen march through Athens
Striking seamen and dockworkers held a rally and march through the streets
of Piraeus today as ships remained tied up in ports around the country for
the fourth consecutive day.
With Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) trade unionists at the head of
the march, the strikers made their way to the Merchant Marine Ministry
building where a delegation met with general secretary Diamantis Manos.
The seamen declared their intention to continue their strike until their
demands were met, while Manos reiterated that the government was not
prepared to amend its nex tax law.
The strike, which affects Greek-flag vessels of all categories as well as
foreign ships employing Greek seamen, is due to end at 6.00 am local time
on Friday.
The seamen are pressing demands for increased insurance and unemployment
benefits, an increase in minimum pensions and preservation of tax breaks
enjoyed since 1955.
The PNO executive committee is currently meeting to decide whether or not
to escalate its labour action.
Charges of match rigging in Greek football
Sports Undersecretary Andreas Fouras admitted today that the credibility of
Greek soccer was at the lowest possible level, amidst charges of match
rigging, but said there was not enough hard evidence for legal proceedings
to be initiated.
Replying in Parliament to a question tabled by main opposition New
Democracy (ND) deputy Gerassimos Yiakoumatos, Fouras also acknowledged that
the powers of the sports ministry were limited in scope.
Yiakoumatos said that as sports undersecretary, Fouras bore much responsibility
and that the money of the Greek people was being wasted.
Fouras announced the tabling of a draft law in Parliament in the spring
which, he said, would regulate a number of sports issues.
Turkish smuggler sentenced to 17 years
A court on Rhodes today sentenced a Turkish national to 17 years'
imprisonment and fined him 4 million drachmas after finding him guilty of
smuggling illegal immigrants into Greece.
Hassan Baidi, 37, was arrested last weekend for taking 37 illegal
immigrants of Kurdish origin to the remote Greek island of Ro in the Aegean
Sea.
Anonymous German returns Parthenon rock
A parcel containing a piece of marble removed from the Athens Acropolis
more than 40 years ago by a German tourist or occupation soldier was
received in the mail by the Greek Ambassador in Bonn.
The package, which was heavy for its size, contained a piece of marble the
size of a large pebble, was post-parked Main.
Embassy sources told the ANA correspondent in Bonn that the anonymous
sender, in a type-written letter enclosed in the parcel, wrote:
"This rock belongs to Greece. Many years ago, I removed it from the ground
of the Acropolis in Athens and took it with me. I am retturning it now.
Because due to my age I am not likely to visit Athens again, please make
sure it is returned near the Temple of Athina on the Parthenon."
The Greek Embassy intends to thank the sender publicly through anouncements
in the German newspapers, "in the hope that others will also follow suit,"
the sources said.
Culture ministry confirms find
The culture ministry has confirmed that a palaestra (wrestling arena)
discovered during excavations at the building site of a modern art museum
off Rigillis Street, near Syntagma Square in downtown Athens, belongs to
the ancient Lyceum of Aristotle.
The exact location of the school, considered one of the three most renowned
academies of philosophy in classical Athens, had hitherto been unknown.
A statement yesterday said excavations had uncovered the largest part of
the palaestra," which is in very good condition".
It was constructed in the 4th century BC, which lends credence to ancient
historian Pausanias' reference to the Lyceum as being one of the many
projects sponsored by the orator Lycurgus. It remained in use until the end
of the 4th century AD, and its various construction phases bear signs of
all the significant historical events of the intervening period.
Swans converge on warmer northern Greece
Mother nature treated local people in Nevrokopi, Drama and surrounding
villages to a rare sight this morning when they awoke to find that dozens
of swans had landed for a rest after migrating from countries of northern
Europe.
Young people in particular rushed to see and protect the beautiful birds
which appeared to be hungry and exhausted.
Local forestry officials expressed the view that the swans had migrated
from the north, possibly Russia, where temperatures are below freezing.
In order to protect the swans from unscrupulous hunters, the Drama Forestry
Department issued an announcement ''advising'' local people not to harm the
birds.
Forestry officials said if the cold weather continued in northern Europe,
more swans and other rare birds could be expected in the region, particularly
in the lagoons of the Nestos River.
WEATHER
Fair weather with sunshine and increased temperatures in most parts of
Greece. Southern and eastern Greece will be overcast with sunny spells with
strong winds in the Aegean which will gradually subside. Athens will be
sunny with temperatures ranging from 6-14C. Thessaloniki, mostly sunny with
temperatures between 1-12C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
(closing rates - buying) US dlr. 247.236
Pound sterling 413.942 Cyprus pd 516.832
French franc 45.862 Swiss franc 179.497
German mark 154.841 Italian lira (100) 15.942
Yen (100) 210.909 Canadian dlr. 183.917
Australian dlr. 191.828 Irish Punt 406.720
Belgian franc 7.519 Finnish mark 52.018
Dutch guilder 137.977 Danish kr. 40.690
Swedish kr. 35.563 Norwegian kr. 38.898
Austrian sh. 22.012 Spanish peseta 1.855
Portuguese escudo 1.555
(M.S.)
