Greek, Turkish journalists stress inviolability of borders
NEWS IN DETAIL
Farmers play cat and mouse with police in Thessaly
Small groups of protesting farmers in Thessaly have been playing a game of
cat and mouse this morning with 18 squads of the riot police deployed to
protect highways from being blockaded by tractors. It appears the farmers
are concentrating their efforts on gaining access to the highway at Tempi.
Farmers unions are today resuming protest action begun last December
against the government's austerity measures.
Groups of farmers have been gathering with their tractors in the villages
of Platykambos, Vriotopos and Mataragas and other points, apparently
waiting for an opportunity to dodge the police, who have spread out over
the whole region, particularly in the prefecture of Larissa. A short time
ago, the first tractors appeared in the city of Larissa itself, only to be
surrounded by police near the old cemetery.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas reiterated that the government
insisted on dialogue as a means of resolving the farmers' problems,
stressing that the present time was not one for confrontation but one in
which efforts must be made by all sides to find mutually acceptable
solutions.
Condemning the blocking roads and railway lines, Reppas said ''this logic
must be abandoned''. He added that this form of protest did not have the
consent of the Greek people.
Replying to questions concerning the ban on the movement of tractors on the
national roads, Reppas referred to the relevant legislative framework and
said the ban had been imposed ''in order to avert the worst''.
The restrictions, he added, will be temporary.
Greece gets back a bit of the Acropolis
The Culture Ministry today took delivery of the small piece of marble
removed from the Athens Acropolis more than 40 years ago by an unidentified
German who last month returned it by mail to the Greek embassy in
Bonn.
''This gesture is of little material consequence but of enormous symbolic
significance,'' Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said, taking delivery
of the marble.
''The demand for the return of the Parthenon Marbles is not just another
case of cultural objects being returned to their place of origin. It has to
do with the restoration of the aesthetic integrity of one of the greatest
monuments of world civilisation, which was chosen by UNESCO as its logotype
and emblem. I hope the message is clear to all internationally,'' Venizelos
said.
The minister later handed the marble over to the archaeological service.
The piece, about the size of a large pebble, is believed to have been
removed by a German tourist or occupation soldier.
In a type-written letter accompanying the marble, the anonymous German
wrote:
''This rock belongs to Greece. Many years ago I removed it... I am
returning 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...''.
Successive Greek governments have sought the return of the Parthenon
marbles from the British Museum. The ancient sculptures were removed in
1806 by British Ambassador to Constantinople, Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of
Elgin, on the basis of a controversial Turkish firman.
The estimated 253 pieces include the Parthenon frieze by Phidias, a
Caryatid and a column from the Erechtheum.
Bulgarian truck driver arrested for smuggling
Customs officials today arrested a Bulgarian truck driver in Thessaloniki
after discovering half a million packets of contraband cigarettes concealed
in his vehicle.
The man was identified as Gaio Ganev, 50, who had hidden 50,000 ten-pack
cartons of cigarettes -- packed in 1,000 boxes -- behind cases containing
clothing.
Ganev's truck was searched by the customs officials after it was involved
in an accident.
According to the police investigation so far, Ganev entered Greece from
Bulgaria at the Promachonas border post and subsequently destroyed his
travel documents.
It is still not known whether Ganev intended to deliver the cigarettes,
which are believed to have been manufactured in Bulgaria, in Greece or
whether he was on his way to another country.
The import duty on the cigarettes would have been 300 million drachmas.
Third case of meningitis reported at army camp
A third case of meningitis has been reported at an army camp in the Evros
region on Greece's northeastern border with Turkey, National Defence
Ministry sources said today.
They said reserve infantry cadet Christos Mendesidis, 20, from Eleftheroupolis,
Kavala was diagnosed as showing clinical symptoms of the illness yesterday.
Mendesidis, who was serving with an army unit at Didymoticho, is being
treated at Alexandroupolis hospital and is said to be in stable condition.
On Saturday, an army captain serving at a unit in Karoti, Evros died of
meningitis, while a conscript who was serving at Lagoi, Evros is presently
being treated at the 424 military hospital in Athens after showing symptoms
of the illness while on leave in Serres.
Ship runs aground off Astypalaia
All 15 passengers from the ferry "Super Naias" have been safely evacuated
to dry land after the ship ran into rocks while entering port on the
eastern Aegean island of Astypalaia. According to the ship's master, the
incident occurred as the ship was trying to dock in high winds.
In another incident, the "Syros Express" which suffered engine failure
early this morning, is continuing its journey to the Dodecanese island of
Rhodes from Castellorizo under reduced power, while the passenger ferry
"Orion Star" and a navy frigate are sailing alongside. There are 22
passengers and 17 crew members on board.
Solution to Cyprus problem will cancel possibility of conflict
Greece said yesterday it believed that political solutions would be found
to the 23-year-old Cyprus problem that would rule out any possibility of
military conflict.
Asked by a correspondent of a Turkish newspaper if a military conflict was
possible if there was no positive developments in the Cyprus problem during
1997, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas replied:
"If diplomatic and political efforts fail, and given Turkey's aggressive
behaviour towards Greece, this eventuality cannot be ruled out." The
spokesman added, however, that Greece believed political solutions would be
found for the Cyprus problem , "which will then rule out this possibility
(conflict)".
"But both sides must work in this direction," Mr. Reppas said, charging
that Turkey, on the other hand, is doing everything possible to dynamite
all peaceful initiatives aimed at finding diplomatic or political solutions
to differences.
Constantopoulos meets with Cyprus' leadership, Turkish Cypriot delegation
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos
called for the strengthening of both Cyprus' and Greece's negotiating and
diplomatic position at an international level in order to enable them to
utilise mobility on the Cyprus issue as well as to influence developments.
In a statement after meeting with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides
yesterday, Mr. Constantopoulos also expressed support for the demilitarisation
of Cyprus, which he said will facilitate the effectiveness of present
mobility.
He expressed the view that the closer that Cyprus approaches a start to
negotiations for accession into the European Union the more pressure will
increase, adding that Cyprus and Greece must choose the policies and
diplomatic initiatives highlighting Turkish intransigence, while at the
same time will contributing to finding a feasible, just and secure solution
to the Cyprus issue.
Constantopoulos also held an hour-long meeting with a Turkish cypriot
political party delegation at the AKEL party offices. The president of the
Republican Turkish party Ali Talat said afterwards that "there is always
hope for progress in the Cyprus issue, otherwise, there is no reason for us
to try."
State Dept. cites important commitments by Nicosia
The United States yesterday insisted that Cypriot President Glafcos
Clerides promised a visiting US State Department envoy last month that
Greek fighters would not be stationed at the Paphos air base, currently
under construc tion, before the end of his term in March 1998.
"The assurance we have is that Greek military aircraft will not be placed
at the Cyprus base for 13 months," State Department spokesman Nicholas
Burns said.
"We (also) have very serious commitments on the part of the Cypriot
government that they will not install the Russian missiles," he added.
"These are very important concessions, very serious statements from the
Cypriot government," he noted. Regarding the sale of four Seahawk
helicopters to Turkey, Mr. Burns said: "We have a defence relationship with
both Greece and Turkey, and American aid to both countries will continue in
the framework of NATO. Nobody here is talking about ending defence
relationships that are crucial to the US".
Athens cautions 'respect' for Belgrade protesters
The government said yesterday that the lawful demonstrations by opposition
party supporters in Belgrade should "in a democracy" be confronted with
respect.
"No one can applaud the use of force and the injury of citizens and
political leaders," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas added.
Serbian security police attacked thousands of peaceful demonstrators last
night, injuring more than 100.
Replying to questions, Mr. Reppas underlined the need for the implementation
of what was agreed during Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos' visit to
Belgrade.
Defence undersecretary meets with British counterpart in London
National Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis, currently on a
working visit to Britain, held talks yesterday with British Defence
Undersecretary James Arbuthnot.
An announcement by the defence ministry said the 30-minute talks focused on
issues of bilateral cooperation in the defence industry sector.
The British side showed particular interest in specific sectors of
armaments programmes, while the Greek side stressed that all offers made
will be discussed on the basis of mutual benefit.
Mr. Apostolakis was also accepted an invitation to pay an official visit to
Britain. The date of the visit will be established through diplomatic
channels.
Greek, Turkish journalists stress inviolability of borders
Greek and Turkish journalists who met on the eastern Aegean island of Hios
over the weekend, stressed the role of dialogue in the resolution of
differences between the two countries with concurrent respect for
international treaties and established borde s.
"We consider that any existing problems must be solved through dialogue, on
the condition of respect for international treaties and the internationally
established borders between the two countries, as determined after the end
of World War II, and given the Treaty of Lausanne, which we consider non-
revisable," a joint resolution issued at the end of the three-day meeting
said.
The event, organised by the "Journalists in the Aegean and Thrace for
Peace", and reflecting on the one year anniversary since the Imia crisis as
well as Greek -Turkish relations and the media, included four discussions
on issues of particular interest.
The resolution also stressed the need for working towards uncovering the
role of "nationalist and war-mongering circles" in the two countries, as
well as of those powers "who, on the one hand, treat the two countries as
their best clients for weapons sy stems, and on the other, appear as
arbitrators in the resolution of any existing problems".
It was also decided to establish Feb. 1 as an anniversary for action
against what was referred to as "rambo-journalism", citing the media
coverage which precipitated in the Imia crisis, thereby bringing the two
countries to the brink of war.
WEATHER
Fair and sunny, with few local clouds but low temperatures in most parts of
Greece. Possible snowfall and sleet in northern Crete and the Cyclades.
Athens will be cold but sunny with temperatures between 0-10C. Same in
Thessaloniki with temperatures from -5 to 6C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Closing rates - buying US dlr. 257.305
Pound sterling 412.692 Cyprus pd 519.808
French franc 46.318 Swiss franc 180.236
German mark 156.399 Italian lira (100) 15.856
Yen (100) 211.098 Canadian dlr. 191.297
Australian dlr. 197.606 Irish Punt 409.498
Belgian franc 7.582 Finnish mark 52.417
Dutch guilder 139.242 Danish kr. 41.003
Swedish kr. 35.206 Norwegian kr. 39.611
Austrian sch. 22.194 Spanish peseta 1.843
Portuguese escudo 1.557
(M.P.)
