NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece to protest resumption of Kozloduy reactor at EU

Replying to a question tabled by main opposition New Democracy Vice President Yiannis Varvitsiotis, Papandreou said reactor No. 1 had recommenced operations on 20 January, noting that the European Commission had decided after an examination that it could be operated within required safety limits.

Papandreou said however that Greece continued to have reservations and was ''concerned'' about the operation of the reactor.

Citing a number of international reports, Varvitsiotis likened the reopening of the nuclear plant and particularly reactor No. 1 to ''a bomb of many megatons ready to explode.

He said the danger of a new Chernobyl disaster had in no way subsided.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly underlined the danger posed by the operation of the Kozloduy plant, situated just 225 kilometres from the Greek-Bulgarian border.

The environmental organisation ''Greenpeace'' has warned that an accident at Kozloduy could overshadow the terrible consequences of the Chernobyl disaster which caused over 30,000 deaths and contaminated 160,000 square kilometres of land, forcing 400,000 people to abandon their homes.

The organisation has charged that Kozloduy is using obsolete nuclear technology, resulting in frequent accidents and radioactivity leaks.

Defence Minister Tsohatzopoulos meets with NATO official Lopez

Earlier, Lopez had a separate meeting with National Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis and the Chief of the National Defence General Staff General Athanasios Tzoganis, who invitated the NATO official to Greece.

According to informed sources, Lopez's talks at the ministry covered all issues concerning the region which are of interest to NATO. Also discussed were Greece's relations with the Alliance and matters pertaining to NATO's new structure and its enlargement eastwards.

Lopez's visit comes shortly before NATO General Secretary Javier Solana is due to arrive at the end of the month in an effort to reduce tension in the region.

It has already been reported that the USA and NATO are seeking confidence- building measures in the Aegean and the setting-up of a ''hot line'' between Athens and Ankara to avert crises.

Acropolis and other sites remain closed

''It is a simple case of hostage-taking,'' Venizelos said today, noting that not all Culture Ministry employees were taking part in what he called the ''selective'' strike.

Venizelos acknowledged that the archaeologists and engineers employed by the Culture Ministry were ''the worst paid employees of the Greek state''.

The government remains constantly open to public dialogue, he said, adding that the draft law on civil servants was currently being prepared.

The rolling 48-hour strikes of the Culture Ministry employees have closed the Acropolis museum and archaeological site in Athens and the White Tower, Byzantine and archaeological museums in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

The strikers' demands are mainly pay- and benefit-related.

Drachma appreciates in January

The currencies of ten European Union member states depreciated against the drachma by between 1.02 per cent (Dutch Guilder) and 0.12 per cent (Italian lira).

Pound Sterling, the Irish Punt and the Portuguese Escudo appreciated against the drachma by 2.17 per cent, 0.69 per cent and 0.003 per cent respectively.

As far as non-EU currencies are concerned, during the same period of time the drachma appreciated against the Swiss franc (2.35 per cent), the Australian dollar (0.15 per cent), the Japanese yen (1.12 per cemt) and the Cyprus pound (0.11 per cent), while depreciating against the rest.

The dollar appreciated against the drachma by 2.54 per cent, the Norwegian Krona by 2.81 per cent and the Canadian dollar by 3.5 per cent.

Tickets for international athletics meet go on sale soon

"Athens '97" chairman Vangelis Savramis told a press conference today that 7,500 bookings had already been made. However, the organisation expects to record a deficit of 3,405,626,000 dr., as expenditures are expected to reach 5,180,626,000 dr, with income estimated to total 1,775,000,000.

Greek sponsors are to donate 500 million dr., while the state media company (ET) is to provide state-of-the-art equipment which will also be used in 2004 if Greece's bid to stage that year's Olympic Games is successful. Savramis also confirmed that the "Athens '97" organising committee would be subsiding the training of Greece's athletes to the tune of 100 million dr.

Admitting there had been delays and some problems during preparations for the championship, Savramis urged everyone involved to pull together in a spirit of unity towards making it a success.

Greece calls for EU summit on situation in the Balkans

Greece's permanent representative to the European Union, Pavlos Apostolidis, during yesterday's regular meeting of permanent EU representatives briefed his 14 counterparts on Athens' initiatives.

Eurosocialists express concern at Albanian developments

The resolution expresses concern over the collapse of pyramid investment schemes in Albania, the ensuing riots in which three people have already been killed, as well as the effect on the country's economic development and the consequences for the entire region.

The European Socialists call on Albania's leaders to stop persecuting members of the opposition and to begin "serious and substantial" negotiations in order to halt political and economic instability.

Diplomatic pressure could be behind Rifkind remarks on Cyprus

"In view of developments in the region, those countries who have an interest or wish to be involved one way or another, come forward with their own statements and reasonings as to how existing problems should be resolved," Mr. Papandreou explained.

The alternate foreign minister said the "responsibilities could not be attributed equally" between Greece and Turkey.

Foreign office clarification

The British foreign office said a number of press reports had incorrectly interpreted Mr. Rifkind's comments on Tuesday.

In fact, the ministry noted, Mr. Rifkind made his remarks in the specific context of tensions in the Aegean of the sort that almost led to armed conflict last year over Turkish claims to the uninhabited Greek islet of Imia.

"His point on Cyprus was a different one. He said there was every reason why there should be a settlement, but that there had been a lack of political will in both Cypriot communities," the foreign office stated.

Greece said the comments were unjust and blamed Ankara for tension, while Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides said a war between Turkey and Greece would destabilise the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.

European socialists to meet in Athens over the weekend

Representing the ruling PASOK party will by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, party Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos.

Ecumenical Patriarchate surfs the Net

At an official presentation in Thessaloniki yesterday by Metropolitan Panteleimon, head abbot of the Vlatadon Monastery, said the move is aimed at "creating a network of information for the faithful ... in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia, on the activities of the Patriarchate."

It provides access to the patriarchate's administrative services, a collection of Byzantine icons, a church calendar, a history and detailed international bibliography, lists of partriarchs and other church officials, monasteries and institutions all a round the world.

Plans are also in the offing for a news service on all church matters, a photo archive of Byzantine monuments in Istanbul, a video archive and data bank of libraries in the patriarchate and the Halki Theological School.

The Internet service has been prepared by professors at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki.

"Delacroix and the French Painters" exhibition opens

Speaking during the official opening, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said the exhibition is mainly "a national event, a look back at the heroic efforts of our people, whose feelings exploded into revolution after 400 years of slavery filled with bitterness..."

Ninety oil paintings collected from French and Greek museums are exhibited on the gallery's three floors, with the main exhibit being, of course, Delacroix's "Greece on the Ruins of Messolonghi".

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