NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece to request release of imprisoned Albanian leader Nano

Speaking to the press after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Foreign Ministry political leadership, Pangalos expressed Greece's concern for the situation in Albania, reiterating support for the avoidance of the use of force and for a political solution to the crisis using peaceful means.

He stressed the Greek government was in contact with all sides in the conflict, and was prepared to deal with any increase in illegal immigration from Albania, any threat to the ethnic Greek minority, or any request for humanitarian aid.

He noted that Greece was not in favour of intervention by an international force if it could be avoided.

"At this point it is not unavoidable," he concluded.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also expressed the government's grave concern at developments in Albania, noting that insurgents had been observed south of Tirana.

He added that the most important problem at the moment was the appointment of prime minister, foreign and public order ministers, expressing the hope that this issue would be resolved today.

Asked whether the opposition could represent the insurgents, Reppas said this was a domestic issue for Albania, but expressed the view that since the insurgents held a large sector of the country, they should have a say in developments.

He rejected criticism of the government's alleged support for Berisha, since it was natural for the government to be in contact with the President of Albania. Moreover, Greece has always maintained that a political solution should include all political forces.

With regard to the possibility of Greece mediating between Tirana and the insurgents, the spokesman said the government would discuss the issue if it arose, and only if there were prospects of success.

Gov't confers on developments in Albania

The same sources said the possibility of an outbreak of full-scale civil war was also discussed, as the insurgency appeared to be spreading to the north of the country and Berisha was arming citizens and pro-government soldiers in order to give himself more leverage in negotiations with the opposition.

The Greek government meanwhile is to continue its diplomatic activity in an attempt to defuse the crisis in Albania. Government sources say a multinational force could be deployed in future in order to guarantee the negotiations, although there has been no indication as yet from NATO Secretary General Javier Solana that such a move is being considered.

It was also denied that Italy had asked for Greece to be excluded from any international force because of its position as a neighbouring country.

Albanian shot in border incident

The gunmen have been demanding money from everyone wanting to cross over the border. When Musati Figiri, 31, refused to pay he was shot in cold blood. He was taken to Ioannina University Hospital in a serious condition.

There are no longer any Albanian soldiers posted along the length of Greece's border with Albania, while the Kakavia border post on the Albanian side has been abandoned by customs police and armed insurgents have driven away soldiers posted there, according to an ANA dispatch from Ioannina.

Albanians arriving at Kakavia to send their children to safety in Greece say they will not lay down their arms unless President Sali Berisha resigns.

It was reported that armed men broke into the cathedral in Gjirokaster last night, taking money but leaving other valuables.

Over the last 24 hours, 25 Albanian illegal immigrants have been arrested in Epirus.

Athens to continue pressure on Berisha: Kranidiotis

In an interview in today's "Exousia" following his talks in Tirana on Saturday, Kranidiotis noted that Greece's actions had brought about results.

"Our goal was for there to be ...an ageement betweeen government and opposition, for elections to be held soon and to secure the rights of the ethnic Greek minority... It is clear that aid is linked to...the implementation of the agreement."

In the event of a threat to Albania's Greek minority, he stressed that any moves to protect them would be via European bodies.

"At the same time, we will hold Albania responsible for protecting the minority. We have ways to exert pressure. Albania has depended and continues to depend on Greece, both economically and politically," he said.

Kranidiotis said that during a press conference in Albania he had also raised the issue of the release from prison of Socialist leader Fatos Nano.

"I hope that Greece's appeal for the safety of the political leader will be considered," he said.

Greece pledges support to Albanian political deal

The deal, signed Sunday after two days of talks and mediation by senior European envoys, calls for the formation of an interim all-party government to supervise general elections to be held in June.

However, the revolt in the south of the country appeared to be spreading yesterday, with rebels ignoring the political deal thrashed out by President Berisha, continuing their calls for the president's resignation, and the army falling back in disarray .

Reports said that the latest areas to fall were the ancient town of Berat, abandoned without a fight by the army, and the nearby town of Kucove, where residents pillaged an air force base, one of two important military airfields in Albania. Reports from Tirana indicated the towns of Polican and Corovode, south of the capital, were also in rebel hands.

An ANA dispatch from the Albanian capital reported Mr. Berisha calling an urgent meeting of political party leaders in a last-ditch attempt to stem the rebellion from spreading further.

According to the same dispatch, Mr. Berisha was to propose to the main opposition Socialist Party that it choose a prime minister in the interim government.

Greece requests extradition of kidnapper

Frangistas was seized on March 24 as he walked along the exit from a National Park in Lanark Road, in the Maida Vale area of northwest London.

His abductors bundled him into the boot of a car at gunpoint and took him to an address in Hogan Mews, where they held him blindfolded in a cupboard for 10 days while they made ransom demands to his family.

Frangistas was freed by Scotland Yard after a massive cover surveillance operation involving more than 50 officers. Korkolis was one of the four men arrested in London, two of them Greeks and two French.

The Greek justice ministry's extradition request has been submitted to the British authorities through the Greek foreign ministry. It is accompanied by a crime-sheet listing a series of convictions, totalling nine years, and a number of other pending offences ranging from fraud, blackmail, forging a public document and cheques.

His last conviction before fleeing to Britain was in 1989 when he forged his father's signature on a cheque for which he was sentenced to 20 months in jail.

New Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria enthroned

The ceremony was attended by President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, Public Order Minister George Romeos, many deputies, leaders or representatives of Greek and Cypriot parties, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and crowds of people. Also present were representatives of all Orthodox Churches, a representation for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and senior Egyptian officials.

Austrian defence minister due in Athens today

Austria, he noted, is the country with the longest service in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus, with its involvement dating back to the beginning of the '60s.

Mr. Faslabed said developments in the Balkans,and Albania in particular, Europe's future security architecture, the Cyprus issue and bilateral cooperation will be the main topics of discussion with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Mr. Faslabed said the exchange of information and views between Austria and Greece is extremely important, as they are countries bordering events in the Balkans which, in his view, will remain a flashpoint in the future as well, as illustrated by developments in Albania.

Honorary doctorate for German President

President Herzog will meet President Kostis Stephanopoulos tomorrow morning before returning to Germany.

President Herzog, who was a member of the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe from 1983 and its president from 1987 to 1994 (when he was elected President of the Republic by the German Parliament), will be honoured by the Athens University's Law Faculty for his academic work.

President Herzog and President Stephanopoulos have met twice in the past. The first time was in July 1995 when President Stephanopoulos paid an acquaintance visit to Berlin and the second was in June 1996 when President Stephanopoulos paid an official v isit to Germany in the light of the Greek- Turkish crisis, accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

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