Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-06-09

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 09/06/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece calls for inquiry into Parthenon Marbles damage
• SE European ministers come to uneasy compromise on Kosovo
• Greece prepared for any Kosovo refugee spillover
• Court begins hearing on Ionian Bank
• Parliament President to attend Council of Europe meeting
• Albanians fail to win demands in strike
• National Special Needs Championship begins tomorrow
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece will demand an immediate inspection of the Parthenon Marbles following revelations by a British historian that the 5th century BC artworks suffered "significant and irrevocable" damage at the hands of the British Museum in London, where they are housed, the government said today. Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos told an extraordinary press conference that Greece would ask UNESCO, or UNESCO's International Council of Museums (ICOM), to set up a committee to inspect the condition of the Marbles. British historian William St. Clair said in a book released Sunday that the Marbles had suffered significant and irrevocable damage some 60 years ago when British Museum staff tried to restore the friezes to what was mistakenly thought to be their original colour.

SE European ministers come to uneasy compromise on Kosovo

There may be no mention of Kosovo in the official communiques of the meeting of southeast European foreign ministers but their concerns over the situation in Kosovo were more than apparent during the two-day meeting, according to an ANA dispatch from Istanbul. The dispatch said the ministers abided by Yugoslavia's veto on any reference to Kosovo in the communiques but their concerns are set out in black and white in the minutes of the meeting as well as in the conclusions of the meetings of secretary-generals from six of the SE European countries. The Yugoslav delegation refused all talk on Kosovo, considering the situation there to be "an internal matter for Yugoslavia".

Greece prepared for any Kosovo refugee spillover

There are no refugees from Kosovo in northern Greece but there is a comprehensive plan to deal with such an eventuality, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said today. Reppas said the plan had not yet been put implemented and neither had any special measures been taken on the Greek borders. Asked whether Greece was willing to participate in a possible military "presence" in Kosovo, Reppas said that such an issue had not been raised at any level and that a position would be taken when it was. He reiterated the government's call on both sides to avoid the use of force or terrorist actions to allow room for dialogue.

Court begins hearing on Ionian Bank

An Athens court is expected to rule tomorrow whether a strike by workers at Ionian Bank, who are protesting its privatisation, is illegal. The walkout, which is also due to end tomorrow, was called by the General Confederation of Greek Labour after the same court ruled two earlier stoppages illegal. Workers at Ionian, a subsidiary of state-owned Commercial Bank of Greece, have staged a rolling strike since May 11 called by the national bank unions federation and Ionian's staff association. Today, the Athens court of first instance heard evidence from Ionian Bank's deputy general director, Emmanouil Santorineos, who claimed the strike had brought operations to a near standstill, driving away customers.

Parliament President to attend Council of Europe meeting

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis will be in Stockholm later this week to attend the Council of Europe's assembly of national parliament presidents, according to an ANA dispatch from Sweden. The meeting, to be held June 12-13, will examine the challenges faced by national parliaments as democratic institutions take root in Europe and how national parliaments can contribute to the United Nations. The assembly, held every two years, is expected to draw representatives from some 40 countries and from international organisations. Greece presently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of Europe.

Albanians fail to win demands in strike

Albanian farm workers and labourers in the district of Vassiliki, Thessaloniki, returned to work today after their three-day strike in support of a 1,000 drachma pay increase failed. Inspired by the recent success of their compatriots in Messinia, who received part of their demands, the Vassiliki workers said they were striking to press an increase of their daily wage from 3,000 drachmas ($10). Despite support from the local labourers' union, who charged the Albanians had been the subject of "police terrorism", the strikers failed to convince local farmers and employers. Community President Stylianos Pipinikas told the ANA that the strike had been overrated. "Those who were striking were the ones who didn't have work," he told the ANA.

National Special Needs Championship begins tomorrow

Undersecretary for Sports Andreas Fouras tomorrow declares open the 10th National Championships for People with Special Needs, to be held at the Karaiskaki Stadium. The championship games are organised by the National Greek Committee for Special Athletics and will bring together 600 athletes from 28 federations around Greece. Events include swimming, track and field, dance, football and table tennis. Admission to the events is free.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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