Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-06-25

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 25/06/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Stephanopoulos in Cyprus for historic visit
• Greece reiterates support for Cypriot struggle
• Australia appoints envoy for Cyprus solution
• Manhunt on for Italian drug smuggler
• Culture minister to visit Canada
• Greece, Armenia to work on strengthening ties
• Finance minister predicts lower interest rates in fall
• Cashier gunned down in robbery
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos arrived at Larnaca airport this morning for a four-day official visit to the island repulic at the invitation of Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, according to an ANA despatch from Nicosia. The first Greek president to visit Cyprus since the establishment of the republic in 1960, Stephanopoulos was met at the airport by Clerides. Stephanopoulos is accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, National Economy Undersecretary Alekos Baltas and over other 40 officials.

Greece reiterates support for Cypriot struggle

In statements on arrival at Larnaca, Stephanopoulos stressed that Greece firmly supported the struggle of the island republic's people for a just and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem and its accession to the European Union. He also reassured Nicosia that Greece would stand by all its commitments emanating from the two countries' joint defence doctrine. Clerides said his visit came at the most critical moment of the Cyprus problem since the 1974 Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation of over one-third of Cyprus' territory.

Australia appoints envoy for Cyprus solution

Australia announced today that it had appointed John Spender, Australia's ambassador to Paris, as its special emissary to work towards progress on resolving the Cyprus problem, the ANA reported from Melbourne. Spender is expected to soon meet with UN special envoy on Cyprus Diego Cordovez, White House officials as well as the U.S. President's emissary on Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, who has recently been appointed the U.S. ambassador to the UN. He will also seek meetings with government officials in Nicosia, Athens and Ankara. Downer said Australia had long supported efforts to find a just and viable settlement to the problem. "Greeks and Turks, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots live harmoniously in Australia. We hope that our experience in multiculturalism can help our efforts," he said.

Manhunt on for Italian drug smuggler

Greek customs officers have seized nine kilos of heroin which an Italian tried to smuggle into the country from Albania, the police announced today. After arriving from Albania at the Krystallopigi border post yesterday afternoon, customs officers indicated that he stop his car for an inspection. Instead of stopping, Mikele Archangelo put his foot on the accelerator and tried to escape. After a brief chase, his car ended up in a ditch and the driver fled on foot.

Culture minister to visit Canada

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos will be in Canada on Monday to begin a three-city tour that will include meetings with the Canadian-Greek community and members of the Canadian government. Venizelos will be representing Greece at the two-day international conference on international cultural cooperation in Ottowa, beginning Monday. He will also address the city's Press Club on Greece's role in Europe, the Balkans and the Mediterranean and the Cultural Olympiad, before meeting with Canadian National Heritage Minister Sheila Copps. Venizelos will also meet with Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy on the sidelines of the conference, on Tuesday.

Greece, Armenia to work on strengthening ties

Greek-Armenian bilateral relations are at a very high level and both countries aim to further strengthen them in all sectors, Greece's Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said today, following a meeting with his visiting Armenian counterpart, Khosrov Haroutunian. Haroutunian, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said that Greece and Armenia's strong relations could contribute to consolidating peace and stability in the Caucasus and Black Sea regions. Both men said there were plans under way for increased cooperation between the two parliaments, including a programme of visits.

Finance minister predicts lower interest rates in fall

Greek base lending interest rates will start falling rapidly as of autumn, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou predicted today, speaking at a seminar organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on a new development law. Papantoniou predicted that base lending rates would drop from their current 15 percent to between 6-7 percent in the next two years, in line with the European Union average. A projected drop in Greece's inflation rate from 5.3 percent to 2.0 percent by the end of 1999 "will lead the country to a period of a rapid decline in interest rates", Papantoniou said.

Cashier gunned down in robbery

A 50-year-old cashier was shot and killed today during a robbery at the accounts office of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) in the northern Athens suburb of Amarousion. The victim was named as Lykourgos Latzounis, 50, the father of two children, who was found to be dead on arrival at hospital. According to initial reports, he had been shot twice, in the chest and neck.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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