Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-07-07
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 07/07/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Athens rejects Turkish demarche
- Rail services cut by strike on Thursday
- Russian man drowns
- French yacht towed to Rhodes
- Greece, Russia call for talks to slash Cyprus arms race
- Gov't to merge three insurance funds
- PM in Lisbon for 'Greek Day' at Expo '98
- Athens supports NATO efforts to decrease Aegean tension
- Kasparov announces internet site
- Coastguard gets powerful new boats, cars
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Athens rejects Turkish demarche
Athens today described as "unacceptable" a Turkish demand for the
demilitarisation of Aegean islands, contained in a demarche handed to
Greece's Ambassador in Ankara. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
dismissed the demand as "historically unacceptable and groundless",
particularly in view of "the behaviour of Turkey's leadership which once
again dynamites the relationship between the two countries". The demarche
was handed to envoy Dimitris Nezeritis yesterday. By adopting this practice,
Reppas said, Turkey is not contributing to peace and stability in the
region and is compromising itself.
Rail services cut by strike on Thursday
The Greek Railways Organisation (OSE) said today that itineries throughout
northern Greece would be cut on Thursday due to the 24-hour strike called
by the railway workers federation (POS). The strike will affect services in
all prefectures of northern Greece, while only a few trains considered
essential for social needs would run in the Macedonia-Thrace region.
Services in the Peloponnese would not be affected, OSE said, while all
trains will be running as normal in the Attica region except those heading
for or setting out from Macedonia-Thrace.
Russian man drowns
An elderly Russian man drowned while swimming in Heraklion, Crete, local
police said today. They said Valentin Veselov, 74, drowned yesterday as he
was swimming off the beach at Kokkino Hani, Heraklion. Two other elderly
men, Vassilis Kavroumatzis, 71, and Dimitris Stratoulis, 79, also drowned
yesterday at Aghios Spyridonas beach at Porto Rafti and Marathon,
respectively.
French yacht towed to Rhodes
A French-registered yacht that drifted into Greek territorial waters after
engine failure has been safely towed to the island of Rhodes by a Greek tug,
police said today. They said the yacht "Jitterbug" and its two British
passengers had set sail from Marmaris port in Turkey yesterday afternoon
but suffered engine failure and was pushed by strong northerly winds to the
sea region off Kritika, Rhodes, where it managed to cast anchor. The
tubgoat "Iraklis" immediately set sail from the port of Rhodes and towed
the yacht and its passengers to port.
Greece, Russia call for talks to slash Cyprus arms race
Greece and Russia yesterday agreed to undertake initiatives for the
promotion of a military dialogue on Cyprus with a view to the island's
ultimate demilitarisation, a foreign ministry statement read after
successive meetings in Athens between Alternate Foreign Minister George
Papandreou and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis with Russian
envoy for Cyprus Vladimir Tchizhov.
Gov't to merge three insurance funds
Labour and Social Insurance Minister Miltiades Papaioannou yesterday
presented social partners with a plan on the merger of self-employed
workers' insurance funds, namely, TEBE, the Merchants' Fund (TAE) and the
Motorists' Fund (TSA). People insured with TEBE, TAE, TSA and possibly
hoteliers will join the Insurance Organisation of the Self-Employed (OAEE),
scheduled to be created. This plan, after a new round of talks,together
with the remaining issues in the so-called "small insurance package", will
be brought before the Cabinet at the end of July and Parliament in
August.
PM in Lisbon for `Greek Day` at Expo '98
Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived in Lisbon yesterday afternoon to
attend events organised by "EXPO '98" in Greece's honour and during events
entitled "Oceans and Seas." Mr. Simitis is accompanied by Culture Minister
Evangelos Venizelos, Aegean Minister Elizabeth Papazoi, Merchant Marine
Minister Stavros Soumakis and National Economy Undersecretary Alekos
Baltas. Immediately after arriving in Lisbon, Mr. Simitis held talks with
Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, focusing on European issues, "Agenda
2000", European unification and enlargement.
Athens supports NATO efforts to decrease Aegean tension
National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday expressed Athens'
strong support for NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana's efforts to
promote measures decreasing tension between Greece and Turkey. He also
reiterated Greece's support for the immediate implementation of confidence-
building measures (CBMs) between the two countries, as anticipated by the
1988 Papoulias-Yilmaz communique. The Greek defence minister is on
an official tour of the United States, which includes a scheduled
meeting with his US counterpart, William Cohen, in Washington.
Kasparov announces internet site
World famous chess master Garry Kasparov said yesterday that he will create
an internet site for chess lovers around the world. The launch date will be
some time in October and the address will be www.clubkasparov.org aiming to
draw all those who love chess and want to play the game on the internet.
Coastguard gets powerful new boats, cars
The Greek Coast Guard yesterday took delivery of three new state-of-the-art
CB90 HCG patrol boats worth a total of 828 million drachmas. The 16.1-meter-
long boats can reach speeds of over 46 knots. They are equipped with
special shore landing systems which allow them to approach and disembark
personnel on sandy beaches. Also delivered yesterday, at a ceremony
attended by Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis and the secretary-
general of the Greek Naval Staff Athanasios Tsouroplis, were 32 jeeps - 23
Nissan Terrano II and nine Pajeros.
WEATHER
Sunny weather is forecast throughout Greece today with scattered cloud
appearing in the northwest. Winds variable, light to moderate, turning
strong in the southeastern Aegean Sea. Athens sunny with temperatures
between 22-34C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 20-31C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 300.001
British pound 493.044 Japanese yen (100) 213.310
French franc 49.483 German mark 165.813
Italian lira (100) 16.848 Irish Punt 417.632
Belgian franc 8.044 Finnish mark 54.570
Dutch guilder 147.173 Danish kr. 43.551
Austrian sch. 23.592 Spanish peseta 1.956
Swedish kr. 37.339 Norwegian kr. 39.085
Swiss franc 197.011 Port. Escudo 1.620
Aus. dollar 184.507 Can. dollar 204.054
Cyprus pound 564.627
(M.P.)
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