Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-08-31
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 31/08/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Athens rejects Cem-Denktash proposal for confederation
- PM briefs president on Wednesday
- Greece, Bulgaria discuss Balkans force
- Jet-ski owner fined for negligence
- Simitis interview to "Le Monde"
- Pangalos: visa-free zone on Greek-Albanian border next year
- Lesvos business delegation in Izmir
- Balkan writers/translators' conference in Alexandroupolis
- Physicist Stephen Hawking at Samos cosmology conference
- Bullet-riddled body of Albanian policeman found in well
- First division soccer results
- Weather
- Foreign Exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Athens rejects Cem-Denktash proposal for confederation
The Greek government has rejected the idea of a confederation of two states
on Cyprus proposed earlier on Monday in a joint communique issued by
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash immediately after their talks in the Turkish-occupied part of
Nicosia. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the stance adopted by
Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriots proves that Ankara's policy runs completely
contrary to the direction expected by the international community and
simply confirmed the provocativeness and aggressiveness associated with the
neighbouring country.
PM briefs president on Wednesday
Prime Minister Costas Simitis will brief President Kostis Stephanopoulos at
noon on Wednesday on current political developments, government spokesman
Dimitris Reppas said today, announcing the premier's schedule for the week.
Reppas said the meeting would be within the framework of the regular
monthly contacts between the premier and president. At 1.30 pm. the same
day, Reppas said, Simitis will receive International Olympic Committee
(IOC) president Juan Antonio Samaranch to discuss issues related to
the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Greece, Bulgaria discuss Balkans force
Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis had talks in Sofia today with
his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Gechev on plans for the formation of a
multinational rapid intervention force in the Balkans, developments in
Kosovo and bilateral cooperation in the defence sector, according to an ANA
despatch from Sofia. In statements after the meeting, both sides underlined
the identity of views on the issues discussed and expressed satisfaction
with the level of coordination between the two countries. Apostolakis
described as "excellent" the cooperation between the two countries'
peacekeeping contingents in Bosnia, saying a joint visit was being planned
to the force's headquarters.
Jet-ski owner fined for negligence
The owner of a marine pleasure craft rental company on the island of
Zakynthos was today fined 10 million drachmas for illegally renting out two
jet skis which later collided, resulting in the serious injury of a British
woman. In the accident, which took place in the sea near the beach of
Aghios Nikolaos, Vassiliko on August 19, Joanne Salter, 26, was seriously
injured while riding on a jet ski driven by another British woman when it
was hit by a second jet ski which had been rented from the same company
reportedly by two Italian men. Salter later underwent emergency surgery for
injuries sustained to her liver at a hospital on Zakynthos. The owner of
the pleasure craft company, Charalambos Vythoulkas, was fined by the
Zakynthos coastguard for renting the two jet skis to persons who did not
have a speedboat licence.
Simitis interview to "Le Monde"
More than 70 per cent of the Greeks want their country to enter Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU) and are ready to make the necessary sacrifices,
Prime Minister Costas Simitis told the Paris daily "Le Monde". The Greek
premier's interview, published by the paper in its Aug. 30-31 edition,
comes in light of his French counterpart Lionel Jospin's visit to Athens
today. The two premiers will be the keynote speakers at an open discussion
this evening on democratic socialism.
Pangalos: visa-free zone on Greek-Albanian border next year
A zone on the Greek-Albanian frontier will be introduced next year, Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos announced yesterday during a visit to the
southeastern Albanian town of Korce, where he inaugurated a new Greek
consulate. Greeks and Albanians living within the zone - the depth of which
will be decided later - will be allowed free movement on either side of the
borders inside the zone, and will have a special common identification card,
Mr.Pangalos explained. The card, issued jointly by Greece and Albania, will
enable residents inside the zone to live in one country and work across
the border in the other country within the designated zone. Restrictions
for the other parts of the country will remain in place.
Lesvos business delegation in Izmir
A delegation of 40 members of Lesvos' chamber of commerce yesterday
concluded a three-day visit to Izmir within the framework of that city's
international exhibition. The delegation met with the Izmir Chamber of
Commerce's board-members during the sidelines of the exhibition and arrived
at several trade agreements for both exports and imports between businesses
in the eastern Aegean islands and the coastal cities of Asia Minor.
Balkan writers/translators' conference in Alexandroupolis
A week-long Balkan writers' and translators' conference began on Saturday
in Alexandroupoli. The conference, entitled "Balkan Writers' and Translators'
Workshop" is organised by the National Book Centre in cooperation with the
culture ministry and Evros prefecture. Topics to be discussed include
whether there is a common Balkan literature or if the term is a current
invention, and the notion of "southeastern Europe" instead of the term
"Balkans", which sometimes invokes memories of chaos and instability in
much of the rest of Europe.
Physicist Stephen Hawking at Samos cosmology conference
The second international conference on cosmology, geometry and physics is
set to begin today on the eastern Aegean island of Samos. The conference is
expected to focus on efforts to analyse modern physics and mathematical
theories regarding the study of the structure and development of the early
universe. World famous physicist Stephen Hawking will be among the more
than 100 official participants at the conference, due to conclude on
Friday.
Bullet-riddled body of Albanian policeman found in well
The bullet-riddled body of a missing Albanian policeman was found in a well
near the village of Sayiada, Thesprotia prefecture, about 100 metres within
the Greek border with Albania, authorities said yesterday. A local police
official told the ANA that the body of 30-year-old Vladimir Beito was
located Saturday night by a Greek military patrol. The man had disappeared
about a week ago and Albanian police sought the assistance of Greek
authorities, who began an investigation into his whereabouts.
First division soccer results
Olympiakos-Elefsina 1-1 Proodeftiki-Panathinaikos 1-2
AEK-Apollon 3-1 PAOK-Aris 1-4
Ionikos-Panionios 4-3 E.Asteras-Kavala 3-2
Pyrgos-Ethnikos 2-0 Heraklis-OFI tonight
Xanthi-Veria tonight Standings, points:
AEK, Aris, Panathinaikos, Ionikos 6, Olympiakos 4, OFI, Heraklis, Kavala,
Pyrgos, E.Asteras 3, Elefsina 2, Xanthi 1.
WEATHER
Mild weather is forecast for the entire country today, turning cloudy in
the afternoon in central and northern Greece with chances of showers in the
north. Mild in Athens, with temperatures between 21-31 C. Same in
Thessaloniki, with local clouds in the afternoon and temperatures between
18-27 C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 308.710
British pound 510.582 Japanese yen (100) 215.700
French franc 51.463 German mark 172.509
Italian lira (100) 17.454 Irish Punt 433.504
Belgian franc 8.363 Finnish mark 56.609
Dutch guilder 152.867 Danish kr. 45.273
Austrian sch. 24.501 Spanish peseta 2.029
Swedish kr. 37.631 Norwegian kr. 38.023
Swiss franc 208.494 Port. Escudo 1.681
Aus. dollar 175.678 Can. dollar 195.999
Cyprus pound 588.256
(M.P.)
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