From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Mon, 31 Jan 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): Snowstorms, torrential rains and gale force winds swept across Greece over the weekend, claiming a death toll of at least one person, and isolating scores of villages in the northern parts of the country. Athens, suffered the heaviest blow, with several suburbs plunged in darkness owing to power cuts. A 65-year-old man died, when the roof of his shack collapsed in the northern suburb of Liosia, where 80 houses were flooded, a Police spokesman said. Owners had to use small rowing boats to move about, as the level of water caused by melting snow and rain reached four feet. Problems were also reported in northern regions including Ioannina, Trikala, as also on Evia island. 70 villages are snowbound, the spokesman added. At least 200 cars were immobilized by roadblocks caused by landslides, snowfalls, while overturned trucks lay all along the Athens-Lamia highway, where Army rescue units are busy trying to clear the snow and restore traffic. The Merchant Marine Ministry canceled all coastal sailing schedules from Piraeus and Rafina to Saronic Gulf islands, owing to gale force winds. Schedules from Ionian islands, Crete and the Dodecaneese islands were also canceled. Two barges and at least half a dozen fishing trawlers sank in the Bay of Navarone (Pylos) in the Peloponnese. The Weather Bureau said bad weather will continue over the next 24 hours. - About one hundred families, victims of the storm in the regions of Liosia and Menidi, have been offered emergency accommodation in hotels in Menidi, the National Youth Foundation and other municipal buildings, Minister of the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Costas Laliotis said Saturday. Mr. Laliotis made the statement while visiting storm-stricken areas, accompanied by Alternate Minister Yannis Souladakis. Meanwhile, local municipalities are cooperating with the Attica prefecture, for providing food supplies to the victims. Mr. Laliotis added a list of material damage was being drawn up by special prefecture and ministry teams. Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): US Ambassador to Athens Thomas Niles, visiting Thessaloniki to participate at a business conference, toured the Vergina archaeological sites yesterday. Expressing admiration for the sixteen-ray Vergina star, Mr. Niles said "undoubtedly the star originates in these tombs". Responding to press questions, Mr. Niles said the terrorists who killed former governor of the National Bank of Greece Michalis Vranopoulos last week, "will be arrested, but I don't know when". "I cannot predict when but I have a certainty that it will happen", he said, adding that the United States was willing to assist the Greek government in battling terrorism. Today Mr. Niles is scheduled to participate at a conference on Business activities in the greater Balkan area. Present at the meeting will also be representatives of the Northern Greece Industries Association, the Northern Greece Exports Association, and the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as businessmen in the industrial and commercial fields. Mr. Niles is escorted by Ralf Rompson, a State Department official responsible for economic assistance to the former east European countries. Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): Alternate Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos represented the European Union in Gaberone, capital of Botswana, at a two-day conference of neighboring states on the development of Southern Africa, which opened Wednesday. Mr. Pangalos presented a European Union assistance programme to the countries of the region and had a meeting with President Masire and Vice President Mogui. Mr. Pangalos had also meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Mozambique, Zambia and Namibia. On Friday, Mr. Pangalos visited the Republic of South Africa, in the context of European Union common action to boost the effort for a multi-racial republic in the country, in light of parliamentary elections to be held in April. Mr. Pangalos had also talks with President of the Republic F. de Clerk, president of the African national Congress (ANC) Nelson Mandela, Foreign Minister Pik Botha and other officials. Mr. Pangalos received leading members of the Greek community, at the Greek Embassy in Pretoria. Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): The Greek government considers the Skopjan Constitution is tantamount to national propaganda against neighboring countries. In an address before a congress organized by the Greek Institute for European and Foreign Policy in Thessaloniki, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos Saturday said: "The Skopjan Constitution ...unfortunately constitutes a condensation of what we would call national propaganda against a neighboring country or countries". "To be precise, I am referring to both the preamble of the Constitution and to articles 3 and 49", Mr. Venizelos told the delegates, who included Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Constantine Triarides and British Ambassador Oliver Miles. Mr. Venizelos' address focused on the subject of constitutional changes in the Balkan states in recent years. Washington, 31/1/1994 (ANA - D. Dimas): Greek diplomatic sources yesterday said they had 'no knowledge' of UN Secretary-General Special Representative for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Cyrus Vance's intentions to visit Athens and Skopje. Last Friday, Mr. Ghali's spokesman Ahmad Faousi said "I have no date on that, but I understand Vance plans to go. He asked us not to make any comment on the progress of his work". UN sources Friday were reported suggesting Mr. Vance' tour of Athens and Skopje might begin Wednesday, February 2. The sources yesterday said such reports was "totally inaccurate". Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, spiritual leader of three million Orthodox Christians in the US, is expected to arrive in Athens today. Iakovos had to put back his five-day visit to Greece scheduled to begin Saturday, owing to a slight indisposition. Arriving in Zurich en route to Athens Saturday, Iakovos felt unwell and went to the city's University Hospital for medical tests. He was discharged from hospital yesterday, after doctors said he was in excellent health. Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos telephoned Archbishop Iakovos expressing joy and congratulating him at his speedy recovery. Premier Andreas Papandreou, Archbishop Serapheim of Athens and Primate of Greece, former Premier Constantine Mitsotakis, Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, Public Order Minister Stelios Papathemelis, and other government officials telephoned the Archbishop expressing wishes of recovery. Tonight, Iakovos will be hosted to dinner by Premier Andreas Papandreou. He is scheduled to have talks with Education and Religious Affairs Minister Dimitris Fatouros on Wednesday. Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): The PASOK central committee meeting ended Saturday with unanimous approval of a package of proposals by party leader, Premier Andreas Papandreou and the Executive Office. Party secretary Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the meeting was substantive, adding discussions included political goals of the party, organizing vital electoral confrontations, such as European Parliament and municipal elections and supervising work on holding the party congress from April 14 to 17. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the congress would mark the beginning of party regeneration during PASOK's current term in power. Washington, 31/1/1994 (ANA - D. Dimas): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias arrived in Washington, Saturday, for talks with senior US state officials, in his capacity as President of the European Union's Council of Foreign Ministers. Today, Mr. Papoulias and Foreign Political Affairs Commissioner Hans van den Broek are expected to have separate meetings with Secretary of State Warren Christopher and President Clinton's National Security Adviser Anthony Lake. The meetings will focus on international political issues. Tomorrow, Mr. Papoulias is scheduled to meet congressmen and senators in Congress before departing from the US. Athens, 31/1/1994 (ANA): Turkish Republican Party leader Deniz Baykal arrived in the northern Greek town of Alexandroupolis Saturday, saying he was "carrying a message of friendship". Mr. Baykal made the statement at the city mosque Saturday, while on his way to Komotini, accompanied by a group of party deputies. There should be co-operation between Greece and Turkey to overcome "certain problems" in relations between the two countries, he said. Greeks should visit Turkey to convey "the same spirit of friendship", Mr. Baykal suggested, adding he would not attend the trial of former Moslem independent deputy Ahmed Sadik in Thessaloniki of February 1, as he would be departing Greece on the day before the trial. An isolated group of extreme rightists tried to create incidents against Mr. Baykal and his aides in Xanthi last night. About 30 young men shouted insulting slogans and threw stones at Mr. Baykal. The group later attacked Mr. Baykal aides, a Turkish journalist and the former Mufti of Xanthi, when the Turkish MP visited the local market place. They were dispersed by local inhabitants.