After raging for more than 60 hours, a huge forest fire which scorched the better part of one of Attica's last remaining "green spaces" was brought under partial control yesterday. "We are very close to the end. The fire will soon be extinguished," fire brigade officials stated.
As gale force winds subsided, nine Canadair fire-fighting aircraft, including two from France and one from Italy, flew into action. A Defence Ministry official requesting anonymity told the Athens News Agency that German support was also due to arrive later in the day. "Five German helicopters are expected. Their arrival has been delayed due to poor weather conditions in Germany," he said.
The fire erupted early Friday near Mount Penteli and quickly spread along a 40-km (25 miles) front, fanned by strong summer winds. Flames advanced from the pine forests and quarry-dotted slopes of Mount Penteli to neighbouring sparsely inhabited areas forcing hundreds of residents to flee. Authorities evacuated scores of residences, summer camps and hospitals threatened by the fire's winding paths of destruction.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said the state was doing its utmost to secure peoples' safety, but conceded difficulties so far in the large-scale fire-fighting operation. "It is a biblical, disastrous fire and the weather is against us. We had hoped the strong winds would die down," he said.
Despite the improvement in weather conditions, reports forecast strong winds of eight to nine Beaufort until Tuesday. Agriculture Minister Giorgos Moraitis said the unprecedented forest fire destroyed approximately 40,000 stremmata (one hectare equals 10 stremmata) of virgin forest and agricultural land, while only about 20 houses were destroyed.
Authorities suspect the catastrophic blaze was the work of arsonists. Added to current loss estimates will be potential environmental devastation from soil erosion and flooding as a result of autumn and winter rainfall. In another matter, the main opposition New Democracy party will table a draft bill Wednesday concerning methods of dealing with such emergencies, sources said yesterday.
Greece's national junior basketball team (under 19) claimed the nation's first international first-place trophy in a team sport Saturday by beating Australia 91-73 during the Fifth World Basketball Championship final in Athens.
The unbeaten Greek team trailed at half-time by one point (47-48), while the Australians, also unbeaten in seven previous tournament games, got off to a 9-0 start before some 20,000 fans at the new Athens Olympic Indoor Stadium. The final was interrupted by a power failure for approximately 10 minutes with 1:57 remaining in the game and with the Greek team leading 85-73. In addition to the unprecedented accomplishment, Greek player Efthymis Petzias was declared "Most Valuable Player" of the event.
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday congratulated the team, saying "for the triumph of the national junior team and the achievement of first place in the world, I express my sincere congratulations as well as congratulations from every Greek."
Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert noted: "today, a day of sadness for the national tragedy created by the forest fires, every Greek feels proud for the window of hope, optimism and confidence opened by our national junior team. "Our youths' victory proves that Greeks, if prepared systematically, can achieve everything," he said.
Political Spring founder and president Antonis Samaras also sent the team a congratulatory telegram. "To the world champions, a big thank you from all Greeks."
Greek firms expressed optimism about the course of industrial investment this year, according to the Institute for Economic and Industrial Research's (IOBE) latest bulletin 'Economic Conjuncture.' Investments planned by businesses aim mainly at modernisation, as 20 per cent concern expansion into new products, 22 per cent improvements in production methods, 18 per cent an increase in productive potential for products already produced, and 26 per cent for the replacement of existing capital equipment. Investment in both private and public industrial sectors is forecast to increase by 46.9 per cent this year.
The most optimistic forecasts are recorded in the sectors of basic metallurgy (252.4 per cent) and textiles (134 per cent). The only sector forecasting a decrease in investment is in food-beverages and tobacco (6.8 per cent), but it ought to be noted that last year's forecasted decrease did not materialise. Public sector and private enterprises forecast increases in investment of 101 and 32 per cent respectively. Six months ago, the respective rates were 165.3 and 30.4 per cent.
The situation in the industrial sector contrasts with that of construction, where 8 out of 10 companies consider the volume of their planned activities as lower than normal.
Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and his Jordanian counterpart Abdel Karim Al Kabariti signed a co-operation memorandum yesterday which includes regular contacts between the Greek and Jordanian foreign ministries.
Mr. Papoulias arrived in the Jordanian capital of Amman yesterday morning after meeting with Lebanese officials Saturday in Beirut. In Jordan both sides agreed on the formation next October of a joint inter-ministerial committee in Athens for examination of bilateral trade and economic relations. During the meeting the two foreign ministers agreed there is room for further bilateral development in all sectors. In addition, sources said there was a coincidence of views on international issues, especially the Middle East question and the embargo against Iraq.
Mr. Papoulias referred to the decisive role of Jordanian leader King Hussein in the Middle East peace process and noted Greece's participation in an upcoming Amman summit as well as Jordan's participation in the Euro-mediterranean summit in Barcelona.
Other topics of discussion focused on the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece's support for Jordan's closer relations with the European Union. According to Jordanian sources, Mr. Kabariti expressed satisfaction on Athens' consistent stand on Arab rights, while both ministers called for an immediate method of ending hostilities in Bosnia to be found. The Jordanian side also expressed concern over the inability of western powers to stop the deterioration of the situation which Bosnian Moslems find themselves.
For his part, Mr. Papoulias briefed his counterpart on a recent tripartite meeting in Athens with the foreign ministers of Bosnia and Iran. In another matter, Greece announced it will contribute know-how and medical staff for establishment of a Thalassaemia Medical Centre in Jordan.
On Saturday, Mr. Papoulias met in Beirut with Lebanese President Elias Hraoui, Prime Minister Rafic Hariri and Foreign Minister Farez Boueiz.
During talks, Mr. Papoulias discussed possibilities for Greece's participation in a five-year, $7 billion reconstruction plan for Lebanon as well as Greek support for Lebanon during the Euro-mediterranean Summit - scheduled for Barcelona Nov. 25-28.
He also met with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Lebanon Elias Aoudi. Today, Mr. Papoulias is scheduled to meet with Jordanian Prime Minister Zaid Bin Saker before returning to Athens.
Mr. Papoulias and Mr. Saker are scheduled to discuss efforts on resolving the Palestinian issue, Greece and Jordan's role in the Middle East peace process as well as further political and economic co-operation between Athens and Amman.
Greece said Saturday there were strong signs a first step in a Bosnian peace agreement would be clinched between Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and European Union mediator Karl Bildt.
"Mr. Bildt is close to concluding an agreement with Milosevic on the recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina in return for a generous suspension of sanctions (against Serbia)," Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias said. However, Washington rejected the proposed deal, saying there were "at least two" pending issues to be resolved.
The Greek foreign minister made the statement before leaving for a three-day Middle East visit to Lebanon and Jordan. Mr. Papoulias praised efforts by the EU mediator, saying a landmark agreement with Mr. Milosevic would be a "positive step in the (Bosnian) peace process."
Mr. Bildt told reporters Friday he had secured a tentative agreement with Mr. Milosevic on Bosnian recognition in exchange for the lifting of a three-year-old UN-imposed embargo.
Greece and Latvia signed an agreement yesterday for the promotion and mutual protection of investments. The agreement establishes the financial and legal rights of Greek investors to Latvia, thus facilitating Greek investments in the country.
It also provides for a complete and total protection and safety of bilateral investments, formation of suitable conditions for development of investment action, compensation in cases of nationalisation or expropriation and free repatriation of foreign exchange.
Long-time journalist Georgios Gerasimos Vasiliadis, 77, died yesterday. Georgios Vasiliadis was born in Athens.
He studied at Athens College and later at the Athens University Law School. During the German occupation in World War II he fled to the Middle East and later to London where for many years he worked as a foreign correspondent for several Greek newspapers.
After his return to Greece he worked at the general press secretariat of the then information ministry and as a foreign correspondent for British papers. Mr. Vasiliadis later organised the news agency "Hellenews" and founded the economic daily "Express," where he was co-publisher until 1992.
One of his major accomplishments was the Greek-English dictionary "Penguin-Hellenews" as well as a seven-language trade and economic dictionary published by Hellenews-Express. He also co-authored the book "Cyprus Today." The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. today at Athens' First Cemetery.
Parliament deputy and former foreign minister Michalis Papaconstantinou said there are impending developments for establishment of a new party, adding that the leader of this new formation will be the "big surprise."
In a published interview in the "Adesmeftos Typos" daily yesterday, the prominent ex-member of New Democracy said: "we are facing a new political era." Mr. Papaconstantinou said if the two major parties (PASOK and ND) don't change, they will be replaced by new political forces. He underlined that former prime minister Constantinos Mitsotakis will not take part in this new party. "As far as I know, Mr. Mitsotakis is clear on this issue. He is with the main opposition New Democracy party," he added. Mr. Papaconstantinou did not specify when this new political movement will arise.
In response to another question, he said there will be major consequences when Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou retires from the political scene. "I believe there will be speedy developments after his retirement."
Meanwhile, in an interview in the Sunday edition of "Eleftherotypia," former national economy minister Stephanos Manos said he does not rule out a possible formation of a new political party, but added he doesn't consider it probable. "I am in favour of a bi-polar political system and thus believe there's no need for a new party or room for one. The apparent need for something along these lines is illusory and a warning to the existing large parties to change."
Greece's present political system is based on truly democratic principles and meets requirements of the times in a satisfactory way, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said yesterday in a message commemorating today's 21st anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece.
"This period of our republic is justifiably considered as the best and most stable in our free political life. Already, our familiarisation with democratic principles has had a positive result of dampening political fanaticism and reducing acrimony, typical of political differences in the past," President Stephanopoulos said.
"However, there are also negative realisations that weigh on our political life," he continued. "They concern mistakes and omissions by individuals, not inadequacy on the part of institutions. Abuses of freedom and power appeared in the functioning of our political system. They are weaknesses which must be faced more effectively. Democracy alone, of all systems, has the potential of dealing with such weaknesses and correcting aberrations that may appear."
Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said in his message that the country's democratic system, far from facing any threats, is proceeding quickly along a road to total reorganisation with specific changes and reforms, both at a central and regional governmental levels.
The premier also said the government is promoting a modern and effective national strategy, capable of defending national interests, of guaranteeing economic recovery and development with social cohesion and justice as well as safeguarding the country's successful course toward the year 2000.
"The Greek people are increasingly coming under the realisation that problems must and can be faced through the utilisation of the country's comparative advantages, active participation and collective mobilisation," Mr. Papandreou said.
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert said yesterday that July 24 is a historic day, but also a day of memory and recollection. In his message, Mr. Evert pays tribute for the restoration of democracy to former prime minister and president Constantinos Karamanlis, who guided the bloodless 1974 transition.
"It is a day of memory for the events and dangers we lived through until acquisition of the most democratic constitution Greece ever had, restoring free elections and opening the way to accession into the large European family. And it is a day of recollection, because the circle of the first post-dictatorship period in Greek politics appears to be coming to a close.
"We are coming into a new age with many dangers, but with many more opportunities and possibilities, that is why today we also have the need for wider participation of citizens in the formulation and making of decisions," the ND leader said. National unanimity, morality and effectiveness in public life are called for in order to overcome national dangers and hardships, Mr. Evert concluded.
Total advertising outlay in Greece during the month of June totalled 47.8 billion drachmas, representing an increase of 39 per cent in comparison with the same month last year. Advertising in printed media reached 10.1 billion drachmas, representing an increase of 22.9 per cent compared to June 1994, but witnessed a decrease in the overall share of advertising, from 24.7 to 21.1 per cent. Advertising in the electronic media (radio and television) represented a total of 37.7 billion drachmas, with a 45.6 per cent increase compared to the same month last year and boosting its share of total advertising expenditures from 75.3 to 78.9 per cent.