Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-05-08

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 08/05/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Fayoum portraits on display
• Piraeus mayor files for release
• Another quake shakes Crete
• Kavala airport stands in for Thessaloniki
• Athens to host international media conference
• Simitis: Greece committed to EMU
• Premier rules out early elections
• US satisfied with Athens' response on PKK office
• Simitis: Ankara not in a position to blackmail Cyprus' EU accession
• Spanish royal couple in Athens at the end of the month
• Karamanlis calls exclusion from EMU a dramatic loss
• Rhodes braces for tight security ahead of WEU summit
• Albanian premier calls for peaceful solution for Kosovo
• Better law enforcement between Greece, Albania discussed
• ND MPs support links between church, state
• Workers to stage nationwide strike in late May
• Greek bank workers to hold nationwide strike Monday
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The municipality of Iraklion is putting the final touches to a unique exhibition that will showcase the art of the Early Christian period, including the rare and haunting Fayoum portraits. The exhibits will be displayed in the basilica of the Aghios Markou church in the Cretan city and will include mummies, funerary portraits - including a number of those found at the oasis of Fayoum - death masks, coptic textiles and icons. The exhibition is called "From the Fayoum Portraits to the beginning of Byzantine icon art" and covers the period from the time of Christ to the 7th century A.D.

Piraeus mayor files for release

The lawyers of Piraeus Mayor Stelios Logothetis today filed an application for his release from prison pending trial for seven offences including alleged embezzlement of 1 billion drachmas from muncipality funds. Logothetis was remanded in custody on Wednesday following the decision of the public prosecutor and investigating magistrate in the case. The reasoning for the decision was that there was a probability the mayor would commit further offences.

Another quake shakes Crete

An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale rocked the Lassithi region on the island of Crete today, but no damanges were reported. The earthquake, which was felt throughout eastern Crete, was recorded by the Athens Geodynamical Institute at 6:38 a.m., with its epicentre in the Aghios Nikolaos Gulf, from where earthquakes of 4.5, 5.0 and 4.8 Richter originated three days ago.

Kavala airport stands in for Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki's Macedonia International Airport closed today for five days of repairs, and all domestic and international flights have been re-routed to nearby Kavala airport for the duration. An airport spokesman said that the hundreds of passengers destined for Thessaloniki will be served, as of 7:00 a.m. today, by the "Megas Alexandros" (Alexander the Great) airport in Kavala until Macedonia Airport reopens on at 6:00 a.m. on May 12. Thessaloniki-bound passengers will be transported from Kavala in chartered buses.

Athens to host international media conference

Journalists, scholars and activists from Europe, the Middle East Africa and America will gather in Athens later this month to attend a four-day international conference to examine the role of corporate and government control of news and information, organised by the Andreas Papandreou Foundation, in collaboration with the Institute of Strategic and Development Studies - Andreas Papandreou (ISTAME). "A 21st century dialogue: A media- run world" will run May 24-28 at the Astir Palace Hotel in Vouliagmeni. Organisers said the conference hopes to be a "thought-provoking" week of debate and discussion on the "invasive corporate and government control of news and information and a challenge to that control and its consequences".

Simitis: Greece committed to EMU

Prime Minister Costas Simitis called for greater public awareness of the economic priorities dictated by the course of convergence towards Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), stressing that the effort required the broadest popular support, but did not nece ssarily imply a deterioration in social welfare. "The great challenge for PASOK, as a socialist party, is to walk the thorny road of convergence without relegating to second place the weakest strata of society," he told a press briefing on the outcome of last weekend's EU summit, that allowed 11 member-states, excluding Greece, to launch EMU on Jan. 1, 1999.

Premier rules out early elections

Mr. Simitis again ruled out early general elections, saying the government wanted to complete its programme by 2000 when elections are due. "Rumours (of early elections) overlook this key point. The government is not here to simply wield power, but to carry out a specific mandate," he said.

US satisfied with Athens' response on PKK office

US State Department spokesman Jim Foley yesterday expressed his government's satisfaction over Greece's stance on the issue of reports citing the operation of a PKK office in Athens. He said "the Greek foreign ministry briefed our embassy in Athens that there never was, there is not, nor will there ever exist a PKK office in Greece....we welcome this commitment, which is in line with Greece's international commitments for countering terrorism."

Simitis: Ankara not in a position to blackmail Cyprus' EU accession

Turkey is not in a position to blackmail Cyprus' accession to the European Union, Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed yesterday, pointing out that membership talks will continue. "Turkey must realise that it cannot blackmail the accession of Cyprus' procedure independent from a solution of the political problem of Cyprus", Mr. Simitis told a press conference.

Spanish royal couple in Athens at the end of the month

King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sophia will pay an official visit to Greece from May 25-29, according to an announcement by the presidency of the republic yesterday. The Spanish royal couple will visit Greece at the invitation of President Kostis Stephanopoulos. A similar announcement was made by the Spanish foreign ministry.

Karamanlis calls exclusion from EMU a dramatic loss

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said the decision taken at the recent Brussels summit on the exclusion of Greece from the first phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is a dramatic development and a landmark in the long decline in which the country is finding itself. Addressing his party's Parliamentary group yesterday, Mr. Karamanlis said that Greece sustained a national degradation and depreciation 18 years after its equal accession to the European Union. He said that the country's accession to EMU is the most important national target, adding that there are considerable consequences from staying outside the EMU which are in danger of becoming incalculable at economic, political and national level.

Rhodes braces for tight security ahead of WEU summit

Greek authorities threw a tight security cordon on the Rhodes Palace hotel complex yesterday ahead of the Western European Union summit meeting of 54 foreign and defence ministers beginning on the Dodecanese island on Monday. Four hundred and fifty police officers will be flown in from Athens for the summit, while frogmen will patrol the waters close to where the complex is located. More than 600 officials are expected for the summit, as well as a number of Greek and foreign journalists. First to arrive for the summit will be NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana, who arrives this morning.

Albanian premier calls for peaceful solution for Kosovo

Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano last night called for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem, shortly after arriving in Thessaloniki. He arrived in the city yesterday afternoon, invited by the Federation of Northern Greek Industries (SBBE), to address Greek businessmen this evening on the issue of investment opportunities in his country. Mr. Nano noted his belief that "the two sides will proceed to a courageous dialogue, which will offer long-term solutions."

Better law enforcement between Greece, Albania discussed

Public Order Minister George Romeos warned yesterday that if Athens and Tirana failed to take appropriate measures to stem the influx of illegal immigrants into Greece, the situation would lead to serious domestic problems in both countries. "Greece cannot endure any more economic refugees," Mr. Romeos said after meeting his new Albanian counterpart Perikli Teta in Athens. The meeting focused on relations between the two governments and on developing "to the maximum" practical cooperation between the two countries' police forces. It was decided to exchange information and appoint liaison officers in order to improve coordination between the two police forces.

ND MPs support links between church, state

Eighty-three main opposition New Democracy MPs yesterday issued a statement objecting to a proposal to change the wording of the oath taken by members of Parliament when they are sworn in and to reports that a new constitutional revision would separate th e roles of Church and state. "We declare our belief in the need to maintain excellent relations between the state and Church of Greece, as these have been shaped over the centuries and by the country's Constitution," the MPs said.

Workers to stage nationwide strike in late May

The General Confederation of Greek Labour (GSEE) announced yesterday it will hold a 24-hour nationwide strike in late May to protest against government privatisation plans and labour reforms. No date was given despite pressure from first-tier trade union organisations. GSEE is soon expected to give its consent to a collective labour agreement allowing wage increases of 4.5 per cent for 1998, union sources said. GSEE representatives are expected to meet with employers to discuss the agreement next week.

Greek bank workers to hold nationwide strike Monday

The Greek Federation of Bank Employees Unions yesterday called a 24-hour strike at state-owned Ionian Bank for today, and a 24-hour nationwide strike at all banks on Monday. The strikes are to protest against the government's plan to sell Ionian, a subsidiary of state Commercial Bank. Unions have rejected a government plan to sell a majority stake in Ionian Bank through the Athens Stock Exchange.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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