Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-06-12

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 12/06/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Fresh clashes between teachers, police
• Government condemns KKE involvement
• Good police officers get reward
• Prince Charles to visit Athens later this year
• Financial conference next week
• Missing Dutch tourist found safe and sound
• Greek films to advertise Greece
• Parliament abolishes controversial citizenship clause
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Fresh clashes broke out today in several cities between police and unappointed teachers trying to block newly-introduced exams for public school hiring. Police said a "group of about 80 anarchists" blocking downtown Patission street in Athens with a car and garbage truck, threw molotov cocktails at them before police managed to turn them away. Police said no incidents occurred with about 500 other protestors. Preliminary participation figures released by the Education Ministry indicated that 80 percent of registered candidates showed up for the exams in Larissa, 75 percent in Karditsa, 55 percent in Patras, Agrinio and Ioannina. A total of 46,440 unappointed teachers have registered for the exams, to continue through Monday.

Government condemns KKE involvement

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later criticised opposition Communist Party of Greece (KKE) members for participating in or being present at the protests, citing the presence of MP Orestis Kolozof at yesterday's incidents in central Athens and MP Stratis Koraka at the Alimos centre. Reppas said the participation rate for today's exam was in line was satisfactory and, at 54 percent, higher than this year's civil service entry exam, which had a percentage rate of 49 percent. He defended the actions of the police, saying they were simply doing their duty and protecting the rights of those wanting to participate in the competition.

Good police officers get reward

Greece's National Bank said today it would reward three police officers for catching one of their number during an attempted armed hold-up at one of its branches earlier this month. Officers Ioannis Dalakouras and Dimitris Vontzolos were waiting in line at the Goudi branch of the National Bank when it was robbed on June 2. They immediately gave chase when the two robbers fled the bank, hailing down motorcycle policeman Panayiotis Venieris. He arrested one of the robbers, Athanasios Angelakis, 27, a five- year veteran of the riot police squad MAT, as he tried to hail a taxi. Angelakis confessed to the robbery after initially trying to convince police that he, too, was chasing the robbers. National Bank said that each of the (arresting) officers would receive 500,000 drachmas each.

Prince Charles to visit Athens later this year

Britain's heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles announced in London last night that he planned to visit Athens in November to attend a number of cultural events. He made the announcement while visiting an exhibition titled "Coversation with God" at the Hellenic Centre in London, featuring 25 icon masterpieces from the Byzantine Museum of Greece. His visit will coincide with a "Britain and Greece" Festival being organised by the British Embassy in Athens, with the support of the British Council, from November 21 to December 5. Prince Charles also accepted last year an invitation from visiting Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos to take part in an international forum this year in Athens on preservation of the city's historical character being organised by the Municipality of Athens.

Financial conference next week

FTSE International and the Athens Stock Exchange will host a two-day conference on "Greece's New Financial Markets" at the Grande Bretagne Hotel June 17-18. As a united Europe makes its debut on the international financial scene, events in contemporary Greece become part of enormous changes which occur not only within the EU but also in eastern Europe and the world in general. In this context, the conference will consider and evaluate new prospects in the Greek economy generally and the Greek financial markets in particular, Costis Stambolis, a spokesman for the organisers Delos Communications, told the ANA.

Missing Dutch tourist found safe and sound

Rescue teams in Samos today found a Dutch tourist reported missing after he failed to return from a hiking trip up Mount Kerkis. Marcel Ikelar, 32, from Amsterdam was found near the mountain's peak. He was slightly injured, authorities said, without adding any further details. Ikelar, who had water and a compass with him, was last seen two days ago by a shepherd after leaving Evangelistria monastery. His girlfriend notified police after he failed to turn up.

Greek films to advertise Greece

The National Tourist Organisation of Greece (EOT) announced today a series of new films on Greece's heritage and culture, projecting the country as a holiday destination. The films, 1996 and 1997 productions, are being distributed to EOT offices abroad, schools, libraries, universities, television stations and any other medium where their projection is believed will boost tourism to the cuntry. The films, which have been copyrighted in the producers' names, may be reproduced professionally on VHS video-tapes for interested organisations. The themes of the films include sea tourism, the Pelopnnese, Athens-Attica, Mountain paths of Greece, Discover Greece, Epirus, Ancient Greek theatres, Nafplion, Galaxidi, and Alonissos.

Parliament abolishes controversial citizenship clause

Parliament yesterday approved a proposal to abolish Article 19 of the Constitution's naturalisation code, which stipulates that non-ethnic Greeks can lose their Greek citizenship in the event they leave the country permanently. Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos clarified that the abolition will not be retroactive, as was requested by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), the Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) and three Moslem deputies.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article