From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Wed, 10 Aug 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin --------------------------- * Gov't, Opposition join forces over trial * Greek-Australians * US, Greek paratroopers hold joint exercise * Children's TV centre meeting * EU bans livestock, fresh meat exports up to Aug. 22 * Christi's confirms El Greco's "Saint Peter" authentic Gov't, Opposition join forces over trial ---------------------------------------- Athens, 10/08/94 (ANA): The government and the main opposition New Democracy party yesterday joined forces in proclaiming a "solid national front" in the face of what both termed Albanian "provocations". Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias and New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert met yesterday within the framework of Mr. Papoulias' contacts with political leaders on the issue of the trial of six leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia" scheduled for August 15 in Tirana. The five have been charged with treason, while the sixth has been charged with illegal carrying of arms. "The necessary solid national front is being created to deal with the Greek-Albanian crisis," Mr. Papoulias told reporters after the meeting. He said that his meeting with Mr. Evert "makes me believe that the other parties will also join the front to support and defend the human rights of the ethnic Greek minority (in Albania), and avert the climate which the Albanian regime is trying to create". "Such a climate," he added, "will undoubtedly be more negative for Albania, but it will also affect the region in general". Stressing that Greece was a "force of peace", Mr. Papoulias reiterated that Athens would not be "led astray by provocations from anyone", adding though that Greece would "give a swift and decisive response to any provocation which harms the interests of the ethnic Greek minority". Replying to questions, Mr. Papoulias said that he was among those who had repeatedly sought to resolve Greek-Albanian differences through dialogue, but that Tirana's response had been "impossible to understand". "I have no political will to continue an effort which meets with no response," Mr. Papoulias said. Mr. Evert called on the Albanian government to realise that "the Greek front is firm, and Greece's attitude will toughen". He warned both the Albanian government and "those who influence developments in the region, that another front may open in the Balkans apart from Bosnia". "Greece," he stressed, "will not play with the issue of the Greeks of Albania. Let this be clearly understood by both the enemies and friends of Greece." Mr. Papoulias is due to have similar meetings today with Communist Party of Greece Secretary General Aleka Papariga and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos. Meanwhile in Tirana, Greek Ambassador Christos Tsalikis met with Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Serreqi to request that Albania drop charges against the five minority members. Mr. Tsalikis, acting upon instructions by the Greek government said Greece considered the indictment brought against the five ethnic Greeks as "unacceptable". The five face sentences ranging from 10 years in jail to death, if convicted. Mr. Serreqi rejected the Greek protest "as interference in Albania's internal affairs and an insult to Albanian justice." Greek-Australians ------------------ Melbourne, 10/08/94 (ANA-S.Hatzimanolis): Representatives of the Greek community in Australia yesterday lodged demarches with the Australian government and opposition parties expressing grave concern at the pending trial by the Tirana authorities, of the six leading members of the ethnic Greek political organisation "Omonia". They also requested that the Australian government exert all possible efforts to convince Albanian President Sali Berisha to drop the charges. The appeal, signed by the Solidarity Commission for the Northern Epirus Greeks, condemned the Albanian government's attitude towards the ethnic Greek minority, reiterating the determination of all Greek-Australians to fight against human right violations of ethnic Greeks in southern Albania. US, Greek paratroopers hold joint exercise ----------------------------------------- Athens, 10/08/94 (ANA): US and Greek paratroopers yesterday carried out a joint practice exercise at the Aspropyrgos parachuting school, within the framework of co-operation between the two countries. US Ambassador Thomas Niles, and the first Deputy Chief of the Army General Staff, Lieutenant General Manias, followed the exercise and awarded distinctive insignia to the men. The operation consisted in dropping the paratroopers from an MC130 specially designed aircraft, and joint free falls. Mr. Niles and Lieutenant General Manias were aboard. Children's TV centre meeting ----------------------------- Athens, 10/08/94 (ANA): The Advisory Committee of the European Children's Television Centre (ECTC) will hold its first formal meeting from August 31 to 9 September 4 at the European Cultural Centre in Delphi. The ECTC is a new organisation created on the initiative of Greek producers and researchers in collaboration with colleagues from all over Europe. The Centre is supported and supervised by the Greek Ministry of Press and Mass Media. The goal of ECTC is to act as a focal point of reference for professionals in the audio-visual field, to link production with academic research, provide tools of information and communication to professionals and researchers, and examine data. ECTC immediate priorities include establishing a network of information and communication for professionals and researches and elaborating educational and informational programmes for professionals and children. EU bans livestock, fresh meat exports up to Aug. 22 -------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/08/94 (ANA): The European Union Monday night banned all Greek livestock and fresh meat exports, following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Xanthi and Lesvos. The decision also orders tight controls on exports of processed meat and dairy products. Agriculture Under-secretary Vassilis Vassilakakis has declared there is no danger to public health. "There is no threat to public health, we are on round the clock alert, and fully complying with EU directives," Mr. Vassilakakis told a press conference yesterday. The EU quarantine will remain in force until August 22, when a committee will review the decision. "Processed meat and dairy produced as of June 1 must be issued a certificate of hygiene for export. The milk from livestock in the area has been destroyed already, but utensils may be contaminated," Mr. Vassilakakis said. "Despite initial resistance by some producers, we went ahead with the destruction of animals from affected areas. The EU says our measures are more than satisfactory," he added. The disease, which periodically hits livestock in many parts of the world, has been contained within two small areas within the agricultural Xanthi prefecture, northern Greece and the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos. It is highly infectious and spreads rapidly but does not strike at humans. Christi's confirms El Greco's "Saint Peter" authentic ---------------------------------------------------- Athens, 10/08/94 (ANA): Specialists of London's Christi's auction house have confirmed to the government the authenticity of the "Saint Peter" painting by El Greco (Dominikos Theotokopoulos). The state wishes to acquire the painting through the Greek National Gallery, at a price of 460 million drachmas. Nearly 130 million drachmas have been raised so far, the sum rising daily from contributions by individuals and public institutions. The authenticity of the greatly sought painting has been a cause of disagreement over the last few days between the Director of the National Gallery, Marina Lambraki-Plaka, and the Dean of the Art School, Nikos Kessanlis who challenges the authenticity of the painting. He claims there has never been a study of elements establishing the authenticity of El Greco's work of art. Defending the letters of authenticity, Ms Lambraki-Plaka pointed out that Professor Nikos Hatzinikolaou, Director of the Dominikos Theotokopoulos Centre, an expert on El Greco, and other specialists have corroborated the authenticity of the painting. The campaign for the purchase of the painting had been decided unanimously by the eight-member Scientific Committee of the National Gallery.