Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-06-28

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis underlines need for development in tandem with social justice

[02] Tsohatzopoulos heads to Iran today for talks

[03] Simitis expected to stress common course for developed, 'developing' world at Rio summit

[04] KKE, Synaspismos on measures to combat drug use

[05] OA denies press reports of imminent lay-offs

[06] Synaspismos central committee concludes with strengthened Constantopoulos

[07] More NATO troops arrive in Thessaloniki on their way to Kosovo

[08] Humanitarian aid from Thessaloniki to refugees in Yugoslavia

[09] Minor quake activity reported in Thessaloniki region

[10] Balkan Games results

[11] Ancient Greek artifact acquired by Sydney museum

[12] Former dictator Papadopoulos dies

[01] Simitis underlines need for development in tandem with social justice

BUENOS AIRES, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Referring to Greece's position on the international scene, he said the country "has taken considerable steps in past years. It belongs to the circle of countries which are more developed...It has secured a development process also characterised by social cohesion and social justice.

"We have much fewer social discriminations and social rivalries than a great many other countries. This, of course, does not entail complacency. This does not mean that there are no difficulties and problems. But socialism also means that continuous inc isions are necessary, reforms are necessary, modernisation is necessary. It is a course which never ends and leads ahead," he added.

Shortly before leaving Buenos Aires for Rio de Janeiro, where he will represent Greece at a summit between the European Union and Latin America, Mr. Simitis held talks with Swedish Prime Minister and Swedish Socialist Party president Goran Persson.

The premiers discussed issues concerning the peace process in the Balkans, the contribution of Europe to the reconstruction of the Balkans, as well as cooperation between the two parties.

Mr. Simitis also met with the head of the government of the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, Fernando de la Rua, who is also a candidate for the presidency of the republic - elections will be held in October.

Meeting with expatriates : On Saturday, the Greek premier held talks with representatives of the Greek expatriate communities of Argentina at the residence of the Greek ambassador to Buenos Aires.

Nine distinct Greek communities are active in Argentina, with the largest in the capital.

The Greek community school in Buenos Aires has a kindergarten, elementary school and junior and senior high school and has a total of about 700 children. The remaining Greek communities operate a Saturday school only for the teaching of the Greek language and each of them has about 50-60 children.

Mr. Simitis was briefed on problems faced by Greek expatriates in Argentina by the president of the Federation of Greek Communities, Eduardo Karavias, and referring to Hellenism abroad, stated:

"I see here the problem overseas Hellenism has...a standing problem everyone who leaves the motherland has: On the one hand, he must and wants to succeedIon the other, he does not want to distance himself from Greece. He wants to maintain contact and his roots.

"...Greece has now ceased to be a country from which people leave. It is a country where people now arrive, where expatriates from other countries of eastern Europe arrive and where many other foreigners come. It is a new reality where we must find new rules but, of course, we must also maintain contact with you...who have settled here and constitute a bridge between the motherland in this country," he said.

Mr. Karavias also took the opportunity to refer to the upcoming "Conference of Hellenism's Youth in Latin America", to be held in Buenos Aires and expected to be attended by about 140 representatives from Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.

Athens News Agency

[02] Tsohatzopoulos heads to Iran today for talks

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was invited by his Iranian counterpart, Vice-Adm. Ali Shamkhani.

During his four-day visit, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is expected to have talks with the leadership of Iran's armed forces.

Athens News Agency

[03] Simitis expected to stress common course for developed, 'developing' world at Rio summit

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is expected to extoll his position for a common course among the developed and "developing" world to enable global challenges to be jointly handled, during an address at the European Union- Latin America summit.

The summit is due to start here today.

Mr. Simitis will refer to the recent crises which rocked both the economies of South America and of the Far East. However, he will note that Brazil and Japan have achieved considerable progress lately.

He will also make particular reference to Europe's contribution to the world economic system, terming the euro a "zone of stability".

Mr. Simitis will place emphasis on the course of Balkan reconstruction, calling for more funds to be provided by the European Union within the framework of decisions taken by the G8.

On the sidelines of the summit, Mr. Simitis will have talks with heads of state from both continents, whose presence is of particular political interest in Rio de Janeiro, since they include leaders such as Cuba's Fidel Castro.

Athens News Agency

[04] KKE, Synaspismos on measures to combat drug use

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

KKE stated that the Greek people "know only too well that the hand which designated the targets for bombing in neighbouring Yugoslavia is the same hand that distributes the white powder in streets and squares".

On its part the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) urged sweeping legislative reforms, saying that the policy to date had failed to combat the problem of drug abuse.

"The continuous increase in the number of deaths from narcotics shows the failure of a policy which confines itself to policing methods," a Synaspismos statement read.

Synaspismos called for legislative reform to make clear distinctions between various narcotic substances and to decriminalise drug use, within the framework of a comprehensive policy aimed at curtailing the spread of narcotics.

The party also urged greater support for existing detoxification and counselling centres, the creation of new ones, information campaigns emphasising prevention and specific measures for the rehabilitation of former addicts.

Athens News Agency

[05] OA denies press reports of imminent lay-offs

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

A statement from OA said the consulting firm Avmark had reported regularly back to the carrier exclusively on a breakdown of operating costs related to OA routes.

The Avmark reports made no reference to staff lay-offs or made the other conclusions reported in the newspaper, OA stated.

Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis, meanwhile, said the government would follow through on plans to place the management of the national carrier with the British Airways subsidiary Speedwing.

He called on Olympic Airways employees not to be "carried away by crocodile tears of those wanting Olympic Airways to be sold as it is."

Civil aviation employees have called a strike for Thursday over their concerns about jobs and pay in the wake of the announcement that Speedwing would take over management.

Mr. Mantelis said OA's cooperation with the biggest airline company in the world "is the only guarantee for the survival and development of Olympic Airways and effective guarantee for employees".

"This government has always demonstrated its concern about ensuring jobs," he said.

Representatives of Speedwing are expected in Athens this week to formally sign the contract giving them management of the ailing national carrier for the next 30 months, according to reports.

Meanwhile, representatives of the OA employees, the government and the carrier's management begin talks today in the wake of the objections voiced by employees' groups to the government's plans.

Athens News Agency

[06] Synaspismos central committee concludes with strengthened Constantopoulos

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Heated discussions on the results of the recent Euroelections - judged a failure for Synaspismos - the party's policies, as well as proposals by Mr. Constantopoulos and party cadre Nikos Bistis were put to the vote.

Mr. Constantopoulos' proposal garnered 90 votes and Mr. Bistis' 27, while seven cadres cast blank votes. Consequently, it was decided that the party's policy will be based on the positions set out by the former.

Athens News Agency

[07] More NATO troops arrive in Thessaloniki on their way to Kosovo

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Belgian forces are also expected in the city via its port, along with US, Spanish and German troop carriers.

Yesterday, three NATO warships - French, German and Spanish - docked in the city's port. They were carrying equipment and supplies, as well as military jeeps and armoured personnel carriers. The Spanish vessel also disembarked 200 troops. Another two Spanish vessels were expected to dock in the port city later yesterday.

Eight C-17 aircraft landed at the city's airport on Saturday night, carrying some 230 US soldiers.

The force will escort to the war-torn Yugoslav province a US mechanised brigade which arrived in Thessaloniki on Friday night aboard a troop carrier. The brigade's mission is to set up Alliance army camps in the province.

Athens News Agency

[08] Humanitarian aid from Thessaloniki to refugees in Yugoslavia

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Purchased foodstuffs will be packaged into 10,000 parcels each weighing 160 kg, and able to feed a family for one week.

A total of 5,000 parcels were given to the Greek non-governmental organisation "European Prospect" in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), 3,300 were given to the Orthodox Metropolis of Nis and the remaining 1,700 were given to the Metropolis of Korce, in Albania.

Athens News Agency

[09] Minor quake activity reported in Thessaloniki region

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

The latest tremor, measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 12:58 p.m. yesterday, with an epicentre some 10 kilometres from the city.

An earlier tremor measuring 3.1 was recorded at 10:36 yesterday morning, and the first - 3.3 - at 9:35 p.m. on Saturday.

No damage or injuries were reported although all three were felt by residents of the city.

Last Monday, seismologists recorded a tremor of 3.5 in the region.

Experts at the Aristotelian Geophysics Laboratory say they are monitoring the phenomenon. They have said the region is not susceptible to significant seismic activity and had not accounted for a strong tremor since the beginning of the century.

Another minor quake, measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale, was recorded in the same area in May 1996.

Seismologists later yesterday reported another three weak tremors originating from the same epicentre after midday.

The first tremor at 2 p.m. registered 3.1 and was followed by two registering 3.6 at 2:35 and 2:58 p.m.

All three were of short duration but were again felt by residents in the Thessaloniki area.

The six tremors have all been detected as coming from the same epicentre of the mountainous area of Hortiati, as was the first tremor of 3.5 registered last Monday.

Athens News Agency

[10] Balkan Games results

ISTANBUL, 28/06/1999 (ANA/PSAT)

On the second day of the tournament, both the men's and women's teams won five gold, five silver and seven bronze medals.

In the men's competition, Greece came second with 149 points, while Romania was first with 169 and Turkey third with 126. In the women's competition, Greece was second with 126 points, with Romania again first with 161 and Bulgaria third with 107.

Gold medals were won for the Greek side by Panayiotis Sarris in the 200 metres race, a personal best, Panayiotis Stroumbakos in the 800 metres race, Alexis Papadimitriou in the hammer throw, Costas Papadopoulos in the decathlon and Christina Tambaki in the 100 metres hurdles.

Athens News Agency

[11] Ancient Greek artifact acquired by Sydney museum

MELBOURNE, 28/06/1999 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

The artifact, a reddish ancient Attica cup with two handles, dates to the fifth century BC and is listed in excellent condition.

"This masterpiece will be exhibited permanently at our museum," an official for the Sydney museum said.

Athens News Agency

[12] Former dictator Papadopoulos dies

Athens, 28/06/1999 (ANA)

Papadopoulos died in the Laiko General Hospital following a lengthy illness.

He burst onto the international limelight after leading a group of Greek military officers in the overthrow of the government on April 21, 1967. In 1973, a year before the colonels' dictatorship was toppled, he was declared "president" of Greece, a position added to several ministerial portfolios and the title of regent he had assumed between 1968 and November 1973. On Nov. 25 Papadopoulos was deposed and placed under house arrest by the junta's shadowy military intelligence chief, Brig. Dimitris Ioannidis.

With the return of democratic rule to Greece in 1974, he was arrested and sentenced to death for treason. The death sentence was later commuted by the government of Constantine Karamanlis to life imprisonment, spending the remaining years of his life be hind bars.

In August 1996, he was transferred to a hospital for health reasons and remained there under police guard until his death yesterday.

Papadopoulos is survived by his second wife, Despina Gaspari, two daughters by his first wife and a son.

Born in 1919, Papadopoulos was a career military officer, first seeing battle on the Greek-Albanian front in 1940.

He was decorated for his service during the Second World War and during the occupation of Greece by Nazi forces. During the occupation, he served in resistance groups in the western Peloponnese and on the government side during the subsequent Greek Civil War (1946-49).

As a lieutenant colonel in 1956, he was appointed to the Greek Intelligence Service (KYP) and was promoted to colonel in 1960. In the early 1960s, he achieved local notoriety for his activities within the military, inspired by his vocal opposition to leftists and communism.

With Stylianos Pattakos and Nikolaos Makarezos, he was instrumental in building support among the military which led to their 1967 coup.

Overthrowing the government of Panayiotis Kanellopoulos, suspending 11 Articles of the Constitution and imposing martial law, the colonels arrested thousands of Greeks, imprisoning them or exiling them. Those suspected of being against the junta were purged from their jobs in the public sector, the military or universities.

In the first "government", led by Prime Minister Constantine Kollias, Papadopoulos was named minister of state and wielded widespread power in planning and execution of policy.

He took over as prime minister and defence minister in December 1967, when an abortive coup led by the then-king Constantine along with air and naval forces failed. The ex-king and his family fled to Italy.

In August 1968 Papadopoulos survived an assassination attempt by Alexandros Panagoulis.

The junta consolidated power in 1969-1972 by creating an expanded and feared police state, quashing rebellion by the use of torture, imprisonment and exile; despite this, the first rumblings of discontent were heard in February 1973 when law students in

Athens occupied school premises in protest.

In June, the junta held a referendum which abolished the monarchy, leaving the way open for Papadopoulos to appoint himself president.

In November of the same year, student protests came to a head at the Athens Polytechnic University, with the army and police invading the grounds to violently put down the protests on Nov. 17.

The military regime fell in 1974 in the wake of a disastrous coup on Cyprus and the invasion by Turkish troops.

Although other members of the junta in later years applied for pardons from their sentences, Papadopoulos remained unrepentent, saying he would never request a pardon, because he believed his dictatorship prevented communism from prevailing in Greece.

Athens News Agency

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