Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-08-19

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, 19/08/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece backs NATO exercise in Albania
• Call for overall focus on Cyprus issue, not just S-300s
• Greek participation in NATO exercise in Albania
• Greece reiterates opposition to military intervention in Kosovo
• Pioneering photographer `Nelly` dies at 99
• Lawyer-activist Vegleris buried
• Census for Greek, foreign seamen
• Ex-officio prosecution for broadcasters accused of slander
• Conservative opposition blasts new media amendment
• 18 per cent increase in Greek mutual funds
• Thessaloniki gym teacher swims the English Channel
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos reiterated today that the crisis in the Yugoslav province of Kosovo was a political problem and underlined that the Greek government supported the ongoing NATO exercise in Albania since it could facilitate a political solution in the region.

Speaking in Parliament, Tsohatzopoulos stressed at the same time that minorities should not be allowed to change borders in the Balkans, referring in particular to "extremist" elements among Kosovo Albanians who want the region to be united with Albania.

Replying to criticism levelled by Social Democrat Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, Tsohatzopoulos said his recent call for an end to military operations by Serb forces in Kosovo was to facilitate direct negotiations between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, aiming at greater autonomy for Kosovo Albanians but without any change of borders.

Greek armed forces will participate with a C-130 military transport aircraft, two F-16 fighter jets, two helicopters and a company of paratroopers in NATO exercise which began on Monday.

Greece has also sent a medical team to provide services to residents of remote villages in central Albania and in areas near the exercise codenamed "Cooperative Assembly '98".

The exercise is seen as a bid by NATO to show to the Yugoslav leadership that the Alliance is ready to intervene at any time in the region, especially in the event of an escalation in tension in Kosovo.

Call for overall focus on Cyprus issue, not just S-300s

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday termed as "disappointing" Turkey's advance rejection of a proposal for a flight moratorium over Cyprus, even before a US envoy for Cyprus had set foot in Ankara to begin a tour of the region.

Mr. Kranidiotis was commenting on statements made by Turkish Minister of State responsible for Cyprus affairs, Sukru Gurel.

Mr. Kranidiotis told foreign correspondents in Athens that the Greek Cypriot side wants to see progress for a settlement of the Cyprus issue, meaning a resumption of the intercommunal talks on the essence of the problem, and dialogue aimed at a reductio n in armaments on both sides of the divided island.

"This is the only path for a normalisation of the situation," he said, adding: "For the Greek side the paramount issue is not the (deployment of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft) missiles (by the Cypriot government). It is the occupation (by Turkey) of the northern part of Cyprus, it is the violation of human rights," he said.

The deployment of the missiles is not expected before November, he added, but the matter will be raised again during Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides' visit to Athens on Aug. 27.

US State Department special coordinator for the Cyprus issue, Thomas Miller, was due in Ankara yesterday.

In a related development, Mr. Kranidiotis noted that Turkey risked being expelled from the Council of Europe if it does not comply with a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision ordering Ankara to pay 320,000 Cyprus pounds to Greek Cypriot Titina Loizidou.

The Greek Cypriot woman had sought recourse to the ECHR for deprivation of her right to enjoy or exploit her property in the Turkish-occupied Cypriot port of Kerynia.

Mr. Kranidiotis added that Turkey must rethink its stance toward Europe, adding that the Loizidou case is not only a legal act conferring justice on an individual.

"This ruling recognises the non-existence of a separate state in the northern part of Cyprus, as it also recognises the right of citizens, who have been denied access to their properties to seek recourse at the ECHR to obtain redress".

Turkey must abide by the court's decision by Oct. 28, while the Council of Europe's ministerial committee will convene on Sept. 14 to discuss the issue.

The monetary award to Loizidou is subject to an annual 8 per cent interest rate, beyond the payment deadline.

Meanwhile, according to press reports, several Greek Cypriots have already followed the example of Ms Loizidou and have filed suits with the ECHR on the same grounds.

Finally, the Greek minister said that the Eurocourt is also deliberating the case of a Turkish Cypriot, who claims that he is not allowed access to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkish occupation forces in the north.

Greek participation in NATO exercise in Albania

Greek armed forces are participating with a C-130 military transport airplane, two F-16 warplanes, two helicopters and a company of paratroopers in a NATO exercise that began Monday in Albania, according to an ANA dispatch from Tirana.

Greece has also sent a medical unit to provide services to residents of remote villages in central Albania and near the exercise, code-named "Cooperative Assembly '98".

The exercise is apparently a bid by NATO to demonstrate to Yugoslav leadership that the alliance is ready to intervene at any time in the region, especially in the event of an escalation of tension in Kosovo.

In opening the exercise, NATO commander for southern Europe, Adm. T. Joseph Lopez, said the alliance was prepared to intervene in the region at a moment's notice upon receiving a go-ahead by the alliance member-states' leaders.

He said the exercise, as all Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises, aimed at regional stability and was not directed against any party or side in Kosovo or Belgrade.

About 1,700 troops, including hundreds of paratroopers and commandos, from 14 NATO and PfP members are taking part in the exercise in western Albania, as well as some 70 fighter planes.

The exercise was recently scaled down from what was originally planned as the US substantially reduced its contingent after the Aug. 7 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania P in which at least 257 people were killed P citing the risk of ter rorist attacks against US targets in Albania.

The exercise will include search and rescue practise, close air support, medical evacuation and air-drop procedures as well as infantry peace support operations skills.

Greece reiterates opposition to military intervention in Kosovo

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday said that Athens is not in favour of a military intervention in Kosovo.

Speaking to Athens-based foreign correspondents, he added that all options must be examined before such a decision is taken, and further expressed a hope that "there is still room for diplomacy to bear fruit".

In reaction, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) cadre Orestis Kolozov expressed his full support to Belgrade's policy on the Kosovo issue.

He also criticised National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos for his recent critical statements against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos criticised Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic on Saturday for the recent military operations in Kosovo.

Mr. Kolozov said the defence minister's attack on the Yugoslav president was "unfair," further charging that Greek policy was fully in line with the desires of NATO, Washington and the European Union.

Pioneering photographer `Nelly` dies at 99

One of Greece's most well-known and pioneering photographers, Elli Souyioultzoglou-Seraidari, better known as "Nelly", died yesterday at her home in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni at the age of 99.

Born in Aidini, Asia Minor in 1899, Nelly survived the destruction of the predominately ethnic Greek town by Turkish forces in 1919 before moving to Smyrna and then to Dresden, Germany, where she studied music, art and photography. She first arrived in mainland Greece in 1924.

Throughout her illustrious career, Nelly worked with various themes, photographing events in Greece, Germany and the United States.

In 1929 Nelly raised moral hackles in Athens' conservative establishment by photographing Mona Paeva, - then the prima ballerina of the Opera Comique, nude on the Acropolis. At the time, several critics decried the act as a "desecration".

In 1939 she travelled to the United States, where she decorated the Greek pavilion at the New York International Expo with giant posters. With the outbreak of World War II, what was supposed to have been a 30-day visit turned into a 27-year stay.

In 1985, Nelly donated her photo archives and cameras to the Benaki Museum in Athens, while in 1987 she was presented with an honorary diploma and medal by the Hellenic Centre of Photography and the government.

Eight years later, she was awarded the Order of the Phoenix by the president of the republic. In 1996, the Athens Academy presented her with its Arts and Letters Award. Nelly will be buried tomorrow afternoon at public expense following a decisi on by the culture ministry. On behalf of the government, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos described her as a "mythical figureIwith a prominent position in the cultural panorama of our century.

Lawyer-activist Vegleris buried

Distinguished lawyer-activist Phaedon Vegleris was buried in Athens yesterday.

Vegleris was born in 1903 in then Constantinople and moved to Greece in 1927, where he remained until his self-imposed exile to France during the seven-year military junta in Greece.

Appointed to the Strasbourg University law faculty, Vegleris continued his struggle against the dictatorship from abroad.

His last book "Notebooks 1944-1997" was published shortly before his death, which was made public only yesterday, according to his wish.

Census for Greek, foreign seamen

A census will be taken of all Greek and foreign seamen employed aboard the Greek-flagged merchant fleet, it was announced yesterday.

The government-sponsored-census will take place on Sept. 20 and concerns all Greek and foreign seamen employed on Greek-flagged vessels of 100 grt or over, and on foreign-flagged vessels registered with the NAT seamen's pension fund.

It will be the 11th census for seamen since 1978.

Ex-officio prosecution for broadcasters accused of slander

Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos yesterday announced that he intends to change articles in a new penal code regarding slander and defamation by prescribing ex-officio prosecution for broadcast journalists, analysts, TV hosts etc.

The penal code at present prescribes jail terms of up to a year for slander and up to two years for defamation, although sentences may be paid off by a convicted defendant.

Both charges are not automatically prosecuted at present, as an alleged victim must request court action.

As expected, reaction was fierce.

Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) President Aristidis Manolakos said "today's (yesterday's) statements by the minister of justice overturn the standing values regarding freedom of the press."

He added that ESHEA "is categorically opposed to the measures announced by the minister. The legal arsenal is more than enough to handle any deviations."

Mr. Manolakos noted that the European reality prescribes for self- regulation mechanisms by journalists.

Finally, he expressed a hope that the government will rethink the issue before forging ahead with a new criminal code.

Conservative opposition blasts new media amendment

The main opposition New Democracy (ND) party today added its voice to strong criticism of Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos over his plans to amend the law on slander and libel.

ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said the plans constituted an "impertinent threat against the Press and institutions, which (Yiannopoulos) continuously insults".

Yiannopoulos said yesterday that a television or radio presenter who presents or allows messages to be broadcast which are abusive or slanderous would face two years in jail.

The penal code presently prescribes jail terms of up to one year for slander and up to two years for defamation, although these sentences may by paid off.

The minister appears to have been angered by criticism of the government expressed by members of the public to news media following a mass jail break at the weekend and devastating forest fires throughout the summer.

If Yiannopoulos has his way, prosecution for slander and libel would be ex- officio, whereas at present the victim of a defamatory attack must first lodge a complaint in order for legal proceedings to be initiated.

The minister's plans have already been strongly criticised by other opposition parties and the Union of Athens Journalists (ESHEA).

Aristidis Manolakos, president of ESHEA, said the proposed legislative amendments would "overturn standing values regarding freedom of the press".

On his part, Spiliotopoulos said that even if Yiannopoulos managed to push the amendments through parliament, they would be abrogated by the competent national or international courts as being clearly unconstitutional and oppressive.

18 per cent increase in Greek mutual funds

Total assets of the 180 Greek mutual funds rose to 8.5 trillion drachmas on July 31, an 18.03 per cent increase over Jan. 31 assets.

According to data released by the Union of Institutional Investors (ETHE), the composition of mutual funds, by category, based on July 31 assets are: money market 64.53 per cent; fixed income 21.65 per cent; composite 9.11 per cent and growth 4.71 per c ent.

There are 30 mutual fund management firms active in the Greek market today.

Thessaloniki gym teacher swims the English Channel

A Thessaloniki physical education teacher last Sunday became the first post- war Greek to swim across the English Channel.

Thirty-six-year-old Georgios Mathas began at daybreak Aug. 16 near the city of Dover on the English coast and reached the French coast some 15 hours later.

The first Greek to swim across the English Channel was Iasonas Zirganos in 1939, while out of more than 5,000 attempts only 520 have been successful since Briton Matthew Webb first crossed the Channel in 1875.

Asked about the "secret of his success", Mr. Mathas, a father of one, said "it took hard training, strong will and a prayer that lasted for 15 hours".

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.S.)

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