[01] GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CRITICISM BY OPPOSITION

[02] THE ISSUE OF GERMAN WAR REPARATIONS TO GREECE REMAINS OPEN

[03] NEW HOPES FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

[04] 1st CONFERENCE OF MAYORS OF 15 SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN CAPITALS

[05] GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER IN INFORMAL NATO DEFENCE MINISTERS SESSION

[06] 14TH SUMMIT OF THE JOINT GREEK-ROMANIAN COMMITTEE CONCLUDED

[07] TREASURES OF MACEDONIA ARE EXHIBITED IN MARSEILLES

[08] GREEK-FRENCH EVENTS ON WINE WILL BE ORGANISED IN ATHENS

NEWS IN ENGLISH

[01] GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CRITICISM BY OPPOSITION

Press and Media Minister mr Tilemahos Hitiris responded today to the criticism by the ex-premier and honorary president of the main opposition party of New Democracy mr Constantinos Mitsotakis by saying that what mr Miutsotakis has said in his interview with the revue "Financial Mailman" is serious as well as it is dangerous.

The Minister characterised the ideas expressed by mr Mitsotakis as well as the leader of the party mr Miltiades Evert as confusing.

At the same time mr Hitiris refused to comment on the criticism by ruling PASOK MP and ex- European Union Commissioner ms Vasso Papandreou and stressed that he does not want to make any comments on issues regarding the in-party function of PASOK.

[02] THE ISSUE OF GERMAN WAR REPARATIONS TO GREECE REMAINS OPEN

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Georgios Romeos replying to a question tabled by deputies from the ruling PASOK party and the Communist party, stated to Parliament today that the question of German war reparations to Greece remains open and added that the greek government has already conveyed its reaction on the recent statements made by german Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

The german Chancellor had stated that based on the London agreement there was no issue of war reparations. According to mr.Romeos, the German war reparations were not, as mr. Kohl claimed, compensated for through Germany's contribution to the European Union Cohesion Fund.

The greek alternate Foreign Minister stated that the London agreement can not apply to the reparations issue after the reunification of Germany adding that no statute limitations were applicable to the issue.

[03] NEW HOPES FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST AIDS

A number of advanced drugs that are being tested in labs all over the world are promising drastic treatment for the AIDS carriers and patients, according to prof.Montagner who was the first to isolate the AIDS virus in his laboratory in 1984.

Prof.Montagner made this statement today speaking in the 13th European Conference on Pathology in Athens stressing that work is being done aiming at helping the AIDS I-V carriers in such a way that they will never become AIDS patients. He said that this can happen only if the density of the AIDS viruses in the carriers of the disease is significantly reduced adding that there is hope that in a few months there will be results.

Prof. Montagner in a joint press conference with professor of Pathology in the University of Athens, mr.Raptis underlined that the scientific research for an effective vaccine against the AIDS virus was until now unsuccessful because the AIDS virus undergoes mutations and multiplies.

Prof. Montagner stressed that the disease's development directly relates to the initial stage of the individual's infection stressing that the first weeks after the contraction of the disease are the most critical and as soon as an individual is informed that is an AIDS carrier must start treatment immediately.

The french professor appeared optimistic regarding the discovery of a new reliable diagnostic test which will be able to trace the AIDS virus in the blood one week after is contracted.

The already existing tests can trace the AIDS virus three weeks after the disease is contracted. According to prof.Montagner, because of this delay there is a possibility of 1/600.000 for an individual to get AIDS through blood transfusion.

[04] 1st CONFERENCE OF MAYORS OF 15 SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN CAPITALS

The 1st Conference of Mayors of Southeastern European capital cities that was held after an initiative by the mayor of Athens, Dimitris Avramopoulos ended today in the greek capital.

In the meeting that was held earlier today during a cruise to the island of Hydra were discussed the presentations of European Commission experts on issues of cooperation among the capital cities in the framework of the EU programmes of regional cooperation and on the EU policy and programmes concerning the cities of Central and Eastern Europe.

In the protocol signed yesterday by the 15 mayors participating in the conference is mentioned that its aim was the development of closer relations in cultural, social and economic level and also the development of cooperation and communication among the different peoples. In the conference participated the mayors of Budapest, Bucharest, Belgrade, Ljubliana, Sarajevo, Skopje, Sofia, Tirana, Zagreb, Vienna, Kisinau, Nicosia, Kiev, Podgorica and Athens.

[05] GREEK DEFENCE MINISTER IN INFORMALNATO DEFENCE MINISTERS SESSION

Greece's readiness to participate in an eventuality of the creation of a peace-keeping force which will be deployed in Bosnia to oversee the implementation of the peace agreement, was expressed by greek Defence Minister mr Yerasimos Arsenis speaking in the informal meeting of NATO Defence Ministers held in Williamsburg, Virginia in the United States.

Mr.Arsenis stated that under certain circumstances namely, if there is agreement for peace, if the involved parties regard Greece's participation as important element for the consolidation of peace and if there is participation of many other countries then Greece will consider such a request positively.

[06] 14TH SUMMIT OF THE JOINT GREEK-ROMANIAN COMMITTEE CONCLUDED

The 14th Summit of the Joint Greek-Romanian Committee on the economic, industry and technical cooperation will be concluded today in Bucharest. Undersecretary of National Economy, Ioannis Anthopoulos headed the greek delegation while head of the romanian delegation was Minister of Commerce, Petru Krisan.

In the meetings were discussed new economic sectors and activities and according to the newspaper "Tineretul Liber" the greek delegation was informed on issues concerning economic reforms, privatizations, and the investment and trade policy followed by Romania.

[07] TREASURES OF MACEDONIA ARE EXHIBITED IN MARSEILLES

A total of 361 priceless archaeological findings that were discovered in ancient greek tombs in Thessaly and Chalkidiki during excavations made in the period 19501980 will be exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of Marseilles until November 12th.

According to the French News Agency, is an exhibition that brings to life the history of the Macedons, who lived in the mountains of Olympus and Pindos from the 3rd millennium B.C. till the end of the Hellenistic period (168 B.C.).

[08] GREEK-FRENCH EVENTS ON WINE WILL BE ORGANISED IN ATHENS

A series of events on wine under the title "The wine, from Greece to France" are organised by the Education Department of the French Embassy and the French Institute in Athens to be held from October 30th to December 14th.

In the events are included lectures, winetasting, wine exhibitions and theater performances as was announced today in a press conference by mrs.Isabelle Auriault, responsible for the cultural events organised by the French Institute.