Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-01-05
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1382), January 05, 1998
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Vigilance in the Aegean continuing
[02] ... ND comment
[03] New tax legislation to be tabled
[04] Foreign ministry denies confusion regarding territorial waters
[05] Sarande leaflet threatens Greeks of Albania
[06] Premier Simitis to send letter to PASOK members
[07] Iraqi illegals arrested on Samos
[08] Two killed at 'Diana' papermill explosion
[09] Major arms cache discovered at American's home
[10] Tax on bank profits from sale of shares to remain in place
[11] Vintage cars circuit through Athens streets
[01] Vigilance in the Aegean continuing
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
The Greek armed forces are carefully monitoring the Turkish air
and naval exercise in progress in the Aegean, and are ready to
adopt all necessary measures -such as interceptions of aircraft-
in case the exercise is carried out in areas where there is no
relevant entitlement, Defense Under-secretary Demetris
Apostolakis said after a meeting on Saturday.
The Greek Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) on December 28, 1997,
described as illegal a Turkish notam, designating eight areas in
the Aegean for the exercise, planned for January 2-25, as
illegal and invalid, as three of them included areas of the
Athens Flight Information Region (FIR).
Mr. Apostolakis noted, nevertheless, that activity related to
the exercise, could, up to that point, be described as low key.
At another meeting at the foreign ministry on Saturday, chaired
by Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, officials of the
defense and foreign ministries and YPA examined the unfolding
situation and coordinated their activities on the matter.
Calm also prevailed yesterday, second day of the exercise in the
Aegean, while Greek armed forces maintained their readiness to
deal with any eventuality. Today is considered a crucial day as
the exercise is expected to unfold north of the island of
Lesvos, and between Hios and Andros, areas which the Turks have
unilaterally engaged for the exercise.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, a ANA dispatch from Ankara referred to a
"Radical" newspaper report, citing Turkish general staff
sources, according to which, within January, exercises of air
support to naval forces (TAMO) would take place, which "take
place of ten and therefore their schedules is not released to
the press".
Citing the same sources, the newspaper said that between the
dates quoted by the Greek press, there were no planned extensive
exercises of the Turkish armed forces in the Aegean.
[02] ... ND comment
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
As the Turkish exercise encroaches upon national sovereign
rights, the government must take all appropriate actions and
notify international bodies, said main opposition New Democracy
party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos in a statement on Saturday.
"The government must immediately clarify the picture, by
providing authoritative information to the public, and by
abandoning the curious silence it has maintained in recent days
and the inexplicable delays in the exchange of information and
data with the respective Turkish services," he said.
[03] New tax legislation to be tabled
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will
table the government's new tax legislation in Parliament on
Wednesday, according to reports.
The discussion of the bill by the parliamentary committee will
begin on January 12 and the bill will be then brought before the
Parliament for debate and vote.
[04] Foreign ministry denies confusion regarding territorial waters
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
The foreign ministry issued an announcement yesterday in which
it stressed that "the extent of the territorial waters for
purposes of aviation and the control thereof has been fixed at
ten (10) nautical miles from the coast of the State by law in
1931".
The announcement was sparked by some reports in the press which
claimed a "blunder" in a Civil Aviation Authority (YPA)
document, supposedly referring to Greek territorial waters as
being three (3) nautical miles.
The announcement said that a dispatch containing Greece's
reactions over the current Turkish military exercises in the
Aegean was compiled by YPA in co-operation with the foreign
ministry, and there was no mistake in it.
As a consequence, the announcement added, any misinterpretation
or confusion with any other regulation of 1931, which may have
referred to territorial waters as being then three (3) nautical
miles, was not valid.
The foreign ministry concluded by saying that the government
dealt with the issue very carefully and responsibly as it was
required and in co-operation with all relevant authorities, and
that it was not appropriate for such a crucial issue to be the
subject of petty partisan expediency.
[05] Sarande leaflet threatens Greeks of Albania
Gjirokaster, 05/01/1998 (ANA - P. Barka)
An anonymous leaflet threatening the Greeks of Albania and the
Orthodox church circulated in Sarande on New Year's Day,
according to reports.
The leaflet called on the residents of the city to "resist" the
ethnic Greeks of the region and "their agents, the Communists",
saying that they wanted to "destroy Albania".
The leaflet warned that "the time of vengeance was approaching".
The leaflet was condemned by ten political parties which thanked
the Greek people and the Greek government for its assistance and
support of economic and political reforms in Albania.
[06] Premier Simitis to send letter to PASOK members
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
The major issues that will concern the government, as well as
the ruling PASOK party, in 1998 will be the focus of a letter by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis to be sent to PASOK members within
the coming days.
The premier will refer in his letter to the framework of choices
that will make Greece a strong and modern state, such as the
upgrading of the country's international position and role, as
well as equal participation in procedures for European
unification and Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), defend
sovereign rights and the Greek initiative for peace and
co-operation in the Balkans.
In the domestic front such choices relate to regional and
production restructuring, rapid development, modernization and
reform in the state.
However, Mr. Simitis notes in his letter that this real capture
of the future presupposes a revitalized and organized PASOK
party that will be open to social and productive forces, and
which will decide on crucial policy decisions and will implement
that policy in all areas and institutions.
[07] Iraqi illegals arrested on Samos
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
Ten Iraqi illegal immigrants were arrested on Saturday on the
island of Samos in the eastern Aegean, less than 48 hours after
the New Year' s arrest of another 24.
According to statements by the Kurdish-origin Iraqi citizens two
Turkish smugglers ferried them to the island from mainland
Turkey on a small wooden boat from Kusadasi.
The Iraqi also said that hundreds more were waiting to come to
Samos a fact that drove up the smugglers' fee to $2,000 per
person.
A 43-year-old man was also arrested at the Evros border post on
Saturday after police found seven illegal immigrants hidden in
the tourist coach he was driving.
Police said Timothei Balatof had charged each of the seven -
four women and two men from Armenia and a man from Syria - 2,850
dollars for their transport to Greece.
Balatof had constructed special compartments in the coach to
transport the seven illegal immigrants.
In another development the body of a 31-year-old illegal
immigrant missing since Thursday was dragged from the waters of
the Evros River on Saturday.
Police said the woman, identified as Iraqi national Nean Kahaz,
was one of the three people reported missing when a boat in
which they were being transported illegally from the Turkish
side of the river to Greece overturned.
Kahaz was one of a group of 28 put ashore on an islet in the
middle of the river.
[08] Two killed at 'Diana' papermill explosion
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
Two people were killed and four wounded by an explosion at the
"Diana" papermill at the Xanthi prefecture Maggana village early
Saturday morning.
Equipment operator Stephanos Draskidis, 28 was killed
instantaneously, while electrician Theophanis Kamiloglou died en
route to the Xanthi hospital.
The explosion sent pieces of the factory's boiler a great
distance and caused a fire, which took several hours to be
extinguished.
According to the fire department's early estimates the damage to
the factory is in the 10s of millions of drachmas. In an
announcement in relation to the accident, the Thrace-based DIANA
papermill said that two hours after the explosion, the fire that
followed had been put out owing to the plant's fire protection
system.
It further said that the old plant will be in operation in a
week's time, while the new plant will be ready to operate
normally in one month.
It added that both plants are insured and that available stocks
can cover the market's needs for two months.
[09] Major arms cache discovered at American's home
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
A major arms cache has been discovered by police in Dion,
Pieria, in the home of a 41-year-old American, the widow of
criminal George Kaltsas who was found dead with 20 gunshot
wounds near Lamia last week in what appeared to be a gangland
killing, police said yesterday.
The Katerini security police located and seized quantities of
anti-tank rockets and launchers, machine guns, Kalashnikov
rifles, hand grenades, pistols and silencers, ammunition, masks
and bullet-proof vests in a pig-sty behind the home of
41-year-old American Donna Wilkins-Kaltsas.
A police spokesman told the ANA the weaponry had been smuggled
into Greece from Albania, and was mainly Russian and Chinese
made. He also said 153 sticks of TNT (dynamite), "enough to blow
up Mt. Olympus", had also been confiscated, as well as 12 kilos
of hashish and a small quantity of heroin. Earlier, police
arrested two Albanians, 20-year-old Skrendi Peirikliou and
27-year-old Ilir Rogi from Elbasan, who lived on Wilkins'
grounds.
Police also found two Uzi's when they raided the house, believed
to have been stolen from the Greek police.
Police believe the weapons were smuggled into Greece in the fall
after George Kaltsas' brother, Vassilis Kaltsas, escaped from
Corfu jail and fled to Albania, with the help of the Albanian
mafia and Greek accomplices. Vassilis Kaltsas died in a car
crash in Halkidiki, northern Greece, last month.
[10] Tax on bank profits from sale of shares to remain in place
Athens, 05/01/1998 (ANA)
A special tax levied on bank transactions for the sale of shares
will continue to apply, the Council of State ruled after
examination of an appeal by a bank for abolition of the tax on
shares.
The bank claimed that the special tax on bank profits from the
sale of shares should be abolished since it could not be charged
on share buyers. The Council of State, however, judged that the
special tax could and should be charged on share buyers and
ruled that the regulation remain in place.
[11] Vintage cars circuit through Athens streets
Athens 05/01/1998 (ANA)
A circuit of vintage cars was organized yesterday in Athens by
the Athens Municipality and the Vintage Car Society (FILPA).
The rally, in which 180 antique cars took part, started from the
Athens Panathenian Stadium and went through a scheduled route in
downtown Athens and ended again at the stadium. Athens mayor
Demetris Avramopoulos said in a statement to the press that it
was his aspiration that the city of Athens be turned into a more
humane city, bearing elements reminded by the cars of the 50s and 60s.
NOTE:
The Bulletin will not appear tomorrow, January 6,
due to the Epiphany holiday.
End of English language section.
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