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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-04-21Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greece celebrates Easter in line with traditionAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)Greeks celebrated Orthodox Easter in accordance with tradition - with this year witnessing an unprecedented exodus to the countryside.The country's political leadership on Sunday visited the Greek youth under arms throughout Greece to wish them well in the most important religious celebration of the year for Orthodox Christians. President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, Communist Party of Greece secretary general Aleka Papariga, Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos visited the Armor Corps Training Centre (KETTH) at Avlona, Attica to celebrate with the young men of the armed forces. The President of the Republic also visited the Salamina naval station and the Rio regional university hospital. Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who spent Easter on the island of Corfu, during a radio address to the Nation said: ''Easter and Spring in Greece. Maybe the only country in the world, where every Christian, every human being feels the message of the Resurrection, celebrating in the natural environment totally in harmony with the most important day" of Christianity. He also expressed his wishes to overseas Greeks and the foreign visitors who came to Greece on Easter holidays. Chrysostomos : In an Easter message, Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos, vicar of the Athens Archdiocese, wished all faithfuls a happy Easter, stressing that the "reserruction of Jesus filled everyoneYs heart with feelings of love and spiritual joy". "The holy Easter is the spiritual transition from a sinful life to a life of holy deeds which are the result of faith," said Metropolitan Chrysostomos. Patriarchate : ISTANBUL (ANA) - Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos in his Easter celebration dress led the Agapi (Love) service on Sunday, during which the Gospel according to John was read in 12 languages. Ambassadors and consuls from Christian nations, representatives of other Christian denominations, former Greek ministers and leaders of the Turkish society attended the resurrection service midnight Saturday and Sunday's Agapi service at the Patriarchate. The Greek communities of Istanbul celebrated Easter in 10 churches at the banks of the Bosporus. Athens News Agency[02] US Defence Secretary Cohen in Athens todayAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)United States Defence Secretary William Cohen arrives in Athens today on a lightning visit. He is due to have talks with National Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos on the issue of confidence building measures in the Aegean which is currently being dis cussed within NATO, as well as Greece's defence armaments programme.Mr. Cohen arrives here following visits to Turkey and Middle East countries over the past few days. Athens News Agency[03] Tsohatzopoulos holds talks with Albanian premierTirana 21/04/1998 (ANA - P. Haritos)National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos met Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano here on Easter Sunday, accompanied by ministry officials, with discussion between them focusing on bilateral issues and issues relating to the wider region of so utheast Europe, including Kosovo and the creation of a multinationl peacekeeping force in the Balkans.The Albanian prime minister said after the meeting that discussion touched upon cooperation between Balkan nations and collective security in the region in the framework of NATO. "The two countries are an important factor for peace in the region", Mr. Nano said. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said during his meeting with the Albanian premier he exchanged views on cooperation between the two countries and their positive stance on consolidating peace and coperation in the Balkans. Earlier, the Albanian prime minister had spoken of 'grey clouds' casting their shadow on peace in the Balkans, implicitly referring to the situation in Kosovo. The Greek defence minister replied that dialogue was the only means to safeguard the rights of all peoples. During his Easter Sunday visit to Albania, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos visited the Greek contingent of the multinational force stationed here, accompanied by Greek army chief Manousos Parayioudakis and ministry officials. A celebration organised on the occasion was also attended by Archbishop of Albania Anastasios, the leadership of the Albanian defence ministry and dozens of residents of the Tirana district of Izberis. Apostolakis visits Greek contingent in Bosnia : National Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis spent the Easter Monday celebration with the Greek contingent serving in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In a speech he delivered there, Mr. Apostolakis praised the Greek contingent's work, saying it represented Greece in the best way and adding that Greece had now shaken off its isolationism to become the most powerful country in the region in economic terms, as well as in political stability and social cohesion. Mr. Apostolakis underlined the need for the Greek contingent's presense in Bosnia, saying its withdrawal would have serious repercussions for the region, putting at risk everything that has been acheived so far, following the implementation of the Dayton agreement. Athens News Agency[04] At least 33 killed in road accidents over Easter periodAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)Thirty-three people have lost their lives on Greek roads this Easter long weekend, with another 446 injured - 90 seriously - in more than 300 traffic accidents since Thursday night.Traffic police stepped up measures ahead of the expected return of holiday- makers later yesterday. Authorities said that 70 percent of the 300 accidents had taken place on rural road networks, where a police presence was less noticeable. Athens News Agency[05] Messages on junta anniversaryAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)The Democratic Social Movement in a message issued yesterday to mark today's black anniversary of the April 21, 1967, military junta, stressed that the basic ingredient of democracy was national unity, a unity which was built up daily by a society of so lidarity and affection.The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) in its own message for the occasion said that 24 years after the fall of the dictatorship and just a few years before 2000, the distance between expectation and reality was giving rise to a demand for a radical change in the country's political life. Athens News Agency[06] New group claims firebomb attack on bankAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)A suburban branch of the Ionian Bank was the target of a firebomb attack on Sunday night, resulting in serious property damage but no injuries.Authorities said the fire was caused by a makeshift explosive device made up of seven gas cannisters. placed at the bank's entrance. Fifteen fire fighters and four fire trucks were needed to put out the blaze. Police are continuing their investigation into the identity of two young people seen fleeing the scene. An anonymous caller to the Athens daily Eleftherotypia later claimed the arson attack on the bank was the work of a new group, calling itself "Autonomous Revolutionary Activity". The caller said the attack had been carried out to protest the mistreatment of foreigners and called for the release of Nikos Maziotis, arrested earlier this year on suspicion of coordinating a series of bomb attacks. Senior police officials said that the explosive device was similar to one placed last week at the Retired Officers Club in downtown Athens, an attack claimed by "Arsonists of Conscience". They said that they believed the attacks were being carried out by the same groups using a variety of names to throw police off their scent. In a similar incident, the group "Arsonists of Conscience" on Saturday claimed responsibility for torching an Italian Embassy car which was parked on Lycabettus Hill. The same group in a call to FLASH radio station on Sunday claimed responsibility for setting ablaze a car in the Athens suburb of Kolonaki. Athens News Agency[07] Former president Karamanlis remains in critical conditionAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)Former president of the republic Constantine Karamanlis continued to be listed in a critical condition for the seventh consecutive day since he suffered heart failure following admission to hospital for a lung infection, doctors said yesterday.Reports after 6 p.m. yesterday said that Mr. Karamanlis's condition had taken a turn for the worse, while doctors were particularly vigilant. Mr. Karamanlis, 91, was admitted to the Hygeia Hospital on April 7 with lung infection. He was placed on breathing support on April 12 after his heart stopped during a mild heart attack. His doctors said yesterday that Mr. Karamanlis continued to breathe with the aid of a respirator and that the infection was being treated with antibiotics. One of Mr. Karamanlis's doctors was reported to have said the patient's situation was "worrying" and that he had not fully recovered from the heart attack. He said the former president's heart was not beating steadily and treatment was being complicated by renal problems. Demirel : Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel on Friday messaged his sympathy to Mr. Karamanlis. In a telegram to the President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoluos, Mr. Demirel also wished the 91-year-old Karamanlis a speedy recovery. Athens News Agency[08] Two Turks charged with smuggling immigrantsAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)Two Turkish nationals were charged with smuggling in 84 illegal immigrants to Greece before a Samos prosecutor yesterday, authorities said. Kurt Omer, 24, and Polat Nimer, 33, were charged with transporting 84 illegal immigrants from Iraq - 53 m en, 13 women and 18 children - on their 18- metre boat and putting them ashore on Agathonissi on Sunday night.Meanwhile, a Greek man was arrested yesterday after police found him transporting six Pakistani illegal immigrants to Athens with his car. Ilias Nikolaidis, 45, from Didymotiho, was arrested at the Fanariou Bridge in the Rodopi district. Police said the illegal immigrants had entered the country through the Evros River. Nikolaidis's car and $1,600 found on him were confiscated, while the six Pakistanis will face a prosecutor today. Athens News Agency[09] Foreigners make escape attempt at Athens prisonAthens 21/04/1998 (ANA)An escape attempt by nearly 40 foreigners took place last night at the high security Korydallos prison near Piraeus, police sources said.Guards were quick in detecting their movements and foiled their escape attempt. Police units were late last night on the alert around the prison complex, while the would-be escapees remained outside their cells. Athens News Agency[10] Commission proposes fine on Greece over wasteBRUSSELS 21/04/1998 (ANA - P. Pantelis)The European Commission has proposed to the European Court to impose a fine on Greece for not having implemented a waste programme for the gulf of Souda, Crete.The Commission proposed that Greece pays 8.3 million drachmas (ecu 24,600) per day of delay in implementing the European Court's verdict. Five years ago the European Court had condemned Greece for not having abolished some illegal pits in the area, where waste was taken from the Souda military base, hospitals and some factories in the region. The Greek government had then said that measures were not implemented because residents had reacted to the relocation of the pits in neighbouring Sfakia, Palaiohora and Kastelli. The entire procedure for the imposition of a fine is stipulated in the Maastricht Treaty, and according to provisions the Commission has the right to propose a fine on certain EU member-states for not implementing European court decisions. Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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