Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't defends long-term utility procurement contracts with private sector

[02] Ground-breaking ceremony for Rio-Antirrio bridge on Sunday

[03] Rail workers to stage 24-hr strike today

[04] Money market overnight rate drops to 11.9 percent

[05] Drachma peaks against Ecu at central bank fix

[06] Greek stocks climb again, creep towards 2,700 points

[07] Euro triggers rearrangement in domestic banking sector

[08] Western Greece ready to tender projects worth Dr 16.77 bln

[09] V. Papandreou assures that no EOT employee will be dismissed

[10] Turkish business delegation in Xanthi

[11] PM chairs meeting on better allocation of CSF funds

[12] Petrol rises, diesel decreases

[13] PASOK executive bureau briefed on Jospin visit to Athens in August

[14] Papantoniou condident Greece will fulfill convergence criteria, join EMU

[15] Gov't denies report that US official touring region to discuss S-300 issue

[16] State Dept. rejects link between IMF loan to Moscow and S-300 contract

[17] Author St. Clair detai ls Parthenon Marbles' damage to Athens audience

[18] Tsohatzopoulos meets with Iranian Deputy FM Vaezi

[19] NATO's southern wing commander holds talks with Greek leadership

[20] Tsohatzopoulos to observe military exercise

[21] Quakes recorded

[22] Bill on immigration policy expected to be tabled in late July

[23] Declaration against racism issued

[24] ND criticism of US policy on S-300s

[25] EU funds towards Turkey remain frozen - Commission

[26] Balkan initiative to save area's endangered species

[27] Samaranch in Athens for Int' Olympic Academy session

[28] Stratigis press conference on 'Athens 2004'

[29] Greek American group calls for telegrams to Clinton over '74 Turkish invasion

[30] 58 illegals detained, smuggler arrested

[01] Gov't defends long-term utility procurement contracts with private sector

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

"It is lamentable that Greek parties should refer such cases to the European Union, as New Democracy did. Such acts show that some people do not want to bolster domestic production but imports," she said.

According to an ANA dispatch from Brussels on Tuesday, the European Commission asked Athens for additional clarifications regarding the agreements - signed in 1997 and totalling one trillion drachmas - to consider whether they were in breach of Community directives. According to Commission sources, the head of Commission's internal market directorate, John Mogg, had sent a letter to competent Greek authorities, saying that the clarifications provided to date were insufficient.

The utilities in question are mainly in the sectors of energy, transport, telecommunications and water supply.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also criticised New Democracy, saying that the agreements, signed before the expiry of Community Directive 93/98 on Dec. 31, 1997, were designed to bolster domestic production.

"ND raised the issue because it does not want to see the strengthening of the Greek economy and domestic production," he said.

He added he hoped the Commission would complete its probe as soon as possible, and that it would be proved that there was no violation of the relevant regulations.

"Suspicions only occurred among New Democracy party cadres...Each public utility has the responsibility of following the implementation of long-term contracts and private businesses of observing the terms of these contracts, " he said.

Reacting to the development, the president of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Christos Polyzogopoulos, said that at the time when approval of the contracts were being considered last year, "certain domestic economic and political circ les had attempted to annul or obstruct the relevant procedures."

"It seems that certain people still persist with the promotion of their designs with interventions at European Commission level," he added. The Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) said in a statement that "implementation of long-term contracts has benefitted employment, production, the utilities themselves, and the national economy more generally."

It stressed further that the contracts were implemented as scheduled until the expiry of a Community deadline on Dec. 31, 1998, as in other European countries.

Athens News Agency

[02] Ground-breaking ceremony for Rio-Antirrio bridge on Sunday

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Attending the ceremony in Antirrio will be President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Construction of the bridge by a French-Greek consortium is due to begin as detailed engineering and underwater drilling that commenced in October 1996 have now been completed.

The Gefyra S.A. consortium won an international tender for construction and operation of the bridge, signing a contract with the state in January 1996. The project had been stalled since the 1980s.

Budgeted at about 225 billion drachmas, the Rio-Antirrio bridge will have two traffic lanes in each direction and one emergency lane. Its length is 2.5 kilometres and width 25 metres.

The project is co-financed with the state footing about 70 billion drachmas of the cost and the consortium 17 billion drachmas from its equity capital.

The group is securing the remainder in the form of a loan from the European Investment Bank.

The Gefyra (Bridge) consortium comprises GTM International, GTM Batiments et Travaux Publics and Dyckerhoff und Widmann. Greek firms in the group are Volos Engineering Company, Elliniki Technodomiki, Proodeftiki, KI Sarantopoulos, Athina, and Joannou & Paraskevaides of Cyprus.

Traffic presently crosses from the Peloponnese to mainland Greece by ferry, which is time-consuming and unreliable in adverse weather conditions.

The bridge will eliminate the disruption and slash travelling time from 45 minutes to five minutes.

More than two million vehicles cross the Rio-Antirrio strait each year.

Scheduled to open to traffic in 2004, the bridge was incorporated into the trans-European transport network in 1994.

It ranks among the European Union's 14 top priority projects.

The consortium will operate the bridge for 42 years before handing it over to the state.

Athens News Agency

[03] Rail workers to stage 24-hr strike today

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The workers' union said in a statement yesterday that employees of Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) wanted to see the company revitalised but any changes should keep its basic structure intact.

OSE's union recently warned that the changes the government is planning will shrink the company, paving the way for its eventual privatisation.

Skeleton staff will provide one train per route in order to lessen inconvenience to passengers whose journeys are urgent, the statement said.

Athens News Agency

[04] Money market overnight rate drops to 11.9 percent

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Market players welcomed the decline.

Athens News Agency

[05] Drachma peaks against Ecu at central bank fix

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The drachma finished at 327.9 against the Ecu from 328.2 at Tuesday's fix and 357 drachmas shortly after its ERM entry.

It was also slightly stronger against the US dollar at 298.7 from 299.1 on Tuesday.

The national currency was fairly stable against the German mark at 166.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greek stocks climb again, creep towards 2,700 points

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Traders said the market was showing signs of nervousness as it approached the historic 2,700 level.

Buying interest centred on construction and small cap stocks.

The general index ended 0.96 percent up at 2,663.59 points in light-to- moderate trade with turnover at 51.6 billion drachmas.

Sector indices scored gains. Banks rose 0.30 percent, Leasing soared 4.79 percent, Insurance increased 2.80 percent, Investment ended 2.93 percent higher, Industrials edged up 0.28 percent, Construction jumped 5.24 percent, Holding rose 2.05 percent and Miscellaneous ended 2.25 percent higher.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.25 percent up. The FTSE/ASE 20 index was 0.79 percent up at 1,620.83.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 155 to 88 with another 14 issues unchanged.

Strintzis, Metka, Bitros, Naoussa Mills, Lampsa, Eltrak, Sato, Altec, Klonatex, Kreka, Phaliro Medical, TEB, Epilektos, Pairis and Tasoglou scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Yalko, Intertyp, General Warehouses, Balkan Export, Mouriadis, Ippotour, Klaoudatos and Fourlis suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 47,310 drachmas, Ergobank at 31,830, Alpha Credit Bank at 28,200, Ionian Bank at 19,200, Delta Dairy at 3,950, Titan Cement at 22,600, Intracom at 12,100, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,780 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organ isation at 8,490 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[07] Euro triggers rearrangement in domestic banking sector

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Central and commercial bankers agree that the future of the banking system is being shaped by the country's four powerful banking groups - National Bank of Greece, Alpha Credit Bank, Commercial Bank of Greece and EFG Eurobank.

The four groups will continue to expand their services in the domestic market and also acquire large networks covering the entire country in a trend modelled on universal banking, according to analysts.

At the same time, smaller banks are discussing mergers and acquisitions among themselves, and with bigger banks, to ensure their viability in a new, more aggressive banking environment.

Such a regrouping would cut costs for smaller banks and help them gain know- how in specialised fields, the analysts said.

The Bank of Greece, the country's central bank, sees a second phase in the reshaping of the banking sector.

This would be cooperation with foreign banks, mostly European, to gain more benefits from a single European market.

European banks will seek representation in all member-states to ensure cheaper capital on introduction of the euro.

The euro, or single European currency, is expected to allow bankers access to cheaper capital from a pan-European deposits market. Smaller domestic banks, however, will face higher costs through national interbank markets.

Domestic market players expect that a number of large foreign banks will be able to boost their activities in local markets without having to open a branch there or even maintain a physical presence.

Their competitive edge, which lies in solid experience and know-how in financing and corporate banking, will enable them to take business from domestic banks, analysts say.

Competition within the European banking system is expected to increase in the next few years ahead of the circulation of the euro.

Stiffer competition will push lending interest rates lower and deposit rates higher in a transition phase until a new balance is found.

The governor of the Bank of Greece, Lucas Papademos, believes that one of the benefits of increased competition will be a drop in the spread between lending and deposit interest rates in Europe.

Electronic banking is another factor expected to lead to speedier changes in the banking sector.

British, German and Spanish banks have already adopted electronic banking services by telephone or the Internet, and are increasing the number of their customers rapidly.

According to estimates, one million Europeans will use the Internet for their banking transactions by the year 2001.

Banking reforms will lead to lower costs for the consumer and a better quality of services offered.

Papademos expects that a wave of mergers and acquisitions in the domestic banking sector will lead to better services and widen the labour market for executives in the field.

The country's central banker has also expressed his satisfaction that a number of smaller banks facing operational problems and capital constraints are coming under the control of banking groups that will ensure their survival and growth.

Some major players in the banking market appear willing to pay a higher price for banks than formerly in order to increase their market share, at least in the short term, by abruptly increasing their branch network through acquisitions or mergers.

The phenomenon has led the share prices of most listed Greek banks sharply higher on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Other banks are more conservative, basing calculations for possible buyouts on the book value of a target bank, resulting in a lower price.

Athens News Agency

[08] Western Greece ready to tender projects worth Dr 16.77 bln

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The allocation by prefecture of the projects, which have been incorporated into a European Union regional funding programme, are as follows:

• Etoloakarnania, 6.743 billion drachmas, or 26.2 percent of total funds
• Ilia, 10.889 billion drachmas, or 42.3 percent of total funds

Among the projects are new roads for Patras, Pyrgos, Mesolongi and Kalavrita and the construction of hospitals.

Athens News Agency

[09] V. Papandreou assures that no EOT employee will be dismissed

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Ms Papandreou said that the bill's target is to reorganise EOT and to transfer some of its duties to the development ministry and to regional services. She said EOT's new role is to promote the tourism product, while the Development Ministry will undert ake the shaping of tourism policy.

Ms. Papandreou said that out of the organisation's 2,507 employees the 907 permanent employees will be transferred to other state services and the remainder will be absorbed by the two new state companies "Festival SA" and "EOT property management and u tilisation SA" and offered assurances that the employees' labour relations will be safeguarded. She also announced that she will submit an amendment on retroaction concerning the validity of transfers at the organisation as of January 1, 1998.

Referring to the "Xenia" hotels, she said that all of them will be sold except for those (such as the Nafplion Xenia) which are governed by a special status. She said that the latter will not be sold but efforts will be made to achieve their longterm leasing.

Athens News Agency

[10] Turkish business delegation in Xanthi

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The 25-member Turkish delegation also includes the presidents of local chambers of commerce and of the trade association.

A meeting was held at the Xanthi Chamber of Commerce and was attended by business people from Thrace and Bergama, while talks focused on ways of widening trade exchanges.

The Turkish side is reportedly interested in various products and goods produced in Thrace. Another trade mission from Turkey recently visited eastern Macedonia and placed orders for products ranging from fertilisers to clothing and footwear.

Athens News Agency

[11] PM chairs meeting on better allocation of CSF funds

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Specifically, they covered the way these funds will be absorbed quicker by the education and employment sectors.

Among others, the meeting was attended by National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and Labour and Social Insurances Minister Miltiades Papaioannou.

Athens News Agency

[12] Petrol rises, diesel decreases

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[13] PASOK executive bureau briefed on Jospin visit to Athens in August

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The main topic of discussion at yesterday's session was the structural reform in the economy and adoption of positions worked out recently by PASOK's political secretariat.

The text, of which Prime Minister Costas Simitis provided an outline that will be released today, refers to the need for downsizing the state, a full privatisation of the banking system, introduction of fle-xible work hours in the public sector as well as extensive restructuring of the social insurance system.

Athens News Agency

[14] Papantoniou condident Greece will fulfill convergence criteria, join EMU

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Speaking at a conference of the ruling PASOK party's economic development sector, Mr. Papantoniou said that this fact must not lead to complacency, since the major target of economic policy is not only nominal convergence but also the country's economic development with rates amounting to 6 per cent at the beginning of the next decade.

He stressed the importance of a structural change programme, saying that it will contribute to a further improvement in the Greek economy's competitiveness.

On the question of privatisations, he said results are impressive and added that privatisations planned for 1998 will provide 1.5 trillion drachmas for the state. He further said that they are being carried out with full transparency and with employees' jobs being safeguarded.

Mr. Papantoniou also referred to developments in the banking sector, saying that a limited number of powerful and competitive banking groups will be created gradually.

V. Papandreou, Skandalidis : PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Development Minister Vasso Papandreou also addressed the seminar.

Mr. Skandalidis stressed that "the next few months will be critical", therefore a collective effort is needed. During her speech, Ms Papandreou noted that "every restructuring causes friction, while she added that the priority is to "become comfortable as a country to upcoming developments."

She also stressed that PASOK's proposals aim at development and growth, both in the public and private sectors, while ensuring social cohesion.

Ms Papandreou accused those who insist on opposing structural changes of being "naive".

She added that changes are unavoidable if Greece wants to enter EMU and survive in globalised competition.

Finally, the president of Piraeus and Macedonia-Thrace Banks, Mihalis Sallas, predicted that the Athens Stock Exchange will surpass the 4,500- point mark over the next two years.

Athens News Agency

[15] Gov't denies report that US official touring region to discuss S-300 issue

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas was commenting on an ANA dispatch from Washington citing Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon. The Pentagon official said an envoy was currently in the area and would visit Greece and Turkey for talks on finding ways of averting the deployment of the S-300s on Cyprus.

"We have an envoy now in the region who is discussing with Greek and Turkish officials," Mr. Bacon said.

The government spokesman said that the commander of the NATO southern command (CINCSOUTH), Adm. Joseph Lopez, would be visiting Athens and meeting with the Greek defence minister and general staff chief on NATO matters.

Towards the end of July, Athens also expected a visit from Thomas Miller, the US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus. Referring to the US position on the missiles, Mr. Reppas said that the stance of certain countries - apart from Turkey - that the missiles would create tension in the region was "unjustified".

"This issue is only a small part of the Cyprus problem," Mr. Reppas said, adding that if there were prospects for a resolution of the problem, then that would create "new conditions".

He added that the increase in Turkish military forces did no good to the cause of regional stability and that Athens hoped that the proposal for a "no-fly zone" over Cyprus could be realised.

"The issue is security, stability and peace in the region," Mr. Reppas said.

On his part, Mr. Bacon said: "There is a high-ranking Turkish officer visiting us this week and I am certain that Cyprus will be a top item of discussion," in reference to Turkish military chief Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi.

Mr. Bacon said the Pentagon envoy "could be travelling with a State Department official who will visit Turkey and Greece at this very time. He left at the end of last week".

He reiterated the US view that the installation of the S-300 missiles was "not the right path" and that "there are better ways of solving the difference between the Greek and Turkish sides" on the island republic.

Mr. Bacon explained that Washington was not backing the implementation in Cyprus of a no-fly-zone similar to that in Iraq, but rather it endorsed "a moratorium on provocative flights" that would be "implemented by the countries (Greece and Turkey) thems elves, voluntarily."

Athens News Agency

[16] State Dept. rejects link between IMF loan to Moscow and S-300 contract

WASHINGTON 16/07/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Athens News Agency

[17] Author St. Clair detai ls Parthenon Marbles' damage to Athens audience

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

"The reputation of the British Museum and of my country has been given a 'knock'," Prof. St. Clair, the author of "Lord Elgin and the Parthenon Marbles", told an audience at the Athens Concert Hall.

Prof. St. Clair, a former senior Whitehall treasury official, began his approximately one-hour lecture by explaining how British diplomat Lord Elgin, "through pressures and bribery" between 1799 and 1802 convinced Ottoman authorities in then Constantino ple and Athens to allow the taking of the Parthenon friezes.

However, he added: "(Elgin) probably thought he was saving the Marbles at that time..."

Focusing on the scrapping and abrasive cleaning the Marbles had undergone in 1938, he pointed to Lord Duveen, a notorious art dealer of the era and major benefactor of the British Museum, saying Lord Duveen's agents had essentially "taken over" the noted London institution for about a year and half. Prof. St. Clair says Lord Duveen's "mistaken view" that the ancient friezes were white was responsible for their scrubbing and the complete loss of their 2,400-year-long patina.

The British historian, considered an expert on the Parthenon and the Acropolis, arrived earlier in the week at the invitation of Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who also attended yesterday's event.

Athens News Agency

[18] Tsohatzopoulos meets with Iranian Deputy FM Vaezi

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Bilateral relations were also discussed. Also present at the meeting was Iranian Housing and Development Minister Ali Abdul Ali Zadeh.

Athens News Agency

[19] NATO's southern wing commander holds talks with Greek leadership

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Adm. Lopez later had meetings with the Chief of the National Defence General Staff, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis, with whom he discussed issues related to NATO's "Partner-ship for Peace" programme.

Athens News Agency

[20] Tsohatzopoulos to observe military exercise

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The exercise, codenamed 'Sarisa '98', is based on a scenario according to which friendly forces, with the support of air power, counterattack to regain control of an area captured after a surprise attack by an enemy.

The final phase of the exercise will involve a full mechanised brigade, 34 UH-1H and OH-58 helicopters, Apache attack helicopters, commando and paratrooper units, as well as F-16, F-4 and Mirage fighters, along with artillery units.

The rapid reaction force aims to conduct operations with an offensive spirit in any part of the country, according to a flexible response doctrine.

Athens News Agency

[21] Quakes recorded

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Seismologists said the latter quake had an epicentre 40 kilometres northwest of Athens, near Avlona.

There were no reports of any injuries or damage.

Athens News Agency

[22] Bill on immigration policy expected to be tabled in late July

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Papadopoulos said work on the bill, drafted by a committee established by the ministry, had been stepped up since the labour ministry's campaign to register illegal workers in Greece had ended.

Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou said on Tuesday that roughly half of undocumented foreign workers in Greece had applied for a work permit since the programme to legalise them began.

Mr. Papaioannou said some 370,000 had applied for work permits, adding however, that there were an estimated 750,000 illegal workers in Greece.

In addition, he also announced the creation of two national committees, one on bioethics and the other on human rights, provided for in a bill recently submitted to Parliament.

The bill was drafted by the premier's legal adviser, Prof. Georgios Papadimitriou.

Mr. Papadopoulos called the establishment of the two committees "pioneering" and said their existence would be a clear example of Greece's sensitivity to the issues of human rights and bioethics.

Mr. "Greece is one of the first countries to establish such committees," the minister said.

Mr. Papadimitriou said the new committee on human rights would be charged with following the developments in the field of human rights and informing the public. Both will have an advisory role and will report to the prime minister and could contribute t o developing legislation on issues, he added.

The members of the committee will be appointed by the prime minister. The human rights committee will be made up of representatives from the ministries of the interior, justic, public order and health, as well as senior court officials, independent bodi es such as the National Radio-TV Council and non-governmental organisations, such as Amnesty International.

Athens News Agency

[23] Declaration against racism issued

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[24] ND criticism of US policy on S-300s

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The ND spokesman said that "it is unthinkable that the US government would pressure Cyprus when it itself has attributed to the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish side the talks' collapse."

Mr. Spiliotopoulos also noted that the US is following contradictory policies, which in essence encourage Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot leadership to stop every initiative toward a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Athens News Agency

[25] EU funds towards Turkey remain frozen - Commission

BRUSSELS 16/07/1998 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

In line with a decision issued by the European Court on May 12, the European Commission froze all EU funding as of June 10, which based on the court's decision were considered as lacking a legal base.

Among such funding was the EU budget's line B7-4034 concerning economic cooperation for the benefit of Turkey.

The European Union's announcement said that out of about 100 programmes for which it decided to freeze funding in June, most will be reactivated since the Commission's relevant services assessed that they are not related to the European Court's decision and a legal base exists for them.

On the contrary, the Commission decided that for about 25 programmes the freeze on credits will continue (including funding for Turkey) since there is no legal base for funding to be carried out.

Athens News Agency

[26] Balkan initiative to save area's endangered species

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The agreement was reached at a meeting recently in Nymphaio, outside Florina, at the initiative of the ecological organisation "Arctu-ros", which has already launched a successful campaign to save the endangered brown bear.

The "Balkan Network to Save Endangered Carnivores" is focusing its efforts on wolves, jackals and lynxes.

According to the latest figures, the three species continue to live in Balkan forests but their populations are shrinking rapidly.

The lynx has all but disappeared from Greece but continues to be spotted in neighbouring countries.

A 35-year-old Polish national is in hospital with multiple fractures after a failed suicide attempt at a central Athens hotel.

The woman is the stage and costume designer for Mikis Theodorakis' ballet "Zorba the Greek", to be staged at the Herod Atticus Theatre this Sunday and next Monday and Tuesday. The woman reportedly attempted to kill herself by jumping out of her hotel room's light shaft.

Athens News Agency

[27] Samaranch in Athens for Int' Olympic Academy session

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Samaranch will be arriving from Moscow, where he attended the first World Youth Games.

The 38th session of the International Olympic Academy, which runs through July 30, will bring together a record 202 delegates from 97 countries, who will hear 16 speakers addressing the theme "Olympism - Aspects of the Olympic Games".

Speakers include four IOC members from Australia, Germany, the US and Hungary, while 15 dignitaries from throughout the world have also been invited.

Athens News Agency

[28] Stratigis press conference on 'Athens 2004'

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

He said "that stress in view of the Olympic Games of 2004 is mainly due to issues related to familiarity of new technologies and transportation" more so than the sites for facilities.

Mr. Stratigis spoke of his experience at the recent World Cup finals in France, noting that the transportation problem there was solved.

He also proposed a possible solution for the Karaiskaki stadium problem by comparing it to the French capital's "Saint Denis" stadium, where the lower section seats can be retracted to allow for track and field events.

Athens News Agency

[29] Greek American group calls for telegrams to Clinton over '74 Turkish invasion

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

The group's president, Andrew Athens, said that the Greek American community must once again show its unity and ask of the US president to make every effort in resolving the Cyprus problem.

Athens News Agency

[30] 58 illegals detained, smuggler arrested

Athens 16/07/1998 (ANA)

According to police, Panayiotis Papadopoulos, 37, was arrested after being persued by police on the Alexandroupoli-Orestiada highway.

Police said that the 27 Iraqis and 31 Bangladeshis paid one million drachmas to the suspect and US$150,000 to a Pakistani smuggler identified only as "Abdallah."

The suspect and the 58 illegals will appear before a local prosecutor.

Athens News Agency

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