Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament set to re-elect Stephanopoulos with sweeping majority

[02] PM Simitis to Bucharest for Balkans summit

[03] Turkey's turn to show commitment to bilateral relations, Niotis says

[04] Clerides states he cannot say whether any progress has been in Geneva proximity talks

[05] Kasoulides does not rule out Clerides-Denktash meeting in third round of UN-led talks

[06] EU governments should respect in practice EU principles and values, Athens says

[07] 'Poll fever' hits Greece in run-up to April 9 general elections

[08] Premier to meet Liberals party leader at latter's request

[09] ND to focus election campaign on urban centers

[10] Parliament President assures of support for World Council of Hellenes Abroad

[11] Ambassadors present credentials to President Stephanopoulos

[12] Major inter-continental business meeting opens

[13] Regular budget inflows up 13.0 percent in January

[14] Greek equities continue upward course

[15] EIB VP cites upcoming funds for Balkan reconstruction

[16] Diamantopoulou opens new e-commerce support center in Athens

[17] Progress on Egnatia motorway detailed

[18] Interior ministry's new migration law gets thumbs up from advisory body

[19] The 2004 Olympic Games village will be ready on time, labor minister says

[20] Greek and Turkish police break up Nigerian drug smuggling ring in coordinated sting operations

[21] Moderate earthquake rocks Patras region

[22] Multimedia CD issued by Mt. Athos monastery

[01] Parliament set to re-elect Stephanopoulos with sweeping majority

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The parliament plenary will hold a special session Tuesday evening for the first of three attempts to elect a President as set out by the Constitution. A successful election requires a two-thirds majority in the 300-member House.

President Stephanopoulos is set to be re-elected on the first attempt, as both premier Costas Simitis, whose PASOK party controls 161 seats, and ND leader Costas Karamanlis, whose party controls 103 seats, last week informed parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis that their MPs would vote for Stephanopoulos in the roll-call vote.

Stephanopoulos is expected to receive a sweeping majority of 271 votes in the 300-seat House coming from the two major parties and the seven independent MPs -- five originating from ND, and one each from PASOK and DHKKI.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN), which controls 10 seats, has announced its MPs will vote for the only other candidate, nominated by SYN -- veteran left-wing leader Leonidas Kyrkos -- while the 11 Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MPs and eight Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) MPs are expected to abstain from the vote and simply declare their presence in the House when called to vote.

After the voting process is completed, the president and vice-presidents of parliament will go to the Presidential Mansion to announce the result to the current President.

The incumbent President will be sworn in on Saturday, March 11, in parliament. After the swearing-in ceremony, Stephanopoulos will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, before returning to the Presidential Mansion to receive courtesy calls by the representatives of the country's political, military and judicial authorities.

[02] PM Simitis to Bucharest for Balkans summit

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

A day earlier, Simitis will chair a meeting of foreign ministry officials on issues related to the summit, Reppas added.

Asked to confirm whether the Greek Prime Minister had accepted an invitation from his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit to visit Turkey, extended by visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Reppas said the invitation had been accepted but that it would take place at the "appropriate time".

Asked whether Simitis would meet with Ecevit at the Bucharest summit, where both are heads of their countries' delegations, the spokesman said nothing specific had yet been scheduled.

"Usually at these summits, the Turkish Prime Minister is the head of the Turkish delegation. We foresee the Prime Minister having a series of bilateral contacts, without these yet having been scheduled...It is something however we can not rule out. It will be dealt with over the next few days," he said.

The Bucharest summit is the third such meeting, following a Greek initiative beginning with the Iraklion summit in 1997, and followed by the second summit in Antalya, Turkey, in 1998.

Simitis and the Greek delegation are expected to return to Athens on Sunday.

[03] Turkey's turn to show commitment to bilateral relations, Niotis says

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis, speaking at a business forum in Thessaloniki on cooperation with Asian companies, said that dialogue between the two countries was proceeding apace but that a balance was required in the form of like movement from Turkey.

"Greek-Turkish dialogue is developing at a steady rate. We have achieved all we had predicted, whatever is possible for us to achieve through initiatives to re-consolidate a climate conducive to dialogue and cooperation on issues considered 'low-key'... but these are not the major issues, which unfortunately continue to divide the two countries," he said.

"Greece has taken its goodwill steps. Now it is time for Turkey to show that it truly wants to see before it its European prospect, following a course which is in step with peace, peaceful dialogue, cooperation and the development of friendship."

Greece and Turkey, he said, had to work together "substantively and decisively" to find points of common interest on the "very important and major issues between the two countries".

Niotis was speaking at a meeting in Thessaloniki of trade and finance ministers from some 90 countries from Asia, the European Union, the Black Sea, eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

The 'Asia Forum' is the first major attempt in Greece to link up with the business potential of the 90 countries, which have a total population of 4.5 billion people.

As a follow-up to this initial meeting, a business forum and exhibition of industrial products, tourism and stock exchange services will be held May 23-28, also in Thessaloniki.

[04] Clerides states he cannot say whether any progress has been in Geneva proximity talks

GENEVA, 08/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Replying to questions after a 90-minute meeting here Monday with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, the Cypriot President said he cannot say whether any progress has been achieved as one side does not know the other side's positions.

The second round of UN-sponsored proximity talks opened in Geneva on January 31. Alvaro de Soto will hold his last meetings with the two sides Tuesday followed by a press conference.

"We have rounded up our positions, "Clerides said referring to Monday's meeting, noting that de Soto "has understood our positions".

Asked if he is satisfied with the results of the second round of talks, the first was held in New York in January, he said: "If you mean am I satisfied because there has been progress, I cannot answer that question because I don't know what the other side has said and the other side doesn't know what I have said."

"That we will be able to know later on," he added.

To a question if the UN believe there is progress, the president said "they believe they have made progress, in the sense that both sides have set their views, but they have not said whether the gap is smaller or bigger".

The UN, backed by foreign governments, are trying to bridge differences between the two sides and bring them to face-to-face talks to reach a settlement in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory since the summer of 1974.

Alvaro de Soto - Denktash: Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash expressed satisfaction with the results of the UN-sponsored proximity talks on Cyprus so far, after his meeting here Monday with the UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

Replying to questions, Denktash also said the outcome of the third round of talks would determine whether direct negotiations between himself and President Glafcos Clerides would be held.

The Turkish Cypriot leader told reporters the same procedure would be followed in the third round of talks, scheduled for the last half of May, that is separate meetings between De Soto and the two sides.

Asked if there is any chance the proximity talks will turn into face-to-face negotiations, Denktash said "that depends on how the third round goes".

To a question if he is satisfied with the results so far, he said "we are satisfied it's going well".

However, he refrained from replying to other questions because of a news blackout requested by the UN.

[05] Kasoulides does not rule out Clerides-Denktash meeting in third round of UN-led talks

GENEVA, 08/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The minister did not rule out a face to face meeting between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash during the third round of UN-sponsored talks later on in the year. Kasoulides explained that the objective of the first two rounds of talks was not to bridge the positions of the two sides but rather to give the UN a better insight into the views outlined by the sides.

The minister also said that Ankara is well aware of the view taken by Athens that improvement of Greco-Turkish relations has to run parallel with progress towards a Cyprus settlement.

[06] EU governments should respect in practice EU principles and values, Athens says

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Referring to Greece's stance towards Austria after the entry into the new Austrian government of the extreme right-wind party, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Greece has made its position clear.

"We have stated from the start that the governments of EU countries should respect, at the level of practice and not the level of words alone, the principles and values which led to the creation of the EU. The EU's President, the Portuguese Prime Minister, has also set out this position of ours. We insist on this position which, as I believe, includes all that one can say in this case," Reppas said.

Coalition of the Left and Progress holds protest rally outside Austrian Embassy: The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) and the party's youth wing held a rally outside the Austrian Embassy in Athens on Monday afternoon to protest the participation of Joerg Haider's, far-right Freedom Party, in Austria's new government.

Demonstrators, whose main slogan was "stop fascism in Europe", stressed that the European Union's progressive citizens will again find themselves in the front line of the anti-fascist struggle and the victory of the concepts of democracy, equality and solidarity.

Coalition Eurodeputy Michalis Papayiannakis said the difference from the past is that today the participation of a fascist party in government is legal, adding that the reappearance of the rightwing totalitarianism in Europe is unthinkable.

[07] 'Poll fever' hits Greece in run-up to April 9 general elections

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

A poll by ALKO published in Monday's edition of ETHNOS newspaper showed ND leading nationwide with 33 percent against 31.8 percent for PASOK and 15.4 percent undecided, followed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) with 5 percent, the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) with 4.3 percent, the Coalition of Left and Progress (SYN) with 3.4 percent, the Liberals with 0.8 percent, and Political Spring with 0.4 percent.

The same poll showed PASOK leading, however, by 7.2 percentage points in the greater Athens area with 32.2 percent against 25 percent for ND, and the main opposition party leading by 4.7 percentage points in the rest of the country with 36.3 percent against 31.6 percent for PASOK

According to the poll, most of the undecided voters came from the ruling PASOK party (37 percent) against 18 percent from ND.

The poll further showed that 71.7 percent of respondents who voted for PASOK in the previous general elections in 1996 said they would vote again for the party in the next general elections, trailing behind 83 percent for New Democracy.

In another poll, conducted by KAPPA RESEARCH and appearing in Monday's edition of TO VIMA newspaper, 53.4 percent of respondents believed PASOK would win the April 9 elections against 30.8 percent for ND.

According to the same poll, ND was leading PASOK as the party capable of better tackling the education and health sector problems, combatting crime and corruption in the public sector, and solving the farmers' problems, whereas PASOK was the top choice for tackling the problem of unemployment, safely guiding the country into the European Union's economic and monetary union (EMU), improving the standard of living, handling national issues, and ensuring growth on the Athens bourse.

The majority of respondents also said that PASOK had more capable government officials and a better policy platform, vision and strategy, inspired greater confidence and stability, and enjoyed greater international prestige.

Respondents also preferred Premier Costas Simitis to ND leader Costas Karamanlis in handling the country's problems and national crises, while the leaders of the two major parties were neck-and-neck as to who cared more for the average citizen and Karamanlis was considered more accessible than the premier.

[08] Premier to meet Liberals party leader at latter's request

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Reppas also noted that the premier would meet with ruling PASOK party cadres over the next few days regarding the pre-election campaign of the party.

President meets Liberals party leader Stephanos Manos: President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Monday held talks with Liberals party leader Stephanos Manos, who announced later that he will vote for him during the vote in Parliament on Tuesday evening for the election of the President of the Republic for the next five-year term.

Manos said the country does not need administrators alone, but reformers as well, adding that in the post-EMU era clear positions and wider consensus are necessary to eliminate partisanship and for the reforming of public administration.

[09] ND to focus election campaign on urban centers

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos again expressed confidence ND would win the election, while an opinion poll, carried by the 'Ethnos' daily on Monday showed the main opposition with a 1.2 percent nationwide lead over PASOK.

ND is reported in a state of expectancy whether Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, a popular conservative figure, will announce his intention to run as a candidate with the party's ticket. Sources did not rule out that the mayor may on Tuesday contact ND leader Costas Karamanlis, with whom relations remain at a good level, and said he was likely to announce his final decision by Friday.

Dora Bakoyianni, a former Culture minister, predicted that Avramopoulos would ultimately join the party in the election and expressed optimism that Stephanos Manos, a former ND national economy minister who broke away to found the Liberals -a party given ratings of less than one percent in opinion polls- would also cooperate with ND.

Coalition leader accuses state-run radio and TV of provocative one-sidedness: Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos on Monday denounced what he termed the "provocative one-sidedness of state television in favor of the ruling party" in letters addressed to the press minister, the administration of the Greek Radio and TV network (ERT) and the Radio and TV Council.

Constantopoulos requests immediate meetings with them, stressing the need for rules and regulations of pluralism and equality to be safeguarded as of now and calls on the agencies involved to assume their responsibilities in the framework of their duties.

Greece is now going through what seems to be a fervent election campaign after Prime Minister Costas Simitis last week announced early general elections for April 9.

[10] Parliament President assures of support for World Council of Hellenes Abroad

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Athens briefed Kaklamanis on the great effort being made by the Council for the creation of health centers and hospital units in countries of the former Soviet Union.

Kaklamanis praised the important role played by overseas Greeks and assured Athens of Parliament's active interest and support for every effort made by the Council to handle the problems, progress and welfare of overseas Greeks.

Views were also exchanged on coordinating efforts to shape a more objective image by international public opinion for the promotion of Greek just causes and a solution to the Cyprus issue.

[11] Ambassadors present credentials to President Stephanopoulos

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

They are the ambassadors of Panama, Franklin Hidalgo Moscoso Rodriguez, of Armenia, Armen Petrossian, of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Bin Saad Al Mahdi, and of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Fahed Al Dahim.

Present at the credentials ceremony were Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos and General Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic, Ambassador Emmanuel Gikas.

[12] Major inter-continental business meeting opens

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The 'Asia Forum 2000' is the first major attempt in Greece to link up with the business potential of 30 countries with a total population of 4.5 billion people.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis expressed the hope that the forum would help bring up latent potential in economic ties between the countries represented and foster substantive cooperation.

"We expect this Forum to produce a mature and substantive dialogue, which will redefine the terms of cooperation, particularly in the private economic sector... the presence alone of countries such as China, India, Russia and about 25 other countries in the broader Eurasian area, bears witness to the fact that we are on a good path," he said.

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis, who opened the event said its evident weight was a further reflection of Greece's strong and stable position in SE Europe and its leading role in the broader area.

Professor Marios Nikolinakos, president of the Institute for the Study of the Greek Economy-the organizers-said the aim of was to create an economic "Davos".

"Our aim here is to bring into contact businesspeople and not various personalities who will discuss the problems of the world... to give the opportunity for the promotion of exports and business cooperation between countries, for markets to be opened and for economic ties to be strengthened," he said.

Another aim was for "northern Greece and Thessaloniki in particular to become an international economic center beyond the rather limited area of the Balkans," he added.

As a follow-up to this initial meeting, a business forum and exhibition of industrial products, tourism and stock market services will be held May 23-28, also in Thessaloniki.

[13] Regular budget inflows up 13.0 percent in January

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

Drys said that January inflows increased 13.0 percent, overshooting the target of 6.4 percent.

He attributed the increase to more effective audits being carried out by the finance ministry's fraud squad SDOE which, in turn, has resulted in more effective collection of Value Added Tax.

He said that the squad's attention would be turning to the tax status of nightclubs, intimating that there was a significant amount of tax evasion in this sector.

According to figures presented by Drys, the state also raised 27.378 billion drachmas in January from the tax on stock exchange transactions, compared to 5.931 billion drachmas in January 1999 (an increase of 362%), while the special charge on mobile phone use garnered state coffers 1.092 billion drachmas in the same month, compared to 220 million drachmas in January 1999.

[14] Greek equities continue upward course

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The general price index broke through the 5,500 benchmark during trading, to reach an intra-day high of 5,514.47 points (+2.52%), but closed below it at 5,489.30 points, with gains of 2.05 percent. Turnover was 346.24 billion drachmas.

Also boosting prices was the lifting of the daily price fluctuation levels from 8.0% to 10.0%, effective as of Monday.

Construction, Miscellaneous and small cap parallel market shares saw the greatest profits.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks rose by 2.08 percent to close at 2,864.48 points. The FTSE/ASE MID 40 also rose, by 1.37 percent, to finish at 979.60 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: +2.02% Leasing: -0.13% Insurance: +1.22% Investment: +0.60% Construction: +5.62% Industrial: +1.32% Miscellaneous: +3.92% Holding: -0.07%

Of 328 shares traded, advancers led decliners at 215 to 106 with another seven issues remaining unchanged.

Among shares to end at the daily 10.0 percent upper volatility limit were Athinaia, ETVA, Orion, EKter, Kekrops, Alte, Fieratex, NEL, Diekat, Olympic Catering and Proodeftiki. Among shares to suffer the heaviest percentage losses were Loulis, Doudos, Xylemporia, Fanko, Klonatex, and ANEK.

Closing prices of selected leading shares (in Drs) are as follows: National Bank of Greece: 23,600 Alpha Credit Bank: 26,100 Ergobank: 30,400 Eurobank: 13,390 Hellenic Telecommunications Organization: 8,700 Panafon: 4,970 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,380 Titan Cement (c): 17,930 Intracom: 15,000

Index futures rise on Athens derivatives market: Most equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Monday in line with the indices on which they are based.

On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 2.07 percent higher; and the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalization stocks 1.36 percent up.

Turnover from derivatives dropped to 7.7 billion drachmas from 11.5 billion drachmas on Friday.

A total of 1,074 futures were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20, showing turnover of 6.0 billion drachmas.

The contracts ended as follows: expiring February at 2,850; expiring March at 2,880; expiring April at 2,901; and expiring June at 2,920.

Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 numbered 441, recording turnover of 1.7 billion drachmas.

Contracts closed as follows: expiring February at 985; expiring March at 1,004.50; and expiring April at 1,015.00.

Drachma ends down vs. dollar, euro: The US dollar on Monday renewed its ascent abroad to finish higher against the drachma in the domestic foreign exchange market, rising further in after-hours trade.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the dollar was set at 339.670 drachmas from 337.260 drachmas a session earlier and 341.120 drachmas on Thursday.

In trade after the fix, the greenback hit 340.650 drachmas.

Also at the fixing, the euro was set at 332.550 drachmas from 332.530 drachmas in the previous session and 332.350 drachmas on Thursday.

Bonds range bound in thin trade: Bonds in the secondary market were direction-less in light trade on Monday, tracking markets abroad.

The benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.47 percent to 6.50 percent from 6.45 percent to 6.46 percent in the two previous sessions and 6.48 percent in the two trading days before that.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 100 basis points from 101 basis points on Friday and 100 basis points on Thursday.

Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 20 billion drachmas from 196 billion drachmas a session earlier and 142 billion drachmas on Thursday.

Analysts said there was little room for the yield spread over German bunds to fall below 100 basis points, with 98 basis points seen as the lowest it can drop.

[15] EIB VP cites upcoming funds for Balkan reconstruction

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

In an interview with a radio station in Berlin, Roth said the funds would target infrastructure improvements. He added that efforts for Balkan reconstruction are impeded by the "chaotic condition" of Kosovo's political structures and the Serbian government, according to an AFP dispatch from the German capital.

Finally, he noted that none of the 900 million euros is foreseen as aid to Serbia.

[16] Diamantopoulou opens new e-commerce support center in Athens

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

"Businesses' access to electronic commerce is just as important as access to banking finance," she said at an event organized at the National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE).

The center's goal is to create a e-commerce network at the local level and an Internet web-site at the national level, followed by efforts to give Greek firms access to the wider European e-commerce network.

Additionally, Diamantopoulou, responsible for the Union's social policy and employment portfolios, noted that by the year 2002 some 1.6 million informatics-related positions in Europe will not be able to be filled, as a vacuum of skilled labor in the field looms.

Along those lines, she referred to an EU initiative, among others, to place computers and Internet access in all of the Union's schools by 2002.

[17] Progress on Egnatia motorway detailed

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The ambitious highway spans the breadth of northern Greece, connecting the northwestern Ionian Sea port of Igoumenitsa with the Greek-Turkish border. Several north-south road axes intersecting with the new highway, designed to connect Greece's northern ports with the Balkan hinterlands, have also either been completed, begun or set to commence construction.

According to statements Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis made on Monday at a press conference, 452 kilometers are under construction by 65 contractors, and worth 925 billion drachmas.

[18] Interior ministry's new migration law gets thumbs up from advisory body

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

"This bill attempts to systematically introduce a contemporary migration policy, which the country has lacked," Deputy Interior Minister George Floridis told the ANA after the Economic and Social Committee (OKE) ruled the bill a positive step.

"The issues this bill lends greatest emphasis to are issues such as seasonal labor for those from neighboring countries wanting to come to Greece and the issues of social inclusion and incorporation of economic migrants already in the country for some time," Floridis said.

He said that OKE had made some constructive criticism of the bill and that these would help the ministry improve certain provisions.

OKE is an advisory body established five years ago and falling under the jurisdiction of the national economy ministry. It provides expert opinions and forecasts, in cooperation with social partners, and makes proposals to the government on any economic issue when it is requested to do so.

On Monday, the plenum of OKE was called on to ratify the proposals of its labor division on the interior ministry's planned legislation.

The labor division said the philosophy behind the bill, which will be submitted to Parliament after elections on April 9, diverged from the traditional framework of migration law, which lent emphasis on issues of public order, and largely neglected the labor aspects of migration and migrants' rights.

The new law transfers jurisdiction for these issues to the interior ministry. Another positive aspect of the bill, as far as OKE was concerned, was the "pragmatic and humane" emphasis given to family reunification of migrants, an issue, which the current legal framework fails to adequately address.

Also thought positive by OKE were provisions on providing education for underage children of migrants, an issue, which is made an obligation of their parents.

Lacking, however, in the bill, were issues of "social organization": the Committee said that the participation of other agencies, particularly the Migration Commission and the Naturalization Committee, were imperative.

Also recommended was the better organization of the Manpower Organization, OAED, which has shown itself to be lacking in being able to deal with the issue of migrants.

OKE also suggested the establishment, by Greece, of migration offices in neighboring countries, which could accept applications from people wanting to come to Greece to work temporarily. The offices could set out the requirements for those foreign workers, it said.

[19] The 2004 Olympic Games village will be ready on time, labor minister says

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

He noted that the village will be ready for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and will number 2,500 residencies, which will be given to workers, following the Games, with the same method as in every other housing project of OEK.

He added that the Olympic village project would not hamper or delay any other projects of OEK around the country.

Discussing the work of OEK around the country, the minister said that the organization has constructed 2,200 homes and granted 17,000 home loans, while another 30,000 families were recipients of rent subsidies.

He concluded, saying that the organization will conclude construction of 4,100 homes this year in 46 different locations, will grant 12,500 home loans and will provide more families with rent subsidies, than last year.

[20] Greek and Turkish police break up Nigerian drug smuggling ring in coordinated sting operations

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The source said the Greek and Turkish narcotics squads, acting on a tip-off, broke up a drug ring that smuggled "substantial quantities" of heroin from Turkey and cocaine from South America into Greece and other European countries.

In Athens, police arrested Oladmiji Onikou, 34, and Abiola Obeluiye, 34, while three other Nigerians were arrested in Istanbul. Two more Nigerians were wanted in Greece.

Greek police found and confiscated 4.3 kilos of heroin, a Mitsubishi car, 121,000 dr. and 150 dollars in cash, and two mobile phones in the Athens swoop.

The source said the Greek police narcotics squad has repeatedly dealt with Nigerian drug trafficking rings that smuggle large quantities of heroin and cocaine into the country and other European countries, recruiting mainly European Union citizens to transport the illegal substances.

Acting on a tip-off, the Greek police located Onikou and Obeluiye and placed them under surveillance, while the Turkish authorities, acting on information passed on by their Greek counterparts, placed the two men's Nigerian collaborators in Istanbul under surveillance, the source said.

He said that Greek police made a swoop on the suspected traffickers on February 4 in a central Athens hotel, where they arrested the two men, while that same day Turkish police mounted a similar operation in Istanbul and arrested three Nigerian heroin suppliers.

[21] Moderate earthquake rocks Patras region

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

The tremor was recorded at 03.31 local time and was felt in the port-city of Patras and the Achaia region. Its epicenter was Araxos, 35 kilometers from Patras, the city's university observatory reported.

[22] Multimedia CD issued by Mt. Athos monastery

Athens, 08/02/2000 (ANA)

This high-tech approach to the Orthodox tradition includes both hymns of the church and literary texts written by both clergy and secular authors over the past two millennia.

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