Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-09-29

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime minister calls for light to be shed on shipwreck tragedy

[02] Papandreou holds telephone conversation with Yugoslav presidential candidate Kostunica

[03] Tsohatzopoulos says European socialists hail the choice of the Yugoslav people

[04] Turkey's membership relation with the EU must be clear, Papazoi says

[05] Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministry officials to hold talks in Athens on Friday

[06] Greek, Swiss alternate FMs discuss Cyprus problem, bilateral issues

[07] EU Council of Justice Ministers and Internal Affairs discuss issue of citizens obliged to have visas

[08] Church committee says it is pleased with results of referendum so far

[09] US professor to observe trial of journalist in Turkey

[10] Papantoniou to take part in EU meeting on fuel

[11] Greek stocks remain range bound; trade subdued

[12] Infosystem 2000 inaugurated in Thessaloniki

[13] Greece, Iran sign farm cooperation pact

[14] International Network culture ministers agree that culture is not merchandise

[15] British MP proposes return of Parthenon Marbles to Athens

[16] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Bavarian education minister

[17] Olympic Games

[18] A sober ceremony of Olympic Flag reception, in light of shipwreck, Reppas said

[01] Prime minister calls for light to be shed on shipwreck tragedy

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

He said that the premier stated to the cabinet that it is the obligation and the commitment of the government to shed light on this unthinkable tragedy, adding that blame will be assigned to all those responsible, however high they may be.

The death toll from the ferry shipwreck off Paros island reached 65, while 54 of the victims have been identified. Rescue operations continued for a second day in effort to recover survivors of the "Express Samina" ferry that sank late Tuesday after scraping a rocky outcropping some two miles off the Aegean resort island.

The judicial procedures are progressing already, the five members of the crew of the fateful ship under arrest in Paros will be transferred to Syros (the administrative center of the central Aegean island complex), while in Piraeus an investigation is expected to begin, in order to find any responsibilities of the ship owners, if there are any, Hytiris said.

The premier will observe the whole process from close up and will do everything possible for the case to be cleared up, however much effort may be needed to overturn behaviors, attitudes, however many reactions there may be, Hytiris noted.

He added that Simitis stated that the basic goal of the government is to achieve a high degree of safety in transport, not only at sea, but also on land and in the air. Toward this reason the next cabinet meeting will be dedicated to the shipping in its entirety.

"The boat did not hit the rock because it was not seaworthy, it obviously was on a wrong course," Hytiris said, adding that "in such tragedies one can see the greatness of humanity, as well as the misery of flight".

He stressed the premier's order for an in-depth investigation that will include the ship owners, who may be hiding behind insurance contracts, and blames will be assigned. "We will not back down from this position".

He said that there was no delay in the mobilization of the state agencies in responding to the disaster, "especially if the weather conditions are taken into account," adding that Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis was present from the very beginning and coordinated all efforts and was in contact with the prime minister.

Hytiris recognized the contribution of the local fishermen, "which was so great that we did not mourn more victims", adding that in recognition the government would subsidies them to cover any damages to their vessels.

The acting government spokesman said that the newly-acquired all weather "Super Puma" rescue helicopters were purchased at the initiative of the present government, even though the opposition parties did not agree with the purchase, but were not used in this case, because their crews have not yet completed their training, which only now entered its final phase.

Responding to questions regarding the ship's age and relevant seaworthiness, Hytiris said that the European Union has not mandated age limits for ships, but Greece has mandated the limit of 35 years of age, adding that the ship owners wish to do away with all limitations.

Finally, Hytiris said that the final count of victims may be higher as there are fears that people have been trapped in the ship as it sank, adding that there were children and soldiers on board who did not have to pay tickets and thus were not on record.

On his part, Papoutsis, during a two-hour press conference, said that there were criminal errors, stressing that the justice system will now be responsible to assign blame.

"My political sensitivity and responsibility force me to identify with the effort to shed light and to punish those responsible however high their standing may be. I will intensify my efforts for a modern passenger shipping," Papoutsis said.

"Greece is the only country of the European Union that has set an age limit for ships. As long as I am the minister, this limit will remain at 35 years, it will not increase. Criminal errors have been made, errors that justice will uncover... The human mind can not understand how a ship fell on a rock that has a light visible for miles," he said

"All those who have evidence against the port authority should submit them to the prosecutor. I will be the first person to request the harshest of penalties," he concluded.

Karamanlis accuses government of covering up facts and transferring responsibilities elsewhere: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis accused the government on Thursday of trying to cover up facts and transferring responsibilities elsewhere in connection with the sinking of the ferry "Express Samina" off the island of Paros on Tuesday night.

"Following the new irresponsible absence of the Prime Minister in the face of such a serious event, as well as the provocative statements by the government spokesman and the Merchant Marine minister who are trying to cover up facts and transfer responsibilities, I am obliged to criticize the government now," Karamanlis said.

Karamanlis said the government was exclusively responsible for necessary specifications not being observed, which safeguard the lives of passengers and guarantees the security of shipping. He said it was also responsible for necessary checks not being carried out and the inadequate training of crews. "The government is accountable to the conscience of society for the failure to coordinate and utilize even the insufficient means of handling accidents at sea and saving passengers," Karamanlis added.

Karamanlis said that had it not been to the sense of duty of the few port officials, the heroic fishermen of Paros and of soldiers on board the ship the victims would have been even more.

The opposition leader chaired two meetings of party officials during the day, while reports said he decided to make statements after what the government spokesman said during his press briefing and the press conference by Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis.

In reply to Karamanlis, acting government spokesman Telemachos Hytiris said that "Karamanlis, in exploiting human pain, and as he is accustomed to anyway, makes recourse to superficial and irresponsible statements against the government and the prime minister. His stance today constitutes an act of political selfishness."

Death toll from shipwreck up to 65, seven missing, preliminary inquiry begun: At least 65 people lost their lives when the passenger/car ferry 'Express Samina' collided with a rocky outcrop two nautical miles off the Aegean island of Paros, according to the latest information released by Greek authorities on Thursday afternoon, while a further seven were still missing.

According to the records of the ship's owners, Hellas Ferries, and a sworn affidavit by the ship's bursar, there were 463 passengers and 61 crewmembers on board the shipwrecked "Express Samina" and only 452 had so far been rescued.

Sixty-five were confirmed dead and the search was continuing for a further seven, authorities said, while 62 of the bodies recovered had been identified so far, including that of Norwegian national Elia Hensen Jul.

Meanwhile, a second attempt by divers to search the sunken ferry at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday was frustrated by strong winds and rough seas.

A team of 15 deep-sea divers and the eight-man private team of Costas Nizamis set out in the morning with the tug "Neorio Orfeus Syros" to the point where the "Express Samina" went down in order to locate bodies trapped within its hull.

Meanwhile, Hellas Ferries had already sent a team of experts to Paros to examine ways in which to suction off the ferry's fuel load to avoid pollution of the island's coastline and surrounding sea.

The first steps in a judicial inquiry into the accident were also completed on Thursday, with public prosecutor Dimitris Dadinopoulos from Athens ending a preliminary investigation and the first exploratory examinations of witnesses, survivors and crewmembers by midday.

Dadinopoulos said he would be sending his reports to the Merchant Marine ministry, the public prosecutors in charge of the case and Prime Minister Costas Simitis by Friday at the latest.

Third engineer on board the "Express Samina" attributes the shipwreck to human error: Vassilis Haralambis, the third engineer on board the ferry "Express Samina" which sank off the island of Paros on Tuesday night, on Thursday attributed the tragedy to human error and said "the rocks don't come onto the ship. The ship goes onto the rocks."

Haralambis, who was on duty in the ship's engine room at the time of the accident, rejected any talk of engine failure, saying "two days before (the shipwreck) two checks had been carried out because someone had mentioned that a problem existed concerning Samina's seaworthiness.

"No problem existed regarding the engines. As far as I am concerned what happened was due purely to human error. The rocks don't come onto the ship. The ship goes onto the rocks," he said.

"Our engines were in full gear and had a speed of 18-19 miles and we hit the islet with this speed. I saw the water flooding the engine room. The rift was big for so much water to be coming in from the starboard side. I immediately took a flashlight in my hands and ran up to the deck. I saw all in a panic. However, I also saw Captain Vassilis Yiannakis giving orders to the crew and other officers for the boats and the life jackets. I heard him speaking to passengers and telling them what to do. I cannot say anything about the seamen and the crew, because they were all running to save themselves. I don't know who was to blame, but when I am left with my thoughts I think that the first mate who was on duty on the bridge made the big mistake. The human mistake," Haralambis added.

Papazoi expresses condolences to families of victims, says full truth must be uncovered: Alternate Foreign Minister Elisavet Papazoi, also a PASOK deputy for the Cyclades islands, said on Thursday that the causes of the unexplained maritime tragedy off Paros, where 65 people lost their lives, would have to be fully uncovered.

"We have to seek out those responsible for the criminal negligence that led to the sinking of the 'Express Samina' and they must be made an example of," she said.

Expressing her condolences to the families of the victims, many of them islanders, and to the family of Paros harbor deputy chief Dimitris Malamas who suffered a heart-attack while trying to coordinate rescue efforts, she said that congratulations were due to the fishermen of Paros and Antiparos who defied the stormy weather and took their boats out to help rescue survivors.

PASOK Euro-deputies also sent a message of condolence.

German ambassador calls attention to efforts of islanders in rescue operations: German Ambassador to Athens Karl-Heinz Albert Kuhna on Thursday expressed his sorrow over the "Express Samina" shipwreck near the Aegean island of Paros, making special note of the efforts of the island's residents to rescue passengers from the ship.

Kuhna said that there were 18 German nationals on the ferry, among them a delegation of 12 medical doctors, who were especially impressed by the "ability of the local residents to improvise on the spot, yielding great results".

He added that he would travel to Paros to thank the islanders personally for their selfless efforts in rescuing the passengers of the "Express Samina".

Messages of condolence over ferry tragedy continue to flock in: Messages of condolence continued to pour into Greece Thursday over the "Express Samina" shipwreck in which at least 63 people were killed and an estimated 14 were still unaccounted for after the ferry scraped a rocky outcropping two nautical miles off of the island of Paros in the Aegean.

Queen Elizabeth of Britain, in a message to President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos said: "Prince Philip and I were distressed to hear of the sinking of the ferry Express Samina, which has caused the loss of so many people. We send our deepest sympathy to you and the families of those who have lost their lives".

Israeli President Moshe Katsav, in a message to Stephanopoulos, said: "In this moment of grief, please allow me to express my deepest condolences to you for the overwhelming loss of human life in the naval tragedy off the coast of Paros. While Greece stands in mourning, my thoughts and the thoughts of the Israeli people are with the relatives of the victims in this terrible hour".

[02] Papandreou holds telephone conversation with Yugoslav presidential candidate Kostunica

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

According to Foreign Ministry sources, Papandreou also had telephone conversations on Wednesday with his French counterpart and President of the EU Council of Ministers Hubert Vedrine and Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov (who will be visiting Athens on October 11), while he congratulated Kostunica on his election success and said the democratic opposition's demand for a recount of votes in the presidential elections was just, since considerable deviations exist between results issued by the central supervisory committee and those of the opposition.

Foreign Ministry sources said the EU has no single policy on whether or not the second round of presidential elections in Yugoslavia should be "legalized", while two trends have been created in the EU. A "moderate" one, to which Greece and France belong, and a "hard-line" one dominated by the views of the US-British axis, according to which Kostunica has already been elected President since last Sunday and in no way should he "succumb to Milosevic's game and participate in the second runoff round.

[03] Tsohatzopoulos says European socialists hail the choice of the Yugoslav people

BRUSSELS, 29/09/2000 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

"The final choice should be made by all at this point. Namely, if there will be a political solution through completion of the process, or a course will be chosen which will ultimately lead to political confrontation with uncertainties, which is something the Yugoslav people do not need at the moment," he said.

Speaking to reporters during a session of the European Socialist Party (ESP) Presidium here on Thursday, in which he participates as Vice President, Tsohatzopoulos said the European socialists hailed "the choice of the Yugoslav people, hoping to be confirmed in the processes to come."

Noting that "all went almost perfectly in the first round" of the Yugoslav elections, Tsohatzopoulos said "it is clear that the present President of Yugoslavia Mr. Milosevic will take difficult decisions, because the majority of the people sent the message that they want a course of change."

Commenting on the upcoming visit to Cyprus by a delegation of European socialists, Tsohatzopoulos said "the ESP, particularly after the completion of the latest round of negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus issue, feels the need to ascertain the real facts and the possibilities of development on the spot."

On the question of issues tabled at the intercommunal talks, Tsohatzopoulos said "it should be clarified that the principles and values of the EU are a common commodity for all who live in Cyprus", adding that "in the Republic of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have the right to utilize these possibilities by securing the accession of all to the EU."

[04] Turkey's membership relation with the EU must be clear, Papazoi says

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

Papazoi noted that Greece would contribute in setting out the framework of economic and political criteria under which Turkey would become a member of the union.

She stressed that according to the thinking of the Community, the geopolitical or economic interest of a country was simply not enough.

"There are common rules and respect for common values. We observe these values at all cost and this is demanded of every country that wishes to be a candidate for the EU. Nothing more, nothing less," she said.

Turkey, she noted, would have to prove that it had the political will for the great changes it would have to make, both domestically and in its foreign policy.

[05] Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministry officials to hold talks in Athens on Friday

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

The Greek and Turkish foreign ministries political affairs directors, Anastasios Skopelitis and Gihit Albogan, will head the delegations respectively.

An ANA dispatch from Istanbul earlier, quoting a Turkish foreign ministry announcement said the two ministries' political affairs directors will also be discussing proposals on confidence-building measures (CBMs) on the occasion.

A meeting will be held in the morning to monitor the timetable on the ratification and implementation of nine agreements signed by the two countries' foreign ministers last February.

The second meeting will be held in the afternoon and will deal with the procedural proposals on CBMs and measures for good neighborliness, that is, to determine what kind of measures will be promoted for discussion within the framework of NATO.

The Greek-Turkish "Directive Committee", convening every six months, has been created to coordinate the work of six Greek-Turkish committees on cooperation between Greece and Turkey and to monitor the timetable on the ratification and implementation of the nine Greek-Turkish agreements.

[06] Greek, Swiss alternate FMs discuss Cyprus problem, bilateral issues

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

The Swiss official underlined his country's active interest and the continued support of the Swiss government in the Cyprus problem and stressed the need for finding a solution based on the resolution of the United Nations Security Council, for a unified and sovereign Cyprus Republic.

The two ministers also discussed the recent cooperation between the two countries in Kosovo and the ratification of an agreement on free movement of persons between the two countries.

[07] EU Council of Justice Ministers and Internal Affairs discuss issue of citizens obliged to have visas

BRUSSELS, 29/09/2000 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Other issues examined at the meeting were the draft proposal on the ratification of minimum standards for asylum processes, harmonizing conditions for receiving people applying for asylum, the creation of a temporary justice cooperation unit (EUROJUST), protection for victims in penal procedures and the European Commission's initiative on creating an electronic network on civil and commercial law issues.

A political agreement was reached on the issue of creating a temporary justice cooperation unit to handle organized crime in particular. After the European Parliament's opinion is heard, the issue will be forwarded to the next council for ratification.

Setting out Greece's views on conditions of welcoming people applying for asylum, Stathopoulos said Greece is in favor of free movement for those applying for asylum, but with the determination of controlled stay and the possibility of access to the labor market on conditions. On the question of protection for victims in penal processes, he said the adoption of the relevant draft decision should not be considered as completing the obligations of member-states regarding victims but as the start to new initiatives.

[08] Church committee says it is pleased with results of referendum so far

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

The Church has started collecting signatures in support of retaining the record of religion on state-issued identity cards on a voluntary basis. The government has said that it will abolish the category completely.

The head of the committee, Nafpaktos Metropolitan Ierotheos, said that the committee was considering a request by overseas Greek associations to distribute the referendum slips to Greek communities abroad.

Ierotheos further clarified that any Greek, of any religious persuasion, was free to sign and noted that in Xanthi both Greeks and Muslims had signed the referendum

[09] US professor to observe trial of journalist in Turkey

NEW YORK, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

James Ron, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University, will travel to Istanbul to observe what is expected to be the final hearing in the trial against journalist Nadire Mater and her publisher Semih Sokmen.

The two are being tried at Beyoglu Criminal Court No 2 for insulting the military, under article 159 of the Turkish Criminal Code.

In "Mehmet's Book", Mater collected interviews with veterans of the conflict in southeast Turkey, giving a dignified and human voice to that generation of armed forces conscripts in a series of forty-two interviews.

The publishing of the book led to the trial and now the public prosecutor is requesting her imprisonment for twelve years.

"What I wanted deep in my heart was to give a voice to those men of flesh and blood who had become involved in the conflict without their own consent, so that they can be heard by the public and their perspective on the conflict can be understood," Mater wrote in the introduction of the book.

[10] Papantoniou to take part in EU meeting on fuel

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

[11] Greek stocks remain range bound; trade subdued

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

Traders said the general index was locked within the 4,100-4,200 level reflecting shrinking liquidity in the market. Market participants, however, attributed the low turnover to a shift of capital to Cosmotes initial public offering, currently under way, and expect liquidity to improve from next week.

The general index ended 4,142.81 points, off 0.25 percent, with turnover at 79.10 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.17 percent lower at 2,346.85, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.49 percent to 532.92 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 8,419.19 +0.87% Leasing: 668.13 -0.64% Insurance: 2,269.84

+0.56% Investment: 1,644.12 -0.33% Construction: 1,985.87 -0.99% Industrials: 2,467.51 -0.51% Miscellaneous: 4,248.78 -1.12% Holding: 4,913.46

-0.95%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 600.09 points, up 0.40 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 196 to 139 with another 16 issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms, Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Viohalco and Dionik were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 15,440 Titan Cement (c): 14,640 Alpha Bank: 14,950 Hellenic Telecoms: 7,300 Commercial Bank: 19,450 Panafon: 3,685 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,125 Eurobank: 11,000 Attica Enterprises: 3,090 Piraeus Bank: 6,550 Intracom: 13,100 Lambrakis Press: 9,000 Minoan Lines: 2,810 Heracles Cement: 6,380 Hellenic Bottling: 4,950

Equity futures end mixed, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished mixed on Thursday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.17 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.49 percent lower.

Turnover was 8.6 billion drachmas.

A total of 1,243 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 5.9 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,244 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.7 billion drachmas.

Bond prices edge up in thin trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in scant trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.039 percent from 6.05 percent in the last session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 77 basis points from 76 basis points in the previous trading day.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 20 billion drachmas from 40 billion drachmas in the session before.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for around 18 billion drachmas of trade.

Drachma down vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Thursday ended lower against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 339.300 drachmas from 339.280 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 383.320 drachmas from 383.080 drachmas a trading day earlier.

The central bank intervened in the market, selling around 100 million euros to meet heavy demand.

[12] Infosystem 2000 inaugurated in Thessaloniki

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

The Infosystem 2000 will present all the latest technology in IT, computers, software, telecommunications, office equipment and an internet cafe site until Saturday, October 1.

This year's fair will also include a Computer Applications Conference, to be held on Saturday, organized by Helexpo with the support of Northern Greece's Computer Companies Union and under the auspices of national economy and interior ministries.

[13] Greece, Iran sign farm cooperation pact

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

Under the terms of the agreement signed recently in Tehran by Deputy Agricultural Minister Vangelis Argyris, the two countries may also set up joint ventures in the agricultural sector.

[14] International Network culture ministers agree that culture is not merchandise

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos outlined results of the meeting at a press conference on Thursday which focused on cultural heritage, cultural multi-formity and identity and exercising cultural policy at national level. Representatives from Canada, Switzerland, South Africa and Mexico were present.

The Canadian culture minister said that "out of 6,000 languages currently being spoken on the planet, it has been estimated that exactly half (3,000) will be left in 2010."

Greece, Armenia, Austria, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Cuba, Croatia, Latvia, Mexico, Barbados, Norway, South Africa, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Senegal, Slovenia, Sweden and Tunisia signed the Statement.

[15] British MP proposes return of Parthenon Marbles to Athens

STRASBOURG, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

The Labor Party MP proposed to the assembly of the council for the sculptures to return to Athens regardless of their ownership standing as they are part of a monument important to all of humanity as UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site.

[16] Ecumenical Patriarch receives Bavarian education minister

ISTANBUL, 29/09/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

They discussed minority issues in Turkey and Germany and Vartholomeos thanked Hohlmeier for the return of the "Salvator Kirhe" Orthodox Church to the ownership and use of the Munich Orthodox community.

Vartholomeos also discussed with Hohlmeier issues of concern to the Patriarchate and the Greek community in Istanbul.

Vartholomeos hosted a tour for Hohlmeier and her associates to the Halki School of Theology now closed under orders of the Turkish government.

Earlier in the day, the Patriarch received students of Catholic universities and high schools of Germany and discussed with them religious issues concerning the two churches.

[17] Olympic Games

Sydney, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

Greek athlete Constantinos Kenteris surprised everyone on Thursday by becoming the first Greek man to win an Olympic gold medal in the 200-metre sprint.

Kenteris' time of 20:09 seconds beat both his own personal best and the Greek national record, again set by Kenteris during Wednesday's heats.

He defeated Britain's Darren Campbell (20:14) and pre-race favorite Ato Boldon of Trinidad (20:20) to win the gold.

Prime minister congratulates Greek sprinter on gold medal: Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday sent a congratulatory message to Kostas Kenteris for his success in winning the gold medal in the 200-metre sprint at the Sydney Olympic Games.

"You had a real triumph! In an unrepeatable and unique race you worthily conquered the top and showcased Greek athletics around the world ... From the depths of our hearts we congratulate you and thank you for the great joy you gave us," the message said.

[18] A sober ceremony of Olympic Flag reception, in light of shipwreck, Reppas said

Athens, 29/09/2000 (ANA)

There will be only a simple ceremony at the airport on Tuesday and Prime Minister Costas Simitis will receive the athletes on Oct. 9 at the Maximos Mansion, Reppas said.

Meanwhile, Sports Deputy Minister Giorgos Floridis spoke of a sober welcoming ceremony at the airport, adding that "after 104 years that the Olympic Flag is coming again to Greece, it is not possible to not have an official reception ceremony."

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article