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[12] London event shows Parthenon before removal of Marbles

LONDON 04/01/2003 (ANA)

The demonstration was organized by the British Committee for the Repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles, while computer-generated images also showed what the new Acropolis Museum in Athens will look like when completed in roughly two years.

On his part, British MP Richard Allan, an archaeologist by training and one of the committee leaders, told the BBC that the group wanted to press its demand that the sculptures be housed in the new museum.

Conversely, the director of the British Museum said the friezes should remain at the London museum because they will not actually be re-attached to the Parthenon itself – the most recognizable and prominent structure on the Acropolis.

[13] Minister criticizes British Museum director on Marbles issue

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

''The manager of the British Museum appeared with his words to be underestimating the Parthenon monument. I think that in the next few days he will have the opportunity of rethinking what he said and retract, because I am certain that he would not wish to offend the Parthenon and its monumental and aesthetic value,'' Venizelos said.

The culture minister went on to say that ''I am certain that Mr. McGregor will reconsider all that he has said if he wishes to safeguard both his prestige and the prestige of the museum he is managing.''

''This issue will not be decided with public statements. The Greek proposals have a very great momentum. The British proposals are also finding a very great response in Britain and on the international scene as well and this, of course, is creating an understandable worry for those who are managing the British Museum,'' the minister concluded.

[14] Ceremony to unveil renovated Zappeion on Tuesday

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis are expected to attend the ceremony.

[15] Culture Minister announces abolition of ''Organismos Thessalonikis S.A.''

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

The non-profit company succeeded the ''Thessaloniki Cultural Capital of Europe'' and organized cultural events, including festivals in the second largest city of the country.

Its abolition was decided by both the minister and the city's re-elected Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos.

Venizelos justified the action saying that the activities of the organization were covered by other existing institutions in the city and so its funding and archives will be divided up and given to those institutions, according to their relevance.

[16] Greek-Russian astronaut honored in event in Thessaloniki

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

Yurtsihin arrived in Thessaloniki about a week ago to spend the holidays with his family for the first time since 1996.

Following in the steps of Yuri Gagarin, he succeeded in entering the Russian space program and taking part in the construction of the international space station.

In fact his last mission was precisely that and he participated in a joint American-Russian mission to the space station that began on October 7 and lasted for 11 days.

Speaking during the event Magriotis said that ''the 11 days that he was in space are not many, but they are enough to write history with and write his name and that of Hellenism in history''.

[17] Turkish freighter traced to bilge water slick

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

A coast guard aircraft spotted the 30-nautical mile slick of suspected bilge water pollution off the southeast coast of Evia island early Friday morning, pollution later traced to the vessel “Ayberk Kalkavan”.

The skipper was identified as Ridvan Alan, while the vessel was led to the harbor of Karystos, the southernmost town on Evia. The ship’s captain is expected to appear before a local prosecutor.

The freighter had departed the port of Marmara in Turkey for Piraeus.

Authorities said the bilge water slick, possibly containing minute quantities of fuel, is being dispersed by a patrol boats sent from Karystos and the port of Lavrio.

[18] Women's wing warden resigns following drug overdose deaths

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

Warden Ekaterini Sarisavvas’ (incorrectly identified as Elizabeth Sarilava on Thursday) resignation was accepted by the justice minister, while the shift supervisor at the time the incident suspended.

An investigation is continuing.

The unprecedented incident led to felony charges being filed by a local prosecutor against two individuals this past week, along with misdemeanor counts against Sarisavva.

Felony drug possession and smuggling narcotics into a correctional facility charges, among others, were filed against Argentine national Dora-Carmen Villaba, as well as against a man identified only as Dimitris Pena. The two are accused of supplying an unknown quantity of heroin to inmate Sofia Bakea, 39.

The latter, along with another two female inmates, were also charged with involuntary manslaughter. Conversely, Sarisavvas was charged with misdemeanor dereliction of duty in the case.

The three women died when they mixed alcohol, prescription drugs and heroin pills allegedly supplied by Bakea. A total of five inmates consumed the drug/alcohol “cocktail”, with two surviving – as one of the two vomited the concoction while the other fell into a coma before recovering at a local hospital.

A guard found the bodies of the trio in their group cell early Tuesday morning.

[19] Three Albanian drug trafficking rings disbanded in Athens

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

In the first incident, five people were arrested on Tuesday in central Athens, charged with smuggling and selling cocaine and cannabis in collaboration with Greek accomplices.

Acting on a tip-off that a ring of Albanians were smuggling substantial quantities of cocaine from Albania to Greece and selling them with the collaboration of Greek drug dealers, and after several days of surveillance, police drug squad members arrested 44-year-old private security guard Ioannis Kolyvas, 20-year old Dezar Mimanaz, 19-year-old Julnet Mimanaz, and 19-year-old Juna Anastasiadi, all unemployed, and 19-year-old private employee Enea Strepi.

Police found in the ring's hideout and confiscated 126 grams of cocaine, 10 grams cannabis, 3,580 euros, 900 US dollars, 35 Cyprus pounds, three bankbooks, three walkie-talkies, one machine gun, one submachine gun, ammunition, a hunting knife, a forged police identity card, a forged passport, and seven cell phones.

The five detainees were taken before a prosecutor, who referred them to an examining magistrate.

In a second incident, two Albanian nationals and a Greek taxi driver were arrested in the Kallithea residential district of Athens on a tip-off that an Albanian man in the area, collaborating with other Albanians and Greeks, was trafficking large quantities of cannabis.

Following an investigation and surveillance, drug squad police arrested 24-year old Emili Noni, 30-year-old Kasmit Bekari, and 33-year-old taxi driver Dimitris Dimitropoulos, and confiscated 20.16 kilos of cannabis, 4,870 euros, five cell phones, and a taxicab.

The detainees were taken before a public prosecutor.

In a third incident, three Albanian nationals were arrested in the Zographou residential district of Athens on charges of trafficking in large quantities of cannabis and cocaine.

Police arrested 24-year-old Bledar Vassili and 26-year-old Mario Vassili, both unemployed, and 20-year-old laborer Dimiter Bena, and confiscated 39.41 kilos of cannabis, 27 grams of cocaine, 3,665 euros, and three cell phones after a drug squad police officer, posing as a buyer, clinched a deal to purchase 40 kilos of cannabis from Bena, who was seeking buyers on behalf of the Vassili brothers.

After the deal was made, the two Vassili brothers arrived on the scene with the cannabis hidden in the trunk of a rented car.

The cocaine and money were found during a search of Bledar Vassili's apartment.

The three were taken before a public prosecutor.

[20] 'Information Society' initiative the focus of ministry discussion

Athens, 04/01/2003 (ANA)

Foreign Minister George Papandreou will briefly address the event.

[21] President Clerides seeks 16-month mandate

NICOSIA 04/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)

In a state address, Clerides said he is seeking a 16-month term in office with the sole aim to handle the national problem, together with the National Council. He also pledged to achieve national unity and called upon all political forces for the creation of a broadly accepted government.

The president's statement is as follows:

''Everybody is aware of my intention to retire from politics at the end of my second term in office. In any case, I would have concluded a complete political career, especially after the historic decision of Copenhagen for Cyprus' accession to the European Union. This was for me, an easy decision.

The hard decision is the one that I am now asked to take, because this decision is not determined by my personal wishes but by my historic duty. A duty, which I have never turned down.

Developments are fast and historic. These will judge the future of Cyprus. In the next months, we will be asked to take great decisions.

We have a duty to seek, with determination and prudence a functional solution to the Cyprus problem. My historic duty obliges me to rise to this great challenge. I do not have the luxury to put forward personal choices. It is the time for national duty which leaves no one outside.

The time left until my term in office expires is limited, and to negotiate a just and viable solution, I need sufficient time and a new, clear mandate. A mandate, which will come through democratic procedures. That is why I feel that my historic duty imposes on me to seek this mandate during the forthcoming presidential elections. A mandate of limited duration. For this reason, I am committed on two things:

First, the mandate I am seeking will be limited to 16 months, with a sole aim to handle the national issue together with the National Council and to complete the accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

Secondly, to avoid any conflict and to achieve the aim of national unity, I will call upon all political forces for the creation of a broadly accepted government. Therefore the handling of internal administration will be carried out with the broadest possible consent.

It is not my intention to organize a pre-election campaign and to argue with any possible candidate. It is for me a time of responsibility, a time for unity.

I ask everyone's trust, the support of the left, centre, socialist and right (forces). Armed with your strength, I will be able to continue to negotiate towards finding a solution, which will be to the benefit of the entire people of Cyprus.

I am asking you to give me a strong mandate so that everyone united, we can handle the greatest historical challenge of Cyprus. A challenge which will determine the future of all, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians and Latins,'' the president concluded.

[22] National Council examines resumption of Cyprus peace process

NICOSIA 04/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)

''The National Council dealt with the latest developments in Cyprus, the expected return to the island of UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, and the resumption of the process for a Cyprus settlement,'' the spokesman said.

The top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem also dealt with letters UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had sent to President Glafcos Clerides, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Greece and Turkey, as well as President Clerides' reply sent on December 30.

According to Papapetrou, President Clerides reconfirmed in his reply letter the position of the Greek Cypriot side to contribute constructively in efforts to find a Cyprus settlement.

The spokesman said the Council further examined recent statements made on Cyprus by Turkey's Justice and Development Party leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. An analysis of the general situation in Turkey and the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus was also studied by the National Council, which has decided the next steps to be taken.

Invited to say how the new effort to solve the Cyprus problem will begin, the spokesman avoided replying, saying that ''we should expect the return on January 13 of de Soto, who will probably meet Clerides on the following day and ascertain the way we will proceed.''

Papapetrou said the UN diplomat had informed the Greek Cypriot side that before his return to Cyprus he would visit New York and on January 8 Athens and later on Ankara.

The ''spokesman said there is an ''international determination to promote a solution to the Cyprus problem within the timeframe which has been set'' by the UN chief.

''This is the position of the European Union, the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary-General in his letter, and the position of Greece and from what it seems, of Turkey too,'' reminding that the Greek Cypriot side committed in Copenhagen to work towards a solution until the end of February.

''At this phase, the only voice of discord is Mr. Denktash,'' he noted.

The spokesman added there had been no contact between President Clerides and Denktash, following statements by the latter that he would request a meeting with Clerides on his return from Ankara to the occupied part of Cyprus.

[23] Boucher says opportunity to reach solution

NICOSIA 04/01/2003 (CNA/ANA)

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, invited to comment on the demonstrations in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus said he ''did not have any comment on those particular developments.''

However Boucher stressed, ''I would say that we view this as an opportunity for Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, an opportunity to reach an agreement by the new deadline of February 28, and we hope that all the parties will work towards that end.''

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is making efforts to bring about a settlement of the Cyprus problem by the end of February 2003, on the basis of his revised proposals presented to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides on December 10, 2002.

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