Greek prime minister Kostas Simitis made the second, and perhaps the most important stop on his European tour Thursday: in Bonn, he met with German chancellor Helmut Kohl.
Mr Simitis won support from the German chancellor, for the view that Greek borders must remain fixed in the face of Turkish provocations.
Prime minister Kostas Simitis told reporters after meeting with chancellor Helmut Kohl:
"We presented our views and the German side recognised that international law must be upheld" on the issue of Greece's sovereign rights in the Aegean.
Turkey launched a campaign to challenge those rights three weeks ago, questioning Greek sovereignty over the Imia rocks in the Eastern Aegean.
Greece has turned to Europe for support. Mr Kohl welcomed Mr Simitis with high honours, and encouraging words.
The Greek foreign minister, accompanying Mr Simitis, told reporters that Mr Kohl had said during their meeting that, "It's inconveivable that the question of European borders be re-opened".
Re-open that question is exactly what Turkey is trying to do.
Bothered by the success of Mr Simitis in Europe, Ankara re-called its ambassador to Athens for consultations.
But Mr Simitis was unmoved.
"What can we say?", was his response when asked about it. "Turkey has to explain the move, and get used to us moving within Europe".
Greece has reservations about closer Turkish ties with the EU, following the Imia incident, including plans to give Turkey financial aid. Mr Simitis conveyed his doubts to Mr Kohl.
The Greek leader, like his European colleagues, stands on the principles of international law. Mr Simitis told reporters in Bonn, that if Turkey wants to go to the international court over any issue, it should go. "Then we could finally learn just what it is Turkey wants", he added, pointing out that the Turkish prime minister is questioning the sovereignty of 3600 Aegean island, while in fact there aren't that many islands in the Aegean.
In Cyprus, New Democracy leader Miltiadis Evert sent a stern warning to the Turkish government: Any attempt at expanding Turkish-occupied territory in Cyprus, would be cause for war.
Evert will meet with Cypriot president Glafcos Clirides and other Cypriot leaders.
On the first day of his visit, Evert laid a wreathe at a war memorial. He said Greeks in Cyprus will protect the Thermopylae of Hellenism.
Evert said that the Turkish military forces must leave the island, and that Hellenism will not rest until they do.
He stressed the importance of joint initiatives by Greece and Cyprus and the development of a common defence strategy.
Evert concluded that the foreign policy of a country must be based on preserving its territorial integrity and on protecting Hellenism wherever it is. Evert also said his party has asked for the appointment of a permanent deputy foreign minister, responsible for the problems of Greeks abroad.
Anti-terrorist police are investigating an explosion that destroyed a train carriage in Thessaloniki late Wednesday afternoon. A bomb in a carriage connected to the Serres-Thessaloniki train, went off just a few hundred yards from Thessaloniki's central station. No one was injured in the blast.
Fortunately, the explosion came after the train had completed its run, and the rigged carriage had been detached and removed from the station.
The loud explosion touched off a wave of panic, and sent parts of the passenger carriage flying as far as a hundred yards, and in all directions.
The bomb had been placed above a toilet, and went off half an hour after passengers on the run had gotten off the train.
The authorities do not know where the bomb originated. The carriage, though Greek, had initiated its journey with a Bulgarian train. It was attached to the Serres-Thessaloniki train at Strymonas, mid-way between those two cities.
Police found parts of the explosive device Thursday, confirming their suspicion that it had been hooked up to a timing device.
Greece's largest trade union shut down mass transportation systems around the country today.
The GSEE staged a 24-hour nationwide strike, over money.
Greece's largest trade union made good on its promise.
Affected were public transportation, utilities and state-run banks, causing havoc in the lives of tens of thousands of people trying to get to work, get money from the bank, and those who planned on flying anywhere. Even the ferries stayed docked in their ports.
Among other things the GSEE wants higher wages for workers. The state and private sector are offering 6 percent pay increases but the GSEE would like to see a 10 percent across the board wage increase, in addition to a reduced 35-hour work week.
The GSEE strike Coincides with the end of the four-day phone company strike. Employees of state-run OTE are protesting the floating of 6 percent of OTE as shares, on the Athens Stock exchange, in the government's partial privatization bid.
Giorgos Maniatis, President of the OTE workers union, says "It is clear that between the workers and the employers there is a gap over what the incomes policy should be. The GSEE will continue its struggle".
Chaos reigned in downtown Athens, Pireaus and Thessaloniki, where the biggest rallies were held.
Even pensioners joined in on the day's strike. "This is a chance for workers of all ages to unite in resisting the government's policy of humiliation", says one pensioner.
Economy minister Yannos Papantoniou says that the government will meet with pensioners at the begining of March. He promises to discuss the low pensions but also talks about an essential cut in the social security system, in addition to the correction of injustices in the social security law.
GSEE workers are hoping to meet with Prime Minister Kostas Simitis next week.
An act of love and charity sponsored by Antenna and its viewers lit up the eyes of some needy children in northern Greece.
People in the Xanthi region near the Greek- Bulgarian border welcomed a hand of help and friendship from caring people all around the country.
It was joy all around as Christmas came late, but none the less welcome for the wait.
It would've taken more than the bad weather to stop Antenna delivering these stuffed animals, games and books to these youngsters in the village of Pakni; gifts from Antenna viewers who responded to the call for help.
One youngster explains that more help is needed - books for school, a jungle gym in the school playground.
More help is on the way, as the philanthropic missions started by Antenna over the holidays, continue.
Three doctors from the organisation "Doctors of the World" accompanied the Antenna convoy. And there are plans to set up a health programme for local residents.
Last year the small theatre in Epidavros was given a test run - a few performances were staged after more than a few centuries of silence at the outdoor theatre.
Now the theatre is to become a permanent part of Greek cultural life.
The Little Theatre at ancient Epidavros is once again among the living. After 23 centuries without a note or a verse, it's a re-awakening Greek culture is welcoming.
Thanks to the Friends of Music Society, the little theatre will even enjoy its own festival.
Friends' President, announced the two primary goals set by the association : to lend the events grouped under the heading "Musical July" an international brilliance and to simultaneously restore and protect the unique theatre with fund-raising money.
The cultural events which took place in the little theatre last year were an experimental success.
This year, "Musical July" festivities will start with a tribute to two intellectual Greek giants: poet Angelos Sikelianos and composer Manos Chatzidakis. The festivities will also include concerts and recitals by several well-known performers.
Music and words will be revived in this theatre, while archeologists and architects will continue restoring the ancient monument, with the help of the culture and development ministries.
Development minister Vasso Papandreou says, "We should start focusing on cultural tourism".
Culture minister Stavros Benos announced a programme, financed by the European Union, to put 40 million dollars into the restoration of a number of ancient theatres in Greece, so that they too can have a second lease on life.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth - Panathinaikos paid Olympiakos back for the crushing defeat Olympiakos dealt it in their league basketball game on Sunday.
In their Greek cup quarterfinal Wednesday night, it was Olympiakos that came away smarting.
And Dominique Wilkins is looking smart, as he deals Olympiakos several blows after he gets started. He scores 26 points in sixteen minutes, as Pao's lead stretches from nine points early on, to twenty-four early in the second half.
With that spread, most of the second half is played for the fat lady. Dominique finishes the night with 32 points on 12 of 20 shooting, as Pao cruises to an 85-72 triumph.
Nikos Ikonomou and Frankisco Alvertis are the ones who lead Pao in the opening minutes. They notch up 13 and 16 points respectively on the night.
Apollon also advances easily to the semis after thumping Makedonikos 86-65. Apollon outscores its opponent 42-15 over the last fifteen minutes, coming from behind to win it.
In soccer, Greece's men's squad gets off to a flying start in a friendly match against France.
Alexis Alexandris knocks home a goal for Greece just four minutes into the game.
But it's all France the rest of the way. The home team levels the score in the 30th minute, and gets two more at the outset of the second half...the final score, France 3, Greece 1.
© ANT1-Radio 1996