NEWS IN DETAIL

Athens 2004 Olympics bid evaluation under way

The event was attended by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Sports Undersecretary Andreas Fouras, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, the presidium of the Greek Olympic Committee and the members of the Athens 2004 committee.

At a press conference later, president of the evaluation commission Thomas Bach outlined the procedure for the evaluation of candidate cities but gave no hint of the commission's first impressions of Athens.

"We are honoured to be in the country which gave birth to the Olympic Games, " Bach said."The Olympic spirit is present more than ever before and the Olympic spirit is one of the criteria for a candidate city."

He said that the commission needed three full days to evaluate the bid and draw conclusions. At the final press conference on Sunday, he added, "we will talk about our first impressions but not about our conclusions".

"We will give a fair and objective report. We ask 600 questions to each city and evaluate 19 criteria, including the Olympic village, transport, protection of the environment and security. Our visit has two (equal) aspects: the first half involves the discussions with the candidate committee and the second is the visits to installations," he said.

He said each member of the commission was responsible for evaluating one aspect and that the criteria were "interdependent". "The commission has a general criteria," he added, "The best athletes deserve the best sports facilities and the most appropriate environmental conditions."

The shortlist for the Olympics 2004 bid will be released on March 7, 1997.

Bach added that all the commission's contacts in Athens had been conducted in a very good and friendly climate.

In a resolution, following the first reading of the 1997 budget, the European Parliament transferred to the reserves a total of 95 million ECU, originally planned for disbursement in the framework of TurkeyYs customs union agreement with the EU, and de signed to help that country develop its infrastructure and modernise its agricultural sector. The amount had been part of a 375 million ECUs ($470 million) sum set aside by the EU for the period between 1996 and 2000, through the special regulation for financial cooperation.

EP noted in the resolution that the disbursement of these credits was linked to respect, on the part of Ankara, for democratic principles and the rules of international law.

"Significant progress in the political resolution of the Kurdish and Cyprus problems must be recorded," the resolution added.

Cyprus murders, Aghia Sophia

The first of the two resolutions pointed out that "the victim was the fourth Greek Cypriot murdered without reason (this year), which reveals the real intentions of certain extremist circles to create the false impression that the peaceful coexistence of the two communities on Cyprus is impossible," and that "this totally unjustifiable act took place in an area controlled by the British military base of Dekeleia".

It also called on all European Union member states to exert pressure on Turkey to withdraw its forces from the island.

The second resolution also expressed its concern over the climate created by recent statements by the Turkish minister to the prime minister's office, regarding the conversion of the Byzantine church of Agia Sophia into a mosque, and pointing out tha t in Turkey Christian religious monuments and cemeteries very often become targets of vandalism.

Speaking to journalists on his arrival yesterday, Mr. Simitis said a meeting with Mr. Demirel was "very probable" in the framework of his contacts with all heads of state and prime ministers of the 11 member- states of the BSEC.

"No substantial discussion can take place in one session, but it is expedient and appropriate that one should meet other people with such an opportunity, to exchange views and examine what can happen in the future," Mr. Simitis said.

Replying to questions from Russian journalists on the prospects of the BSEC, Mr. Simitis said the BSEC provides the possibility of better cooperation between member-states, constitutes a way of understanding between them and an effort to "exchange information on progress on such issues as the Thessaloniki-based Black Sea Commercial and Development Bank."

Mr. Simitis said the BSEC is not like the European Union and is not something "bound" to a specific policy.

"It is an effort by some countries to resolve individual problems. This is correct and we must continue in this way," Mr. Simitis said, indirectly expressing Greece's opposition to the Turkish aim of turning the BSEC into a regular international organisation.

The Greek representation, includes Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and government officials.

Simitis to meet with Russian PM in Moscow today

The government spokesman also said Mr. Simitis will visit Budapest on October 26-27 to take part in the European Socialist Party's summit meeting.

During his visit to the Hungarian capital, Mr. Simitis is expected to have a meeting with his Hungarian counterpart Gyula Horn.

Diplomatic circles say the fact negotiations on the name will be resumed on the day after the presidential elections in the US is a mere coincidence, adding that at the moment there is no possibility of the US undertaking any initiative.

"The 1988 Vouliagmeni Memorandum (signed by then-foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey, Karolos Papoulias and Mesut Yilmaz) is a good basis for the rapprochement of the two countries," Mr. Reppas said, adding that the memorandum should be utilised and developed so as to provide better results.

Greek policemen decorated for work in Mostar

The European Union's mediator in Mostar, Ambassador Zepos, proposed that the Greek state award medals to the policemen in a letter to Public Order Minister George Romeos.

The policemen - Panayiotis Poniros, Nikos Sarantakos, Dimitris Patrinakos, Nikos Kelepouris and Christos Lagios - were decorated by the representative of the European Police Mr. Labrechek.

Greece disagrees with EU 'inner circle' proposal

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the Greek government opposed the formation of "an inner circle" within the European Union.

Most EU countries generally favour the proposal, termed in EU jargon as "flexibility," but many question how far it should go.

One fear is that a small group of countries would form an inner circle, setting both the rules and agenda for those outside.

Speaking during the delivery ceremony for the MEKO 200-type frigate, named "Spetasai", Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the Greek navy was ready to face any Turkish threat in the sea region from Cyprus to the Aegean, adding that the country's arms industry contributes considerabl y to the equipping of Greece's armed forces.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the continuous modernisation and renewal of the Greek navy reaffirmed Greece's "might at sea, at a time when disputes and provocations against our sovereign rights in Greek regions of the Aegean are growing."

The representatives of 80 US banks and enterprises have attended a series of seminars on Greece's capital market and had the opportunity for dialogue with the heads of 12 Greek companies participating in the mission.

The members of the Greek delegation met with senior officials of the "Bear Stearns" company and attended a reception in their honour by the president of the Boston Stock Exchange.

Today, the members of the Greek delegation will attend an official lunch organised by the President of the New York Stock Exchange William Johnston.

Bulgarian icons discovered in Greek town

The move came after police found eight priceless wooden icons originating from Bulgaria in the home of 44-year-old insurance salesman Kostas Papadopoulos.

Authorities said the icons had been smuggled in from Bulgaria and were destined to be sold in Greece or abroad.

Also found at Papadopoulos's home were a number of ancient gold, silver and bronze coins and a bronze ring.

Nine foreign women arrested

The women - aged between 15-26 and from France, Denmark, Norway and Britain - will appear before a Serres prosecutor, as will the owner of the club Petros Misarlis, 30.

Police said today they had broken up a drug ring involved in smuggling significant amounts of heroin from Albania into Greece.

Three Albanians - Edomt Sijiaku, 34, Aranit Doda, 30, and Irena Gioyesi, 27 - were found in possession of 500 grams of heroin, an electronic scale, four fake Albanian passsports and two identity cards.

The three were arrested after a 10-day surveillance operation.

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