Cancer of the uterus directly linked to virus
NEWS IN DETAIL
Greece calls for EU summit on situation in the Balkans
Greece yesterday pushed for a ministerial summit of the 15 European Union
members, the United States and Russia to focus on the political situation
in Albania, Bulgaria and Serbia. Representatives from the three Balkan
nations would also be invited.
Greece's permanent representative to the European Union, Pavlos Apostolidis,
during yesterday's regular meeting of permanent EU representatives briefed
his 14 counterparts on Athens' initiatives.
Eurosocialists express concern at Albanian developments
European Socialists have expressed their deep concern at recent events in
Albania, in a resolution tabled in the European Parliament by PASOK
Eurodeputy Yannis Roubatis.
The resolution expresses concern over the collapse of pyramid investment
schemes in Albania, the ensuing riots in which three people have already
been killed, as well as the effect on the country's economic development
and the consequences for the entire region.
The European Socialists call on Albania's leaders to stop persecuting
members of the opposition and to begin "serious and substantial" negotiations
in order to halt political and economic instability.
Commemorative stamp series honouring Andreas Papandreou
A series of four commemorative stamps depicting late PASOK founder and
former three-time prime minister Andreas Papandreou were presented
yesterday at the old Parliament building in downtown Athens.
The four stamps to be issued depict Papandreou as a university lecturer on
the first; the second depicts a scene from his arrival in Greece in August
1974; the third shows him as a chief legislator in a Parliament session;
and the fourth depicts Papandreou the international statesman.
Diplomatic pressure could be behind Rifkind remarks on Cyprus
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou told a Greek radio station
yesterday that he does not exclude the possibility that British Secretary
Malcolm Rifkind's recent statements about a possible Greek-Turkish conflict
were made for reasons of diplomatic pressure.
"In view of developments in the region, those countries who have an
interest or wish to be involved one way or another, come forward with their
own statements and reasonings as to how existing problems should be
resolved," Mr. Papandreou explained.
The alternate foreign minister said the "responsibilities could not be
attributed equally" between Greece and Turkey.
Foreign office clarification
In a related development, Britain sought yesterday to set the record
straight over the remarks by Mr. Rifkind concerning the risk of war between
Turkey and Greece.
The British foreign office said a number of press reports had incorrectly
interpreted Mr. Rifkind's comments on Tuesday.
In fact, the ministry noted, Mr. Rifkind made his remarks in the specific
context of tensions in the Aegean of the sort that almost led to armed
conflict last year over Turkish claims to the uninhabited Greek islet of
Imia.
"His point on Cyprus was a different one. He said there was every reason
why there should be a settlement, but that there had been a lack of
political will in both Cypriot communities," the foreign office stated.
Greece said the comments were unjust and blamed Ankara for tension, while
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides said a war between Turkey and Greece
would destabilise the eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans.
European socialists to meet in Athens over the weekend
A two-day meeting of the European socialist parties which make up the
European Forum for Democracy and Solidarity and their respective policy
generating institutes will open on Saturday. The meeting has been organised
by the Andreas Papandreou Institute for Strategic and Development Studies
(ISTAME). Speakers at the meeting include the Vice President of the
European Socialist Party (ESP) Heinz Fischer and Sweden's Development
Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister Pierre Schori.
Representing the ruling PASOK party will by National Defence Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Foreign
Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, party Secretary Costas Skandalidis and
Eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos.
Ecumenical Patriarchate surfs the Net
The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul has entered cyberspace with a page
on the Internet (WWW.EPNET.GR).
At an official presentation in Thessaloniki yesterday by Metropolitan
Panteleimon, head abbot of the Vlatadon Monastery, said the move is aimed
at "creating a network of information for the faithful ... in Europe, North
and South America, Asia and Australia, on the activities of the Patriarchate."
It provides access to the patriarchate's administrative services, a
collection of Byzantine icons, a church calendar, a history and detailed
international bibliography, lists of partriarchs and other church officials,
monasteries and institutions all a round the world.
Plans are also in the offing for a news service on all church matters, a
photo archive of Byzantine monuments in Istanbul, a video archive and data
bank of libraries in the patriarchate and the Halki Theological School.
The Internet service has been prepared by professors at the Aristotelian
University of Thessaloniki.
Archaeological sites still closed
Greece's most frequently visited monuments in Athens and Thessaloniki were
closed yesterday as a result of a strike by culture ministry employees.
The rolling 48-hour strikes have closed the Acropolis museum and archaeological
site in Athens and the White Tower, Byzantine and archaeological museums in
the northern port city of Thessaloniki.
Foreign tourists visiting the Acropolis yesterday found banners and posters
explaining the strike action.
The demands of the culture ministry employees include making guards and
security staff eligible for special allowances for uniforms and being on
stand-by, making employees hired on the basis of contracts of indefinite
duration subject to the provisions of the new pay scale, an increase in
family allowances and eligibility for a number of categories of employees
for allowances for unhealthy and dangerous work.
Albright notes 'time of opportunity' to solve Cyprus problem
New US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright yesterday cited a "time of
opportunity" to press for a solution to disputes on Cyprus with the
potential accession of the divided island republic into the European
Union.
She also said she would "use some American influence" to get this process
going.
Testifying before the US Congress' foreign operations sub-committee, Ms
Albright said she had spent a significant amount of time last year on the
Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.
"I think that there has been an increase of tension during the last month
in Cyprus, which is unfortunate and dangerous for stability in the region,
and we should follow this with great attention," she said.
Delacroix and the French Painters" exhibition opens
An exhibition entitled "The Greek Revolution: Delacroix and the French
Painters" opened at the National Gallery in Athens yesterday evening.
Speaking during the official opening, President of the Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos said the exhibition is mainly "a national event, a look back
at the heroic efforts of our people, whose feelings exploded into
revolution after 400 years of slavery filled with bitterness..."
Ninety oil paintings collected from French and Greek museums are exhibited
on the gallery's three floors, with the main exhibit being, of course,
Delacroix's "Greece on the Ruins of Messolonghi".
Premier: gov`t unable to meet teachers` pay demands
Prime Minister Costas Simitis reiterated yesterday that there were no more
margins for meeting the demands of striking teachers.
Mr. Simitis said the government has studied their problems for days and had
considered all possible solutions, which were discussed during long
meetings, but stressed there was no room left for anything more.
Meanwhile, high school teachers decided last night to continue their strike
for a fifth successive week, during a general meeting.
Olympic Catering considering entry into bourse
Olympic Catering is considering the company's entry to the Athens Stock
Exchange after the return of 49 per cent of its share capital to the state
for 4.7 billion drachmas.
Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said yesterday that
in the past four years the company has produced profits amounting to 500
million drachmas in 1993, one billion drachmas in 1994 and 1995 and two
billion drachmas in 1996.
Mr. Kastanidis said the re-acquisition of 100 per cent of Olympic
Catering's shares by the state is an important success, adding that a part
of the shares to be floated on the bourse will also be given to the
company's employees.
Olympic Catering had sold 49 per cent of its shares to Rose Hill, belonging
to Lebanese interests, in 1992 for 2.2 billion drachmas.
Cabinet to discuss hiring more pilots for OA
The hiring of extra pilots by Olympic Airways will depend on the airline's
schedule, according to Transport and Communications Minister Haris
Kastanidis, who said that recruitment of 36 new pilots is to be discussed
by Cabinet. The airline has asked for another 18.
The minister also stressed that no new staff will be hired for posts
already vacated in a voluntary retirement programme which provides for the
withdrawal of 1,500 staff members. Already, 2,300 people have left for
various reasons.
Cancer of the uterus directly linked to virus
Cancer of the uterus apparently stems from a sexually- transmitted virus,
according to the results of prolonged research.
The incidence of this cancer increases in younger women belonging to so-
called "high risk" groups, such as smokers and individuals with a weaker
constitution due to other illnesses or the long-time consumption of
medicines.
Intense sexual activity and premature pregnancies are another negative
factor and experts attribute this to a sharp increase in uterine cancer
among women in the 25-35 age bracket over the past years.
"It is the generation of the women of the 1970s which experienced a change
in sexual behaviour (frequent changes in sex partners, abortions etc) and
took to smoking," according to Aristotelion University professor of
obstetrics Theodoros Agorastos.
It is characteristic that research conducted with nuns (women with a
reduced or non-existent sex life) ascertained no cases of cancer of the
uterus.
Despite disappointing results, experts say this type of cancer is curable
if detected at an early stage and insist on Pap's (Papanicolaou) test,
which detects possible tumours in female reproductive organs, as well as
use of prophylactics during sexual intercourse.
Trial date set regarding collision that sunk missile boat
Responsibility for the deadly collision involving the passenger ferry
"Samaina" and the missile boat "Kostakos" early last November has been
attributed to the captain of the ferry boat, according to a court subpoena
issued yesterday.
The collision cost the lives of four crewmembers on the missile boat, which
sunk during the accident.
A trial has been set for July 7.
WEATHER
Fine weather in most of Greece with some local clouds and fog in the
eastern and southern parts of the country. Some cloudiness in western
Greece with possible afternoon showers. Athens will be sunny with
temperatures between 6-17C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures between
2-15C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Closing rates - buying US dlr. 260.598
Pound sterling 426.362 Cyprus pd 520.304
French franc 45.884 Swiss franc 180.519
German mark 154.812 Italian lira (100) 15.800
Yen (100) 210.443 Canadian dlr. 191.952
Australian dlr. 196.937 Irish Punt 413.565
Belgian franc 7.505 Finnish mark 52.701
Dutch guilder 137.977 Danish kr. 40.646
Swedish kr. 35.049 Norwegian kr. 39.452
Austrian sch. 22.008 Spanish peseta 1.830
Portuguese escudo 1.543
(C.E.)
