Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-08-17
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 17/08/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Assumption, Armed Forces Day celebrated
- Defence Minister speaks on security issues
- US State Dept. envoy for Cyprus issue in Ankara today
- Mass escape from juvenile prison
- Giant pet python pays unexpected visit on neighbour
- Fourth World Congress of Thacians begins
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Assumption, Armed Forces Day celebrated
Celebrations over the weekend for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary as well
as Armed Forces' Day were held at the Monastery of Panagia Soumela in
northern Greece on Saturday in the presence of most of Greece's political
leadership, headed by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Dignitaries attended a morning service officiated by the Archbishop of
Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, followed by a procession of the well-
known holy icon of the Virgin Mary worshipped at the monastery, with the
participation of thousands of pilgr ims from throughout the country and
abroad.
The Byzantine-era icon had been worshipped for centuries by the vibrant
ethnic Greek community of Pontos along the southeastern Black Sea coastal
region, in what is now Turkey. It was rescued and brought to Greece in 1930
by refugees, before being place d in a monastery of the same name as the
one in Pontos.
After the service, Mr. Stephanopoulos stressed the importance of the
contribution of Pontian Hellenism to the nation as well as the armed
forces' contribution for its defence.
"All Greeks want to demonstrate our respect and appreciation to the armed
forces of the country and wish health, strength and high morale towards the
enlisted (men and women) who defend the dignity, honour and integrity of
the nation", Mr. Stephanopoulos said.
On his part, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, representing
the premier, said that the armed forces "guarantee stability, security,
integrity and the peaceful role of Greece in the region, so that Greeks can
address the major problems of th e era.
"Greece is a force of security, peace and cooperation in the region. At the
same time, through the strength of the armed forces, it guarantees support
to the Cypriot Hellenism", he said.
Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said that
Saturday was a day of multiple symbolisms, a day of national pride for the
armed forces.
"It is a day of national remembrance, and we do not forget what Pontian
Hellenism has been through and what it has contributed", he added.
Defence Minister speaks on security issues
"The Hellenic Armed Forces play a decisive role in the progress of the
country, particularly in times of peace, since the majority of nations wish
to see the numerous crises in the region solved peacefully," national
defence minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said Saturday during a reception
marking Armed Forces Day at the Agios Andreas officers' resort east of
Athens.
He further accused Turkey of attempting to overturn the status quo, saying
Ankara's claims of "feeling threatened" by the reinforcement of Cyprus'
defence were ludicrous.
Commenting on a recent statement by outgoing Turkish military chief Gen.
Ismail Hakki Karadayi that Greece was seeking political benefits from a
brief confrontation with Turkey, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that it was
"beyond all limits of seriousness".
The reception was attended by President Stephanopoulos, Parliament
President Apostolos Kaklamanis, political party leaders, Archbishop
Christodoulos, foreign diplomats as well as the entire armed forces
leadership, headed by National Defence General Sta ff Chief Gen. Athanasios
Tzoganis.
The Greek defence minister added that the government has a stable policy
and that Greece will not be drawn by Turkey's dead-end policy on the Cyprus
issue and will continue to follow policies of cooperation and peace in the
region.
Regarding the crisis in Kosovo, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated Athens'
position for a peaceful solution to the problem and stressed that NATO
should utilise its capabilities under the auspices of the UN Security
Council to apply pressure to both sides a nd thus contribute to the
solution of the crisis.
Finally, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos criticised Yugoslav President Slobodan
Milosevic for recent military operations in Kosovo, adding however, that it
was a mistake on the part of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) to take on
the Serbian forces. He also stressed that there was no possibility of
independence, only wide autonomy within the boundaries of Serbia.
US State Dept. envoy for Cyprus issue in Ankara today
Special US State Department coordinator for the Cyprus issue, Thomas Miller,
will arrive in Ankara today.
Mr. Miller is expected to propose a set of ideas aimed at easing artificial
tensions on the island republic in light of the upcoming deployment of
Russian-built S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus, according to
reports.
After his contacts in Ankara, the US diplomat will visit Nicosia and
Athens.
Mass escape from juvenile prison
Police have mounted a manhunt for 26 juvenile inmates who escaped on
Saturday from an Avlona prison.
Forty-one prisoners, all Albanian nationals except one, scaled a low prison
fence during exercise time and escaped without being noticed, according to
reports.
The mass escape was discovered a few minutes later, with police and riot
squads rushing to Avlona, about 40 kilometres north of Athens.
Fifteen of the escapees were recaptured. Two of them were arrested in the
nothern suburb of Kifissia after a brief shoot-out, in which one of the
inmates was injured. Earlier, the two had stolen a van.
The Avlona facility houses 250 juvenile inmates.
The chief of police has ordered a judicial inquiry into the circumstances
surrounding the jailbreak.
Police and justice ministry officials believe the breakout had been well-
planned and carried out with outside help.
Meanwhile, Avlona residents told police they had seen a large number of
vehicles headed in the direction of the prison shortly before the breakout,
while three locals also had reported that their cars had been stolen.
The juvenile prisoners were being incarcerated for mainly drug peddling and
theft sentences, while one was serving time for manslaughter.
Giant pet python pays unexpected visit on neighbour
A 38-year-old Athens man woke up on Saturday only to find a 3.5-metre
python slithering on his kitchen.
Antonis Antoniou, a merchant seaman, discovered the more than 10-kilogram
pet snake in the kitchen of his ground floor residence. It had apparently
climbed down through a ventilator shaft from the apartment above, whose
occupiers were on a short absence.
Authorities later employed the services of a snake trainer to end its short
spell of freedom.
Fourth World Congress of Thacians begins
The Fourth World Congress of Thacians opened in Nea Orestiada, Evros
prefecture, on Saturday, bringing together Thrace natives from around the
world.
Addressing delegates in yesterday's session, Macedonia-Thrace Minister
Philippos Petsalnikos underlined the region's advantage as a crossroads.
He stressed that Thrace and the wider region of northern Greece are now the
starting point of access, communication and cooperation with the peoples of
the Balkans, eastern Europe, the Black Sea and southeastern Mediterranean.
Among business speakers, the president of the Mechaniki construction firm,
Prodromos Emfietzoglou, pointed to Thrace's ability to connect east and
west, north and south.
"After many years of isolation and marginalisation, Thrace is now, a few
years before the new century, taking up its previous role," he said, adding
that a large number of projects were either underway or being designed,
including interstate road networ ks as well as power, natural gas and
telecommunications networks.
Democritos University Vice-Rector Philippos Tsalidis touched on the new
role that the regionYs top educational institution is called upon to play
through the creation of new faculties, such as eastern and Balkan studies
programmes, arts and languages.
"The Greek state is obliged to decide, and this will be a purely political
decision, to further develop the university by creating new departments and
research institutes," he concluded.
The congress continues today.
WEATHER
Fine weather is forecast throughout the country today with some cloud
expected in northern inland areas later in the day. Northerly winds, light
to moderate reaching strong to very strong in the eastern Aegean Sea.
Athens will be fine with the temperature ranging from 23 to 36 degrees
Celcius. Thessaloniki fine with local cloud developing in the afternoon and
temperatures 20 to 33C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Friday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 297.183
British pound 483.302 Japanese yen (100) 205.185
French franc 49.600 German mark 166.205
Italian lira (100) 16.850 Irish Punt 417.037
Belgian franc 8.064 Finnish mark 54.659
Dutch guilder 147.471 Danish kr. 43.698
Austrian sch. 23.620 Spanish peseta 1.961
Swedish kr. 36.692 Norwegian kr. 39.115
Swiss franc 199.491 Port. Escudo 1.626
Aus. dollar 177.925 Can. dollar 196.218
Cyprus pound 565.440
(L.G.)
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