Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-05-01

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece responds to quake hit Turkey, pledging aid

[02] Greek and Japanese PMs to chair EU-Japan summit on Friday

[03] Workers celebrate May 1st Labor Day with rallies

[04] U.S. report says Greece has made progress in battle against terrorism

[05] Weather Forecast: Temperature to rise on Friday

[01] Greece responds to quake hit Turkey, pledging aid

The Greek government responded immediately providing aid to the earthquake victims of Southeastern Turkey, with initial funds reaching to 300.000 euros and further assistance in manpower.

Southeastern Turkey was hit by a quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale that caused the death of 84 people, injured some 350, while more than 100 children are said to be buried alive in the rubble of their dormitory.

Thus, the Greek government, which is also presiding over the European Union, via Foreign Minister George Papandreou pledged a squad of 25 disaster rescue men and a C-130 to transport them, along with materiel for the relief of the population.

Papandreou contacted his counterpart Abdullah Gul and expressed the sympathy of the Greek people and the government over the high death tool and also pledged Greece support for the immediate relief assistance.

Deputy Foreign Minster Andreas Loverdos was placed in charge of coordinating Greece's efforts for the relief of the population both as far as Greece is concerned and as far as the European Union aid mechanisms are concerned.

The mission to Turkey will begin as soon as the Turkish foreign ministry sends the necessary signal and provides an airfield for the landing of the C-130.

[02] Greek and Japanese PMs to chair EU-Japan summit on Friday

Prime Minister and European Union Council President Costas Simitis hosted a working dinner for his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi on Thursday night. Koizumi arrived in Athens earlier in the day to chair Friday's European Union-Japan summit with Simitis.

The two prime ministers are expected to have a private meeting after the summit and hold a press conference.

Koizumi will also be received by President Kostis Stephanopoulos and visit the Acropolis.

[03] Workers celebrate May 1st Labor Day with rallies

Workers both of the private and public sectors of Greece's economy celebrated the May 1st Labor Day with rallies in all major cities of the country, while those of Athens and Thessaloniki were highlighted by a anti-war tone.

Two separate rallies were held in Athens one organized by the Supreme Civil Servants Administrative Council (ADEDY), the Labor Center of Athens and the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), while the other was organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) affiliated PAME organization.

In Thessaloniki the celebrations were even more fragmented as three different rallies were held, one by KKE's PAME, a second by the Labor Center of the city and a third by small in number non-Parliamentarian groups.

[04] U.S. report says Greece has made progress in battle against terrorism

WASHINGTON (ANA - T. Ellis) - The U.S. State Department in its annual report on terrorism ascertained that ''in 2002 Greece made significant progress in the battle against internal terrorism.''

The annual report, released on Wednesday, said ''For the first time the Greek authorities arrested suspects for participation in the November 17 Revolutionbary Organisation''.

The report described the ''November 17'' as one of the most deadly terrorist groups in Europe these past 30 years.

It further noted the continuing efforts of the Greek authorities to eradicate other smaller terrorist groups such as ''Revolutionary Nuclei'', ''ELA'' and ''May 1''.

[05] Weather Forecast: Temperature to rise on Friday

Warm, sunny weather is forecast in all parts of the country. Early morning mist is expected on the mainland and in parts of the Ionian. Winds variable, light to moderate. On the mainland, temperatures will range from 11C to 32C; and in the islands from 13C to 26C. Temperatures in Athens between 14C and 31C; and in Thessaloniki from 13C to 30C.

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