Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 02-10-16

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] FOUR IN 10 BRITONS FOR RETURN OF MARBLES

[02] NEW PHASE OF TESTIMONIES ON TERRORISM

[03] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

[04] GREEK DISTINCTION IN THE FLIGHT SAFETY SECTOR

[05] BALKAN FUND FOR NEW FILM SCENARIOS

[06] THE OA POSTPONED THE SUSPENSION OF FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA

[07] ROUSOPOULOS: ND IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL POWER IN THE COUNTRY

[08] BATTLE FOR ELECTIONS CONTINUES

[09] ILLICIT ANTIQUITY TRADERS ARRESTED

[10] K. KARAMANLIS DEPARTING FOR LISBON TOMORROW

[01] FOUR IN 10 BRITONS FOR RETURN OF MARBLES

According to a survey by the British Mory survey company, commissioned by the British Committee for the Return of the Marbles, 40% of Britons are in favor of the Parthenon Marbles being returned to Greece.

Based on these results, which were simultaneously announced in Greece by Minister of Culture Evaggelos Venizelos and in Britain before the Parliament, 40% of Britons are in favor of returning the marbles, 16% are against it, and the rest were not sure or did not know.

The survey was carried out from September 19 to September 24, 2002. A representative sample of adult Britons was used, with the sense of the word adult being used broadly, since it included individuals as young as 15. The sample consisted of 2009 individuals, meaning that it was a large and safe number.

To questions concerning returning the marbles under conditions (long term lending, that Greece not set precedent for the return of other antiquities), 56% of those asked agreed that the marbles should be returned, while the ranks of those who would like the marbles to remain in the British Museum thinned by 7%.

In presenting the results of the survey, Mr. Venizelos stressed that the return of the Parthenon Marbles is not an issue of Greek-British opposition, but a global cultural problem, and he expressed his satisfaction because within Greek society, among British citizens, there are so many and fervent supporters of the need to unite the Monument, and heal its amputation.

[02] NEW PHASE OF TESTIMONIES ON TERRORISM

The draft of "November 17" suspect member Savvas Xeros' additional testimony, which was in the possession of Corydalos Penitentiary DA Aristides Fragiadakis, has allegedly been lost.

If it is not recovered, Xeros' attorney, Giorgos Agiostratitis, will prepare a new one to be submitted to the Special Examiner. Xeros' attorney is prepared to report to Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos and the President of the Athens Bar Association.

At the same time, Special Examiner Leonidas Zervobeakos will go to Corydallos to receive an additional testimony from another "N17" suspect member, Nikos Papanastasiou. According to sources, Mr. Zervobeakos will also set two more charges against N. Papanastasiou, the murder of US Navy Captain George Tsantes and his driver Nikos Veloutsos, as well as armed robbery and murder. He will also receive additional statements from Patroklos Tselentis and Kostas Tellios and is expected to announce additional charges against them also.

Dimitris Koufontinas' companion Aggeliki Sotiropoulou is facing heavy felony charges since yesterday. Appeals DA Kyr. Karoutsos has charged her with accessory to murder, attempted murder and bombing.

According to eye witnesses who voluntarily appeared before the Special Examiner, Aggeliki Sotiropoulou was allegedly present at the Piraeus bombing, the attempted murder of Ioannis Paleokrassas and the murder of Steven Saunders. A. Sotiropoulou will most probably have to appear before Mr. Zervobeakos once again, although her attorney was planning to appeal for release due to family reasons.

Meanwhile, the Egaleo Postal Service filed a civil suit with the Athens Court of First Instance, asking for all real estate held by Alicia Romero Cortez , Aggeliki Sotiropoulou and Marie Terez Pinot, the companions of "N17" suspect members, to be secured by mortgage, for 1,115,000 euro (the amount stolen in the Egaleao Postal Service robbery). The case will be tried on November 5.

[03] BIG LOSSES IN THE ASE

The Athens Stock Exchange session ended today with big losses mainly due to the downward course followed by the European stock markets and the new report issued by the Swiss UBS Warburg economic analysts firm. Based on this report, the firm's economic analysts attempt to deal a new blow on the Greek stock market by launching an attack on the telecommunications companies.

The general index dropped to -1.50% at 1.801,37 points, while the volume of transactions was at 86.5 million Euro.

Of the stocks trading today, 268 recorded losses and 53 had gains, while the value of 54 stocks remained unchanged.

[04] GREEK DISTINCTION IN THE FLIGHT SAFETY SECTOR

This year's Flight Safety Foundation Inc. (FSF) Aviation Week & Space Technology Award will be received by Greek Accident and Flight Safety Investigation Committee president Akrivos Tsolakis.

The award ceremony will take place within the framework of the 55th FSF World Conference that will be held in Dublin on November 4-7. Also, Mr. Tsolakis was elected member the FSF Board of Directors.

[05] BALKAN FUND FOR NEW FILM SCENARIOS

The creation of a fund for the development of film scenarios in Balkan countries was announced by Thessaloniki's Film Festival.

It is an initiative aimed at contributing to the improvement, development and promotion of cinema in the wider Balkan region, while at the same time it will assist in the consolidation of the Thessaloniki Film Festival in the international cinema scene.

The Balkan Fund presentation will take place during the 43rd Thessaloniki Film Festival.

[06] THE OA POSTPONED THE SUSPENSION OF FLIGHTS TO AUSTRALIA

Greece's state-run Olympic Airways airline decided to postpone temporarily the termination of its flights to Australia after the strong reactions expressed by the Greek-Australian community and the OA flight personnel.

Even though no formal announcement was made by the airline on its latest decision, the flight schedule for the November-December two-month period includes 2 weekly flights to Australia.

For the record, the OA management had decided to stop receiving flight reservations for the specific destination starting on November 1, 2002 and justified its decision based on the rationale that the airline suffered an annual profit loss of 10 billion drachmas.

The temporary cancellation of the decision does not mean that there have been changes in the company plans. In the specific period, negotiations will get underway with other airlines aimed at reaching an agreement either to give the specific flight destination to other airlines for exploitation of to proceed with a co-exploitation plan.

[07] ROUSOPOULOS: ND IS THE BIGGEST POLITICAL POWER IN THE COUNTRY

In last Sunday's local administration elections the citizens condemned the government policy and backed the positions and proposals of New Democracy, stated party spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos commenting on the results of the first round of the municipal and prefectural elections in Greece.

Mr. Rousopoulos stated characteristically that New Democracy is the biggest political power in the country and last Sunday's results in municipalities and prefectures across the country were catalytic.

Regarding the government, he said that it is in a state of panic hiding behind the election results in the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture. He also noted that these results are neither final nor can be regarded as a vote of support to its options.

[08] BATTLE FOR ELECTIONS CONTINUES

The Athens-Piraeus Prefecture is still in the spotlight of political news in view of the second round of the local government elections. PASOK has expressed its optimism for Fofi Gennimata, who concentrated 40.1% in the first round of the elections, while despite discussions within New Democracy on the candidacy of Giannis Tzannetakos who concentrated 26.7% in the first round, the party has stated that he is moving into the second round vigorously. Giorgos Karatzaferis, who concentrated 13.6% in the first round, insinuated that ND attempted to win over candidates on his ballot.

Mr. Karatzaferis announced that he is going to press charges against The Independent and its correspondent in Greece, Mr. Howden, who, as he said, reproduced what had been said about him concerning fascism, racism, and ultra right phenomena.

On the issue created by the alleged statements of the Archbishop, Mr. Karatzaferis pointed out that Archbishop Christdoulos does not intervene in Greece's politics.

PASOK Secretary Kostas Laliotis appeared optimistic concerning the goal of forming a progressive current in municipalities and prefectures in which the elections have not been concluded, in statements he made immediately following a meeting with the Prime Minister.

He expressed the belief that this Sunday the citizens will judge the agendas and the candidates based on what they propose, and whether they can guarantee development, cohesion and solidarity in local societies.

As far as ND reactions are concerned, Press Spokesperson Thodoris Roussopoulos pointed out that the government is hiding behind the result in the Athens-Piraeus Prefecture, which is not final and does not constitute a positive vote in its choices. The message of the first round will be sealed by the results of the second round, added Mr. Roussopoulos.

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) called its voters not to support the two major parties, PASOK and ND.

Coalition of the Left Petros Kounalakis, supported voting for candidate Prefect Fofi Gennimata in the second round, disagreeing with the policy set by the Coalition.

DIKKI decided to support the candidates that were pointed out by the KKE and the Coalition, who are not supported by PASOK or ND.

[09] ILLICIT ANTIQUITY TRADERS ARRESTED

Three individuals were arrested by Larissa police officers for illicit trading of antiquities and will be taken to the DA today.

The three individuals negotiated with police officers, who presented themselves as potential buyers in the sting, the sale of a marble head of Hercules and 21 ancient coins for 170,000 euro.

Three more individuals were arrested today in the Nea Michanion region of Thessaloniki facing similar charges. In an investigation of Dimitris Drakakis' house 20 vessels were found, 16 of which were amphorae. The police proceeded to search the apartment of Paraskevi Kalpakidou, where they found two more amphorae. Finally, after searching the house of Georgios Ekaterinis, another two amphorae were found. All three individuals will be taken to the DA.

[10] K. KARAMANLIS DEPARTING FOR LISBON TOMORROW

President of New Democracy Kostas Karamanlis is leaving for Lisbon today, in order to participate in meeting of the Presidency of the European People's Party, which will begin tomorrow.

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