In Brief
KISSINGER SUIT
Journalist testifies against former US secretary of state US-based Greek journalist Ilias Dimitrakopoulos yesterday testified before an Athens appeals court prosecutor in connection with a legal suit he filed here against former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Monday. Dimitrakopoulos accuses Kissinger of genocide, war crimes, involvement in crimes committed by the military junta, the attempted murder of former Cypriot President Makarios and his own attempted kidnapping and murder. FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS Aegean Airlines passengers should call to check timetable Passengers due to travel with Aegean Airlines today are likely to face disruptions as the airline’s air traffic control staff participate in a four-hour work stoppage – between noon and 4 p.m. – called by the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the airline said yesterday. The timetable has changed for both domestic and international flights, Aegean added. One flight – A3 109 from Thessaloniki to Athens – has been canceled. Passengers should call 801.11.20000 or 210.998.8300 to check flight times. ONASSIS ASSETS Athina banks 68 mln euros in Geneva Athina Roussel Onassis, heiress to her grandfather Aristotle’s shipping fortune, has deposited more than 100 million Swiss francs (nearly 68 million euros) in a private family bank in Geneva, reports from the Swiss city said yesterday. The deposit, which the 18-year-old made on the advice of her father Thierry Roussel, is just a fraction of a fortune of 4.5 billion Swiss francs (3.05 billion euros), which includes shares and properties all over the world. The bank refused to comment on the deposit, as did Athina’s father, reports said. Film boycott The Society of Greek Film Directors yesterday appealed to Greek filmgoers to boycott US-made movies, saying its members would stage protests outside Athens cinemas to discourage visitors from watching American films. The society said it was protesting against an imperialistic system which it claimed was killing international cinema as well as innocent civilians in Iraq. Stephanopoulos stays President Costis Stephanopoulos yesterday canceled a foreign trip to due to «international developments,» reports in Athens and Brussels said yesterday. Stephanopoulos had been due to visit Belgium on April 1 at the invitation of King Albert II. No new dates have been fixed for the trip. Greek cinema A total of 19 internationally acclaimed Greek films are to be shown in 16 European cities over the next few months as part of a joint initiative between the Culture and Foreign ministries during Greece’s EU presidency, ministry sources confirmed yesterday. The films include the work of pioneering Greek directors, such as Theo Angelopoulos, Michael Cacoyannis and Nikos Koundouros. Olympics conference An international conference on the significance of the Olympic Games in modern societies begins today at the University of Missouri. Experts from Greece, the USA, Britain, France, Germany, China and elsewhere are to speak at the three-day conference which is being organized by Professor Michalis Cosmopoulos, head of the university’s Department of Greek Studies. The event is to feature a presentation on the progress in preparations for the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games. Corpse identified A woman whose corpse was discovered on Wednesday off the fishing port of the northwestern town of Preveza was yesterday identified as 25-year-old Marianna Angora by her relatives. A Ioannina coroner has practically ruled out any foul play – as there were no injuries on the body – and is awaiting the results of toxicology tests. Cervical cancer Women who smoke, who have not had children, who have had many sexual partners and who had their first sexual experience before the age of 18 belong to the top risk group for cervical cancer, according to new research made public by experts in Thessaloniki yesterday ahead of today’s specialist seminar on the subject. Regular «Pap» tests and a healthier diet (less meat, more fruit and vegetables) are crucial for women belonging to this group, experts said.
