In Brief
OLYMPIC SURVEILLANCE
Privacy watchdog approves use of street cameras, but only during Games The Authority for the Protection of Personal Data yesterday approved a police request to operate closed-circuit television cameras on the streets during the «operational phase» of the Olympics, as long as the cameras are not used after the Games. According to the authority’s decision, the cameras could legally operate from July 1 until October 4. Other conditions are that the cameras not be set up in such a way that they film the entrances or interiors of homes or that they record the conversations of passers-by, and that there be adequate signposting informing citizens they are entering surveillance areas. STOCK FRAUD Past ASE and CMC boards charged with dereliction of duty An Athens prosecutor yesterday brought charges of dereliction of duty against all members of the board of the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) and the Capital Market Commission (CMC) in 1999. The charges were lodged following an investigation by appeals court prosecutor Vassilis Pliotas into allegations of share manipulation. Pliotas also asked that inspections be conducted on 13 companies, including eight listed on the ASE, namely Lampsa Hotel Group, National Real Estate, Lambrakis Press, Hellenic Sugar Company, Klonatex, Altec, Alter and Microland. ANCIENT VENUE Olympia shot-put event approved Plans to stage the Olympic shot-put contest at Ancient Olympia are to go ahead following a decision late yesterday by the Culture Ministry’s Central Archaeological Council. Council members expressed concern about where crucial amenities at the ancient site for the thousands of anticipated spectators are to be built. More soldiers The government’s Inner Cabinet yesterday discussed draft legislation which foresees the recruitment of an additional 5,000 professional soldiers in the autumn, Defense Minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos said after the meeting. Questioned by reporters about his ministry’s policy for the next five years, Spiliotopoulos said it would involve «less spending and cutbacks.» Kidnapper found Police in Thessaloniki yesterday evening found a 33-year-old man sought since Monday morning, when he abducted his former fiancee after shooting dead one of her brothers and seriously injuring the other. A team of officers was on standby and a psychologist was trying to persuade Yiannis Baltas to give himself up after finding him in the area of Lagadas near Thessaloniki, not far from where he had ambushed Theodora Kirkinezi and her two brothers on Monday. Motorcycle reforms Transport Minister Michalis Liapis yesterday discussed planned reforms for abolishing special taxes paid by drivers of motorcycles and scooters and their exemption from road tax for five years. The reforms, debated with representatives of motorcycle organizations and due to be announced in 10 days, will include incentives to withdraw from circulation scooters and motorcycles over 10 years old – and thus noisier and less environmentally friendly – as well as the creation of special traffic lanes and parking areas. Coast guard Merchant Marine Minister Manolis Kefaloyiannis yesterday sent a letter to Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis, asking for coast guard workers to be paid the special bonus being given to other security staff, such as police and firefighters, working during the Olympics. Food destroyed The owner of a food storage warehouse in Macedonia was yesterday indicted to appear before a prosecutor after 1.26 tons of rotten food was confiscated from the premises and destroyed, the Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) said. About a ton of the bad food consisted of dry pasta products, soups and sauces, while the remaining 260 kilos were different types of cheese, EFET said. Albanian ties Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis is today due to meet Albanian Prime Minister Fatos Nano in Athens for talks on Albania’s future in Europe, on strengthening bilateral ties and on the Greek minority. The minister is later to meet Nano’s deputy, Ioan Talpes, as well as former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
