In Brief
LONDON ATTACKS
Under Greek presidency, UN condemns terrorist bombings In an emergency meeting yesterday, the UN Security Council, which is being presided over by Greece this month, condemned «without reservation» the terrorist attack in London and called on states to prosecute perpetrators of such «barbaric acts.» In a resolution adopted by a 15-0 vote, the council expressed condolences to the victims of the bomb blasts. In a separate statement, Greece’s UN Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, the council president for July, said it was «important to send a strong message against those who have committed these unjustifiable crimes.» MOSCOW VISIT Molyviatis flies to Moscow to strengthen trade relations Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis flew to Moscow yesterday to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov as part of an official two-day visit. Talks with local officials will include bilateral trade relations, ties between Russia and the European Union and international terrorism. Molyviatis will also meet with the Russian Security Council. Press reports say that Russia is hoping to simplify visa rules for Russians traveling to Greece. COSTLY SALES Firms face fines for breaking rules Deputy Development Minister Yiannis Papathanassiou yesterday referred 14 firms to their local prefectures for breaking strict laws on when discount sales can be held. Summer sales will begin on July 18 and run through August 27. Local authorities will now decide the size of the fines the businesses have to pay. Papathanassiou said that stores should concentrate on lowering their prices for 10 months each year and holding genuine sales during the other two. NGO funding Thirty Greek non-governmental organizations received some 18.5 million euros in funding from the EU between 2000 and 2004, the European Commission said in a reply, made public yesterday, to a question by New Democracy MEP Giorgos Papastamkos. Air violations Turkish military aircraft violated Greek air space in the Aegean seven times yesterday, defense sources said. Five of the jets were armed. They were all chased off by Greek planes. A Turkish military Sikorsky helicopter also violated Greek air space yesterday, sources said. Dealership firebombed A fire caused extensive damage to seven vehicles and a car dealership in Alimos, southeast Athens, early yesterday after three men hurled a homemade explosive device at the dealership, police said. Officers are investigating the possibility that a likely cause of the attack was the owner’s failure to pay off a protection racket that was putting pressure on him. Kythera quake A 4.8 Richter earthquake shook the island of Kythera yesterday, authorities said. The quake’s epicenter was between the island and the southern Peloponnese. No injuries or damage were reported. Cocaine arrests Four men were arrested in Athens yesterday after they were caught selling cocaine in the Metamorphosis area, in the capital’s north, officers said. Police found on them small quantities of cocaine and 3,000 euros. Armed robbery Three armed men burst into a betting office in Kalamaria, near Thessaloniki, yesterday and, after threatening the only staff member there, made off with 40 euros from the cash till, another 40 from the employee as well as his mobile phone, officers said. The three suspects sped away in a stolen car, according to police. Drug traders Athens police arrested a 27-year-old man and 33-year-old woman in the northern suburb of Menidi on suspicion of trading drugs in exchange for jewelry, electronics and other valuables, officers said. Policemen found 19 mobile phones and some 500 euros in cash as well as half a kilo of hashish at the couple’s apartment in central Athens.
