In Brief
CYPRUS TALKS
Clerides, Denktash meet again, no ‘half-way’ solution, says Papapetrou Following a new meeting between Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou yesterday rejected speculation that ongoing talks on unifying Cyprus were aimed at reaching a ‘half-way’ solution rather than a final settlement, due to the lack of progress made so far. Clerides and Denktash discussed power-sharing issues, pressing on with the third round of face-to-face negotiations. They will meet again on Friday. ROUND OF ATHENS Traffic disruption as thousands run Traffic in central Athens will be slow-moving from 10.30 a. m. tomorrow when thousands of runners assemble at the old marble Olympic stadium to start an 8.5-kilometer run covering major central roads. Police will be stopping traffic on and off from the start of the run, whose course leads to Zappeion Hall via the streets of Vassileos Constantinou, Vassilisis Sofias, Alexandras, Patission, Aeolou, Stadiou, Syntagma and Filellinon. LESPEROGLOU Appeal over alleged terrorist’s acquittal The Supreme Court hearing of a prosecutor’s call for a repeal of an earlier ruling acquitting Avraam Lesperoglou – an alleged member of the Anti-State Struggle left-wing terrorist group – of charges of armed robbery and resisting arrest started today but no decision was reached. If the court accepts the appeal by Panayiotis Dimopoulos, there will be a retrial. Lesperoglou has been cleared of a series of charges relating to suspected terrorist activities in the 1980s. Harassment figures «Official» European Commission statistics, according to which 60 percent of Greek women say they have been sexually harassed in the workplace, are 18 years old and only apply to Attica, the press assistant to EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou said yesterday. It is unclear whether the figures – made public on Wednesday when the EU approved legislation providing workers with greater protection from sexual harassment – came from an EC report or from Diamantopoulou. There are no statistics for sexually harassed female workers in Greece, said Diamantopoulou’s aide, Andrew Fielding. Post-Olympic works A group of residents from the municipality of Hellenikon bordering the old airport and members of environmental groups and sports clubs yesterday appealed to the Council of State against government plans for the post-Olympic Games development of the Olympic Sailing Center which is being built in the southern coastal district of Aghios Cosmas. Protesters say the planned construction of commercial harbors is unnecessary and would harm the environment. Floods Deputy Agriculture Minister Fotis Hadzimichalis, visiting the flooded plains of Trikala yesterday following Thursday’s torrential rainfall, said the government would do its best to compensate farmers for losses incurred due to the floods. Clergyman charged A Greek Orthodox priest – defrocked years ago after admitting to molesting minors – was arrested in New York late on Thursday on charges of sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy. Pangratios Vrionis, 58, told police he was the Archbishop of the Sts. Fanourios and Gerasimos Cathedral in the Queens district. Vrionis, who had been sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to sodomizing two 14-year-old boys at his Pennsylvania home in 1970, teaches Greek and religion to children. Rio-Antirio bridge The fourth and final pylon which is to support a new bridge connecting Rio and Antirio – and thus the Greek mainland with the Peloponnese – will be erected a few dozen meters off the coast of Rio today, weather conditions allowing. The bridge is due for completion in 2004. Paralympics An examination of the progress of preparations for the September 2004 Paralympics will begin on Monday when the coordinating committee of the International Paralympics Committee (IPC) arrives in Athens for a three-day visit. Investments in the 2004 Paralympics total 130 million dollars, of which 50 million dollars are being provided by the government.
