In Brief
FYROM STANCE
Skopje’s provocative tactics are a ‘gift to Greece,’ FM tells premier Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis yesterday was upbeat in talks with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis following her visit to United Nations headquarters, where she discussed the Macedonia name dispute with the UN’s envoy on the matter and its secretary-general. Bakoyannis reportedly told the the prime minister that the insistent use of the term «Republic of Macedonia» – which Greece objects to – by Skopje’s representative to the UN was actually a «gift to Greece.» The tactic used by Srgjan Kerim, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s (FYROM) representative to the UN «simply consolidated the soundness of Greece’s argument,» Bakoyannis told reporters. Sources said yesterday that the government will push for a compromise on the name dispute. TEXTBOOK ON SALE Dumped sixth-grade history book to be made available in stores The controversial sixth-grade history textbook that was withdrawn by the government on Tuesday is to be made available in bookshops, sources told Kathimerini yesterday. The team that wrote the book is also reconsidering plans to make the material available online because of fears that critics will hack into their site. Some 1,000 university professors and lecturers issued a statement yesterday criticizing the government’s decision to withdraw the book. However, renowned composer Mikis Theodorakis backed the move, saying the book had been part of an effort to «deconstruct Greekness» Migrants detained Total of 75 stopped on Aegean islands Coast guard officers yesterday detained a total of 75 illegal immigrants on the Aegean islands of Lesvos, Kos and Farmakonisi. The biggest group, of 35 migrants, was found on Kos. Officers said all the immigrants were men. Another 34 people, including three women and four children, were found on Lesvos. Six more men were picked up on Farmakonisi. Separately, eight illegal immigrants, mostly from China and Iraq, and two suspected people smugglers were arrested in Xanthi, northern Greece, police said. The two suspects, a Greek national aged 33 and a 20-year-old Albanian man, were driving vehicles which were transporting the illegal immigrants. Anarchist attack A group of suspected anarchists early yesterday hurled four petrol bombs at police patrol vehicles stationed in central Athens, close to opposition PASOK’s headquarters, but caused no injuries or damage. They all managed to elude arrest. A few hours later, police arrested 10 people near the same spot – most of whom had been in a local bar – and detained them for questioning. They were all released. Smart thieves Four teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of breaking into at least 10 Smart cars in southeastern Attica, police said yesterday. The teenagers are aged between 16 and 18. Three are Albanian nationals and one is Greek. Police said that the four suspects had found a way of breaking into Smart cars and used it to steal valuables from the vehicles. Food fines The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) said yesterday that it had imposed fines totaling 85,000 euros on a range of food companies following routine checks as well as inspections prompted by customer complaints. One of the companies fined runs the Aigli cafeteria next to the Zappeion Hall in central Athens. EFET fined the firm 10,000 euros for breaching food safety regulations. Ex-employee arrested The ex-vice president of a water bottling company was arrested in Thessaloniki yesterday on charges of stealing six checks from his former employer and then forging details so he could claim almost 95,000 euros. The unnamed 43-year-old was arrested as he was allegedly collecting 23,000 of the 50,000 euros he had demanded from the company to return the checks and other paperwork. Cigarettes smuggled A 52-year-old man was arrested in Votanikos, central Athens, after police found 375,180 packets of cigarettes hidden in his truck, authorities said yesterday. The cigarettes were concealed among vegetables being transported. After claiming he was suffering from health problems, the driver was taken to a hospital, under police guard, shortly after his arrest late on Tuesday.
