In Brief
ALBANIAN BORDER WOES
Queues mount again at Kakavia crossing, Greece rejects criticism Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos, on a visit to Albania, yesterday expressed dismay at the heavy criticism leveled against Greece by local media and politicians over the continuing crush at border crossings of Albanian travelers heading back to Greece after the summer holidays. Loverdos said «demagogues» had taken advantage of the problem, noting that Greece had issued thousands of illegal Albanian immigrants with residence permits, thus allowing them to visit their country without the fear of being banned from re-entering Greece. An estimated 10,000 people a day passed through the Kakavia border crossing over the past three days, causing lines of waiting cars to stretch up to four kilometers from the border. Security checks are heavy, as border guards fear returning immigrants will be used by smuggling gangs to bring drugs into Greece. Today, Loverdos is to sign an agreement granting Albania 50 million euros in financial aid from Greece’s Balkan restructuring fund. ENERGY TALKS Tsochadzopoulos in Cyprus Development Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos arrived on Cyprus yesterday for an official visit. Today, he will meet Cypriot Commerce and Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis for talks that will include bilateral cooperation on matters of energy, technology and tourism. Samothrace search Rescuers on the northeastern Aegean island of Samothrace continued to comb the area of Vathres yesterday for traces of a young camper from Patras who disappeared in the area a week ago. Andreas Bonelis, 28, who had been camping with friends in the area – famous for a series of rock pools – went off to explore last Sunday and has not been seen since. Sick vulture A rare vulture has been found suffering from the effects of poisoning near the Vale of Tempe in northern Greece, the Athens News Agency reported yesterday. The 10-kilo bird was picked up by a farmer who notified the local authorities. It was eventually sent to a Thessaloniki wildlife care center. Illegal immigrants Coast guard arrested 11 illegal immigrants on the Dodecanese island of Symi on Saturday morning. The six men, two women and three children said they were Afghans and had been brought over from Turkey by smugglers in a rubber dinghy. Oceanography The Greek oceanographic vessel Aegean was due to arrive late last night at the Cypriot harbor of Limassol, from which it is to undertake research in the seas off Cyprus. Regatta Next summer’s Aegean Regatta sailing competition may include a Turkish port of call, Aegean Minister Nikos Sifounakis told journalists on Saturday at the end of this year’s event. The Aegean Regatta 2002 started on August 17 from Lakki on Leros, and proceeded to Kos, Symi and Rhodes. Sifounakis said next year’s itinerary will include Skopelos, Lemnos, Lesvos and, possibly, Ayvalik in Turkey. Soccer PAOK Thessaloniki beat Panathinaikos 4-1 yesterday in the most exciting match of weekend soccer action during the opening round of the Greek soccer championship. Defending champion Olympiakos beat lowly Kallithea 1-0, also yesterday, while AEK Athens drew 1-1 with Aegaleo.
