Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-08-09

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Press report cites Clinton visit to Greece in November

[02] Universal induction at 18 considered by gov't, newspaper reports

[03] Civil servant moonlighting as 'medium, sorcerer' arrested

[01] Press report cites Clinton visit to Greece in November

The press report stated "that according to diplomatic sources", the US president will be in Greece between Nov. 22-24, following his participation at an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit, scheduled for Istanbul on Nov. 19 .

The announcement of the visit is expected to occur along with the release of an itinerary of Mr. Clinton's visit to Istanbul, the Sunday edition of "To Vima" reported in a banner-headline article.

The newspaper also reported that the visit comes in response to an invitation by Greek President Stephanopoulos, and that several major Greek- American entrepreneurs last year again conveyed the invitation. In addition, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis both renewed the invitation during their respective visits to Washington. The White House's response, according to the paper, "was positive", although not yet officially announced, the same diplomatic sources claimed.

In statements to the newspaper, Mr. Niotis said Greek-US relations are at a very good standing, while he declined to confirm a possible Clinton visit.

"To Vima" also reported that Foreign Minister George Papandreou, in all his contacts with US officials, constantly reiterated Athens' positive stance on both the Yugoslav issue and Greek-Turkish rapprochement.

Athens News Agency

[02] Universal induction at 18 considered by gov't, newspaper reports

According to an article in the Sunday edition of "Kathimerini" yesterday, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos (Cont. p. 2) (Continued from front page) is considering several options to counter the problem, estimated to become more acute in the near future.

The newspaper reported that inducted conscripts this year are estimated to total around 83,000, while projections for the year 2014 point to approximately 53,000.

The initial measure of induction at 18 will include a decrease in the tour of duty, from 18 months to 12 in the army; from 21 to 14 in the air force and from 24 to 14 in the navy, according to reports.

The proposed measure would also include legislation to safeguard the university entrance for conscripts that succeeded in nationwide exams.

According to the same reports, the minister will soon table the issue for discussion with political parties and youth groups. A further measure points to the hiring of more full-time non-commissioned military personnel, expected to reach 10,000 position s.

The same reports state that Greece's military leadership supports conscripts' induction at 18, considering recruits who used the exemption system and entered military service at a later date far less productive than 18 and 19-year-olds.

At a later stage, the ministry is also considering the partial conscription of women for a three-month training programme in non-combat duties, "Kathimerini" concluded.

In a related development, the defence ministry is reportedly preparing a bill to upgrade military academies to full university status.

Athens News Agency

[03] Civil servant moonlighting as 'medium, sorcerer' arrested

Authorities who arrested him on Saturday, however, charged that the Nea Halkidona distict resident had persuaded an unknown number of people that his "magical powers" for solving their various personal problems were worth anything from between 300,000 a nd one million drachmas.

According to reports, the suspect would furnish his "clients" with tiny hermetically sealed wooden boxes, threatening that if they opened them "this would lead to the break-up of their families."

The boxes were found to contain an array of "sinister objects", such as dead bats, magnets, hooks, animal bones and even pieces of underwear, police said.

Spyropoulos was arrested after a policewoman posed as a client. He later claimed he was a "self-taught sorcerer" and that he had been active since 1989. Athens News Agency/END

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article