GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR
(Greek National Committee of the International Helsinki Federation)

& MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP - GREECE
(Greek Affiliate of Minority Rights Group International)

P.O. Box 51393, GR-14510 Kifisia, Greece Tel. 30-1-620.01.20; Fax: 30-1-807.57.67; E-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr

1997 ACTIVITY REPORT

December 1997

Trial monitoring

	20 February: Trial of Turkish minority journalist Abdulhalim Dede, in Komotini, for disseminating false information which may undermine public confidence in state authority. He was acquitted. Two more trials of the same citizen for illegally operating a radio station were postponed.
	21 February: Trial of Turkish minority journalist Abdulhalim Dede, in Komotini, for aggravated defamation. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 months in prison.
	5 March: Two trials of Apogevmatini journalist Victoria Dagounaki, in Komotini, for defamation of members of the Panhellenic Historical and Philosophical Society (PANIFE). She was acquitted in one and convicted in the other.
	1 September: Trial in Gostivar (Macedonia) of its Albanian Mayor Rufi Osmani and City Council Chairman Refik Dauti, for having neglected to execute a court ruling and the former for having incited national, racial and religious hatred, discord and intolerance, as well as for organizing armed guards for the protection of the flag. The trial, observed by an International Helsinki Federation mission (two members from the Greek Helsinki Monitor and one from the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in the Republic of Macedonia), was postponed for 10/9/1997.
	14 October: Trial of four leaders of the Macedonian minority party Rainbow in Florina, for having caused and incited mutual hatred among the citizens, so that common peace was disturbed. The trial, observed by an International Helsinki Federation mission (three members from the Greek Helsinki Monitor and one from the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in the Republic of Macedonia), was postponed for 15/9/1998. The delegation monitored there instead a trial of four foreigners and a Greek for illegal entry, illegal employment, and debauch. The defendants were convicted and the foreigners subsequently expelled.
	21 October: Appeals’ trial of Scientologists’ Center of Applied Philosophical Research (KEFE), dissolved by the first instance court in December 1996. Postponed for 11 November.
	11 November: Appeals’ trial of Scientologists’ Center of Applied Philosophical Research (KEFE), dissolved by the first instance court in December 1996. Decision confirmed by the Court in December 1997.

Conferences, workshops, seminars, public lectures
[with the participation of and sometimes presentations by our members - as mentioned]

	8 - 12 January (Bratislava, Slovakia): United Conference on "Solidarity with Minorities". Lola Kalandrakis co - chaired the panel on "National Minorities in CEE".
	25 January (Paris, France): European Cultural Networks "Transeuropeennes" (organizer among other things of summer schools for Balkan students); meeting of its Scientific Council, a member of which is Panayote Elias Dimitras who participated in the meeting.
	31 January - 1 February (Amsterdam, Netherlands): Seminar on "Interregional co - operation in the field of art, culture and cultural heritage: methods, policies and practice". Presentation Panayote Elias Dimitras on "Individual vs. Collective Rights: Is There A Real Conflict?"
	8 - 9 February (Skopje, Macedonia): Meeting of Greek and Macedonian NGOs with the associations of Aegean Macedonians. Participation of four GHM/MRG - G staff members.
	27 February - 1 March (Prague, Czech Republic): Seminar on "The Media and Human Rights Issues". Two presentations by Panayote Elias Dimitras on "Hate Thy Neighbor: It’s In Your Nation’s Interest" and "Responsible Media: The Daydreamer’s Road to Respect of the Otherness".
	5 - 6 April (Istanbul, Turkey): Workshop of the Balkan Neighbors project of monitoring Balkan media on stereotypes and hate speech. Also meeting of the Balkan Civic Network. Participation of Panayote Elias Dimitras and Christina Rougheri.
	10 - 13 April (Lanciano, Italy): IX Meeting of the European Working Group on School Provision for Gypsies and Travelers". Participation of Maria Dimitriou.
	23 - 25 April (Paris, France): Preparatory meetings for a conference on minorities to be held in May in Budapest and some summer schools with Balkan students. Participation of P. E. Dimitras and Vaso Neofotistos.
	26 - 28 April (Berlin, Germany): First meeting of the Young Leaders Study Group on "The Future of the Balkans". Presentation by P. E. Dimitras on "What Needs to be Done to Reform Education and Curricula in the Countries of the Balkan Region?"
	10 May (Florina, Greece): Meeting organized by the Macedonian minority party "Rainbow" on "Ethnic, linguistic, cultural specificities: comparing the European with the Greek experience". Presentations by Nafsika Papanikolatou, Vasilis Sakellariou, and Panayote Elias Dimitras.
	23 - 25 May 1997 (Budapest, Hungary): Conference organized by FORUM Europe on "Identity and Alterity in Private and Public Spheres". Presentation in a panel discussion by Panayote Elias Dimitras on minorities in the Balkans.
	25 May 1997 (Budapest, Hungary): Workshop on Anti - Racist Litigation organized by the European Roma Rights Center. Participation by Panayote Elias Dimitras.
	5 - 7 June 1997 (Sofia, Bulgaria): International Conference Towards Stability On The Balkan Peninsula., organized by The Free And Democratic Bulgaria Foundation. Participation of Mariana Lenkova.
	6 - 11 June 1997 (Bucarest and Sibiu, Romania): Tenth Anniversary Plenary Meeting of the Gulliver Cultural Network on the theme "Curtain Up? From the Berlin Wall to New Walls". Panayote Elias Dimitras chaired one session on "Religion and Utopias" and made a presentation on "Inner Exiles".
	9 - 15 June 1997 (Aghia Varvara, Greece): First Roma Cultural Festival. Participation of all GHM members with attendance of meetings and presentations on Roma and anti - racist issues.
	29 June - 26 July 1997 (Malaga, Spain): Course on Spanish Language and Culture for Young NGO Leaders, organized by the Council of Europe. Participation of Christina Rougheri as animator.
	12 - 13 July 1997 (Athens, Greece): Founding meeting of the Forum of 53 Greek Social and Youth Organizations for Human Rights with the participation of Greek Helsinki Monitor (Nasos Theodoridis) and Minority Rights Group - Greece (Lola Kalandrakis) as founding members.
	25 July 1997 (Istanbul, Turkey): Panayote Elias Dimitras was awarded the Sadik Ahmet Peace and Friendship Award by the Western Thrace Turks’ Solidarity Association and addressed the audience on human rights issues in Greece and Turkey.
	8 - 22 August 1997 (Ohrid, Macedonia): 30th International Seminar of Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture. Panayote Elias Dimitras and Vasiliki Neofotistos attended Macedonian language courses.
	26 - 28 September 1997 (Athens, Greece): Festival of the political party Coalition. Participation with booth of most Greek Helsinki Monitor members.
	24 - 28 September 1997 (Tirana, Albania): Meeting of the Southern Balkan Helsinki Committees at the initiative of the Greek Helsinki Monitor; and of the International Helsinki Federation’s Executive Committee and Statutes Committee. Participation of Panayote Elais Dimitras and Mariana Lenkova.
	8 - 12 October 1997 (Lubljana, Slovenia): "One Race - Human Race" UNITED Conference. Participation of Elitsa Minovska.
	10 October 1997 (Athens, Greece): Press conference organized by Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Greece on the forthcoming trial of the Macedonian minority party Rainbow leaders with release of a large number of Greek and international reactions. Participation of all GHM members.
	16 - 19 October 1997 (Sarajevo, Bosnia): Second meeting of the Young Leaders Study Group on "The Future of the Balkans". Presentations by P. E. Dimitras on issues of Education and Minority Rights. Participation of Nafsika Papanikolatos as observer.
	26 - 29 October 1997 (Skopje, Macedonia): Symposium on "Identity, State, Religion and Secularity in Europe: After the Fall of the Berlin Wall" organized by the Euroepan Center for research and Action on Racism and Antisemitism. Presentation Panayote Elias Dimitras on "The Nation - States Intolerance Towards Ethnic and Religious Minorities." Participation of Nafsika Papanikolatos.
	2 - 9 November 1997 (Strasbourg, France): Training Course on "Women Organize Yourselves" organized by Young Women from Minorities (Sweden). Greek Helsinki Monitor’s Christina Rougheri was the only Greek representative.
	8 - 9 November 1997 (Sofia, Bulgaria): Workshop of the Balkan Neighbors project of monitoring Balkan media on stereotypes and hate speech. Participation of Panayote Elias Dimitras.
	9 - 12 November 1997 (Brussels, Belgium): Public meeting to release the CD Rom produced by France Libertes on racism in the EU. Greek Helsinki Monitor (which had contributed information to the project) was represented by Nasos Theodoridis.
	13 - 16 November 1997 (Bratislava, Slovakia): Annual General Assembly of the International Helsinki Federation. Participation of Panayote Elias Dimitras.
	20 - 23 November 1997 (Dakar, Senegal): General Assembly of the International federation of Human Rights (FIDH). Participation of Panayote Elias Dimitras.
	29 - 30 November 1997 (Tetovo, Macedonia): Meeting of minorities and NGOs from the Southern Balkans organized by Aegean Macedonians. Participation of Abdulhalim Dede.
	10 December 1997 (Athens, Greece): Public debate organized by Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Greece on the Turkish minority of Thrace with the participation of the three minority deputies, other minority leaders and NGOs. Participation of all GHM staff.
	11 - 12 December 1997 (Athens, Greece): Two - day seminar on Racism, Xenophobia, and Antisemitism organized by the Student Union of the Athens University Media Department. Presentation by Panayote Elias Dimitras on "Existent and ‘Non-existent’ Minorities in the Southern Balkans."

Fact - finding missions

	11 - 18 February 1997 (Athens, Greece): International Helsinki Federation mission (made up of four Greek Helsinki Monitor and three Albanian Helsinki Committee members) to investigate the problems of the Albanian immigrants in Greece.
	10 - 14 April 1997 (Skopje and Tetovo, Macedonia): International Helsinki Federation mission (made up of the IHF Executive Director, two Greek Helsinki Monitor and one Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in the Republic of Macedonia members) to investigate the human rights problems in Macedonia.
	26 - 27 July 1997 (Istanbul, Turkey): Two - member Greek Helsinki Monitor mission to investigate the problems of Muslims in Turkey.
	17 - 18 August 1997 (Tetovo, Gostivar, and Ohrid, Macedonia): Two - member Greek Helsinki Monitor mission to investigate the problems of Albanians and Bulgarians in Macedonia.
	4 - 12 September 1997 (Region of Thrace and Athens, Greece): Joint Human Rights Watch/ Helsinki (one member) and Greek Helsinki Monitor (four members) mission to investigate the problems of the Turkish minority in Greece.
	16 - 19 October 1997 (Sarajevo, Bosnia): Two - member Greek Helsinki Monitor mission to investigate the problems of Bosnia and present them from a different perspective in the Greek media.
	Large number of missions to the Roma of the regions of Greater Athens, Greater Salonica, and Thrace throughout the year.

Public statements and publications

Press releases of GHM (most also signed by MRG - G; some by other NGOs too)

	1/1/1997. Spasmodic Administrative Actions On The Kimmeria, Xanthi Mosque Contribute To The Creation Of Impressions Of Discrimination Against The Minority
	2/1/1997. Greece’s International Image and the Need for Readjustment of Her Foreign Policy Hurt by Rozakis’ Resignation.
	9/2/1997 Common Statement Of 11 NGO’s On The Macedonian Refugees And The Macedonian Minority.
	17/3/1997 Situation of the Albanian Immigrants in Greece. Report by the Albanian Helsinki Committee and the Greek Helsinki Monitor.
	20/3/1997 Racism Means ...
	3/4/1997 Albanian Refugees Need Protection. An Appeal by the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the Greek Helsinki Monitor.
	8/4/1997 (with six other NGO’s) Common Visit Of Support To The Camping Of Roma In Ano Liosia. Appeal To The Authorities To Avoid Cleansing And Instead Implement Decisions.
	8/5/1997 Letter to Prime Minister Costas Simitis on the "Simitis Ghetto" of Roma.
	14/5/1997 Report to the OSCE: The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) Fact - Finding Mission to Macedonia, 10 - 14 April 1997.
	17/5/1997 Distribution of News Stories On The Florina Meeting (see above).
	29/5/1997 The Church And Theologians Go Along With The Most Racist And Ultra - Nationalist Newspaper "Stohos."
	4/6/1997 "Go Ahead! Expel One Roma Too … You Can!" Outrageous Cleansing Of Roma Is The Way Greece "Celebrates" The European Year Against Racism.
	16/6/1997 On The Occasion Of The International Refugee Day.
	25/6/1997 Indictment of Journalists Is An Attack Against Press Freedom.
	29/6/1997 "The Real Hypocrisy of Pseudo - Modernization." On The Occasion Of The Presidential Decrees On (Non - ) Legalization of Illegal Immigrants. The Ministry of Labor’s Leadership Should Resign.
	1/7/1997 Albanian Elections Reflect The Will Of The People. Future Government Must Improve Human Rights Record.
	2/7/97 Letter To Mr. Pericles Pangalos, President Of The National Commission Against Racism
	4/7/1997 The "Egg Of The Snake" Of Racism In Greece Is Hatched By The Simitis Government Too
	4/7/97 Letter To Mr. G. Romaios, Minister Of Public Order And Mr. Th. Kotsonis, Assistant Minister Of Health
	8/7/97 Denunciation Of Violation Of Mail Confidentiality
	9/7/1997 Mobilization Of The International Helsinki Federation For Human Rights On The Exclusion Of Albanian And Other Balkan Immigrants. Letter To Costas Simitis. Appeal To The New Nano Government.
	21/7/1997 A New Case Of Violation Of Constitutionally Guaranteed Freedom Of Expression
	22/7/1997 A New Wave Of Violence Against Albanian Immigrants In Greece
	23/7/1997 Persecution Of Roma ... Continued
	29/7/1997 Denunciation Of Authorities For Roma Persecution In Aghia Paraskevi
	29/7/1997 Unprofessional And Inadmissible Coverage By ANA Of A Speech By Our Spokesperson In Istanbul
	30/7/1997 Inadmissible Positions And Unprecedented Attacks Against Anti - Racists And Immigrants From The Ministry Of Public Order
	3/8/1997 "Helsinki" Doesn’t Guarantee Faithfulness To Human Rights
	31/8/1997 Greek International Observers In The Trial Of The Albanian Mayor Of Gostivar (Republic Of Macedonia)
	1/9/1997 "On 1 September Begins The Registration Of Illegal Immigrants": Delayed April Fools Day And Deception Of Immigrants By The Government
	8/9/1997 Authoritarianism And Arrests In The "Spirit" Of Olympic Games
	19/9/1997 Outrageous Court Verdict In The Not Always Fair Gostivar (Macedonia) Trial
	19/9/1997 New - Again Unanswered - Letter To Prime Minister Simitis By The European Roma Rights Center On Expulsions Of Roma
	1/10/1997 Appeal For Urgent Action On The Forthcoming Outrageous Trial Of A Macedonian Minority Party In Greece For Public Use Of Their Mother Tongue
	11/10/1997 Responses To The Appeal For Urgent Action On The Forthcoming Outrageous Trial Of A Macedonian Minority Party In Greece For Public Use Of Their Mother Tongue
	24/10/1997 Letter To The Prime Minister Costas Simitis About The Intention Of Abolition Of The Article 19
	27/10/1997 Postponement Of Trial Means 11 More Months Of Limbo For Ethnic Macedonians Seeking Rights In Greece. Report Of International Helsinki Federation For Human Rights Trial Observation Mission.
	30/10/1997 Condemnation Of The Banning Of Entry Of Two Serbian Clergymen In The Republic Of Macedonia
	2/11/1997 And The Deception Of Immigrants Continues
	3/11/1997 Open Letter To The Minister Of Public Order Mr. G. Romeos About The Roma Of Zefiri And The Police Attitude
	4/11/1997 The Government’s Tergiversation On Article 19 Continues
	25/11/1997 Unacceptable Ban Of The Rally In Olympiad Halkidiki
	2/12/1997 The Unacceptable And Racist Dismissal Of A Public Prosecutor Because Of His Love Life
	3/12/1997 Our Position On The Presidential Decrees For Legalizing Immigrants
	4/12/1997 Nationalist Violence In Greece And Turkey With The Contribution Of (Part) Of The Mass Media
	10/12/97 Appeal of 11 Greek NGO’s, 3 minority deputies and 3 political parties to the Greek Government for the abolition of Article 19 of the Citizenship Code and other discriminations.
	10/12/1997 The Beginning Of Vaccinations In The Roma Settlements By Volunteer Organizations
	11/12/1997 Towards The Solution Of The Stateless’ Problem?
	23/12/1997 New Unacceptable Conviction of KEFE from a Greek Court while Greece is Condemned by the European Court and Gives New Evidence of Religious Intolerance

Articles by GHM/MRG - G members (in other publications)

	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Southern Discomfort" War Report, number 48, January - February 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Athens Misses a Trick" special electronic English issue of Koha Jone, 21 March 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Between Realpolitik and Irredentism" War Report, number 51, May 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Greece" in J. - Y. Camus Extremism in Europe (Paris: L’ Aube), 1997.
	Mariana Lenkova "Bulgaria" in J. - Y. Camus Extremism in Europe (Paris: L’ Aube), 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras (with contributions by Maria Fola, Lola Kalandrakis, Nafsika Papanikolatou, Christina Rougheri, Vasilis Sakellariou, and Persa Zeri) "Positive And Negative Stereotypes In The Greek Press On Internal Minorities And Neighboring Peoples: October 1996 - March 1997" in Balkan Neighbours (5/1997).
	Panayote Elias Dimitras and Mariana Lenkova "Respect for and Desecration of Flags in the Southern Balkans" Alternative Information Media, September 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras and Mariana Lenkova "‘Unequal Rights’ for Albanians in the Southern Balkans" Alternative Information Media, October 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Persecuted Ethnonational Minorities in the ‘Cradle of Democracy’" Alternative Information Media, November 1997.
	Nafsika Papanikolatos "Sarajevo: Free Besieged" (in Greek) in Avghi 4 December 1997.
	Panayote Elias Dimitras "Ghosts Finally Come Alive!" Alternative Information Media, December 1997.
	Mariana Lenkova (with contributions by Panayote Elias Dimitras, Nafsika Papanikolatou, Hebe Rocou, and Christina Rougheri) "Positive And Negative Stereotypes In The Greek Press On Internal Minorities And Neighboring Peoples: April - September 1997" in Balkan Neighbours (6/1997) forthcoming.
	GHM, MRG-G and SOS - Racism Greece "Greece" in Centre de Recherche, d’ Information et de Documentation Antiraciste Rapport 1997: Racisme, Extreme Droite et Antisemitisme en Europe (CRIDA) forthcoming.

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