Athens has renewed its criticism of Turkey for its military operations against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, reiterating its support for the

self-determination of the Kurdish people.

"Greece has systematically supported the right of the Kurds to their national self-determination," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas

told reporters Saturday, in response to questions on the arrest of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan in Rome on

Thursday.

"We have repeatedly and in a more thorough manner than anyone else raised before international fora the problem posed by the crude

violation of human rights in southeastern Turkey, as well as the problem created by Turkey's military operations in northern Iraq," he said.

"It is clear that Greece does not support violence as a means of resolving political differences, and neither encourages nor covers armed

activities against other countries. Greece respects international treaties and legality. This position is the axis and the founding stone of our

policy," he added.

Mr. Ocalan's arrest and Turkish demands for his extradition drew condemnation from Greek political parties on Saturday and yesterday.

"The extradition of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan would be a vindication of the murder of thousands of Kurds, of the in tervention of the

Turkish armed forces in Iraqi Kurdistan, of the threats against Syria, and of a series of other terrorist actions," according to a press release

by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

KKE also called on the Greek government to exert all its influence as not to extradite the legendary PKK leader either to Turkey or to

Germany.

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) called on the Italian government not to extradite the Kurdish leader.

"At a time when the Kurdish issue is going through a new phase, the European Union is called upon to take initiatives with Greece's active

contribution as well, in order to lay the bases for a political handling of the problem according to the rules of international legality,"

Synaspismos said in a statement. The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) said Mr. Ocalan was not "a terrorist but a symbol and the

leader of the Kurdish people's liberation struggle", and called on Athens to use all diplo matic means and influence with Italy to grant him

political asylum.

Balkanesque 'Powder Keg' picked as best Euro-film

Yugoslav director Goran Paskalievic's "Powder Keg" has won the best European film of the year award at the 39th Thessalonki Film festival

over the weekend.

The announcement was made by the secretary of the International Union of Film Critics (FIPRESI) Klaus Eder.

Mr. Paskalievic later said the film, shot in two months, was the result of his need to speak about his country, and the hope that can come

from humanism.

"The war in Bosnia has become a fashionable theme, something like Vietman, but I wished to present another aspect; to show that the

Serbian nation is not a nation of murderers. I wanted to make a simple story with common people," he said. (...)