-5I. INTRODUCTION A. Dates of the visit and composition of the delegation 1. In accordance with Article 7 of the European Convention for the prevention of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"), a delegation of the CPT visited Greece from 26 October to 2 November 1999. This was the fourth visit to be carried out by the Committee to Greece, the previous visits having taken place in 1993, 1996 and 1997. 2. The visit was carried out by the following members of the CPT: - Adam ŁAPTAŚ, Head of delegation - Emilia DRUMEVA - Andres LEHTMETS - Rudolf SCHMUCK - Davor STRINOVIĆ. They were assisted by: - Eleonora CAMBAS interpreter) - Myrto ROUSSOU-ATZITIRIS (interpreter) - Alexander ZAPHIRIOU (interpreter) and accompanied by Petya NESTOROVA of the CPT’s Secretariat. B. Nature and context of the visit 3. The 1999 visit to Greece was one which appeared to the Committee “to be required in the circumstances" (cf. Article 7, paragraph 1, of the Convention). The report drawn up after the CPT’s 1997 visit contained disquieting findings concerning the conditions under which foreign nationals awaiting deportation were being held in establishments under the authority of the Ministry of Public Order (cf. section II.A.3 of the report). In that report, the CPT made a series of recommendations - a number of them urgent – designed to improve the situation of such persons.