Subject: News I, 10/08/93 From: zarros@turing.scs.carleton.ca (Theodoros Sp. Zarros) Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 10, 1993 ============================================ Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - The current accounts deficit marked a 15.2 per cent reduction in the first five months of 1993, to reach 988 million dollars as compared with 1,165 dollars in the same period of last year, according to figures released yesterday by the Bank of Greece. In the period January - May 1993, imports totalled 7,274 million dollars (10.7 per cent reduction) exports 2,177 million dollars (15.1 per cent reduction), trade deficit 5,097 million dollars (8.6 per cent reduction), tourism foreign exchange 752 million dollars (3.9 per cent reduction), foreign remittances 832 million dollars (7 per cent reduction), net inflows from the European Community 1,983 million dollars (12.5 per cent increase), capital inflows 1,061 million dollars (11.4 per cent increase), and foreign exchange imported by Greeks abroad for the purchase of real estate 358 million dollars (24.6 per cent reduction). Public sector debt repayments totalled 2,311 million dollars, as against 2,180.2 million dollars in the first five months of 1992. Greece's foreign exchange reserves stood at 5,227 million dollars at the end of May compared with 5,538.1 million dollars at the end of the same period last year. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - The first eight environment-friendly buses ordered from Germany were presented to the public yesterday at ceremonies in front of the National War Museum attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tzannis Tzannetakis, Transport Minister Theodoros Anagnostopoulos and other officials. The buses, manufactured by Neoplan, are the first of 500 new buses to be introduced on routes in Athens by the end of the year. They feature new, low-emission technology and are equipped with lower steps and special platforms for handicapped passengers. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Increased patrols and stiffer penalties for convicted arsonists are among measures announced by the government yesterday to combat forest fires. "These measures were introduced because we have well-grounded suspicions that (recent fires) were the result of arson," Agriculture Minister Christos Koskinas told a news conference. Mr Koskinas said the measures-approved at an urgent meeting of agriculture, interior, national defence and justice officials- included more frequent land and aerial patrols, especially around army bases. Landfills, where several of the recent fires were thought to have been ignited, will also be guaranteed around the clock, he said. Mr Koskinas added that detailed records would be kept of all vehicles arriving on islands. The minister said arson laws would be tightened and trial of arson cases expedited. He added that all burnt forest areas would be subject to regular aerial surveillance to monitor any changes in the land's usage, such as construction or grazing. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Former King Constantine arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday on a private visit, the first since 1981. Constantine arrived at the northern Greek capital's Macedonia International Airport aboard a 24-seat Falcon jet belonging to King Hussein of Jordan. He was accompanied by his son Nikolaos and daughter Alexia. Constantine's wife, Anna-Maria, arrived in Thessaloniki later on another private aircraft along with their three other children, Pavlos, Philip and Theodora. The former King said he plans to visit the archaeological site at Vergina and the all-male monastic community of Mount Athos. He is also expected to go on an island cruise aboard the yacht of a Greek friend. Commenting on the visit, government spokesman Vassilis Manginas said that following the 1974 referendum abolishing the monarchy, the former king and his family had retained their Greek nationality and had Greek passports. "Consequently, their short visit to Greece for private reasons could not be prevented", he said. Mr Manginas reiterated that following the 1974 referendum, "the result of which has been recognised by the former king himself, the system of government has been conclusively decided for our country". The visit was roundly condemned by opposition parties who, in separate statements, called the visit a "provocation" against the Greek people. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Britain's Prince Charles is on a private cruise of the Aegean aboard shipowner John Latsis' yacht. Yesterday the yacht anchored briefly at Ouranoupolis, at the foot of the all-made monastic community of Mount Athos but Prince Charles did not go ashore. The yacht later set sail for Crete. Last May, his father, Prince Philip, paid a two-day visit to the monastic community. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - President Constantine Karamanlis yesterday sent a message of congratulations to King Albert II of Belgium. "On the occasion of your enthronement and on behalf of the Greek people, I extend my sincere congratulations and warmest wishes for your personal happiness and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly Belgian people during your reign", he said in the message. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Premier Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday sent a message to Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa congratulating him on his recent election. "On the occasion of your election as Japanese prime minister, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Japan", Mr Mitsotakis said in the message. Cetne, Montenegro 10/8/93 (ANA-A.Kourkoulas) - Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos yesterday visited the birthplace of Saint Symeon, founder of the Hilandario Monastery on Mount Athos. "Montenegro has the right to boast that the roots of Serbian glory and Orthodoxy are here", the Patriarch said, describing Montenegro as "a rock of freedom". The Ecumenical Patriarch arrived in Montenegro from Serbia, where last week he began a Balkan tour that will include visits to Romania and Bulgaria. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Air Force General Staff chief Lt. General Athanassios Stathias will pay an official visit to Bulgaria on August 11 at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart, the government said in an announcement yesterday. Athens, 10/8/93 (ANA) - Thirty illegal immigrants from Iraq have been arrested at Palaiopyrgos beach on eastern Chios, police said yesterday. A local fisherman said the illegal migrants had been dropped off at Vala beach by a speedboat which then disappeared in the direction of the Turkish coast, police added.