From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Sat, 24 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas ***** Me 0ermes euxes gia Kala Xristougevva ****** ***** se olous tous Ellnves ta3idiwtes tou Diktuou ***** E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) Hochtief group chosen to build new Athens airport ------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): Greece yesterday announced that a consortium led by the German firm Hochtief would construct a new billion dollar international airport at Spata. "The project is of great importance for Greece as it will provide modern infrastructure and decisively contribute to the development and projection of the country's geopolitical position," Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou told reporters after a cabinet meeting that unanimously approved the selection of the German consortium. "Greece is an irreplaceable junction in international air transportation," he said. Hochtief was chosen over the French Aeroports de Paris group after presenting a new bid which reduced construction costs by 50 million ECU. "We have delayed," the prime minister said, "but what we have gained (in the interim) is of great importance". Hochtief had been awarded construction of the project by the previous conservative government, but the Panhellenic Socialist Movement cancelled the agreement immediately after winning power in October 1993. The deal struck between the ND government and Hochtief was branded "disadvantageous for the Greek state" and both consortiums were asked to present revised bids. Under the terms of the revised contract, the Hochtief group will own 45 per cent of a company to be set up with the Greek state to operate the airport, against 60 per cent in the original contract, and will deposit 180 million ECU as own capital participation. Joint operation for the contractor is reduced to 30 years from the 50 agreed with the New Democracy government. Mr. Papandreou said the final terms were a great success for the Major Projects Committee, chaired by Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis. Mr. Laliotis said the project "put Greece on the road to the 21st century". The airport, situated on a site of 1,680 hectares 15 miles east of Athens, will initially have two runways with terminal capacity of close to 16 million passengers annually. Its construction cost is estimated at about 2.3 billion dollars and completion date set for 1999. National Economy sources said yesterday the contact will be ratified by Parliament within January. In first reactions to the announcement, former New Democracy national economy minister Stephanos Manos claimed that despite a 14-month delay, the government "did not, in the end, manage to secure the public interest as well as the contract prepared by New Democracy". The delay, he said, has cost the Greek economy 60 million drachmas. Political Spring party spokesman Akis Gerontopoulos hit a similar note, saying that "the government has to explain to the Greek people why the construction of large projects has not begun yet, instead of jubilation over the long-delayed selection of the Spata airport contractor", which is costing the Greek people billions of drachmas daily. The decision by the government yesterday puts an end to a matter that began in 1978 when legislation founded a company to undertake the study, construction and operation of the new international airport at Spata. In 1987, the then-PASOK government called for tenders and created a preliminary list of bidders, a procedure that was disrupted by the elections of 1989 and the coming to power of the conservative New Democracy party. Evert appeals to US, France, Germany for help in release of ethnic Greek five ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday sent a letter to United States President Bill Clinton, French President Francois Mitterrand and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl requesting US and European Union intervention for the immediate release of five ethnic Greeks imprisoned in Albania. "It is difficult to understand how the Albanians can look forward to improving relations with Greece when at the same time they violate the human rights of the members of the Greek minority," Mr. Evert's letter read. Greece has made a good will gesture by lifting the veto blocking European Union macroeconomic assistance to Albania, Mr. Evert said, noting that "the world of freedom and democracy must prove its will to secure implementation of human rights and put an end, as soon as possible, to the agony of the five." Five ethnic Greek members of the political organisation Omonia were sentenced to jail terms of between five and eight years by a Tirana court in August on charges of espionage. Athens called the trial an attempt to intimidate the 300,000-strong ethnic Greek minority in the south of Albania. The incident has caused Greek-Albanian relations to plunge to an all-time low. Ecumenical Patriarch's Christmas message ---------------------------------------- Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): "Man can only rid himself of the woes crushing his existence if he devotes himself to Christ," Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos said in a Christmas message yesterday. "It is evident that in our time, probably more than in any other time in history, man needs the presence of God in his life," he said. Iakovos Christmas message ------------------------- New York, 24/12/94 (ANA): In a Christmas message, Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos said peace was the most difficult of human ventures and achievements, adding that, ironically, it was achieved with bloody wars. Archbishop Iakovos said religions and Christian Churches should sensitise themselves on the issue of peace without delay and that "for centuries peace has been a prayer, a purpose and a pursuit for Christians." Ankara calls Athens ambassador in for consultations, paper says --------------------------------------------------------------- Istanbul, (ANA): The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday called its ambassador to Athens Huseyin Celem to Ankara for consultations, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reported. According to the paper, after Turkish Foreign Minister Murat Karayakin's meeting with Mr. Celem "there might be a new Turkish policy towards Greece". New military attachi at Greek embassy in Tirana soon, press reports say ----------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): Press reports said yesterday the post of military attachi in the Greek embassy in Albania will soon be filled, after the Albanian government lifted objections on the placement. Tirana had refused the appointment of a Greek military attachi in September citing allegations of increased troop movement along Greece's border with Albania and violations of Albanian air space. This followed intense tension and relations between the two countries after a Tirana court sentenced to jail five ethnic Greek members of the political organisation Omonia on charges of espionage and illegal possession of weapons. Macedonia-Thrace Bank reduces interest rates -------------------------------------------- Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): The Bank of Macedonia and Thrace will reduce interest rates for loans and deposits as of January 1, 1995. According to an announcement by the bank, the main loan interest rate for working capital will decrease by 1.25 per cent and will be set at 27.25 per cent. The new interest rates for savings bank deposits will be set between 15.50 per cent and 17.25 per cent, according to the amount of the deposit. The current account interest rate will be set between 11.5 per cent and 17.5 per cent. Deposit interest rates will be set as follows: 18 per cent for three months, between 18.2 per cent and 19 per cent for six months and between 18 per cent and 19 per cent for one year. Foreign Ministry hails opening of Belgrade-Zagreb road ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 24/12/94 (ANA): An announcement by the Foreign Ministry yesterday said the opening of the Belgrade-Zagreb motorway as part of the implementation of an economic agreement signed recently between the Croatian government and the region of Krajina, constituted a substantive development in the course towards finding a solution to the region's problems through negotiations. The Greek government, it added, hails this development and expresses the hope that in this way a new impetus will be given to efforts by the international community and the contact group to promote a political solution to the Yugoslav issue. It said the Greek government on its part will also continue its efforts to contribute to the success of the peace process.