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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-01-24

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1097), January 24, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca


CONTENTS

  • [01] Pangalos calls on US to guarantee Cyprus moratorium, 'whatever may happen'
  • [02] Gov't spokesman
  • [03] Clerides on moratorium
  • [04] State Dept. comments
  • [05] Seamen's strike ends, GSEE holds 24-hour mobilization
  • [06] Gov't to consider workers' demands
  • [07] Simitis meets with US envoy
  • [08] Pangalos warns foreign ministry strikers
  • [09] Greece targets increased trade with Romania
  • [10] Bulgaria ratifies several cross-border agreements with Greece
  • [11] Greece to participate in Ukraine PfP exercise
  • [12] Gov't comments on alleged links between Ciller, drug smugglers
  • [13] Cyprus solution depends on full demilitarization: Tsohatzopoulos
  • [14] Arsenis meets with representatives of university lecturers
  • [15] No end in sight to teachers' strike
  • [16] Omonoia delegation to meet with Arsenis, Papaioannou
  • [17] Ethnic Greek released
  • [18] Group calls for Greek-Turkish dialogue
  • [19] Two ND deputies threaten lawsuit against V. Papandreou for libel
  • [20] Problems in air transport prior to crucial summer season considered
  • [21] Europartenariat Hellas 1997 reps meet in Athens
  • [22] Gov't develops programme for redundant Goodyear workers
  • [23] Papantoniou confident inflation, interest rates will fall
  • [24] Gov't to invite tenders for several EOT properties
  • [25] Partial compensation for cotton growers
  • [26] Farmer gets suspended sentence for accidental death of former Moslem deputy Sadiq
  • [27] Method to fight oil pollution using magnetism unveiled
  • [28] Truck driver gets 13 life sentences for prostitute murders

  • [01] Pangalos calls on US to guarantee Cyprus moratorium, 'whatever may happen'

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday called on the United States to commit itself to guaranteeing implementation of a US-proposed moratorium on military flights over the divided island of Cyprus "whatever may happen". Mr. Pangalos was commenting on recent statements by US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns that Cyprus was in no need of Russian-made S-300 missiles if there was a moratorium on military overflights of Cyprus.

    "If this (Burns's statement) means that the US commits itself to intervening in case the Turks intensify in any way the tension on the island and to intercept or destroy Turkish (fighter) planes, then the US proposal is interesting and we are prepared t o discuss it again," Mr. Pangalos said.

    He clarified that a moratorium on overflights of the island "could hold under normal conditions" but that Nicosia's decision to purchase the Russian S-300 missiles was about "dealing with abnormal conditions".

    Mr. Pangalos stressed, however, that these proposals did not serve to resolve the "larger political issue which arises from the fact that Turkey does not respect international law for the Aegean and United Nations resolutions for Cyprus."

    "If we solve the political problem, then within the framework of this solution all efforts to reduce possibilities of military threat by both sides will fall in line," Mr. Pangalos said.

    "Greece has laid out very specific proposals both on the demilitarization of Cyprus and the creation of good neighborly relations with Turkey, which some day will have to be discussed," he said. "We have done our duty. It's time for Turkey to do its."

    "Greece is ready to contribute to any development which will defuse tension in the Aegean," he added, clarifying that Greece was not prepared to negotiate over its sovereign rights.

    Mr. Pangalos also denied press reports of differences between Athens and Nicosia over policy, saying that there was "full identity of views" between Greece and Cyprus during talks held by Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Athens last week.

    [02] Gov't spokesman

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Commenting on Mr. Pangalos' statements, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said:

    "Mr. Pangalos said that there is no question of a 'moratorium' when there exist normal circumstances and friendly relations. When circumstances become extraordinary; when there are problems in relations, then such issues arise.

    "...Mr. Pangalos went further and said that those who put such questions to the Greek side should have given a reply to themselves, undertaking commitments or providing guarantees that they can safeguard normalcy and calm, without it being necessary for u s to discuss these particular, regional issues, such as the moratorium and others.

    "The US can therefore, as Mr. Pangalos said, guarantee that they will confront whatever aggressive effort on the part of Turkey against Cyprus. If indeed there is such an initiative, such a commitment or guarantee which in practice is convincing that it constitutes an effective handling of the problems we have to face, then we can discuss the problem on a different basis. But this does not exist at present," he said. He added that all those who show an interest in the moratorium should be prepared to guarantee that they will ensure the defense and sovereignty of Cyprus in the case of a Turkish attack.

    [03] Clerides on moratorium

    Nicosia, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides said yesterday that the Cyprus government is prepared to open a "new chapter", and to discuss the US-proposed moratorium within a framework of efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, provided the United States is ready to guarantee the security of all residents of the island.

    Mr. Clerides noted that such an occurrence must include demilitarization before a solution to the Cyprus problem, although he clarified that the issue has not been officially broached by anyone.

    [04] State Dept. comments

    Washington, 24/01/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)

    US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns, commenting on Mr. Pangalos' proposals on the prospect of the United States stopping or even destroying Turkish military aircraft possibly attacking Cyprus in violation of the proposed moratorium of overflights, said:

    "With all due respect, I would be surprised if that was the correct rendering of the Greek government's proposal, because Greece is an ally of Turkey in NATO, and the US is an ally of both in NATO. Nobody is going to destroy anyone's aircraft. I would b et that this issue will be solved peacefully. And we will continue to work for the moratorium of flights over Cyprus. It is a very important confidence-building measure.

    "It is good to see Greece, Turkey and Cyprus being interested in discussing the moratorium and we will continue our efforts in order to help them to reach an agreement. I don't think they are there yet, but we will (continue our efforts) in private, not in public," Mr. Burns added.

    [05] Seamen's strike ends, GSEE holds 24-hour mobilization

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Greek seamen and dockworkers yesterday ended a 10-day strike after intensive all-night negotiations between the government and the Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO).

    But as the seamen ended their stoppage, Greece's labor unions began a 24-hour strike called by the Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) protesting the government's taxation policies. The port strike, which paralyzed transport and caused hardships to the Greek islands, involved all ships with Greek crews and kept vessels moored at ports, stranding thousands of angry passengers and hundreds of local and foreign lorries in Greek and Italian ports.

    A federation spokesman said their union has accepted "improved government proposals submitted to them by a committee headed by Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis."

    The seamen's main demands was preservation of a special tax status for them since 1955 which the government changed in its tax legislation.

    A merchant marine ministry spokesman said that routes to the islands and other destinations resumed normally as the seamen called off their strike.

    In a statement, PNO general secretary Ioannis Halas said that the government's new proposals "are a positive first step although they did not fully satisfy all the seamen's problems."

    Mr. Halas warned, however, that "if satisfactory solutions are not given there will be a new round of strikes."

    The government's new proposals include the starting of a dialogue between the employers, the seamen and the state for the settlement of employment issues on ocean-going vessels, the seamen's registry, preservation of pensions at 58 per cent of their basic wages and the taxation of officers' salaries with 8.0 per cent this year, 9.0 per cent from 1998 and on, and 4.0 and 6.0 per cent respectively for lower-ranking crews.

    [06] Gov't to consider workers' demands

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    The government will examine trade union demands concerning the new tax bill "in a positive spirit", Finance Under-secretary George Drys told a delegation of General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) yesterday.

    Mr. Drys met the delegation after GSEE held a protest rally and march to Parliament during the trade unions' 24-hour nationwide strike.

    Commenting on trade unions' main demands, Mr. Drys promised that the index-linking of tax brackets to inflation and the increase of tax-free income to two million drachmas would be introduced as of 1998, which means that it will apply to income earned during 1997.

    He also promised that dialogue would begin with the competent bodies of mass labor movements in 1997 "in order for measures to be agreed which will make the taxation system simpler and fairer." GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos welcomed Mr. Drys' pledges, describing them as "a positive development".

    Meanwhile, trade unionists said the level of participation in today's 24-hour strike and rally had been satisfactory.

    The strike was joined by workers and pensioners in the region of eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with the epicenter of protests the town of Kavala.

    Meanwhile, public servants in the Thessaloniki area indicated yesterday that they would support the strike called for Feb. 3-4 by the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council.

    [07] Simitis meets with US envoy

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday had a one-hour meeting with US Ambassador to Athens, Thomas Niles, which according to informed sources covered the entire spectrum of Greek-US relations. The sources added that Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem had also been discussed in the light of recent developments.

    Neither Mr. Simitis nor Mr. Niles made statements to reporters after the meeting.

    Earlier, Mr. Simitis received visiting Romanian Foreign Minister Adrian Severin.

    [08] Pangalos warns foreign ministry strikers

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos warned yesterday that he was determined to implement the law in dealing with a strike called by Greek foreign ministry employees yesterday and another scheduled by diplomatic personnel for next Tuesday. He said that i f the courts declared the strike "illegal and abusive" he would implement the law in his ministry.

    "I don't care what goes on in ports or in the streets, but here the law will be upheld. There are no Pattakis (a reference to the leader of hard-line Thessaly farmers) in here," Mr. Pangalos said.

    [09] Greece targets increased trade with Romania

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Greece said yesterday that it aimed to increase trade with Romania to US$500 million annually, exploiting its "excellent" relations with its Balkan neighbor, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said.

    Mr. Pangalos was speaking after an hour-long meeting with his visiting Romanian counterpart Adrian Severin, who arrived in Athens yesterday. Mr. Pangalos reiterated Greece's support for Romania's efforts to join the European Union, saying that Athens considered the inclusion of Balkan countries in the EU to be a priority.

    Commenting on the impending expansion of NATO to include central and eastern European nations, Mr. Pangalos said he was in favor of including any countries which desired membership.

    Mr. Severin told reporters that all the countries belonging to the same geo-political area, such as the Balkans, should be admitted to NATO at the same time.

    The foreign ministers also announced that the prime ministers of both countries would visit one another in the next three months.

    [10] Bulgaria ratifies several cross-border agreements with Greece

    Sofia, 24/01/1997 (ANA - N. Hios)

    The Bulgarian government yesterday ratified projects included in the cross-border co-operation programme between Greece and Bulgaria, as well as the economic memorandum on the implementation of the EU's PHARE programme for 1994-1999 .

    According to the Bulgarian news agency BTA, "the cross-border co-operation programme between Bulgaria and Greece constitutes one of the main mechanisms through which the European Commission exercises free investment policy. To date, and on the basis of t he economic memorandum for 1994, Bulgaria has received ECU 25 million to implement programmes in the sectors of transport, telecommunications and the environment."

    The new programme anticipates ECU 23 million annually for the improvement of the transport and communications network in border regions along the Greek-Bulgarian frontier, the water-supply system and the minimization of environmental pollution.

    Among others, the programme anticipates the electrification of the Dubnica-Koulata rail link with ECU 3 million, as well as a contribution to the creation of a digital telecommunications line linking Sofia and Petric as well as the optic fiber link between Kavala and Haskovo with ECU 1.5 million. The amount of ECU 1.3 million is also anticipated for the natural gas pipeline linking Russia to Greece.

    A further ECU 1.5 million will be provided to decrease uranium waste in rivers flowing into Greece.

    [11] Greece to participate in Ukraine PfP exercise

    Sevastopol, 24/01/1997 (Reuter/ANA)

    Greece will be among the countries participating in an international peacekeeping and humanitarian exercise in August in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, an official said on Wednesday.

    Greece will join Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania in "Sea Breeze-97", Yuri Glukhov, a Ukrainian naval officer who heads the organizing team, told reporters.

    The exercise, part of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, would be a "wonderful opportunity for the navies of different countries to work on co-operation in humanitarian operations", he added. Ukraine would contribute 10 ships, several planes and other forces to the exercises, Glukhov said.

    He added that Albania and Georgia would take part as observers. The partnership is aimed at forging closer links between eastern and central Europe and NATO members by organizing military exercises and joint training projects.

    [12] Gov't comments on alleged links between Ciller, drug smugglers

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    The picture presented by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller burdens her country as a whole, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday when asked to comment on her alleged links to organized drug smuggling.

    "However, Ms Ciller's acts concern Greece to the extent that the policy she pursues conflicts with our interests and she acts outside the framework of international law and international treaties," Mr. Reppas said.

    During the trial in Germany of three convicted drug smugglers on Tuesday, Frankfurt judge Rolf Schwalbe said two Istanbul families dominated the heroin trade emanating from Turkey.

    He claimed the families, which he named, had excellent links to the Turkish government and personal contacts with a minister who he subsequently named as Ms Ciller.

    [13] Cyprus solution depends on full demilitarization: Tsohatzopoulos

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Solution of the Cyprus problem is conditional upon full demilitarization of the island republic, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said while on a tour to the northern Aegean island of Limnos yesterday.

    "The intermediate steps are discussed on the basis of conditions as they arise, and influence this development," he said.

    He reiterated, however, that the need for strengthening the defensive capability of Cyprus arises from the threat originating in the presence of occupation troops in the northern part of the island.

    "For this reason, the initiatives of the European Union, Britain, and the US aim, on one hand, to secure the prospects of Cyprus in the EU, and, on the other, to establish a parallel process which will lead to a solution, without the one issue influencing the development of the other," he added.

    [14] Arsenis meets with representatives of university lecturers

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis met last night with representatives of university lecturers and discussed the changes which have been announced regarding university entrance exams.

    Speaking after the meeting, the minister said he presented his positions to the lecturers regarding the gradual phasing out of university entrance examinations and the increase in the number of entrants as of this year.

    He added that discussions will continue over the next few days regarding the professional development of university lecturers, so that a jointly acceptable draft bill can be submitted in Parliament in February.

    According to the president of the Panhellenic Federation of University Lecturers, Gerassimos Spathis, the lecturers agree on university entrance exams being abolished through an increase in entrants into higher education. He added that the lecturers also agree with minister on many aspects concerning their professional development, adding that the few issues on which they disagree will be discussed extensively.

    [15] No end in sight to teachers' strike

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    The outcome of talks between Mr. Arsenis and teachers' representatives ended without result early yesterday morning as the teachers' strike entered its fourth day today. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, teachers' representatives said their main demands had not been met and they had not been given specific replies.

    Following the talks, attended also by Finance Under-secretary Nikos Christodoulakis, the teachers' union (OLME) recommended that its members continue the strike next week also.

    Calling late last night on the teachers to end their strike, Mr. Arsenis said he had told their representatives that he was willing to discuss the possibility of pay increases for 1998 and 1999.

    Teachers' representatives are insisting that the strike will continue if monthly increases of 70,000 drachmas are not given in 1997.

    In Thessaloniki, meanwhile, officials said the participation rate for the four-day long strike ranged between 25 and 35 percent.

    [16] Omonoia delegation to meet with Arsenis, Papaioannou

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis and Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou will meet in Athens today with a three-member delegation of Omonoia, the organization which promotes ethnic Greek minority issues in neighboring Albania.

    During their meeting with Mr. Arsenis, the delegation is expected to reiterate its requests for advanced training for teachers, scholarships and improvements to the infrastructures of ethnic Greek schools in Albania. Another issue expected to be raised is that of the problems faced by ethnic Greek schoolchildren relating to incidents of racism.

    The delegation is made up of Omonoia President Georgios Lambovisiadis, a deputy for Sarande, Thomas Mitsios and Gjirokaster deputy Vangelis Doule.

    In talks with Mr. Papaioannou, the three representatives will most likely express displeasure at the draft presidential decree aimed at conferring legal status on Albanian illegal immigrants in Greece. They are expected to express the view that under the decree, the ethnic Greeks of Albania are treated as aliens, rather than Greeks enjoying the same rights and obligations as all Greek citizens.

    [17] Ethnic Greek released

    Gjirokaster 24/01/1997 (ANA - D. Tsakas)

    Albanian authorities undertook yesterday to release an ethnic Greek from detention and place him under house arrest, following the intervention of Greece's consul general in Gjirokaster, Nikos Kanellos, and Omonoia President Lambovisiadis.

    The community leader of Droviani, Yiannis Triantafyllou, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with resisting arrest as he led a group of villagers to protest against the partial deforestation of a site near the village, which belongs to the Orthodox Church of Albania.

    [18] Group calls for Greek-Turkish dialogue

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    The "Rational Front against Nationalism " has launched a campaign against what it called "over-armament," and also came out in support of a dialogue between Greece and Turkey.

    "The aim of the campaign is to promote the idea of an all issues dialogue with Turkey," representative of the front, Rihardos Someritis, said adding that dialogue does mean "defeat."

    The "Rational Front against Nationalism " comprises ruling PASOK Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou, former deputy Leonidas Kyrkos, Coalition of the Left and Progress official Nikos Bistis and the publisher of the "Politis" magazine, Angelos Elefantis.

    [19] Two ND deputies threaten lawsuit against V. Papandreou for libel

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Two main opposition New Democracy deputies that are also members of a Parliamentary fact-finding committee probing the ill-fated Floisvos casino license said they will sue Development Minister Vasso Papandreou for libel and attempted intimidation.

    The two deputies, Theodoros Kassimis and Triantafyllos Bellos, said the lawsuit concerns questions raised by the minister regarding their integrity.

    Their announcement was made yesterday after a meeting chaired by ND leader Miltiades Evert.

    Ms Papandreou's statements, referring to suspect bank accounts held by members of the committee, drew Mr. Evert's immediate reaction in Parliament, who accused her of "losing her cool and attempting to blackmail and threaten" members.

    Yesterday, the minister declined to pursue the matter further when questioned by reporters, saying she was not particularly anxious about developments in the case. She explained, however, that when she annulled the license previously granted by a joint decision of Environment Minister Costas Laliotis and then tourism minister Dionysis Livanos, she did so "on the basis of an opinion by the State Legal Council, which is the government's official advisory body".

    In her testimony to the committee on Tuesday, Ms Papandreou described the decision as "a glaring illegality", but also praised Mr. Laliotis for not approving the necessary change in land use for construction of the casino.

    Referring to the affair yesterday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said there was no tension in the relations between the two ministers, and that the prime minister's intervention was not required.

    Replying to other questions, Mr. Reppas said the government did not possess evidence of corruption on the part of members of the committee, and added that any such evidence would be examined by the committee itself.

    [20] Problems in air transport prior to crucial summer season considered

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Representatives from the development and transport ministries, as well as Olympic Airways officials, air traffic controllers and businessmen in the tourism sector yesterday met to consider solutions to potential problems in air transport this summer.

    Addressing the seminar on "Tourism and Air transport," Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said an immediate solution to problems in air transport was not feasible but expressed hope the situation would undergo drastic changes in the next few years.

    On his part, Olympic Airways President Nikos Blessios pledged that OA will make every possible effort to assist in upgrading Greek tourism, adding that the company will purchase new aircraft and attempt to enter strategic alliances with other airline companies in new markets in an effort to become more competitive.

    Regarding a new French-made air traffic control system which was due to go into operation in April, the air traffic controllers said the system's operation will be delayed until autumn, due to lack of technical support, adding that problems should be anticipated over the tourism season.

    Meanwhile, representatives of international airlines operating in Greece called on the government to proceed with airline deregulation and stressed what they termed "the state's destructive protectionism of OA."

    They said high operating costs in Greece have led six international airlines to close down their operation in Greece, while two more have announced plans to leave the country.

    [21] Europartenariat Hellas 1997 reps meet in Athens

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Representatives from 77 countries working for promotion of the "Europartenariat Hellas 1997" to be held in Piraeus on June 23-24, met in Athens yesterday to discuss preparation procedures.

    The representatives were presented with the Europartenariat catalogue, featuring economic figures for Greece as well as the kind of ventures that 400 Greek enterprises which have been selected to participate in the event are seeking with European enterprises.

    In a message to the meeting, EU Commissioner for tourism, energy and small-to-middle-size enterprises, Christos Papoutsis, said that "Greece's advantageous geographical position can be used as a basis for business ventures not only in the Mediterranean but also in central and eastern Europe, and the Balkans."

    Mr. Papoutsis also emphasized in his message that the Europartenariat's special focus will be the young entrepreneur.

    National Economy Under-secretary Alekos Baltas told a press conference after the meeting that the Europartenariat was a "successful institution which contributes to co-operation among European SMEs on an international level".

    Some 200,000 businesses have participated in the Europartenatiat since it was founded in 1988 at the initiative of the European Union.

    Two thousand Greek businesses will participate at this year's Europartenariat Hellas 1997.

    Mr. Baltas said prospects were good for joint ventures between businesses in Greece, eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Black Sea region countries.

    [22] Gov't develops programme for redundant Goodyear workers

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) Governor Constantine Efstratoglu is expected to announce a list of measures aimed at helping the 300 workers laid off from Thessaloniki's Goodyear plant last year, to find new jobs at more favorable terms than those generally applying for the unemployed.

    Mr. Efstratoglu will announce the measures at a seminar to be held on Monday in Thessaloniki.

    The seminar, which will be addressed by Labor Minister Miltiades Papaionnou, constitutes the government's answer to the demands of the 300 workers for government help. The seminar is expected to be attended by the city's major industrial representatives.

    Mr. Papaionnou announced the outline of the measures during a conference, in December, at Thessaloniki's Labor Centre.

    The measures include financial assistance in the form of special training grants or the equivalent of 37 months of wages, OAED's search to find jobs for the workers according to their qualifications in Thessaloniki, help workers adjust to their new work environments and meet new job demands through training, as well as to subsidize companies which agree to create jobs for the workers.

    OAED will give financial assistance to workers who wish to be self-employed in the form of subsidies over the duration of two years. The workers' representative Sotiris Ainatzis, however, expressed reservation at the success of the measures saying that Thessaloniki industrialists have shown little enthusiasm.

    [23] Papantoniou confident inflation, interest rates will fall

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday forecast a rapid drop in inflation and interest rates beginning this month.

    Speaking in Parliament during a debate on the government's new tax bill, Mr. Papantoniou also predicted that interest rates on treasury bills and state bonds would have dropped to single figures by the summer, "thus confirming the good course of the Greek economy."

    Mr. Papantoniou was replying to main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert, who had accused the government of following an economic policy which led on to an impasse, an increase in taxes and "perpetuates the wasteful state."

    Mr. Evert disputed that the Greek economy was on good course, saying that the government, "instead of reining in the wasteful state, is resorting to more tactics in order to preserve it".

    The ND leader claimed that in the period 1994-95, the taxes paid by pensioners and salary-earners had increased by 28 and 30 per cent respectively.

    The corresponding increase in incomes had been 11 per cent, the main opposition leader said, reflecting what he called "the bleeding dry of the lower and middle-level economic strata."

    Commenting on the criticism leveled at him from opposition parties for not index-linking tax brackets to inflation, Mr. Papantoniou acknowledged that the criticism may be partly justified.

    Greece's biggest labor grouping, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), has organized a nationwide 24-hour strike today to protest the government's economic policy - its main demand being the index-linking of tax brackets.

    Mr. Papantoniou underlined however that such index-linking would cost the state 100 billion drachmas, of which only 21 billion would be distributed among the great majority of taxpayers, while the remaining 79 billion drachmas would be to the benefit of a very small number of taxpayers who declare the largest amounts of income.

    [24] Gov't to invite tenders for several EOT properties

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Development Minister Vasso Papandreou yesterday announced that the government would soon invite international tenders for the development of properties belonging to the Greek Tourism Organization (EOT).

    These would concern the following sites:

    - A 118-hectare site in Nea Fokaia, Halkidiki, for the creation of a golf course requiring an investment of at least 4 billion drachmas, and envisaging 100 new positions.

    - A 193.5-hectare site in Paliouri, Halkidiki, for the development of new forms of tourism (sea therapy, sports installations, environmental training centre etc.), requiring an investment of more than six billion drachmas and 200 new positions.

    - A 157-hectare site in Anavyssos, Attica, for the creation of a golf course, conference centre, sea therapy and sports installations, requiring an investment of more than 12 billion drachmas and 250 new positions.

    - A 187-hectare site in Afantou, Rhodes, for upgrading the existing golf course, horseback riding and sports installations, budgeted at more than 11 billion drachmas, and envisaging the creation of 400 new positions.

    Ms Papandreou said the total investments could eventually reach twice the amount budgeted, i.e. 66 billion drachmas. She also announced that the government would invite the expression of interest for the promotion of Integrated Tourist Development Areas (POTA), which are privately owned sites measuring more than 80 hectares, and capable of receiving investment subsidies from the EU 'Tourism' sub-programme.

    She specified that the sites must be in less developed tourist areas, the projects must have a minimum budget of 20 billion drachmas, and the architectural intervention must be minimal.

    [25] Partial compensation for cotton growers

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Agriculture Minister Stefanos Tzoumakas announced the government's decisions to partially compensate farmers suffering losses as a result of recent poor weather.

    He said his ministry will allocate to cotton growers 10,000 drachmas per stremma of cultivated land, out of 90,000 drachmas requested by farmers.

    Farmers concerned must submit applications as of today, while the submission process will be completed over a period of 10 days.

    Special committees set up for this purpose will then make an immediate assessment of damage caused and the payment of compensation will start.

    [26] Farmer gets suspended sentence for accidental death of former Moslem deputy Sadiq

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    A Thessaloniki court yesterday sentenced a 62-year-old farmer to 17 months imprisonment, suspended for three years, for the July 1995 manslaughter of Ahmet Sadiq, a Moslem Greek who had served as an independent deputy for Rodopi.

    Zissis Arabatzis, a resident of Rodopi, was found guilty of causing the traffic accident on the Komotini-Iasmou secondary road in which Sadiq died.

    Sadiq was driving a car which crashed into a tractor being driven by Arabatzis. His wife and children, who were in the car at the time, were injured in the crash.

    Police at the time said excessive speed was the cause of the accident.

    Mr. Arabatzis' trial had been attended by a three-member delegation of the Turkish National Assembly and a number of Turkish reporters.

    The Turkish delegation said that it was "completely satisfied" by the way in which the trial had been held, describing the proceedings as "impeccable."

    Speaking to reporters after the trial, Sadiq's widow, Isiq said she thought that the sentence was extremely light, since the accident had resulted in the death of a political leader.

    [27] Method to fight oil pollution using magnetism unveiled

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    A Greek researcher yesterday presented a new method for cleaning up oil pollution in the sea using magnetism to separate the oil from sea water.

    "Clean mag" is a special compound of plastic materials containing magnetized particles. Prof. George Nicholaidis said the compound had the property of being able to selectively absorb petroleum products and oils without absorbing water. "This means that when the petroleum products come into contact with the compound, they quickly stick to "clean mag" and remain on the surface of the sea where they can easily be collected with the use of electromagnets," Prof. Nicholaidis said.

    According to the professor, present methods of cleaning up oil slicks are extremely costly and are never completely efficient.

    Prof. Nicholaidis said that when clean mag went into mass production, he expected great interest on the part of shipping companies and foreign countries.

    [28] Truck driver gets 13 life sentences for prostitute murders

    Athens, 24/01/1997 (ANA)

    A 23-year-old truck driver was yesterday sentenced to 13 terms of life imprisonment, plus 25 years, after an Athens court found him guilty of murdering three prostitutes, attempting to murder a further six and robbing all nine.

    Antonis Daglis committed the murders between 1993 and 1995.

    In particularly gruesome testimony, the court heard how he had used a saw to dismember his victims before disposing of their body parts in rubbish bins.

    Daglis was also found guilty of raping an English prostitute working in Greece and of the illegal use of a weapon - a piece of rope which he used to strangle his victims.

    Before announcing its verdict, which Daglis listened to impassively, the accused had prohibited a court-appointed defense lawyer from making his closing address, saying he did not consider him to be his defense counsel.

    Daglis earlier this week surprised the court by admitting to all three murders but yesterday retracted his confession, saying he had killed only one, by accident.

    "I hated all prostitutes and continue to hate them. I went to meet them for sex but suddenly other pictures came into my head. I heard voices which ordered me to kill. Once I thought about strangling my fiancee, but I restrained myself," Daglis had told the court on Tuesday.

    End of English language section


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