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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-09-13

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 1287), September 13, 1997

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] Greece grants initial 2-billion drachma loan to Albania
  • [02] ... Improved relations noted
  • [03] ... Regional developments
  • [04] ... Meeting with Kaklamanis
  • [05] ... KKE
  • [06] ... Synaspismos
  • [07] Cabinet approves 'Kapodistrias' restructuring plan for local Gov't
  • [08] ... Opposition reactions
  • [09] FYROM FM says name issue won't be referred to Security Council
  • [10] Greece backs EU pre-accession talks with candidate-nations
  • [11] Kasoulides briefs Greek FM leadership on latest contacts
  • [12] Tsohatzopoulos warns Turkey
  • [13] Cyprus FM interview
  • [14] Athens says latest Yilmaz remarks part of 'dead-end' Turkish policy
  • [15] Albanian Socialist Party delegation meets with Tsovolas
  • [16] OA flight attendants continue work-to-rule action
  • [17] OTE revenues increase
  • [18] Greek song festival in Thessaloniki tonight
  • [19] Int'l center for commercial transactions in Thessaloniki considered
  • [20] Gov't comments on terms of IOC contract
  • [21] ... Synaspismos
  • [22] Protests mount over sentences for two anti-2004 activists
  • [23] Radioactive capsule recovered
  • [24] UNESCO conference on Tilos
  • [25] Success of periodical EU negotiations noted
  • [26] Greek wholesale prices rise to 5.2 pct yr/yr in July
  • [27] Greek stocks climb, rallying after correction
  • [28] Greek aluminium industry has Dr 500 bln turnover
  • [29] Greece to give Serbia Dls 100 mln. for roadbuilding
  • [30] EU seminar on energy to be held in Rhodes Oct. 3
  • [31] Greece swamped by proposals for EU-funded energy plan
  • [32] EU supports municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • [33] Bank of Crete purchase bid by Piraeus Bank
  • [34] Lower transit cargo prices decided for Piraeus
  • [35] Ionian Bank profits rise

  • [01] Greece grants initial 2-billion drachma loan to Albania

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Athens yesterday presented Albania with two billion drachmas (seven million dollars) as urgent economic aid for the Albanian state, and said relations with Tirana were developing "in a most favorable manner".

    "This is an element which Greece considers definitive for its foreign policy," Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said.

    Mr. Pangalos handed the funds to visiting Albanian Foreign Minister Paskal Milo after their one-hour meeting at midday.

    Mr. Milo, who is on a three-day official visit to Greece, the first by an Albanian foreign minister since civil unrest wracked the neighboring country earlier in the year, also met earlier with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis. Speaking to reporters after their meeting, Mr. Pangalos said the Greek president had extended an invitation through Mr. Milo for his Albanian counterpart to visit Greece in the first half of 1998.

    He said that, apart from the two billion drachmas, expert committees from both countries would be meeting soon to thrash out the details of 18 million drachmas worth of Greek loans promised to Albania to aid in the implementation of public works projects in Albania.

    Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Milo called their meeting "the most favorable development in Greek-Albanian relations in recent times", with Mr. Pangalos adding that a friendship and co-operation agreement between the two countries would be ratified by Parliament by March next year - with the prospect of a new pact on co-operation in the education and cultural sectors - and announcing a series of measures and initiatives that would further strengthen ties between the two Balkan neighbors.

    Among these, Mr. Pangalos said, were plans for contacts between the public order ministries of both countries to "maintain law on both sides of the border", a planned visit by the chief of the Albanian armed forces to discuss the reform and reorganization of the Albanian military with his Greek counterparts, as well as the establishment of three new customs points on the border with Albania and the beginning of talks on territorial borders and the delineation of the continental shelf.

    Mr. Pangalos said their discussion, which was also attended by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, also ranged over the issue of a European prospect for Albania, the Balkan summit in Crete in earl y November and on problems in the region.

    [02] ... Improved relations noted

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Mr. Milo said that bilateral relations were at "their best point ever", thanking the Greek people and government for "standing by Albania in its difficult times".

    "This was a historic stance and something the Albanian people are not likely to ever forget," Mr. Milo said.

    He called on Albanians residing and working in Greece to abide by Greek laws and "act honorably". At the beginning of the year there was an estimated 400,000 Albanians in Greece, although that figure may have increased following the violence and mayhem in the neighboring country, after thousands lost their life savings in collapsed 'pyramid' investment schemes.

    Mr. Milo invited back Greek investors who had fled Albania in the wake of the unrest, assuring them that "the situation is now under the control of the Albanian government and the Albanian people are ready to welcome them and assist you". "We will take all the necessary steps to protect your businesses," he said.

    Mr. Milo said the spirit of co-operation noted in his talks in Athens was "a passing phase" but a "strategic choice in the interests of both countries and their peoples". Mr. Pangalos told reporters that Athens, in co-operation with the European Union, was examining ways to create a regime to the benefit of both Tirana and Athens regarding the issuing of visas for Albanian nationals.

    "The system of entry into Greece from third (non-EU) countries is governed by the Schengen Treaty," Mr. Pangalos said, adding the two options were being studied: one, the granting of multi-entry visas for those with jobs or making frequent visits to Greece; and the creation of the status of a 'border resident', who would be able to move freely in the border region on the presentation of an identity card.

    "We will do everything we can to make the Greek-Albanian border region a zone of growth," Mr. Pangalos said.

    [03] ... Regional developments

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Turning to relations with other Balkan neighbors, Mr. Pangalos revealed that he had called on the governments of Albania and Federal Yugoslavia to meet on the sidelines of the Balkan summit in Crete in November.

    "I hope the two governments will consider the proposal in a positive light," Mr. Pangalos added.

    Mr. Milo said that Tirana was hoping to upgrade its relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and had been "sending messages of understanding and co-operation" to Skopje.

    The substantial number of ethnic Albanians residing in FYROM, he said, will have to find solutions to their problems in the framework of international law, stressing the need for the respect of the large minority's rights to education, cultural expression and local government.

    "Without the understanding of the Albanian population of FYROM, FYROM will be unable to have stable prospects," Mr. Milo warned, adding that he hoped Skopje would be able to contribute to the efforts for stability and peace in the Balkan region.

    Turning to Albania's recovery from the rioting and looting of earlier this year, Mr. Milo said the disarming of insurgents in the south was proceeding at a satisfactory rate and said that a large proportion of the arms looted from military camps would have been recovered by the state by the end of the month.

    Finally, Mr. Pangalos said a planned visit by Prime Minister Costas Simitis to Tirana next month was in the context of bilateral relations and unconnected with visits to other Balkan capitals in light of the Crete summit.

    "FYROM is among the countries which have responded positively to the invitation to participate in the Balkan summit, but it is not yet clear whether it will be represented at the presidential or prime ministerial level," he added.

    [04] ... Meeting with Kaklamanis

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    In a later meeting with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, one of the topics of discussion was that relating to the thousands of Albanian nationals working in Greece, as Mr. Milo assured his compatriots that both countries' governments were willing to legalize them soon.

    Special emphasis during the meeting was placed on issues such as the ethnic Greek minority living in Albania, education and religious freedoms.

    [05] ... KKE

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Mr. Milo also met Communist Party (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, who stressed after the meeting that there was still room for development of relations between Greece and Albania.

    Ms Papariga underlined the need for Albanian workers in Greece to be treated equally with local workers and have the same rights.

    [06] ... Synaspismos

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The same issue was also discussed at a separate meeting with the leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), Nikos Constantopoulos.

    Mr. Constantopoulos pointed to the need for the two countries' governments to take joint initiatives targeted at building up peace in the region.

    Mr. Milo thanked Mr. Constantopoulos publicly for his party's supportive positions on the issue of the Albanian workers in Greece.

    [07] Cabinet approves 'Kapodistrias' restructuring plan for local Gov't

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Cabinet yesterday unanimously approved a plan to restructure local government organizations into larger municipalities in an effort to transfer bureaucratic functions out of Athens and revive the provinces.

    The plan, named "Ioannis Kapodistrias" after the first governor of independent Greece, is expected to be submitted to Parliament as a draft bill in October.

    Following the Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the plan, if passed, would reduce 5,879 municipalities and communities in Greece to 780 municipalities and 120 communities.

    Certain functions, such as deciding on bequests, foundations or community enterprises, will remain under the jurisdiction of communities, Mr. Reppas said.

    No discussion was made on where the seat of a new municipality will be. The program is expected to cost 600 billion drachmas, which will not be drawn from new funds but collected from redistribution of existing funds.

    The spokesman also said the government could not understand the objections raised to the program, since they had no sound basis, and criticized main opposition New Democracy (ND) for never having taken any initiatives to upgrade local government. All such changes were made by PASOK governments, he added.

    Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said after the Cabinet meeting that the government wanted to create new municipalities with strong administrative mechanisms to revive rural Greece.

    [08] ... Opposition reactions

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Reacting to the Cabinet's decision to promote the plan, ND party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said his party would "oppose in full force the coercive nature of the unification" of communities and municipalities into new regions.

    The party "believes in voluntary unions by means of introducing strong initiatives resulting in powerful, strong and viable local government organizations", he said.

    On her part, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) general secretary Aleka Papariga criticized the government over the way it was handling the "Kapodistrias" plan.

    She said there was a way to fight this plan once it becomes law, through local elections (scheduled for October 1998) and in everyday dealings.

    Political Spring (Pol.An.) party charged that the government has no right to turn Parliament from a forum for dialogue into a forum of compulsory decisions.

    [09] FYROM FM says name issue won't be referred to Security Council

    Skopje, 13/09/1997 (ANA - M. Vihou)

    The foreign minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Blagozya Hatjinski, ruled out the likelihood of referring the issue over his landlocked country's name to the United Nations' Security Council,

    He made the statements during a televised interview here on Thursday night.

    "There are no indications that Cyrus Vance will resign, nor that the issue (over FYROM's name) will be referred to the Security Council", he said, adding that "this required consent by both sides involved".

    However, he made it clear that talks over the name continue and will eventually lead to a final decision by the Security Council.

    Speaking on the development of economic and cultural relations between Greece and FYROM, Mr. Hatjinski said: "this undoubtedly leads and contributes to a positive solution of the name problem."

    However, he maintained "there is no room for concessions, nor for changing (FYROM's) constitutional name".

    Finally, the Skopje minister praised the Simitis government, saying that it was due to Costas Simitis' European orientation that the appropriate conditions were created for a solution of what he called Greece's problems with neighboring countries, "including the pending problem (FYROM's name) that hinders our bilateral relations."

    [10] Greece backs EU pre-accession talks with candidate-nations

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Athens favors a simultaneous opening of pre-accession negotiations with all European Union accession candidates in central and eastern Europe, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou told reporters yesterday ahead of an EU General Affairs Council meeting next Monday.

    The council agenda includes discussion of "Agenda 2000" - the European Commission's proposals on the future image of Europe, as well as its expansion and a new financial support program.

    Mr. Papandreou also said the Greek government was opposed to certain proposals for a more fragmented Common Agricultural Policy, and favored measures to improve European farmers' income.

    The council will also discuss the Cyprus problem, Turkish intransigence to the island republic's accession negotiations with the European Union, and Turkey's relations with the EU in general.

    Another issue on the agenda is the EU's relations with Albania. The Greek government argues that conditions have been met to resume rapprochement between the two sides.

    "We don't want exclusions or discrimination among the countries, since everybody knows that each accession negotiation has its own rhythm and does not mean that all countries will accede at the same time," he said.

    Greece, he added, would not agreed to any proposals that would lead to a "renationalization" of the Common Agricultural Policy, and that farmers' incomes had to be protected.

    Greece's basic aim, Mr. Papandreou noted, was to ensure social cohesion and Community solidarity.

    "Enlargement cannot be had at the cost of depth," he said.

    The Commission's proposal to maintain the level of 1.27 per cent of Community GDP in the 2000-2006 period for the new fiscal framework would not meet the Union's ambitious enlargement plans," Mr. Papandreou said.

    [11] Kasoulides briefs Greek FM leadership on latest contacts

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis met yesterday with visiting Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, discussing recent developments on the Cyprus issue and the process of Cyprus' accession into the European Union (EU).

    Mr. Kasoulides briefed the Greek ministers on the results of his tour to European capitals, while the Greek side briefed him on the results of their contacts. They discussed the upcoming Council of General Affairs in Brussels on Monday. Mr. Kranidiotis also briefed the Cypriot foreign minister on contacts he had on Thursday with visiting US official Thomas Miller, a special US State Department coordinator on the Cyprus issue. Mr. Miller is now in Nicosia for talks.

    [12] Tsohatzopoulos warns Turkey

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Meanwhile, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos warned Turkey yesterday to stop toying with the issue of the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, stressing that Cyprus is under the full protection of Greece.

    According to an ANA dispatch from Nicosia, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that casus belli will automatically apply in the event Turkey strikes against Cyprus, as it is threatening to do if the S-300 missiles are deployed. In an interview with the Cyprus magazine "Selides", which was published yesterday, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed that the right of Cyprus to defend itself is inalienable on the basis of UN resolutions and principles, adding that no one can question it, degrade or annul it.

    Mr. Tsohatzopoulos called on Turkey to follow a policy leading to a decrease in tension and to pave the way for a solution to the Cyprus issue.

    [13] Cyprus FM interview

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    In an interview yesterday morning with the Cyprus radio, Mr. Kasoulides expressed satisfaction with his contacts in the European capitals and in particular with assurances by officials who had recently expressed negative views on Cyprus' bid to become an EU member. "I believe these meetings were particularly useful and, of course, others will follow with the rest of my counterparts of EU member-states, as we are in one of the most critical periods of our accession course," he said.

    The Cypriot minister said it is expected that the EU political decision will be taken in December as to when accession talks will start with candidate countries, noting that Turkey has launched an unprecedented campaign in Europe to prevent Cyprus' bid.

    He said during the meetings with his counterparts of Germany, Luxembourg and Italy, he underlined EU decisions for the entry of Cyprus into the EU and the start of accession negotiations, early next year.

    He also said that during his meetings he had the chance to calm concerns expressed by EU member-states on the deployment of the S-300 missiles in mid-1998.

    [14] Athens says latest Yilmaz remarks part of 'dead-end' Turkish policy

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Greece said yesterday that statements by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz threatening the annexation of the occupied north of Cyprus were "no surprise".

    "(These statements) are an indication of the dead-end policy that Turkey is following in issues which concern us, particularly Cyprus," Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou told reporters.

    "The international community is awaiting respect of international law. I hope Turkey realizes that only if it follows the rules of international law will it find a response to its course towards Europe," he said.

    [15] Albanian Socialist Party delegation meets with Tsovolas

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    A delegation from the Albanian Socialist Party, led by Secretary Panteli Maiko, met with Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas yesterday to discuss relations between the two countries and the financial state of Albania.

    The delegation members expressed optimism over the protection of ethnic Greeks in the neighboring country and their presence there.

    They also made special note of promoting economic relations with Greece and creating conditions that would allow Greek businesses that suffered losses during the recent turbulence in Albania to return.

    [16] OA flight attendants continue work-to-rule action

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Long delays of Olympic Airways flights at airports around the country were noted yesterday as the airline's flight attendants refused to work overtime.

    Newly sworn in Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis yesterday morning refused to receive a delegation of union representatives who wanted to express their objections to an interior ministry bill, saying the issue did not come under his jurisdiction.

    Flight attendants have demanded that their sector be excluded from public sector hiring ceilings, claiming they are specialized personnel, such as pilots.

    The management of Olympic also issued a statement stressing that it would exhaust all legal means at its disposal to ensure that all flights were carried out.

    [17] OTE revenues increase

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    According to figures, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization's (OTE) revenues from telephony services over the first half of the year increased by 15 per cent.

    At the same time, a rates policy is being considered for 1998.

    The average burden for the consumer will not exceed 2.5 per cent although it has not yet been clarified whether the rates freeze being planned by the government for all public utilities (DEKO) will also apply to OTE.

    In the first half of the year, OTE received 218.89 billion drachmas from telephony compared to 190.55 billion drachmas over the corresponding period last year.

    The net increase is 12 per cent since the rates for 1997 increased 3 per cent on average. Telephone movement in units over the same period increased 16.2 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 1996 (more than 23.67 billion units in 1997 as against more than 20.34 billion units in 1996).

    According to its official budget for 1997, OTE expects total revenues amounting to 840 billion drachmas (738 billion drachmas last year) and net pre-tax profits totaling 315 billion drachmas - 304 billion drachmas had initially been predicted, however, 11 billion were added on following the purchase of 30 per cent of COSMOTE - as against 250 billion last year.

    [18] Greek song festival in Thessaloniki tonight

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Festival of Greek Song will take place at the Palais de Sport in Thessaloniki tonight, with a competition featuring unreleased Greek songs.

    The first part of the event will open with a concert by composers Stavros Kougioumtzis and Yiannis Spanos, who will play popular songs some of which were heard for the first time at the festival.

    The competition part will include 16 songs selected from nearly 200 submissions. A committee will decide which song merits first place, and a prize of three million drachmas; second place and two million drachmas, or third place and one million drachmas .

    [19] Int'l center for commercial transactions in Thessaloniki considered

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Scientific agencies in Thessaloniki are preparing the creation of an international center for resolving commercial transactions based here, considering reactions on the part of business organization representatives positive so far.

    The creation of the center was discussed on the first day of a two-day conference entitled "International Commercial Transactions in Central and Eastern Europe", organized at the HELEXPO-Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) by the faculty of law of the Aristotelion University in Thessaloniki, the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Center (DIPEK), the Thessaloniki Bar Association and the TEE/Central Macedonia Department.

    Speaking at a press conference, Aristotelion University law professor Petros Stangos said the choice of arbitration as a means of resolving international commercial and technical differences arising from their activation in Balkan and Black Sea countries presents many advantages.

    Legislation in these countries present quite a few peculiarities or vacuums and the creation of the Center could safeguard business activities from possible dangers.

    International banking transactions were one of the issues examined yesterday. The president of the Macedonia and Thrace Bank, Spyros Kouniakis, referred to the difficulties of establishing a modern banking system in Balkan countries which, as he said, would effectively help Greek businesses which are active in these countries.

    Mr. Kouniakis proposed the creation of joint ventures in which two or more Greek banks will participate so that they can activate themselves in Balkan markets. Mr. Kouniakis' proposal met with a positive response.

    Today's session is devoted to procurements and constructions, as well as to the funding of major infrastructure projects. The session will be inaugurated with an address by former transport and communications minister Haris Kastanidis.

    [20] Gov't comments on terms of IOC contract

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The government will have the first say in setting up the organizing committee for the Olympic Games of 2004, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.

    Mr. Reppas said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis had personally given guarantees to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the Games.

    The prime minister said that if the Games were organized by Athens and the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) only, then those two should have to undertake the entire cost. Because this was not possible, the government would have a decisive role to play, even though all necessary agencies would be represented in the organizational committee, Mr. Reppas said.

    The decisions related to setting up this committee would respect the IOC founding charter, and a voice would also be given to HOC and the city of Athens, the spokesman said.

    Consultants to the prime minister had already started researching these issues before the bid was awarded to Greece, he asserted.

    Asked whether the IOC contract obliged Greece to accept the entry into Greece of unwelcome persons, such as ex-king Constantine (a member of the IOC), Mr. Reppas replied that all citizens with legal documents may visit Greece.

    Referring to a statement by Bank of Greece governor Lucas Papademos that Greece would need loans of some 320 billion drachmas to carry out the Games, the spokesman explained there was no deficit, and that the governor simply suggested loaning because a return of any revenues would take a long time.

    He also said Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras had informed him that the contracts IOC had agreed on with sponsors during the first week following the decision for the bid exceeded US$1.1 billion, as against an estimate of US$800-900 million.

    [21] ... Synaspismos

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The end of rejoicing for winning the bid meant that Greece has now entered "a phase of deep contemplation, questions and competition for leading positions and managing this huge enterprise," Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) spokesman Dimitris Papadimoulis told a radio station yesterday.

    Mr. Papadimoulis charged that Greece won the bid "through a great lack of serious planning, briefing and real dialogue".

    He said that what was being revealed now was "the difficult and rough edges of organizing the games, such as the possibility of having to resort to a loan, the hateful colonial-style contract already signed (with the IOC), the threat of cheating rural (development), of creating facilities that would not be used after the games and of helping some people who are preparing the games become champions of easy gain".

    The contract signed with the IOC includes harsher terms following the Atlanta games last year, he charged, calling on "those who knew" earlier about the contract "ought to explain now what they did before the signing - whether they sought to improve the terms or change them, whether they held a minimum of negotiations, or whether they were ready to sign anything put before them by (IOC President Juan Antonio) Samaranch."

    [22] Protests mount over sentences for two anti-2004 activists

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Hellenic Association for Human and Civil Rights said yesterday that the prosecution of people who had protested against Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympics defied the terms of democracy.

    The group protested what it called the "unprecedented prosecution, jailing, and sentencing of Spyros Mavrodimas and Susan Ritter", who were arrested while distributing leaflets against the 2004 bid a few days before the final decision awarded the Games to Athens.

    "The freedom to think differently and express your disagreement does not constitute a threat, but is a fundamental term of operation and survival of democracy," the group stated.

    The two activists were arrested in the central Athens district of Kypseli and later convicted under a 1938 law on littering. They each received a two-month suspended sentence and a fine.

    [23] Radioactive capsule recovered

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    A small capsule of radioactive waste discovered to be missing on Saturday from an abandoned factory in Fihtia, Argos, was found on Thursday night by local police just a few meters from the factory building.

    A box containing the material was found to be missing during an inspection of the abandoned Ariplast factory on Saturday. The material, of little financial value, is commonly used in the plastics industry.

    The capsule, found hidden among bricks outside the factory, has been given to experts from Athens' "Dimocritos" atomic energy center.

    [24] UNESCO conference on Tilos

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Dodecanese department of UNESCO will organize a conference entitled "Mediterranean 2000-peace, environment, culture and tourism" in Tilos between Sept. 15-21.

    The conference will be inaugurated at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Harkadio cave, in which the bones of dwarf elephants have been found.

    Scientists from France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Greece will attend.

    [25] Success of periodical EU negotiations noted

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The ever-increasing success of periodical negotiations (reunions pacquet) has been noted on violations issues organized at the initiative of the Special Legal Service of European Communities (ENEK), between the services of the Greek administration and relevant European Commission departments.

    These meetings produce particularly positive results since they improve the image of Greek administration abroad.

    The following cases of surmised public works violations are indicatively referred to as:

    Construction of Spata airport, the Egnatia motorway, construction of a sewage treatment plant in Patra, construction of a train tunnel in Tempi, electrification of the Piraeus-Athens-Thessaloniki railway line, advertising services for the state broadcasting network ERT, the procurement of a system of control and data procurement for the Public Natural Gas Enterprise (DEPA) and sewage drainage in the tourist regions of Thessaloniki.

    Regarding outstanding issues, those underlined at present are the conveyance to our domestic law of directive 92/50 for public services contracts, an issue on which a conviction by the European Communities court is already pending.

    Moreover, issues noted at a preliminary stage are the awarding of the Athens and Thessaloniki Metro projects and the Flisvos casino whose settlement is hoped for.

    In the domestic market sector and more specifically with regard to the free movement of goods, Greece shows increased compliance results and a speedy settlement of pending issues.

    Out of a total of about 20 cases of pending issues constituting an object of negotiation with the Commission over the past year, more than 10 have already been settled which concerned violations of model procedures or approvals of products on importation.

    In the sensitive environmental sector, out of a total of 110 EU directives only 18 remain unsettled without a clear incorporation timetable for harmonization.

    [26] Greek wholesale prices rise to 5.2 pct yr/yr in July

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Greek wholesale price inflation rose to 5.2 percent year-on-year in July from 4.3 percent in June and 6.4 percent in July 1996, the National Statistics Service (NSS) said.

    Average wholesale inflation in January-July fell to 3.4 percent from 6.6 percent and 8.7 percent in 1996 and 1995 respectively, it said.

    Wholesale price index

    July 97 June 97 July 96: Month-on-month 0.2% 4.3% -0.6%, Year-on-year 5.2% -0.1% 6.4%, Index (1980=100) 890.1 888.0 846.1

    [27] Greek stocks climb, rallying after correction

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Greek equities resumed their upward trend after a two-day correction on the Athens Stock Exchange.

    Buying interest was once again focused in construction and industrial issues helping most other sectors to rebound. The general index closed 0.83 percent higher at 1,654.65 points.

    Banks rose 0.18 percent, Leasing fell 0.19 percent, Insurance increased 1.70 percent, Investment ended 1.93 percent higher, Industrials rose 1.56 percent, Construction jumped 3.77 percent, Holding was 2.20 percent up and Miscellaneous rose 0.14 percent.

    The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 0.76 percent higher.

    Trading remained heavy and turnover was 22.8 billion drachmas.

    Broadly, advancers led decliners by 121 to 90 with another 25 issues unchanged.

    Bank of Athens, Sysware, Hellenic Sugar and Pouliades scored the biggest percentage gains, while Benroubi, Pairis, Sarandopoulos and Xylemporia suffered the heaviest losses.

    National Bank of Greece ended at 34,400 drachmas, Ergobank at 18,000, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,500, Delta Dairy at 4,100, Titan Cement at 15,850, Intracom at 13,600 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organization at 6,830. In the domestic foreign exchange market the US dollar fell 0.67 percent against the drachma following a sharp depreciation of its parity in international markets.

    [28] Greek aluminium industry has Dr 500 bln turnover

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Greek aluminium industry's total turnover is 500 billion drachmas, accounting for 1.7 percent of the country's gross domestic product, the Greek Aluminium Union (GAU) said at Thessaloniki international trade fair.

    Greek aluminium exports accounted for 9 percent of total exports, or 17 percent of industrial and manufactured products. Greece ranks eighth in the world aluminium industry, while the country's bauxite production accounts for 1/3 of European production.

    GAU's chairman Ch. Christodoulou told a seminar on aluminium at the trade fair that the sector had great growth potential in developing and producing finished aluminium products.

    The Greek industry should undertake this task in order to survive and prosper in the international market, he said.

    Christodoulou pointed out that aluminium production had doubled during the last decade from 53,000 tons in 1986 to 105,000 tons last year.

    More than 8,000 enterprises operated in Greece with a total workforce of 40,000.

    GAU's chairman also said the union's recycling program, launched ten years ago, had brought significant results.

    With a rate of around 30 percent of tin cans recycled in Greece, the country was catching up with average rates of aluminium recycling in Europe.

    Aluminium is the theme sector for this year's Thessaloniki trade fair.

    [29] Greece to give Serbia Dls 100 mln. for roadbuilding

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Greek government will provide credits worth 100 million US dollars to fund construction of a new motorway in Serbia.

    A consortium of Greek contractors, led by Meton and Aktor, signed a memorandum for the creation of a joint venture with Serbia's ministry of public works.

    The joint company will take part in an international tender for the construction of a motorway in the Balkan country. Serbian Public Works Minister Branislav Ivkovic said that the Greek companies had pledged to secure satisfactory funding for construct ion of the road. Greece has shown great interest in the project because it will significantly improve road links and transport from Greece to Europe.

    [30] EU seminar on energy to be held in Rhodes Oct. 3

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The third in the series of "Energy and local authorities" seminars organized by the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions will be held in Rhodes (Greece) on October 3, 1997.

    It will focus on energy management, local development and employment. The objective of these seminars is to discuss in greater depth the role played by local authorities in EU member states in combating climate change and formulating effective energy strategies, bearing in mind that urbanization is the cause of the majority of energy consumption and emissions of pollutants. The seminar should provide an opportunity for local and regional authorities to exchange experiences, with a view to improving energy efficiency, and to promote use of new technologies in the light of the impact which such schemes have had on job creation.

    Local and regional authorities have been demonstrating their commitment to combating global issues by launching more and more local schemes.

    The European Commission's specific action to promote regional and urban energy management under the SAVE II program has been supporting them in their efforts by co-funding the establishment of regional or local energy management agencies.

    These have the technical and scientific know how to advise consumers - whether private, public or industrial - on energy matters, leading on to local activities. The first two seminars - in Espoo (Finland) on February 28, 1997 and Bologna (Italy) on April 18, 1997 - produced a clearer picture of the role played by local authorities in combating climate change and formulating effective energy strategies.

    In particular, they helped to forge a common position for regions and towns and cities in preparation for the conference on climate change in Kyoto from 1 to 12 December 1997.

    [31] Greece swamped by proposals for EU-funded energy plan

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Greece's development ministry has been swamped by proposals from private companies seeking funds under its European Union funded energy saving and renewable energy program. The call for proposals in mid-July has brought investment plans across the board with renewable energy projects being the most popular, ministry secretary general Andonis Papathanasopoulos told a news conference at Thessalonkiki international trade fair.

    The program, budgeted at 90 billion drachmas, is funded under the EU's second support framework. Sixty billion drachmas are destined for energy saving and 30 billion for renewable energy projects.

    The ministry also expects more proposals on technology for energy co-production by the October 15 deadline, sparked by progress in building a national natural gas network for industrial and household use.

    In the first round, spanning December 1996-March 1997, proposals for energy co-production represented only four percent of investment plans.

    Eligible to apply are private concerns that wish to launch a project budgeted at a minimum 100 million drachmas for energy co-production and 20 million for energy saving technology. The ministry's subsidies range between 35 percent and 55 percent.

    No further proposals will be sought until 2000 but the ministry is preparing a new program it hopes will fall under the EU's third support package, Mr. Papathanasopoulos said.

    [32] EU supports municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The European Union (EU) is providing financial support amounting to more than ECU 8 million for the municipal elections in Bosnia, which will take place on 13-14 September 1997.

    "Free and fair municipal elections are a vital aspect of ensuring long term stability in Bosnia Herzegovina" commented Commissioner Hans van den Broek. "Since the central authorities are still not functioning up to Dayton standards, it is important that the people have faith in directly elected municipal officials," he said.

    The EU has deployed some 2,450 election supervisors in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) elections supervision mission. Polling on September 13-14 and subsequent counting of the votes will be observed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina by more than 250 monitors, many of them from EU Member States.

    A delegation from the European Parliament will monitor the elections in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Brcko. The EU assistance is part of a common and foreign and security policy joint action, one of the EU's foreign policy tools.

    [33] Bank of Crete purchase bid by Piraeus Bank

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    A bid for the purchase of Bank of Crete was eventually submitted yesterday by Piraeus Bank.

    Copies of the bid were delivered to the members of an appraisal committee for consideration.

    Eurobank was the first institution to express interest in buying Bank of Crete, at a minimum price of 30 billion drachmas, but it did not submit a bid.

    AGET releases first half results The cement company AGET Iraklis recorded a 13 per cent rise in sales (47.6 billion drachmas) during the first half of 1997 in comparison to the corresponding period last year.

    The company's pre-tax profits totaled 8.68 billion drachmas, a rise of 71.7 per cent. Announcing the economic results yesterday, Aget officials told the members of the board that prospects for the second half of the year were also expected to be positive, owing to increased demand in the domestic market and abroad. AGET also said the nomination of Athens to host the Olympic Games in 2004 was expected to boost an investments program for infrastructure projects underway across the country.

    The Iraklis consortium also recorded a rising course with sales in the first half of the current year, having reached 70.35 billion drachmas, a rise of 45 per cent.

    [34] Lower transit cargo prices decided for Piraeus

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    The Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) has decided to establish a more favorable invoice for transit cargoes passing through the port in containers.

    The new invoice, according to the number of containers transported by each company on an annual basis, is as follows:

    For 1-5,000 containers: $72.50 dollars; from 5,001-20,000, $59; from 20,001-100,000, $50.50 and from 100,000 containers and above, $43.50.

    Prices include both employees' overtime work and additional charges for work done on holidays and Sundays.

    OLP's new invoice allows for an increase in transit cargoes' exclusion from storage dues from nine to 15 days. The same applies to empty transit containers.

    For containers having dangerous contents or a mixed content (dangerous and non-dangerous) a free seven-day stay period is established.

    [35] Ionian Bank profits rise

    Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)

    Ionian Bank's net pre-prediction profits have amounted to 6.2 billion drachmas in the first half of 1997 compared to 3.1 billion drachmas in the corresponding period in 1996.

    The bank's net pre-tax profits amounted to 4 billion drachmas in the first half of the year as against 1.1 billion drachmas over the same period last year.

    According to an announcement by the bank, the positive course over the first half of the year is expected to continue during the second half of the current year.

    According to the announcement, the loans granted by the bank as at June 30, 1997 amounted to 509.8 billion drachmas and deposits to 1.589 trillion drachmas, while on the same date in 1996 they amounted to 453.1 billion drachmas and 1.422 trillion drachmas, respectively.

    End of English language section.


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