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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-12-19

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 1371), December 19, 1997

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] No sign of missing Yakovlev-42, search continues
  • [02] ... Passengers
  • [03] ... Assistance requested to locate plane
  • [04] ... Gov't spokesman
  • [05] ... Stephanopoulos, Simitis
  • [06] ... Mantelis
  • [07] ... Last conversation
  • [08] ... Tape to prosecutor
  • [09] ... Presidential delegation
  • [10] Athens hosts second Mideast peace process meeting
  • [11] ... 'Excellent avenue for advancing peace process'
  • [12] Simitis-Scharping meeting yesterday
  • [13] Scharping praises Greece's role in Balkans
  • [14] PM briefs president on EU summit
  • [15] US says it is unaware of Turkish threats to annex occupied Cyprus
  • [16] Romeos in London for talks with British Gov't
  • [17] Papantoniou: Greek economy now entering battle of competitiveness
  • [18] Greek equities end substantially lower
  • [19] Ergobank signs 100 mln US dollar syndicated loan
  • [20] European Commission approves ILP control of Hellenic Steel
  • [21] EU budget approved by wide majority
  • [22] EU farmers' income falls by 3.1 per cent
  • [23] Cost of traditional Christmas dinner rises slightly
  • [24] GSEE, ADEDY claim strike a success
  • [25] Greek-Albanian agreement on cultural artifacts, museums
  • [26] Albanian sports delegation in Athens
  • [27] Greek jewelry exhibition
  • [28] ESHEA delegation meets Reppas over state-run TV news rooms
  • [29] Survey results on attitudes towards foreigners
  • [30] EU's 'Horizon' program in Evros

  • [01] No sign of missing Yakovlev-42, search continues

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Search and rescue teams were working against time yesterday to detect any sign of a Ukrainian airliner that disappeared from the radar screens at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki Wednesday evening.

    At press-time there was still no reports that rescue teams had found the wreckage of the plane or any sign of the 70 people on board.

    Inclement weather in the region has also hampered rescue teams' efforts.

    "Adverse weather conditions, heavy snow and fog are hindering the search," a special disaster unit (EKAM) officer said.

    The Russian-built Yakovlev 42, belonging to Ukraine's Aerosweet airlines, disappeared from radar screens at 9:15 p.m. local time while at an altitude of some 3,200 feet as it flew over the northern Greek city of Veria, according to Thessaloniki control tower authorities.

    The plane vanished minutes before landing at Macedonia Airport.

    On his part, the Chief of the National Defense General Staff Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis said the main emphasis of an air and land search shifted to the mountainous region west of Katerini after an extensive search in the Thermaic Gulf area proved fruitless.

    He said that Hellenic Air Force radars monitored the course of the plane, which pinpointed that the plane had flown over Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport heading north, turned right, and went off the radars after the village of Kato Milia.

    The plane had been flying at an altitude of 3,500 feet when "something sudden must have happened, possibly it crashed into a mountain-top", Gen. Tzoganis said.

    The mountains in the area range from 3,500-5,500 feet in height.

    Gen. Tzoganis ruled out the possibility of mechanical failure, from indications so far.

    The weather conditions in the area are particularly adverse for aircraft, with low cloud formations between 800 and 1,500 feet and visibility at barely 100 meters. Gen. Tzoganis said there was a danger of "passing near the plane at just a little more than 100 meters and not seeing it".

    He also said a company of commandos, army alpine units, eight helicopters, two C-130s, fire-fighting vehicles and a frigate were combing the region.

    He said that the extremely adverse weather conditions, which were expected to worsen, were hampering the search and rescue operation, and expressed fear that some "areas of interest" could not be reached before hours.

    Two C-130 "Hercules" planes flew over the mountainous Pieria and Imathia prefectures as well as Kozani after being informed of the disappearance of the plane. They were joined by two Chinook helicopters at day break.

    On the ground, police assisted by commando units and local farmers in tractors, who searched the area. Many regions "are inaccessible and the snow is 1.5 meters deep," an air force spokesman said.

    [02] ... Passengers

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Forty-two of the passengers are Greeks and 20 foreigners, including eight women and two children. Most of the Greek passengers were either businessmen or construction workers returning to Greece for the holidays.

    Scores of relatives gathered at Macedonia Airport to await news.

    Haris Stamos, from the northern Greek city of Kozani, whose son Nikos is among the 42 Greek nationals aboard the airliner told the ANA that his son was among six other persons from Kozani working since last September for a Greek construction company in the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

    "It's his first home leave and he was coming here for the Christmas holidays," Mr. Stamos said, who is taking part in the search of the Pieria mountains together with 27 EKAM officers combing the area with sniffer dogs.

    [03] ... Assistance requested to locate plane

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The government yesterday asked a Brussels-based center specializing in locating downed aircraft for assistance in pinpointing the position of the Ukrainian airliner.

    Airport authorities at Thessaloniki said the Brussels center "has a satellite for tracking airplanes, and we supplied them with the flight details of the missing Yakovlev-42".

    "It will be very difficult for the satellite to locate the Yakovlev, as this type of airplane does not carry the beacons tracked by this system. Such beacons are usually found only on long-distance haulers," a Thessaloniki airport official told ANA.

    [04] ... Gov't spokesman

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Government spokesman Demetris Reppas expressed the regret of Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the government over the air tragedy, stressing that the competent services were doing everything possible to locate the aircraft.

    Mr. Reppas said that all services had been placed on the alert from the outset and all the appropriate technical means were being used in the search.

    Replying to reporters questions about the delay in the installation of a new radar system at Thessaloniki international airport, Mr. Reppas said that if somebody was found to be responsible they would have to "pay the price".

    Mr. Reppas attributed responsibility to both "competent services" and local residents who are opposed to the installation of the new radar system.

    He acknowledged that the government bore political responsibility but said that "to succeed in its task it needs the assistance also of the competent, social or trade union agencies involved".

    Mr. Reppas stressed, however, that for the time being, and before an investigation has been carried out, the tragedy could not be linked to the delay in the installation of the new radar.

    [05] ... Stephanopoulos, Simitis

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    On his part, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos expressed his "sincere regrets" for the plane's accident in a telegram addressed to his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos ended a three-day official visit to Ukraine on Wednesday.

    The president also expressed his sympathy to the relatives of the plane's passengers.

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed the government's sorrow for the loss of the Ukrainian plane and his sympathy to the relatives of the missing passengers.

    Mr. Simitis said that rescue teams in northern Greece have been mobilized to locate the plane, while he stated categorically that it was premature to attribute responsibilities.

    The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in a statement that the accident spotlighted "tragic inadequacies" of Thessaloniki airport.

    It described as unacceptable and dangerous the mentality of ministers in making excuses about bureaucracy and shifting responsibilities to residents in the area for the lack of a landing radar system at Macedonia Airport.

    [06] ... Mantelis

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis also arrived in Thessaloniki yesterday to help coordinate efforts to find the missing aircraft.

    "The assessment is that if the airport had the special radar system LRS to facilitate approach, we would have had an additional tool at our disposal. No one can say for sure but it is possible that it would have helped to avert (the accident)," Mr. Mantelis told reporters.

    He added that the government would be investigating the matter to see who was responsible the fact that the radar system had not been installed even though it had been purchased.

    "The truth is that the radar has been procured, and the facilities have been built at the airport for the placement of the system. However, the necessary facilities outside the airport have not been built because there is the matter of the expropriation of land where the antenna is to be erected. The official announcement regarding the expropriation of the land was made on Oct. 10 this year and approval for the environmental works was given in April. However, the local residents have opposed the plan, citing environmental repercussions and since then they have been in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority," Mr. Mantelis said.

    Presenting the Civil Aviation Authority's version of events, Mr. Mantelis said that the aircraft entered Greek airspace at 8:40 p.m. last night and its pilot received permission from the control tower of Thessaloniki airport to land using the ILS system . At 8:55 p.m. the aircraft flew over the landing runway but at a higher altitude than usual and did not land. The pilot again asked for and was given permission to attempt a new landing.

    At 8:59 p.m., Mr. Mantelis continued, the pilot reported that he was flying 10 nautical miles northwest (of the airport) at an altitude of 3,500 feet. The control tower then instructed him to climb to 6,000 feet and report his position.

    The pilot reported his position at 9:09 p.m. and at an altitude of 6,000 feet. He said he was beginning the landing procedure using the ILS system which helps aircraft descend to within 300 meters of the runway.

    During the landing procedure, the pilot requested assistance from the control tower which however did not have "electronic" contact with the aircraft since the airport does not have radar.

    At 9:13 p.m. the air traffic controllers lost radio contact with the pilot and the airport went on alert five minutes later.

    Mr. Mantelis said that it was highly likely that the pilot became confused and from some point onwards was incorrectly reporting his position.

    [07] ... Last conversation

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Press reports stated that a few minutes before the Ukrainian aircraft went missing, the pilot had notified the control tower at Macedonia Airport that he was at a distance of 28 miles, while the control tower instructed him to start the approach process.

    The conversation occurred at 9.10 p.m. while the aircraft's direction (west, east, south or north) was not clarified.

    The pilot replied that he is at 3,500 feet and the control tower called on the aircraft to proceed to the point of starting the descent process and the pilot responded "Okay".

    Two minutes later, at 9.12 p.m., the pilot told the control tower: "I will report to you when I reach the point of starting the descent."

    They were the pilot's last words before the aircraft lost contact with the control tower.

    Military units participating in the search for the aircraft were ordered to return to army bases in the towns of Katerini and Litohoro due to bad weather conditions prevailing in the area of the search. Likewise, commandos will camp near Kato Milia, Rizom a and Polydendro.

    Several vessels are continuing their search in the Thermaic Gulf.

    The search will be resumed at first light today in the areas of Pieria and Kilkis, focusing on Kato Milia and with the participation of more forces.

    [08] ... Tape to prosecutor

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    In addition, Mr. Mantelis will visit Supreme Court prosecutor Panayiotis Dimopoulos today to deliver to him, according to ICAO rules, the tape and recorded conversation between the control tower at Macedonia Airport and the missing plane's pilot.

    The prosecutor is already leaning towards ordering an investigation into the causes of the plane crash and failure to install the special radar at the airport.

    [09] ... Presidential delegation

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    All members of the delegation that accompanied President Kostis Stephanopoulos on his official visit to the Ukraine returned to Athens last night, the president's office announced.

    The statement came after a Ukrainian civil defense official in Odessa said that the passenger list of the missing Yakovlev-42 airliner may have included some members of the delegation who had accompanied President Stephanopoulos on his three-day official visit.

    [10] Athens hosts second Mideast peace process meeting

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Israeli and Palestinian delegations met in Athens yesterday for the second "Athens Meeting" on the Middle East peace process.

    The meeting, organized by the Greek government, aims to examine the course of the peace process and allow an exchange of views on stepping up the process. The first "Athens meeting" was held last June at the Vouliagmeni seaside resort.

    Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis formally opened proceedings, which will be held behind closed doors.

    Diplomatic sources said a third meeting tentatively scheduled for the coming summer will also include the participation of Israeli, Palestinian and Greek businessmen. Mr. Kranidiotis proposed that the third meeting be held in Athens.

    Participating in the present meeting are two vice-presidents of the Israeli Knesset, deputies from both the Israeli ruling coalition and opposition, as well as the Israeli foreign minister's brother.

    Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is expected to close the meeting with a speech on Sunday. The European Union's emissary on the Mideast peace process Miguel Angel Muratino is also scheduled to speak on Sunday.

    The ambassadors of the United States, European Union member states, Russia, Jordan, Norway and Egypt had been invited to attend a dinner hosted by Mr. Kranidiotis last night in honor of the participants.

    According to diplomatic sources, Greece as an EU member-state wants to play a coordinating role in the region without usurping the peacemaking efforts of other countries in the region.

    "Our ambition is for this informal channel of communication, which has been created through the Athens meetings and which is not binding on governments, to develop into an institution which can contribute to procedures to clear obstacles in official talks," a source said.

    In his address yesterday, Mr. Kranidiotis said that Greece wanted to offer organizational support through these meetings in a more informal climate which offers the opportunity to both sides to exchange ideas and opinions on the peace process. He stressed that Greece was opposed to any terrorist actions, regardless of the motives they served and said the Greek government aimed to undertake the training of a number of Palestinian police officers working in anti-terrorist services.

    He noted that the "creation of axes" in the region did not contribute to efforts for regional stability and peace and referred to Greece's efforts in the Balkans and the Mediterranean - particularly through the recent Southeast European summit on Crete .

    Cyprus, he added, was an issue for the "collective security of the Eastern Mediterranean", saying that the Cyprus and Mideast issues were issues directly linked.

    [11] ... 'Excellent avenue for advancing peace process'

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Knesset Vice-President Meir Shitrit said that the meetings provided an excellent opportunity for a constructive exchange of views between the two sides and the advancement of the Middle East peace process.

    Mr. Shitrit said peace in the region was the only possible path for both peoples "who are the only ones who can provide a solution to the problem".

    "This solution could take the form of a new agreement once the greatest possible consensus has been secured from all the political parties. For the time being this is a stumbling block to progress in this direction," Mr. Shitrit said.

    On the role of the international community in the peace process, and particularly of the European Union, Mr. Shitrit praised the efforts being made in the economic sector to assist the Palestinians.

    Within this framework, he agreed with Mr. Kranidiotis' proposal for the holding of a third meeting in Athens.

    Palestinian Legislative Council member Marwan Barghouti underlined the present extremely adverse position of the Palestinians as compared to the Israelis.

    Mr. Barghouti stressed the need for priority to be given to the political problem and the implementation of agreements already signed by the two sides.

    [12] Simitis-Scharping meeting yesterday

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday received the president of the European Socialist Party, Rudolf Scharping, for a discussion concerning Socialist parties in the European Union and the results of the recent EU summit in Luxembourg.

    Mr. Scharping leaves today for Ankara, where according to diplomatic sources, he is to make an attempt to defuse some of the tension between the EU and Turkey that arose after the summit.

    Mr. Scharping, who is also Vice-President of the German Socialist Party (SPD), held talks on the issue with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and foreign ministry officials before leaving Bonn, according to the same sources.

    He also attended a lunch hosted by Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday.

    [13] Scharping praises Greece's role in Balkans

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    European Socialist Party president and Vice-President of Germany's Social Democrat Party Rudolf Scharping praised Greece as being the sole stabilizing force in the Balkans.

    He was addressing an event of the Institute of Strategic and Development Studies (ISTAME) "Andreas Papandreou" yesterday on the state of central and southeastern European countries.

    "Greece is the sole stabilizing force in the Balkans and stability and democracy in the region is a vital interest, both of its own and of Europe's," he said.

    Addressing the same event, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need for strengthening the role of Greece and of central European countries to enable the consolidation of peace and development in the region.

    Mr. Scharping said in his address that states abiding by the principles of European civilization can join the European Union, namely, a state of justice, a free market, enlightenment and democracy.

    However, it is important that it should be understood that the EU is open to all the European countries on the above basis and is willing to contribute to the democratization process "from Croatia to Turkey" with great assistance so that "no one will feel excluded."

    Replies given by Mr. Scharping to questions from the audience were of particular interest. He conceded that his country contributed to the creation of the crisis in former Yugoslavia with the "very hasty" recognition of the secessionist republics.

    On his part, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the precondition for stabilizing the situation in the Balkans is, on the one hand, support for central European countries which join the EU and, on the other, strengthening the role of Greece as the sole member-state of the EU, the WEU and NATO in the region, taking into consideration Greek actions for the creation of a subregional security zone and a single market in the Balkans.

    Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also stressed the need for focusing on Cyprus' accession effort, including it in the effort of promoting Euro-Mediterranean security and co-operation policies by the EU.

    He said Europe must stop facing crises "passively and in retrospect" but should make pre-emptive political interventions.

    [14] PM briefs president on EU summit

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday briefed President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on the outcome of the recent European Union summit in Luxembourg and reactions worldwide on the issue of EU-Turkish relations.

    After the 40-minute meeting, Mr. Simitis told reporters that Greece's policy line remained firm, adding that the Greek line was one of consistency, stability in policy, and cool-headedness.

    Mr. Stephanopoulos, who returned on Wednesday from a three-day official visit to the Ukraine, expressed his grief over the air accident in Northern Greece in which a Ukrainian airliner went missing just minutes before landing at Thessaloniki airport and was feared to have crashed into the Pieria mountain range.

    "Today is a day of grief," Mr. Stephanopoulos told reporters before the talks. He said he had communicated with the Chief of the Air Force General Staff but, "unfortuna-tely, the airplane has not been located yet".

    [15] US says it is unaware of Turkish threats to annex occupied Cyprus

    Washington, 19/12/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)

    US State Department spokesman Jim Foley yesterday stated that he was unaware of any recent Turkish government threats to annex Turkish-occupied Cyprus.

    He also reiterated the US position that "emphasis must be placed on talks between the two communities under the auspices of the United Nations".

    Mr. Foley said Washington considered a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation the "only viable and fruitful solution to bring peace and reconciliation to the island".

    Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to the US, he said the two sides would discuss issues of investment and trade, including closer co-operation in the energy sector, besides a wide gamut of bilateral and regional matters.

    [16] Romeos in London for talks with British Gov't

    London, 19/12/1997 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

    Public Order Minister George Romeos began a two-day visit here yesterday in light of Britain's assumption of the European Union presidency.

    At the same time, a delegation he is heading will be briefed on British authorities' experience on such issues as anti-terrorism action, football violence and corruption among law enforcement officials.

    Mr. Romeos held talks yesterday with British Interior Minister Jack Strough and Under-secretary Joyce Quinn, a former deputy.

    "This visit is part of a series of visits abroad, having already visited Germany and the US, and has the main target of developing co-operation with police of other countries in very many sectors. Given that present-day crime in all sectors has no border and, consequently, co-operation primarily with the police forces of European Union countries is necessary," he said.

    Mr. Romeos said that his talks with the British interior minister and the under-secretary moved within this framework, adding that public order ministry officials held parallel talks with British police services.

    [17] Papantoniou: Greek economy now entering battle of competitiveness

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The Greek economy is entering the battle of competitiveness, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said during the budget debate in Parliament last night.

    "In the last four years, we won the battle of stabilization, we are winning the battle of development, and now we must win the battle of competitiveness," he said, stressing that this required a restructuring of the labor market and privatizations, to be achieved through consensus.

    The minister appealed for "self-restraint" by the social partners in their incomes claims in order to attain Maastricht criteria in the next two years.

    "Our aim is to reach the 'finishing line' of convergence in 1998, by reducing the deficit below 3 per cent of GDP and inflation below 3 per cent, at 2.5 per cent, in order to claim our position in EMU early in 2000 and have the drachma enter the Euro on Jan. 1, 2001".

    He announced that a policy of de-escalating taxes for businesses and low-income earners would begin in two or three years, while in the meantime, spending on social services would far exceed the projected inflation rate.

    [18] Greek equities end substantially lower

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Greek equities came under pressure to end substantially lower on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday.

    Traders said the market lacked fresh incentives to attract investors.

    The general index closed 0.83 percent lower at 1,502.14 points.

    Trading was extremely heavy reflecting transaction of large blocks of shares in National Insurance and Mortgage Bank. Turnover totaled 81.3 billion drachmas.

    Sector indices lost ground. Banks fell 0.51 percent, Insurance eased 0.39 percent, Leasing ended 0.63 percent off, Investment dropped 0.20 percent, Constructions fell 1.36 percent, Industrials eased 0.88 percent, Miscellaneous ended 1.24 percent down an d Holding fell 0.05 percent.

    [19] Ergobank signs 100 mln US dollar syndicated loan

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Ergobank, one of the biggest private banks in Greece, yesterday signed a two-year syndicated loan worth 100 million US dollars with a group of 18 international banks.

    The loan will be used by Ergobank's London branch to fund lending and investment programs.

    The syndicated loans carries a 0.125 percent margin over Libor, with favorable terms reflecting the bank's positive credit rating abroad.

    Sanwa Bank, a Japanese bank, acted as underwriter to the deal, with Barclays Capital and Commerzbank acting as co-underwriters.

    [20] European Commission approves ILP control of Hellenic Steel

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The European Commission has authorized a takeover deal according to which ILVA Laminati Piani, a subsidiary of the Riva Group, will acquire through its wholly owned subsidiary Chabana, 10.37% of the shares of Hellenic Steel Company from the Japanese company Itochu.

    As a result of the operation ILP would hold, through various wholly owned subsidiaries, 51.66% of shares of Hellenic and would obtain sole control of that company.

    Hellenic is a Greek company specializing in the cold rolling and coating of flat steel products. It has no activities apart from those covered by the ECSC Treaty. In 1996 its production of cold rolled wide strip was 320 000 tons and its turnover was 1 48 million ECU.

    In cold rolled strip, ILP/Hellenic will have a combined Europe market share of less than 10 % in cold rolled strip, less than 15% in hot dip galvanized and less than 15% in tinplate.

    These are modest market shares and will not give the parties the power to determine prices, restrict production or distribution or hinder effective competition.

    [21] EU budget approved by wide majority

    Strasbourg, 19/12/1997 (ANA - C. Charalambopoulos)

    The plenum of the Europarliament yesterday approved the EU budget for 1998 by a large majority.

    The two main points of the budget related to Greek positions concern adoption of two amendments which "freeze" credits to Turkey, and another amendment, co-signed by New Democracy Euro-MP Pavlos Sarlis, proposing supports to small- and medium-size enterprises, mainly in the tourism sector.

    One of the first two amendments refers to the withholding of 16.5 billion drachmas from the financial co-operation program on the grounds that Turkey has not shown respect to the principles of the European Convention of Human Rights and the rules of international law.

    The second of the first two amendments envisages that 10 per cent of the MEDA program funds, amounting to 29 billion drachmas, it transferred to the reserves of the budget, and will not be disbursed until the Commission carries out a proper evaluation of the financial plans submitted by Turkey and the Parliament agrees on the disbursement.

    The third amendment envisages the disbursement of 512 million ECUs.

    [22] EU farmers' income falls by 3.1 per cent

    Brussels, 19/12/1997 (ANA - G. Daratos)

    Farmers' income in EU countries fell by 3.1 per cent on average in 1997 compared to 1996, according to preliminary figures released by the Union's statistical service, EUROSTAT.

    Greek farmers' income fell by 2.6 per cent.

    On the other end, Dutch farmers achieved a record increase of 6.7 per cent, due to increases in the prices of poultry, livestock and fresh produce. At the other end of the scale, British and Portuguese farmers suffered decreases of 23.1 and 13.7 per cent, respectively.

    [23] Cost of traditional Christmas dinner rises slightly

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The cost of the traditional Christmas dinner table rose slightly this year, as opposed to last year's levels as prices of items comprising it show small increases and decreases.

    According to figures by the development ministry, the total cost increased by 0.9 per cent to about 2,600 drachmas.

    On her part, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said the holiday markets are operating smoothly and with adequate supplies of all items.

    She said daily checks by the ministry's services ascertained that consumer goods showing increased demand, such as meat, fruits and vegetables, are being provided in quantities that are more than enough for consumers' needs and at prices which are competitive.

    Development Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis said that checks will continue all over the country throughout the holidays and called on consumers to be careful with whatever purchase they make.

    [24] GSEE, ADEDY claim strike a success

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) claimed that yesterday's 24-hour strike was a success. Mobilizations were in protest against the government's economic policy.

    The strike was particularly felt in the transport sector and industrial plants.

    ADEDY President Yiannis Koutsoukos, who addressed a central rally in Kaningos Square, said trade unions rejected the government's incomes policy, while mobilizations would continue. He called for immediate measures of support for employment and increases in social spending.

    The rally was followed by a march to Parliament, where trade unionists handed a petition to Parliament President, Apostolos Kaklamanis, who responding, acknowledged the fairness of unionist demands, particularly those relating to unemployment. However, he said that there were no margins for changes in the budget. A new round of mobilizations is expected by public utility unions after Christmas on the taxation draft bill.

    [25] Greek-Albanian agreement on cultural artifacts, museums

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Greece will provide Albania with a catalogue of all cultural artifacts belonging to the latter that found their way to south of the border, allowing for their return as soon as an official request is made.

    Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and his visiting Albanian counterpart Arta Dade signed a joint communiqui yesterday on the issue.

    Furthermore, Greece will undertake the reconstruction of Albania's museum network and the education and re-education of Albanian archaeologists through a series of scholarships. Cultural exchanges were also discussed.

    [26] Albanian sports delegation in Athens

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras met a visiting Albanian delegation headed by Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Arte Dante yesterday.

    Talks focused on co-operation between the two countries in the sports sector in light of their upcoming cultural agreement. Among others, the agreement will include participation of Albanian athletes in pre-Olympic games.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Fouras accepted an invitation to visit Albania in January.

    [27] Greek jewelry exhibition

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    The most complete exhibition on Greek jewelry will be inaugurated at the Bianca Villa in Thessaloniki on Dec. 21 in the framework of Cultural Capital of Europe events.

    It is the first time that six millennia of Greek jewelry from prehistoric times, classical Greece, the Byzantine era, the period of Ottoman occupation to modern Greece are on display.

    The objects come from 14 of the largest museums in the country.

    [28] ESHEA delegation meets Reppas over state-run TV news rooms

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    An Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) delegation yesterday discussed with Press and Mass Media Minister Demetris Reppas the staff problems facing the news department of the state-run Greek radio and television networks (ET-1, NET).

    ESHEA President Aristides Manolakos told the minister that the government's decision not to renew public utility employees' contracts starting Jan. 1, 1998, will make news production impossible.

    ESHEA delegates asked Mr. Reppas to suspend the law where reporters are concerned, while he replied that the views presented to him were constructive.

    [29] Survey results on attitudes towards foreigners

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Residents of Macedonia mostly believe that foreign workers take away jobs, are too many and are of different religious background, but do not consider them dangerous or "unwanted", according to a study by the National Research Center.

    While Black Sea Greeks (Pontians) from the former soviet republics, Russians, Bulgarians, Italians, gypsies and Serbians are seen in a mostly positive light, Albanians, Turks and residents of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are generally disliked.

    Financial dealings with Balkan peoples are well received and only 17 per cent are reportedly hostile to foreigners.

    [30] EU's 'Horizon' program in Evros

    Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)

    Evros Prefect Georgios Dolios held a meeting yesterday in Alexandroupoli on the implementation of the European Union's "Horizon" program for the mentally disabled.

    The program's aim is the social and psychological rehabilitation of the mentally ill, and will be implemented by the Ferres municipality with the assistance of a mobile unit of the General Regional Hospital of Alexandroupoli and the Mental Health Society.

    End of English language section.


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