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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-04Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Government endorses bill to deregulate electricity marketThe cabinet yesterday unanimously endorsed a draft bill to liberalise the country's electricity market by February 2001 in line with a European Union deadline.The bill will also help to prepare the domestic market for tough international competition expected after deregulation when private sector companies will have the right to produce electricity. Devised by Development minister Vasso Papandreou, the bill will be discussed in detail with Public Power Corporation (DEH) workers before being submitted to parliament for a vote. Under the draft legislation, DEH will retain its vertically integrated structure, still handling production, transmission and distribution. A special authority will also be set up to monitor operation of the newly liberalised electricity market and maintain standards in services and rates, protecting consumers. Speaking after the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the government spokesman told journalists the plan represented perhaps the biggest state restructuring to date. There had been no differences of opinion on the bill among cabinet members, spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. DEH, which employs over 33,000 workers, intends to help streamline operations through retraining, transferring personnel to other public enterprises, and assigning staff to new posts within the company. Workers rightw would be safeguarded, Mr Reppas said. "We must have an imaginative approach to this issue", he said. The cabinet also discussed promoting the use of renewable energy, and progress in a major project underway to create a nationwide natural gas distribution network. Mr Reppas said both the prime minister and Ms Papandreou had agreed on the need to find alternative energy supplies due to the country's dependence on Rusian imports. Agreements have already been signed for the supply of gas from Algeria, but the volume involved is considered too low to reduce dependency on Russia. Mr Reppas also said that the problem of power cuts caused by the heavy use of air conditioning units due to a heatwave would soon be resolved. A third north-south electicity line will soon be build to expand the national grid, ensuring a steady supply of electricity to the greater Athens region, he said. At the same time, minor cuts were unavoidable due to a steep rise in electricity consumption in hot weather. [02] Development minister: -- The bill aims at complying with a relevant European Union directive (16/92EK).Presenting the bill, Ms Papandreou said that the most important clauses in the directive are the abolition of the exclusive production rights, the setting out of a management body for the transmission system, the gradual deregulation of the electric power market, which is achieved through the definition of selecting custimers, namely consumers who have the right to choose an electric power supplies.Other clauses are the adoption of a system for carrying out commercial contracts for the procurement of electir power between producers and selecting customers. Lastly, the keeping of separate accounts for production, transmission and distribution activities in events where those active in the electric power sector exercise at least two of the above activities. The Public Power Corporation's exclusive right to produce electric power will be abolished. The operation and exploitation (management) of the Transmission System (high voltage and connection lines) will be assigned on an SA company whose charter will be ratified with a Presidential Decree and the initial share capital will be undertaken by the state in full. DEH will retain the right to extend the System and maintain it as well as its ownership. The System's administrator will pay DEH in return. Whowever possesses a production licence in Greece of has production units in a European Union member-state can provide selecting customers with electric power, provided he has obtained a procurement licence. "Energy policy today is focused on the customer-consumer and must express the balance between state intervention of the one hand, which safeguards energy supply safety and protection of the environment, and o the other a deregulated market operating under conditions of competition with the target of reducting energy cost", Ms Papandreouy said. [03] Electricity rates will rise by three percent on July 15, the national economy ministry said yesterday.The ministry's decision is expected to be ratified at an upcoming meeting of the Public Power Corporation's board. Athens News Agency Governemtn plans to simplify tax system, allow new breaksThe governemtn is planning to simplify the tax system and allow new tax breaks in the next two years, Finance Undersecretary George Drys said yesterday. Mr Drys said that the government would offer taxpayers "some major, pleasant surprises" in the next two years that would not simply be one-off hand-outs. Finance ministry committees were already working on the changes and would submit their recommendations, Mr Drys said. In addition to simplification of the tax system and new tax breaks, the plan includes a reorganisation of finance ministry services in order to steamline their structure and introduce new technology. Athens News Agency[04] Greece sizzles with temperatures in the 40sTemperatures continued to soar throughout Greece yesterday, with conditions in the capital exacerbated by the lack of wind which caused air pollution to climb past danger levels.The pollution, combined with temparatures as high as 42 centigrade in Athens, resulted in scores of telephone calls to the Ambulance Service (EDAB) for assistance for people with heart and respiratory problems. A 38-year old man died in a Thessaloniki hospital after being diagnosed as heat-struck. The temperature in the city, which also had high humidity levels, toped 41 degrees Celcius. However, temperatures are not expected to be back at normal levels for the time of year before Monday. Due to the heat wave, the National Archaeological Museum will shut at 3 pm today and tomorrow, instead of 7pm as usual. Athens News Agency [05] Kranidiotis reiterates defensive character of Cyprus missilesForeign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said yesterday the Russian S-300 missiles ordered by Cyprus will arrive on the island in November at the earliest, and that the reasons for their installation will only disappear if progress is recorded in demilitarising the island."The missiles are not an end in themselves. They aim to serve the defence of the island vis-a-vis Turkey's excessive and illegal presence in the northern occupied part, which is the most militarised region the world", he said during a press conference on the island of Rhodes after the end of the second day of an international conference on the Middle East with the presence also of Palestinian and Israeli journalists. [06] -- Middle East affairsCommenting on Middle East issues, Mr Kranidiotis said that Greece waw "not particularly happy about the Turkish-Israeli military cooperation agreement, being concerned about a possible disturbing of the balances in the area and new violations of the rights of third nations".He categorically denied that Greece intended to enter into similar counterbalancing agreements with Arab nations. "We are not in favour of creating axes and counter-axes. We believe that this period is over and we have now entered an era of dialogues", he said. Asked to comment on the Israeli-Palestinian accords, he said the Greek government's view did not differ from that of the EU, and was in favour of the implentation of the Oslo and Madrid agreements. "We are not happy with (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's policy. Implementation of the agreements must be speeded up, and on our part, we are exercising our influence in that direction and support UN and US initiatives for a lifting of the deadlock", he said. Regarding Mr Netanyahu's thret that Israel would forbid the entry of Palestinian workers to its rterritores if the EU boycotted products from the occupied lands, Mr Kranidiotis commented that it was unacceptable for the Israeli premier to threaten the EU on such a basis. "The EU has adopted decisions seeking good cooperation with the Palestinian Authority and Israel and an improvement of the Palestinians' economic situation is to the interest of Israel itself", he said. Finally, Mr Kranidiotis expressed his regret over the absence of Palestinian legislators invited to the conference of Palestinian and Israeli personalities taking place in parallel to that of journalists. Athens News Agency[07] Tsohatzopoulos calls for self-administration of KosovoGreece yesterday placed full backing behind Kosovo Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova, and called on Yugoslavia to agree to full self-administration for its troubled Kosovo province.It also criticised Western efforts for rapprochement with the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which is fighting for independence from Yugoslavia. National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, in statements in Thessaloniki, urged Mr Rugova to "proceed directly with the establishment of a government". He also called on Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic to proceed to an "agreed, integral self-administration for Kosovo", reiterating that Greece was "opposed to Kosovo independence of self-determination". Addressing newly-graduated cadets of the Military School, Mr Tsohatzopoulos said, regarding the KLA, that "those who use violence and terrorism to advance human rights are not useful, and on the contrary compromise those who have dealings with them, unless they (the latter) have secured a commitment (from the former) to refrain from the use of violence and military action". Mr Tsohatzopoulos stressed that Greece's position on the Kosovo problem was "crystal clear", adding that the crisis could not be solved through military means but in a "political, peaceful, diplomatic" manner by granting "the broadest possible autonomy to Kosovo". "We believe that, in tandem with the commencement of peace talks, Rugova should be supported by the international public opinion to proceed directly in the establishment of a government, institutions, infrastructures and everyting else that comprise, in action, an integral self-administration of all levels", Mr Tsohatzopoulos said. Such a move, he added, would "upgrade Rugova himself and his role, with a simultaneous obligatory abandonment of arms by the so-called Liberation Movement and its subordination to the political leadership". Athens News Agency[08] Tsohatzopoulos begins 10-day visit to USSpeaking in Thessaloniki yesterday shortly before leaving on a 10-day visit to the United States, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that Greece and the US have many and interesting issues to discuss concerning peace and stability in the region.Mr Tsohatzopoulos made his statement on the sidelines of the awarding of diplomas to War Academy graduates. Speaking to officers on the wider role of the armed forces, he splike of "defence diplomacy". "The armed forces contribute towards the upgrading of Greece's geostrategic role in the wider region as well as of neighbouring peoples and defence diplomacy is today one of the basic weapons of our foreign policy". Mr Tsohatzopoulos announced that NATO's subregional subheadquarters will operate in Tyrnavos in mid-1999 with the participation of 450 officers of whom 200 will be Greeks. The number of officers graduating from the War Academy this year amounted to 120, including two Bulgarians, one Romanian and one American. Athens News Agency[09] Papandreou, Ferero discuss Europe's futureAlternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou had talks yesterday with Austria's Foreign and Development Undersecretary, Benino Ferero, on the priorities of the Austrian presidency of the European Union.The lengthy talks focused on issues relating to employment, enlargement, the Agenda 2000 and Europe's future in general. According to informed sources, Mr Papandreou briefed Ms Ferero on Greece's positions regarding national issues. Ms Ferero reportedly referred to a number of initiatives to be undertaken by the Austrian presidency aimed at safeguarding peace and preventing conflict. She said the Austrian presidency would also be attaching particular importance to the society of citizens. Athens News Agency [10] Greece, Albanian sigh financial protocolTirana (ANA - P.Haritos) -- Representatives of the Greek and Albanian government yesterday signed a financial protocol outlining the lending procedures for companies, which sustained danage during the March 1997 events here.According to Greek officials the 5 billion drachma loan in part of a 20 billion drachma aid package Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis promised to Albania so as to support the Albanian government's efforts in re-building the country's economy. They added that the Greek government lent the money at 5 per cent to the Albanian government, which in turn will lend the money to the branches of Greek banks in Tirana at 6 per cent, since they will manage the loans to the damaged businesses. Finally, the Greek banks will then lend the money to the businesses at interest rates of up to 9 per cent, while the term of the loan will be set at three years. Athens News Agency [11] Patriarch Vartholomeos concludes visit to Church of Czech Republic and SlovakiaISTANBUL (ANA A.Kourkoulas) - Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has concluded a six-day visit to the autonomous Church of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.An announcemement by the Ecumenical Patriarchate said that during the visit Patriarch Vartholomeos held talks on bilateral issues with the Hierarchy of the Church of Czech Republic and Slovakia. Among other, he met with the President of the Czech Republic. Athens News Agency [12] Greece's largest insurance company sets foot in BulgariaSOFIA (BTA/ANA) - The largest Greek insurance company, Interamerican, will enter the Bulgarian insurance market, said the Insurance Supervision Directorate.The plans were confirmed at a meeting between the chief of the insurance supervision authority, Hristo Hristov, and Grigoris Koulas, who acts as legal adviser to Interamerican. The representative of the Greek company was acquainted with the rules of the Bulgarian insurance market, including the licensing requirements, the winding up of the insurance business of some companies and the pending changes in the insurance legislation. Athens News Agency[13] EU Commission takes Greece to courtBRUSSELS (ANA -P.Pantelis) - The European Union's executive Commission yesterday took seven members of the 15-nation bloc to the European Court.Following bureaucatic tradition, the commission filed a backlog of suits before the summer holiday. Five charges are being brought against Greece, as follows: - Violation of EU legislation mandating the operation of private employment agencies. Greece has restricted the provision of services to the state-run Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED). - The Commission brought charges against Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Austrial for violating regulations on the free movement of goods. The main charge against Greece is the imposition of price controls on pharmaceutical goods, hindering imports from EU countries. - Greece is charged with violations on hospital procurements, again leading to breaches of directives on the free movement of goods. - Greece, Belgium and Portugal are charged with failing to harmonise with EU legislation on genetic engineering. - A failure to harmonise legislation with the EU on voluntary participation by industrial enterprises in the EU's environmental control managment system. Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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