A.N.A. Bulletin, 02/12/95

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 756), December 2, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Doctors hope to build up premier's strength

Doctors treating Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou said the key to the improvement of his condition lay in strengthening his respiration with the intravenous transfusion of nutrients.

Sources at the Onassion Cardiology Centre, where Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is being treated, said an expert nutritionist had been called from abroad.

Efforts were being made to stabilise the renal function, and assist the premier to regain his strength so as to positively respond to a gradual process of disconnection from the respirator machine, possibly to be attempted today, the same sources said.

Tests carried out yesterday afternoon were encouraging, showing that the patient could manage three or four out of 25 respirations on his own, compared to nil, as reported by Onassion deputy director Grigoris Skalkeas at the midday bulletin.

The sources added that a special external breathing apparatus, fitted over the patient's chest and assisting respiration by means of massage-like action, was expected from England to facilitate the process of removing Mr. Papandreou from the respirator machine.

"During the past 24 hours, the condition of the prime minister has been stable with respect to his respiratory and renal functions. He continues to be supported by the respirator and dialysis treatment. His heart function remains unchanged," a medical bulletin read by Mr. Skalkeas said.

Mr. Skalkeas explained that a respirator, which has an endotrachial tube, was used in cases where the patient could not breathe at all on his own, whereas external, tubeless breathing apparatus was used once the patient's breathing function was in the process of being restored.

Answering a reporter's question, Mr. Skalkeas said that the medication brought by top heart surgeon Dr. Magdi Yacoub, who had operated on the premier in 1988, had been administered to Mr. Papandreou but was discontinued because it caused arrhythmia.

The side-effects had ended when the medication was discontinued.

No change was reported in the evening bulletin, issued at 8 pm.

In a separate statement, Onassion general director Antonis Kontaratos said that an attempt would be made to reduce the number of visitors and duration of their stay since there was a "great danger of infection" from the constant comings and goings of so many visitors.

The decision was taken by a medical council in order to "protect the 117 patients hospitalised at the centre," Mr. Kontaratos said.

Mr. Kontaratos said that a second medical council would be held yesterday to deal with "problems that have arisen in relation to the media representatives."

[2] Hytiris

"The government is functioning as normal and there are no deficiencies in any sector," government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris said later in response to reporters' questions.

The spokesman reiterated that there was no question of the prime minister being temporarily replaced, adding that the issue was not being discussed either at PASOK or government meetings.

Mr. Hytiris said he did not know if private meetings were being held among PASOK cadres at which the issue of Mr. Papandreou's successor was being discussed.

He stressed however that the succession issue had not been raised at any party organ.

Regarding the participation of Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos at the forthcoming EU summit in Madrid, the spokesman said that before departing for Spain, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos would first be briefed on the agenda for talks by the competent ministers.

Asked if the Cabinet would be convened prior to Mr. Tsohatzopoulos' departure for Madrid, Mr. Hytiris said that the Cabinet would meet "if it is deemed necessary."

[3] Private investments expected to total over 600 billion, Anomeritis tells prospective expatriate Greek investors

Private investments in Greece increased seven-fold in 1995 compared to the previous year, Alternate National Economy Minister George Anomeritis told a conference of overseas Greek businessmen in this northern port city yesterday.

The conference, which opened yesterday, is being held within the framework of the inaugural World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference.

He said private investment in Greece this year would surpass the 600-billion-drachma mark, a significant increase over the 87 billion invested last year.

He said gross investments were expected to increase by 5 per cent this year and industrial production by 2 per cent.

Public investments are expected to increase 13.5 per cent this year, a 5 per cent increase over convergence programme targets.

As part of efforts to boost investment, Mr. Anomeritis announced, the whole of the legal framework and information relating to private investment in Greece will be available on Internet as of January 1, 1996.

He added the foreign ministry was in the process of setting up a special bureau providing services to foreign investors.

Addressing the same conference, Labour and Social Security Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas said that the incentives, such as state subsidies, to invest in Greece were among the best in Europe, and in certain regions such as Thrace were as high as 69 per cent of the total investment.

Mr. Tzoumakas also spoke of the favourable conditions in the labour market which had resulted in labour peace between employers and workers.

He underlined that 16,000 unemployed young people were currently following training programmes, while a number of programmes were underway to subsidise employers in order to create new jobs.

The rate of unemployment in Greece was 10 per cent, Mr. Tzoumakas said, attributing the figure not only to the prevailing economic conditions but also to the educational system.

Of the total 400,000 unemployed, he said, 110,000 were graduates of university-level institutions and technical colleges, while 200,000 were high-school graduates.

On the course of the Greek economy in general, Mr. Tzoumakas said that despite certain favourable developments, a number of structural problems remained, such as low productivity, the lack of competitiveness of Greek products, the operation and size of the public sector and the high public debt.

In statements to the ANA on the sidelines of the conference, Finance Under-secretary Dimitris Georgakopoulos said that the 1996 budget tabled in Parliament Thursday would be executed with the same fastidiousness as this year's budget and would contribute to the rapid development of the country.

Mr. Georgakopoulos said that the government was not considering abolishing or radically changing the system of "objective criteria" used for calculating income tax dues, and warned currency speculators that they would "burn their fingers" if they attemp ted "to play" with the drachma.

"The Greek currency is one of the most stable in Europe," Mr. Georgakopoulos stressed.

Despite claims to the contrary, he said, the 1995 budget had been executed with "admirable accuracy." With regard to revenue, 98 per cent of the target had been attained, while with respect to expenditures, the figure was 99.92 per cent.

"We believe that the same prospects exist for the 1996 budget. It is a budget characterised by stabilisation, continuity and consistency and will lead to rapid development," Mr. Georgakopoulos said.

[4] Significant interest shown by expatriate investors

National Economy Under-secretary Ioannis Anthopoulos said yesterday that investments by expatriate Greeks are mainly focusd in the sectors of food, modern technology, the purchase of real estate and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Mr Anthopoulos also announced that one of the largest investments with expatriate capital has been approved and was already underway. The company concerned will produce liquid organic fertilisers using a revolutionary method developed by a Greek agronomist. Its products are expected to contribute significantly to the production of health foods.

The total investment will reach 100 billion drachmas, with the creation of 400 jobs.

Expatriate businessman George Kaltezas, who lives and works in the US, owns 51 per cent of the shares, while the remaining 49 per cent is held by a US consortium.

[5] New support centre for AIDS sufferers opens

Marking World AIDS Day yesterday, General Secretary for Youth Panos Tsiligaridis opened the "Day Centre", a meeting and entertainment centre for people who must deal with the HIV virus and AIDS in their lives.

The centre, on the ground floor of the Life Centre Organisation building, will function along the same lines as other day centres in European Union countries. It will provide patients and their families with advisory services, sociotherapeutic groups, physical and entertainment activities and medical lectures. It will also house a library with information material and will provide meals, with all services being free of charge.

During a press conference, Mr. Tsiligaridis noted the importance of the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in dealing with such social problems. He said his presence at the opening was a "symbolic indication of the co-operation between the sta te and NGOs."

In an announcement yesterday, the Political Spring party drew attention to the need for active co-operation between all political and social bodies on an international level, as well as for public information, in order to deal with the AIDS epidemic.

Political youth organisations from New Democracy, PASOK and Politial Spring marked the day with the distribution of condoms, and informational events all over the country.

The day's events closed with the usual candle-lit march, organised by organisations including Life Centre, Hope and ACT UP, in co-operation with the General Secretariat for Youth. The march began from Klafthmonos Square and ended at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square.

[6] Tsohatzopoulos to lead next week's meeting on Greek Madrid summit positions

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister A kis Tsohatzopoulos -set to stand in for ailing Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou at the forthcoming EU summit in Madrid on December 15-16 -will chair a meeting next Friday on Greece's positions on issues to be discussed at the summit.

Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos and National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will attend the meeting.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr. Romeos said the foreign ministry had gone a long way in preparing for the Madrid summit and was in constant contact with the Spanish Presidency.

He said the main issues on the agenda of the summit were Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), next year's intergovernmental conference on revising the Maastricht Treaty, the prospect of enlargement in relation to the intergovernmental conference and employment.

Mr. Romeos predicted the intergovernmental conference would probably start in March, but that the final decision would be made at the Madrid summit.

Replying to questioners, Mr. Romeos said the process of EU enlargement could not start unless the file on regional policy and agricultural policy was previously examined in depth.

Mr. Romeos said Greece supported the view that a decision to start enlargement processes with 10 other countries, with the exception of Cyprus and Malta, should also contain other data.

He explained that the Community would not be able to live up to this big challenge unless it previously resolved the fiscal problem.

Mr. Romeos said the discussion of all fiscal aspects of enlargement, either as part of the intergovernmental conference or in parallel with another structured process, should take place in accordance with the Greek view to be raised.

However, no accession negotiations are expected to start before the intergovernmental conference ends. Negotiations for Cyprus and Malta will start six months after the end of the conference.

Replying to questioners, Mr. Romeos said the Greek side would not react to the association of other candidate countries to processes, but on one basic condition: that this association would not delay the process agreed in March for Cyprus and Malta.

Mr. Romeos will represent Greece at the General Affairs Council to convene in Brussels on Monday to examine the preparation of the Madrid summit.

The General Affairs Council will also discuss the issue of racism and xenophobia as well as the question of Europol (EU police).

[7] Greece condemns Bonns's 'unacceptable' move to meet with Turkey on customs union

Greece has lodged an official protest with Bonn over its initiative to convene a recent meeting of five European Union member states and Turkey on the issue of Ankara's customs union with the Community and the relations in general between Turkey and the EU.

Replying to questions yestgerday, government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris described the meeting as "unacceptable". He said it had been convened "outside the framework of operation of the European Union and its bodies," adding that the Greek embassy in Bonn had been instructed to make the appropriate diplomatic representations to the German government. Mr. Hytiris said the Bonn had not yet briefed the Greek government on the issue as requested by Athens. The foreign ministers of Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Spain had talks in Petersberg last month at a meeting attended also by Turkish Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal.

[8] Movement expected soon on FYROM name issue

In the view of Cyrus Vance, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali's representative on the issue of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the extension of time granted to the FYROM government to post pone talks on the name has ended since FYROM President Kiro Gligorov is again active and in a position to meet senior foreign officials, such as US Defence Secretary William Perry.

Diplomatic sources reveal that in recent days Mr. Vance has had repeated telephone contacts with FYROM as well as a series of meetings with Greece's permanent representative at the UN, ambassador Christos Zaharakis.

The circles expressed the conviction that, following pressure by Mr. Vance, FYROM will appoint a representative for negotiations and when their representative arrives at the UN headquarters in New York very soon the process will go ahead in the next for tnight with the prospect of it lasting about three weeks, unless there is a delay due to the Greek prime minister's illness.

It is expected to be a rather flexible process with direct meetings between the two sides under Mr. Vance's auspices.

The possibility of intermediate separate contacts between the UN mediator with one or the other side, during the launching of negotiations on the essence of the issue, cannot be ruled out.

[9] ND convenes on current developments

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday chaired a meeting of the so-called "mini political council."

The meeting, which was not attended by ND honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis, focused on current political developments, the 1996 budget and the condition of the prime minister's health.

Stavros Dimas, secretary-general of the ND Parliamentary Group said the prime minister's "uncertain health condition creates serious political problems.

[10] Greek and expatriate media discuss forging stronger ties

Athens, 02/12/1995 (ANA):

"Ninety-three journalists representing Greek expatriate media from 21 countries inaugurated a two-day forum yesterday in Thessaloniki within the framework of Sunday's first-ever World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference.

Press and Media Ministry Secretary-General Dimitris Pantazis greeted journalist delegates, referring in his address to the importance of the expatriate press, both print and broadcast, which he characterised as a lever for Hellenism's mobilisation.

The secretary-general emphasised the ministry's priorities in developing a national strategy and keeping Hellenism informed on national issues.

According to Mr. Pantazis, development of a institutional framework for co-operation and coordination encompassing all of Hellenism' expatriate press is of paramount importance.

Efforts in that direction call for establishment of short-term goals such as satellite television programmes, support of expatriate media and publications.

In his greeting, Macedonia-Thrace Minister Costas Triaridis said his ministry will first create a data bank in co-operation with the state-run Thessaloniki-based ET-3 television channel and the Macedonian Press Agency. The ministry will also assist in dissemination of information to the Balkans, the Black Sea region and eastern Europe.

Foreign Ministry Under-secretary Grigoris Niotis, who is also the president of the council's organising committee, commended the beginning of satellite programme transmissions by the state-run ERT network.

The first such broadcast will be Sunday's official commencement of the World Council of Overseas Hellenism conference by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Niotis also proposed creation of an international council of expatriate journalists.

[11] ANA presence

One of the primary speakers during the first day of the expatriate journalists' conference was Athens News Agency General Director Andreas Christodoulides, who spoke on developments in mass media and the rapid changes in the modern-day information sector.

Mr. Christodoulides made special reference to new services and "products" offered by the ANA as well as the organisation's transformation into a Societe Anonyme.

"Our first duty is for ANA to turn to digital technology in order to take advantage of its every application," he said.

The ANA general director said the Athens-based news organisation's second accomplishment lay in its ambitious computer linkup programme, which connects ANA with regional subscribers. Mr. Christodoulides said the communications programme will be completed in a few months, and will allow for newspapers and radio-television stations around Greece to take advantage of new technology at all levels, even audio and visual transmissions.

In addition, Mr. Christodoulides announced that a first-ever electronic photographic library in Greece will be inaugurated next October.

He also discussed ANA's recent availability on the worldwide Internet computer network through the Greek network-provider Ariadne, as well as support of the agency's special English-language service. Mr. Christodoulides emphasised the level of services offered through the Audiotext network as well, which provides around-the-clock news, special bulletins, sports, medical information and European Union news through a special telephone line.

The ANA general director said some of those services could be developed by expatriate businessmen.

[12] Venizelos

Transport and Communications Minister Evangelos Venizelos said Greece was in a position to start building its own HELLAS SAT TV satellite very soon.

He said the ambitious plan could produce specific results in a few years' time.

"We can have our own TV satellite relatively soon," he said. "We are in constant contact with the European Union's space committee."

He underlined the major role played by the electronic mass media in maintaining contact between expatriates and Greece.

[13] Coalition welcomes conference

The Coalition of the Left and Progress yesterday sent a message to the inaugural World Council of Overseas Hellenism, which officially began its sessions in Thessaloniki yesterday.

"Hellenism retains its national traditions and cultural identity, contributes to the forming of a better world, works and progresses everywhere and wants its homeland to be a modern, democratic, peaceful country, the point of reference for expatriate Greeks everywhere," the message said.

"Greece needs to be modernised. Our region needs peace and stability. Expatriate Greeks can and should contribute so that our country can enter the 21st century as a modern European country, a leader in the region in culture, economic prosperity, democratic culture and peaceful intentions."

[14] Patriarchate expresses 'concern'

The Ecumenical Patriarchate has sharply objected to the attempt to forge a World Council of Overseas Hellenism, saying that the entire initiative was "anti-ecclesiastical" and an attempt to usurp the role of the Church in uniting Greeks.

Ecumenical Synods have repeatedly ruled that all Orthodox Greeks belong to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, sources at the Phanar said, adding that the establishment of the council "acts against the prestige and peace of churches in overseas communities which constitute the only stable and binding link for the protection of all Greek traditions."

They stressed that the Church would not help the establishment of such a body, despite the appointment of Metropolitan Damaskinos of Switzerland as the Phanar's representative at the council and Patriarch Vartholomeos' message to the participants.

The Patriarchate has also expressed the fear that this "very costly" operation will promote party politics at the expense of the Church's interests and the interests of the nation.

The sources said the patriarch had expressed his full disagreement to the establishment of such an institution in a personal letter to Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.

[15] Triaridis says Thessaloniki to host new torture rehabilitation centre

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Costas Triaridis yesterday pledged to establish a Torture Victims Rehabilitation Centre in Thessaloniki, during his address to a regional conference on torture and abuse.

A criminal may have a repulsive face. But the state should always have a human face," he said. "Recent riots in the Korydallos prisons dramatically showed the magnitude of the problem."

Bent Sorense, a professor at the Copenhagen University, said Greece and the torture victims of the seven-year-long Greek colonels' junta prompted the foundation, in Copenhagen, of the first torture victims rehabilitation centre to have ever been established.

Two rehabilitation centres are currently in operation in Greece, in Athens and Ioannina.

[16] Eurodeputies announce 'Caravan of Solidarity' for Bosnia orphans

Eurodeputies Paraskevas Avgerinos (PASOK), Alekos Alavanos (Coalition), and Panayiotis Lambrias (ND) told a press conference yesterday they were sponsoring a 'Caravan of Solidarity' programme of financial 'adoption' of orphans from Bosnia-Herzegovina.

They said the aim of the project was to provide financial assistance to about 10,000 orphans of dislocated families from Krajina and various regions of Bosnia, including Moslem children.

A delegation of the Caravan has already drawn up a list of about 1,000 children during a visit to the Trebinje region in early October, to whom it promised financial assistance of at least 5,000 - 10,000 drachmas a month for a year.

Those who have pledged support to the Caravan so far include Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, on behalf of the House, the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB), the Teachers' Union (OLME), and the Thessaloniki Trade Association.

An account for contributions has been opened at the National Bank of Greece (No. 159/480203-99).

[17] Savings deposits up, decrease in repos slows

Bank of Greece data released yesterday shows changing trends in savings.

Total new deposits increased by 523 billion drachmas in the first 10 months of the year, as opposed to 1,349 billion in the corresponding period in 1994. The increase was due solely to an increase in saving account deposits, while there was a decrease in time deposits and those of current accounts.

Deposits in repos also recorded a decrease, but at a lower pace than last year, falling 239 billion, compared to 1,517 billion in 1994.

Deposits in Treasury bills recorded a sharp fall to the benefit of longer term securities, with new sales showing a deficit of 463 billion over liquidation of maturing bills, and compared to a 1,076 billion surplus in the corresponding period last year.

The central bank considers this development is linked to the lower number of issues this year, and to reservations on the part of investors regarding one-year dollar-denominated securities.

The M4 liquidity index, comprising savings and T-bills, gave strong signs of sluggishness in October, rising 6.1 per cent on a yearly basis.

[18] Commission takes Greece to court over second-hand cars' tax

The European Commission filed a lawsuit against Greece at the European Court yesterday for imposing exorbitant taxes on imported second-hand cars.

The European Commission had decided to take Greece to court last June but had suspended the decision because discussions were taking place on the issue with the finance ministry.

The talks produced no positive results and Greek arguments failed to convince the European Commission's General Competition Department services. The European Commission claims in its suit that with taxation on imported second-hand cars, Greece is violat ing Community legislation and more specifically article 95 of the Treaty, because it is applying a larger tax than the tax on imported second-hand cars imposed by other member-states. It invokes a decision by the European court, which had condemned Portugal for the same violation.

The European Court's ruling on the lawsuit against Greece is expected to be issued in 18 months' time.

[19] Three Greek seamen among five fatalities on vessel fire

Five merchant seamen, including three Greeks, were killed yesterday after a fire broke out on the Greek-flagged vessel "Beta Luck," docked at the port of Rijeka in Croatia.

According to reports, the fire on the 15,785-tonne cargo ship apparently began from a lit cigarette in the crew's quarters, but did not spread to the engine room or cargo holds.

Seven Greek seamen and 18 foreign nationals comprised the vessel's crew.

Fatalities include the Beta's captain, Nikos Georgopoulos, 53, sub-lieutenant Alexandros Iatros, 36, first engineer Thodoros Kalofolias, 48, as well as radio operator Igor Usov, a 33-year-old Russian national and third engineer Goenadi, 35, an Indonesian citizen.

Three other seamen were slightly injured.

Meanwhile, two Greek coast guard officers were scheduled to fly to the Croatian port yesterday in order to begin an investigation on the circumstances surrounding the accident.

They will also assist the crew, in co-operation with local authorities.

[20] SOS on another vessel

A Greek-controlled merchant vessel issued an SOS warning yesterday while steaming through gale-force weather in the North Sea. The 30-member, Malta-flagged "Mount Olympus" broadcast the distress call when a crack was detected in its No. 5 cargo hold and as the vessel sailed some 690 miles south of Cape Rush in Canada.

Two nearby vessels and a Canadian coast guard plane were reported rushing toward the 33,000-registered-tonne vessel, part of the Kasos Maritime Enterprise fleet.

The Olympus, which carried no cargo, was heading toward the United States. A 15-degree list was reported, while winds in the area were recorded at 9-10 Beauforts.

A crew of 30 Romanians and one Greek chief engineer are on board.

End of English language section.