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

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 764), December 12, 1995

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Premier suffers setback, back on respirator after high fever

The Onassion hospital evening bulletin on Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's health, issued shortly after 8pm last night, said he had developed a high fever, a sign of a new infection, at 2pm yesterday and had been put back on the respirator.

The doctor who read the bulletin said the premier was being treated with antibiotics, and that after an initial high pitch at 4:30pm, the fever had started receding. Laboratory tests were being conducted to locate the source of the possible infection. The results would be known in two days' time, but certain indications would possibly be available today, he added.

The kidney function continued to be supported through dialysis, and his heart function remained unchanged, he said.

Questioned how dangerous the new development was, the doctor said, "it is a potentially dangerous situation for a patient with Mr. Papandreou's history of illness".

The relapse in the premier's condition came as he entered his 4th week in hospital. The midday bulletin yesterday said his general condition had remained the same for the previous two days, he was off the respirator and only occasionally being given oxygen.

Sources said that doctors were relatively concerned by the lack of progress in the recovery of the renal function, but the encouraging sign was that the premier was responding well to nutrition and had gained some weight.

[2] Hytiris hopeful

Earlier yesterday, government spokesman Telemahos Hytiris had expressed optimism over the premier's health and said that if his condition continued to improve, he would be going home in about 20 days' time. He added that Mr. Papandreou had not asked to be briefed on political developments, and declined to answer whether he would be able to resume his duties after returning home.

He said there was no power vacuum, as no one has cast doubt on the prime minister being replaced by the ranking minister, Akis Tsohatzopoulos. Despite differing interpretations, he added, what was important was that the constitution was being observed both to the letter and in substance.

Mr. Hytiris declined comment on reports that certain centrist deputies were collecting signatures to call a Parliamentary Group meeting.

"Let it happen first, and then we discuss it," he said.

Meanwhile, New Democracy party deputy Giorgos Sourlas tabled a question in Parliament yesterday, asking that Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos brief the House and the Greek people on the prime minister's health and when he would be able to resume hi s duties.

A Political Spring party meeting, called to discuss the repercussions of Mr. Papandreou's illness on the country's political life, was not followed by scheduled statements by leader Antonis Samaras, after the news of a relapse in the premier's condition.

[3] PASOK executive convenes

Following the PASOK Executive Bureau meeting late yesterday, Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis said no initiatives or developments relating to the post of prime minister and his duties could be conceived of while Andreas Papandreou was battling for his recovery and his life.

He added that the Executive Bureau had been briefed on Saturday's discussion in the party's Political Secretariat, focusing on the insistence of the party's leading members on its united course, as planned and implemented.

Mr. Skandalidis said yesterday's discussion had centered on the forthcoming Madrid summit and parliament's voting on the budget.

He said the best possible preparation had been made for the summit, and described the debate on the budget as the central political battle for the government and the parliamentary party.

These days "we are all being tested on the unity and course of the party," he said.

Ruling socialist PASOK party deputy and former minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos said yesterday the sole thing preoccupying party deputies at this hour was the prime minister's health and that, since the prime minister was going from good to better, he h ad first say.

Speaking after meeting PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis at party headquarters yesterday, Mr. Yiannopoulos was referring to statements by party members, requesting an immediate start to processes to replace Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.

Mr. Yiannopoulos said he and Mr. Skandalidis discussed a proclamation text he prepared himself and addressed to all party deputies.

He said he was considering the possibility of calling on his colleagues to sign the proclamation text following the positive response it had received among party deputies.

Referring to his position on recent developments in the party, Mr. Yiannopoulos said his position was PASOK's unity, continuation and consistency and victory in the 1997 elections.

Commenting on PASOK's unity in particular, Mr. Yiannopoulos said it should be maintained at all costs.

[4] Gov't firm in following a policy of growth, improved competitiveness

The government said yesterday that there was no question of a change in economic policy and that it would continue with a policy designed to boost development and growth.

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the government remained firm on its economic policy for restructuring and improved competitiveness.

Speaking to reporters after a 45-minute meeting with Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Jason Stratos, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the government's economic policy would lead the country to growth.

The meeting centered on the upcoming Madrid summit, Greece's prospects for European Economic and Monetary Union and the formation of Greece's specific views and proposals on the issue.

"Our country is currently undergoing a restructuring process (in the economic sector) which has yielded substantial results in the past two years and will lead to positive results for the development of the country," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said. He expressed conviction that efforts to stabilize the economy will bring further results next year and will lead to convergence of the Greek economy with the economies of the European Union.

SEB's president said the meeting focused on decreasing production and the diminishing competitiveness of Greek products.

Mr. Stratos said SEB had called on the government to stay in line with its current economic policy.

Today, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will hold talks on the same issues with the leadership of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE).

[5] Skandalidis

Ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis also met yesterday with a SEB delegation headed by Mr. Stratos to discuss political stability and the course of economic policy. Mr. Skandalidis confirmed that the government will continue its economic policy, adding that the government insisted on dialogue with SEB representatives on development issues.

Mr. Stratos said the 1996 budget was "a conscientious effort in the direction of stabilization".

[6] Patriarch visits Switzerland

Visiting Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos held a meeting with the president of the Swiss Confederation Kaspar Vilinger yesterday whom he thanked for Switzerland's interest in the Swiss Orthodox community. The Patriarch will meet with t he mayor of the Swiss capital and state officials during his tour and visit the World Council of Churches and the European Churches Conference. He is also expected to visit neighboring Lichentenstein for talks with Prince Hans-Adam.

The Patriarch attended liturgy at St. Paul's of Nations Temple where he was greeted by Swiss Metropolitan Damaskinos.

[7] Greek aid to Yugoslavia arrives in Belgrade

Twenty-five trucks carrying roughly 400 tonnes of humanitarian aid from Greece arrived in Belgrade yesterday.

The aid is to be distributed to refugee shelters and orphanages in Serbia, Bosnia and the Krajina, and was collected through the initiative of the Hellenic-Serbian Friendship Society, in co-operation with local government.

During a press conference given yesterday in Belgrade by the organizers of the aid shipment, it was stressed that Greece and the Greek people will continue to send humanitarian aid, so creating a bridge of co-operation between the two countries and setting an example for co-operation between all Balkan countries.

President of the Hellenic-Serbian Friendship Society Kostas Christopoulos said his company would not limit itself to the collection and dispatch of humanitarian aid, but would also take the initiative to introduce a Hellenic-Serbian Friendship Economic Chamber which will aim to rebuild areas destroyed by the war and to develop a guide for Greek businessmen who wish to contribute to the rebuilding project.

[8] Council of Overseas Hellenism board has contacts in Athens

The newly-elected board of the Council of Overseas Hellenism had talks in Athens yesterday with Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras.

The nine-member board was elected during the council's inaugural conference in Thessaloniki last week and was in Athens for the council's first contacts with officials.

Mr. Skandalidis said after the meeting that PASOK would support a council proposal for a permanent inter party committee for overseas Greeks.

In a separate meeting with the board, Mr. Samaras also said he supported the establishment of an inter party committee and discussed a Political Spring proposal for the establishment of a mutual investment fund.

Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and chairman of the board Andrew Athens described the council as "a historically important development, signaling a new era for Hellenism" after their meeting yesterday.

Mr. Avramopoulos said that local government would support efforts by the council while Mr. Athens said that two council offices - in Athens and Thessaloniki - would be operational as of February.

Mr. Athens expressed his certainty that the council "will begin its work in February," describing the seven million overseas Greeks as "a sleeping giant."

[9] Romeos outlines Greek support of human rights at Amnesty International discussion

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos said yesterday that Greece fully supported human rights and had harmonized, as had other European Union partners, its policy on human rights.

Mr. Romeos said the two major points, set out by the United Nations and international human rights bodies, were the creation of an international legal status setting out what human rights and fundamental liberties were and, secondly, the implementation of these principles.

He was speaking at a roundtable discussion on "Greek foreign policy and the rights of man" organized by the Greek branch of Amnesty International in Athens.

Mr. Romeos said the Vienna Conference had unanimously adopted, and this was its great achievement, certain extremely important principles such as the universality of human rights, their indivisibility and inter-dependence and the legalization of the international community's intervention in protecting and promoting the human rights of vulnerable and marginalized groups.

"The problem placed before us is the implementation of international texts. In expressing these positions of ours, which are also the positions of the European Union, we do not disregard the positions of other states, particularly developing ones, which insist on the need to introduce new rules and table a plethora of draft resolutions at the UN for this purpose," Mr. Romeos said.

He said Greece did not object to the introduction of new rules but on three conditions:

- What was decided in Vienna should be honored; namely, before new rules were processed, the views of treaty-monitoring bodies should be sought.

- The initiation of new rules should not contribute to weakening the effectiveness of those already in force.

- Possible overlapping with international clauses in effect should be avoided.

Mr. Romeos said Greece went to all lengths to promote human rights. He said its efforts to date had reached positive results, adding that they had been recognized by its partners as well as by other states and referring to important work performed by Greek experts on human rights at international fora.

He said the Greek government, acting with prudence and consistency, would continue its efforts to defend and promote human rights.

[10] Kaklamanis, Galanos confer on Cyprus issue

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis met with his Cypriot counterpart Alexis Galanos yesterday to discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Kaklamanis said the meeting was of an informative nature and said all matters and developments regarding the national matter were discussed. Mr. Galanos said there was a useful exchange of views regarding joint efforts to raise awareness of problems faced by Hellenism today.

[11] Anastasios to begin Thessaloniki visit tomorrow

Archbishop of Albania Anastasios arrives in Thessaloniki tomorrow for a two-day stay during which he will receive an honorary doctorate of theology from Thessaloniki's Aristotelian University.

The ceremony will be held at a university hall tomorrow afternoon at 7:30.

Anastasios will speak on the topic of "Orthodoxy and human rights."

In addition, the Thessaloniki's Bar Association will deliver a cheque to the archbishop from accumulated donations for support of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

[12] News in Brief

- Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras held a meeting yesterday with Ukrainian Alternate Transport Minister, Valery Tsybukh.

The meeting confirmed good shipping relations between the two countries and a mutual will to further develop bilateral co-operation.

- Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America told reporters upon departure for New York yesterday he will assume direct initiatives to facilitate progress in Greece's national issues, especially the Skopje issue.

- The contract for the construction of the Rio-Antirrio bridge is expected to be signed Friday.

The 200-billion-drachma project will be jointly funded by the state (70 billion drachmas), the Bouygues consortium (30 billion) and the European Investment Bank (100 billion).

Under the terms of the agreement, the contractor reserves the right to manage the bridge for 25 years.

The project is included, along with the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki highway and the Egnatia Highway, in the European Union's inter-European transport networks, based on a decision by the European council in Essen.

[13] No disruption expected to OA flights

All of Olympic Airways' flights will be carried out according to schedule during the upcoming Christmas season, according to Transport Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

The transport minister said vacancies created by the recent lay-offs of seasonal flight attendants will be covered by several measures, including: transfer of ground-based flight attendants; contract extensions to flight attendants laid-off without having completed eight months of employment; and overtime pay.

[14] 'Spatosimo'

Referring to pressure his ministry is fielding calling for abolition of the "Spatosimo" special airport tax, Mr. Venizelos said discussions with the national economy and tourism ministries will commence to examine exclusion of tourist agencies from the tax.

He said the exclusion will not be permanent, adding however, that agents' complaints are justified as 60 per cent of tourist arrivals during peak season arrive by charter flights.

[15] Greek firm signs export agreement with Serbian mining complex

The "Trepca" mining complex in Kosovo and the Greek Athens-headquartered company "Mytilinaios" have signed a $50 million contract, considered the most important agreement on economic co-operation signed in Serbia since the lifting of sanctions.

The agreement concerns two-year co-operation between Trepca and the Greek company, anticipating the export of 42,000 tonnes of lead, 8,400 tonnes of zinc and 50 tonnes of silver, namely a fifth of the Trepca group's annual production.

A great deal of publicity was given to the signing of the agreement in Yugoslavia, an event attended by Yugoslav Prime Minister Radoje Kodic.

Mr. Kodic expressed his satisfaction over the signing of the agreement with a Greek company, adding that Greece was among few countries supporting Yugoslavia during the period sanctions were in force.

[16] News in Brief

The Piraeus municipal authority, with the participation of all neighboring municipal authorities, is organizing a conference on Thursday and Friday on development and employment in the broader city district. Mayor Stelios Logothetis said yesterday the city was undergoing a prolonged recession, without visible signs of recovery.

[17] Greek ministers have fruitful meeting with Wulf-Mathies on public investments

National Economy Alternate Minister George Anomeritis and Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Alternate Minister Costas Geitonas held a lengthy meeting yesterday with Monika Wulf-Mathies, the German EU commissioner responsible for regional policy, structural funds and the cohesion fund.

Both Greek officials called their meeting with Ms Wulf-Mathies "fruitful", saying they discussed Greece's programme for public investments in light of a November 9 session by a committee overseeing the nation's public investment programmes.

Specifically, Mr. Anomeritis and Mr. Geitonas briefed the EU commissioner on an upcoming Greek Parliament vote on two separate bills dealing with the Unit of Management Organization S.A. and the Greek Investment Centre.

Sources close to Ms Wulf-Mathies said that with adoption of both pieces of legislation, "the European Commission will give the green light for the Greek programme of investment to proceed."

Approximately 25 billion drachmas in funding, however, will only be released when both agencies are "truly operating," sources said.

"There exists a very responsible Greek stance on these issues," Mr. Anomeritis added.

The EU commissioner is reported to have reacted positively to preliminary funding requests for the Spata international airport - requests totaling ECU 250 million or roughly 77.25 billion drachmas.

Ms. Wulf-Mathies was also briefed on the progress of the Rio-Antirrio bridge project and the Elefsis-Stavros-Spata highway loop around metropolitan Athens, a project due be awarded shortly.

On another front, both ministers presented data on Athens' absorption of EU structural aid funds.

Specifically, absorption of EU moneys from the Delors II structural aid package hovered at 80 per cent for 1995. During the first two years of Delors II (1993-94) absorption figures did not exceed 52 per cent, according to reports.

Absorption of structural aid at the national level was calculated at 71 per cent for 1995, compared to 48 per cent in 1994. At the regional level, absorption reached 104 per cent, compared to 63 per cent in 1994.

[18] OA finances confidential, Venizelos says

Transport and Telecommunications Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday he would not release the report on the financial recovery of Olympic Airways for reasons of commercial confidentiality, but was willing to submit it to the government and Parliament for further examination.

He added its content was based on estimates by the airline itself and the Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), and had been sent to European Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock.

As part of reorganization measures, he said Thessaloniki would become the airline's second base as of March 31, 1996, with flights from Athens abroad via the northern city being abolished, and new lines opening to Bucharest, Sofia and other Balkan centers.

He also announced the airline planned to change its fleet, and transfer its offices to the new airport under construction at Spata.

End of English language section.