A.N.A. Bulletin, 18/04/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN,

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Gov't moves to keep lid on rising fuel prices, ceiling extended to Athens, Thessaloniki

The government moved yesterday to keep a lid on rising fuel prices, setting a new ceiling for rural areas and extending the ceiling to Athens and Thessaloniki.

The decision, coming after a meeting chaired by Development Minister Vasso Papandreou, means prices in Athens and Thessaloniki for super cannot exceed 218 drachmas per liter and 202 drachmas for unleaded. The new prices are valid until next Wednesday.

The development ministry also decided to reduce the consumer tax on fuel by four drachmas per liter for petrol and 1.5 drachmas per liter for diesel, resulting in the reduction of fuel prices by one drachma per liter compared to last week's prices.

The profit margin for petrol stations and companies remain at the same level.

In zone one areas, the price of super cannot exceed 223 drachmas per liter and unleaded cannot exceed 207 drachmas per liter; in zone two areas, the prices can reach 226 drachmas per liter for super and 210 drachmas per liter for unleaded; in zone three, the upper price limits are 228 drachmas per liter for super and 212 drachmas per liter for unleaded. For regions in which the reduced VAT of 13 per cent applies, super cannot exceed 218 drachmas per liter and 203 drachmas per liter for unleaded.

The meeting chaired by Ms Papandreou noted that there had been a constant increase in international fuel prices since February 1, with the greatest increases appearing after March 14, raising production costs for Greek refineries, and, consequently, pushing up retail prices.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the government was not satisfied with the course of fuel prices and that efforts were continuing to bring the situation under control.

Dimitris Kostopoulos, the main opposition New Democracy party's economic affairs parliamentary group president, said that the government's move to keep a lid on prices had been prompted by ND's revelations regarding new taxation.

Mr. Kostopoulos noted that the finance ministry is gaining 65 billion drachmas per annum in excess taxation from the increases in fuel prices since the beginning of the year.

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) issued a statement yesterday saying that fuel prices must be controlled in order to protect the consumer from new unfair increases and to avoid consequences such increases could have on other products or services.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress party accused the government of superficiality, saying the proof of this lies in "the dangerous rekindling of inflation."

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said yesterday that "the fact that the reduction in the consumer tax concerns only two months consolidates the view that fuel prices will continue to increase."

[2] International developments

Analysts said the continuing increase in local fuel prices - which is both alarming consumers and causing concern for the government since it is fueling inflationary pressures - has almost nothing to do with Greek reality.

The development is attributed to two main reasons: rising prices for oil on the international market and the increasing strength of the dollar. The dollar has been strengthened in international money markets recently, resulting in a gradual but stable depreciation of the Greek drachma against the US currency and consequently burdening the Greek fuel balance.

Oil prices have been increasing continuously in the international market in past months. Since the beginning of the year, the price of a barrel of Brent oil has increased by about 40 per cent, ranging between $22-23, the highest price since the Gulf War .

This situation has had direct repercussions on the Greek energy market since the Public Petroleum Corporation (DEP) has no choice but to burden the fuel wholesale price since it has to import at an increased cost.

DEP said yesterday that the international price of gasoline has increased by $15.2 per metric ton and that of diesel by $4.7 per metric ton over the past week.

According to assessments by DEP, as well as international energy market observers, the price of gasoline will stabilize as the summer approaches but not at a considerably lower level because it is traditional in the summer months, primarily in the Mediterranean, for increased tourism to lead to an increase in the demand, and consequently the price, for gasoline. On the other hand, the price of diesel oil is expected to decrease further.

[3] Athens appeals for peaceful end to recent Mid-East violence

The Greek government expressed concern yesterday over the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, reiterating its commitment to the peace process and calling on the parties involved to show self-restraint.

The concern was expressed in an announcement by the foreign ministry, stressing that Greece was consulting with its European Union partners and would make every effort for a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

"The Greek government is watching the recent escalation of violence in the Middle East with anxiety and concern," the announcement said.

It said Greece once again reiterated its commitment to the peace process and the resolution of whatever differences without the use of force.

"A basic precondition for a smooth development in inter-state relations both in the Middle East, and all over the world, is respect for the principles of international law and the resolutions of the UN's Security Council," it added.

In this context, it added, Greece supported the right of all peoples to live in safe and internationally-recognized borders and, in parallel, the commitment for respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of all countries, stressing the necessity for the immediate implementation of the Security Council's resolutions 232, 338 and 425, as well as an immediate stop to any action directed indiscriminately against noncombatants.

"The Greek government calls on all parties to show self-restraint and safeguard what the peace process has achieved to date, as well as the Lebanese government's superhuman effort for the economic restructuring of suffering Lebanon," it said.

The announcement said that in this direction Greece was consulting its EU partners and would make every effort for a peaceful settlement to the crisis.

[4] Israeli air force agreement with Turkey will not affect relations with Athens

A recent Turkish-Israeli air force pact enabling Israeli planes to train in Turkish air space will not affect Greece's relations with Israel, Athens said yesterday. The agreement must not cast a shadow on Greece's desired level of relations with Israel, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas told reporters. He added that the agreement should not affect Israel's relations with the Republic of Cyprus or act as an added reason to keep tensions between Greece and Turkey at a high level.

Asked, meanwhile, to comment on Israel's air raids in Lebanon, Mr. Reppas said Greece was interested in the establishment of good relations in the region.

"Greece opposes all hostile actions," he said.

Turkey yesterday called for a "swift end" to the Israeli military operation, saying it was "becoming a threat to the peace process in the Middle East."

[5] Premier to meet Major next week during London visit

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is due to visit Britain and Ireland on April 22, within the framework of his visits to European capitals aimed at further promoting Greece's national issues, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.

During his three-day visit, Mr. Simitis will have talks with his British and Irish counterparts, John Major and John Bruton.

[6] Simitis to brief president today on results of US trip

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is scheduled to meet today with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos for a briefing on his trip last week to the United States.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said Mr. Simitis would also brief the Parliament, at a later date, on his US visit.

Describing the results of the prime minister's trip as "positive," Mr. Reppas said the government had submitted its proposals and now awaited Turkey's move.

"Turkey should take the initiative to refer the Imia issue - (an issue) which it has created itself - to the International Court at The Hague," he said while ruling out any possibility of a political dialogue with Turkey.

Asked to comment on a US State Department spokesman's statement that Greece and Turkey should discuss Imia and other issues, Mr. Reppas said it referred to a long-term goal of the United States.

"Greece," he said, "desires the normalization of Greek-Turkish relations based on international law. Greek government efforts aim at the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations, and Greece awaits similar steps from Turkey."

In relation to US President Bill Clinton's letter, and especially his urging that the two find peaceful solutions to "territorial differences," the spokesman said that Greece did not accept that such differences existed.

"It is Turkey which claims that there are territorial differences," he added. "For Greece, the territorial status quo in the region is clear and specific."

Mr. Reppas stressed that the United States and other countries accepted Greece's position that any progress in the Cyprus problem would result in the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations.

"Until now," he added, "they accepted Turkey's position that any progress in the Cyprus problem would be the result of improved Greek-Turkish positions."

[7] President receives new ambassadors

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday recei-ved the credentials of the new ambassadors of Georgia, China and Germany, Alexandre Chikvaidze, Yang Guangsheng and Friedrich Reiche respectively.

The three meetings were also attended by Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos and the Secretary-General to the Presidency of the Republic Emmanuel Gikas.

[8] Romeos in Cyprus tomorrow

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos is due to begin a three-day visit to Cyprus tomorrow for talks with President Glafcos Clerides and his Cypriot counterpart Alecos Michaelides.

Mr. Romeos is also due to hold meetings with the president of the Cyprus House of Representatives, Alexis Galanos, party leaders and Nicosia Mayor Lellos Dimitriades.

He will also have a meeting with Archbishop Chrysostomos.

[9] FYROM name talks to resume in June, Vance says

Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will continue their direct discussions on the issue of a permanent name for the Balkan state in early June, a statement by a UN spokesman said yesterday.

The statement came after a recess was called in the afternoon following the opening of the latest round of negotiations between Athens and Skopje.

"Pursuant to the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, representatives of Greece and of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia met today with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Cyrus Vance... The parties continued to exchange views in the context of article 5 of the Interim Accord. Both parties agreed to continue their direct discussions under Mr. Vance's auspices at a mutually-convenient date in early June," the statement read.

The Greek side was represented by the Greece's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Christos Zacharakis, with Ivan Tosevski representing Skopje.

In statements yesterday, Mr. Vance said: "We started discussions in the morning, we paused for lunch and we will resume talks in the afternoon."

"Both sides agreed to continue discussions under my auspices at a certain date in early June," he said.

Mr. Vance said he would not brief the UN Security Council during this phase of negotiations, adding however, he is satisfied by the two sides' stances in the talks.

[10] Reactions

The Coalition of the Left and Pro-gress party issued an announcement yesterday saying the government's "policy of waiting" on the FYROM issue "consolidates the established facts and nurtures Skopje's intransigence."

In a related matter, PASOK deputy and former minister Stelios Papathemelis said yesterday that Greece should "not put all its cards on the table so soon".

Mr. Papathemelis said he did not expect negotiations to yield any significant results for Greece, adding that Athens should re-exa-mine the issue.

[11] Greek deputies speak on Imia, Cyprus at Istanbul conference

Greek MPs in Istanbul for the sessions of this year's 95th Interparliamentary Union Conference spoke on Greece's positions on the course of Greek-Turkish relations yesterday.

The Greek deputies include former minister Ioannis Anthopoulos from the ruling PASOK party, Dora Bakoyianni from main opposition New Democracy, Constantine Hatzidimitriou from Political Spring and Efstratios Korakas from the Communist Party of Greece.

Mr. Anthopoulos referred to the recent Imia crisis during the conference, stressing that for the first time, Turkey had officially called Greece's territorial integrity into doubt.

He stressed that Turkish aggression is creating dangerous situations in a delicate area, and that since 1974, Greece has had to suffer systematic and repeated attempts by Turkey to change the status quo in the Aegean.

Mr. Anthopoulos called on Turkey to respect Greece's sovereign rights and international law and treaties, and to contribute to a just solution to the Turkish problem.

Ms Bakoyianni spoke of Greece's positions regarding a solution to the Cyprus problem, and stressed that not only are there no indications of good will from Turkey, but there is evidence of Turkish provocation in the Aegean.

She said that the demographic character of the occupied areas of Cyprus continued to be changed by constant emigration from Turkey. She reiterated that the Cyprus problem is an international problem, not a communal one.

Speaking on the protection of minorities, Mr. Korakas referred to the problems faced by the Kurdish minority in Turkey, saying minorities should be given equal rights. He said that in return, members of the minorities must respect and apply the laws of these countries.

[12] Vartholomeos to meet Greek, Cypriot MPs today

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos will today receive eight MPs from the Greek and Cypriot parliaments who are in Istanbul for the sessions of this year's 95th Interparliamentary Union Conference.

The Greek deputies - Mr. Anthopoulos, Ms Bakoyianni, Constantine Hatzidimitriou (Political Spring) and Mr. Korakas - will be joined by Nikolaos Anastasiades, Andreas Filippou, Yiannakis Omirou and Christos Chrysostomou, who are representing the island republic's parliament.

The Patriarch held a meeting yesterday with Archbishop Antonios of Ierapolis, the religious leader of expatriate Ukrainians.

Vartholomeos also held talks with the head of the Orthodox Ukraine Bishopric of America as well as Roman Catholic Ukrainian leaders from the United States and Kiev.

[13] Police continue investigations into bombing of Supreme Court prosecutor's home

Authorities are continuing to investigate the bombing of Supreme Court deputy prosecutor Avraam Stathopoulos' Zografou district apartment on Tuesday evening.

Neither Mr. Stathopoulos' or his family were in the fifth floor apartment, which was severely damaged in the blast.

According to a public order ministry announcement yesterday, investigations so far have not yielded any specific clues or evidence, while all possibilities are being examined.

However, police sources said investigators have almost eliminated the notorious November 17 terrorist group as being behind the action, estimating the attack was indiscriminate and that only by sheer luck were fatalities avoided, which is inconsistent with that group's past terrorist hits. The possibility that the shadowy ELA group carried out the attack is also considered unlikely.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, while anonymous telephone calls to local media outlets claiming responsibility have been ruled out as hoaxes.

However, terrorist experts consider that the perpetrator or group responsible for the attack did aim to harm the Stathopoulos family because of the bomb blast's intensity and the fact no warning was issued.

Efforts are continuing to locate a young woman seen prior to the explosion attempting to gain entrance to Mr. Stathopoulos' apartment building. Other residents of the building told police the young women rang several main entrance doorbells asking to distribute advertising leaflets. At press time, the woman had not been identified, while police are undecided if she had any part in the bombing.

Meanwhile, authorities said fragments of the time bomb found in the apartment are from a watch belonging to the deputy prosecutor. Experts also estimate the homemade device consisted of four kilos of dynamite, while the force of the bomb blast was also estimated to have been increased five times by the fact the explosion occurred in an enclosed space.

[14] Reaction

"The bombing attack against Mr. Stathopoulos is an abhorrent murderous act... which could have caused an indefinite number of victims, even children," Public Order Minister Costas Yeitonas said yesterday.

"The citizens and much more the state and its officials are not intimidated by similar actions...," he added.

In later statements, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas condemned the bomb attempt as "anti-social" and "criminal." Mr. Reppas said the judiciary should be free to have its own views and be able to judge the government's work.

Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert called for increased security for judicial officials after the attack against Mr. Stathopoulos, calling for "all the appropriate measures to be taken for protection of the judiciary since the purpose of criminal actions against the judiciary is to paralyze the function of justice."

He added: "The assassination attempt against Mr. Stathopoulos must not intimidate the Greek judiciary in the serving of justice, but should further strengthen their determination to ensure transparency and justice in society."

Supreme Court President Vassilis Kokkinos also strongly condemned the bombing.

"It is time for the Greek state to reconsider its stance against those who scorn and seriously violate the principles of legal order," he said in response to press questions. He also said the action is an attempt to influence rulings, possibly on pending cases, without specifying which cases he was referring to.

The Union of Greek Prosecutors also condemned the bombing, adding that prosecutors will not be intimidated by such terrorist actions. They also called for the government to take added security measures to protect judicial officials.

[15] Tsohatzopoulos: decentralization and democracy go hand in hand

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, speaking at the international conference of European municipalities and communities and regional self-administration organizations here yesterday, said the "wave of decentralization" sweeping Europe was testimony to efforts to strengthen democratic government.

"The decentralization wave which has spread to all European countries in these past two decades, with an upsurge in eastern European countries at present, is based on the ascertainment that the democratic form of government cannot secure the terms of operation of democracy at national level alone," he said.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also referred to the principle of subsidiarity through which conditions developed as part of creating federal Europe, to strengthen national Parliaments, and supporting regional and local responsibility in resolving problems and securing the rights of the citizens of Europe.

The Council of Europe and the Danish government have organized the international conference on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the European Charter for Local Autonomy and Self-Government.

The Charter has been ratified by 21 parliaments of Council of Europe member-states and another seven have signed it but not yet ratified it. Greece ratified the charter in 1989.

[16] Unemployment, national issues next on Parliament's agenda

Parliament will resume sessions after the Easter recess ends on May 8 with two major items on its agenda.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said the first day will focus on debate over unemployment, proposed by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), to be followed by a floor debate on the country's national issues at party leader level.

[17] Banks bid high for state bonds but ministry keeps rates down

Higher interest rates were bid during yesterday's auction of state bonds by the finance ministry.

Participating banks see the recent increase in inflation as a reason for increased interest rates for state titles and bid accordingly.

However, the ministry ultimately did not accept bids for five-year titles and only accepted bids for seven-year bonds.

According to a ministry statement, bid prices were considered satisfactory and were an indication of the market's calm reaction to the recent increase in inflation.

Bids totaling 320 billion drachmas were made for seven-year bonds and bids equaling the amount offered for tendering were accepted, namely 180 billion drachmas with basic interest rates ranging between 13.273 per cent and 13.380 per cent, as well as a bout 60 billion drachmas of non-competitive bids with the average basic interest rate of 13.334 per cent.

Market circles believe that judging from the banks' reaction, the ministry would agree to a small increase in treasury bill interest rates for the next issue, due at the end of the month.

However, others believe the ministry will avoid increasing interest rates at present as it considers the increase in inflation to be temporary.

[18] Brussels meeting examines future of CAP

A meeting examining the future prospects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was held recently in Brussels at the initiative of the presidency of the Community cooperative organizations COPA-COGECA.

Greece was represented at the meeting by Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives (PASEGES) President Nikos Liolios, who criticized CAP's price and incomes policy over the past years.

Mr. Liolios called for "a continuous and non-negotiable form of agricultural and farmers' support, based on the principles of economic solidarity and EU preferential status".

He also called for a strengthening of co-operation between cooperatives on a European level with the development of a European trade and distribution network.

[19] Pension cuts for resistance veterans denied

The finance ministry and Labor and Social Security Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos yesterday denied press reports alleging a planned curtailment in pensions granted to National Resistance fighters.

The reports appeared following the leaking of a finance ministry "technocratic text" submitted to a national economy ministry committee examining possible ways of reducing public expenses in order to provide assistance to vulnerable groups of the population, such as pensioners and the unemployed.

The finance ministry withdrew its representative in the committee in protest at the leaking, charging that such tactics caused confusion among citizens.

Health Minister Anastasios Peponis said in a statement later that he agreed with the finance ministry, adding that such phenomena caused instability. Working people will not accept any curbing of expenditures on health and unemployment, the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) said yesterday in an announcement.

Spending on these sectors are not at satisfactory levels and consequently any effort to curtail them would create serious problems and cause further degradation in the social policy sector, the announcement added.

[20] Greeks come fifth worldwide in whiskey consumption

Greece is the fifth largest importer of scotch whiskey world-wide, the Scotch Whiskey Union revealed yesterday.

Whiskey exports reached its highest level in 12 years last year, amounting to T2.3 billion (862.5 billion drachmas), compared to T2.2 billion (825 billion drachmas) in 1994.

The largest importer of whiskey is the United States, followed by France, Spain and Japan.

[21] Britons vote overwhelmingly to return Elgin Marbles to Greece

The overwhelming majority of British public opinion believes the Parthenon friezes better known as the Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece, according to a telephone opinion poll conducted by Channel 4 on Tuesday night following the screening of a documentary.

According to Channel 4, of the 99,340 people who telephoned the station, an astounding 91,822 voted in favor of returning the Parthenon marbles to Greece and only 7,518 against.

The documentary's presenter and producer Jimmy Stewart said after the announcement he was extremely satisfied with the verdict of British public opinion and believed the political world in England would adopt the same position.

[22] Greek-Canadian duo to perform at Goethe

The Canadian Embassy is sponsoring a concert featuring Canadian tenor Paul St. Pierre and Greek pianist Angela Papageorgacopoulou next Friday.

The two will perform selected works of Greek, Canadian and German composers.

Both are known to Athens audiences, having performed at the Athens Concert Hall, with the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki, at the Greek National Radio and Television, British Council, French Institute and National Gallery.

The concert will begin at 8:30pm on April 26 at the Goethe Institute, 14 Omirou street. Admission is free.

[23] Spain's first-ever Greek Film Festival a resounding success

The Greek Film Festival held in Barcelona and Madrid from January 24 to the end of March was a huge success, attracting more people than Spanish officials had expected.

According to statistics issued by the Greek cultural attachi in Spain George Lykotrafitis, 37 Greek films were screened 74 times at the initiative of the Greek Film Center, drawing a total of 14,133 spectators. The most popular film was Theodoros Angelopoulos' "Traveling Players" (Thiasos).

The festival was the first time Greek films had been shown in Spain, and Spanish organizers had been wary of the reception they would have.

The films showcased at the Spanish festival are currently on show in Montreal.

[24] Niarchos funeral today

Greek shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos, who died on Monday in Switzerland, is to be buried today in Laussane, the Swiss ATS new agency said.

Quoting "Orthodox Church sources", the agency said the funeral will be attended only by close family members and that Niarchos will be buried in the family grave in Laussane, although this information has not been confirmed.

Niarchos died at the age of 86 after spending six weeks in intensive care in a Swiss clinic. Greek media said yesterday that he was to be buried in Saint Moritz, where he had been living ever since his retirement.

ATS said the shipping magnate died of a stroke.

[25] Greek-Russian cultural co-operation at a good level, meetings find

Greece's Culture Ministry Secretary-General George Thomas, leading a Greek delegation to Moscow, yesterday discussed the gamut of bilateral cultural issues in talks with the Russian culture under-secretary.

The agenda included current Greek-Russian cultural programs such as cultural events organized by the Greek embassy in Moscow in co-operation with archaeological services and Greek support for Russian archaeologists carrying out excavations in the Black Sea region.

Mr. Thomas said the Greek side wanted to further develop cultural relations between the two countries and pointed to the inter-state cultural co-operation program by which specific proposals should be made.

On his part, Russian Culture Under-secretary M. Shvidkoi said there was good co-operation between the Russian culture ministry and the Greek embassy on the organization of a series of cultural events.

He added that Russia would be glad to participate in cultural programs as part of Thessaloniki '97 Cultural Capital events and invited Greece to attend cultural events in Moscow in September 1997.

The ambassador to Russia Mr. C. Rodousakis thanked the Greek and Russian culture ministries for their support of events organized by the Greek embassy in Moscow.

He said the program for 1996 and 1997 was very extensive and covered all sectors and stressed two events: the exhibition entitled "Russian painters for Greece", organized in co-operation with the Tretiakov Gallery, and the exhibition of Greek archaeological findings in the Black Sea region organized in co-operation with the Pushkin Museum.

End of English language section.