A.N.A. Bulletin, 09/05/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 881), May 9, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Simitis optimistic about prospects in fight against unemployment

In a special parliamentary debate last night, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said the government was making a determined effort in the fight against unemployment and that prospects were favorable.

Even though unemployment in Greece had reached 10 per cent of the work-force, it was still lower than the European Union average, and future prospects were favorable, he said.

"In the two years since we took office, we have turned the picture around and have created 100,000 new jobs and have contained the increase in unemployed at 25,000," he said.

He added the government was applying a broad-ranging policy to deal with the problem, aiming mainly at boosting growth, and forecast increases of 6.3 and 14.6 per cent in 1996 for private and public investment respectively.

An effective policy, he said, was four-pronged, enriching the country's manpower, restructuring production, encouraging the flexibility of workers and businesses, and promoting investment in both capital and infrastructure.

He said a determined effort in the battle for production and productivity was the only way to prevent a deterioration in Greece's international position and that of workers.

He also stressed the need for co-operation between the labor and education ministries in the vocational training of workers, before they are forced into "the painful experience of long-term unemployment".

"We must try to prevent unemployment instead of trying to limit it after the event. Employment in the future will not be based on the certainty of permanency and life-long appointments, but on the continuous cultivation of the ability to adapt to changing demands," he stressed.

He said the problem of unemployment was not a simple one of numbers, but political, and this is what differentiated PASOK from New Democracy, which viewed unemployment as an economic phenomenon.

"We," he added, "will not consider any size of unemployment as supposedly 'natural', and we shall draft every time our policies, exhausting all possibilities, so as to limit marginalization and social exclusion".

"For us, the shrinking of unemployment to low levels must be accompanied by a rise in workers' living standards. Our policy is not to create jobs by reducing wages and giving rise to a new category of 'poor workers' who will replace today's unemployed, " he said.

He added that the government would earmark 1.4 trillion drachmas from the Community Support Framework to counter unemployment, and announced a 10 per cent increase in unemployment benefits as of July 1, as well as an equal percentage increase on the same date next year, bringing it up to 68 per cent of the daily wage rate for unskilled labor.

[2] Evert: country on the course to recession

New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert stressed that the basic cause of unemployment was the lack of a developmental orientation of the economy. He accused the government of leading the economy into recession, referring especially to the problems face d by small- and medium-size enterprises, farmers and stockbreeders.

"If this situation continues, we shall have 200,000 new unemployed from the farming sector," he said.

He stressed the need for a "smaller and more effective state", and proposed: the privatization of state-controlled banks, insurance and hotel companies, and industrial concerns, with the exception of those related to national defense; and the gradual sale of up to 49 per cent of the shares of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and the Public Power Corporation (DEH), and the opening up of the two sectors to private initiative.

He said the proceeds from the sale of state concerns should be invested in infrastructure projects, schools, hospitals, and not go to cover public deficits.

He said recent inflationary pressures meant a collapse of the government's incomes policy, which, anyway, was "violated through a series of unjust, selective bonuses".

He referred to a climate of political instability and lack of coordination in the government which undermined the economy.

[3] Samaras: 'tragic'

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said unemployment in Greece had taken on "tragic dimensions".

Mr. Samaras mentioned the low rate of economic growth (1.5 per cent instead of 2.5 per cent needed), the speedy rate in the increase of the labor force (1.5 per cent a year) combined with a low rate in increasing productivity, the revision of Common Agricultural Policy and GATT and the large influx of immigrants, particularly from former communist countries, as factors affecting unemployment in Greece.

He said that, for any labor ministry bill to succeed, what was needed was an abandonment of the hard drachma policy and the implementation of an aggressive and planned depreciation, a considerable decrease in the cost of labor through a reduction in labor and employer contributions to the Social Insurance Foundation (IKA), and absolute priority to the development of agriculture and the agricultural economy.

Mr. Samaras said his party's proposals for combating unemployment were the creation of "free employment zones" to confront unemployment among young people, incentives in linking education with business and providing investment capital to young entrepreneurs wishing to invest in a pioneering sector.

[4] Papariga: working people worse off

In her Parliament speech on the issue of unemployment, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga highlighted what she claimed were the negative repercussions on employment from Greece's membership in the European Union, which she al so said led to increased bankruptcies by small-to medium-sized businesses and "marginalization" of the economy's agricultural sector.

Ms Papariga referred to what she said was "the worsening condition of working people," highlighting a decrease in workers' portion of the distribution of national wealth from 42 per cent in 1980 to 36 per cent today.

The KKE leader proposed several measures to stem unemployment, including:

- Subsidizing the unemployed until they find work to the tune of 80 per cent of an unskilled laborer's daily wage.

- Establishment of a 35-hour working week, without a reduction in pay.

- Reduction of overtime.

- Adoption of measures proposed by labor unions, as well as,

- Ratification of employees' rights.

[5] Coalition on unemployment

In an announcement earlier in the day, the Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos referred to the "negative effects on the national economy" of "PASOK's internal crisis".

The country's "development model has caused more unemployment", the Coalition leader said, adding that unemployment has risen to more than 10 per cent and inflation has gone up, while "the request for taxation justice is being undermined."

Mr. Constantopoulos said more rapid growth rates was the only way to deal with unemployment, while criticizing the government for spending half the resources which it has allocated for battling unemployment on "interested parties" and not on the unemployed.

Combating unemployment on European level, Mr. Constantopoulos said, would require a revision of the convergence programme and a radical restructuring of the Maastricht Treaty "with emphasis on a Social Europe."

He further proposed the creation of new resources, the taking of measures for the reinforcement and restructuring of the labor market and the protection of the unemployed.

[6] Washington must take a stand on Turkey's territorial claims, Pangalos says

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told US government officials yesterday that Washington had to take a stand on Turkey's territorial claims on sovereign Greek territory.

"There is a generalized territorial claim against Greece and the US should take a stand," Mr. Pangalos said, adding that for as long as Turkey continued its territorial claims against Greece and the US should take a stand," Mr. Pangalos said, adding that for as long as Turkey continued its territorial claims against Greece Athens would continue to block European Union community funding to that country.

His comments came ahead of today's meetings between Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos and President Bill Clinton at the White House and himself and his US counterpart Warren Christopher.

Mr. Pangalos, who is accompanying President Stephanopoulos on his official visit to Washington, was speaking at a conference on Greek-US relations and the situation in southeastern Europe in the presence of US government officials.

The conference, entitled "Greek-American Relations and the Future of Southeastern Europe," is jointly sponsored by Tufts University's Law and Diplomacy School, the Constantine Karamanlis Institute, the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis as well as the Madison Hotel.

The foreign minister placed particular emphasis on Turkish intransigence and its "policy of claims" against Greece which, he noted, contains the danger of an invasion of Aegean islands.

Underlining both the distance between words and deeds which characterizes Turkish foreign policy and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Mr. Pangalos said he was "afraid and alarmed" over the possibility of a Turkish invasion of Aegean islands.

"There is an invasion plan," he said. "Islands do not invade the coast. The coasts invade."

Mr. Pangalos recalled the presence of the Fourth Army on the coast of Asia Minor and at the same time did not conceal his "anxiety" over the possibility of an incident in the Aegean on the extent of airspace which Ankara was questioning.

Referring to his recent meeting in Bucharest with his Turkish counterpart Emre Gonensay, whom he said was trying to maximize the gains of his country's foreign policy, Mr. Pangalos said Turkey's demands did not only concern Imia but also a number of Aegean islets.

Mr. Pangalos said the effort to lure foreign investors to Turkey was a mistake, underlining instability in the neighboring country due to national (Kurdish issue), religious (Islamic danger) and social and economic problems.

He said Turkey was not in a position to play the role of representative in the implementation of US strategy in the region, adding that Ankara had serious problems with all its neighboring countries (Syria, Bulgaria, Russia). He reiterated the Greek position that Turkey should refer the issue of Imia to the International Court at The Hague and if it did not "we cannot speak of good neighborliness."

Mr. Pangalos said Turkey's recent territorial claims against a NATO ally constituted the first such case since World War II, adding that it was a case in which US interests in favor of stability and maintaining the status quo in Europe coincided absolutely with Greek positions on respect for principles of international law.

He added that Greece wanted peaceful coexistence with the neighboring country, stressing that increased funds were being spent on armaments (about 6.5 per cent of annual GDP) and at the same time possibilities existing for economic co-operation between the two countries, terming the two economies as "supplementing each other".

He said that the problems of the two countries were resolvable.

Referring briefly to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Pangalos said its people had the right to seek a national identity which was different from that of its neighbors, but clarified that there was no such thing as a "Macedonian" language and adding that other small countries in southeastern Europe also had equal rights and should enjoy equal treatment.

[7] Kornblum remarks

Meanwhile, in a speech at the same conference, US Assistant Under-secretary of State John Kornblum highlighted what he called the "strategic importance of the Balkans and southeastern Europe," adding that the better part of discussions between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and US President Bill Clinton, during the former's visit last month to Washington, focused on prospects for further Greek-US co-operation in the Balkan region.

Mr. Kornblum himself recently toured the area, visiting Athens, Ankara and Nicosia.

The day's conference sessions were scheduled to conclude early this morning (Athens time) with a speech by President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

In his comments, the assistant US secretary of state noted what he described as Greece's "energetic and significant role" in the area, which he said Washington appreciates, adding: "...the region's future is based on economic co-operation between the nations in it."

He said President Clinton reiterated the same observation to both Mr. Simitis and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, during the latter's official meeting at the White House, in addition to offering Washington's assistance in de-escalating tension between Athens and Ankara. Concerning the last issue, Mr. Kornblum said such assistance would be based on respect of territorial integrity, current agreements and borders.

He clarified, however, that although the United States wants to help in resolving problems, it does not want to assume the role of mediator.

On another front, Mr. Kornblum cited Washington's interest in solving the 26-year-old Cyprus problem, expressing a hope that it will not, along with Greek-Turkish tensions, remain the only unsolved problem in the greater east Mediterranean region.

"We worked very hard to bring Greece and Turkey closer. I hope the foundations have been laid for a Greek-Turkish dialogue and that there is readiness and a positive attitude by both sides for that dialogue," he said, adding that confidence-building-measures (CBMs) between Greece and Turkey could help reduce tension.

Mr. Pangalos, Education Minister George Papandreou, main opposition New Democracy Vice-President Ioannis Varvitsiotis along with several other top Greek politicians and officials are participating, while several top-ranking US administration officials, led by Mr. Kornblum, are representing Washington.

[8] Stephanopoulos' itinerary

The Greek president began his day yesterday by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a visit to the adjacent Kennedy Grave Memorial and a memorial for the Challenger space shuttle.

His scheduled meeting with Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos was canceled after the ecclesiastical leader sustained an injury on departing New York. The Greek president also presented Athens's positions in regards to developments in the Balkans during a working breakfast with the publisher and foreign coverage editors of the 'Washington Post' and a later interview on CNN.

In addition, Mr. Stephanopoulos was honored late in the afternoon with a medal of freedom by the president of George Washington University.

[9] Romeos reiterates Greek positions to Italian EU presidency official

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos and Italian Foreign Under-secretary Luigi Vittorio Ferrari discussed problems created in relations between the EU and Turkey in the wake of the recent crisis over the islets of Imia, an announcement by the Greek foreign ministry said last night.

Mr. Romeos told Mr. Ferrari that Greece remained steadfast on proposals made on March 25 which had been adopted by all 15 member-states but had been rejected by Turkey.

He said Greece could not consent to the implementation of the funding part of customs union between the EU and Turkey unless a common position was reached which would also be acceptable to Turkey and which would safeguard the principles of good neighborliness as anticipated by the customs union agreement itself.

In earlier statements, Mr. Romeos said that the current Italian presidency of the EU wanted to convene the EU-Turkey Association Council meeting before Rome's term of office expires at the end of June.

Mr. Romeos said that Greece remained firm in its positions, namely that the Association Council should be convened only after Turkey has accepted an EU text on common positions approved by the 15 EU partners earlier this year. Originally scheduled for March 26, the Association Council meeting was postponed after Ankara rejected the text on common positions. Turkey claimed the text should not include specific terms and proposals on Greek-Turkish relations but a series of general principles which Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos termed "vague and inaccurate".

Mr. Romeos told Mr. Ferrari that any linkage by third parties of progress in implementing the customs union between the EU and Turkey and Cyprus' accession negotiations would be considered "sly".

He said by simply reading texts prepared on March 6 one would certify this.

Mr. Ferrari agreed on the last point, saying that Italy had never made such linkage.

According to reports, Mr. Ferrari made his visit to Athens for a briefing by Mr. Romeos after 'non-papers' received by the European Union - one from Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and its Greek response - 'alarmed' the Italian presidency.

[10] EU foreign ministers to consider MEDA financing, Cyprus accession next week

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is due to participate in the EU General Affairs Council meeting on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels, it was announced yesterday.

On Tuesday the Council will discuss the issue of a Cyprus and Malta EU accession, while the Italian presidency is expected to raise the issue of the MEDA financing regulation on Monday.

In a previous meeting, Mr. Pangalos had disagreed with the implementation of the regulation, which regulates the flow of Community funds to Mediterranean countries, including Turkey. In addition, Britain has expressed disagreement regarding a procedure to cut the flow of funds in case of human rights violations in these states.

The European Commission had proposed the implementation of the regulation without reference to such an eventuality. "Greece cannot accept that particularly for this regulation, there will be no provision of interruption of the programs in case of the violation of human rights, and the decision will have to be taken by a special majority," Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos told reporters.

The Italian presidency will raise the issue with the Council, requesting its consent in referring MEDA to the European Parliament for further consideration before it comes back to the Council.

Asked to comment on this development Mr. Romeos said that Greece retained its position on this. The Council will also discuss issues related to the inter-governmental conference revising the Maastricht Treaty.

[11] Arsenis, Clerides discuss joint defense doctrine

National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides focused their discussion yesterday on the joint Greek-Cypriot defense doctrine. After the meeting, Mr. Arsenis said the doctrine was being implemented at a rapid pace "for the attainment of common targets".

Greece and Cyprus agreed in November 1993 to adopt a joint defense policy to face Turkish expansionist designs against Cyprus and Greece's Aegean islands.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974 in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal from this east Mediterranean island.

Commenting on the military co-operation agreement reached in late 1994 between Greece and Israel, Mr. Arsenis said it was an important accord which "promotes peace and stability in the region to the benefit of all countries, and of course Hellenism."

The accord provides for joint exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, the reciprocal training of officers and co-operation in the defense industry sector.

Israel has signed an almost similar military agreement with Turkey.

Mr. Clerides has already met with Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos, and is to meet US President Bill Clinton in Washington in mid-June.

Mr. Clerides and Mr. Stephanopoulos have agreed to coordinate action in view of their separate meetings with Mr. Clinton. According to reports, Mr. Clerides will also meet UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on June 12 in Geneva.

Today, the Cypriot president is due to meet in Athens with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

[12] Santer to visit Athens this month

The president of the European Commission, Jacques Santer, will visit Athens on May 23-24 for talks with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos, it was announced here yesterday.

[13] President marks Europe Day

In a message marking the 46th anniversary of the historic declaration that paved the way for the establishment of the present-day European Union, or 'Europe Day', Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos said he was concerned at the way Greece's European partners were dealing with its serious national problems.

"Our country does not underestimate the benefits from its accession to the European family," Mr. Stephanopoulos's message yesterday read. "It will continue to try, with all the Europeans, for a Europe of justice and peace."

President Stephanopoulos also referred to "the need to improve the Maastricht Treaty," stating his concern at Europe's continued hesitation "to develop its new role in the light of the instability of existing international conditions".

The unification of Europe, to be completed through economic, political and defense integration, "does not cease to constitute a source of hope for the Greeks," the president's message ended.

Main opposition New Democracy party said this year's Europe Day celebrations were of special interest because it coincided with a start to processes on revising the Maastricht Treaty, whose ultimate target is a federal Europe.

ND said it was the first political force in the country to believe in the concept of European unification, adding that it was the sole party to submit specific proposals on the inter-governmental conference.

It said guaranteeing peace was the best that could be offered to the European citizen of the future.

[14] Greek student comes third in Robert Schumann Prize

A Greek student has won third place in the Robert Schumann Prize, which had been set up by the European Peoples' Party parliamentary group.

Eighteen-year-old George Panopoulos, a high school student, won third place for his essay "The Europe that I know today, the Europe that I want to live in tomorrow".

Of the 217 entries sent from high school students from the 15 member-states, 25 were chosen and the best 10 received awards.

The prizes were awarded yesterday in Brussels by European Peoples' Party President Wilfred Martens, on the occasion of the anniversary of statements made in 1950 by Robert Schumann for the founding of the European Community.

[15] PASOK party congress must give definitive solution to leadership issue, premier says

In what is considered the first indirect public indication of his possible candidacy for the post of Vice-President in his party, Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday called for a "clear solution" to the problem of leadership in the PASOK congress next month.

"Whenever we gave clear solutions we won," he told his party's Parliamentary Group session, adding that "with a clear solution at the congress, the winner will be synthesis, unity, and renewal, and in this way PASOK will win a new victory for a new four-year term".

The prime minister called on party members to immediately stop "the more general 'para-congress' talk, and to center their attention on the great problems of the country, which are the only problems of the congress".

"The people are not interested in internal party intrigues and the personification of problems. They loathe camaraderie back-stabbings, detest the picture of battles for the distribution of party and government offices, are repulsed by fights of personal ambition," he said.

Mr. Simitis rejected the possibility of early elections, stressing that they are not "the means of solving functional problems in our party".

"Our mission is to forge ahead with our work at a time when Greece is facing two substantial national dangers: the first is missing the train of European unification, and the second, the threat of Turkish expansionism."

The prime minister stressed that Greece, "in order to safeguard its rightful interests, must, along with its peaceful intentions and diplomatic means, maintain a strong deterrent force vis-a-vis the often adventurist and unpredictable Turkish policy".

"This deterrent force Greece must maintain for a long time, until Turkish expansionism disappears," he added.

Referring to issues in the functioning of the party's Parliamentary Group which convened in order to approve a new body of regulations, Mr. Simitis said "the Parliamentary Group is not, and must not be, an (army) company in the service of either the leader, or government expediencies".

"Political action must be characterized by the directness vis-a-vis problems, directness vis-a-vis the people, the directness in the relationships among us," he added.

[16] Parliamentary Group approves new operating guidelines

Ruling PASOK's Parliamentary Group yesterday unanimously approved new operational regulations yesterday that were proposed by the group's presidium.

The hotly-debated Article 10, which called for a PASOK prime minister to inform the Parliamentary Group before he declares early elections, was removed from the regulations.

The issue, however, will be discussed during a PASOK congress at the end of June.

In addition, the party's executive bureau is scheduled to meet today to consider issues dealing with the congress.

[17] Simitis-Arsenis meeting today

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis will hold a meeting today, it was announced yesterday.

According to national defense ministry sources, the two men will discuss government-related issues as well as issues of a broader political scope.

[18] Cabinet to meet soon to discuss foreign policy, Reppas says

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that the Cabinet would soon meet to discuss foreign policy issues, without setting a specific date.

Mr. Reppas was replying to press questions on an interview to the Athens daily 'Ethnos' by Health and Welfare Minister Anastasios Peponis.

Mr. Peponis said in the interview that after the recent meeting between Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and his Turkish counterpart Emre Gonensay in Bucharest, a different foreign policy was being followed which did not have the approval of the Cabinet.

Mr. Reppas stressed that foreign policy issues had repeatedly preoccupied the competent government bodies and that a parliamentary debate at the level of political party leaders had been held on Monday on the government's initiative.

[19] Kaklamanis begins Warsaw-Moscow visit today

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis is beginning a seven-day official visit to Warsaw and Moscow today, at the invitation of his Polish and Russian counterparts.

Mr. Kaklamanis' contacts during his three-day stay in the Polish capital, which include a meeting with new President Aleksander Kwasniewski, are considered especially important.

Also important are considered the high-level meetings the Parliament President will have with government officials and Moscow Patriarch Alexios in the Russian capital.

Mr. Kaklamanis will also visit St. Petersburg.

[20] Journalists condemn attack on Kurdish correspondent

Both the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA) and the Foreign Press Association (FPA) condemned the attack against the Athens office of the Kurdish newspaper 'Ronahi' which was destroyed by unidentified assailants early yesterday.

The perpetrators daubed Turkish flags on the premises.

ESHEA denounced the attack and called on the Greek authorities to protect foreign journalists in carrying out their work unimpeded, saying that they had brought the act to the attention of the International Journalists Federation and added that it will defend the right of press freedom in every legitimate way.

The FPA also deplored the attack, terming the act provocative and warning that every threat and attack against one of its members was a threat and an attack against all foreign correspondents and would be handled accordingly.

[21] Journalists condemn Turkish newspaper ban

The recently-formed "Journalists in the Aegean for Peace" group, in which both Greek and Turkish reporters are members, yesterday issued an announcement condemning the decision taken by the Istanbul State Security Court to ban the 'Evransel' newspaper.

The court's decision said the newspaper was banned because it published an article "which cultivates hate and animosity."

"One would not expect anything different from a state body which maintains the sad privilege of having 51 imprisoned journalists out of a total of 182 imprisoned journalists worldwide," the journalist group's announcement said.

It stressed that "the committee stands beside the fellow journalists and the whole staff of the newspaper... During its one year of circulation, it has been the subject of dozens of police raids and many confiscations of its papers."

[22] Greek fishermen help efforts to find missing Albanian children in Prespa Lake

Greek fishermen were yesterday helping the Albanian authorities look for 13 Albanian schoolchildren and their teacher who drowned when their boat capsized in the Albanian side of a lake on the borders of the two countries.

The fishermen set out at dawn as soon as they heard about the accident which took place Tuesday afternoon, to search the Greek part of the Great Prespa Lake for possible survivors.

The Albanian authorities have asked the Greek side for assistance in the search operation and it is expected that the Greek fishermen will be allowed to cross the border line in the lake and concentrate their efforts nearer the location where the boat capsized, about three miles from the nearest Greek village of Psarades.

The President of the Fishermen's Cooperative of Prespes, Antonis Toulkountzis, told the ANA that "our efforts so far in Greek waters have brought no result."

According to local Greek fishermen, the accident took place at a distance of 500 meters from the Albanian village of Pustesi, three miles from the Greek shores of the lake, at a point where the depth of the water is about 20 meters.

The schoolchildren had set out for the islet of Deligati in the middle of the lake to visit an old Byzantine church, but the boat with 19 people aboard capsized on the return journey.

Local fishermen said that the small boat capsized because it was overloaded and not due to bad weather, as initially maintained by Tirana Radio. They added that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were very good, with no wind.

[23] Rubbish collection begins again

Rubbish collection in Athens began again at midnight on Tuesday, after the Ano Liosia municipality agreed to re-open the land fill in the area following a four-day standoff with the environment, town planning and public works ministry.

However, the municipality said it will close the land-fill indefinitely if new areas have not been selected as rubbish dump sites by May 28.

Meanwhile, the Avlonas municipal council met yesterday in order to decide whether it will block the Athens-Lamia national road, in protest at the creation of a land-fill in the area.

On Tuesday, Athens criminal prosecutor George Koliokostas leveled charges of traffic obstruction against the mayor of Avlona, members of the municipal council and those who participated in last weekend's blocking of the national road.

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis yesterday warned the Eastern Attica Prefectural Council that if it does not make a decision on land-fill sites within the time limit, the areas will be chosen through a law submitted i n Parliament. Mr. Laliotis added that he will not sign a contract for the construction of a rubbish incinerator.

Yesterday, Greenpeace's Greek office called for a change in "direction and philosophy" on the rubbish issue. The environmental organization suggested to Mr. Laliotis that he reduce the volume of refuse through passing a law on recycling, reducing the amount of packaging and creating a plant for turning waste into fertilizer.

According to Greenpeace, these measures could reduce the volume of rubbish by 75 per cent. A significant amount of EU funds would be needed for these measures to be implemented.

Greenpeace also called on Mr. Laliotis to immediately draw up legislation banning the use of plastic PVC in soft drinks and mineral water bottles, saying this would reduce the volume of waste by five per cent in a day.

According to Greenpeace, neither land fills nor rubbish incinerators will solve the current problem.

[24] Recent negative economic developments can be reversed, IOBE says

The latest negative developments in the economy can be reversed if the "necessary corrective interventions" are made, according to the Economic and Industrial Research Institute's (IOBE) four-month review.

IOBE urges the government to effectively deal with "uncertainties" in the smooth continuation of stabilization and mid-term prospects of self-sustained non-inflationary economic growth.

Specifically the report states that the course of fiscal reform is overly dependent on the principles of revenue collection and a fall of interest rates, while conversely, public expenses are increasing, risking not only the 1996 budget's targets but al so mid-range goals.

In terms of inflation, IOBE says it is possible that a downward trend will resume, although the rate of decrease will be significantly slower that 1995's figure.

In the long-term, a stable parity policy is also continuable, IOBE states, "as long as permanent conditions of macro-economic balances are ensured."

The report also calls for a partial privatization of several major public enterprises (state refineries, ETBA, Bank of Crete, Olympic Airways and Skaramangas Shipyard) through the Athens stock exchange after the successful undertaking with the sale of a portion of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) stock.

[25] Construction workers to step up industrial action, after 'fruitless meeting' with premier

About 3,000 construction workers yesterday held a rally and protest march to Parliament where representatives met with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to press demands for economic benefits and measures to combat unemployment in the sector.

The construction workers are also demanding measures to tackle the problem of the illegal employment of immigrant workers.

President of the Athens' construction workers' union Kyriakos Kerasounlis said that the meeting with the premier had been fruitless, since Mr. Simitis did not confirm any government pledges to satisfy their demands. Mr. Kerasounlis charged the government with "insensitivity, irresponsibility and provocativeness," while other trade unionists lashed out at Labor Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos.

Construction workers had an abortive meeting Tuesday with Mr. Yiannopoulos following a nationwide strike. Mr. Yiannopoulos said he had committed himself to satisfying the branch's main demands by October and accused the trade unionists of concealing this commitment from their colleagues.

A new 24-hour strike has been scheduled for today, along with a rally in central Athens and march on the labor ministry.

The administrations of the construction workers' trade unions were due to meet yesterday evening to examine the possibility of stepping up their labor action.

[26] Greek, Turkish travel agents agree on co-operation in an effort to boost tourism

The Greek Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies (HATTA) and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) signed an agreement calling for closer co-operation in the tourism sector during a ceremony yesterday in the Athens-area seaside district of Vouliagmeni.

The agreement calls on both Athens and Ankara to avoid "actions" which create political tension in the area and negatively affect tourism on both sides of the Aegean. The agreement stresses the importance of continuing to upgrade air, sea and land transportation links between the two east Mediterranean neighbors to also support tourism, in addition to reducing red tape in the crossing of borders.

Discussions between the two national travel agency organizations began at last March's ITB international tourism exhibition in Berlin. The pact envisions creation of a joint committee by the organizations to find practical solutions to problems that may arise. Both organizations also promoted the idea of eliminating a $100 visas for Turks entering Greece to further stimulate bilateral tourism. Turkey abolished the visa requirement for Greek nationals in 1984.

A joint marketing strategy to attract more third country tourists is another goal of the pact, while mention is also made for environmental protection of the Aegean and the Mediterranean, in general. Cheaper tourism packages for younger tourists is yet another goal the two groups cited.

"We hope this agreement will open the way for a political agreement that will end the poor climate between our nations," said Takis Antoniou, the president of HATTA.

Meanwhile, TURSAB President Talha Camas invited more Greek tourists to travel to Turkey, saying 130,000 Greek nationals arrived in the country last year. Some 200,000 Turks visited Greece last year. Mr. Camas said he was optimistic that the level of Greek tourists visiting Turkey could reach the all-time high of 1982-83 (700,000).

Concerning the threat of Kurdish separatists attacking tourist centers, he said adequate security was in place in all major tourism areas, adding that he believed Turkey could record a record tourism season this summer.

[27] Balkan air transport conference begins in Thessaloniki

The first Balkan air transport trade union conference opened in Thessaloniki yesterday with the participation of Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Yugoslavia, Slovenia, FYROM, and Cyprus. The Albanian delegation is expected today.

The conference, which will end tomorrow, was opened by Labor Under-secretary Lambros Kanellopoulos, who, speaking to reporters later, said the event opened up new ways of co-operation between trade unions and the national carriers of the Balkan countries .

Delegates are expected to set up a mechanism for the exchange of information between national unions, and the assumption of joint activities in cases where this is required.

End of English language section.