A.N.A. Bulletin, 20/06/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 916), June 20, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Simitis says foreign policy creates conditions for a strong Greece

A three-hour cabinet meeting yesterday confirmed the correctness of government's foreign policy, while a government announcement said "this policy creates preconditions for a strong Greece, a Greece which will have a voice and prestige on the international scene."

In his opening statement, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said foreign policy should be extroverted creative and dynamic and not compromised with conceptions of entrenchment or stagnation, but a policy of long-term planning rallying all Greeks.

Mr. Simitis said that in an ever-changing world and despite its grave economic and political problems combined with an effort to claim a leading role in the region, Turkey was developing a stable policy of disputing Greece's sovereign rights, which was intensified when the crisis of its political system was deepening.

He said Greece pursued a stable and consistent presence in all decision-making centers (European Union, NATO, West European Union, UN and OSCE), the enlargement of its support at international level, and advancing proposals promoting national and economic interests, the pursuit of common action and initiatives, the promotion of arguments and positions on the international scene and utilization of all opportunities by rallying the social, economic and political forces of Hellenism, both inside and outside the country.

Mr. Simitis said this foreign policy constituted the main lever of a strategy for a powerful Greece, which necessitated European integration, the development of constructive and mutually beneficial relations with all Balkan countries - by promoting Thessaloniki as the center of this development.

On the question of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Simitis said co-operation between the two countries constituted a basic stabilizing factor for the Balkans, terming the signing of the interim agreement a "positive step" and adding that within this context negotiations on the issue of its name were continuing.

Mr. Simitis said Greece's relations with Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Romania and Hungary were in a positive direction. He added that Greece's policy concerning Mediterranean and Middle East countries was similar, adding that the target was to promote Crete as the EU's gateway to the southeastern Mediterranean.

Referring to relations with the United States, Mr. Simitis said that constructive co-operation with Washington at all levels was being pursued and added that intense activity was already being developed in Greece's relations with Russia and the other central and eastern European countries.

Mr. Simitis said Greece recognized the necessity of Turkey's European orientation, but added that such a prospect should be linked directly to respect for human rights, the principles of democracy and the political values of Europe.

He said rules of international law and international treaties as well as Greece's categorical desire to safeguard its sovereign rights remained the basis of Greek-Turkish relations.

On the question of Cyprus, Mr. Simitis said Greece was not prepared to allow the consolidation and legalization of faits accomplis in any way, would pursue continuous solidarity with the government of Cyprus and would continue efforts for their peaceful abolishment through the implementation of UN resolutions.

Mr. Simitis said the government believed that the high level of the armed forces' deterrent capacity against any external military threat was a decisive policy of supporting foreign policy.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that national defense general staff chief, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis, also attended the cabinet meeting.

Among others, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis addressed the cabinet, saying that what was necessary was having a deterrent force and convincing all that this force would be used if necessary.

On his part, Interior Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the dogma that "we claim nothing and cede nothing" should be widened with the phrase "we contest and will safeguard national security."

Mr. Reppas said the premier would promote issues concerning Greek-Turkish relations at the Florence summit, reminding that Mr. Simitis had addressed a letter to his counterparts in the EU, briefing them on the issue of Gavdos and in essence had called o n them to take a stand on the issue.

He said there was nothing new on the possible meeting of the council of political leaders, adding that the main opposition New Democracy party's initiative to comment on the government's position without it having been manifested was an impropriety.

Mr. Reppas said the way the main opposition party exercised criticism in no way benefited this strategy. He said that when ND leader Miltiades Evert was called on by the prime minister to be briefed he did not respond, while now he was requesting a meeting.

Consequently, in no way did it contribute to the creation of pre-conditions for a meeting of leaders, he added.

[2] Armenian president says Athens-Yerevan friendship pact not directed at anyone

Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan yesterday in Thessaloniki said a friendship and co-operation agreement signed this week between Athens and Yerevan was not directed against anyone.

Mr. Ter-Petrosyan made the statements in response to Turkish criticism of a military defense and friendship agreement.

He said the agreements were both a bilateral and regional friendship and co-operation accord, adding that they will contribute to the consolidation of stability and peace in the region.

The Armenian president said the agreement concerned constructive co-operation, which would have favorable results for the region and Europe in general.

Replying to a question on why Ankara reacted negatively to the agreement, Mr. Ter-Petrosyan called on reporters to put the question to the Turkish side.

He made the statements after meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in Thessaloniki at the Armenian Church and before flying back to Yerevan.

[3] Turkish reactions

In Ankara yesterday, Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said Greece and Armenia's signing of the defense co-operation agreement on Tuesday was "a new expression of the political tension that Greece is pursuing in the region."

"Greece's attempts to surround Turkey on a military level have reached the stage where they threaten the peace and stability of the region," Mr. Akbel said, adding: "Those who try to harm Turkey's security interests will suffer damage.

"The agreement will hurt the attempts being undertaken for peace and stability in the region of the Caucasus."

On Tuesday, Turkish Defense Minister Oltan Sukgurlu told the Anatolian news agency that "Greece is not being friendly towards us," adding that "Turkey is so powerful that it can cope with larger countries."

Referring to the signing of the defense agreement between Greece and Armenia, Mr. Sukgurlu expressed surprise over what he claimed was Greece's involvement in the affairs of the Caucasus region.

[4] European socialists to meet in Florence today

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will discuss unemployment in Europe and the course of co-operation between socialist parties at a meeting and dinner for leaders of European socialist parties, which will be organized by the Democratic Left Party in Florence this afternoon.

The meeting will be attended by Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis as well as several other European socialist leaders.

The Democratic Left Party will be represented by Secretary Massimo D'Alema, Italian government Vice-President Veltroni, Foreign Under-secretary Fascino and Eurosocialist Party Vice-President Occhetto.

The meeting will be followed by a dinner to which Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Interior Minister Napolitano have been invited.

[5] Juppe to visit Greece on occasion of Philhellene art exhibit

French Prime Minister Alain Juppe yesterday said he was pleased that he would meet in Greece with Costas Simitis in September, on the occasion of a French Philhellene painters' exhibition on the subject of revolutionary Greece in the 1820s.

The art exhibit opened in Bordeaux last Friday.

In reference to his classical education, the French premier stated he was "in love with Greece," and exalted the significance of the Philhellenic movement in France "as a phenomenon that embraced all political tendencies."

"In the years that intervened nothing changed in the close relations between Greece and France. Those who inspired us in the past are now our partners," he added.

"Greece represents eternal youth and makes us dream," he concluded.

In his address, the Greek charge d' affaires in Paris, Frangiskos Verros, expressed a view that "our country is convinced it will find the same understanding and friendship from France in the difficulties it is facing, as it always did in the past."

The exhibition features paintings, sketches as well as engravings from public French collections and includes Delacroix's painting "Greece Dying in the Messolongi Disaster" as its most prized piece.

It will be moved to Paris in September and then on to Greece.

[6] Greek-Turkish differences can be resolved by peaceful means, Armenian president says

Greek-Turkish differences and the problem concerning the Aegean can be resolved by peaceful means in accordance with international law and with Europe's help, Armenian President Levon Ter-Petrosyan said during an unofficial visit to Thessaloniki yesterday .

Replying to questions on Turkish provocativeness towards Greece, Mr. Ter-Petrosyan said that his country too had a "direct problem" with Turkey.

Speaking at a luncheon given in his honor by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Phillipos Petsalnikos, Mr. Ter-Petrosyan stressed that Greece and Armenia were "brother nations, with common struggles and suffering in the past, common interests in the present and common prospects for the future".

He described his visit to Greece as "a turning-point for the further strengthening of relations between the two countries".

Greece and Armenia yesterday signed a defense co-operation agreement formalizing the ties already established by the two countries in the defense sector.

Mr. Petsalnikos assured Mr. Ter-Petrosyan that Greece would help in the reconstruction of Armenia and in the strengthening of its relations with the European Union.

The Armenian president said his visit to Greece would have been incomplete if he had not come to Thessaloniki. The dinner was also attended by Mayor of Thessaloniki Costas Kosmopoulos, with whom the Armenian president met with earlier, in the presence o f Mr. Petsalnikos. The meeting discussed the course of large projects for Thessaloniki and northern Greece as well as national issues.

Mr. Ter-Petrosyan was due to meet with members of Thessaloniki's Armenian community last night before returning to Yerevan.

[7] Visiting Turkish LDP leader says politicians to blame for Greek-Turkish tension

The leader of Turkey's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Mesim Tibuk, had private talks today with main opposition New Democracy party honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

In statements to the ANA, Mr. Tibuk - a proponent of Greek-Turkish friendship who founded the LDP last year - described the tension between Greece and Turkey as a "black comedy".

"The Greeks can be certain that the Turkish people have no expansionist designs against Greek territory. The politicians of both countries are to blame and I believe that the situation as it was up till now should be consolidated," Mr. Tibuk said.

On the political situation in Turkey, Mr. Tibuk said that "Turkey must get used to unstable governments until it changes its political system and becomes a presidential republic". "Don't let (Islam-based Welfare Party leader Necmettin) Erbakan scare you. The percentage of fanatic Moslems is far less than you would imagine. The religious factor plays a more important role in Greece than it does in Turkey," he added.

Although supportive of Ankara's bid to join the European Union, Mr. Tibuk said "because Turkey is a bridge to Asia, Europe needs my country more than we need Europe".

He added that he was in favor of the re-opening of the Halki Academy of Theology, summarily shut down by Turkish authorities in 1971 and the protection and unimpeded operation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul.

Mr. Tibuk, a former Ipecki Prize winner for his contribution to rapprochement between the two peoples, was on a two-day friendship visit to Athens accompanied by an LDP delegation.

[8] Lack of trust the greatest problem

Speaking on his return to Turkey after his two-day visit to Athens, Mr. Tibuk said that the greatest problem between Greece and Turkey was a lack of trust.

"Turkey is not eyeing Greek territory," Mr. Tibuk said, adding "the Greek people are concerned, while in Turkey 80 per cent of the people view Greece as a friend".

Mr. Tibuk said that the Greek mass media magnified small problems and Greek politicians did nothing to prevent this.

"Soon all the problems will be resolved, including the Cyprus problem, if the two countries follow a realistic policy. Greece and Turkey must stop conducting exercises in the Aegean and the Mediterranean and put a freeze on the problems. Later, these problems must be solved through diplomacy by Greek and Turkish officials," Mr. Tibuk said.

The LDP leader added that Greece and Turkey could have considerable influence if they co-operated.

[9] Turkey warns EU not to adopt Athens' position on Union's external borders

Turkey has forwarded a strong warning to the European Union on the eve of the Florence summit to not proceed with adopting the principle of protecting external borders, as proposed by Greece.

A Turkish memorandum to the rotating Italian European Union presidency, submitted a few days ago by Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay to the Italian Under-secretary for European Affairs Pierro Fasino, contains all Ankara's views and positions on the inter-governmental conference (IGC) to revise the Maastricht Treaty, and also puts forwards Turkey's demand for full inclusion in the defense arm of the EU, the Western European Union (WEU).

The memorandum also asks the EU to refuse to adopt Greece's positions on Community solidarity, believing that this would create "an asymmetrical situation" vis-a-vis Greece and Turkey.

The memorandum places special emphasis on the EU bolstering its economic ties with Turkey and, of course, unblocking previously agreed EU funding for the country, saying that failure to do so put in jeopardy the future co-operation between Turkey and the EU.

Ankara appears to be indirectly calling for a declaration from the European summit, which begins tomorrow in Florence, which would illustrate a special place Turkey believes it should hold within a united Europe.

Regarding Greece, the memo says that since Athens' accession to the EU in 1981, the Community has abandoned "a care for balance" in treatment of the two countries, followed until then by the Community.

It also refers to the "well-known problem" of financial co-operation between the EU and Turkey, which has "been contractually agreed during the conclusion of the agreement on Customs Union."

"Frozen unilaterally by the Union, it damages its credibility on its capability to deliver its engagements, it imperils the success of the Customs Union and shakes the confidence of Turkish public opinion on Turkish-EU partnership."

Regarding enlargement, it adds, "the Turkish Government cannot but confirm its aspiration for a determination to accession by way of a gradually deepening integration."

The memo appears to ask for a "notice of intent" from the Florence summit regarding Turkey's prospects of acceding to the EU.

"Though not formally challenging Turkey's eligibility for full membership at the Madrid Summit, the European Union has taken indirectly a negative position, by placing Turkey in the same category with those third countries like Russia and Ukraine, which are forever excluded from any prospect of accession... Be it intentional or not, this signal has not escaped from political observers ... The Turkish government wishes that this situation is corrected in order to avoid a precedent which may be referred to in the future."

[10] Europarliament draws attention to tension in the Aegean

Turkey's aggressive stance and the tension created in the Aegean are questions which the Europarliament believes must be discussed during the summit meeting due to take place this weekend in Florence.

In a resolution adopted yesterday in view of the meeting, the European Parliament drew attention to "the crisis which is brewing in the southeastern section of the Community," estimating that "repeated threats for the use of violence against a member-state constitute a serious danger for this state's territorial integrity and for stability in the Aegean."

The resolution also asked for "particular attention to be paid to delicate issues where there is conflict, such as in the MEDA programme."

Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said yesterday during a press conference that if a solution is not found soon to Greece's veto of the MEDA programme, "it will be impossible to have a cash flow."

He said the veto is threatening millions of dollars in aid from this year's budget.

[11] Arsenis, Evert agree on need for coordinated foreign, defense policies

National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis and main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert yesterday agreed on the need for a long-term foreign and defense policy strategy to deal with the dangers facing the country.

Mr. Arsenis and Mr. Evert were both speakers at a meeting organized by the Institute of International Relations.

Although Greece was a member of the European Union, Mr. Arsenis said, its borders were not guaranteed by the other members since there was no common defense policy.

At the same time, he said, Greece was geographically located at the "crossroads" of competition among major powers, while as a neighbor of Turkey, the country had to deal with Ankara's "peculiar behavior and expansionist policy". He added that the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) had recently established a secretariat to assist the major body, while all procurements, before being approved by KYSEA, must go through the Standing Committee for Foreign and Defense to provide for an inter-party dialogue.

Mr. Evert said that Greece was in the center of "a triangle of danger", between Bosnia, the Middle East and Turkey.

"For this reason, we must set up a body to exercise Greece's defense and foreign policy. Up to now, Greek governments have been unable to implement a long-term strategy on these issues, while a lack of co-ordination is observed between the competent ministries," Mr. Evert said.

[12] Washington Post reports Greek, Israeli military co-operation pact

The Greek and Israeli defense ministries have signed a co-operation pact aimed at safeguarding stability in the eastern Mediterranean, the well-respected newspaper "Washington Post" reported yesterday, quoting Cypriot President Glafkos Clerides and White House sources.

The existence of the pact was also confirmed by diplomatic sources in Washington, ANA learned. "There is a defense agreement between Greece and Israel, and there will be military exercises similar to those carried out by Israel and Turkey," President Clerides is quoted as saying, while White House sources stressed that the two countries had already begun naval exercises in the area.

"We know that they are holding joint naval exercises, but we don't know whether these have been completed," said a White House official.

Diplomatic sources told ANA that the agreement, signed by the Greek and Israeli defense ministers a year and a half ago, "does not concern co-operation in the extent envisaged in the recent defense cooperation agreement between Turkey and Israel ... but t here is provision for joint exercises at sea."

[13] Balkan news agencies' general assembly begins Saturday

The second general assembly of the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) begins in Athens on Saturday with the participation of the national news agencies of Albania, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Greece.

Attending the conference will be the general directors of Anadolu (Ankara) Mehmet Akarca; ATA (Tirana) Ilir Zhilla; BIP (Sofia) Stefan Velev, who is also the ABNA secretary general; BTA (Sofia) Milen Vaikov; MPA (Thessaloniki) Spyros Kouzinopoulos; MPB (Skopje) Milovan Stefanovski; Rompress (Bucharest) Neagu Odroiu; Tanjung (Belgrade) Slobodan Jovanovic and ANA (Athens) Andreas Christodoulides, who is also the current ABNA president.

Two observers will also be sent: Fevzi Kahraman, the general director of the Ankara-based independent IHA news agency and Ali Ibranimoglu, the news coordinator of the Bosnian News Agency.

The conference will be briefed on issues including the progress of the "Diavlos programme", which envisions creation of an inter-Balkan financial and economic data bank in Thessaloniki as well as preparation for the exchange of financial information between ABNA members. In addition, certain charter changes will also be discussed for the better operation of the association. The general assembly begins at 9 a.m. at the Asteras resort in the seaside suburb of Vouliagmeni. A dinner will be held Saturday evening in honor of the general directors of the news agencies, who will visit Sounion on Sunday.

The Athens News Agency will host a reception for the visitors on Sunday evening.

The Athens Medical Center is sponsoring the events.

[14] Commission plans to phase out leaded petrol will hurt Greek economy, Papazoi says

Environment Under-secretary Elisabeth Papazoi warned today that the European Commission's proposed standards for passenger vehicles would cause upheavals in the car and fuel market, particularly in Greece where the number of old, non-catalytic models remains high. "It is a Commission proposal and there is a long way to go before it is implemented and the relevant decisions are taken by the Council of Ministers," Ms. Papazoi said.

The Commission's plans, agreed on Tuesday, include a ban on leaded petrol by January 1, 2000.

Ms. Papazoi spoke of "a forceful intervention in the Greek market", adding that "our entire economy will be devoted to changing old passenger vehicles."

She added that the Commission's proposal would take two years to become a directive and that Greece would request additional tax breaks to ease the conversion process.

Ms. Papazoi characterized the move as positive for environmental protection but "frightening" for the effects it would have on the Greek market and Greek consumer.

The managing consultant of the Public Petroleum Corporation, DEP, Manolis Daskalakis, claimed that the interests of the automobile industry were behind the Commission's decision.

[15] Commission wants leaded gasoline phased out by 2002

The European Commission has proposed a package of standards for fuel quality and limits on car exhaust fumes intended to slash road transport emissions by up to 70 per cent by the year 2010.

One of the goals calls for an abolition of leaded gasoline by the year 2002. The proposals, which the commission predicts will cost the oil and car industries $6.9 billion over their lifetime, are part of EU efforts to improve air quality in the traffic -choked cities of its 15 member-countries.

In areas with particularly bad air quality - including Athens, Madrid and Milan - the EU executive proposed allowing "city fuels" with stricter limits. The package must now be scrutinized by EU governments and the European Parliament, with final adoption slated for the end of 1997, according to the Commission. Speaking to Greek reporters, EU Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said that if new regulations governing emissions are agreed upon on a European level, member-states will be able to provide tax incentives either to producers or consumers for "cleaner" new cars if they so wish.

[16] Tram system proposed for greater Athens area

Trams will reportedly appear in Athens again, according to an Athens municipality study publicized yesterday during a press conference held by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

A basic route the trams will follow will be from the Pedion tou Areos to Athens' center on to Voula, with two-way tracks running up to the seaside Agios Kosmas site. Routes from Voula in the southern suburbs to Vouliagmeni will depend on traffic. Trams will leave every 28 minutes from Vouliagmeni to the center, the report states.

Tram-lines will be between 20 and 25 kilometers long, with a tram running through nine municipalities and projected to transport some 50-60 million passengers per year. According to a relevant study, four compartments with a capacity of 400 passengers w ill pass tram stops every 3.5 minutes, while trams will travel at 50-60 kilometers per hour. The project is expected to cost 113 billion drachmas.

[17] PASOK executive bureau's proposal for vice-president endorsed by central committee

The PASOK executive bureau insists on its proposal for the election of a vice-president at the party congress at the end of the month, and this proposal has been endorsed by the party's central committee, party secretary Costas Skandalidis said after an executive bureau session yesterday, which tackled procedural matters of the congress.

Mr. Skandalidis, who will probably meet party president Andreas Papandreou today, stated that procedures of dialogue and election of delegates had been completed, and that it was inappropriate to divide delegates into factions supporting likely candidates and count their numerical strength.

"Delegates are autonomous political individuals, who will form their final opinions in the course of congress deliberations," he said.

He expressed optimism that the congress will run smoothly, and in a unified fashion, providing sound prospects for the party.

Mr. Skandalidis declined to comment on press reports attributing to Prime Minister Costas Simitis the intention of promoting the option of not electing a vice-president, saying simply that the premier would speak himself and state his view without the u se of intermediaries.

Earlier, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas had also stated that the prime minister would state his intentions regarding the post of vice-president when he saw fit.

He added that Mr. Simitis did not lead a faction, but was everyone's prime minister, and in PASOK "everyone was with the prime minister."

[18] Prosecutor shelves investigation into Intracom head's statement on 'interwoven interests'

The director of Athens' first instance prosecutors, Anastasios Kanellopoulos, has shelved a preliminary investigation he carried out regarding a phrase in a recent Intracom telecommunications press statement, which read "...politicians, publishers and journalists are entangled in the most illicit network of politico-economic deals, blackmail and inter-dependencies."

According to information, in his deposition to Mr. Kanellopoulos, Intracom president Socratis Kokkalis withdrew an allegation of blackmail contained in the statement in question, naming, at the same time, certain people who, in his view, "serve foreign interests and hide behind them."

According to the same sources, he indirectly referred to the Vardinoyiannis group, and politicians he has spoken about in the past, such as former premier Constantine Mitsotakis and Andreas Andrianopoulos as well as media owners such as Ioannis Alafouzos and certain journalists.

Mr. Kanellopoulos judged the results of the investigation concerning the phrase in question did not provide an adequate basis for the initiation of criminal proceedings, shelving the case, while sending his findings to an appellate prosecuting authority for final approval.

[19] Digital deal

Meanwhile, Georgios Nafpliotis, the special judicial investigator into the case of alleged irregularities in the contract for the supply of one million digital telephones switches to the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) by Intrakom and Siemens Hellas yesterday received depositions from representatives of rival bidder Northern Telecom.

[20] Papariga announces KKE positions at rally

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga announced her party's positions based on decisions taken during the party's 15th congress, during a KKE rally yesterday in the Pedio tou Areos square.

Ms. Papariga concentrated on KKE's proposal to create an "anti-imperialist and anti-monopolistic front" which "will concentrate the working class, employees, the lower middle classes of the city, the suffering farmers, the movements for youth, women, peace and the environment, civilization, education."

She repeated that conditions for political co-operation with other parties do not exist at present, and stressed that KKE would take the initiative for co-operation if it believed there was even a hint of an agreement and co-operation with any parties in order to solve current problems being faced by the Greek people.

KKE predicted that "a storm is preparing to break, which will lead to the disintegration of the social system of health, welfare, insurance and pensioning."

Ms. Papariga called on workers to form a fighting front in order to face these problems, and stressed the need for the formation of another front for education.

The KKE Secretary-General criticized the government's foreign policy and the role being played by the United States, NATO and the European Union in the area and particularly in Greek-Turkish relations.

Ms. Papariga expressed the view that these bodies are peddling plans of dichotomy and dual sovereignty in the Aegean so that they may fully control the region and because Turkey's geo-strategic position is more important to them than Greece's.

Ms. Papariga said her party objects to the armaments programme as she said the real danger for national independence and the country's integrity comes from NATO.

[21] Laliotis announces urban, environmental plan for Thessaloniki

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis announced a strategic plan yesterday which includes projects in the housing and environmental sector hoping to lead Thessaloniki into the 21st century and allowing it to play a special role in Greek, Balkan and European developments.

Mr. Laliotis made the announcement in a speech to Thessaloniki officials.

The plan includes projects under development, such as the metro, the airport and a new sewage system, as well as other projects which have been proposed by the government and municipal officials.

"Thessaloniki needs a network with hierarchies for projects and interventions. It is necessary for there to be a synthesis of proposals and views in a completed plan which will constitute the course for Thessaloniki to enter the 21st century," Mr. Laliotis said.

The environment minister announced that town planning for industrial areas is being promoted in Thessaloniki's outlying areas, while relevant studies totaling 550 million drachmas are expected to begin this year.

Mr. Laliotis said that 1996 and 1997 funds for projects for the Cultural Capital "will be submitted according to the rates and the progress of works for each project."

Concerning Mount Athos, Mr. Laliotis said the government has drawn up a complete programme for the protection and preservation of its religious and cultural heritage.

"This programme is specific and includes interventions and preservation, protection and restoration works for each monastery separately and for the whole of the Athos community."

He said 10 billion drachmas will be provided for the upgrading of the quality of life and of the environment in western Thessaloniki municipalities within the framework of the "Urban" EU programme, which provides for the development of cities. The programme foresees the creation of a vocational support center and the support of the integration into society of minority groups among others.

Mr. Laliotis also announced that his ministry gives immediate priority to the protection, handling, organization, protection and promotion of habitats of the wider Thessaloniki region, particularly those of the lakes of Koronia-Volvi, Kerkini and the Axios, Loudia and Aliakmonas rivers, among others.

[22] Initial tourism figures show fall in hotel bookings, overnight stays

A total of 1,645,996 hotel reservations were made nationwide in May this year, down 12.66 per cent from the corresponding figure in 1995 of 1,884,507, according to the National Statistics Service (ESYE).

In April and May this year, the ESYE recorded a total of 2,692,370 overnight stays, compared to 3,114,594 in the same two-month period of 1995, marking a drop of 13.56 per cent.

The figures released by the ESYE were for 289 A, B and C category hotels with a total capacity of 85,236 beds.

Meanwhile, arrivals at the country's main airports (Athens, Rho-des, Corfu, Iraklion and Thessaloniki) reached 514,506 in May, compared to 592,592 in the same month last year, marking a drop of 13.185 per cent.

According to Bank of Greece figures, tourist exchange totaled $150 million in February this year, compared to $118.4 million in 1995, marking an increase of 26.7 per cent.

[23] Museum visits up

There was an increase in the number of visitors to the country's museums in February, compared to the same period last year, the ESYE said.

Some 26,929 people visited museums in February, compared to 26,193 last year, while archaeological sites reverberated to the footfalls of 67,799 visitors, down 10.6 per cent from 75,839 last year.

Total revenues from admittance and souvenir purchases were up 24.46 per cent to 123.894 million drachmas, compared to 99.545 million drachmas last year.

[24] World Bank report unveiled today in Athens

The World Bank will present its annual development report for 1996 at the Ledra Marriot hotel tomorrow.

This year's report deals with economies that are in the transitional phase from central planning to the free market, and analyses of the situation in 28 countries in central and eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, China, Mongolia and Vietnam.

The presentation is organized by the International Economic Relations secretariat of the ministry of national economy, and the main speaker will be Constantin Claessens, a World Bank executive, and one of the main authors of the report.

End of English language section.