A.N.A. Bulletin, 06/09/96

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

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 982), September 6, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[1] Foundation stone laid for new int'l airport at Spata

Prime Minister Costas Simitis laid the cornerstone yesterday for Athens' new "Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport" at Spata, a $2.3 billion project considered one of the largest currently in progress in Europe.

The Spata airport, located 25km (15 miles) east of Athens, is an "ambitious major project that will play a catalytic role in the recovery of the national economy and will be linked with new forms of development and modernization of Greece," Mr. Simitis said.

He added that the project, which is due for completion by the year 2000, would reinforce Greece's geopolitical position in the air transport sector and further consolidate the country as a gateway and bridge among Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The prime minister said the new airport bore a general symbolism and a clear message: "That development and modernization of the country is a national cause."

In addition, he said, the project strengthened employment because it created thousands of jobs in the airport itself but also in numerous secondary, related sectors of the economy, while it would also serve as a reference point for an "explosion of productive financial activities in the wider eastern Attica region."

"Our government has also promoted an action plan for the urban development and productive restructuring of the region with main focus respect for man and the environment," he said, pointing to an explosion of projects throughout Greece.

The inauguration marks the commencement of construction on the airport, while five Greek construction companies and 465 workers have been involved in preliminary works for the past two months.

The July 1995 agreement between the PASOK government and a consortium led by the German firm Hochtief provides for an initial two four-km-long runway and a terminal capacity close to 16 million passengers annually. Hochtief, which has a 45 per cent stake in the project under the accord, will manage the airport for 30 years.

The EU in May approved ECU 250 million in financing from the Cohesion Fund for the project.

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis said at the inauguration ceremony that the new airport would create approximately 22,000 jobs, adding that it was one in more than 7,000 projects, budgeted at 3.4 trillion drachmas, that were being carried out at the national and prefectural level.

The Spata airport would put Greece in the "orbit of the 21st century," he said, adding that it was a project of immense strategic importance and was a part of the inter-European networks.

The prime minister also made reference to other construction projects of primary significance for the economic development, such as the Egnatia Highway, the road axis linking Patras to Athens to Thessaloniki and to the border region of Evzones, the natural gas project, water transport from Acheloos to Thessaly, the Athens Metro and the construction of an Attica tollway.

Mr. Simitis said other projects of lesser importance were also underway throughout the country in almost all sectors of transport infrastructure.

While Mr. Laliotis said the Spata airport was a "great infrastructure work of great and wide horizons leading to the country's modernization and development"

Hochtief's representative at the ceremony, Carl Rolmberg, said the company had already established "excellent relations of co-operation with the Greek construction industry, which will play a decisive role in the construction of the project."

[2] Opposition remarks

Commenting on the prime minister's statements during the ceremony, main opposition New Democracy party spokesperson Prokopis Pavlopoulos said ND was "pleased because Mr. Simitis justifies one more great decision of New Democracy since both the decision an d the choice of region as well as the way of funding the project belong to ND governments."

Mr. Pavlopoulos said construction of the project commenced during the 1978 Karamanlis administration, but was abandoned, together with other major infrastructure works during the subsequent PASOK administration.

He said PASOK's renegotiation of the agreement resulted in "worse terms" in comparison to those achieved by ND, adding that "the project essentially began after the constructive intervention of (ND leader Miltiades) Evert during his Brussels visit in March 1995."

On his part, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos described the Spata airport as "an ecological disaster, a colonial commitment and a great cost," drawing a parallel between "anti-development waste of resources" to the decline of outlying regions, particularly Thrace, from where he made the statement yesterday.

[3] Greece rejects US view on Turkey's role in the wider region

Athens yesterday expressed disagreement with US President Bill Clinton's assessment of Turkey's "key" role in the region.

"A country that violates international legality and human rights cannot play a stabilizing role in the region," foreign ministry spokesman Costas Bikas told a press briefing.

He was commenting on President Clinton's letter to NATO allies seeking support for the latest US missile attacks on Iraq as well as in reference to Turkey's role.

The Clinton letter called on allies to "join us in continuing to recognize Turkey's legitimate security interests and key role in helping contain Saddam", noting that "Saddam's threatening moves in the north are of particular concern to Turkey."

Mr. Bikas stressed the need for respect of the UN resolutions on the region, Iraq's territorial integrity and the human rights of the Kurds.

The United States used a 1991 UN Security Council resolution to justify the largest missile raid against Iraq since the Gulf War, but it was questionable if the resolution in fact mandated such action.

Washington on Tuesday fired 27 missiles against Iraqi air defense in retaliation for Iraqi military attacks on Kurds in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, Turkey reportedly staged heavy military activity near its frontier with Iraq yesterday. Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller said a military thrust across the porous border was not imminent.

As far as the Aegean was concerned, Mr. Bikas further added: "Turkey should act in accordance with international law, and if it has any claims, it should take recourse to the International Court of Justice at The Hague to resolve them."

Back to developments in the Persian Gulf region, National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis yesterday reiterated that the government was closely following developments in the area, warning that they could cause "after-shocks."

Mr. Arsenis called on the European Union to formulate a single European policy on the issue in order to secure peace and stability in the region.

"The European Union should arrive at a common decision on the crisis in southern Iraq," Mr. Arsenis said.

He was addressing an election gathering in a central Athens hotel.

"Everyone wants stability and peace," Mr. Arsenis said, "but the European Union should take a common decision and maintain a common stand on the issue."

EU states received the news of the US missile strikes against Iraq with widely contrasting views and have yet to issue a formal statement on US President Bill Clinton's decision to neutralize Iraqi targets in retaliation for Iraqi military incursions in to predominately Kurdish areas.

Britain and Germany have strongly supported the missile strikes to punish the government of Saddam Hussein, but France, Spain and Italy have withheld endorsement.

[4] Constantopoulos proposal

In a related development, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos yesterday proposed the suspension of pre-election activities and urged the government to hold a meeting of party leaders under the chairmanship of President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos in order for Greece to approve a common policy in the wake of recent events in northern Iraq.

In a statement in Thrace, Mr. Constantopoulos assessed that the US attack in Iraq and the possible involvement of Turkey created great dangers for tension increasing in the sensitive Middle East region, which had a decisive influence on Greece.

He said President Clinton's letter proved the serious repercussions these developments could have for Greece.

[5] Europarliament endorses report concerning CSF

A European Parliament plenary session yesterday endorsed a report by ruling PASOK party Eurodeputy Costas Klironomou on the second Community Support Framework, issuing a resolution on how Community and national funds should best be utilized.

The resolution accompanying the report said the bulk of Community and national funds should be utilized productively and infrastructures should be backed regardless of whether they were private or public.

It added that the country would not be attractive to foreign private investments without supporting infrastructure, primarily in transport, communications and technology and consequently the course towards real convergence and cohesion would be jeopardized.

The resolution hailed the Athens' decision to improve the process of implementing public works, saying the improvement constituted a precondition for the effective implementation of infrastructure works included in the second CSF and the Cohesion Fund.

The Europarliament also expressed satisfaction over the Greek public administration's effort at modernization with the creation of the Unit for Organizing the Management of the second CSF (MOD), whose main target is meeting the needs of the existing administrative structure in human potential and in the transfer of know-how required for a speedy and effective application of programs jointly funded by the European Union.

The resolution concluded that Greece had received Community assistance from the structural funds, but its needs for infrastructure and supporting private investments were far greater and a way should be found to increase Community joint funding.

Presenting his report to the session, Mr. Klironomou said efforts being made by Athens to achieve targets set in the CSF and economic sacrifices the Greek people were being subjected to should not be disregarded. He said Greece was the only country in the EU whose territorial integrity was being threatened and for this reason it was obliged to spend a part of its already low GDP in comparison with other EU partners on military spending, which was more than double that of any other EU country.

[6] Pangalos leaves for Portugal today

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos leaves today on a one-day visit to Portugal before going to Dublin for an informal meeting of the European Union's Council of Ministers. Foreign Ministry spokesman Constantine Bikas said Mr. Pangalos would brief his EU counterparts on the latest developments in Greek-Turkish relations and the recent dramatic events in Cyprus during the Council of Ministers meeting.

Mr. Pangalos would also underscore the fact that Turkey had as yet to reply to the common position stipulated by the EU 15 at the last Council of Ministers' meeting concerning the terms and conditions for normalization of EU-Turkish positions and the re lease of EU funds to Turkey, Mr. Bikas said.

[7] Military exercise scheduled

The Hellenic Navy general staff yesterday announced the holding of the "Kataigis '96" exercise in the sea region of the Cyclades, and the central and northern Aegean between Sept. 9-12.

The exercise is within the framework of annual operational training of naval personnel, involving all units of the navy as well as army and air force units.

[8] Stephanopoulos. No differences would exist with Turkey if it were a true democracy

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday said that if Turkey was a truly democratic state and if it really wanted to gain accession into the European Union then "there wouldn't be any differences between us."

Addressing several foreign politicians of Greek origin from 11 countries visiting Greece at the initiative of Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Romeos, Mr. Stephanopoulos emphasized what he called Turkey's expansionist policy, adding that this policy was creating "differences" between the two countries.

The president said these differences were not real but "artificial, manufactured by the neighboring country, which has no other way to express its aggressive tendencies, while it shows no respect for international law."

Elaborating on all aspects of Greek foreign policy, he said that "even though truth and justice is on the side of Greece, the international community, for reasons serving the interests of other countries or due to a prejudice against Greece or ignorance , has not shown understanding to Greek views."

Mr. Stephanopoulos also referred to the disagreement between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), saying FYROM violated an interim agreement between the two nations that provides for two sides to begin negotiations regarding the name issue.

Turning again to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Stephanopoulos said the issue constituted a constant source of concern for Greece, "also in view that the neighboring country has expressed war threats against us."

"Greece seeks respect for international law and implementation of international treaties, which Turkey refuses to do," he added.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said Greece's complaint "is that existing economic interests, which I know always play a leading role in international relations, have managed to put out of the mind of other states the need to support Greece in its effort to support justice and international treaties."

Concluding, Mr. Stephanopoulos said the only difference between Greece and Turkey was the delineation of the Aegean's continental shelf through the International Court of Justice at The Hague. He also accused Ankara for its efforts to dispute the Greekness and sovereignty of the Aegean islands, of war threats in the event Athens uses its legal right and expands its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles as well as constant violations of the Athens FIR.

"This pressure which is exerted on Greece forces it to spend enormous amounts of money to maintain a high standard for the armed forces, capable of averting any aggressive action against us," he added.

[9] Arsenis meeting

The foreign officials also met with National Defense Minister Gerassimos Arsenis, with whom they discussed problems in the region, existing threats to Hellenism and the manner in which they are being dealt with by the defense ministry, matters concerning t he Aegean and Cyprus as well as Greece's defense programs and agreements.

During his speech, Mr. Arsenis said "the largest weapon always held by Hellenism is Greece's ambassadors abroad - expatriate Greeks."

The defense minister stressed the need for international public opinion to be informed on "the important peaceful role which Greece can play in the region, and on the dangers the country faces, mainly from Turkey, so that solutions can be promoted based on centuries-old values of democracy, freedom and the defense of human rights."

Mr. Arsenis said the threat from Turkey is "both invisible and real," adding that Greece wishes to live peacefully with neighboring countries, including Turkey. However, he also emphasized that Greece is not willing to cede any of its national sovereign rights.

[10] Police Marathon World Championships to be run in Athens

The fourth Police Marathon World Championships will be held in Athens from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, following a decision taken during the 26th European Police Athletics Conference, held in Denmark.

During the conference, decisions were also taken for Greece to host the fifth world police athletics conference at the same time as the marathon, on the occasion of the centenary of the modern Olympic Games.

Greece is also to host the 28th European police athletics conference and the fourth European police cycling championships, scheduled to take place in the year 2000, as well as the third European police marathon championships due to take place in 2002.

[11] Party leaders continue hectic campaign schedules

In terms of pre-election activities, Prime Minister Costas Simitis will be on a tour of northern Greece for the next three days on the occasion of the opening of the 61st International Thessaloniki Trade Fair (TIF).

During the tour, Mr. Simitis will visit a number of Macedonian towns. On Friday evening the prime minister will attend TIF's opening and on Saturday he will visit the fair prior to his press conference at midday.

Meanwhile, main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert will continue his tour of Greek prefectures and regions, with visits to Larisa, Kalabaka, Meteora, Karditsa, Argos, Tripoli, Sparta, Messinia and Ilia.

Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos is scheduled to visit Thessaly on Friday and Saturday.

This evening, Mr. Constantopoulos will attend the opening of the party's election center in Athens.

[12] Papariga leaves open possibility of KKE co-operation with 'new political formations' post-election

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga yesterday forecast a worsening of Greece's domestic and national problems after general elections later this month.

Ms Papariga also estimated that after the September 22 elections, new political "formations" would be created with which the KKE could develop joint or parallel action. She stressed however that there was no possibility of the KKE cooperating with the existing political forces.

Commenting on the ongoing election campaign, Ms Papariga charged that the only thing the two major parties, PASOK and New Democracy (ND), were achieving with their election promises, was in effect announcing a further period of harsh austerity to be implemented immediately after September 22.

She called on the electorate to deprive the two major parties of seats in Parliament and strengthen the presence of the KKE in the House. In particular, Ms. Papariga criticized the policies of PASOK and ND with respect to the European Union and t he economically weaker groups in Greece.

By voting for the KKE, she added, a brake could be put on this policy.

Ms Papariga also criticized the measures announced by Prime Minister Costas Simitis Wednesday in favor of farmers, pensioners, the unemployed and small- and medium-size enterprises, describing them as hand-outs to capital rather than workers.

In effect, she said, the two major parties were announcing austerity measures, stressing that austerity was incompatible with development.

"Resistance (to the two major parties) is never wasted because it substantially limits the consequences," Ms Papariga said, calling for a referendum on the Maastricht Treaty "so that the new government can negotiate Greece's rights in Brussels."

Turning to foreign policy, Ms. Papariga expressed fear that if things did not change, in a few years Greece would be sending soldiers to bomb Iraq since, she said, NATO was planning the formation of a (multinational) rapid intervention force in which Greece would participate.

"After the elections, the government will find itself faced with even bigger dilemmas," Ms Papariga said, predicting that either before elections in the United States, or afterwards, plans would be implemented to carve up the Aegean and partition Cyprus .

There was also a danger, she added, that Greece would find itself squeezed between two fronts - Iraq and Bosnia - "since peace in Bosnia has not been consolidated."

Ms Papariga criticized the government's stance over the recent US missile attacks on Iraq, saying that it did not even issue a simple condemnation.

Replying to reporters' questions, Ms Papariga expressed confidence that the KKE would retain its present strength in Parliament and increase it with the election of new deputies.

Replying to press questions, Ms Papariga criticized all political parties in Greece regarding their policies and positions on the European Union, NATO and the two party system, expressing certainty that KKE will gain more seats in the new Parliament.

Concluding, Ms. Papariga stressed that the people and the politicians should realize the problems facing the country and resist the storm of the multinational and Brussels.

[13] Inter-party committee, private TV stations agree to rules over pre-election issues

Members of an inter-party committee and representatives of private television stations yesterday agreed on the procedures to broadcast political interviews and 10-minute party spots by private channels.

"There were particular agreements and the way of covering the 10-minute spots will be decided between parties and stations," caretaker Interior Minister Vassilis Skourtis said. "It was decided to respect the principle of equality and the details of t he implementation of the relevant ministerial decision were ironed out."

He said that the main opposition New Democracy representative Kyriakos Stephanakos charged that the state-run ERT network was conducting propaganda on behalf of the ruling PASOK in its satellite programme and during its nightly "Magazino" programme, asking for implementation of measures which had been applied during the 1993 elections.

It was also decided that the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) rally in Peristeri on Sept. 15 would be covered by television as would a press conference by DHKKI leader Dimitris Tsovolas.

Mr. Tsovolas has charged "traditional parties" with "a conspiracy of silence", alleging that his party had been denied television coverage during the pre-election period.

DHKKI will be able to participate in the inter-party committee's meetings, caretaker Press Minister Dimitris Konstas said yesterday.

He noted that a DHKKI representative had participated in yesterday's meeting.

Mr. Konstas added he had given DHKKI his personal approval to use the Zappeion Hall for press conferences, pending an expected approval from the committee.

In addition, Mr. Konstas said that as of Saturday, when lists for the deputies' ticket are submitted, guidelines for participation of all parties in the inter-party committee will be drafted. He clarified that the "solution provided to DHKKI in the inter-party committee was a form of handling" taken on his responsibility as press minister.

Mr. Konstas added he was satisfied with the programming of party spots by state-run radio and television, following his meeting with the ERT administration. He said that a meeting with private radio and television channels, despite some disagreements, was conducted in an atmosphere of good will.

[14] Pol.An accuses mass media of violating inter-party committee decisions

The Head of the Political Spring (Pol.An) party's election campaign Nikitas Kaklamanis yesterday charged that the mass media, and especially television channels, are systematically violating decisions of an inter-party election committee.

Speaking at an unscheduled press conference, he reiterated his party's proposal for a joint press conference of all political leaders, which only the major two parties have so far not accepted.

Mr. Kaklamanis accused the two major parties of engaging in an uncontrollable race of promises, many of which have been proposed as measures by Political Spring in the past, and of not clarifying the source of the necessary funds.

"Of course, there are solutions," he said, "such as the taxing of interest of state bonds and treasury bills, the trimming of VAT evasion etc., but PASOK and New Democracy do not proceed to their implementation, fearing they will annoy those that support them".

He added that Pol.An leader Antonis Samaras would present the party's economic programme at Zappeion Hall on Sept. 13.

[15] Farm minister promises to push for more cotton subsidies from EU

Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas announced yesterday that at the next European Union farm ministers' council, Greece would push for an increase above the current ECU 770 million sum for cotton subsidies envisaged in the Union's budget, as well as a rise in the ceiling for cotton production, in which the Community has a deficit.

This year's cotton production in Greece is estimated at 1.22 million tons, way above the national quota of 782,000 tons.

Meanwhile, Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) deputy governor Th. Papageorgiou said yesterday that the number of cotton ginners in the country was excessive, and that the bank had instructed its leasing subsidiary not to enter into contracts with cotton ginners.

[16] North Prinos 2 comes on line with 3,000 barrels daily

Extraction of crude oil from the North Prinos 2 well began yesterday with roughly 3,000 barrels of oil expected to be pumped from the deposit daily.

According to reports, drilling conditions are favorable as internal drills on the perimeter of the deposits have yielded 1,500 to 2,000 barrels daily, which, in combination with the north Prinos oil reserve raises total daily output to 13,000 to 13,500 barrels daily.

One more exploratory drill will take place in the Prinos reserves, according to a contract signed between Greece and the North Aegean Petroleum Co. (NAPC).

A detailed evaluation of data from recent geological and seismological surveys is scheduled to take place this autumn in order to calculate the exact amount of reserves.

[17] SEBE calls for less rigid 'hard drachmas' policy

A change in the government's "hard drachma" policy in order to try and boost exports is expected to be one of the demands by the Association of Northern Greece Exporters (SEBE) in a memorandum to be presented to Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the leaders of all the political parties.

In a press conference yesterday, SEBE President Apostolos Genitsaris released the text of the memorandum and presented SEBE's arguments in favor of "a reasonable slide" of the drachma, which he said would make Greek products more competitive on the international market.

While stressing that the organization was not asking for a devaluation of the drachma, he pointed out that "even though exports are the only avenue for development of the country," the state of Greek exports is far from satisfactory.

Exports, he added, are falling in the traditional markets in the European Union and are increasing only in markets where competition is either limited or nonexistent - the Balkans, for instance. Furthermore, he said there is an over-concentration of exports in a limited range of products, chiefly those belonging to the traditional sectors of the Greek economy.

SEBE representatives stressed that this negative competitive climate has led many small businesses into bankruptcy and increased unemployment. In Thessaloniki, for example, 3,500 jobs were lost in the past two years in the clothing industry alone, they claimed.

Apart from the hard drachma policy, exporters attribute the negative climate to the high cost of funding, the high public deficit and bureaucracy, but also to inadequate infrastructure. The noted the need to complete major projects, such as the Egnatia Highway and modernization of Thessaloniki's port and airport.

Among their proposals to the political leaders are the creation of a textile center and a food and beverages institute, as well as a laboratory for quality control and authentication of agricultural products and further reinforcement of professional training.

The memorandum stresses the need to "create a national export strategy" since "businesses need guidelines on products, sectors, target markets and quality standards so that they can direct correctly chosen products to selected foreign markets" but also the need for the exporters' council to take on a leading role.

Another demand is to institute mechanisms of collaboration between the Hellenic Organization of Export Commerce and exporters' associations, so as to utilize funds in integrated programs for the collective promotion of products by sector or area".

SEBE also asks for "export anti-incentives" to be removed and an overall improvement in the system for the payment of export returns, which can be delayed by up to 25 months.

In a final appeal, Mr. Genitsaris called for a resolution of problems with Balkan and Black Sea countries, which he said are "rising markets of particular interest to Greek businesses."

[18] August inflation remains stable

Annual inflation remained stable at 8.5 per cent at the end of August, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) not changing since July when it had risen by 0.1 per cent over the previous month, according to figures released yesterday by the National Statistical Service (ESYE).

The end August inflation figure compares with 8.7 per cent in the same month last year and 11.1 per cent at the end of August 1994. The ESYE said that prices of certain categories of foodstuffs, including fresh fruit and vegetables, had dropped in August, but prices of heating oil had risen.

[19] New Thessaloniki casino poised to become Balkans gambling Mecca

Europe's biggest casino, built by the Hyatt Regency hotel group, formally opened Wednesday night in Thessaloniki, turning the northern Greek capital into a Balkan gambling Mecca.

The glittering gambling temple, built at a cost of 8.5 billion drachmas, is part of the Greek government's efforts to boost its revenues, encourage regional development, and stop the Greek suitors of Lady Luck from flocking across the border to casinos in neighboring Bulgaria and FYROM.

The Hyatt complex currently houses two casinos - one French and one Nevada style - four restaurants, several bars, and a 650-seat ultra-modern theater named "Vergina." "It is a unique entertainment experience, that exceeds everyone's expectations," Hyatt General Manager Ron Shephard said.

Conveniently located less than half a kilometer from Thessaloniki airport, the casino, completed in a record 12 months, is a joint venture by two Greek firms, Elliniki Technodomiki and Aktor.

The casino employs 1,200 people, mainly young locals who underwent strict training in roulette, black jack, punto banco, Carribean-style poker and other gambling delights. The casino also has a 2,000-car parking lot, while the lush surroundings have been planted with 1,000 palm, olive, cypress, plane and pine trees, 40,000 bushes, 60,000 plants, and about 1,000 hectares of lawn.

Hyatt Regency paid the Greek state 7.8 billion drachmas to obtain the casino licensee. But its overall investment will reach 36 billion drachmas as the complex will soon boast a five-star 150-room and suite hotel on a sprawling 10-hectare expanse, and a conference center, both expected to be completed by late next year, when Thessaloniki becomes the Cultural Capital of Europe.

An additional 400 jobs will be created when the hotel and conference center are completed.

"It will be the biggest private sector investment ever made in northern Greece, and without any (state) subsidy at that," said board chairman George Galanakis.

Mr. Galanakis said the hotel would be the "No. 1" such establishment in the wider Balkan region with respect to services.

The Greek state will reap 30 per cent of the profits, an estimated revenue of 15 billion drachmas from the operation of the complex, along with other beneficial spill-over effects for the city.

[20] Work begins on creation Black Sea development bank

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos yesterday stressed the role of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank, based in Thessaloniki, in the development of the Black Sea Co-operation Council (BSCC) member-states, and their transition to an open economy.

The minister, who opened the third session of the preparatory committee for the bank at HELEXPO's Nikolaos Germanos conference center in Thessaloniki, and attended by representatives of all BSCC members, expressed confidence that it is possible for the bank to commence operations in January 1997.

The Turkish president of the bank, Ersoy Volkan, also expressed certainty the bank will begin operations on Jan. 1, 1997.

The secretary general of international economic relations of the national economy ministry and the president of the preparatory committee, Nikos Zahariadis, reported that seven of the eleven member-states have ratified the agreement to date - Albania, Armenia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia and Turkey - covering 69 per cent of the bank's equity capital.

He added that it is the desire of the attending representatives is to hand over the administration of the bank to its management at their next session in Thessaloniki, to take place before the end of the year, as the goal is to complete the operational plan within that time.

Yesterday's meeting was also attended by Albanian Finance Under-secretary Sherefedin Shehu, Central Bank of Armenia deputy governor Levon Farmanian, his Azeri counterpart Vadim Alassin Khubanov, member of the board of governors of the National Bank of Bulgaria, Borislav Stratev, exchange director of the National Bank of Georgia, Georgi Chikava, National Bank of Moldova representative Nadeja Jacub, head of international banking relations of the National Bank of the Ukraine, Anatoly Borboovitsky, deputy governor of the national bank of Romania, Emillota Chizari, head of international transactions of the central bank of the Russian Federation, Nikolai Krassikov, and the head of Turkey's trade secretariat of the international economic relations directorate, Ayla Ipek.

[21] Roads claim Greece's young, figures show

More than 6,000 people died and 12,000 were injured in road accidents in Greece over the last three-and-a-half years, according to figures released yesterday by the Union of Insurance Companies of Greece (EAEE).

The majority of the accidents, according to the Union, took place in the evening and at night, and claim the lives of mostly young people between the ages of 21 and 25.

The Union also announced its decision to assign to one of its competent committees to identify and carry out a study of the causes of road accidents and submit its findings to the relevant state authorities.

End of English language section.