Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 96-11-19
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1044), November 19, 1996
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Simitis says '97 budget will lead Greece to EMU
[02] Papantoniou
[03] Gov't spokesman
[04] Opposition
[05] Athens' environmental problems examined at conference
[06] Petsalnikos outlines Greece's Balkan role to Canadian audience
[07] Varvitsiotis proposal anticipated on expanding ND's congress
[08] Souflias sees difficulties ahead for main opposition
[09] Evert critical of Gov't policy regarding ethnic Greeks in Albania
[10] Tsohatzopoulos, Papandreou attend WEU ministerial summit
[11] Arsonists target Communist Party office
[12] Civil defense forces fire on Turkish illegal immigrant smugglers
[13] Turks report death
[14] Ankara protest
[15] Attica municipalities announce protests over funding cutbacks
[16] 1998 World Conference of Mechanical Engineers to be held in
Athens
[17] Greek technical chamber delegation to visit Romania
[18] Diamantopoulou refers to privatizations as tools of gov't's
economic policy
[19] Drys cites need to quickly implement 'TAXIS' program
[20] Chinese silkworm specialists to pay visit to Evros
[21] Drachma appreciates against all foreign currencies in October
[22] Thessaloniki hosts business conference
[23] British film takes first-place honor at Thessaloniki film
festival
[24] Athens competition commemorates centenary of birth of Mitropoulos
[01] Simitis says '97 budget will lead Greece to EMU
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday urged ruling party PASOK
deputies and the party's central committee to give their fullest
support to the government's economic policies and the 1997
budget.
Speaking at a joint meeting of the party's Parliamentary group
and central committee, which began yesterday morning, Mr.
Simitis stressed that there was no other path than the one the
government was currently following.
"The government's aim with the new budget is modernization of
the economy and achievement of the targets foreseen in the
convergence program," Mr. Simitis said, adding "this period is
the most important since the return of democracy in 1974".
Mr. Simitis stressed the dangers of marginalization facing
Greece if it failed to meet Maastricht Treaty criteria, which
would allow its participation in the EU economic and monetary
union (EMU), stressing that responsibility lay with all the
members of the party and that implementation of government
policy was not only an issue for the finance ministry but for
all, warning that "if it is not achieved, there will be
wide-ranging repercussions".
"We are founding a new period in the relations between party and
government," he said. "The party will plan and the government
will implement ... Over the past two months we have drafted a
unified government four-year plan with the central aim of
participation in a new Europe, reform and bolstering of the
economy and the strengthening of Greece in the Balkans and
southeastern Mediterranean."
The cabinet is expected to give final approval to the budget
today.
The aims of the government's economic policy were threefold, Mr.
Simitis said, namely, fiscal discipline, economic growth and
social cohesion, all of which demanded what he referred to as
hard work to enable the country to participate in the second
stag e of EMU.
"Greece can no longer delay implementation of the efforts for
inclusion in European unification," Mr. Simitis said.
He added, however, that in contrast with other EU countries,
economic growth in Greece was increasing along with social
cohesion and justice.
Mr. Simitis said there were certain "tough, but fair" measures
in the government's economy policies for the next four years.
The main aim of fiscal policy, he noted, was reform of revenues
and spending in such a way as to promote growth and combat
wasteful spending.
In other statements, he said the 1997 budget was based on the
following major points:
Abolition of all unjustified tax breaks.
Measures to control and contain spending in the wider public
sector and public organizations.
Raising an extra 900 billion drachmas in revenues so as to
reduce the public debt from 7.6 percent of GDP to 4.2 percent.
Drastically reduced public sector appointments, and,
A 30 percent increase in spending on the public investment
program.
The increase in revenues would be achieved, Mr. Simitis added,
by a stricter incomes policy keeping spending on wages and
pensions at levels which will improve real incomes and at the
same time allow de-escalation of inflation, alongside a strict
anti-inflationary policy to cut inflation drastically by the end
of next year.
Other measures calculated to raise revenues are expansion of the
tax base with imposition of taxes on larger real estate
holdings, interest on state titles, interbank market deposits
and derivatives, capital gains of non-listed firms and an
increase in taxation on banks. State subsidies and exemptions
would be cut back and wealth indicators for yachts and vehicles
would be readjusted.
The budget also foresees establishment of a new body to manage
health spending as well as new forms of social support for large
families.
Jobs are projected to increase by 1.3 per cent in the new
budget, while spending on education, health and welfare will
total 12 per cent.
Mr. Simitis stressed that the budget that had been drafted "had
exhausted all the margins".
[02] Papantoniou
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Speaking after the prime minister, National Economy and Finance
Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said the budget was "austere, but
fair" and that it attempted to introduce structural changes,
such as the establishment of a wage scale for public servants.
Wage increases will be "restrained but above inflation", he said.
Mr. Papantoniou said indexation of pension levels and the
introduction of a "social solidarity bonus" - budgeted at 40
billion drachmas - were the second major structural change and
that legislation cutting back public expenditures, with the
exception of health and education, was another major feature of
the budget.
Forthcoming legislation slashing a large number of tax breaks
and exemptions was "a major step forward for fairer taxation"
and would increase revenues for state coffers," he added.
The government's aim in macro-economic terms, the minister
added, was to increase GDP to 4.5-5.0 per cent by the year 2000.
He noted that PASOK's past three years at the helm had brought
GDP growth from -0.1 per cent to 3.3 per cent.
This achievement, Mr. Papantoniou said, is an indication in real
terms that Greece's economy is growing at a faster rate than the
EU average.
"This effort must continue and be completed because we are not
prepared to leave Greece on the sidelines of European
developments," he said.
[03] Gov't spokesman
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
The 1997 budget is the best possible and will keep Greece on
track for development, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
later said. Calling the budget "harsh but fair", Mr. Reppas said
the goals of the budget were fiscal stability, growth and social
justice.
"Decisions on the budget, which will be taken tomorrow (today)
at the cabinet meeting will regard the expansion of the tax base
and containment of spending," he said.
The burden, he added, will be distributed amongst all, but
particularly among the more affluent.
"This budget keeps Greece on track for development, is the best
possible, will be executed faithfully and everyone will be able
to judge the results."
Asked to comment on the meeting yesterday, National Defense
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said it was critical.
The meeting, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, was convened to examine
the government's goals within the next four years, including
Greece's inclusion in EMU over a minimum span of time.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the party's central committee "has full
sense of its responsibility to the Greek people" and that it
would "proceed with success in this course."
The minister was speaking before his departure for Brussels to
attend a Western European Union (WEU) meeting.
[04] Opposition
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Reacting to the premier's statements, main opposition New
Democracy leader Miltiades Evert harshly criticized Mr. Simitis,
saying that "with a unique act of unreliability (he) announced a
new whirlwind of tax measures which will primarily deal a blow
at t he average and low-income brackets.
"The only people he provided for are those having yachts and
those illegally in possession of luxury cars. He did not honor
what he promised before the elections and the available income
of low- and average-size income brackets is expected to decrease
through failure to link the tax scale to the price index as well
as through all the other taxes."
Commenting on Mr. Simitis' speech at a joint meeting of PASOK's
Parliamentary group and central committee yesterday, Mr. Evert
said ND's position is that new taxes are not necessary,
stressing the need for a drastic reduction in expenditures, as
well as combating extravagance, squandering and fraud prevailing
in the public sector at present and at the same time instituting
a development process through investments. The Coalition of the
Left and Progress (Synaspismos) said yesterday's speech by Mr.
Simitis specifies a one-sided, harsh and deadlocked economic
policy for 1997, which places the greatest burdens on the
shoulders of small- and average-income brackets and not on
higher-income taxpayers.
Commenting on Mr. Simitis' speech, Synaspismos said the country
needs an impetus for development, social justice and a
productive reorganization in policy applied, while the
government must claim changes and readjustments both in the
timetable and criteria of the Maastricht Treaty by creating
alliances.
In a similar statement, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI)
leader Dimitris Tsovolas said the government is "unreliable for
the umpteenth time."
"The government is continuing the unpopular as well as
economically and socially deadlocked and unfair policy in an
even tougher way than before, in contrast to the pre-election
announcements of both PASOK and the prime minister himself," he
said.
Mr. Tsovolas also criticized the government of using "false
titles" to cover "its harsh conservative policy with left-wing
terminology, which conscientiously makes the rich richer and the
poor poorer."
On its part, the Political Spring (Pol.An) party issued an
announcement yesterday criticizing Mr. Simitis' address on the
1997 budget, accusing the government of a "barbarous and mass
tax attack on citizens' income.
"Through Mr. Simitis' budget of social storm, development is
sacrificed on the altar of covering deficits of a wasteful and
unjust state," the Pol.An announcement stated.
[05] Athens' environmental problems examined at conference
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
The serious environmental and town planning problems facing
Athens went under the microscope yesterday as an international
conference, entitled "A vision for Athens", got under way.
The conference, jointly organized by the Municipality of Athens
and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), aims to chart the
course of planning and action for the capital and Attica basin.
"We are obliged - state, government, parties, social and
professional bodies as well as citizens - to work together for
the sake of Athens which is sending out an SOS signal,"
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas
Laliotis told participants.
Mr. Laliotis said the ministry had already put together a
program addressing most of the issues and which responded
positively to the challenges of the times and laid the
preconditions to "allow hope for the Attica prefecture".
Mr. Laliotis also said the government was committed to realizing
the dream of former Athens mayor, the late Antonis Tritsis, to
re-establish a tram network in the city. Athens Mayor Dimitris
Avramopoulos said that a municipality study on the tram network,
which would extend to the seaside suburb of Vouliagmeni, should
be put into action.
"We need revolutionary changes to the public transport status to
be able to compete with private vehicles," Mr. Avramopoulos
said, referring to the daily problem of traffic congestion. Too
much attention is being focused on the Athens Metro urban rail
network as a solution, Mr. Avramopoulos added. "The Metro is not
enough. Communication between the center and the region must be
based on a high-quality public transport system."
The conference will end on Thursday.
[06] Petsalnikos outlines Greece's Balkan role to Canadian audience
Toronto, 19/11/1996 (ANA/G. Georgiou)
Macedonia-Thrace Minister, Philippos Petsalnikos yesterday
presented the Greek government's strategic options in becoming a
source of stability in the Balkans to the Greek community of
Toronto.
Addressing an event on Sunday night, Mr. Petsalnikos, who began
his visit to Canada on Saturday, said the government's aims were
directed at empowering national defense and reinforcing
development in the economic, social and cultural fields.
Regarding national defense, Mr. Petsalnikos pointed to the need
for modern, well-equipped, well-trained armed forces, while,
referring to the Greek-Cyprus national defense doctrine "the
requirements for which are fully met today."
Focusing on Turkey as the threat facing Greece, the minister
said the political, military and diplomatic establishment
governing the neighboring country was likely to "continue
creating problems for us."
Regarding development, Mr. Petsalnikos mentioned the role
bestowed on northern Greece to serve as "the bridge for a
peaceful charge of Hellenism to the neighboring countries."
"Great infrastructural works are currently being constructed in
Macedonia and Thrace in order to facilitate this goal," Mr.
Petsalnikos said.
Regarding Thrace, Mr. Petsalnikos said the government aimed at
presenting the Moslems in the region with "equal opportunities,
equal rights and equal participation in the productive and
economic making".
Reiterating that Skopje could not claim the name "Republic of
Macedonia," Mr. Petsalnikos noted the need for greater emphasis
on the teaching of the Greek language in Greek communities
around the world.
Yesterday Mr. Petsalnikos inaugurated the Cultural Center of the
Ontario Pan-Macedonian Union and announced that two awards will
be established within 1997 - the "Alexander the Great Award,"
for politicians and the "Aristotelis Award" for scientists, be
stowed, he said, on "Greece's friends in Canada."
[07] Varvitsiotis proposal anticipated on expanding ND's congress
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party Vice-President Ioannis
Varvitsiotis is expected to deliver his proposal tomorrow on
widening the party's next congress with new delegates, while on
a daily basis he is receiving pressure and suggestions from all
sides concerned for new categories of delegates to be included
among the additional delegates.
Mr. Varvitsiotis has also not yet decided on the way with which
the number of women attending the congress will be increased,
reports state.
Meanwhile, three elections will deliver a report to ND leader
Miltiades Evert today, detailing the reasons leading the party
to defeat in the September 22 general elections. The report will
be discussed in a joint meeting of the party's Parliamentary
group and central committee.
According to reports, the 30-page report listed the parameters
shaping trends and ultimately the final result of the elections.
The main reasons specified is that the ruling socialist PASOK
party enjoyed greater reliability as a government, that PASOK
leader and Prime Minister Costas Simitis was more popular than
Mr. Evert, that the ND leader failed to convince public opinion,
as well as the fact that ND's government over the 1990-1993
period left a bad impression, in addition to intra-party
bickering intensified during the 1993-1996 period.
The report registers trends in the electorate since the
Euro-elections in 1994 until this year's national elections,
according to opinion polls, voting trends and moves from one
party to another based on exit polls. It further states that ND
received votes from farmers and self-employed professionals, but
lost votes from young people.
[08] Souflias sees difficulties ahead for main opposition
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
In an interview with the daily newspaper "Apogevmatini," New
Democracy former minister George Souflias yesterday forecast
that the course to the party Congress would be "difficult."
"The course to a Congress electing the leadership is difficult
for ND, as this is the case with all democratic parties
throughout the world," Mr. Souflias said. He recently lost
internal party elections to ND leader Miltiades Evert who
resigned after the party's defeat in September's general
elections only to re-claim the party leadership soon after.
Calling on Mr. Evert to clarify as to whether he will claim the
party leadership in the upcoming congress, Mr. Souflias
reiterated that "nobody wishes the partition of New Democracy."
"New Democracy has been founded as a party of power and should
remain as such," he added.
Indirectly hinting against Mr. Evert, Mr. Souflias said "the
predominant element of the pro-Karamanlis tendencies and the
political presence of (former president of the republic and
founder of New Democracy) Constantine Karamanlis is persistence,
seriousness, responsibility and aversion to populism.
[09] Evert critical of Gov't policy regarding ethnic Greeks in Albania
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert
yesterday accused the government of "inconsistency, a makeshift
mentality and irresponsibility in the exercise of foreign
policy," during a Parliamentary debate on the results of the
municipal elections in Albania and the ethnic Greek minority in
that country. He criticized the government not only over its
policy towards Tirana, but more specifically regarding its
handling of differences with the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) and Greek-Turkish relations.
"Today, we are witnessing a peculiar anti-Americanism coming
from the government itself. All this would be ridiculous if it
were not dangerous. Unfortunately, for the country, the team
that is governing is following personal diplomacy. Competent
ministers express contradictory views, while the prime minister
is regurgitating clear insinuations," he said. He said there was
a need for carving out a single national strategy, accusing the
government of a lack of continuity and consistency in its
foreign policy, and of indifference and lack of any policy
regarding the Greek minority in Albania.
Foreign Under-secretary Christos Rozakis said that Greece had to
protect with all its strength the ethnic Greek minority in
Albania, which he said faced serious political and social
problems, causing many to emigrate to Greece. "There is a need
to promote a modern Balkan policy, aiming to give these
countries the potential of developing in order to obtain
positive results. "Improved relations will lead to improving the
conditions for Greeks," he said, adding that the government was
in the process of planning a comprehensive Balkan policy that
will develop institutions, the economy and society.
[10] Tsohatzopoulos, Papandreou attend WEU ministerial summit
Ostend, 19/11/1996 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis/M. Savva)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Alternate
Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday attended the first
session of a ministerial summit of Western European Union (WEU)
member-states.
After the session, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos expressed his satisfaction
over the fact that general orientations as well as terms and
conditions for establishment of a European Armaments
Organization, which is expected tomorrow, will be determined by
WEU member-states. The decision is considered as the first step
towards creating the European Armaments Agency, which is
envisaged by the Maastricht Treaty.
The organization is essentially a continuation of the Armaments
Group of western Europe, where, besides the 10 members of the
WEU, Denmark, Norway and Turkey also participate.
According to reports, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos had the opportunity to
meet with his counterparts from Belgium, the Netherlands and
Italy, as well as with WEU Secretary General Jose Cutilheiro.
Today, he will meet with his counterparts from Spain, Portugal
and France.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said creation of an organization to deal with
armament-related issues was at a preliminary stage and its main
focus was promotion of research programs.
He stressed that the Union's strategic goal was to serve as the
defense arm of the EU.
Today, sessions will focus on relations of the WEU member-states
with the associate countries, namely Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
"What we must ensure," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, "is the
institutional framework for the diversification between the
associated members and those countries which constitute the
basis of the WEU."
On his part, Mr. Papandreou said Greece had already forwarded
its positions regarding the gradual integration of the WEU
within the EU as a tool for common defense policy.
Asked on a proposal of the Irish EU presidency regarding
relations between Turkey and Europe, Mr. Papandreou said the
Irish presidency "has a firm position that the problems should
be resolved within the framework of international justice."
In a related development, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas
said Mr. Tsohatzopoulos and Mr. Papandreou were not scheduled to
meet with their Turkish counterparts on the sidelines of the WEU
summit.
[11] Arsonists target Communist Party office
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Arsonists set fire to the entrance of the Communist Party of
Greece (KKE) local office in Piraeus at dawn yesterday, causing
slight damage but no injuries, police said.
Five plastic containers of gasoline were set on fire outside the
KKE office, causing damage only to the windows of the
semi-basement office.
The fire brigade and neighbors extinguished the fire, while the
anti-terrorist squad arrived on the spot to investigate the
causes. Eyewitnesses said that the fire was set by a man who
fled on a motorcycle.
An unidentified man later called a local private television and
radio station "SKAI", claiming responsibility on behalf of the
"Athens Polytechnic uprising participants as a response to the
'party-dogs' of the KKE who, today just as then, are the left h
and of suppression".
A KKE announcement deplored the arson, saying it was "part of
efforts by various mechanisms to terrorize the popular movement
which ... ensured the anti-imperialistic nature of the
Polytechnic".
[12] Civil defense forces fire on Turkish illegal immigrant smugglers
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Civil defense forces on Sunday fired on a Turkish fishing vessel
fleeing towards the Turkish coast after landing 10 illegal
immigrants on the eastern Aegean islet of Farmakonisi, according
to sources in the foreign and defense ministries.
The same sources expressed displeasure at the lack of adequate
policing on the Turkish coast, as well as the lack of guilty
sentences for the few illegal immigrant smugglers arrested in
the neighboring country.
[13] Turks report death
Istanbul, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
On its part, the semi-official Anadolu agency reported that a
Hellenic coast-guard vessel on Sunday fired on the Turkish boat,
adding that one crew-member had been killed and another injured.
Anadolu reported that the fishing boat had landed seven Iraqi
illegal immigrants on the Greek islet for US$300 each.
Quoting official Turkish sources, the report stated that the
coast-guard vessel had ordered the smugglers to stop, which they
ignored before attempting to flee towards the Asia Minor coast.
The injured smuggler managed to reach port and reported the
incident.
He was detained by Turkish authorities and questioned on charges
of violating the border and smuggling individuals out of Turkey,
the same sources added.
[14] Ankara protest
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Later in the day, the Turkish foreign ministry issued a protest
to Athens' embassy in Ankara over the incident, a statement read.
The statement claimed that the Turkish boat was fired upon from
the island of Bulamas at 3 p.m., and not at 6 p.m., as
originally reported by Anadolu.
The foreign ministry also claimed that the damaged boat drifted
for three hours, and was located by another Turkish vessel later
on, which notified the Turkish coast-guard.
"We cannot understand this indifference on the part of the Greek
authorities," the statement added.
[15] Attica municipalities announce protests over funding cutbacks
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
The Union of Attica Municipalities yesterday decided to shut
down municipal services, except refuse collection, every
Thursday until the end of November to protest against the
government's decision to cut back 25 per cent of road tax
revenue earmarked for local governments over the next two years.
They also decided to shut down services completely at the end of
the month and hold a protest march to Parliament on the day of
the debate on the draft bill on cutbacks in public spending.
On Nov. 28, they will participate in a 23-hour nationwide strike
by labor unions and civil servants on the occasion of the
presentation of the new budget.
Many mayors announced their intention to raise municipal rates
for lighting and waste collection between 8.5 and 47 per cent as
of next year, in order to meet financial requirements.
[16] 1998 World Conference of Mechanical Engineers to be held in
Athens
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Greece will host the fifth "World Conference of Mechanical
Engineers," following an announcement yesterday in Hania.
The conference has been scheduled for Athens in May 1998, the
Hania branch of the Panhellenic Association of Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers was told during its general meeting here
yesterday.
In addition, four preliminary conferences are to be held in
Greece within the framework of the world conference. The first
of these will be held in Hania in May 1997 and will concern
Crete's energy problem, while the others are scheduled to be
held on the island of Lesvos, in Thessaloniki and in Patra.
[17] Greek technical chamber delegation to visit Romania
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
University officials, technical firms representatives and
contractors are to visit Romania during the second half of
January on the initiative of the central Macedonia chapter of
the Technical Chamber of Commerce.
During the visit, the Greek delegation is scheduled to discuss
issues of commercial, scientific and trade union interest.
The visit had originally been scheduled for Nov. 19-24, but was
postponed in order to allow a new government in Bucharest to
take office following the Nov. 3 elections.
[18] Diamantopoulou refers to privatizations as tools of gov't's
economic policy
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Development Under-secretary Anna Diamantopoulou said yesterday
that "privatizations are one of the tools of our (government)
economic policy. The basic one is the 'Industry Business
Program' which, complemented by privatizations, will contribute
to the crucial efforts of modernization of Greek industry."
Ms. Diamantopoulou was speaking during a conference organized by
the "Naftemboriki" financial daily, held within the framework of
the "Money Show '96" on the subject of "Privatizations - A
Question of Survival and Reliability".
The under-secretary noted that privatization procedures have
been accelerated, and mentioned the organization of the
development ministry's special privatization secretariat and the
establishment of a schedule for each concern being privatized.
She added that procedures for the immediate privatization of
four companies in the Organization for the Rehabilitation of
Ailing Enterprises have already been scheduled.
During her speech, Ms Diamantopoulou noted "the importance of
public dialogue in the forming of public opinion," and stressed
that "without vision and social conscience, all efforts for
privatization are doomed."
[19] Drys cites need to quickly implement 'TAXIS' program
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
Speaking at a conference organized by the finance ministry's
training academy yesterday, Finance Under-secretary George Drys
stressed the need for accelerating procedures for implementation
of the comprehensive data processing system "TAXIS".
Mr. Drys said the main goals of the program are modernizing the
ministry's tax services, improving services rendered to
taxpayers, widening the tax base and combating tax evasion.
He also announced that 10,000 tax bureau employees will be given
training in light of the new informatics system's implementation.
[20] Chinese silkworm specialists to pay visit to Evros
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
A group of Chinese specialists on the raising of silkworms will
pay a two-day visit to Soufli, Evros from Nov. 27-28.
According to an announcement, the visit by the Chinese
delegation will take place within the framework of co-operation
between the National Agricultural Research Foundation (ETHIAGE)
and the state-run Chinese Research and Technology Committee.
The two foundations have signed an agreement on common research
programs in the sector of silkworm cultivation being applied in
Thrace on new varieties of cotton and cultivation as well as
production of mushrooms.
ETHIAGE is developing strong research activities with Bulgaria,
Cyprus and China. In this framework, a co-operation protocol is
expected to be signed soon with Bulgaria on developing three
research programs concerning silkworm cultivation, cheese and
cattle production.
[21] Drachma appreciates against all foreign currencies in October
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
The drachma appreciated against all foreign currencies in
October, according to weighted parity indicators followed by the
Center for Export Studies and Research (KEEM).
Specifically, the weighted parity indicator for all foreign
currencies fell by 0.57 per cent, and that of European
currencies by 0.56 per cent - on the basis of the weightings of
the countries total foreign trade (imports-exports).
In relation to all other currencies, except the US dollar, the
weighted parity indicator fell by 1.45 per cent on the basis of
their participation in the country's external trade.
From developments in the first 10 months of 1996, it can be
deduced that if the change in the drachma's parity continues at
the same average rate until the end of the year, its cumulative
appreciation will reach 2 per cent against all currencies, and
1. 6 per cent in relation to European currencies.
[22] Thessaloniki hosts business conference
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
A business conference, entitled "the strategic options of a
company facing the year 2000," is due to be held on Friday in
Thessaloniki.
The conference, organized by the Thessaloniki Trade Association
and the Thessaloniki Economists Society, aims at elaborating on
the dilemmas facing companies on the threshold of the 21st
century.
Professor and Director of Research at the Economics Department
of the University of Birmingham, Andrew Cox, will elaborate on
the issues.
The conference will be held at the Thessaloniki Trade and
Industry Chamber.
[23] British film takes first-place honor at Thessaloniki film
festival
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
A British film, Udayan Prasad's "Brothers in Trouble" won the
first prize at the 37th International Thessaloniki Film
Festival's foreign film category on Sunday night.
"Brothers" marked the Indian-born director's first film, and
tells the story of a Bengali illegal immigrant who settles in a
deprived north London suburb.
Presided over by Belgian director Chantal Akerman, the
international jury awarded the silver prize to Spanish director
Isabel Coixet for "Cosas que nunca te dije" (All that I never
told you), while actress Lilli Taylor won the best actress award.
The best director award went to Taiwanese director Tso Chi Chang
for his film "Ah-Chung", while the best script award was divided
between Americans Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for "Citizen
Ruth" and by Frenchmen Lucas Belvaux and Jean-Pierre Leaud for
"Pour rire" (To laugh).
Cypriot director Andreas Pantzis' "The Slaughter of the Rooster"
and Greek director Nikos Grammatikos' "Absentees" shared the
best film award in the Greek-language category.
George Corraface and Valeria Golino were also awarded the best
actor and actress honors for their roles in "The Slaughter of
the Rooster".
"Slaughter" took six years to film and is an international
co-production between Cyprus, Greece and Italy, as well as
participation from Swedish, German, Bulgarian and Syrian
interests, not to mention support by the Council of Europe's
"Eurimages".
More than 35,000 film fans, compared to last year's total
audience count of 20,000, visited the festival and watched the
Greek films.
Another noteworthy film was Aliki Danezi-Knutsen's "Roads and
Oranges", which has received an offer to participate in the
Brussels Film Festival.
Ms. Danezi-Knutsen, a 23-year-old Greek Cypriot, describes in
her film the travels of two girls in Turkey on the trail of
their father, missing during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in
1974.
She told the ANA that "I have no idea of politics ... I did not
make a political film."
"I made a road movie where the issue of the missing is directly
projected without heroics or hate, without melodrama. The issue
for me is the road of self-knowledge, a journey with which the
viewer can empathize," the director said.
[24] Athens competition commemorates centenary of birth of Mitropoulos
Athens, 19/11/1996 (ANA)
The first international competition dedicated to the memory of
renowned Greek conductor and composer Dimitris Mitropoulos opens
in Athens next week, marking the 100th anniversary since his
birth.
The five-day competition, which is set to become an annual
event, is open to orchestra conductors of all nationalities up
to the age of 40. The competition, organized by the Orchestra of
Colors in close collaboration with the Athens Concert Hall, and
under the aegis of the ministry of culture, will take place
November 24-28 before a jury comprising distinguished musicians
from the international world of music under the chairmanship of
conductor Claudio Scimone.
Out of approximately 300 entries, the jury has selected 32
candidates in a preliminary round to take part in the finals in
a November 28 concert at the Athens Concert Hall that will be
open to the public.
According to Traute Lutz, administrator of the competition,
there has been considerable interest from Britain in the
competition, and a Briton was among the finalists.
Three prizes will be awarded. The first prize is accompanied by
an eight million drachma (approx. $30,000) cash award, the
second prize five million drachmas ($18,000) and the third prize
three million drachmas ($10,000).
The first prize winner will also be offered paid engagements
with the Orchestra of Colors, founded by the late composer Manos
Hadzidakis, and the Camerata Orchestra of the Friends of Music
for two concerts over the next three years.
Mr. Lutz said that the response to the competition was so great
that by the June 15 deadline for entries about 300 candidates
had applied.
"Selecting 32 finalists was a very difficult task for the jury,
since the overall level of the entrants was extremely high. The
final round promises to be very interesting," Mr. Lutz told the
ANA.
End of English language section.
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