Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-02-20
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1120), February 20, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Papantoniou says stability, consistency characterize economy
since '94
[02] Wulf-Matthies on agriculture sector
[03] Greece rallies to aid Bulgaria, G. Papandreou to visit Sofia
[04] Dire situation reported in Bulgaria
[05] Schussel comments on excellent Greek-Austrian relations
[06] Greek-Bulgarian road network project discussed
[07] Greece warms to idea of Athens-Ankara-NATO hot line
[08] Joint position regarding Cyprus' EU accession negotiations
debated
[09] Rifkind cites lack of progress in Greek-Turkish relations
[10] Iranian official holds contacts with Greek leadership
[11] .... and Athens Mayor Avramopoulos
[12] Greece - FYROM talks resume next week
[13] Papadopoulos in US to attend Pan-Epirus Congress
[14] Costas Karamanlis latest entry into ND leadership race
[15] NATO enlargement discussed by Greek, Hungarian defense
undersecretaries
[16] Primary teachers suspend strike, Simitis says Gov't sensitive to
salary demands
[17] Local self-administration employees announce strikes
[18] Cabinet approves new health restructuring
[19] Public services to ensure ease of access for disabled
[20] OA contradicts press reports that restructuring program has
failed
[21] SEB disagrees with Gov't criticism over EU absorption rate in
industry
[22] Parliament to debate controversial pension funds' amendment today
[23] Greece to contribute to Moscow's 850th birthday party
[24] Russian fugitive did not receive Greek travel papers
[01] Papantoniou says stability, consistency characterize economy
since '94
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Greece's economic policy since 1994 has been characterized by
stability and consistency within the framework of efforts to
attain the targets of a revised economic convergence program,
National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said
yesterday.
Speaking at an event marking the presentation of the European
Commission's first report on Economic and Social Cohesion, Mr.
Papantoniou underlined that cohesion policies should contribute
to the development of the less developed EU countries.
The report was presented by European Commissioner for Regional
Policy and the Cohesion Fund, Monika Wulf-Mathies, who began an
official visit to Greece on Tuesday. The course towards economic
and social cohesion, he said, should be viewed as a long -term
process during which it will be absolutely necessary to support
the less developed regions.
Mr. Papantoniou added that the Greek economy would, at the end
of 1998, satisfy terms for accession to the Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU), while Greece expected to join by the year
2000.
During his speech, Mr. Papantoniou stressed that Greece
functioned in an entirely different public finances framework
from its EU partners since it was facing a major national
security threat from Turkey.
For this reason, he added, Greece was forced to spend huge
amounts on defense and should therefore be treated by the EU
with different criteria.
Underlining the success of the government's economic policy
since 1994, Mr. Papantoniou said that inflation had dropped from
14.2 per cent in 1993 to an average of 8.6 per cent in 1996,
while it is expected to be below 5.0 per cent by the end of this
year.
Mr. Papantoniou underlined that while EU enlargement was
necessary, it should under no circumstances be attained at the
expense of less developed EU countries.
"This report clearly shows that the EU's structural policies are
indeed effective in bridging the gap between the rich and poor
member-states," Ms Wulf-Mathies said.
The commissioner said that the four less developed EU countries
- Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland - had managed to increase
their per capita income by 65-75 per cent in relation to the
Community average, resulting in a closing of the gap separating
them from the wealthier member-states by one-fifth since the
1980s.
On employment, Ms Wulf-Mathies said that although seven million
new jobs had been created in the EU in the last decade,
including one million in less developed countries, "unemployment
remains the Community's most serious problem, which is why in
addition to national measures a coordinated approach at EU level
is also needed."
[02] Wulf-Matthies on agriculture sector
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
On her part, Ms Wulf-Matthies said an improvement of structures
in the traditional sectors of agriculture and fishing in EU
member-states constitutes one of the Union's main targets,
during the presentation of the report.
Referring to agriculture, the report stated that considerable
changes achieved in the sector over the past years, such as new
production techniques, increased competitiveness, while changes
in the demand model have led to a significant decrease in
agricultural cultivations in EU member-states.
A problem also exists with the age of people working in the
sector, since in 1993 more than half the farmers in the EU were
over 55 years of age.
The report says that the EU, among others, contributes towards
supporting 210,000 young farmers to enable them to establish
enterprises with a view to achieving a decrease in the average
age of people employed in the farming sector.
For this reason, aid has been given to 23,000 young farmers in
past years (1.8 per cent of the EU's total), while early
pensioning for farmers over 55 has been encouraged.
It also funds investments to improve the quality of products and
encourages a differentiation in the activities of people working
in the sector for additional income to be created.
The report further refers to immediate compensation for farmers,
focused primarily on those located in mountainous or other
disadvantageous regions.
These regions cover 56 per cent of arable farmland in EU
member-states and as a result 1.5 million farmers receive
compensation of such a kind.
[03] Greece rallies to aid Bulgaria, G. Papandreou to visit Sofia
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday chaired a
meeting which focused on the dispatch of humanitarian aid to
neighboring Bulgaria.
The meeting was attended by the mayors of Greek towns with
Bulgarian sister-cities and the deans of universities of
Macedonia and Thrace.
Also participating were Interior Under-secretary Lambros
Papadimas and Bulgaria's ambassador in Athens.
Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Sofia reported that Mr.
Papandreou will visit the Bulgarian capital tomorrow.
Diplomatic sources said the Greek alternate minister will meet
with caretaker prime minister Stephan Sofianski, Foreign
Minister Stoyian Stalev and Alternate Foreign Minister
responsible for European Affairs N. Dobrev.
Mr. Papandreou expressed the view that public opinion would
respond to the campaign and donate foodstuffs, clothing and
pharmaceuticals.
The participants in the meeting referred to their previous
experience in gathering humanitarian aid for former Yugoslavia
and appealed for the state's support in dispatching aid to
Bulgaria.
Mr. Papandreou is also expected to convey a Bulgarian aid
request to the EU General Affairs Council, which is due to meet
in Brussels on Feb. 24.
Athens is already in the process of sending 1,700 tons of flour
to Bulgaria for distribution among hospitals and social
institutions in several cities.
In a related development, the political directors of the Foreign
Ministries of the Southeastern European countries, meeting in
Sofia yesterday, issued a joint message to the European Union
regarding the issue of humanitarian aid to Bulgaria.
Mr. Papandreou will table the message in Brussels at the Foreign
Ministers' Council due to be held on Feb. 24.
The Greek action is held in the framework of the Royaumont
initiative which provides for a meeting of EU and Balkan foreign
ministers in Athens in March. The meeting will focus on seeking
resources and coordinating humanitarian aid dispatches to
Bulgaria and Albania.
The political directors propose in their message that the
convening of the foreign ministers conference of the countries
of northeastern Europe take place on June 9-10 in Thessaloniki.
[04] Dire situation reported in Bulgaria
Sofia, 20/02/1997 (ANA - N. Hios)
The Bulgarian daily "Trud" yesterday referred to the
increasingly desperate financial straits faced by pensioners in
the neighboring country.
The newspaper revealed that many pensioners are forced to resort
to buying cheaper meat and foodstuffs destined for pets.
Pensioners receive an average monthly benefit of no more than
three US dollars. According to a recent survey, one-third of
Bulgarians no longer buy meat.
Inflation in February is expected to be in excess of 100 per
cent.
[05] Schussel comments on excellent Greek-Austrian relations
Vienna, 20/02/1997 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)
Austrian Foreign Minister and Deputy Chancellor Wolfgang
Schussel yesterday spoke of his country's excellent relations
with Greece, during an interview here with the Athens News
Agency.
Mr. Schussel is due to arrive in Athens on a two-day official
visit this afternoon.
He said both countries are particularly interested in common
issues of regional foreign policy and the situation in central
and eastern Europe, particularly in the Balkans, where the Greek
government has repeatedly mediated at crucial moments.
The Austrian foreign minister said his country is avidly
following Greece's efforts, similar to those by Austria, for
achieving stable criteria for the Euro, and is particularly
interested in Athens' estimates regarding tension in the Aegean
and Cyprus, within the framework of political dialogue with
Turkey.
Mr. Schussel said he considers international presence in Cyprus
as being very important for the island republic's accession
negotiations with the EU, which he said must begin according to
a schedule decided on by the European Commission, namely, six
months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference.
He also expressed his belief that the continuation of dialogue
with Ankara is the only chance for a defusion of tension in the
Aegean and a finding of a logical solution.
Mr. Schussel said that at present, there is no issue of Turkey's
entry into the EU "for many various reasons," adding that Ankara
is already well aware of this.
"Despite this, and in the interests of Europe, there will have
to be thoughts for the intensification of contacts and closer
relations with Turkey," he said.
[06] Greek-Bulgarian road network project discussed
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
A meeting between Greek and Bulgarian technical experts was held
in Nevrokopi, Drama prefecture yesterday in order to discuss
technical details of a road network to connect the two countries
through the Exohi border post.
Road experts said that if relevant procedures are carried out
uninterrupted, the Exohi border post will be operational by the
end of 1998, which is within the time limits set in a
Greek-Bulgarian agreement.
They added that the two countries' governments must be pressured
in order for funding and tendering procedures to be accelerated
for essential infrastructure works.
A joint committee co-operation protocol was signed after the
meeting.
[07] Greece warms to idea of Athens-Ankara-NATO hot line
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
A direct telephone link between NATO headquarters in Brussels
and Athens and Ankara could play "a positive role", government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.
The idea of a "hot line" was put forward by NATO Secretary
General Javier Solana, who briefed Foreign Under-secretary
Yiannos Kranidiotis on the initiative at Tuesday's informal
session of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
"Greece has acknowledged that in order to confront crisis
situations, there could be mechanisms which do not prejudice our
right to take the major decisions concerning the protection of
our interests, while at the same time participating in
procedures which are beneficial and lead to the defusing of
crises," Mr. Reppas said.
[08] Joint position regarding Cyprus' EU accession negotiations
debated
Brussels, 20/02/1997 (ANA - G. Daratos)
Discussions in the Committee of Permanent Diplomatic
Representatives of the European Union Member States (COREPER)
regarding the drawing up of a joint position regarding
negotiations for Cyprus' entry into the EU ended in a deadlock
yesterday.
Greece and Cyprus refused to agree with the phrasing of the
joint position, to be presented by the EU during its Association
Council meeting with Cyprus next Tuesday, which specifically
mentioned Turkish Cypriot participation in the island republic's
en try negotiations.
The refusals led to other alternatives being drafted, with the
one most likely to please both Athens and Nicosia being "the 15
(EU member-states) express the hope that conditions will allow
the participation of all (i.e. both Greek and Turkish Cypriots)
in the procedure for Cyprus' induction."
Greece is still debating on whether to accept this proposal,
while Britain and Germany have not yet decided on whether they
will adopt it. Thus, barring unforeseen developments, EU foreign
ministers, with the participation of Alternate Foreign Minister
George Papandreou, will finalize the contents of the joint
position during their meeting on Monday.
[09] Rifkind cites lack of progress in Greek-Turkish relations
Bonn, 20/02/1997 (ANA - P. Stangos)
British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind yesterday avoided a
repeat of his assessment on the possibility of conflict between
Greece and Turkey, but said relations between the two countries
are "very poor" and that "both Greece and Turkey have not
achieved any progress."
Mr. Rifkind, currently in Bonn within the framework of a
campaign to brief the Union on British positions concerning
European Union prospects, spoke at a press conference.
Replying to a question by the Athens News Agency on whether he
continues to insist on this assessment of the situation, Mr.
Rifkind replied:
"What I'm saying is that there are some areas of tension in
Europe, such as the conflict between Turkey and Greece in the
eastern Mediterranean. A few months ago there was the conflict
over Imia. Some difficulties exist of a sovereign nature. And of
course they can lead to major conflicts. It appeared at the time
that the conflicts could be expanded and lead indeed to
confrontation," he said. "We are of the opinion that neither
Greece nor Turkey have achieved any progress on this. The
relations between the two countries are very bad. It is a
problem which we must tackle. We must achieve an improvement,"
he added.
[10] Iranian official holds contacts with Greek leadership
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday briefed
visiting Iranian First Vice-President Hassan Habibi on Greece's
efforts to promote its role as a peace and stabilization force
in the region.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos further informed the high-ranking Iranian
official of what he called the destabilization factors in the
region, citing "Turkish aggressiveness" and the fact that a
solution to the Cyprus issue has yet to be found.
He added that the promotion of peace should depend on conditions
of international law, international conventions and agreements.
The meeting also focused on ways to broaden co-operation between
the two countries beyond the energy sector.
Afterwards, the Iranian official met with Parliament President
Apostolos Kaklamanis.
Mr. Kaklamanis also briefed Mr. Habibi on Turkish threats in the
Aegean and the continuing Turkish occupation of 37 per cent of
Cyprus' territory.
The two officials also reviewed bilateral relations.
Mr. Habibi renewed an invitation by Iran's parliament president
to Mr. Kaklamanis to visit Tehran and referred to the bilateral
agreements which are expected to be signed during his stay here.
In addition, he stressed that Iran considered Greece to be an
important friend and a "bridge of communication" between his
country and Europe.
[11] .... and Athens Mayor Avramopoulos
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
In a meeting with Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, Mr. Habibi
was presented with a commemorative medal.
The mayor stressed that Greece intends to further its ties of
friendship with Iran, adding that Mr. Habibi's visit to the
Greek capital "constitutes proof of the excellent relations
which have been traditionally created and successfully
cultivated by (the two countries) for many centuries."
Speaking during the ceremony, the Iranian first Vice-President
said "we believe that both countries, with their co-operation in
Central Asia, the Caucasus and Russia can play a very important
role. I hope this friendship is always steady between the two
countries and peoples."
[12] Greece - FYROM talks resume next week
New York, 20/02/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) on the issue of the latter's name will resume
on February 26 under the auspices of UN mediator Cyrus Vance, an
announcement from Greece's permanent representative at the UN
Christos Zacharakis said.
Mr. Zacharakis also said he would pay a courtesy call on the new
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today.
[13] Papadopoulos in US to attend Pan-Epirus Congress
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Internal, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister
Alekos Papadopoulos yesterday left for the United States in
order to attend the Pan-Epirus Federation World Congress.
During his seven-day visit to the United States, Mr.
Papadopoulos, who hails from Epirus, will meet with US officials
and Greek-American community representatives.
[14] Costas Karamanlis latest entry into ND leadership race
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Main opposition New Democracy deputy Costas Karamanlis yesterday
accepted a proposal by ND 30 party deputies nominating him for
the party's leadership during the forthcoming ND congress.
"I'm honored by the proposal of my colleagues and will do my
duty in the interest of the party with a sense of
responsibility," Mr. Karamanlis said in a public statement after
the meeting of the 30 deputies, which was held at the initiative
of party vice-president Ioannis Varvitsiotis on Tuesday night.
"I have no doubt that Mr. Karamanlis will accept our proposal.
We're reversing Greece's political scene..." Mr. Varvitsiotis
said in describing Tuesday as "a historic day."
"We have put all our hopes in Costas Karamanlis. As of today,
all New Democrat members will be able to feel that we are giving
them a fresh vision and prospect," party deputy Yiannis
Kefaloyiannis said.
The 30 ND deputies took the decision to propose a Karamanlis
candidacy after six hours of consultations.
A joint statement after the meeting read: "All of us gathered
here this evening have come to the conclusion that our party
needs a new leadership able to bring to the movement unity,
hope, a prospect for victory and the necessary institutional
changes in the structure and democratic operation of the
movement.
"Based on today's situation we believe that the time has come
for the election of a leadership from the new generation that
can guarantee the above conditions. We are certain that in our
efforts we will have the support of the majority of the
deputies, officials and supporters of ND." The deputies were
expected to meet again yesterday at Mr. Varvitsiotis office to
conclude talks. The possibility remained opened that Mr.
Karamanlis would also attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, close associates of ND leader Miltiades Evert said
yesterday that he will run for the party's leadership.
Yesterday morning Mr. Evert held meetings with party deputies
and officials to discuss the latest developments in internal
party politics.
In a related development, close associates of ND deputy Dora
Bakoyianni said that despite developments in the internal party
political scene, Ms Bakoyianni will continue to support the
candidacy of party deputy and former minister George Souflias.
Mr. Souflias' candidacy is also supported by party deputy and
former minister Stephanos Manos. Both Mr. Manos and Ms
Bakoyianni stated after the general elections in September that
they would be candidates for party leadership but later withdrew
their candidacies announcing that they would back Mr. Souflias.
Party deputy and former minister Vyron Polydoras has also
announced that he will run for ND's leadership.
[15] NATO enlargement discussed by Greek, Hungarian defense
undersecretaries
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
National Defense Under-secretary Dimitris Apostolakis had talks
here yesterday with his Hungarian counterpart, Istvan Yarmadi,
on the general political situation in central Europe, bilateral
relations and co-operation in technical and political sectors.
The two officials also discussed NATO enlargement eastwards. Mr.
Apostolakis noted that the positions of the two countries were
identical "and create ground for better co-operation between
Greece and Hungary." Replying to questions on a proposal by NATO
Secretary General Javier Solana for the establishment of a "hot
line" link between NATO headquarters in Brussels, Athens and
Ankara, for the avoidance of incident, Mr. Apostolakis said:
"Greece is willing to co-operate in anything which results in a
defusion of tension in the region."
He added, however, that the setting up of such a link entailed
certain prerequisites, the most important of which was for
Ankara to cease its aggressive policy.
On Greece's stated intention to expand its territorial waters
from six to 12 nautical miles as a response to any fresh Turkish
provocation, Mr. Apostolakis said it was a "major political
decision." Speaking to reporters, Mr. Yarmadi said Hungary
understood Russian reservations about NATO enlargement eastwards
"without this meaning that we adopt them."
The best solution, Mr. Yarmadi said, is co-operation between
Russia and NATO so that Moscow will be able to lift its
reservations."
[16] Primary teachers suspend strike, Simitis says Gov't sensitive to
salary demands
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Primary school and kindergarten teachers yesterday decided to
put an end to their three-week-old strike, while high school
teachers' representatives voted to continue their five-week-old
strike.
The decision to end the primary school strike was reached during
a meeting of teachers' local associations, who put the issue to
vote. A total of 214 teachers voted in favor of ending the
strike, 147 voted against and 29 cast blank votes. At the same
time, teachers last night held a rally outside Parliament, which
met to discuss the unrest in the educational sector.
Inside Parliament and during the debate, Prime Minister Costas
Simitis said "the government has shown, is showing and will show
particular sensitivity on salary-related problems faced by
teachers, but within the framework of a fiscal policy that wants
our society to proceed towards the next century in a balanced
manner.
"The problems faced by education are not only salary-related,
they are primarily qualitative problems which require a
combination of salary-related and institutional measures and
infrastructure measures," he said.
Analyzing economic issues dominating the professors' strike, and
recently that of elementary school and kindergarten teachers,
Mr. Simitis said a newly appointed teacher will receive, after
an escalating increase in the year, 297,000 drachmas, namely an
increase in the region of 9 per cent, which actually is an
average increase of 11.5 per cent for all teachers.
The salary of a newly appointed high school teacher is set at
307,000 drachmas with the new salary scale effective as of Jan.
1 and will ultimately reach 317,000 drachmas in the year, an
increase of 11 per cent, which means an average increase of 13
per cent.
Mr. Simitis said that on a yearly basis the salary of a newly
appointed professor will increase to 348,000 drachmas while the
ceiling reaches 880,000 drachmas.
"It is a fact that there is a particularly favorable treatment
for the professors' class, if we take increases given to all
working people into consideration," he added.
On his part, main opposition New Democracy party leader
Miltiades Evert accused the government of amateurism and
off-handedness on the question of education.
He said the government is a "government of accountants... which
does not understand its responsibilities." He said it was
regrettable that confrontation is focused on whether there is a
misinterpretation in increase estimates between the government
and teachers, pondering on what message is sent to parents when
such a debate is held in Parliament.
Mr. Evert said that confrontations should come to an end here
and now and called on the prime minister to agree to a joint
meeting with all the party leaders for a solution to be found
for the professors' strike.
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga
stressed her party's radical opposition to changes being
scheduled in education, while at the same time condemning
weaknesses contained in the present model.
Ms Papariga expressed solidarity for the teachers' struggle,
described the educational model proposed by KKE and placed the
claim for the abolition of private education at all levels of
education.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos
said "the premier re-read his policy statements. He once again
described a (educational) landscape which has nothing to do with
reality."
"Instead of discussing how the crisis will be overcome and how
we will smooth out a miserable educational environment, we
should discuss measures which will make the educational process
attractive to enable it to face the requirements of the times."
[17] Local self-administration employees announce strikes
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
The Panhellenic Federation of Local Self-Administration
Organization Employees (POP-OTA) yesterday announced 48-hour
rolling strikes to begin next Tuesday.
Part-time municipal employees' demands include for their
contracts to be converted to contracts of unspecified duration
and the rehiring of certain employees.
In another development, state-employed engineers have declared a
24-hour nation-wide strike for tomorrow, protesting a new
unified salary scale, and are to hold a rally outside the
environment, town planning and public works ministry.
According to the president of the Technical Chamber of Greece,
Costas Liaskas, the unified salary scale will reduce monthly
incomes of state-employed engineers by up to 70,000 drachmas.
[18] Cabinet approves new health restructuring
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
The cabinet yesterday gave the health ministry the go-ahead to
put the final touches to the government's new bill designed to
restructure the national health system.
The three-hour meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Costas
Simitis, gave its stamp of approval to the bill, which, Health
Minister Costas Geitonas said, places emphasis on primary care
and on modernizing public health services.
Mr. Geitonas said the priorities for the government were the
modernization of hospitals through the introduction of general
directors to manage administration and by the introduction of
computerization.
These measures, he said, would contribute to containing spending
and waste in the health sector.
He added that the inner cabinet yesterday approved measures to
pay off debts run up by hospitals which would involve both
direct payment of 180 billion drachmas owed through the budget
as well as a gradual repayment of the remaining debts through
two-, three- and four-year bonds.
[19] Public services to ensure ease of access for disabled
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
A memorandum circulated to all ministries by Interior, Public
Administration and Decentralization Under-secretary Tassos
Mantelis details a series of measures designed to facilitate
better access and services to people with disabilities and
special needs.
Among the measures proposed are the extension of public
services, such as issuing of certificates, through the mail,
ability to access police, hospitals and other services through
special telephone services, the extension of subtitling on state
television and news services as well as enlarged type on public
documents to assist those with visual problems.
The memorandum also adds that priority in offering services
should be given to people with disabilities and that their
movement from office to office should be assisted by a member of
staff.
[20] OA contradicts press reports that restructuring program has
failed
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
In a report to the European Union concerning Olympic Airways, an
EU auditor stresses that "Olympic Airways will steadfastly
maintain its economic course in the future without state
interventions", adding that "the company is presenting
considerable results, both in its restructuring and the economic
sector."
The airline's administration used that excerpt yesterday in
reply to press reports claiming that "the restructuring program
of Olympic is being delayed or has failed" or that "the EU is
reacting to the closure of the company's file."
OA's administration expressed displeasure over these reports
and, replying to press questions, stressed that both the
state-run company's passenger turnover and profits are following
a steady upward trend.
Specifically, in 1996 (January to December compared to the
corresponding period in 1995) the total number of passengers
traveling on both domestic and overseas flights increased by 7
per cent.
The company's budgeted revenues for 1996 increased by 13 per
cent (domestic and overseas).
In January 1997, 181,848 passengers traveled on the state
carrier's overseas network as against 161,746 in 1996 (an
increase of 12.43 per cent) and 214,891 used the domestic
network compared to 162,887 in the corresponding month of 1996
(an increase of 32 per cent).
In January 1997, revenues in the overseas network amounted to
11.31 billion drachmas as against 9.81 billion drachmas in 1996
(an increase of 15.29 per cent) and in the domestic network to
3.07 billion drachmas in 1997 as against 2.58 billion drachmas i
n 1996 (an increase of 18.95 per cent).
[21] SEB disagrees with Gov't criticism over EU absorption rate in
industry
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
The administration of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB)
clarified during a regular press briefing yesterday that it
disagrees with recent criticism by Prime Minister Costas Simitis
and Development Minister Vasso Papandreou regarding slackness in
ab sorbing European Union funds to subsidize industrial
investments.
SEB President Iason Stratos said the contribution of industry to
the Greek economy cannot be underestimated, since it holds first
place in investments (33 per cent of the total figure), exports
(55 per cent) and employees (400,000).
Mr. Stratos reiterated SEB's steadfast position that the course
of denationalization should be accelerated, as well as
restriction of the public sector since only then will
convergence be achieved.
On the question of insurance fund deposits, Mr. Stratos said
funds should be given the opportunity of managing their deposits
freely, as well as achieving long-term restructuring.
[22] Parliament to debate controversial pension funds' amendment today
Athens, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
A parliamentary debate on amendment to the law on social
security funds' capital reserves has been postponed until today.
The amendment, which provides for the transfer of the funds'
reserves to the Bank of Greece, has raised a storm of protest
from the opposition, saying it had not been prepared for a new
clarification by National Economy Minister Yannos Papantoniou
referring to a voluntary transfer of the funds to the Bank of
Greece.
Late Tuesday night, the government agreed to postpone the debate.
Main opposition leader Miltiades Evert characterized the
amendment a "time-bomb for the social security funds". Similar
protests were made by leaders of the other opposition parties,
despite assurances by Mr. Papantoniou that the amendment would
benefit the funds' finances through a special mutual fund.
[23] Greece to contribute to Moscow's 850th birthday party
Moscow, 20/02/1997 (ANA)
Greece's contribution to celebrations for the city of Moscow's
850th anniversary were presented yesterday at Greece's Embassy
in the Russian capital.
The program, presented by Ambassador Kyriakos Rodousakis,
includes five exhibitions, an international symposium entitled
"Greek Civilization in Russia" and a performance of the ballet
"Alexis Zorbas" set to music by Mikis Theodorakis, who will
conduct the orchestra.
The exhibitions are "Russian Painters on Greece" with works by
some of the most important Russian artists of the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries and an exhibition in September by six modern
Greek artists from Thessaloniki on the theme "The Other Europe".
There will also be an exhibit of Greek religious icons and
artifacts, valuable religious garments belonging to Russia's
Greek clerics, gifts from Greeks to Russian Patriarchs and
tsars, as well as a display of Byzantine manuscripts and
documents from Russian archives on Greek history and that of
Greeks' in Moscow. Finally, there will also be an exhibition on
the activities of contemporary Greeks in Moscow.
The organizing committee for the Greek events includes the
Russian Culture Minister, Moscow's Mayor Yuri Luzhkov,
Ambassador Rodousakis, Moscow Patriarch Alexios and the
participating museum's directors.
[24] Russian fugitive did not receive Greek travel papers
Moscow, 20/02/1997 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)
Greek Ambassador to Russia Kyriakos Rodousakis has confirmed
that no passport or other travel document was issued by the
Greek Consulate in Moscow to Alexander Solonik, a Russian
fugitive found murdered near Athens early this month.
Investigations have been underway as to how Solonik managed to
obtain Greek identification papers after escaping from a Russian
prison.
The ambassador also denied that a passport under the name
"Kolandopoulos" found in the possession of Russian Andrei
Koligov at Moscow airport had been issued by the Greek consulate.
He said the passport in question had proved to be a forgery, as
had the identification papers found among Solonik's personal
belongings.
End of English language section.
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