Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-06-02

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1201), June 2, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[01] Premier expresses satisfaction with major projects' course in Epirus

[02] Albania

[03] Mediterranean news agencies meet in Athens to discuss prospects in new communication era

[04] Int'l conference focusing on commerce concludes in Alexandroupoli

[05] Karamanlis says nominal convergence not enough in criticism of Gov't

[06] Samaras elected president at first Pol.An congress

[07] Simitis in Sweden tomorrow

[08] High-ranking Greek delegation at EU council

[09] Kaifu heads Japanese delegation to Cultural Capital events

[10] Lyssarides declared honorary citizen of Patra

[11] Stephanopoulos lauds Athens' efforts for IAAF championships to Nebiolo

[12] Second 'November 17' proclamation claims responsibility for US embassy attack

[13] Tsohatzopoulos announces vocational training for conscripts

[14] SPORTS US takes gold at Fina Cup water polo, Greece second

[01] Premier expresses satisfaction with major projects' course in Epirus

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The premier said he was pleased with the course of infrastructure projects in the border region, saying they will aid in bringing an end to Epirus' isolation.

"The region's development is not aided by incentives, which are wasted money if there is no possibility for any economic activity in the region to have an effect," he said. "What the area needs in order to achieve its goal is infrastructure, and these are created and are the access roads which will provide Epirus with the ability to communicate with the rest of the country and with the neighboring northern countries. The same is true of its connection via the sea with Europe, which will be achieved by upgrading the port of Igoumenitsa."

During his tour on Saturday, Mr. Simitis met with the district official of Leivadia, a southern Albanian region comprised of 15 villages, 12 of which are predominately populated by ethnic Greeks.

In his speech in Preveza on Saturday, the premier warned those receiving subsidies that the money must be used to create development, and not "to be pocketed without anything being done, as has occurred on numerous occasions in Thrace."

He also spoke of the need for Greece to follow its course towards Europe, saying that not to do so would have dramatic consequences on the country's politics and economy, as Greece's position would be weakened, both internationally and in the face of the Turkish threat.

In further statements, Mr. Simitis told a large gathering in Igoumenitsa that the feeling of insecurity which prevailed in Greece was now giving way to a feeling of optimism and hope.

He said the Greek economy was more effective today than it has ever been in the post-junta era, adding that the government had achieved this while implementing a social policy.

"No one can dispute this," he said.

The prime minister also referred to Greece's place in international developments. The country, he said, cannot close its borders in an effort to stop other countries' problems from entering Greek society.

Greece's integration into European unification, he added, "constitutes an important goal for our national strategy, aimed at making Greece competitive in the international division of the labor market."

Mr. Simitis also referred to Greece's role in the Balkans.

He said this role was aimed at helping these countries overcome their problems and complete the process of their countries' institutional reforms.

Returning to the Epirus' development, he said:

"We have set out to 'break' Epirus' isolation and we will," adding that progress on under-construction projects indicated that the government was proceeding towards this goal.

[02] Albania

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

"We have ensured the presence of the United Nations and of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of the European Union," the premier said.

He added that his government had helped in the direction of the solution, hoping that this would be implemented over the next few months.

"If things evolved in a different way, then we would be swarmed by a tremendous wave of refugees, while ethnic Greek minority rights could run the risk of being restricted," he noted.

[03] Mediterranean news agencies meet in Athens to discuss prospects in new communication era

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The seminar, which began on Saturday, also discussed the issues of news agencies' role in an information society, with diversification as a strategy for survival, subscribers' expectations from a national news agency, tailored services such as sports, finance and video news, as well as on-line databases and CD-ROM.

The seminar, sponsored by the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and its subsidiary OTEnet, was opened by Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas.

Summing up the results of the seminar, ANA General Director Andreas Christodoulides said the level of participants and interest from Mediterranean news agencies had indicated the need to discuss the issues involved with operating in a new era.

"I think we have touched on all the problems being faced by the media these days, particularly by the national news agencies," he said.

"The two-way relationship emerging from the development of the various communication networks, the large number of options offered to users and the possibilities they have to determine the shape and form of the information accessed (according to volume, to depth and to type, such as text, photograph, graphics, video or a blend of all these) are some of the characteristics of the new era," he said.

"Sources have multiplied along with fears as to the credibility of information reaching users. Thus, the role of the news agencies is a decisive one, since to a great extent they are a 'tried and true' factor in the news business".

News agencies will have to adapt to the new technological methods of collecting, editing and distributing news and information in order to meet changing needs as well as new aesthetic standards, Mr. Christodoulides said.

"Here, we will be facing new competitors - perhaps even with those who were until recently our own subscribers - and we will have to realize that gradually the comfort offered to many agencies by the state will disappear," he said.

"We have to come out of the wings, onto the stage of the media and to offer services aimed at individuals and their specialized needs. Developments are expected to be so rapid that indeed, as Socrates said 2,500 years ago 'We know that we know nothing', " he said.

The next meeting of Mediterranean news agencies will be the general assembly in Cairo, Egypt on June 22-24.

[04] Int'l conference focusing on commerce concludes in Alexandroupoli

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Summing up the conclusions of the conference, National Confederation of Greek Commerce President Dimitris Kapsalis said commerce, as one of the most important economic activities, has not received proper attention from European Union member-states, calling for the esta-blishment of an independent body to focus on commercial activity.

Mr. Kapsalis proposed that a "general directive of commerce" be established within the broader activity of the European Commission.

He also pointed to the need for another independent body to represent commercial enterprises.

In addition, Mr. Kapsalis said small-to-middle-sized enterprises did not have access to funding sources and were, therefore, always in need of state funding.

The first day of the conference on Saturday focused on the EU's "Green Paper" concerning commerce, which has essentially become the core of the 15-nation Union's economic and social cohesion and which has also been accepted by every EU member-state.

On his part, Development Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis told the conference that in Greece the state was determined to change existing conditions regulating competition. He said the government also planned to take measures for the protection of consumers.

Meanwhile, EU Commissioner for energy, SMEs and tourism, Christos Papoutsis, said commerce was the second largest sector of economic activity in the European Union. He added that the European Commission was planning to take measures for the development of commerce in areas with limited commercial activities, such as agricultural areas.

The Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Panayiotis Yennimatas, speaking during a working luncheon, referred to anticipated changes in market conditions and commerce after the introduction of the "Euro".

Mr. Yennimatas said unification of the European market will give rise to tougher competition, concentration of capital in larger networks and retailers, also giving rise to electronic commerce.

[05] Karamanlis says nominal convergence not enough in criticism of Gov't

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Speaking to the party's central committee, Mr. Karamanlis said the attempt to achieve nominal convergence was not enough, and criticized the government for not proceeding with structural changes.

"Any developments in the economy are futile. The final conclusions are that nothing advances, while on the contrary, everything is happening for the party nomenclature to be fed and to maintain the government in its (political) party area," he said.

The ND leader stressed that the development and progress program "is connected to permanent ruptures in the establishment which is holding the government hostage to its past."

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Karamanlis said the procedure of dialogue could prove to be dangerous due to its unspecific and vague nature. He added that dialogue may fail, which could lead to a crisis or to concessions in order to keep the dialogue alive.

"ND wants the normalization of relations with Turkey and is in favor of dialogue, provided Ankara accepts the three permanent conditions," he said.

"Whoever thinks the process is incidental is deceived," he added. "It is clear we must be concerned by its strategic dimension."

Speaking during the same event, former ND president Miltiades Evert said referendums should be held regarding the amalgamation of many small municipalities and communities.

He also said ND should be careful in case the government is led to early elections, and expressed reservations over the Karamanlis-Kostov agreement concluded in Bulgaria on Friday, concerning the convening of southeastern European Christian democratic parties.

Mr. Evert said the signing of a protocol was not correct, as ND might be forced to co-operate with certain parties it would not wish to do so, such as that of Albanian President Sali Berisha, or not to co-operate with others, such as the Serb Socialists, with whom ND may want close ties.

Mr. Karamanlis replied that only a joint announcement had been made, and no protocol was signed. He added that the co-operation is taking place within the framework of the European People's Party.

[06] Samaras elected president at first Pol.An congress

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Samaras described the congress as being one of "substance, political speech, proposal and position."

He reiterated his proposal for a "charter of fundamental rights for all Greek citizens", which would protect the right to work, the environment, research, education, language, development, anti-bureaucracy, the correct use of electronic means, equality of both sexes in public and private life and decentralization.

He also called on the government to rally the forces which are seeking "a Maastricht with a more social face" which would safeguard European solidarity and protect the EU member-countries' external borders.

[07] Simitis in Sweden tomorrow

Stockholm, 02/06/1997 (ANA - N. Servetas)

He is due to leave for Malmo on Thursday in order to participate in a conference of European socialist and social democratic parties.

[08] High-ranking Greek delegation at EU council

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The EU Summit Council is scheduled to be held in Amsterdam on June 15-16.

[09] Kaifu heads Japanese delegation to Cultural Capital events

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The two discussed Greek-Japanese cultural co-operation, while Mr. Kaifu expressed particular interest on the institution of the European Cultural Capital and on the issue of the Parthenon Marbles. The former Japanese premier called for their return to Greece.

[10] Lyssarides declared honorary citizen of Patra

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Yesterday, the veteran Cypriot politician visited the village of Kaletzi in Achaia prefecture, the birthplace of Greek statesman and postwar premier George Papandreou.

[11] Stephanopoulos lauds Athens' efforts for IAAF championships to Nebiolo

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Nebiolo expressed his conviction that the championships "will be the best in our history," adding that "the sports facilities, the stadiums and the preparation are very good. The Greek government has spent more than eight million dollars in order to achieve the best quality television coverage, as at least 200 countries will receive the image."

Mr. Nebiolo also announced the cash payoffs for the IAAF world championships, namely, US$60,000 for an event winner; $30,000 for a silver medal and $100,000 for a world record.

Speaking on the 2004 Olympic Games, which both Athens and Rome have bid to host, Mr. Nebiolo said that "in Rome, we wish for the best result, but if we don't host the Games, we will be the first to congratulate the winner."

[12] Second 'November 17' proclamation claims responsibility for US embassy attack

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The terrorists' proclamation, the second sent to the Athenian daily "Eleftherotypia" over the past few days, states that they did not issue one at the time of the attack on the US embassy because "the reasons were so obvious and understood".

Police sources said on Saturday that federal US law enforcement officials have offered state-of-the-art electronic equipment to assist in the hunt for the elusive terrorist group.

The 21st victim of November 17, 42-year-old shipowner Costas Peratikos, was ambushed on Wednesday by three assailants in a downtown Piraeus street. He was shot four times at close range in the fatal attack. Subsequent ballistics reports state that two of the handguns used in the Peratikos' assassination - a .45 automatic and .38 revolver - had been used in other November 17 attacks.

Another development attracting the attention of authorities lies in the fact that first proclamation referring to the Peratikos' murder was produced with a computer printer. The second, however, was reportedly typed on an electronic typewriter.

Peratikos was laid to rest in Athens on Saturday. His funeral was attended by dozens of well-known businessmen, shipowners and politicians. Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos represented the government.

[13] Tsohatzopoulos announces vocational training for conscripts

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the ministry aims to upgrade the quality "of the human factor and thus of the armed forces."

"With these programs, youths with little education will obtain skills for their professional course, while prospects will also be created for youths who have chosen to carry out military service first and then continue studies," the minister said.

In this way, the defense ministry aims to set the basis for a change in the perception of many young people, who consider military service as a waste of time.

The ministry is also promoting a similar program for the military's academies, so officers can cope with the needs of new technology and science.

[14] SPORTS US takes gold at Fina Cup water polo, Greece second

Athens, 02/06/1997 (ANA)

The aggregate score was 0-3, 0-1, 4-2, 1-2.

Greece's silver medal in the Fina Cup is considered a major success, as it is the first time the Greek national team has played in a world cup final.

This is the second time the US has won gold the event, after the World Cup in Barcelona in 1991.

Speaking after the match, the US coach John Vargas congratulated the Greek team on its good performance and said he was proud of his team, "which played exactly as we wanted." Speaking of the 10,000-strong crowd which turned up to watch the game, Mr. Vargas said "I have never seen so many people at a water polo match. I'm speechless."

The final standings of the eight-team tournament were: USA, Greece, Hungary, Russia, Italy, Spain, Yugoslavia and Croatia.

End of English language section.

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