Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-06-28
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1223), June 28, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Greece calls for smooth holding of elections in Albania
[02] Presidential decrees on illegal immigrants approved by Cabinet
[03] Athens rejects Ankara claims of Greek-Kurdish collusion in Iraq
[04] US maintains 7:10 aid ratio
[05] Greek parliamentary delegation in Cuba
[06] Tsohatzopoulos speaks to expatriate groups in NY
[07] G. Papandreou meets with Australian FM Downer
[08] FYROM press reports hint at agreement over name
[09] Patriarchate to abstain from Vatican throne celebration
[10] Ecumenical assembly
[11] Cabinet issues decisions on education, labor
[12] Greece, Cyprus coordinate moves against crime, drugs trade
[13] EU's Wulf-Mathies expressed satisfaction over CSF in Greece
[14] EU pledges to keep power games out of enlargement
[15] Home help for the elderly pilot program to be expanded
[16] Survey records more interest among Greeks over EU policies
[17] Greek team downs Bosnia at Eurobasket
[18] Better tourist figures no excuse for complacency, experts warn
[19] Polytechnic calls for sustainable growth, tourism and culture
[20] GSEE calls 24-hour strike for Oct. 23
[21] Doctors' 48-hour strike ends but talks continue
[22] Greece releases 1997 procurements plan
[23] Greece boycotts Swiss business forum over Cyprus
[24] Greek equities slump, dragged down by banks
[25] Greek, Romanian software firms to take part in seminar
[26] Greece to update its tax system
[27] Athens Medical sees profit, turnover rising
[28] Greece-Cyprus customs agreement initialed
[29] Commission seeks financial penalties against Greece
[30] Commission refers Italy, Greece to Court over residence right
[01] Greece calls for smooth holding of elections in Albania
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece yesterday expressed hope that the national elections
tomorrow in neighboring Albania would lead to a government of
wide acceptance that would help restore the country, calling for
a smooth holding of elections.
A Foreign Ministry statement released late last night read: "The
Greek government believes that the smooth holding of Albanian
elections on Sunday is a fundamental prerequisite in promoting
the democratic process, the achievement of political and social
stability, the respect of human rights and economic development".
"The Greek government hopes that the elections will lead to the
formation of a widely accepted government that will undertake
effectively the project of restoring the country.
"Greece expresses the belief that the Albanian voters would
participate in elections in a peaceful and orderly way", the
statement said.
Greece, it said, had undertaken "intensive efforts" on a
bilateral and multilateral level to "contribute effectively to
international initiatives for helping the smooth holding of the
elections".
"The government has also taken specific and fundamental
measures" to help Albanian nationals in Greece, including
members of the ethnic Greek minority, travel to Albania to vote.
"Our country is prepared to continue its contribution in the
future to efforts by the Albanian people to establish a modern,
democratic society", it said.
[02] Presidential decrees on illegal immigrants approved by Cabinet
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Foreigners and illegal immigrants living and working in Greece
will be registered as of September 1, according to two
presidential bills approved by the Cabinet yesterday.
The bills were drafted by the labor and social security ministry.
The registration of aliens will take place between September and
December of this year, while foreign laborers will be given a
temporary residence permit, valid as a work permit also, which
will expire on Nov. 30, 1998.
At the same time, an extension period of two months, January to
February 1998, will be given for those who need time to submit
additional papers.
Following the expiration of the temporary permit and a
recommendation by a special prefectural committee, an immigrant
will be granted a residence and work permit lasting from one to
three years, with the option of renewal every two years.
In order to acquire this second, more lasting card, the decrees
call for the following papers: a temporary permit, a passport or
other identification, a copy of their work agreement or health
insurance booklet, and in cases of special jobs (such as cook ),
a health certificate.
According to Labor Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou, there are
approximately 450,000 illegal immigrants in Greece today. The
measures concern about 200,000 because laborers originating from
countries sharing borders with Greece do not fall under the
decree. This means an exception for Albanians, Bulgarians, Turks
and those from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The Cabinet decided to except economic immigrants from
neighboring countries only yesterday, in face of the danger of
an influx of refugees. The unstable state in Albania also
contributed to this decision, especially in view of the
uncertainty in the coming elections tomorrow.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Papaioannou said that "the
measure's success will depend on its social acceptance". He
noted two points especially, that illegal immigrants be
convinced to come register and not believe it is a trap, and
convince those
Greeks likely to be influenced by xenophobia that these issues
cannot be oversimplified.
In a response yesterday evening, the Communist Party of Greece
(KKE) said the presidential decrees, which will exclude
registration of illegal immigrants from countries neighboring
with Greece, were a "provocation" for the nation's entire
working class and the "peoples - mainly neighboring peoples -
harshly tested by capitalistic exploitation."
The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) charged
that the Cabinet's decision to excempt illegal immigrants from
countries sharing borders with Greece showed the government went
back on its own word and was racist, because it discriminated on
the basis of peoples' origin.
[03] Athens rejects Ankara claims of Greek-Kurdish collusion in Iraq
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The government yesterday termed "ground-less, unfounded,
unsubstantiated, rash, inane and laughable" accusations by
Ankara claiming that the body of a Greek officer had been found
in northern Iraq during operations by the Turkish army against
Kurdish guerrillas.
"The accuser has the burden and responsibility to produce the
evidence," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, replying
to a question from the correspondent of a Turkish newspaper.
Mr. Reppas stressed that the hurling of such accusations against
Greece harmed Turkey, while the persons behind the accusations
"are showing the international community that they do not have
the maturity, ability, responsibility or will to tackle their
country's problems with political means."
[04] US maintains 7:10 aid ratio
Washington, 28/6/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)
The US Senate's Appropriations Committee yesterday approved an
amendment which maintains the 7:10 ratio in military aid to
Greece and Turkey.
The amounts involved are $122.5 million and $175 million dollars
respectively, the same as the amounts given in 1997.
At the same time, Cyprus is to continue receiving $15 million
annually to be spent on promoting bicommunal programs and
measures to reduce tension and reunite the island.
[05] Greek parliamentary delegation in Cuba
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina yesterday reassured a
delegation of the Greek Parliament's foreign and defense
committee of the recognition of Cuba's Orthodox Church, whose
operation had been disrupted in 1959.
The Greek delegation, headed by PASOK MP and former foreign
minister Karolos Papoulias, is on an official visit to Havana.
Apart from contacts with Cuban government representatives, the
delegation briefed the Cuban foreign minister on Greece's
foreign policy issues.
[06] Tsohatzopoulos speaks to expatriate groups in NY
New York, 28/6/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos told
representatives of expatriate Greek groups here Thursday night
that by influencing the formulation of a common strategy on NATO
and EU enlargement, Athens could achieve the right conditions
for promoting its national issues.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is visiting the US for talks with
high-ranking US officials, which included a meeting with US
Defense Secretary William Cohen.
He said that Mr. Cohen displayed a strong interest in the
proposals and positions of the Greek government.
"It is a recognized fact that Greece is no longer the peripheral
country it was viewed in the '80s, no longer a country pleading
with the mighty for help and support, but a force of peace,
security, stability and co-operation," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.
The event was organized by the New York Greek Societies'
Federation in co-operation with the World Council of Hellenes
Abroad (SAE).
"We are not viewed as mere spectators any more," he said.
"They want to know our opinion on all the major issues
confronting eastern Europe and the Balkans because the situation
there is changing and (therefore) giving rise to major
destabilizing problems," he added.
"There is Bosnia and the problem with Albania. This is precisely
why we say that NATO enlargement should not just entail the
central European countries, as President Clinton suggests, but
that it should also include Romania and Bulgaria," Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos added.
The United States strongly opposed a push by some NATO allies,
including France, for quick admission of five eastern European
countries instead of only three to membership in the alliance.
"Smaller would be better initially from my respective," Mr.
Cohen said during a two-day NATO defense ministers meeting in
Brussels on June 12, rejecting calls for a broader expansion.
The United States has said that it wanted to invite only Poland,
the Czech Republic, and Hungary to join NATO at a summit in July.
"What is important for us is not whether our role is recognized
or whether our soldiers participate in international
(peacekeeping) forces," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos continued. What is
important, he said, "is what we seek and how we are going to
influence developments, regarding either NATO or the creation of
an organization of security and co-operation by the Western
European Union, or on the issue of EU enlargement which includes
the issue of giving Cyprus a full membership."
"It is our obligation to utilize today's favorable conditions,
the International Law, to serve principles and values," Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos said, reiterating that Greece would never accept
its sovereign rights to be disputed and adding that the
country's defense as well as modernization of its armed forces
posed as the answer to any external threat.
"Greece's active presence to multinational procedures does not
necessarily mean that our country would expect from any
international organization to safeguard our national security
from Turkish treats," the minister said.
In his address, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also brought up the issue of
Greece's very high budget for defense spending, saying that the
entire Greek political leadership supported the budget.
Concluding, he said he supported the UN-sponsored direct talks
between Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash in New York, while expressing optimism over
the final solution to the Cyprus issue, "since the prospect for
a Cyprus-EU accession would lead to new developments given
Turkey's strong desire to upgrade its relations with the
European Union."
Greece, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, had made it clear that it would
support Turkey in its effort to achieve closer relations with
Europe as long as the neighboring country conformed with the
principles of international law and its international
obligations.
[07] G. Papandreou meets with Australian FM Downer
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday met
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, who is on
an informal visit to Athens.
The two officials discussed international and bilateral issues,
including human rights, EU representation at ceremonies to hand
over Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, environmental
protection, etc.
Discussion on bilateral issues also focused on the significant
role played by the large expatriate Greek community in
Australia, especially in the economic sector. An announcement by
the foreign ministry said the two men agreed on the need for a
further strengthening of economic relations between the two
countries.
Mr. Papandreou also briefed the Australian foreign minister on
Greek positions regarding the FYROM name issue.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Downer was received by President of the
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.
[08] FYROM press reports hint at agreement over name
Skopje, 28/6/1997 (ANA - M. Vihou)
A number of articles published in the press here reported that
the difference over the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's
(FYROM) name may be achieved in late August of early September,
two years after the New York interim accord was signed.
The opposition "Dnevnik" newspaper, quoting foreign ministry
sources, said that FYROM last April had submitted a formal
proposal in New York providing for use of the country's
constitutional name by the international community, while Greece
would be free to use any name it wished for the one-time
Yugoslav republic.
"Nova Makedonja" also carried an article expressing similar
views, claiming that Athens' silence so far was a positive sign.
Nevertheless, the article mentions that according to unofficial
information from Greece, Athens will probably propose the name
"Republic of Macedonia - Skopje" or "Skopje" as the
international name for FYROM.
[09] Patriarchate to abstain from Vatican throne celebration
Istanbul, 28/6/1997 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)
The Ecumenical Patriarchate will not participate this year in
the Vatican's celebration of the feast day of the Apostles Peter
and Paul on Sunday.
The move underlines the dissatisfaction at the Patriarchate over
the Vatican's recent position, which led to the cancellation of
the Ecumenical Patriarch's participation in the second European
Ecumenical Assembly in Graz, Austria, and the subsequent
cancellation of the Patriarch's official visit to Austria.
The Phanar made no comment yesterday over the development which,
however, the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod had indirectly
referred to when it announced the cancellation of the
Patriarch's visits to Graz and Vienna on May 30.
The Vatican insisted on organizing a meeting between Pope John
Paul II and the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy in
Vienna, at the same time Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos was
scheduled to be in Austria, a departure in the protocol
anticipate d in such cases.
The meeting between the pope and Alexiy was canceled at the last
moment, while the Catholic press criticized Pope John Paul II
over his handling of the issue and the ensuing crisis.
The reasons for which they canceled the meeting (between the
pope and Alexiy) "concern the way with which Roman popism
understands its role", according to the newspaper "Il Manifesto"
(June 6, 1997), while "Republica" (June 23, 1997) spoke of a
"considerable cooling in relations between Rome and the other
churches".
The exchange of visits on the throne celebrations of the two
churches, Peter and Paul for Rome and Andrew for Constantinople
(Istanbul), were among measures decided when the anathemas
between the two churches were lifted and dialogue began.
[10] Ecumenical assembly
Vienna, 28/6/1997 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)
While the second European Ecumenical Assembly of Churches is
coming to a close in Graz, Austria, it is now "common knowledge"
that the meeting lost some of its expected splendor due to the
absence of one of its most important participants, Ecumenical
Patriarch Vartholomeos.
In an address, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy II
also criticized the Vatican, denouncing the activity of foreign
missionaries (from the Roman Catholic Church) in eastern Europe
over the past eight years since the collapse of communism as a
"continuous invasion."
In this way, he added, the term of the ecumenical movement is
understood by the majority of Christians in this part of Europe
as being something "dangerous and absolutely unacceptable."
In a statement yesterday, the Cardinal of Austria Franz Konig,
one of the front-runners for unity among the churches, warned
the "churches of the west" to take under serious consideration
accusations on behalf of Orthodoxy concerning proselytism in
eastern Europe, and to support Orthodoxy.
[11] Cabinet issues decisions on education, labor
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a Cabinet meeting that
dealt mainly with education and illegal immigrant issues
yesterday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.
Mr. Reppas said that Mr. Simitis criticized PASOK cadres who did
not attend events commemorating late party founder and former
premier Andreas Papandreou.
The prime minister also underlined the need for Cabinet members
to increase the pace of their work and not allow for a
slackening because of summer.
The Cabinet approved two draft bills, one establishing an "Open
University" in Greece and another settling the wages of
university professors based on part- or full-time teaching,
submitted by Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis.
Part-time professors would be allowed to work free-lance
elsewhere but would not be allowed to hold top administrative
posts in the universities.
Mr. Reppas also reiterated that anyone teaching at a state
university could not at the same time provide services to
companies contracting with the university, neither could they
hold a second position in the public sector.
The Cabinet he said had also approved two drafts of presidential
decrees providing registration and work permits for currently
illegal immigrants submitted by Labor Minister Miltiadis
Papaioannou.
Other decisions included one establishing a special agency
comprising representatives from various ministries that would
study environmental terms in public and private projects.
Mr. Reppas said the Cabinet also decided to appoint Supreme
Court judge Constantinos Dafermos as head of the independent
government agency for the protection of personal electronic data.
[12] Greece, Cyprus coordinate moves against crime, drugs trade
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The public order ministers of Greece and Cyprus, George Romeos
and Nikos Kosis, yesterday discussed ways of combating organized
crime, terrorism, drug trafficking and abuse.
Mr. Kosis arrived in Greece on an official visit Wednesday
accompanied by senior police officers including the head of the
island republic's force. The two ministries have maintained
close co-operation since December 1993 when they signed a police
co-operation agreement in Nicosia.
After yesterday's talks, Mr. Romeos announced that the Cyprus
police will soon be given access to Greece's computerized
fingerprint identification system, subject to permission, to
assist them particularly in cases involving terrorism and drug
trafficking.
Mr. Romeos and Mr. Kosis have been friends for the past 32
years, ever since the former went to Cyprus to help Mr. Kosis
publish a newspaper.
[13] EU's Wulf-Mathies expressed satisfaction over CSF in Greece
Brussels, 28/6/1997 (ANA - G. Daratos)
EU Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies expressed satisfaction over
developments in the implementation of the second Community
Support Framework (CSF) in Greece during a three-hour meeting
with National Economy Under-secretary Christos Pachtas yesterday.
The meeting focused on an account to date of projects jointly
funded by the second Delors package. It was ascertained that
over the first five months this year, the rate of absorption of
European Union funds was greater by 80 per cent as against the
same period in 1996.
Issues concerning the joint funding of projects concerning the
transport and distribution of natural gas were also discussed,
while a delay was ascertained concerning the organizing program
for post offices, but Mr. Pachtas said weaknesses will be
remedied soon.
Regarding EU inflows to Greece from the second Delors package,
Greece is in fourth place after Ireland, Spain and Portugal in
the absorption of funds due to it from so-called Target 1, while
according to available data, it has already received 33 per cent
of the total funds it is entitled to from the second Delors
package in 1995 and 1996.
[14] EU pledges to keep power games out of enlargement
Amsterdam, 28/6/1997 (ANA/Reuter)
The European Union sought to reassure a queue of anxious
aspirant countries that their ambitions to join the wealthy
western European bloc would not fall victim to an internal EU
power struggle.
Meeting leaders from 12 applicant countries to explain the state
of the Union after its recent treaty-writing summit, the EU was
at pains to stress that all would be done to make sure the
15-member EU is ready to take in its new eastern members early
next century.
The message was in contrast to the pessimistic tones by European
Commission President Jacques Santer and Dutch Premier Wim Kok on
Thursday, who told the European Parliament that failure by the
June 16-17 summit to agree on institutional reforms augured
badly for EU expansion.
Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo said there was still time
to iron out the institutional changes - on voting and the
make-up of the European Commission - necessary to prevent
paralysis once the EU has up to 25 members.
Leaders from 10 eastern European candidates for EU entry -
Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Bulgaria - were at the
meeting, along with Cyprus and Turkey.
EU Commission President Santer said the EU executive would have
different recommendations for each country. He added that the
period before accession should be used to improve EU ties with
candidate countries and help the latter become aligned with
Community policies.
In terms of Cyprus and Turkey, Both Mr. Santer and Mr. Kok said
that their relations with the Community were of a different
status.
Talks with Cyprus, which has already been judged to fit the
bill, are due to start early next year while Turkey's EU
application was shunned on human rights grounds in 1989.
Dutch Premier Wim Kon stressed that while Turkey was an
applicant, it could not be considered a candidate for EU
membership at the present time.
[15] Home help for the elderly pilot program to be expanded
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece has one of the oldest populations in the European Union,
with over 20 percent of the population over the age of 60 and
3.2 percent over the age of 80, figures which point to a need to
redirect social security care towards the elderly, Welfare Under
secretary Theodoros Kotsonis said yesterday at a news conference
held to reveal plans to launch a "Home Help" for the infirm and
elderly.
The number of people aged over 60 increased by 50 percent
between 1960 and 1990, according to statistics. Home help has
been implemented for the past six months in the Peristeri
Municipality and the success of the program so far has led to
the decision to implement similar programs in another 49
municipalities with plans to have it instituted in 102
municipalities a round the country by the end of the year.
The program aims at helping the elderly with basic needs and
gives priority to those who live alone, in need or have
disabilities and is staffed by volunteers.
[16] Survey records more interest among Greeks over EU policies
Brussels, 28/6/1997 (ANA - P. Pantelis)
Greek citizens seem to be first among the '15' in the European
Union in their concern over the Union's policies.
A survey carried out in spring and published yesterday in the
"Eurobarometer", shows that 85 per cent of Greek citizens are
interested about EU policies. Austrians are second with 66 per
cent, while the Spanish and Italians are the last with 29 per
cent and 31 per cent, respectively.
The survey also shows that 36 per cent of all EU citizens agree
with a two-tier Europe, with German citizens topping the list at
52 per cent, while the Spanish and Greeks are last with 24 per
cent and 26 per cent, respectively.
In relation to other EU issues, abolition of each member's
"right of veto" to EU decisions was supported by 45 per cent of
the total number of respondents in all EU countries - 26 per
cent of Greek citizens said yes to abolition of the veto.
The Union's Common External Policy was favored by 72 per cent of
European citizens in the survey, while an overall 48 per cent
believed that participation of their country in the Union was
positive.
[17] Greek team downs Bosnia at Eurobasket
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The Greek national basketball team's winning streak at
Eurobasket championships in Girona, Spain continued yesterday
with a 78-76 victory over Bosnia.
Thus, the Greek team came first in during the first round in
Group A.
At half-time, the Greek team was winning 42-34, with the star of
the game being Fragiskos Alvertis, who successfully scored a
three-point shot at the buzzer.
On Sunday, the Greek team will face Lithuania, while in the
second round it will also encounter France and Slovenia.
[18] Better tourist figures no excuse for complacency, experts warn
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Although the Greek National Tourist Organization (EOT) is
anticipating a 5-10 per cent increase in foreign tourist
arrivals compared to last year, there is no room for complacency
due to the structural problems which remain in Greek tourism,
EOT Secretary -General Nikos Skoulas said yesterday.
Mr. Skoulas was speaking to 300 British reporters, writers and
businessmen active in the tourism sector who are participating
in a three-day annual conference of the Institute of Travel and
Tourism (ITT) which opened yesterday morning. The EOT chief
assured the conference delegates that "a new spirit of
professionalism" was now prevailing in Greece, while "a renewed
standard of tourism development" had been adopted with emphasis
on quality rather than low prices.
Mr. Skoulas advised tour operators against pressing Greek
hoteliers to lower their rates, saying this would only result in
a "vicious circle" of lower prices-lower quality which in the
end left customers unsatisfied.
He also expressed support for the establishment of one or more
private Greek airline companies to compete directly with the
"over-protected" national carrier, Olympic Airways, and urged
the speedy deregulation of airport services, including ground
handling.
Speaking at the same conference, Olympic Airways managing
director Iordanis Karatzas assured delegates that the national
carrier and Athens international airport would next year "show a
completely different face."
Mr. Karatzas, who came in for criticism for the standard of
services provided by the carrier, added flight service and
airport improvements would be apparent even this year.
OA's share of the market is 14 per cent for the transport of
passengers and 12 per cent for the transport of tourists to
Greece from all over the world, Mr. Karatzas said, noting that
it was competing with 110 foreign airline companies with
services to Greece.
In 1996, he added, OA carried 6.5 million passengers in Greece
and abroad.
Stressing that the European Commission was satisfied with the
results so far of the program for the rehabilitation of the
national carrier, Mr. Karatzas forecast more than double profits
in 1997 compared to last year.
In addition, the company's ratio of profits to turnover this
year will be 5.5 per cent, which is particularly high for the
international airline sector.
[19] Polytechnic calls for sustainable growth, tourism and culture
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Athens will host an international conference on tourism, culture
and sustainable growth in May next year.
The conference is organized by the Athens Polytechnic and is
sponsored by the culture ministry and the National Tourist
Organization of Greece (EOT).
The Polytechnic, or, specifically, the School of Geography and
Regional Planning, aims to re-examine tourism and cultural
products on a regular basis in the framework of developing an
environmentally-friendly development policy.
The school has called for submissions for participation from any
interested organizations from Greece and abroad. Summary of
papers to be presented should be submitted by September 30 this
year.
For further information, call Mr. Papaconstantinou on 722-2610,
772-2748.
[20] GSEE calls 24-hour strike for Oct. 23
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has
decided to call a 24-hour nationwide strike on Oct. 23 in
support of several labor demands.
A strike announcement four months before it is scheduled to take
place is a record for GSEE, although such early announcements
are not uncommon in other European countries.
GSEE's main demands include tax reforms and the redistribution
of income, an improvement in the relation between indirect and
direct taxes, a complete index-linked tax scale, an amendment to
Law 2084 so as to not restrict auxiliary pensions to 20 per cent
of a primary pension, safeguarding the purchase value for
pensioners, a 35-year pensioning period regardless of age as
well as real salary improvements.
According to GSEE, its decision was taken so early in order to
enable workers to be better informed on union positions.
[21] Doctors' 48-hour strike ends but talks continue
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Hospital doctors around the country fully supported a 48-hour
strike called to press demands for wage increases and
institutional demands.
The strike ended at midnight last night.
Hospitals worked on skeleton staff and admitted only emergency
cases.
The administrative board of the doctors' union EINAP will meet
Health Minister Costas Geitonas on Monday to set out their
grievances and points of disagreement with a new health ministry
bill aimed at restructuring the Social Security Foundation, IKA.
[22] Greece releases 1997 procurements plan
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The Greek government approved a long-delayed unified
procurements program for 1997 worth 614 billion drachmas.
The sum, down from 849 billion drachmas in 1996, does not
include procurements ordered by certain public utilities under a
European Union directive that allows them to make long-term
contracts with suppliers and bypass tenders.
The EU exemption, which aims to boost domestic industry, applies
to contracts made until end-1997 in the sectors of telecoms,
transport, water, and energy. The public sector agencies
procurement program was set at 66 billion drachmas, down from 60
billion the previous year, and the supplies budget for other
organizations was reduced to 547 billion drachmas from 781
billion.
Development Under-secretary Michalis Chrysohoidis said the delay
in releasing the new procurement program was due to in-depth
research conducted in order to ensure its credibility and
necessity.
He said the new public procurement programs envisaged provisions
of high-technology products worth 70 billion drachmas.
[23] Greece boycotts Swiss business forum over Cyprus
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece has walked out of an international business forum in the
Swiss mountain resort of Crans Montana after condemning the
participation of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus as
inadmissible.
In its statement late Thursday night, the Greek delegation
expressed "great surprise" at the participation of the
pseudo-state in northern Cyprus in the annual forum, which
brings together international business and political leaders.
It said that the pseudo-state in the occupied north of the
island republic, recognized only by Turkey, did not exist as an
entity in terms of international law. The founder of the Crans
Montana Forum, Jean-Paul Carteron, said in a statement he felt
"great sadness" at the incident.
Greece was due to be represented at the forum by Deputy National
Economy Under-secretary Alexandros Baltas.
[24] Greek equities slump, dragged down by banks
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Stock prices came under strong selling pressure during the last
trading session of the week to lose substantial ground.
The general index lost 1.48 percent to close at 1,507.67 points,
reflecting losses in the heavily weighted banking sector, off
2.55 percent. Trading was heavy and turnover was 37.5 billion
drachmas. Most other sector indices ended lower. Leasing f ell
1.71 percent, Investment eased 1.47 percent, Industrials were
0.23 percent off, Construction fell 0.30 percent and Holding
eased 2.22 percent. Insurance and Miscellaneous bucked the trend
to end 1.44 and 1.15 percent higher.
The parallel market for smaller cap stocks ended 0.58 percent
off. Shares of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE)
lost further ground to end at 6,205, off 95 drachmas.
Broadly, decliners led advancers by 134 to 89 with another 23
issues unchanged. Athens Medical Center, Britannia and Atemke
scored the biggest gains, while Bank of Central Greece,
Macedonian Mills and Xylemporia suffered the heaviest losses of
the day.
National Bank of Greece ended at 33,400 drachmas, Ergobank at
16,420, Alpha Credit Bank at 18,700, Titan at 13,160 and
Intracom at 12,755.
[25] Greek, Romanian software firms to take part in seminar
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Greek software companies will participate in a seminar to be
held in Bucharest focusing on strengthening co-operation in the
information sector between Greek and Romanian businesses.
The visit by the Greek Software Companies Association (SEPE) to
Romania is part of efforts by firms in the sector to forge new
links with businesses in the Balkans and east Mediterranean.
More than 40 Romanian businesses will take part in the seminar
which will be addressed by Greek ambassador in Bucharest
Christos Alexandris and other government and business officials.
Among Greek companies to be represented at the seminar are
Intracom and Unisoft - two companies already operating in the
local market - BYTE, Informatics, Global Finance, DIS, Pouliades
Associates and Singular.
According to SEPE chairman Theodoros Fessas the Romanian market
is particularly attractive for investments in the software
sector.
[26] Greece to update its tax system
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece needs an up-to-date tax system to help sustain growth and
ensure a stable business environment free from fiscal threats,
Finance Under-secretary George Drys said.
Addressing "Hellenic Vision 2000", a conference focusing on
modernization of the economy, Mr. Drys also said that in recent
years the finance ministry had taken steps to guarantee free
competition for every foreigner willing to invest in Greece.
He outlined the framework of a new updated tax system based on
tightening up legislation, rationalizing penalties for tax
infringements, simplifying tax procedures, and changing
administrative operations in the ministry. The plan aims to
ensure a more equitable tax system. Mr. Drys also warned that if
Greece failed to join the second round of European Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU) after the year 2000 the consequences would
be disastrous for the economy.
[27] Athens Medical sees profit, turnover rising
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
Athens Medical, a private clinic listed on the Greek bourse,
sees net profit rising to 4.2 billion drachmas in 1997 on
turnover of 14.615 billion drachmas, its president George
Apostolopoulos said.
The clinic's net profit for 1996 was 3.2 billion drachmas on
turnover of 12.8 billion, Apostolopoulos said. Net profit is
expected to rise to nine billion drachmas in 2001.
Athens Medical plans to complete construction in 1998 of a
Balkan medical center being built in the northern city of
Thessaloniki at a cost of 21 billion drachmas. The new 315-bed
clinic hopes to attract patients from Balkan countries due to
its strategic location. Another project is construction of
diagnostic centers in five Balkan capitals.
[28] Greece-Cyprus customs agreement initialed
Nicosia, 28/6/1997 (ANA)
The director of Cyprus' customs department and VAT supervisor
and the director of Greece's customs general department
initialed an inter-state agreement here yesterday on
co-operation and mutual assistance between the two countries'
customs administrations.
Cyprus' Costas Hatziyiannis and his Greek counterpart Socrates
Antoniou signed the agreement for the two countries.
According to an official announcement, despite the fact that
co-operation between the two customs administrations has been
excellent, the conclusion of the agreement was considered
expedient for further co-operation and mutual assistance between
the two countries' agencies.
[29] Commission seeks financial penalties against Greece
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The European Commission has decided to make a second application
to the Court of Justice and to seek financial penalties against
Greece for infringing European Union environmental law.
Greece has failed to comply with a previous Court judgment
concerning waste. The Commission also decided to propose to the
Court a daily penalty of ECU 24,600. The penalty would apply to
each day of non-compliance with the second judgment of the Court
under Article 171 of the Treaty.
The present Commission decision relates to non-respect of a 1992
Court judgment concerning Greece's failure to comply with EU
waste legislation on the island of Crete (Council Directive
75/442/EEC on waste OJ L 194, 25.07.1975 and Council Directive 7
8/319/EEC on toxic and dangerous waste OJ L 84, 31.03.1978).
In particular, Greece has not taken the necessary measures to
ensure the safe disposal of waste on the island.
The Commission's action in this case is based on Article 171 of
the Treaty establishing the European Community. This article
gives the Commission power to act against a Member State which
does not comply with a previous judgment of the European Court
of Justice.
Following changes inserted by the Treaty on European Union ("the
Maastricht Treaty"), the article also allows the Commission to
ask the Court to impose a financial penalty on the Member State
concerned. For information on the calculation method used by the
Commission, see IP/97/5rev. of 8.1.1997.
Earlier this year, for the first time in relation to an Article
171 application, the Commission decided to seek financial
penalties against Italy and Germany for failure to comply with
judgments which also concerned environmental legislation (see IP
/97/63).
Upon adoption by the Commission, Commissioner for the
Environment, Ritt Bjerregaard, said the "decision to propose
financial penalties against Greece is a further demonstration of
the Commission's commitment to making use of Article 171 of the
Treaty, which has already proven an efficient means of making
member states comply with environmental legislation. I hope this
will also be the case for Greece. We will certainly not hesitate
to use it again to ensure high environmental standards for all
EU citizens".
[30] Commission refers Italy, Greece to Court over residence right
Athens, 28/06/1997 (ANA)
The European Commission has decided to refer Greece and Italy to
the Court of Justice for violations of Community law concerning
the right of residence. The infringement by Greece concerns fees
for issuing a residence permit, as Greece charges higher fees to
third country nationals who are members of the family of an EU
citizen than to EU citizens. With regard to Italy, the
infringement concerns the incorrect transposition of Directives
on the right of residence for students, retired people and other
people who are not engaged in economic activities.
Single Market Commissioner Mario Monti commented "free movement
has to be a tangible reality for citizens, as underlined in our
report on Union Citizenship and in the Single Market Action
Plan. The European Commission will not tolerate Member States
continuing to violate individuals' rights to exercise their
right to free movement within the Single Market."
End of English language section.
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