Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-12-24

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1375), December 24, 1997

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

CONTENTS

[01] US a reliable ally of Greece, Burns

[02] Turkish diplomat expelled in retaliation for similar expulsion

[03] More Athens FIR infringements, airspace violations by Turkish planes

[04] Tsohatzopoulos: Military always in state of readiness

[05] Iranian FM: US-Iran rapprochement depends on Washington

[06] PASOK executive bureau focuses on dismissals of 3 deputies

[07] More OA flights scheduled

[08] Fulbright scholarship on European Union, EU-US affairs

[09] Constantine Karamanlis Institute for Democracy created by ND

[10] Kostakis collection may find permanent home in Greece

[11] Stephanopoulos message to expatriate Greeks

[12] SAE's Athens

[13] Laliotis on course of major public works

[14] Italian's national request from release rejected

[15] Search for two remaining bodies in Ukrainian airliner's crash

[16] Posidonia '98 promises to be biggest and best

[17] Bank of Greece reports outflows, plans intervention

[18] Greek stocks rebound on speculative buying

[19] Nat'l economy ministry presents new development bill

[20] Greek business delegation visit to Sofia

[21] EU plans emergency food aid to Albania

[22] Share capital increase for Makedonika Klostiria approved

[23] Bank of Greece charter revision approved

[24] ELVO contract signed for military jeeps

[01] US a reliable ally of Greece, Burns

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Burns, who presented his credentials to President Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday, said President Bill Clinton, Vice-President Al Gore and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had great respect for Mr. Simitis "and the work he has done for Greece to join Economic and Monetary Union".

The envoy added that his one hour of talks with Mr. Simitis had covered all issues but declined to elaborate.

His mandate from President Clinton, he continued, is to work closely with the Greek government in order to further strengthen Greek-US relations and to ensure that the US is a reliable and good ally of Greece.

[02] Turkish diplomat expelled in retaliation for similar expulsion

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Efstratios Haralambous was asked to leave Turkey within a week.

The Turkish foreign ministry said he "was accused of actions not becoming his post, such as collection of information".

The Greek government on Monday rejected the claims, noting that the Turkish authorities had failed to substantiate them, ordering Nedim Ezergin out of Greece.

In reacting to Athens' decision, a Turkish foreign ministry announcement said "we condemn this act by Greece", adding that the Turkish diplomat had not been involved in any wrongdoing in Greece.

The announcement termed the decision "arbitrary and unwarranted" against a person who was only conducting his official duties.

Meanwhile, the Turkish television channel NTV broadcast yesterday that the Turkish government rejected a demarche submitted on Monday by the Greek ambassador Demetrios Nezeritis, and allegedly handed him documents which, according to Ankara's allegations, proved that the Greek official was collecting confidential information.

Turkish Assistant Foreign Under-secretary Inal Batu termed the Greek government's request for the withdrawal of the administrative attachi at the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki was "unjust and... does not coincide with friendship."

[03] More Athens FIR infringements, airspace violations by Turkish planes

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

[04] Tsohatzopoulos: Military always in state of readiness

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

He made the statement when asked by reporters if there was a likelihood of a serious incident between Greece and Turkey during the coming year.

"No one can answer that question with certainty. Greece is in favor of an improvement in Turkey's relations with the European Union and we have repeatedly stressed that we are willing to contribute to this, on condition that Turkey accepts the same principles and obligations as all EU member-states," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

Speaking to the press in Thessaloniki, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was also asked whether the military operation to find the wreck of a Ukrainian aircraft that crashed in the mountains of Pieria last week could be characterized as an exercise in readiness.

He replied that the search illustrated the capability and preparedness of the armed forces to respond immediately and effectively to emergencies.

[05] Iranian FM: US-Iran rapprochement depends on Washington

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Kharrazi stressed that a military agreement between Turkey and Israel has strengthened Israel's expansionist designs, reminding at the same time that the agreement was condemned at a recent conference of Islamic nations. He said Iran possessed the most direct route for the new pipelines carrying oil from the Caspian region, since Iran enjoyed as high degree of stability, as he said.

Asked about the possibility of such a pipeline running through Greece, the Iranian minister replied that it was "an interesting idea" and that it had been touched upon during his talks in Athens.

The Iranian official said Greece was a significant nation, playing an equally important role in the European Union, southern Europe and the Mediterranean. He added that Athens had contributed to resolving a crisis between Iran and the EU and had showed a good understanding of the Iranian reality, compared to other EU member-states.

[06] PASOK executive bureau focuses on dismissals of 3 deputies

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis confirmed the disagreements, saying that they concerned whether or not the premier and PASOK president's decision was a correct tactical choice.

He said the executive bureau adopted a proposal by Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis for a private meeting between Mr. Simitis and all the members of the bureau for talks on issues concerning ideology and political strategy by the end of January, when the nationwide conference on the party's ideology and policy will take place.

According to Mr. Skandalidis, the discussion was extremely important and productive. All members also agreed that the image presented by PASOK due to internal friction does not correspond with the overall course of the government and the country.

Referring to the issue of the three deputies' dismissal from the Parliamentary Group, Mr. Arsenis termed it a great mistake and told the Prime Minister this was not his style.

According to reports, Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos recognized the prime minister's right to take decisions, but raised the issue of the appropriate tactic. He called for a wider political composition and termed some of the party's members unacceptable, while Development Minister Vasso Papandreou spoke of underminers.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis sharply criticized dissenters, calling them underminers.

Mr. Simitis referred indirectly to the issue, who spoke of deputies who state that they will vote for the budget so that the government won't fall as if they were doing it a favor. "Is it not a PASOK government?" he wondered.

Government spokesman Demetris Reppas said the issue of the three deputies being dismissed from the Parliamentary Group was over as far as the government is concerned.

Mr. Reppas said the three deputies do not lose the right to support the government and remain members of PASOK. He avoided replying to a question whether the three will be candidates in the next elections.

However, the dismissals of Vassilis Kedikoglou, Moschos Gikonoglou and Christos Kipouros from the Parliamentary Group has created a variety of reactions in the ruling party's ranks, since some members claim that the premier's action was necessary, while others expressed absolute disagreement.

[07] More OA flights scheduled

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The Greek Railways Organization (OSE) has also increased its passenger seating capacity by 20 per cent.

[08] Fulbright scholarship on European Union, EU-US affairs

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Interested candidates must be European Union citizens, actively involved in European Union affairs at a professional or academic level, have excellent levels of achievement and be available at the Fulbright Foundation at 6, Vas. Sofias Ave. in Athens or at 4, Eleftheriou Venizelou St. in Thessaloniki between 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

[09] Constantine Karamanlis Institute for Democracy created by ND

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The institute's president will be Ioannis Varvitsiotis, while its goals will be promotion of democracy as well as the study, analysis and presentation of proposals on a wide scope of educational, political and international matters.

[10] Kostakis collection may find permanent home in Greece

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday announced that a final agreement had been reached between the state and the Kostakis family, providing for the purchase by the state of the main part of the collection belonging to the grand-daughter of the famous collector, Aliki Kostaki, which is being kept in a Cologne bank.

Art lover George Kostakis, a Muscovite of Greek descent, built up his collection between 1930 and 1960 by exchanging works by western artists for paintings dating from the period 1910-1930 by then unknown Russian avant-garde artists.

In 1977, he donated about 150 works to the Tretiakov Art Gallery in Moscow, while the approximately 600 works he retained have been kept in Cologne.

The collection includes works by Malevic, founder of the 'Supremacist' school, Tatlin, the founder of 'Constructivism', Popova, Rozanova, and Matiushin.

Kostakis had himself expressed the wish that the 600 works now in Cologne be brought to and remain in Greece.

Mr. Venizelos hinted that the collection might be housed at the Museum of Modern Art in Thessaloniki, a move which appears to have the backing of the present owner. Two months ago, the Secretary-General of the Culture Minister, Evgenios Yiannakopoulos, and the director of the National Gallery, Marina Lambraki-Plaka, travelled to Cologne to inspect the collection.

Mr. Venizelos declined to make any statement when asked about the purchase price, but according to press sources, Aliki Kostaki had in the past asked the Greek state for 6.5 billion drachmas.

The Greek public had the opportunity to see 450 works of the Kostakis Collection from Cologne two years ago when they were put on display at the National Gallery in Athens.

[11] Stephanopoulos message to expatriate Greeks

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

"All of you Greeks who live and prosper in various places of the world with your ever lively national conscience, function as the 'other' Greece, a dynamic and creative Greece that actively supports the efforts being made by metropolitan Greece to successfully deal with its foreign policy problems," Mr. Stephanopoulos said.

The president also spoke about the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), saying that the organization was a great help in promoting issues which relate to the further progress of Greek expatriate communities.

Unity among the people and their organizations in all corners of the world, said Mr. Stephanopoulos, was of vital importance to them.

The Greek president, finally, wished Greeks abroad a merry Christmas, a happy New Year, good health, prosperity and happiness.

[12] SAE's Athens

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Athens added that a few days after the SAE conference in Thessaloniki, it was now evident that the SAE was the realization of a major dream and a unique endeavor to achieve Hellenism's universal unity.

The SAE president compared the SAE to a boat which was directing expatriate Greeks into the new millennium, with responsibility for its navigation lying with all Greeks. He further said that 1997 had been a very constructive year, with SAE's work being tested and acclaimed, while there was still a long way ahead.

Finally, Mr. Athens wished everybody good health, prosperity and happiness.

[13] Laliotis on course of major public works

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis said afterwards during a press conference that the ambitious Egnatia motorway project will be completed by the year 2000, while the Patra-Athens-Thessaloniki-northern borders highway is well underway.

Mr. Laliotis added that the new Athens airport at Spata and the Stavros-Elefsina and Ymmitos ring-roads will be completed by the year 2001

He also said that the Athens metro will be operational within 1999, while the Thessaloniki metro project's commencement is delayed. Finally, he said the Rio-Antirrio bridge project is underway.

Finally, the minister said that the national cadastre (land registry) program, begun recently, is a very important project.

[14] Italian's national request from release rejected

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The court decided that Mr. Bianco is wanted for criminal acts and not political, as he claimed, the court stated.

[15] Search for two remaining bodies in Ukrainian airliner's crash

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The children, a three-year-old girl and her seven-month-old brother, were in the plane with their parents, both teachers of Greek expatriates in the Ukraine.

The process of the bodies' identification was progressing slowly, according to reports, since dental records and DNA tests will be used in most cases.

The flight data recorders on the Yakovlev-42 were sent to Germany to be analyzed in an effort to fully investigate the crash.

[16] Posidonia '98 promises to be biggest and best

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

More exhibition area than ever will be required for stands, as reservations are running at record levels despite some clouds gathering on shipping's horizon. "The national stands especially require additional space," says Nana Michael, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions SA. "Confirmations so far point to the largest Posidonia ever with regard to the occupied exhibition area".

The US is leading the way as its maritime industry mounts its largest presentation ever abroad. At least 50 percent more space will be required than at Posidonia '96 -- when the increase had been 20 percent -- to house the very diverse range of companies which want to show this time," she said.

Other expanded national stands include the Dutch who have taken 45 per cent more space than before, Malta 30 percent more, and France is 20 percent up after a 15 percent increase in 1996.

In addition, all these countries have a bigger presence in the exhibition outside the national pavilions. Croatia, a new country, is also a new national exhibitor.

The leading British participation at Posidonia '98 is also expected to be the larger than two years back. The Baltic Exchange will be exhibiting again, and this time it is planning to do so with a number of other London-based organizations. Japan has al so indicated its maritime sector plans a repeat major presence.

Greece and Posidonia's leading place in the international shipping community is underlined by the fact that the European Union will mount a stand. Through the European Commission space has been taken to present projects of the Telematics Application Program of the European Commission's Directorate General XIII.

Not only will the Commission have a stand, but a series of meetings is planned to present this program to the international fora.

"In addition to the European Commission, we have been encouraged by the inflow of other first-time exhibitors," says Ms. Michael. "Not only is the interest coming from international exhibitors, but also from Greece, particularly from supply and service companies."

The record for the number of countries represented within the exhibition -- 64 at Posidonia '96 -- is also expected to be exceeded at the 1998 event, the 16th of these biennial international shipping exhibitions, which will be held in the Piraeus Port Authority's Akti Miaouli waterfront Exhibition Center.

Sponsors of Posidonia '98 are the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry, the Municipality of Piraeus, the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Union of Greek Shipowners, the London-based Greek Shipping Co-operation Committee, the Union of Shipowners of Mediterranean Cargo Vessels, the Greek Shipowners Association for Passenger Ships, and the Union of Coastal Passengership Owners.

[17] Bank of Greece reports outflows, plans intervention

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

According to central bank's sources the outflow did not relate to lack of confidence in the Greek drachma but a decision by foreign institutional investors not to roll-over their positions in state securities ahead of the end of the year.

Meanwhile, one-month interbank rates fluctuated around 17-18 percent, sharply higher from the overnight rate of 11 percent.

The Bank of Greece is expected to intervene in the market on Wednesday by adding liquidity to stabilize interest rates.

[18] Greek stocks rebound on speculative buying

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

A steadier outlook in the domestic money market rates and a recovery in international markets encouraged sentiment and led investors to bargain-hunting buying.

The general index closed 1.16 percent higher at 1,478.21 points.

Sector indices scored gains. Banks rose 0.54 percent, Insurance ended 1.05 percent higher, Leasing increased 0.54 percent, Investment rose 0.31 percent, Constructions ended 0.87 percent up, Industrials rose 1.33 percent, Miscellaneous increased 1.19 per cent and Holding was 1.41 percent higher.

The parallel market index for small cap companies rose 0.81 percent while the FTSE/ASE index ended 0.96 percent up at 842.60 points.

Trading was heavy with turnover at 41.7 billion drachmas reflecting transactions of large blocks of shares.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 137 to 73 with another 21 issues unchanged.

Ekter, Desmos, Rilken and Dane scored the biggest percentage gains at the day's upper limit of 8.0 percent, while Radio Athina, Viosol, Galis, Elatex and Sato suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 25,000 drachmas, Ergobank at 14,600, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,155, Delta Dairy at 3,200, Titan Cement at 12,910, Intracom at 13,350 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organization at 5,980.

[19] Nat'l economy ministry presents new development bill

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Papantoniou said that the bill would be submitted shortly in parliament.

He stressed that the new legislation would promote a new framework on investment incentives and widening measures to support investments in the country.

The new bill also foresees incentives to combat unemployment with subsidies up to 15 million drachmas for the creation of every new job.

The bill also includes cutbacks in subsidies to border areas and drastic cuts in subsidies to new tourism areas in Greece.

Mr. Papantoniou underlined that the new legislation foresees special measures on mergers and takeovers of small and medium-sized companies in order to improve competitiveness.

[20] Greek business delegation visit to Sofia

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The Greek delegation included representatives from the Hellenic Export Promotion Organization, the union of northern Greece's industries, Helexpo, farm cooperatives union, Thrace's hoteliers association and chambers officials.

[21] EU plans emergency food aid to Albania

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The heaviest rains for 35 years have caused widespread damage in the region, which lies below sea level and is prone to flooding.

Several hundred residents have been evacuated from their homes.

The European Community Humanitarian Office "has authorized immediate release to the municipal authorities of 10 tons of mixed foodstuffs (wheat, beans, oil)... further foodstuffs, notably canned beef, are being mobilized for early distribution," the EU executive said in a statement.

The Commission said it was monitoring the situation and could take a decision on additional aid. The EU was standing by to ship blankets, winter clothing and shelter materials should they be needed, it said.

[22] Share capital increase for Makedonika Klostiria approved

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

Makedonika Klostiria will issue 8,730,000 new common shares and 720,000 new preferred shares, both at 135 drachmas a piece. New shares will be given in exchange for old ones at a rate of eight to 10.

Nereas will issue 1,304,544 new common shares at 500 drachmas a piece.

[23] Bank of Greece charter revision approved

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The Parliament bill provides for the central bank's autonomy, stipulating that the bank's administration does not ask for nor accept instructions from the government or state bodies.

The legislation was provided for in the European Union treaty for all member-states as a necessary prerequisite for participation in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

[24] ELVO contract signed for military jeeps

Athens, 24/12/1997 (ANA)

The contract, valued at 32 billion drachmas, was signed at ELBO's installations at Sindos, Thessaloniki. The contract is of a three-year duration and anticipates the option for the purchase of a further 2,500 vehicles.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the national defense ministry will contribute to this effort with the signing in the first half of 1998 of contracts totaling 35 billion drachmas for the production of 172 trucks and 88 buses (for military personnel) and 611 multiple use vehicles (for the air force).

He further said that in 1998, as was also the case this year, the government will maintain a high percentage of the Greek defense industry's participation in all of the country's armaments.

Out of contracts worth 450 billion drachmas signed by the ministry in 1997, 40 per cent was assigned to Greek war industries compared to 4 per cent which was the percentage in past years.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the ministry's target is to stabilize this percentage at 15 per cent over the five-year period.

Earlier, the president of ELBO's board, Lykourgos Sakellaris, outlined the industry's course in 1997 for Mr. Tsohatzopoulos.

Mr. Sakellaris said ELBO's turnover was 25 billion drachmas, while profits exceeded one billion drachmas.

Referring to the contracts signed, he said that the production of 305 jeeps worth 3.8 billion drachmas and 45 fuel trucks worth 2 billion drachmas was recently assigned to ELBO. The program will be completed in 1998. The "Bulletin" will not be published on Dec. 25 and 26. It will resume circulation on Saturday, Dec. 27. The staff and employees of the Athens New Agency (ANA) wish you a very Merry Christmas. Best Wishes for a Merry Christmas from the staff of the Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Embassy of Greece in Ottawa. The Ottawa PIO is posting the ANA "Bulletin" on the network on a daily basis for the last four and a half years.

End of English language section.

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