Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-02-11

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1413), February 11, 1998

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't agrees on time-frame for utilities' reform

[02] G. Papandreou hails US announcement on Olympic truce

[03] Athens comments on attack against Shevardnadze

[04] Stephanopoulos winds up tour of Arta, Preveza

[05] Greek force in Albania will stay - Brokaj

[06] ... Gov't dismisses report on assassination plot against Berisha

[07] Albania's Alia to be treated in Thessaloniki

[08] World Assembly of Hellenism next year in Greece

[09] Gov't meeting on MEDA program, aid to Albania

[10] ND proposal for probe into Yakovlev crash expected to fail

[11] Expelled, suspended ND deputies request common Parliament office

[12] Archbishop Seraphim remains in hospital

[13] Inter-ministerial meeting focuses on organization of 2004 Gammes

[14] Public schools to close Feb. 20

[15] Evros River at 5.5-meter mark

[16] Ferries stranded due to poor weather

[17] Greece the official guest country at 2001 Frankfurt Book Fair

[18] Thessaly farmers' reps Tzoumakas to meet tomorrow

[19] Tzoumakas set out Greek requests in meeting with EU's Fischler

[20] Greek stocks end flat on profit-taking

[21] Greece mulls opening commodities exchange in Thessaloniki

[22] Greek sues FYROM power utility for breach of contract

[23] Tax squad finds growing evasion in oil market

[24] Unemployment rises slightly in December

[25] HEPO schedule

[26] UNESCO conference on protection of private life

[27] Roukounas received at Athens Academy

[01] Gov't agrees on time-frame for utilities' reform

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Papantoniou was speaking after a meeting focusing on DEKOs' revitalization, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and attended by Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis and Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou.

"We have agreed on the time schedule," Mr. Papantoniou said, adding that "the revitalization program will be comprehensive, spherical and consistent with what we have said in Parliament".

Declining to further elaborate on measures to be taken, Mr. Papantoniou noted that government decisions would certainly be the subject of social dialogue, while the government would also be holding talks with DEKO administrations and employees.

According to sources, the prime minister stressed the need for substantial dialogue with the unions and social organizations, and that the changes should above all serve the citizen, who is the user of utilities' services and is called upon to fork out the bill for them.

"The operation of utilities with purely private economic criteria is a necessary condition for their survival under the legal status of sociitis anonymes (SA). The increase in their productivity and their more efficient operation will also secure their prospects, but also the future of their employees," the prime minister was quoted as saying.

He called for speedy structural reforms, and asked the national economy ministry to submit an accurate time-frame for the listing of profitable utilities on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Setting out the basic points of the government's program for utilities in the next three years, Mr. Papantoniou said an increasing number of the profitable ones would be listed, while efforts would be made to revitalize the loss-making ones, such as Olympic Airways, the railways, urban transport, the post office, the aircraft industry (EAB) and the heavy vehicles concern (ELBO).

The revitalization program would include changes in the system of granting state subsidies through introduction of the system of "closed budget", which would establish efficiency and social contribution indicators, stricter conditions for state guarantees for loans and reductions in staff through strict control of hiring.

It would also include certain restrictive provisions in their regulations, and encouragement of "strategic co-operations" with other domestic and foreign enterprises in sectors with international orientation, such as the defense industry. Efforts would also be made to restrict utility rate increases as a contribution to the anti-inflationary policy, while the dividends policy of unlisted utilities would be revised and their mutual debts would be offset.

Mr. Mantelis on his part underlined the government's determination to take measures to enable the national carrier, Olympic Airways, to survive strong international competition.

He spoke of a "package" of measures, the most important of which was the drafting of labor regulations which, he stressed, should have been completed by Jan. 31, 1995.

Mr. Mantelis said there was a "category of personnel" at OA which was "trying to impose the view" that seasonal workers should be employed, noting that this was prohibited by law.

"The government cannot give in to irrational and unlawful decisions," he said.

Government spokesman Demetris Reppas said later Mr. Simitis had instructed the competent ministers to unswervingly continue to implement the program for the revitalization of loss-making DEKOs.

He referred to Olympic Airways as "the champion of "negative performance", adding that the plan for its revitalization had not borne fruit.

He said that the government was drafting a business plan in direct consultations with trade union representatives of the national carrier. Describing demands to grant permanent status to seasonal workers at OA as "irrational and unlawful", Mr. Reppas ruled out the possibility of the company being shut down or sold.

"Olympic Airways will operate normally and at the same time its revitalization will proceed," the spokesman said.

[02] G. Papandreou hails US announcement on Olympic truce

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Commenting on the US commitment, Mr. Papandreou added: "I hope the period of the Games will allow diplomatic activity to be stepped up, in accordance with decisions by the United Nations, and aimed at achieving a peaceful solution to the crisis in the (Persian) Gulf."

"Such a development would prove that the Olympic truce is an effective tool in averting violent clashes," he said.

[03] Athens comments on attack against Shevardnadze

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

"Mr. Shevardnadze is an international figure who ensures stability in his country and plays a positive role in international developments," government spokesman Demetris Reppas said.

Approximately 15 assassins ambushed Mr. Shevardnadze's motorcade with anti-tank grenades and automatic rifles in Tbilisi on Monday night. Two of the president's bodyguards were killed in the attack while a further four traveling in the motorcade are re ported to be in serious condition.

One of the attackers was also reported killed.

[04] Stephanopoulos winds up tour of Arta, Preveza

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Yesterday morning the president attended a religious service at the church of Agios Haralambos, the patron saint of Preveza, and afterwards held a meeting with local authorities.

Meanwhile, farmers from the island of Lefkada handed Mr. Stephanopoulos a memorandum containing their demands, which he described as just. However, he added that he did not agree with the form of protest actions taken.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said the government did not want to be at loggerheads with a vital part of the country, one representing 28 per cent of the population, but at the same time it was not in a position to resolve all problems at once.

Later, Mr. Stephanopoulos visited ancient Nikopolis, while before leaving for Athens he attended a luncheon hosted by Preveza authorities.

[05] Greek force in Albania will stay - Brokaj

Tirana, 11/02/1998 (ANA - P. Haritos)

Mr. Brokaj was replying to opposition party criticism of the Greek military presence in Albania.

Accompanied by the Greek consul and the US military attachi, Mr. Brokaj was inaugurating work on the reconstruction of installations of the "Liaberia" army division in Gjirokaster which were destroyed at the height of the crisis in Albania last year.

Mr. Brokaj said the presence of the Greek consul at a military ceremony was "an indication of "Albania's good relations with Greece" and expressed thanks for the "all-round" assistance provided by Athens to the Albanian army.

[06] ... Gov't dismisses report on assassination plot against Berisha

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The Tirana newspaper "Albania" claimed that Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and former New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert were planning the assassination.

Mr. Reppas stressed that the report was a question of fantasies having the obvious expediency of turning a part of the Albanian people against Greece, adding that it was absurd even to discuss such an issue.

[07] Albania's Alia to be treated in Thessaloniki

Albania's last communist president Ramiz Alia will be moved to Greece for treatment this week after suffering a heart attack, the Albanian News Agency reported on Monday.

Mr. Alia, 72, has been in intensive care in an Albanian hospital since his heart attack two weeks ago, Albanian Health and Environment Minister Leonard Solis told ATA. Mr. Solis said Panayiotis Spyrou, the director of the cardiology unit at the George Papanikolaou hospital in Thessaloniki, would oversee Mr. Alia's care.

Dr. Spyrou last month headed a team of surgeons conducting a quadruple bypass on Demetris Tsovolas, the leader of Greece's opposition party Democratic Social Movement.

Mr. Alia who took power following the death of Stalinist Enver Hoxha in 1985, was sentenced to an eight-year prison sentence in 1992 for abuse of power and violation of the people's rights. He was later freed by an appeal court ruling only to be rearrested and charged with killing or ordering the deportation of dissidents who tried to flee the country illegally.

He escaped from jail along with hundreds of others during an armed uprising in March last year and was finally cleared of all charges in October.

He is expected to leave for Thessaloniki on Wednesday.

[08] World Assembly of Hellenism next year in Greece

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Papandreou said four preparatory conferences would be held this year to facilitate contact between Greeks from all over the world. One of the main aims of these conferences will be to brief participants on the initiative being promoted by Mr. Papandreou on the instructions of Prime Minister Costas Simitis to have the concept of an Olympic truce accepted internationally.

Earlier, Mr. Papandreou had talks with World Council for Hellenes Abroad President Andrew Athens, focusing on the foreign ministry's planning in relation to expatriate Greeks.

[09] Gov't meeting on MEDA program, aid to Albania

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Kranidiotis also briefed the members of the Committee on his recent tour in Africa and his contacts aimed at promoting Greece's candidacy for a two-year tenure on the UN's Security Council.

The meeting was attended by National Economy Under-secretary Alekos Baltas and the secretary-generals of the National Economy, Development, Public Order, Heal-th and Welfare and Education Ministries, among others.

[10] ND proposal for probe into Yakovlev crash expected to fail

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

During discussion time yesterday, ND, as well as the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) favored the setting up a committee of inquiry, while the ruling PASOK party and the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) were against.

ND leader Costas Karamanlis spoke of an effort to cover up serious responsibilities, while both Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis and Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos stressed that the government "will not concede to isolating the country before the official report (on the accident) was issued".

They also described the ND proposal as vague and generalized.

Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos noted that Parliament was not the appropriate body to investigate the causes of accidents, while such a committee could not be set up before a final report from the experts is tabled.

[11] Expelled, suspended ND deputies request common Parliament office

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

He requested that they be given a common office in Parliament and that each of the six deputies, Mr. Souflias being among the six, participate in an interparty Parliamentary committee.

According to Mr. Souflias, Mr. Kaklamanis will examine the issue.

In a related development, Mr. Souflias made his first appearance at a Constitutional revision committee and was warmly received by high-ranking ND deputies Constantine Mitsotakis and Dora Bakoyianni, Mr. Mitsotakis' daughter, among others.

[12] Archbishop Seraphim remains in hospital

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The 84-year-old Archbishop has been undergoing kidney dialysis for the past two years, while attending physicians said he is in no danger.

[13] Inter-ministerial meeting focuses on organization of 2004 Gammes

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The session was attended by National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos as well as Finance Under-secretary Nikos Christodoulakis and Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras, among others. Additionally, Mr. Venizelos also chaired a meeting of the inter-ministerial committee "Olympiad 2004", focusing on the parliamentary process to vote a draftbill on the organization of the 2004 Games.

The draftbill is to be tabled in Parliament today.

Issues discussed during that meeting focused on the housing and organization of a sociiti anonyme company to undertake the organization of the Games, as well as land allocations for various projects and preparation on communications and telecommunications infrastructure.

In a separate development, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis chaired a meeting of senior party members yesterday to examine the party's position on the government draftbill.

According to sources, the meeting was also aimed at proving that after the recent deputy expulsions and the crisis that followed, it was now business as usual in the ND.

On his part, ND press spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos accused the government of going ahead without a national consensus, and trying to "uncontrollably buy out, appoint and assign".

[14] Public schools to close Feb. 20

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The presidents from teachers' unions all over the country convened at downtown hotels in Athens yesterday and reached the decision in the framework of their reaction to the legislative bill prepared by Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis anticipating reforms at all levels of education.

The teachers and professors also decided to hold protest rallies in seven major cities in the country on the day of the strike.

[15] Evros River at 5.5-meter mark

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

Meanwhile, rail service between Soufli and Orestiada in Evros prefecture is still not operating, as passengers are transported by bus.

[16] Ferries stranded due to poor weather

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The central and local harbor authorities had forbidden sailing of ferries, as well as smaller vessels, to the Aegean islands and Crete since Monday morning.

[17] Greece the official guest country at 2001 Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt, 11/02/1998 (ANA/AFP)

Switzerland will be the official guest this year, Hungary in 1999 and Poland in 2000.

[18] Thessaly farmers' reps Tzoumakas to meet tomorrow

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

During a meeting of the Panthessaly Farmers Coordinating Committee last night, protesting farmers focused on a series of issues they will bring up for discussion with the minister.

The committee to meet Mr. Tzoumakas will be comprised of two representatives from each Thessaly prefecture.

Farmers from the Thessaloniki area and farmers' associations from Pieria prefecture have also decided to take part in tomorrow's meeting, while a number of outdoors meetings will be held on Friday at the sites where tractors are lined up on national highways in order to brief farmers on the meeting's outcome.

Meanwhile, central Macedonia and Thrace farmers have requested a meeting to be held in Thessaloniki with the leadership of the agriculture ministry and a government delegation.

At the same time, they announced that they will block the national highway from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every day until their demands are met.

Yesterday, protesting farmers whose tractors remain lined up alongside the Athens-Thessaloniki national highway, set up occasional roadblocks, although minimal disruptions to traffic were reported.

In Thessaloniki prefecture, groups of farmers set roadblocks for an hour on the old national highway to Kilkis and to Kavala.

In Kilkis, tractors remained parked on both sides of the national highway, at the Polykastro crossroads, with farmers planning to block the road every day for two hours in the afternoon.

Tractors also remain lined up on main road arteries in many other areas, such as Yiannitsa, Karyotisa, Krya Vrysi, Galatista and Triglia.

Support for the farmers' struggle has been voiced by the Coordinating Committee of Thessaloniki Workers' Unions, which announced it is organizing a rally tomorrow afternoon in Aristotelous Square.

In Hania, Crete, the prefectural headquarters remained occupied by farmers protesting against low prices for olive oil and oranges. They said they were not going to leave unless their demands were met, but were to meet in the evening to decide on further action.

In Drama, farmers drove their tractors outside the prefectural building, after a decision to go ahead with protest action taken at an extraordinary meeting of community representatives.

After a "siege" of the building, a delegation of farmers handed a resolution to the prefect.

They later drove and lined up their tractors alongside the Drama-Kavala highway.

[19] Tzoumakas set out Greek requests in meeting with EU's Fischler

Brussels, 11/02/1998 (ANA - P. Pantelis)

The minister announced later that the Commission had accepted Greek demands that subsidies for cotton be submitted directly to producers rather than shellers, and that in case of overtargetting of maximum quotas penalties would be shared out to both the responsible producers and areas.

Regarding olive oil, Mr. Tzoumakas asked for Commission approval for creation of reserves by the few organizations of producers which have the right, and which due to their limited facilities should be able to assign the task to sub-contractors.

Mr. Fischler committed himself to submitting the request to the legal service of the Commission.

During the hour-and-a-half meeting, Mr. Tzoumakas also set out Greek positions on tobacco, which were contrary to the Commission's, on the reduction of supports for varieties of poor quality tobacco, and distinctions between bad and good varieties, which are threatening Greek tobacco-producing areas.

In addition, he renewed a Greek demand for an increase in the quota for milk production by 150,000 tons.

[20] Greek stocks end flat on profit-taking

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The general index was unchanged at Monday's 1,509.21 points. Sector indices were mixed.

Banks rose 1.19 percent on relief at lower domestic interbank rates. Miscellaneous was 0.66 percent up and Holding increased 0.66 percent. Insurance fell 0.33 percent, Leasing dropped 1.86 percent, Investment eased 0.20 percent, Construction was 1.61 percent off and Industrials dropped 1.02 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.37 percent down. The FTSE/ASE blue chip index rose 0.44 percent to 846.82 points.

Trading was heavy with turnover at 18.4 billion drachmas.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 146 to 74 with another 17 issues unchanged.

Bank of Athens, Attica Bank, Fourlis and Keranis scored the biggest percentage gains, while Dane, Klonatex and Ergas suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 23,195 drachmas, Ergobank at 15,420, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,700, Delta Dairy at 2,980, Titan Cement at 14,250, Intracom at 15,550 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organization at 13,900.

In the domestic foreign currency market, a source at the Bank of Greece reported capital inflows of 70 million US dollars at the daily drachma fixing.

The Greek currency was slightly higher against the ECU but fell against the US dollar.

[21] Greece mulls opening commodities exchange in Thessaloniki

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

National Economy Under-secretary Alexandros Baltas said yesterday that the new market would be based on financial products from commodities and expand its operations to the Balkans and other east European countries.

A national economy ministry committee, chaired by the Athens Stock Exchange president Manolis Xanthakis, has already completed a feasibility study on the new scheme.

Mr. Xanthakis is currently visiting the Chicago Board of Trade, the biggest commodities market in the US, to discuss the plan.

[22] Greek sues FYROM power utility for breach of contract

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The Skopje Court of First Instance was due to begin a hearing yesterday on a suit filed by Constantine Keltsekis, owner of East Power Corporation, a Greek-Russian firm, against Elektrostopanstvo for violating a preliminary agreement signed in early January 1997 for the construction and supply of an electricity station on the Treska tributary of Lake Vardar.

Mr. Keltsekis is seeking 6.2 million dollars in compensation for loss of profits.

According to recent statements by the director of Elektrostopanstvo and articles in FYROM's press, it is considered certain that the project will be undertaken by Hainan of China, although the project has not been formally assigned yet.

It would be Hainan's first project in Europe.

The Chinese firm's bid was six million dollars lower than that of East Power Corporation, and the company has built hydroelectric projects in the US, but American experts doubt the quality of its mechanical equipment.

According to press sources, the Chinese company's tender was preferred for political and financial reasons.

[23] Tax squad finds growing evasion in oil market

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

After inspections made in January, the financial crime squad revealed that 52 petrol stations and oil companies had illegally supplied the market with 1.4 million liters of heating oil.

The squad also reported 27 cases of businesses, such as hotels, industries, bakeries and commercial trucks, using 1.4 million liters of heating oil instead of a standard oil mix for their operations.

The finance ministry has published a list of all tax-evading businesses.

[24] Unemployment rises slightly in December

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

According to this information, both job creation and unemployment rose due to the increasing number of people looking for a job.

[25] HEPO schedule

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The exhibitions' program will cover 15 production sectors and will attempt to expand the entrance of Greek products in new markets.

Products to be showcased include foodstuffs and beverages, furs and clothing, communications and informatics.

[26] UNESCO conference on protection of private life

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

The event will take place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the UN's Human Rights Charter.

Greek and foreign participants from Europe, the US and Canada will address the conference, focusing on the question: "Does private life exist in our times?"

Issues on the agenda will include research, morality and private life, the legal and political framework for protecting personal information and private life, private life and the workplace, informatics and Internet. Cultural events will also be scheduled during the conference.

[27] Roukounas received at Athens Academy

Athens, 11/02/1998 (ANA)

He is a professor at the Athens University law school and a member of the International Institute of Justice in Geneva, while he has also taught twice at the academy of International Law at The Hague.

End of English language section.

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