Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-05-25

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tension mounts between government and unionists over Ionian Bank's future

[02] Spanish royal couple in Athens today

[03] No backtracking on plans to modernise public companies

[04] Tsohatzopoulos charges Turkey of using `Hitlerian rationale`

[05] Battle of Grete anniversary celebrated

[06] New premises of Bulgaria's consulate in Thessaloniki inaugurated

[07] Greece shows interest in buying planes from Germany

[08] ND leader winds up tour of central Macedonia

[09] Int'l media conference opens in Athens

[10] Conference of prefectural administrations held in Athens

[11] Additional funds for major cultural projects

[12] Albanian consulate in Thessaloniki considered

[13] Greece's Angelopoulos wins top Cannes film award

[14] Iran, Greece, Armenia to expand transport cooperation

[15] Patriarch Vartholomeos addresses Greeks of Astoria

[16] First man on the moon steps into Athens

[17] Teachers decide to go on strike

[18] Panathinaikos wins basketball championship

[19] Youths go on the rampage in Athens

[01] Tension mounts between government and unionists over Ionian Bank's future

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

The police, who intervened after an appeal by the bank's management, arrested and later released two of the strikers. The police move put an end to the workers' occupation that had paralysed the operation of the bank.

The police went into the bank's computer centre shortly before 7 a.m.

The public order ministry in a statement said that the police acted upon a call by the Ionian Bank's management on Friday "to free the computer centre of employees who since ten days remained in the bank's premises illegally and contrary to the manageme nt's will, thus disrupting the bank's smooth functioning, causing harm to the customers and to the bank itself".

News of the police raid drew other striking Ionian Bank workers to the offices and a meeting of the Athens Labour Centre was postponed to allow unionists to head to the site for an impromptu protest rally.

Workers at Ionian Bank have been on an indefinite strike for some two weeks in protest at the government's decision to sell the bank.

Yesterday's developments came a day before a court rules on a petition filed by management last week to have the strike declared illegal. The striking employees' blockade of the computer centre had frozen on-line systems and halted ATM transactions .

Management has urged strikers to end the blockade and warned that the stoppage could lower the bank's value on the Athens Stock Exchange ahead of its flotation, saying customers were also likely to seek more reliable service at other banks.

Recently, the president of the bank's employees union said that the end of the occupation of the computer centre would effectively mean an end to the strike.

The bank's union has alleged that Commercial Bank, which owns over 60 percent of Ionian, drove down Ionian Bank's share price on the Athens bourse over several sessions in order to ease its sale to private investors. Both Commercial Bank and the governm ent have categorically denied manipulating the share price.

Reaction to the raid from the labour movement was swift, with the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), the Federation of Bank Employee Unions (OTOE) and the Athens and Piraeus Labour Centres calling a snap 24- hour strike at all banks today, fo llowing an emergency meeting yesterday morning. Also decided for today was a 24-hour strike by Piraeus workers and a four-hour work stoppage from 11 a.m. with workers rallying outside the courts where the Ionian management's suit against the strike is to be heard.

Reports said the atmosphere outside the computer centre was "tense". Unionists called on the public order ministry to order police to leave the site or "face a situation which might not be able to be controlled." Yiannis Markakis, the president of the bank employees' union, was leading the protest rally of striking workers outside the centre while there was a strong police presence in the area to avert any incident. The Piraeus Labour Centre issued a call to workers to rally outside the Ionian computer centre today as a mark of protest at the raid.

Gov't : Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday afternoon that the government would use any legal means at its disposal to normalise operations at Ionian Bank. "The government feels a commitment towards the public and towards Ionian's customers, and will ensure smooth operations (at the bank) using all legal means, which is what it is already doing," Mr. Reppas said.

Opposition : Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said that the government was incapable of proceeding to necessary changes in the country's economy and "assigned them to the riot police."

He also called on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to take the initiative for "an honest and sincere dialogue with the Ionian Bank's employees."

The Communist Party of Greece issued a statement condemning the police move as an example of the government's "policy of violence and terrorism" in its bid for EU economic and monetary union.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress party accused the government of "choosing the road of authoritarian imposition instead of responsible dialogue."

The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) president Dimitris Tsovolas denounced the government for "a return to the authoritarian methods of the '50s and '60s."

A Political Spring party spokesman also condemned the police action.

Athens News Agency

[02] Spanish royal couple in Athens today

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Spanish Foreign Minister Abel Matutes will accompany the royal couple during its first ever visit to Greece.

The royal couple will also meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis, inaugurate the "Classic Greece in Spain" exhibition and in a strictly private framework they will visit the Tatoi retreat.

Mr. Matutes will hold talks with his Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos.

Athens News Agency

[03] No backtracking on plans to modernise public companies

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Papantoniou told a meeting of public sector union representatives aligned to the ruling party, PASKE, that union opposition to the government's radical reform programme was coming only from "those afraid of losing their privileges".

The minister was able to continue his speech only after the intervention of the president of the council of civil service unions, Yannis Koutsoukos.

General Confederation of Greek Labour President Christos Polyzogopoulos, who is also the secretary of PASKE, said later Mr. Papantoniou's comments equating labour activism with protecting privilege were "unacceptable".

The incident is considered to be another example of the growing rift between the labour movement and the ruling party, socialist PASOK, over the government's plans to radically restructure public companies and overhaul the public sector in the run-up to economic and monetary union.

Greece hopes to join EMU by January 1, 2001.

Athens News Agency

[04] Tsohatzopoulos charges Turkey of using `Hitlerian rationale`

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

"The international law of the sea cannot be applied selectively wherever Turkey wants. It will be applied uniformly in the whole Aegean, in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, allowing full freedom of movement for all with no restrictions," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

He was addressing a commemoration ceremony in Thessaloniki marking 57 years since the Battle of Crete.

"Turkey has to accept that the Aegean Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea form a single stretch," he said.

Turkey's destabilising presence in the region could be tackled by establishing the terms of collective security being promoted by Greece in the Balkans, Black Sea region and the eastern Mediterranean, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

This would lead to unrestricted commercial and economic cooperation, improving conditions for the region's inhabitants.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos again warned Turkey that Greece had nothing to negotiate. The only outstanding difference was delineation of the continental shelf, which could only be determined at the International Court at the Hague.

He also told parties interested in mediating in the Cyprus issue that Greece demanded the implementation of international law.

"We are not bargaining over this," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

Athens News Agency

[05] Battle of Grete anniversary celebrated

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

The celebration was attended by veterans of the Battle of Crete from Australia, Nea Zealand, Great Britain, Cyprus and Greece.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis issued a message on the occasion, saying that Cretan and allied forces had fought heroically and bravely for the island's freedom.

British Prime Miniser Tony Blair also sent in a message on the occasion, saying he was satisfied that the May 1941 Battle of Crete was still celebrated in our days. He added that the friendships made then and the memories for those killed during the battle have contributed in the people of Greece and Britain having stronger relations.

Australia : MELBOURNE (ANA - S. Hatzimihalis) - The 57th anniverary of the Battle of Crete was celebrated here during the weekend, attended by Greeks and Cretans, but most importanly by Australian WW2 veterans who fought on Crete as part of the allied forces against the Germans.

Lt. Gen. Georgios Manioudakis attended celebrations here on behalf of the the Greek armed forces.

Athens News Agency

[06] New premises of Bulgaria's consulate in Thessaloniki inaugurated

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Pangalos was speaking to reporters after talks with the neighbouring country's foreign minister, Nadia Michailova, who inaugurated new premises for Bulgaria's consulate in Thessaloniki.

Work on the Greek side of the road at Exohi, near the northern town of Drama, was on schedule and Sofia had tendered its share of construction, probably allowing completion of the project in a year.

"This will be a major road for communications," Mr. Pangalos said.

A total of three new highways are to be built to improve transport between the two countries, in turn opening access to Balkan markets.

Mr. Pangalos repeated Greece's policy of aiding entry for Bulgaria into international organisations, saying political and economic cooperation between the two countries was sound. "Greece is helping Bulgaria in its bid to join the European Union and NA TO. We are working to secure a date for the start of entry talks between Bulgaria and the EU as soon as possible," Mr. Pangalos said. "(Bilateral) relations are in the right direction."

Ms Michailova said inauguration of the new consular premises symbolised healthy ties and cooperation between the two countries.

Athens News Agency

[07] Greece shows interest in buying planes from Germany

BONN 25/05/1998 (AFP-ANA)

One hundred Alpa Jest are out of use waiting for better bays in an old aidbase near Munich.

Athens News Agency

[08] ND leader winds up tour of central Macedonia

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Earlier, the ND leader spoke in the town of Skydra, where he announced that if his party won the next election, the ND will form a government of young, uncorrupted people, "who will be able to see the future".

"We'll form a government that will not disappoint the people, that will be responsive to their expectations", said Mr Karamanlis, who also addressed acricultural issues, accusing Agricultural Minister Stefanos Tzoumakas for incompetency.

Late Saturday evening, the ND leader was in Edessa, where he appeared confident that his party would win the next parliamentary election. However, he said this was not the ND's ultimate goal. The party wanted to win a large majority which will then form a strong government, able to take decisive measures to elevate the country.

The opposition leader accused Prime Minister Costas Simitis of being out of touch with reality, while claiming that he himself was free of commitments and dealings with vested interests.

He further said that the government's exchange policy had failed after the devaluation of the drachma, and the taxpayers' abilities had been exhausted.

Mr. Karamanlis held the ruling PASOK party responsible for the agricultural crisis hitting farmers, and promised to form a government that will be sensitive to farmers' concerns and will help in reducing production costs.

Yesterday morning, the opposition leader had a series of meetings with local officials in Edessa. He then travelled to Promahonas, Aridaia, Skydra, and Yiannitsa before leaving for Athens.

Athens News Agency

[09] Int'l media conference opens in Athens

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Press Minister Dimitris Reppas referred to the risks lurking in the domination of the mass communication media and new technologies, stressing the need for formulating policies on a Eropean Union level, with the criteria being the maintenance of human qualities and collective goods.

Alternate Foreign Minister and president of the Andreas Papandreou Instutute, George Papandreou, said those controlling technology, together with those producing, interpreting and transmitting information were all crucial to the future of democracy.

The opening day of the conference was attended, among others, by Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, PASOK secretary Costas Skandalidis and Athens mayoral hopeful Aleka Papariga.

Athens News Agency

[10] Conference of prefectural administrations held in Athens

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

The conference was also attended by President of the Republc Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Mr. Kouloumbis stressed in his speech that the fact that all political parties were in favour of the institution, was very positive.

Asked about a proposal for the election of the president of the republic by a wide electoral body, to include also elected prefects, Mr. Kouloumbis said he found the proposal interesting.

"I personally think it is a successful proposal to avoid problems with the election of the president of the republic", he stressed.

After taking into account government views, interventions by party leaders and representatives, the conference discussions arrived at certain conclusions, with one of them being that despite problems, lack in resources and staff, the operation of prefec tural administrations was successful, as proved by the wide-spread political support towards ENAE.

Athens News Agency

[11] Additional funds for major cultural projects

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

The additional sums were part of the 2nd Community Support Framework, and will be used to conclude work on major Cultural Capital projects, such as the Royal Theatre, Moni Lazariston, the Theatre of the Society for Macedonian Studies, etc., making the overall budget for the technical programme to 100 billion drachmas.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday in Thessaloniki, the culture minister stressed the Thessaloniki Concert Hall (Megaro Mousikis), not included in cultural capital programmes, will be funded by the same European source and will be ready in abo ut one year.

Athens News Agency

[12] Albanian consulate in Thessaloniki considered

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[13] Greece's Angelopoulos wins top Cannes film award

Greek director Theo Angelopoulos's poetic, melancholy film "Eternity and a Day" won the Golden Palm for best film at the 51st Cannes film festival, jury president Martin Scorsese announced yesterday.

The U.S. movie maestro Scorcese lavished praise on the 22 films competing at Cannes this year but said his jury, made up of directors, actors, actresses and a rap singer, had been unanimous in giving Angelopoulos the top honours.

"Life is Beautiful" by Italy's Roberto Benigni was awarded the runner-up Grand Jury Prize, while the accolade for Best Director went to Ireland's John Boorman for his film "The General".

"I am genuinely touched and want to thank everyone. Last night's (Saturday) screening was for me an unforgettable experience," the Greek director told yesterday's closing ceremony, which brought the curtain down on Europe's premier film festival.

The jury spread the various awards across a wide range of films, and created a special category for Best Artistic Contribution, which went to U.S. director Todd Haynes for his movie "Velvet Goldmine".

Britain's Peter Mullan was voted best actor for his performance in Ken Loach's gritty working-class tale "My Name is Joe" and France's Elodie Bouchez and Belgium's Natacha Regnier took a joint best actress award for their roles in Erick Zonca's "The Dre amed Life of Angels".

The Jury Prize was also shared, split between two films which looked at the sensitive issue of child abuse -- French director Claude Miller's "The Class Trip" and Dane Thomas Vinterberg's "The Celebration".

Incest, paedophilia, prostitution and general debauchery were the hot topics of this year's Cannes festival, which was widely praised by critics for its overall quality.

However "Eternity and a Day", the last film to be shown in the competition, was a much more mellow picture than most of the other offerings.

Set in fog and rain, an Angelopoulos trademark, the film charts a writer's quest on the eve of his death to find memories of happier days with his late wife Anna.

As he drives through the streets of the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, Alexander, played by Swiss actor Bruno Ganz, crosses the path of an Albanian boy who has fled his country and earns a few cents cleaning windshields.

"It's the meeting of a man living his final days, and a child who appears from nowhere and acts as a catalyst. Childhood represents hope," the chain- smoking director told reporters.

With little dialogue, long gloomy scenes of icy landscape and the writer's efforts to return the boy to his country, this 11th feature film by Angelopoulos is shown rather than told.

Angelopoulos is no stranger to Cannes, nor to film festival awards.

Three years ago, his "Ulysses' Gaze" came home from the Riviera resort with two prizes, although not the top one.

His other films have picked up awards at festivals in Berlin, Venice, Chicago and Japan.

He got a rousing reception at the closing ceremony, but the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Italy's Benigni, who got a standing ovation as he fell to the floor of the stage and started kissing Scorsese's feet.

After that the Italian actor/director began a lengthy tour of the jurors, kissing each of them at least once.

"Life is Beautiful", a touching comedy about the Holocaust, has won plaudits from cinema-goers but also drawn ire from some critics who condemned the use of humour for such a tragic subject.

Congratulations : In Athens, Culture MInister Evangelos Venizelos congratulated Angelopoulos on behalf of the government saying that the director was "worthily representing Greek culture and Greek cinema".

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Coalition of the Left and Progress party leader Nikos Constantopoulos and Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas also made statements congratulating Angelopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[14] Iran, Greece, Armenia to expand transport cooperation

The Islamic Republic of Iran, Greece and Armenia on Saturday signed here a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at expanding and deepening tripartite cooperation in the fields of transport and communications.

The memorandum underlines the need for further promotion of trilateral cooperation in land and air transport, transit of goods and passengers as well as in technical and educational cooperation among the three countries, the Iranian Road and Transport Ministry announced.

It was agreed that the three countries consider issuing three-year long visas for drivers of vehicles transporting passengers and cargoes between the three states.

The memorandum also voices readiness by the signatories to render all kind of services needed for the construction of roads, terminals and other infrastructure installations vital for the transportation industry.

The memorandum was signed following an agreement during a first meeting of the foreign ministers of Iran, Greece and Armenia last year.

Athens News Agency

[15] Patriarch Vartholomeos addresses Greeks of Astoria

NEW YORK 25/05/1998 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Although the patriarch is on an unofficial visit here, he was welcomed by an amazingly large crowd of Greek-Americans, including many US local officials.

During a short ceremony, Astoria City Council president Peter Vallon presented the religious leader with a plaque on the renaming of a section of 23rd Avenue to Patriarch Vartholomeos Avenue.

The partriarch called on those having a negative stance towards the archdiocese in the US to avoid creating more problems, saying that "only if we are united and love each other we can create good things in life".

Athens News Agency

[16] First man on the moon steps into Athens

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Earlier, Mr. Armstrong had addressed participants of an informatics congress, where he referred to the space history, the importance and the role of communication and technology.

Athens News Agency

[17] Teachers decide to go on strike

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Also approved was a 24-hour strike for May 27, the day on which the General Confederation of Greek Labour and the Supreme Administrative Council of Civil Servants (ADEDY) have called a national strike to protest the government's sweeping privatisation p lans.

The administrative board of the main teachers' union, OLME, had proposed a 48-hour strike beginning June 1 - the day on which school examinations are due to start in addition to a further strike on June 11-12, when the Supreme Council for the Selection of Personnel will be holding a competition for the appointment of teachers.

Earlier, Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis called on teachers to act responsibly and avoid striking during school examinations.

"We have taken all measures to avoid turmoil for the children, as that is what we care about. We hope that even at the last minute a sense of responsibility will prevail among teachers, and the children will not have to suffer," Mr. Arsenis told reporte rs in the northern city of Ioannina.

"There is no question of holding the exams if teachers go on strike," he said.

The exam for the recruitment of teachers had drawn 46,500 applications, and would go ahead as planned. Opposition had come only from a minority, Mr. Arsenis said.

The exam for new appointments to state schools is expected to gradually phase out the decades-long waiting list for recruitment, providing 20 percent of new teaching appointments for the 1998-1999 school year.

Athens News Agency

[18] Panathinaikos wins basketball championship

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Panathinaikos' win of the championship was the first in 14 years.

Clashes broke out last night in the Athens central Omonoia Square between celebrating fans and police. The fans set ablaze the Metro station under construction in the square, set fire to three cars and smashed the shop windows of at least ten shops.

Athens News Agency

[19] Youths go on the rampage in Athens

Athens 25/05/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article