Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece denies Turkish press report regarding 'secret contacts'in Athens

[02] State services on alert as heatwave continues

[03] Greece to donate stolen WWII gold to Holocaust victims' fund

[04] ND deputies meet with Kyrenia refugee group

[05] Bulgaria, Greece to discuss new border crossings

[06] Athens reiterates that Cyprus will enter next EU expansion

[07] Greenpeace protests air pollution

[08] Venizelos attends int'l culture ministers' meeting in Canada

[09] 'Greece in Britain' events conclude

[10] 'Delfis' society for protection of marine mammals

[11] OECD-sponsored meeting on social welfare,health systems

[12] Village fire follows malfunction during missile firing exercise

[13] Woman charged with using...red pepper in robbery

[14] SEB president predicts 2% in '98 industrial production

[15] Commission: State subsidies for manufacturing sector highest in Greece

[16] Papantoniou reiterates that Greece will enter EMU in 2001

[17] Government seeks ways to speed up privatisation

[18] Greek stocks jump in bank-led rally

[19] Greek bourse gains 59.87 pct in first half of 1998

[20] Greek merchant fleet gains 13 ships in June

[21] Hellenic Petroleum refutes allegations over Tuesday's flotation, ND criticism

[22] Ionian Bank president declines to give bank's exact net value

[01] Greece denies Turkish press report regarding 'secret contacts'in Athens

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

An ANA dispatch from Istanbul quoted today's edition of the daily "Hurriyet" as reporting that "a team of senior military and political officials from Turkey have started important talks with their Greek counterparts in Athens."

"The Turkish delegation went to Athens to take part in a NATO meeting and started 'secret' contacts with the Greeks," the newspaper claimed.

In Athens, a national defence general staff announcement termed Hurriyet's report as "false", and categorically stated that no such meetings are taking place.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' upcoming trip to the United States and Greece's multi-million dollar ar-med forces' procurements progra-mme was the focus of talks between the defence minister and Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told reporters his visit to the US, beginning on Friday, was of "high strategic importance" for Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

Asked whether he feared any incident in the Aegean with Turkey, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the issue was to "bolster efforts to reduce tension by undertaking initiatives."

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the Government Council on Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) would convene on July 24 to take a number of decisions on the procurements programme.

US Navy sale to Greece,Turkey : WASHINGTON (ANA/AFP) - The US Navy is planning to sell 25 warships to Greece and Turkey in a bid to decrease the number of surface vessels in the US fleet, while offsetting planned budget cuts.

The sale was approved by the US House of Representatives, while final approval by the US Senate is pending.

The total number of ships to be sold are 48 and are expected to raise US$637 million. However, the sale is also raising fears among US legislators that increased fire power may destabilise the region.

The proposed sale includes 14 ships to Turkey and 11 to Greece. Three vessels will be handed over at no charge to Turkey and four to Greece.

The warships approved for sale to Turkey include "Perry" and "Knox" class frigates, while vessels slated for sale to Greece include "Kidd" class destroyers, "Knox" class frigates and a maintenance floating platform.

Turkey again claims Athens is after 'limited conflict' : ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - In a related development, a high-level Turkish official yesterday is reported to have said "it is our absolute belief that Greece aims at a 'limited' conflict with us" during a discussion with a Hurriyet editor.

The Turkish daily does not name the official, but Turkish General Staff Deputy Chief Gen. Cevik Bir has often expressed this opinion.

According to Gen. Bir's theory, Greece should also expect to sustain a small loss of territory, adding: "Greece wants such a war aiming at showing Turkey as the aggressor and...to block it from entering the European Union..."

Athens News Agency

[02] State services on alert as heatwave continues

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

According to the National Metereological Service (EMY),tempe-ratures in many parts of mainland Greece could reach 42 degrees on Friday and Saturday. The heatwave is likely to be mostly felt in Serres, Drama, Larissa, Lamia, Thebes, Leivadia, Athens and Argos.

Temperatures are expected to start dropping on Sunday as a cold front moves in from northern Greece.

Following urgent instructions issued by the health ministry yesterday, all hospitals across the country will be open for emergencies, while the National Ambulance Service (EKAB) will also be on standby. The health ministry has also made arrangements for more air-conditioned rooms to be made available in various state-run health care facilities.

According to reports, hundreds of people took refuge in air-conditioned halls in opened municipal buildings until late in the evening.

Meanwhile, the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) announced yesterday that summer camps and beaches run to the organisation will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight through Sunday.

Emergency calls for ambulances in the greater Athens area rose 20 per cent by noon yesterday compared to Tuesday, as temperatures in many parts of Greece soared to 39 degrees. Most of the calls requested assistance for people suffering from heart and re spiratory problems.

One of the unexpected problems from the heat came on Tuesday, when many districts in Athens came to a standstill for several hours from power outtages brought on by high electricity consumption.

Public Power Corp. (DEH) o fficials said excessive use of air conditioning units in residences was the cause of the power failure, which was restored after a few hours.

On its part, the interior ministry has issued an urgent request to all regional and prefectural administrative bodies that they implement the 'Xenocrates' emergency contingency plan.

Inquiry into power cuts : In a related development, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that an inquiry had been ordered into Tuesday's power outtages.

Replying to reporters' questions, Mr. Reppas refused to accept the term "blackout" to describe the situation caused in many parts of the greater Athens area, saying that the rest of the country had not been affected.

In reaction, main opposition New Democracy criticised the government for what it called the "dismantling of DEH" by appointing incompetent boards.

ND also attacked the government for what it said was a five-year delay in the natural gas project, adding that the delay resulted in DEH's Lavrion and Keratsini plants operating inefficiently.

Athens News Agency

[03] Greece to donate stolen WWII gold to Holocaust victims' fund

WASHINGTON 02/07/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The announcement was made during a preparatory conference here on the Holocaust yesterday, organised by the US State Department in cooperaiton with the Holocaust Museum.

Greece's donation to the fund will be one gold bar, or about US$36,000. The case is unrelated to Greece's demands for return of an "occupation" loan Germany took in the early part of WWII.

Addressing some 200 participants from 38 countries, Greece's representative at the Washington meeting, foreign ministry archive director Foteini Konstantopoulou, said Athens continued to back claims for war reparations lodged by Greek citizens against Germany.

She also announced that a special committee will be set up, comprised of university professors, to study all issues involved and will then present Greece's positions at the next International Holocaust Conference in Washington - Nov. 30-Dec. 2.

Athens News Agency

[04] ND deputies meet with Kyrenia refugee group

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Sioufas said that an uphill course lay ahead, adding that the current period for the Cyprus issue is extremely crucial, as Turkish intransigence remains steadfast.

He said the deadlock can be lifted, provided a proposal by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides for the demilitarisation of the island is accepted, and if Turkey complies with international law, democratic principles and respect for human rights.

He further stressed that whatever attempt by Turkish forces to advance in Cyprus will be considered an attack against Hellenism and will meet with an immediate response.

Athens News Agency

[05] Bulgaria, Greece to discuss new border crossings

The construction of three new crossings on the Bulgarian-Greek border will be discussed by delegations of the two countries in Athens on July 2-3, the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said on Tuesday.

The participants in the meeting will consider problems related to the building of the Gotse Delchev - Drama, Roudozem - Xanthi and Kurdjali - Komotini border crossings, as well as transport connections between Bulgaria and Greece and ways to improve the m.

The Bulgarian officials will insist on speeding up the determination of the crossing points, elevations and levels of the Kurdjali - Komotini (the Makaza Pass) and Roudozem - Xanthi border crossings in order to proceed with the design work, provide funds and start the implementation of the projects, the press release says.

The Bulgarian delegation will be led by Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petko Evrev. Its members include Deputy Foreign Minister Boiko Mirchev, Deputy Transport Minister Petko Tabakov and National Border Police Service Commander Vyacheslav Dimitrov.

Athens News Agency

[06] Athens reiterates that Cyprus will enter next EU expansion

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas was responding to reporters about the pressure being exerted by certain members of European Union that Cyprus not be included in the 15-member bloc until a political solution is found to the island's division.

"The decisions of the Luxembourg and Cardiff summits still stand. Nothing has changed. The European Union has a specific policy which covers and binds us all. Cyprus will be one of the first new members of the European Union," Mr. Reppas said.

Athens News Agency

[07] Greenpeace protests air pollution

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Chanting "take measures before they take our measurements", the Greenpeace activists set up a coffin outside the ministry to draw attention to the deadly combination of atmospheric pollution and rising temperatures in the Greek capital, which are expected to reach 42 degrees Celsius on the weekend.

A Greenpeace spokesman told the ANA that a sophisticated mobile unit that measures levels of pollutants in the air brought to Greece by the organisation about a month ago has shown high levels of carcinogenic pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, benzoyl and micro-particles. Greenpeace proposes that taxis be prohibited from using diesel as fuel, that funds be found to re-introduce trams in Athens and other urban transport means be improved, as well promoting incentives for energy-efficient vehicles .

Athens News Agency

[08] Venizelos attends int'l culture ministers' meeting in Canada

OTTAWA 02/07/1998 (ANA - I. Frangouli)

The event was organised in the Canadian capital by the country's national heritage and culture ministry.

He told participants that culture was a privileged field for peace, friendship and cooperation between peoples, while it could at the same time be the cause of international conflicts.

Mr. Venizelos further outlined preparations made in relation to the "cultural olympiad", an undertaking that has been unanimously approved by UNESCO.

During the international conference, which wound up Monday evening, culture ministers from 22 countries took a number of decisions, including the idea of establishing an international television channel to broadcast a programme of cultural diversity.

"We are happy to share with our colleagues our decision to place culture at the forefront and the centre of the international scene, jointly promoting each country's cultural individuality," Canadian National Heritage Minister Sheila Copps stressed at the end of the meeting.

Meanwhile, during a joint press conference given in Ottawa, Ms Copps replied to a relative ANA question about the Parthenon Marbles that her country was in favour of the return of cultural treasures by legal means to their country of origin.

Regarding the same issue, Mr. Venizelos placed emphasis on the return of the marbles from London's British Museum to Greece.

Mr. Venizelos added that in a meeting with British Culture Undersecretary Mark Fisher, he conveyed a message to his British counterpart Chris Smith, namely, that he was expecting a reply to a recent letter he had sent the latter.

Athens News Agency

[09] 'Greece in Britain' events conclude

LONDON 02/07/1998 (ANA)

The events coincided with the British European Union presidency, which also concluded on Tuesday.

Beyond just cultural events, the "Greece in Britain" series included current political and social issues forums and conferences.

On its part, the British Foreign Office congratulated the Greek embassy for what it called the initiative's success, noting that the close bonds between the two countries will streghthened further with the "Britain in Greece" events planned for November .

Athens News Agency

[10] 'Delfis' society for protection of marine mammals

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

The society's campaign began in Thessaloniki and will subsequently extend to Kavala, Thassos, Samothrace, Limnos, Agios Efstratios, the Nestos River delta, the Tracian Sea, Ikaria and Lesvos.

The society's goal is to protect and preserve wildlife and the natural environment of Greece as well as the education of younger generations on the issue.

Athens News Agency

[11] OECD-sponsored meeting on social welfare,health systems

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by delegations from 29 OECD member-states. Among others, the agenda concerned justice and effectiveness in social policy, the long-term viability of social and insurance systems, repercussions of an ageing population on society as well as rights, obligations and opportunities for citizens in social protection systems.

Greece was represented at the meeting by Health and Welfare Undersecretary Theodoros Kotsonis, who later presented the main conclusions drawn at the meeting at a press conference.

He said that the ministers agreed to promote social policies aimed at employment to be able in this way to combat poverty, inequality and the exclusion of certain social groups.

Mr. Kosonis said that one of the most important targets of the OECD is the promotion of a healthier population model based on prevention and the provision of better health services to all citizens.

The ministers agreed that changes in pensioning systems are almost imperative and that they must be made in time to enable these systems to provide adequate income support in the future and to safeguard their long- term duration.

Athens News Agency Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

The Sports General Secretariat (GGA) will orgranise the "Athletics-Woman and Cooperation" European conference for 1998 in Athens. The conference, which is scheduled for Sept. 25 to 28, will host 200 delegates and observers from around the world. GGA is responsible for the Greek presidency of the European group "Athletics and the Woman."

Athens News Agency

[12] Village fire follows malfunction during missile firing exercise

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

According to unconfirmed reports, the "Nike" missile went off course at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. An officer in charge of the exercise was then forced to activate the missile's self-destruct mechanism as the it was still in the air. A subsequent explosion was heard in the nearby town of Hania.

In addition, the missile's trajectory was seen by bathers on the nearby beaches of Marathio and Stavros.

According to reports, is believed that burning fragments from the missile caused the fire at Hordaki, although the commander of the firing range, Lt.- Gen. Yiannis Papadomanolakis, maintained that the missile had not exploded.

Athens News Agency

[13] Woman charged with using...red pepper in robbery

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Despite the ease with which would-be bank robbers can buy a "Kalashnikov" assault rifle or a magnum handgun on the black market, a 47-year-old housewife from the northern port city reportedly opted for...red pepper.

According to police, the woman got into an elevator with pensioner Pericles Poseidonos in a building in Thessaloniki's centre and between floors emptied a sachet of red pepper into his face.

As he sneezed and rubbed his stinging eyes, the woman tried to grab Mr. Poseidonos' pension, which he had just collected from a nearby bank. However, the elevator's door opened and the pensioner ran out, down the stairs and onto the street where he called for help.

A few minutes later passers-by grabbed Alexandra Simou and handed her over to police.

She was to appear before a public prosecutor later yesterday.

In another incident yesterday in Thessaloniki, two robbers with more conventional weaponry escaped with about two million drachmas from a Commercial Bank branch after threatening customers and staff with shotguns.

Athens News Agency

[14] SEB president predicts 2% in '98 industrial production

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

According to the balance sheets of 3,288 companies, which had published balance sheets for 1997 by June 25, 1998, 77 per cent of these enterprises were profit-making and 23 per cent loss-making.

It was added that the profit-making enterprises achieved 87 per cent of all sales made in the 1997 fiscal year.

The change in profits gained by all industrial companies ran almost parallel to sales and increased by 9.4 per cent in 1997.

Profit-making companies in particular increased their profits by 19.4 per cent, while the loss-making ones increased their losses by 103 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[15] Commission: State subsidies for manufacturing sector highest in Greece

BRUSSELS 02/07/1998 (ANA - G. Daratos)

According to conclusions contained in the report, in the manufacturing industry the amount of state subsidies compared to added value is the highest in Greece and Italy. For this reason, the European Commission intends to propose stricter controls in the provision of national (state) and EU subsidies.

More specifically, in the manufacturing industry in Greece state subsidies as a percentage of added value was 6.5 per cent over the 1992-1994 period and 6.3 per cent over the 1994-1996 period.

Over the same time periods, state subsidisation per capita (per employee) in the manufacturing industry was 987 Ecu and 863 Ecu, respectively, in Greece.

Lastly, state subsidies in the Greek manufacturing industry amounted to 15.53 billion Ecu over the 1992-1994 period and 13.44 billion Ecu over the 1994-1996 period.

Athens News Agency

[16] Papantoniou reiterates that Greece will enter EMU in 2001

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Papantoniou, who made an address at a downtown Athens hotel, referred to the course of the Greek economy over the 1993-1998 period, citing a "revolution in the economy compared to the first 20 years of the post- dictatorship era". He added that all economic indicators presented considerable improvement and convergence with those of Greece's EU partners.

He also referred in particular to the significance of privatisations with the state maintaining only its overseeing strategic role, in order to enable the Greek economy to become more competitive in the new international environment.

On the question of fiscal restructuring, Mr. Papantoniou said that the budgets which will follow will be "lighter," since there will be no new burdens. He placed emphasis on the completion of the implementation of the "TAXIS" computerised taxation system.

Replying to a question he raised on whether the ruling PASOK party is in a position to successfully apply the policy of flotations and structural changes, Mr. Papantoniou referred to two kinds of problems being shaped in the party.

"The first problem is that PASOK has developed historically, as well as other socialist parties, in a state direction - that the state covers all, protects all and is a 'all-provider-state'. There is a difficulty in accepting flotations and privatisations," he said.

He further focused on what he called the second problem regarding the stance of certain trade unionists, saying they have become accustomed to jointly ruling public enterprises, with whatever this entails. He referred to Olympic Airways and Ionian Bank as examples.

Mr. Papantoniou said that PASOK, "as it was envisaged by its founder Andreas Papandreou and as it is developing today with Costas Simitis, has an advantage: it can adjust to the modern era, seize the new messages and remain always first."

Athens News Agency

[17] Government seeks ways to speed up privatisation

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said after the two-hour meeting that no decisions had been taken as the session was called to exchange information.

At the same time, the government was resolved to keep to its targets, Mr. Papantoniou said.

Also taking part in the session were Labour Minister Miltiades Papaioannou, Transport and Communications Minister Tasos Mantelis and Labour Undersecretary Christos Protopapas.

Government sources said that all participants at the meeting expressed satisfaction at high bids received on Monday in a tender to privatise Cretabank.

Mr. Mantelis said that the officials had discussed progress in restructuring programmes being implemented in three loss-making public enterprises - Hellenic Post Offices, Athens Urban Transport Organisation and Hellenic Railways Organisation.

He said that all three programmes should be completed by the end of July.

Mr. Mantelis also said that the government was not planning to privatise any of the three enterprises, and the streamlining was aimed at reducing losses and making the firms more productive.

Finally, he noted that there was consensus between the government and workers in the three enterprises on most aspects of industrial relations.

"As long as talks continue everything will be all right", the minister said.

Athens News Agency

[18] Greek stocks jump in bank-led rally

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Brokers said a substantial bid of 93 billion drachmas offered by the Latsis Group in a tender for the privatisation of Cretabank was seen as a sign that the sale of two more state-owned banks could be agreed at a higher price than originally expected.

The general index ended 1.81 percent higher at 2,408.36 points. Trading was active with turnover at 61.4 billion drachmas.

Sector indices mostly scored gains. Insurance rose 2.17 percent, Investment ended 0.23 percent up, Industrials rose 0.24 percent, Construction increased 0.31 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.22 percent higher and Holding increased 0.49 percent.

Leasing bucked the trend to end 2.36 percent lower, reversing a sharp three- day advance.

The parallel market index for small cap companies rose 0.35 percent, and the FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 2.24 percent up at 1,445.01.

Advancers led decliners by 129 to 96 with another 30 issues unchanged.

Newly listed Hellenic Petroleum traded 3,900,000 shares in its second day in the market.

Advancers led decliners by 129 to 96 with another 30 issues unchanged.

Textapret gained 23.8 percent in its debut in the market. Scoring the biggest percentage gains were Ionian Bank, Mediterranean Invest, Dias, Bank of Athens, Bank of Central Greece, Teletypos and Athinea, which all hit the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Boutaris, Papoutsanis, Papastratos, Dane, Desmos, Sigalas, Etma, Eskimo and Remek suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 40,520 drachmas, Ergobank at 26,990, Alpha Credit Bank at 25,555, Ionian Bank at 15,501, Delta Dairy at 3,850, Titan Cement at 20,100, Intracom at 10,350, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,400 and Hellenic Telecommunications Orga nisation at 7,900 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[19] Greek bourse gains 59.87 pct in first half of 1998

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Turnover in the bourse's main market totalled 5,964.5 trillion drachmas in the first six months of the year, an increase of 110.28 percent from the corresponding period in 1997.

A rising trend in the first two months of 1998 was based on news of a significant decline in the inflation rate.

The growth trend had accelerated by mid-March when the drachma entered the European Union's exchange rate mechanism accompanied by a 13.8 percent devaluation.

ERM entry improved the Greek market's image abroad.

In the two weeks following the drachma's parity realignment, foreign capital inflows into the Athens bourse exceeded two billion US dollars.

Foreign fund managers were now seeing big investment opportunities in the Greek market based on the economy's move towards convergence with its other EU partners, the analysts said.

The Athens general share index reached an all-time high of 2,669.76 points on May 25.

In the first half of the year 11 new companies were listed on the Greek market, accounting for 1.49 trillion drachmas in new capital.

Analysts expect that the pre-tax profits of listed companies will increase by an average of 42 percent this year to total around 1.2 trillion drachmas.

The Athens bourse's capitalisation accounted for 57 percent of the country's gross domestic product at the end of the first half of 1998, up from 34.5 percent of GDP in 1997.

Athens News Agency

[20] Greek merchant fleet gains 13 ships in June

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Joining the Greek-flagged fleet were 22 vessels comprising seven passenger ships, four tankers and 11 cargo ships totalling 576,730 registered tonnes.

Nine of the vessels have an average age of seven years and 13 of eleven years.

Leaving the fleet in June were nine ships comprising four cargo vessels, four tankers and one tug totalling 221,919 registered tonnes.

Two had an average age of 22.5 years and seven of 22 years.

Athens News Agency

[21] Hellenic Petroleum refutes allegations over Tuesday's flotation, ND criticism

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

The announcement said the flotation of Hellenic Petroleum SA shares on Tuesday was "absolutely successful" and that "confidence shown by the investing public in the group both inside and outside Greece went beyond any expectation."

It added that what was surprising was an attack on the company regarding the issue of distribution of reserves in time, "despite the fact that Hellenic Petroleum met its commitments."

The company further claimed that every investor is able to participate in transactions since the clearing and delivery of reserves takes place three days later.

On Monday, Hellenic Petroleum's management asked the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) to start trading the shares on Tuesday. The decision was taken at 3 p.m. on Monday. On the same day they went to the ASE's Depository to get the list of shareholders. In th is way, distribution began on Tuesday, at the same time as trading, keeping out small shareholders and Greek institutionals.

ND criticism : In a related development, the main opposition New Democracy party said yesterday that "the parody of so-called denationalisation with the flotation of Hellenic Petroleum SA turned into a drama at the expense of 385,000 small investors, during yesterday's first day of shares being negotiated at the Stock Exchange."

ND denounced the government and the managements of the Athens Stock Exchange and Hellenic Petroleum SA for incompetence and spoke of "a new fraud against the Greek people."

It also called on the government to check the legality of processes applied and demand explanations from whoever is responsible. Otherwise, ND added, "the relevant prosecutor must have a say."

Athens News Agency

[22] Ionian Bank president declines to give bank's exact net value

Athens 02/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Stamatopoulos noted that the state-owned bank has a stock-market value of 434 billion drachmas, adding however, that final responsibility for its assessment rests with Commercial Bank, its parent company.

The net value of the bank is "confidential" and will not be announced, he added, while he noted that labour relations and the insurance status of bank employees will be safeguarded under the new owners.

Athens News Agency

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