Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Larisa NATO HQ slated to begin operation in October 1999

[02] Flynn-Simitis meeting in Athens

[03] Gov't to issue low-cost bonds, luring small investors

[04] Greek stocks post new high, sprint through 2,700 pt barrier

[05] Gov't sees EU lifting ban on share cap rise for Olympic Airways

[06] Budget spending up 12.8 pct in first half

[07] Gov't to back employment in Perama shipyard zone

[08] Insurance firm loses licence to operate

[09] Gov't committee divided over industrial relations reform

[10] Gov't appoints secretary general for consumer affairs

[11] Shorter delays, 2 OA cancellations reported

[12] Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'great indifference' regarding economy, debt settlements

[13] Solana says NATO ready to monitor 'no-fly zome' over Cyprus, criticises S-300s

[14] Cohen receives Turkish military chief Karadayi

[15] Kranidiotis details Greece's initiatives on Mideast problem

[16] Pangalos talks with Albania's leadership next week

[17] Several sports-, 2004-related meetings

[18] Samaranch addresses Int'l Olympic Academy event in Athens

[19] Military leadership observes final phase of 'SARISA '98' exercise

[20] Serbian children hosted again in Greece

[21] Simitis,Romeos discuss measures against police corruption

[22] SAE conference in Thessaloniki

[23] Greenpeace warns about Athens' killer smog

[24] Medical students volunteer programme

[25] Poet Karelli dies

[26] Vartholomeos invites Commissioner Papoutsis to Patriarchate

[01] Larisa NATO HQ slated to begin operation in October 1999

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

During a briefing, local authorities were told that the alliance's inter- service subregional headquarters' establishment in the town of Tyrnavos, beyond its strategic significance, was also of particular economic importance for the wider Larisa region, which would benefit substantially from the annual 25 billion drachmas earmarked for the headquarters' operation.

Hellenic Army officials said the area would also benefit from the stationing of approximately 600 Greek and foreign staff at the headquarters.

In the same context, they added, the First Army Corps had planned a series of interventions, including the use of the military airport at Larisa for civilian purposes, securing places at foreign-language institutions for the educational needs of the sta ff's children, staff accommodations, etc.

Turning to concern expressed over the new structure of NATO, the officials said that national sovereignty and defence were and remained an "ina- lienable and sovereign right" of Greece, as there was no correlation with the new NATO headquarters.

They said the non-assignment of a region of operational control to the Larisa headquarters would not affect its opera tion and exercises carried out, while in times of crises and operations, the region of operational control would be set out by NATO in cooperation with the Greek government, which had the "first say on matters of national defence".

Under NATO's new structure, the number of alliance regional headquarters was reduced from 65 to 20, with strategic regional and subregional commands.

In the southern flank, which includes Greece, a regional headquarters has been designated in Naples, with four subregional headquarters in Madrid, Verona, Izmir and Larisa.

Athens News Agency

[02] Flynn-Simitis meeting in Athens

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Flynn, who is on an visit to Greece, also discussed with Mr. Simitis issues related to the rest of the structural funds' absorption rates, which he called satisfactory.

According to reports, a selection procedure began to choose which programmes will be given a priority status, while those considered ineffective will be cut.

The issue will be on the agenda of a Cabinet meeting today.

Athens News Agency

[03] Gov't to issue low-cost bonds, luring small investors

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The new bonds, priced at 50,000-100,000 drachmas, will be tax-free if buyers retain them until maturity.

The bonds, which have a duration of three, five and 10 years, are not negotiable on the secondary market, Mr. Christodoulakis said.

Athens News Agency

[04] Greek stocks post new high, sprint through 2,700 pt barrier

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.84 percent higher at 2,712.52 points.Trade was light to moderate with turnover totalling 55.6 billion drachmas.

Buying interest focused on construction and industrial issues which ended 3.85 and 3.05 percent higher respectively.

Other sector indices were mixed. Banks rose 1.80 percent, Leasing ended 0.29 percent higher, Insurance fell 1.01 percent, Investment increased 1.80 percent, Holding eased 0.69 percent and Miscellaneous ended 1.28 percent up.

The parallel market index for small cap companies rose 1.37 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 1.58 percent higher at 1,646.58 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 178 to 67 with another 18 issues unchanged.

Pouliadis, Cardico, Intrasoft, Diekat, Metka, Bank of Central Greece, Eltrak, Halyps Cement, Lampsa, TEB, Ergas, Bitros and Sportsman scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Mouzakis, General Warehouses, Athinea, Xylemporia, Alkar, Viosol, Vis and Constantinidis suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 47,500 drachmas, Ergobank at 33,200, Alpha Credit Bank at 29,000, Ionian Bank at 17,495, Delta Dairy at 3,980, Titan Cement at 23,000, Intracom at 12,500, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,760 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8,500 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[05] Gov't sees EU lifting ban on share cap rise for Olympic Airways

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

"Negotiations with members of the Commission are leading to a positive outcome," Mr. Mantelis told reporters after a meeting with National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and OA's management.

The EU's executive Commission froze a plan to raise the national carrier's share capital in 1995 due to poor progress in an earlier restructuring scheme for the debt-ridden airline.

The government is currently trying to implement a new revitalisation plan for the company despite lingering opposition by some trade unions.

"If Olympic Airways operates normally it will be able to survive and develop, enabling the transfer of operations to Spata and the renewal of its fleet," Mr. Mantelis said.

A new international airport is being built for Athens at Spata, east of the capital, to replace the existing facility at Hellenikon. OA will be required to transfer its operations there.

The minister forecast that delivery of the first new aircraft in the fleet renewal project would begin in September.

Athens News Agency

[06] Budget spending up 12.8 pct in first half

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

If the overall rate of increase held steady, then the rise in expenditure would slow to 6.2 percent by the end of the year, Mr. Christodoulakis said.

Athens News Agency

[07] Gov't to back employment in Perama shipyard zone

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Unemployment in the Perama shipbuilding and repair zone is currently at 50 percent of the working population, among the highest jobless rates in the country.

The programmes devised by the labour and social security ministry will be implemented and funded by the Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED), an offshoot of the ministry.

The details of the scheme, which was released yesterday, are as follows:

• Daily subsidies of 5,000 drachmas to employers who hire workers aged 18- 64 for two months of on-the-job training and 22 months of work, with a commitment to extend employment for another six months. The category covers 1000 jobs.
• Daily subsidies of 5,000 drachmas for two years to employers who hire workers aged 54 or over ahead of retirement. The category covers 500 jobs, and OAED will also pay employers' social insurance contributions for the workers.
• Subsidies of 2.8 million drachmas (downpayment of 1.8 million drachmas plus four six-monthly instalments) each for 500 self-employed, with a commitment to keep the business going for two years.
• Hourly payment of 1,000 drachmas to 500 workers for 180 hours of vocational training.

The unemployed in Perama's shipbuilding and repair zone already receive free medical treatment and special unemployment benefits.

Athens News Agency

[08] Insurance firm loses licence to operate

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The licence was withdrawn from the Vergina company by the ministry following a unanimous recommendation by a state committee monitoring the private insurance sector. Among the alleged violations was a failure to pay court-ordained compensation.

The owners of Vergina will appear before a public prosecutor to hear charges.

Athens News Agency

[09] Gov't committee divided over industrial relations reform

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The economic and social committee met to debate a new bill that aims to make the labour market more flexible, cutting costs and boosting productivity.

According to employers, the bill falls short of providing companies with a legal base for flexibility in their operations, and will not help them to become more competitive.

It introduces new red tape, also failing to facilitate part-time employment and flexible working hours.

According to workers, the legislation fails to increase full-time employment, which was originally one of its targets, and encourages a slapdash approach to flexibility merely based on cutting costs.

Athens News Agency

[10] Gov't appoints secretary general for consumer affairs

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Assuming the post is Christina Papanikolaou, whose job will be to make recommendations on government consumer affairs policy including insurance, health, products and services.

She will also oversee the implementation of legislation.

Athens News Agency

[11] Shorter delays, 2 OA cancellations reported

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The delays in domestic flights reached one and a half hours in flights to Mykonos and Samos.

According to reports, when passengers on the Hios flight were informed that the route would not be carried out, they started looking for their luggage which, however, had been loaded on board another aircraft destined for the eastern Aegean island. Shou ting ensued but on a limited scale.

Many passengers left for the port of Piraeus to reach their destination by ferry boat.

Athens News Agency

[12] Karamanlis accuses gov't of 'great indifference' regarding economy, debt settlements

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Karamanlis said that debt settlements which have taken place have burdened the economy with 2.5 trillion drachmas and spoke of a policy of wretchedness and of burdening the Greek taxpayer.

Referring to the banking sector, he expressed support for denationalisation, but accused the government of trying to exploit the purchase of Cretabank cheaply by a business group and create artificial euphoria.

He also said that the Ionian Bank must be denationalised through international tendering and the price to be paid must correspond to its value in the bourse.

Athens News Agency

[13] Solana says NATO ready to monitor 'no-fly zome' over Cyprus, criticises S-300s

WASHINGTON 17/07/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The NATO chief was speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club.

"We do not think the S-300s are a good decision," Mr. Solana said, noting that formulas have to be found to make unnecessary the deployment of the weapons system.

He said at this point there are several ideas, without however, clarifying.

"Some are public, others are not public and belong in the negotiating procedure," he added.

Regarding the proposed "no-fly zone", Mr. Solana said: "Yes, we will be able - we are prepared if we can help to - in particular, to monitor, if necessary, a no-fly zone or something of that nature."

He stressed that negotiations are just beginning on the issue but not at NATO or in other fora. "And in that case NATO would be just, if necessary, implementing some of the ideas that may be discussed in other fora, in particular at the UN," he added.

On the question of confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the Aegean, Mr. Solana said that he would like to continue efforts for "their deepening" and assessed that it is very important for these to be implemented not only for stability in the region bu t also for NATO.

"As you are aware, we will have a new operational structure in NATO. And, therefore, the operational structure in this sector of NATO, the southeastern and in the Mediterranean, will be very important," he said.

Referring to plans concerning Kosovo, he said that NATO is working on four axes: stability measures such as Partnership for Peace exercises in Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), preventive measures such as the preventive depl oyment of forces in Albania and maybe in FYROM adding that the presence of UNPREDEP renders the sending of forces there unnecessary-, pressure measures which would heighten with possible air strikes, -expres-sing hope that the situation will not reach that far-, and preparation for the possibility of NATO guaranteeing a ceasefire or a solution.

Athens News Agency

[14] Cohen receives Turkish military chief Karadayi

WASHINGTON 17/07/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)

According to reports, Cyprus' purchase of the S-300 Russian-made anti- aircraft missiles was one of the top items on their agenda of discussion.

After the meeting, US Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon said that the two men "discussed the dramatic need" to promote a decrease in tension on Cyprus, while he noted that the missiles presented a problem.

Mr. Bacon also noted that US is discussing with Athens and Ankara on ways to minimise tension on Cyprus, while one of the proposals presented by Washington is a voluntary moratorium of military flights over the island republic.

Furthermore, Mr. Bacon noted that discussions between Gen. Karadayi and US officials included the importance of confidence-building measures in the Aegean. Finally, he clarified that US Assistant Secretary of Defense Jon Londal's ongoing visit to Turkey was planned, while a stopover in Athens proved unattainable.

Athens News Agency

[15] Kranidiotis details Greece's initiatives on Mideast problem

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

"Greece has every interest in the promotion of peace and stability in the region of the eastern Mediterranean. It seeks, therefore, to assist in the rekindling of the Middle East process, which has been deadlocked for the last year-and-a-half.

"It was within this context that I proposed during the third Conference of Dialogue for Peace and Cooperation in the Middle East, held on Rhodes between July 1-5, that the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians meet in Greece, if they so desire," accord ing to Mr. Kranidiotis, who represented Athens at a recent conference of prominent Israeli and Palestinian personalities and journalists.

Rhodes hosted two similar conferences in July and December last year, designed to improve confidence between the two sides.

"Greece has continuously supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the one referring to self-determination and independence, from the moment that the Palestinian problem appeared. We hold the view that a just and viable solut ion of the Middle East problem must be based on United Nations resolutions, the principles of the Madrid Conference of 1991 - particularly the "land for peace" principle - as well as agreements signed between the interested parties in the area," the Greek foreign undersecretary added.

Mr. Kranidiotis said it was decided on Rhodes that the conferences for dialogue should continue on a permanent basis, as well as to set up a standing committee for monitoring the resolutions adopted, which will be comprised of five Palestinians, five Israelis and representatives of Greece and the EU.

The joint resolutions adopted during the Rhodes meetings contain a series of confidence-building measures in the economic, cultural and sports sectors, he added.

He further noted that the Middle East problem had always had a direct impact on the Cyprus issue and that this continued to hold true today.

"The Cyprus problem is directly influenced by developments in the Middle East...the more the stand-off in the Middle East intensified, the more the situation in Cyprus got difficult and the Cypriots' efforts towards freedom and independence were influence d negatively. The political future of Cyprus is linked to the problems of the eastern Mediterranean," he said.

Referring to Europe's role in the Middle East problem, Mr. Kranidiotis said it should seek closer cooperation with the US.

"The EU has to cooperate and move together with the US in exercising their influence. The EU grants the largest part of economic aid and supports the Palestinian economy, while also maintaining close relations with Israel. Therefore, it is its duty to become more involved in the political process.

"Finally, Greece has undertaken to provide economic assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and will continue to consolidate its political and economic relations with both sides, aspiring to be a reliable partner in the area. Such a development also fu lfills the historical obligation which, I believe, Europe has towards the peoples of the region," he concluded.

Athens News Agency

[16] Pangalos talks with Albania's leadership next week

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Pangalos, who will be accompanied by a business delegation, will meet Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani, PM Fatos Nano, FM Paskal Milo, Tirana's public order minister, the parliament president, and the president of the Albanian parliament's constit utional revision committee.

Constitutional law professor and Euro-MP Dimitris Tsatsos has contributed to the ongoing constitutional reform process in the neighbouring country.

Mr. Pangalos contacts will also include Archbishop of Albania Anastasios and representatives of the Greek minority.

The Greek foreign minister will also be accompanied by Prof. Giorgos Babiniotis, with whom they will visit the Greek-language Arsakeion School, outside Tirana, which will start in September.

The agenda of discussions will also include cross-border and economic cooperation as well as a bilateral educational agreement, to be signed during Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis' forthcoming visit to Tirana.

Athens News Agency

[17] Several sports-, 2004-related meetings

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Himple invited the Greek minister to visit the US in October.

Talks with Mr. Braun concerned the organisation of the Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004, scheduled to take place in Sydney and Athens, respectively.

Mr. Fouras discussed Olympic sports projects with EPO's administration. He also called on the construction company responsible for building the indoor basketball stadium for PAOK, Thessaloniki to brief him on the project's timetable.

Athens News Agency

[18] Samaranch addresses Int'l Olympic Academy event in Athens

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

"The city of Athens was exactly what was needed to give a new dimension to the Olympic Games in the third millenium," he said yesterday during an opening ceremony of the 38th annual conference of the International Olympic Academy.

"You, the representatives of Athens, but also those of Sydney, must take care to set aside all your problems and organise the best possible Olympic Games," he urged.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said in his address that the organisers "are working professionally and systematically to achieve our targets".

"Everything is taking place under full transparency with as little cost as possible, and according to the commitments entered in the file of the Athens candidacy," he added.

Athens News Agency

[19] Military leadership observes final phase of 'SARISA '98' exercise

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The exercise was planned by officers of the Second Army Corps, which according to the new structure now constitutes the land-based army's rapid deployment force, with the target of exercising staffs and units in planning and conducting combined operatio ns under a single command.

Addressing the army's leadership and the officers of the Second Army Corps at the end of the exercise, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said, visibly satisfied, that "SARISA-98" constituted the first substantive confirmation of the armed fo rces' new capacity to achieve, if necessary, in parallel with effective defence at national borders, a flexible retaliation in the event of a strike by the enemy in whatever part of the country.

Athens News Agency

[20] Serbian children hosted again in Greece

BELGRADE 17/07/1998 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

The mission was organised for the fourth time this year by the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE) in cooperation with the Red Cross and the Yugoslav Red Cross.

Athens ambassador to Belgrade, Panayiotis Vlassopoulos, who bid the children farewell at the Belgrade train station, said that hospitality for these children in Greece constitutes only a portion of the humanitarian aid which Greece-based local governments and organisations have been providing for Yugoslavia since war broke out in the neighbouring country. He also said these initiatives contribute to the strengthening of Greek-Serb relations, while also helping the children to forget their hardships for a while.

Mr. Vlassopoulos said that with this programme by KEDKE, more than 2,000 children have been given hospitality in Greece so far.

Athens News Agency

[21] Simitis,Romeos discuss measures against police corruption

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

After the meeting, Mr. Romeos stated that the government will introduce a bill in Parliament in August for the creation of an internal affairs division, which will be overseen by a prosecutor.

Furthermore, Mr. Romeos noted that all evidence will be open to prosecutors as part of an ongoing investigation.

He added that he personally approved 2,300 residence permits for foreigners out of a total of 70,000 applications in Attica and 400,000 around the country over the past five months, as was prescibed by law.

In his defence, the minister noted that the signing of permits is a matter of policy and was exercised by ministers of the 1990-1993 New Democracy government as well.

As for the permits he signed, Mr. Romeos said that he assumes "total responsibility for those permits. I have complete evidence and I am proud for the policy we followed towards immigrants..."

More evidence left for prosecutor regarding police corruption : According to reports, new evidence has been given to prosecutor Georgios Gerakis, who is probing corruption in the police force, by an unidentified source on Wednesday.

Shortly before midnight, a box was left containing various documents outside the Athens court complex off Evelpidon street, claiming that it contained evidence concerning police corruption.

Mr. Gerakis collected the box and is examining its contents.

Athens News Agency

[22] SAE conference in Thessaloniki

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The private institute will be based in Thessaloniki and its goal will be the financial, technical and organising support towards SAE.

Furthermore, SAE members discussed the Greek expatriate youth olympics, also planned for the next year in Thessaloniki. These games will be held every four years.

In a related development, SAE President Andrew Athens yesteday met with Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos and was briefed on programmes set up to support Greek expatriates. The two men also discussed the creation of an Internet site by the ministry.

The agenda for today's conference session focuses on issues related to the problems of ethnic Greeks living in former Soviet Union countries.

Athens News Agency

[23] Greenpeace warns about Athens' killer smog

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The head of the organisation's Greek branch, Stelios Psomas, said measurements taken during the past two months showed air pollution in the capital to be at alarmingly high levels.

The main problem, he said, was the presence of so-called second- and third- generation pollutants such as ozone, benzoline and micro-particles, some of which are not measured by the Environment Ministry.

Greenpeace's measurements at eight locations in Athens over 22 days showed limits set for air pollutants were exceeded on eleven days. The measurements for benzoline and micro-particles were among the highest recorded in Europe.

Greenpeace representatives criticised the Environment Ministry for not taking emergency measures during the recent heatwave which saw temperatures rise to 42 Celsius in the capital.

They charged that the ministry was not taking any measures because it feared the political cost and was not measuring levels of benzoline and micro-particles because bureaucracy meant procurement of the necessary equipment would take two years.

Athens News Agency

[24] Medical students volunteer programme

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

The programme is financed by the New Generetion general secretariat and includes 95 medical students from seven medical schools in Greece as well as other countries.

Room and board costs will be met be local governments on the islands.

EFIE has also set up a medical students exchange programme with its Turkish counterpart, involving 20 students from each country.

Greek students will volunteer their services in Istanbul, Ankara and Anatolia hospitals, while their Turkish counterparts will volunteer on the islands of Lesvos, Hios and Kos.

Athens News Agency

[25] Poet Karelli dies

Athens 17/07/1998 (ANA)

Born Chryssoula Argyriadou and the sister of another major literary figure, Nikos-Gavril Pentzikis, Karelli's first work was published in 1935.

As a woman writing in the first half of the century in Greece, Karelli became known as the writer who "made women's poetry more muscular". Her poem "Ego, I Anthropos" (I, the Human), written in 1957, placed the feminine article before the Greek word for man and human, and was considered a major step in introducing a feminist voice to Greek literature, at a time when the women's movement was in its infancy.

Some called her the most important female voice in Greek 20th century literature. In her works, she eloquently wove together images of the ancient Greek spirit and Christianity.

Made an associate member of the Athens Academy in 1982, Karelli published 12 collections and often collaborated with the innovative literary periodical "Kochlias", which published her translations of works by T.S. Eliot and James Joyce in the 1950s.

In 1956 she received a prestigious state award for her "Kassandra" anthology. She won the State Poetry Award again in 1974. She received an honorary doctorate from the Aristotle University's School of Philosophy in 1988 and President Costis Stephanopoul os bestowed the Palm Commander Award on her in 1995.

Athens News Agency

[26] Vartholomeos invites Commissioner Papoutsis to Patriarchate

BRUSSELS 17/07/1998 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The invitation was delivered during his meeting with the Commissioner in Brussels.

Mr. Papoutsis accepted the invitation and expressed his thanks to the Ecumenical Patriarch for this honour. The date of the visit will be set later. Talks focused on the role that the Ecumenical Orthodox Church can play in European unification and the very positive climate prevailing in relations between the European Commission and the Patriarchate. Mr. Papoutsis will be meeting Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos in Athens today to discuss, among others, relations between the Autocephalus

Orthodox Church of Greece and the European Union, as well as the establishment of an office of the Church of Greece in Brussels.

Athens News Agency

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