Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Three firefighters,one volunteer die in Kareas fire

[02] Stephanopoulos: Greece will not forever tolerate continuing Turkish provocations

[03] V. Papandreou letter to Commission over Kozloduy

[04] High-ranking meeting in light of KYSEA meeting

[05] PM meets with Cypriot National Guard commander

[06] Greece satisfied that no unofficial US recognition of T/C pseudo regime exists

[07] Athens on German travel advisory regarding Cyprus

[08] PASOK delegation visits EAB facilities

[09] Tzoumakas talks with Austrian counterpart

[10] Resolution in British parliament over Olympics

[11] Two herds destroyed in Evros following variola outbreaks

[12] Ferries resume routes yesterday afternoon

[13] One ND deputy expelled the other placed on 9-month suspension

[14] Supreme Court prosecutor orders reversal of dictionary ruling

[15] Prosecutor says 090 toll numbers fraught with fraud

[16] Kranidiotis in Mongolia

[17] Pangalos tour of Thrace

[18] Injured toddler air-lifted to Athens hospital

[19] Three arrested in antiquities smuggling scam

[20] British firm to build Dr 250 bln resort complex on Crete

[21] Greek stocks drop in correction, just hold 2,800 points

[22] PM to meet EU funding commissioner tomorrow

[23] Major engineering contractors to merge

[24] Apostolopoulos Group buys new clinic

[25] New general director appointed to Greece's Macedonia-Thrace Bank

[26] Orion Invest to give Dr 300 dividend

[27] Piraeus Invest has profit of Dr 2.3 bln in H1, up 77 pct

[28] Democratic Social Movement opposes state telecom float

[29] 51 projects in EU's 'Tourism' subprogramme

[30] PASEGES general assembly ends

[31] Latest OSE operational plan eyes restructuring

[32] Petrol decreases, diesel rises

[01] Three firefighters,one volunteer die in Kareas fire

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The three firemen were reported missing after their fire-engine was engulfed by flames while they were dispatched to fight the blaze, which destroyed one of the last areas of forest land near the capital and threatened the Aghios Ioannis Monastery.

The three firemen were identified as Theodoros Mavroeidis, Dimitrios Malouchos and Alexandros Diavolis. Malouchos was said to be near retirement age, while Diavolis was said to be a radioman in the fire brigade, without adequate previous experience in firefighting.

It appeared that the three tried to escape when flames engulfed their fire- engine but were trapped by the blaze. They were found 150 metres from their abandoned vehicle where they died huddled together, according to reports.

Fifteen fire-engines and 70 firefighters immediately rushed to the blaze, backed by six fire-fighting aircraft.

Meanwhile, the body of the dead civilian was found near the charred remains of the three dead firefighters, fire brigade officials said.

The man had apparently tried to help the three escape the blaze, authorities said.

Gov't, political parties : On his part, Prime Minister Costas Simitis cancelled a scheduled reception for press members upon receiving news of the incident, and issued a statement expressing his regrets.

"I express my deepest regret over the deaths of three members of the fire brigade who fell in the line of duty, as well as of the volunteer, whose death unfortunately leads, in this tragic way, to the concept of citizen in its fullest meaning. I address my most heart-felt condolences to their families," he said.

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos also expressed his deep sorrow and his sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis also issued a statement.

"To their families I express my deepest condolences, and to their colleagues the certainty that they will continue doing their duty guarding the common good, to which the three heroic firemen dedicated their very lives," he said.

Public Order Minister George Romeos said he would visit the families of the victims and promised that the state would support them.

Other opposition parties and the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) also expressed deep regret over the deaths, adopting in general a critical line against the government for what they called ommissions, a lack of preparedness and training, conflicting relevant legislation, and favouritism in appointments in the sector of forest protection.

A firemen's union representative called for a judicial inquiry into the causes of the deaths, saying that their members were working under adverse conditions, and often for 48 hours without stopping.

He added that the infrastructure lacked in human and technical potential.

Another blaze which broke out at 1:50 p.m. in Saronida, along the coast south of Athens, forced the authorities to evacuate a number of holiday homes.

Forty fire-engines and 350 firemen, assisted by two fire-fighting aircraft and a Chinook helicopter, took part in battling the blaze which spread quickly, fanned by strong winds.

Another fire affected a pine-covered area in the community of Kyliomeno on Zakynthos, but did not threaten residential areas.

The fires subsided later towards the evening, aided by a reduction in the force of winds, and after burning dozens of acres of forest and bushland.

Athens News Agency

[02] Stephanopoulos: Greece will not forever tolerate continuing Turkish provocations

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Addressing 40 expatriate deputies composing the World Hellenic Interparliamentary Union at the Presidential Mansion, Mr. Stephanopoulos called on the expatriate deputies to promote principles of respect for international law and UN resolutions in their respective Parliaments.

"Countries, no matter how much they desire peace also have national dignity, national pride, and they have national prestige, which cannot be offended by someone else with threats of war. Therefore, these threats might reach realisation at some moment despite Greece's contrary desireIIf it is supposed that the Turks strike Cyprus, what do you imagine that Greece can do? Is it possible for it to tolerate such a behaviour without protest as we did in 1974, due to the situation prevailing then and our weak ness at the time?" he asked.

Mr. Stephanopoulos called on the deputies to become apostles of peace and preachers for the implementation of principles of the UN "either this concerns Greece or concerns whatever other country in the world. We do not request the implementation of thes e principles for the sake of Greece but for the sake of world peace."

Simitis : The deputies held a similar meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis at 1 p.m.

"We must provide information. We expect from you, in the framework of stable cooperation between us, to rally to enable us to achieve the target which is information and the acceptance of policies securing peace," Mr. Simitis said.

Outlining the main elements of Greek foreign policy, Mr. Simitis said it focuses on "peace, friendship and cooperation among peoples."

Mr. Simitis said that decisions taken at the Luxembourg and Cardiff summits moved in these directions.

"However, the issues there are also open many times because each country has its interests. One country sells weapons, the other country is carrying out major projects. They want the development of trade and they cannot see that such a development, no matter how necessary it is, contains a basic precondition: The existence and maintenance of peaceful relations. Pressure is also required in this direction in that human rights and international law constitute a foremost precondition for better economic relations and development efforts," he added.

On his part, the president of the World Hellenic Interparliamentary Union, Demetri Dollis, stated that "we are experiencing an era now which provides us with the possibility to say with pride that Greece has some role to play. And this role is basic. It is not a role limited solely to the Balkans, but it is global."

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who accompanied the expatriate deputies on their visit, said afterwards that convening politicians of Greek descent from all over the world is a "historic effort which is bearing fruit."

"Greece is showing its great strength through Hellenism, its principles which are global and rally more extensively peoples and civilisations all over the world," he said.

On his part, Mr. Dollis said that "steps taken in past days with the great assistance of George Papandreou, who uses a language which is understood at international level, provides us with the possibility to promote, through our cultural identity, many foreign policy issues, but to promote in particular a new modern Greece which not only represents the Greek from Greece, but of course the diaspora Greek as well."

The group was later received by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Athens News Agency

[03] V. Papandreou letter to Commission over Kozloduy

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[04] High-ranking meeting in light of KYSEA meeting

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, National Defen-ce Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis and National Defence General Staff Chief Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that prospects of utilising the program-me were discussed at the meeting to enable maturity for decisions after finalised information (has been received).

Asked whether the Cyprus issue and the S-300 missiles were discussed, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that the other issues are discussed at relevant bodies.

According to reports, the issue of the S-300 missiles, the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations were discussed during the meeting.

In another development, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will receive the commander of the Cypriot National Guard Lt.-Gen. Dimitris Dimou today, who is on a visit to Greece. Mr. Dimou is also expected to meet with general staff chiefs.

Athens News Agency

[05] PM meets with Cypriot National Guard commander

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Speaking to the press afterwards, Gen. Dimou said his visit was of a purely courtesy nature, while discussions did not cover military issues.

Gen. Dimou also declined any comment on recent Turkish provocations.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greece satisfied that no unofficial US recognition of T/C pseudo regime exists

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Rubin justified the presence of US officials earlier this week in the Turkish-occupied north of the divided island at events marking the 24th anniversary of the Turkish invasion as being of a "personal, rather than an official nature."

He added that employees of the US embassy had attended the events in their free time and unofficially, noting that their presence did not indicate "acceptance of the fact".

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said "such behaviour should not necessarily be associated with certain results", while adding that "it should, however, be avoided".

Athens News Agency

[07] Athens on German travel advisory regarding Cyprus

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, however, that the advisory contained a warning and was an issue which would be dealt with by Nicosia, particularly bearing in mind that the tourist season was in full swing.

The German foreign minister reportedly advises those planning holidays in Cyprus to monitor the political situation on the island carefully, in view of the planned deployment of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles later this year.

Athens News Agency

[08] PASOK delegation visits EAB facilities

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

EAB's management requested that the government secure contracts with international firms through the next phase of the armaments programme.

Employees' representatives reiterated their proposal that the defence ministry take over the administrative control of the company.

PASOK-affiliated union representative Rovertos Spyropoulos requested an end of a "philoshophy that deems every state initiative as unproductive."

According to the company's management, operational losses during 1997 - the first year of the stabilisation programme - decreased to 1.6 billion drachmas, down from 3.6 billion drachmas in 1996.

It was also noted that the long-term operational programme of the company plans for the company's expansion in the private sector.

To date, only 15 per cent of the company's contracts are not related to the Greek armed forces.

Athens News Agency

[09] Tzoumakas talks with Austrian counterpart

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Tzoumakas, who termed the meeting "positive", briefed Mr. Molterer on Greece's request for an increase in the milk production quota.

On the issue of investments for the environment, Mr. Tzoumakas said that funds to be provided for this purpose must not be deducted from support for producers' income.

He also raised the issue of an increase in funds for forests and fishing with his counterpart.

On his part, Mr. Molterer said that during the Austrian presidency substantive steps must also be taken in the agricultural sector, as by March 1999 decisions must be taken on the "Agenda 2000" as agreed at the Cardiff summit.

Athens News Agency

[10] Resolution in British parliament over Olympics

LONDON 23/07/1998 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

The resolution was an immediate answer to a tabled question over security matters in Athens during the Olympic Games.

The resolution referred to the low crime rate in Greece, calling on the British government to work with Athens on issues relating to security.

Athens News Agency

[11] Two herds destroyed in Evros following variola outbreaks

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The area has been put into quarantine, while authorities consider it likely that the animal disease was transmitted from Turkey, where it is endemic.

Reports from the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, meanwhile, said that the country's agriculture ministry was planning restrictive measures against the importation of live animals from Greece following the outbreak of the disease.

Athens News Agency

[12] Ferries resume routes yesterday afternoon

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

However, passengers planning to travel to the islands today are advised to call port authorities or travel agencies beforehand for any changes in schedules.

Athens News Agency

[13] One ND deputy expelled the other placed on 9-month suspension

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The decision was taken by the party's disciplinary council. Mr. Giovanoudas has admitted to having an extra-marital relationship with a 25-year-old woman, but has denied allegations that he assaulted her when she tried to end their affair.

The woman, Maria Katafati, recently appointed to the Corfu tax bureau after February's nationwide exams, has filed a lawsuit against the deputy.

The council was more lenient with a second deputy, Gerasimos Giakoumatos, who recently brandished a pistol inside Parliament and threatened Public Order Minister George Romeos, after the former's house was burglarised.

Mr. Giakoumatos was expelled from the party for a period of nine months, after the council took into consideration the fact that he had shown remorse after the incident. The disciplinary council meeting lasted four hours.

Fighting back tears, Mr. Giovanoudas reacted angrily to the council's decision.

The deputy said he was the victim of "expediencies" arising from his behaviour in the past, in an apparent reference to the fact that he had supported former party leader Miltiades Evert against present ND leader Costas Karamanlis in party elections for ND's leadership.

Mr. Giovanoudas also said he would take recourse to justice, "where I will be vindicated... and then we'll see what Mr. Karamanlis, who is always going on about justice, will do".

ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said the only victim was New Democracy and its thousands of supporters "who want to see the party in power and which is harmed by such behaviour".

By contrast, Mr. Giakoumatos said he accepted and respected the decision.

Athens News Agency

[14] Supreme Court prosecutor orders reversal of dictionary ruling

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[15] Prosecutor says 090 toll numbers fraught with fraud

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[16] Kranidiotis in Mongolia

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Discussions also touched on cooperation in the economic, technical and commercial sectors, with both sides agreeing to work together for relevant agreements.

The Mongolian FM told Mr. Kranidiotis that his country views Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council during the 1999-2000 session "positively".

Athens News Agency

[17] Pangalos tour of Thrace

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

His tour will start from the prefecture of Xanthi where he will have contacts with local officials. He will visit the Fourth Army Corps and the Metropolitan, among others. Afterwards, he will tour several mountainous villages in the prefecture.

Mr. Pangalos will arrive in Komotini on Sunday where he will chair a regional council meeting in the morning.

In the afternoon, Mr. Pangalos will visit Sappes for talks with representatives of Black Sea Greek refugees and inaugurate the municipality's community centre for elderly people.

In the evening, Mr. Pangalos will arrive in Alexandroupoli. His tour will be concluded on Monday with a visit to the Evros Delta and the surrounding region.

Athens News Agency

[18] Injured toddler air-lifted to Athens hospital

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The toddler, whose name was not released upon the parents' request, was suffered internal cranial bleeding when he fell down a third-floor staircase of a hotel in Ammoudara, Gaziou near Iraklion late on Tuesday night after escaping his mother's attention.

He was rushed to the Venizelio hospital but the hospital's neurosurgery team decided he needed to be transported to a children's hospital in Athens because the Venizelio did not have a Children's Intensive Care Unit.

An Airforce C-130 military transport plane was immediately despatched to transport the toddler.

Athens News Agency

[19] Three arrested in antiquities smuggling scam

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The arrests were made after police stopped a car driven by Ioannis Goglis, 28, in the area of Asvestochori, in which they found the antiquities.

Goglis told the police he had received the artefacts from Anestis Toundas, a resident of Malesina, Fthiotida, and intended to deliver them to Michail Soundourlis and Dimitrios Maganaris in the area of Nea Kerdyllia, Serres.

Goglis, Soundourlis and Maganaris have been arrested and a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Toundas.

The police initially estimated the value of the artefacts at about 10 million drachmas.

An eight-year-old Albanian boy was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident in Thessaloniki yesterday.

Police said Blefter Zika, who was living with his family in Thessaloniki and attending a local public school, was hit by a car in the Pano Poli residential district and abandoned by the driver.

The boy, who suffered multiple wounds, was taken by passers-by to the George Yennimatas hospital.

Athens News Agency

[20] British firm to build Dr 250 bln resort complex on Crete

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Under the terms of the contract, Loyalward will build a 7,000-bed resort complex on a 650-acre property near the Toplou Monastery in the prefecture of Lassithi, eastern Crete, the firm said in a news release yesterday.

Loyalward has signed up a consortium of Greek engineering contractors led by Aktor S.A., which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, to carry out the bulk of construction.

The land for the project, which will create 3,200 jobs in the region, is to be leased by the ecclesiastical foundation, the statement said.

"This luxury and landmark project is the first of its type in Greece, being a fully integrated resort complex with all amenities required to draw tourists from around the world to Crete for a full 12 months each year," it said.

Designed along the lines of similar projects elsewhere in the Mediterranean, the resort complex aims to set a new benchmark for Greek tourism.

The complex comprises five villages, each consisting of a hotel, villas and commercial centres. Large stretches of land will be kept clear of buildings to keep the environment intact.

"Top international environmental consultants have been retained by Loyalward to ensure that the whole area is treated with the very highest environmental respect," the statement said.

"Rare species of plants indigenous to the area, but which have since disappeared, will be reintroduced as part of an ambitious planting programme which will also extend the Palm Forest at Vai and guarantee its long-term future."

Amenities are to include three golf courses, conference facilities, a tennis centre, a horseriding centre, athletics facilities, a new port, arts centre and theatre.

Work on the site is slated to begin in early 1999 so that the golf courses and most of the hotel accommodation will be ready for the Olympic Games in 2004, which Athens is hosting.

The creation of the Ecclesiastical Foundation of Panagia Akrotiriani by the Toplou Monastery will ensure that the benefits of the project are also enjoyed by Cretans, the statement said.

Athens News Agency

[21] Greek stocks drop in correction, just hold 2,800 points

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The Athens general share index ended 0.77 percent lower at 2,803.85 points, and the FTSE/ASE 20 index lost 0.58 percent to finish at 1,716.96 points.

Trade was moderate with turnover at 62.1 billion drachmas, slightly down from 63.9 billion drachmas in the last session.

The market had gained 7.10 percent in the previous five trading days.

Buying interest was again reported in construction stocks with the sector index finishing 1.67 percent higher in the wake of jumps of 6.58 percent and 5.96 percent in the last two sessions.

Other sectors indices finished mixed. Banks fell 1.21 percent, Leasing rose 0.69 percent, Insurance slumped 1.65 percent, Investment dropped 1.68 percent, Industrials lost 0.30 percent, Holding shed 0.59 percent, and Miscellaneous sank 2.37 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies finished 0.22 percent down.

Of 267 stocks traded, declines led advances at 142 to 108 with 17 shares remaining unchanged.

Closing at or near the eight percent upper daily volatility limit were Mosholios, Vioter, Kekrops, Sfakianakis, Papaellinas, Phoenix Insurance, Alkar-Aemet, Eltrak, Technodomi, KI Sarandopoulos and Mohlos.

The day's biggest percentage losers were Xylemboria, Dane Sea Line, Strintzis Lines, Britania, Tzirakian, Inerga, Balkan Export, Lesvos Shipping Company and Parnassos.

National Bank of Greece ended at 54,100 drachmas, Ergobank at 32,950, Alpha Credit Bank at 29,980, Ionian Bank at 16,740, Commercial Bank of Greece at 28,580, Delta Dairy (common) at 3,885, Intracom (common) at 14,000, Titan Cement (common) at 24,650, H ellenic Petroleum at 2,705 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8,580 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[22] PM to meet EU funding commissioner tomorrow

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Ms Wulf-Mathies, who is responsible for regional policy, structural funds and cohesion funds, said in Brussels on Tuesday that a review of Greece's absorption of EU structural funds indicated that its development prospects now looked brighter than a few years ago.

The interim review of the implementation of EU structural fund programmes and use of resources in 1994-1999 showed that Greece's absorption rate was higher than the EU average for the same package, Ms Wulf-Mathies said.

Athens News Agency

[23] Major engineering contractors to merge

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Hellenic Technodomiki is to buy a majority bloc of shares in TEB owned by its president,Nikos Trihas, who, in turn, will participate in a share capital rise by Hellenic Technodomi and receive a seat on its board of directors.

According to Hellenic Technodomiki's vice president, Dimitris Kallitsandsis, the newly formed group will show a turnover of more than 45 billion drachmas and equity capital of around 30 billion drachmas.

The new group plans to expand both in the domestic market and abroad, Mr. Kallitsandsis told a news conference.

Both engineering contractors are members of a French-Greek consortium building the Rio-Andirrio bridge in western Greece, and another consortium building a ringroad for Athens.

Listed engineering contractors are repositioning ahead of the 2004 Olympic Games hosted by Athens and the prospect of a fresh round of infrastructure projects under the European Union's Third Community Support Framework funds.

Athens News Agency

[24] Apostolopoulos Group buys new clinic

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The latest acquisition is Aghios Eleftherios, a general clinic in Daphni, which has 75 beds.

The Group recently bought another unit, the Nikolaou clinic in Peristeri, with 85 beds.

Both are to be fully operational in the first half of 1999 after refurbishing.

Athens Medical and Paleo Phaliro Clinic, which are listed on the Athens bourse, are the private group's best known units.

It has another hospital in Thessaloniki with a capacity of 425 beds.

Athens News Agency

[25] New general director appointed to Greece's Macedonia-Thrace Bank

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Lekkakos, 47, was until now deputy general director of Bank of Piraeus, whose group of companies he helped to develop.

He formerly held the posts of vice president and senior director at American Express in Athens, Macedonia-Thrace Bank said in a statement.

Among board positions currently held by Mr. Lekkakos are president of Tirana Bank and member of Sigma Securities' board of directors, the statement said.

Athens News Agency

[26] Orion Invest to give Dr 300 dividend

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The company's board said in a statement that 93.7 percent of profits derived from stock exchange transactions.

On July 20, Orion's portfolio was 1,926.6 million drachmas, of which 73.2 percent was allocated to equities.

Banks accounted for 28.6 percent of the portfolio and industrials 20.5 percent, the statement said.

Athens News Agency

[27] Piraeus Invest has profit of Dr 2.3 bln in H1, up 77 pct

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The firm said in a statement that the value of its portfolio in constant prices on June 30, 1998 was 11.8 billion drachmas divided into domestic equities (77.3 percent), foreign equities (17.7 percent), and money market funds (5.0 percent).

The firm's portfolio includes non-listed companies.

Athens News Agency

[28] Democratic Social Movement opposes state telecom float

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

OTE, which sees profits of 360 billion drachmas in 1998, had enough capital to fund its investments without again resorting to the Athens Stock Exchange, Mr. Tsovolas said.

Athens News Agency

[29] 51 projects in EU's 'Tourism' subprogramme

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

In parallel, it was also decided that the final inclusion of 11 more projects to be promoted immediately and with a written process.

The subprogramme "Tourism" falls under the second Community Support Programme. The meeting was also attended by representatives of European Union departments, as well as representatives of the national economy and labour ministries.

Projects joined include the pilot programme for the creation of modern hygiene facilities at 3,200 food and recreation centres budgeted at five billion drachmas.

The new inclusions have completed the planning of all measures of the "Tourism" subprogramme. The earmarking of funds for specific projects have exceeded 90 per cent after yesterday's meeting from 44 per cent a year ago.

The "Tourism" subprogramme amounts to 132 billion drachmas and includes projects carried out with the participation of the private sector accounting for 60 per cent of the total budget.

Absorptions of the "Tourism" subprogramme to date amount to 26 billion drachmas, namely 19.6 per cent of the total budget. From now on increased absorption rates are expected since many projects subject to the development law 1892/90 certify the project carried out after its implementation.

Athens News Agency

[30] PASEGES general assembly ends

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

Farmers' demands in the resolution included an increase of allocations in the state budget as part of the third Community Support Framework, a settlement of farmers' debts and measures to eradicate profiteering.

Athens News Agency

[31] Latest OSE operational plan eyes restructuring

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

The plan envisions a reduction in the number of staff by more than 2,500 by the year 2001, as well as for investments of 1.75 trillion drachmas by 2007. The plan also provides for a rationalisation of train schedules, while retaining the number of sched ules to the Peloponnese, which was part of an earlier proposal. However, Dimitris Karapanos, OSE employees' representative and a former general manager of the agency voted against the plan.

Athens News Agency

[32] Petrol decreases, diesel rises

Athens 23/07/1998 (ANA)

According to announcements by the Public Petroleum Corp. (DEP) and the development ministry, the retail sales prices of gasoline will be decreased by 1.10 drachmas per litre while, on the other hand, the retail sales prices of diesel will increase by 0. 30 drachmas per litre and those of heating oil will increase by 0.20 drachmas per litre.

As a result of the changes, super gasoline will cost 216.80 drachmas per litre in the Attica region and the prefecture of Thessaloniki and unleaded oil 200.90 drachmas per litre.

Athens News Agency

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