Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't plans to finance massive project for reforestation

[02] Greek-Albanian cooperation protocol on sea border patrols

[03] Two municipal clerks embezzle 83 mln drs, audit shows

[04] Kranidiotis says Cyprus has right to its defence

[05] US-Greek consortium buys Bulgarian bank in tender

[06] Greek stocks slump in wake of declining markets abroad

[07] Xiosbank to launch electronic commerce project

[08] Domestic commercial firms show stagnant profits in 1997

[09] Telesis Popular sets up three mutual funds

[10] Former textile employees demand re-employment

[11] Lower fuel prices

[12] AIDS rise in Greece not explosive, official says

[01] Gov't plans to finance massive project for reforestation

Mr. Tzoumakas said after a 90-minute meeting with prime minister Costas Simitis that financing the reforestation fell under the jurisdiction of the Agriculture ministry, adding that the first step would be to secure the denuded expanses with mesh to con tain land erosion.

Expanses that had burned for a second time would undergo artificial reforestation, while land burnt for the first time would be reforested naturally.

Forestry service officials told the ANA an estimated 800,000 stremma (80, 000 hectares) of forest and bush had burned since the latest wave of forest fires broke out Sunday.

The figure is expected to go up, however, as a number of fire fronts were still blazing and several others that had been contained were rekindled early yesterday, fanned by strong winds. The government, and Mr. Tzoumakas personally, have been severely criticised by the opposition for transferring forest fire-fighting authorities from the forestry service to the fire brigade.

Mr. Tzoumakas defended the decision yesterday, saying that "now, one (service) is in control".

He also attributed his no-show at an emergency government meeting Tuesday night to a "misunde-rstanding".

Mr. Tzoumakas, who came under fire in the press yesterday for not taking part in the emergency meeting chaired by Mr. Simitis, who cut short his holiday on the island of Sifnos, said he had been under the impression that the meeting was among ministry s ecretaries general. Interior minister: -- Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said that there can be no issue of governmental responsibility in regard to the actions of the state mechanisms in fire fighting.

During a joint press conference with Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas, Mr. Papadopoulos noted that although the weather conditions were adverse the "time that was needed to put out the fires was unprecedented."

However, he noted that the government is troubled by the fact there were 3, 000 forest fires to date, while last year the total number of forest fires reached 3,118.

Furthermore, he said that the government is troubled by the threatening phone calls received by several state agencies.

Over the past few days fire departments, as well as several state agencies, received anonymous calls threatening employees with statements of the type "we will burn you alive" or "we will burn everything."The minister also noted that the responsible age ncies are looking into all the possible causes of fires "as is fit for a responsible state."

Commenting on press reports over the way the state mechanism operated during the forest fires, the minister said it was "not correct and a myth" that there was no decision for the implementation of the Xenocratis emergency plan.

He added that this plan goes into effect automatically in all cases of natural disasters, while the decision to call a state of emergency gives the state the right to commandeer private assets and equipment, a case which was not considered necessary.

He also noted that, while the bill transferring fire fighting responsibilities from the forest service to the fire department was voted into law in late spring, the preperation began in 1995.

Furthermore, he said that 1,060 forest fire fighters were transferred from the forest service to the fire department, out of a total of 3,800 personnel.

Mr. Papadopoulos said that Greece is not the only country faced with this problem, noting that 1997 statistical data show the same problem in other Mediterranean countries of Europe.

Specifically, he stated that during 1997 Spain suffered 7,781 forest fires, France 7,230, Italy 17,719, Greece 3,118 and Portugal 24,429.

The minister also said that the government will compensate citizens for their losses through grants, low interest loans and subsidies. Tzoumakas: -- Mr. Tzoumakas said that the government will compensate farmers for their losses both by Greek as well as European Union funds reserved for such purposes.

He added that prefectures and the forest service will work in cataloguing the disaster, so as to calculate the compensation of each farmer individualy.

Strong winds rekindle fires: -- Strong winds yesterday morning rekindled the fires at Stamata and Dionyssos, in northeastern Attica, while another front at Aghia Marina near Nea Makri was blazing out of control.

A new fire broke out at Rema, on the outskirts of the northern Athenian suburb of Halandri, in a small pine-wooded area in an inhabited district, threatening two petrol stations.

A state of emergency was declared and 15 fire trucks with 50 firefighters were rushed to the area.

Dozens of cars, 120 homes, a factory, numerous warehouses and livestock have burned in Attica.

Fire brigade and forestry service crews were constantly patrolling the burnt areas, given weather bureau warnings that the intensity of the winds was expected to increase. Two farmers found dead: -- The bodies of two farmers have meanwhile been taken to the Kalamata mortuary for an autopsy after being found dead near their property which had been destroyed by another fire in the southern Peloponnese.

The police believe that Dimitris Tzortzis, 43 and Stavros Tasiopoulos, 48, residents of Anthousa Meligala in Messinia died, possibly of heart attacks, when they saw that their farms had been burned.

A fire with a front stretching for many kilometres is meanwhile threatening the northern suburbs of the western port city of Patras.

The blaze is fast moving towards houses at Sychaina which is just outside the limits of Patras municipality, as well as towards the villages of Aghios Vassilios, Psathopyrgos and Drepano.

Strong northerly winds are impeding efforts by firemen and local residents to check the blaze.

A number of homes and business premises have already been evacuated and the electricity supply in several areas has been cut off. Laliotis: -- Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis said later yesterday that all areas destroyed by fire would automatically be designated for reforestation, while victims of the fires would be compensated in accordance with provisions f or natural disasters.

"I have already given instructions for the burned areas to be photographed from the air," Mr. Laliotis said, ruling out any change in the use of the land or the expansion of town planning boundaries into areas destroyed by fires.

Mr. Laliotis spoke in terms of an "organised plan" by arsonists and described the situation as critical. Replying to opposition party criticism of the government's handling of the situation, Mr. Laliotis said the problem should not be allowed to de velop into a war-of-words between political parties.

Although there had been planning to combat forest fires, he said, existing resources were unable to deal with the many fronts raging almost simultaneously.

Earlier, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos launched a stinging attack on the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis personally.

"All of Attica had to burn, homes had to burn before Mr. Simitis at last decided to return (to Athens) from his holiday (on Sifnos)," Mr. Spiliotopoulos said.

The ND spokesman accused Mr. Simitis of being essentially responsible for the widespread destruction "and due to incompetence and inadequacy, also the accessory before the fact behind the enormous ecological disaster in Attica". Romeos: -- Public Order Minister George Romeos told the press yesterday that just this July, 3,000 fires were started throughout the country, while during the entire summer of 1977 there had been 2,800 fires.

Mr. Romeos, once more, maintained that the high number of fires is due to arson and as a matter of fact there were several findings (flares-and gas cannisters) which will be examined at police laboratories to provide the authorities with many and specif ic evidence that will be made known to the public.

The public order minister said that just yesterday 73 new fires were started, of which 41 were under full control while the remaining 32 were still in progress, however, not immediately threatening inhabited areas.

The largest fires are blazing through the Peloponnese and more specifically in the regions of Ilia, Messinia and Ahaia. Assistance sent to Attica: -- Meanwhile, it became known yesterday that firemen from north-east Greece were Tuesday night sent to assist colleagues battling fires in Attica.

The fire services of Kavala, Drama, Eleftheroupoli, Paggaio, Chryssoupolis Nestou, Xanthi, Rodopi, Alexandroupoli, Orestiada, Kavala and other areas each sent five firemen who will remain in Attica for two or three days.

They were flown to Athens in a Hellenic Air Force C-130 transport aircraft. Prosecutor: -- First instance court prosecutor Sotiris Bayias yesterday requested in writing a list of all fire-fighting equipment in Attica, from the fire department.

Furthermore, he requested a list of the operational condition of all the equipment, as well as their location during the fires of the last two days.

Finally, the prosecutor requested information on the total number of fire department employees, the number of leaves and absences, as well as the number of employees who took part in the fire fighting efforts of the last two days. Evidence of arson: -- Fire and police department officials yesterday noted that they had in their possession evidence that several of the latest fires were products of arson.

According to reports high-ranking fire-department officials handed over to police a large quantity of burned gas cannisters as well as remains of nautical flares, which were already examined by fire department experts.

Accoring to the same reports, police will examine the material to determine whether it can lead to the identification and arrest of the arsonists.

In a related development, eyewitnesses noted unknown persons with binoculars in the Lagonisi area, who where looking over the area in which a fire broke out a short time later.

Meanwhile, citizens reportedly saw two youths leaving the Halandri ravine on a motorcycle right before a fire broke out in the area. Athens News Agency

[02] Greek-Albanian cooperation protocol on sea border patrols

A special ceremony will be held at Corfu harbour to mark commencement of the cooperation on Monday, to be attended by Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis and Albanian Interior Minister Neritan Ceka.

The cooperation aims at combatting illegal immigration, drug trafficking and unlawful fishing. Athens News Agency

[03] Two municipal clerks embezzle 83 mln drs, audit shows

Proceedings have already started against Samuel Constantinidis and Anastasios Tsakanikas who have been summoned to deposit 28 and 55 million drachmas respectively by today, otherwise an attachment of their property would be ordered.

The embezzlement was discovered when the two clerks unjustifiably delayed the preparation of data when the mayor asked for computerisation of the accounting department, which triggered a request for an audit.

The detailed audit conducted by finance ministry auditors during 1996-98 revealed that 83 million drachmas "had flown away" from the municipalityYs treasury.

Mr. Gioftsidis did not provide any more information regarding the way the money was embezzled, but gave reassurances that all necessary efforts were made on his part to have the amount returned to the municipalityYs treasury. Athens News Agency

[04] Kranidiotis says Cyprus has right to its defence

Mr. Kranidiotis told the Cyprus Radio CyBC that decisions and handling of the issue belong with the Cypriot government and that Greece is assisting it and standing by it in its struggle.

"My visit in Cyprus is private, but I will naturally meet with the Cypriot political leadership, within the framework of the frequent contacts between Greece and Cyprus, and within that same framework I will exchange views with the Cypriot administratio n regarding the recent developments on the Cyprus issue and future projections.

Mr. Kranidiotis is expected in Cyprus tomorrow.

"Focusing on the S-300 defence missiles is disorientating regarding the essence of the Cyprus issue and in any case it functions unproductively toward the solution of the problem," Mr. Kranidiotis said.

"The issues must be correctly placed in order of priority and we should not focus on the tree and miss the forest. The essence consists in the continued Turkish invasion and occupation, the intransigence of the Turkish side and its refusal to start a d ialogue for the solution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of the UN resolutions, its refusal to participate in talks for the accession of Cyprus in the EU, its refusal to discuss armament containment and demilitarisation on Cyprus, its refusal to abide by the commands of the international community. This is the message we are sending to other countries and our European partners, asking them to exert their influence on theTurkish side", Mr. Kranidiotis said.

"We must not fall victims to the 'missile talk' and TurkeyYs effort to disorient the issue," the deputy minister concluded. Athens News Agency

[05] US-Greek consortium buys Bulgarian bank in tender

The two firms, which bid jointly in the tender, will acquire 78.23 percent of Post Bank for 38 million US dollars, taking an equal stake. They are to invest 20 million dollars in the bank in the coming year.

A contract will be signed in nine days whose provisions include a ban on the new buyers from selling their stock for seven years. Ten percent of profits have to be given to the Bulgarian state for five years.

Announcing the sale, Bulgaria's finance minister told reporters that the price offered by the consortium for Post Bank, which has 111 branches, was the main criterion in selection of the winner; and that National Bank of Greece had bid substantially lower. Athens News Agency

[06] Greek stocks slump in wake of declining markets abroad

The Athens general share index finished 3.27 percent down at 2,692.77 points. Turnover slipped to 48 billion drachmas from 42.9 billion in the previous session.

Sector indices mostly finished lower. The heavily weighted banking sector plunged 4.20 percent, Leasing nosedived 5.63 percent, Insurance slid 1.65 percent, Investment slumped 2.98 percent, Industrials shed 2.22 percent up, Construction sank 4.55 percen t, Holding dropped 3.58 percent, and Miscellaneous dived 4.40 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies finished 2.39 percent lower.

Of 253 stocks traded, declines led advances at 213 to 31 with 9 shares remaining unchanged.

The day's biggest percentage gainers finishing at or near the daily upper eight percent volatility limit were Yemolom Warehouses, Boutaris (common and preferred), Klaoudatos, Mediterranean Investment, and Interinvest.

The day's biggest percentage losers at the eight percent daily lower volatility limit were Alkar-Aemet, Nimatemboriki, Papoutsanis, NEL and Bank of Central Greece (common and preferred).

National Bank of Greece ended at 52,700 drachmas, Ergobank at 30,250, Alpha Credit Bank at 28,080, Ionian Bank at 16,800, Commercial Bank of Greece at 28,180, Delta Dairy (common) at 3,800, Intracom (common) at 13,000, Titan Cement (common) at 22,865, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,775 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8,300 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[07] Xiosbank to launch electronic commerce project

Xiosbank said in a statement yesterday that its Xios Electronic Commerce project will support the promotion and sale of goods on Internet, and see that credit card purchases are secure.

The system is based on a communications protocol developed by Visa and Mastercard in conjunction with seven other firms in order to ensure secure transactions. Firms taking part in the project's pilot stage are Kotsovolos, Trifylli, Microland and Inte rpost.

Key technology in the project is to be supplied by EDI-Hellas, and Hellasnet will assist with implementation. Athens News Agency

[08] Domestic commercial firms show stagnant profits in 1997

Signs of fatigue were seen in a growth trend that had lasted several years. Equity capital rose but returns were down, ICAP said.

Liquidity held steady and profit margins showed a slight improvement, it said. Athens News Agency

[09] Telesis Popular sets up three mutual funds

The funds are Telesis Popular Domestic Money Market, Telesis Popular domestic fixed-income securities, and Telesis Popular Domestic Equity.

By the end of the year, the firm plans to set up another three funds.

The company's shareholders are Cyprus Popular Bank, European Popular Bank, Telesis Capital and the Levendis Group. Athens News Agency

[10] Former textile employees demand re-employment

When 154 employees of the mills returned from leave early this August they found the factory gates locked and they were informed that they had been laid off.

According to information, the "Giannitsa Spinning Mills" had been recently facing problems with 1,000 tons of unwanted yarn stored in their warehouse.

Management is planning to re-open the factory after a large percentage of the business is previously sold to Italian investors.

The officials at the Labour Centre in Giannitsa are scheduling a tri-party meeting in Athens on the issue, with the participation of employer, employees and state representatives.

Giannitsa Labour Centre President Giorgos Voudouris informed ANA that the proposal was accepted by Deputy Minister by the Prime Minister and also Parliamentry Representative for Pella prefecture Giorgos Paschalidis, who will go forward with it after the employees association submits to all relative agencies a "background history on the operation of the factory".

Mr. Voudouris also wondered about the advisability of the partial sale of the mills to Italian businessmen, since as he said "half of the investment, that is 1 billion drachmas, could be covered by developmental resources of 650 million drachmas, recent ly turned down by the company, and by 350 million drachmas paid as severance to the terminated employees".

Athens News Agency

[11] Lower fuel prices

The price for super and unleaded gas dropped by 1.5 drachmas and for diesel by 0.4 drachma per litre.

The new fuel prices per litre announced by the development ministry are :

In Attica basin and Thessaloniki super is sold at 212.3 drachmas and unleaded at 196.4 drachmas.

In the first provincial zone super is sold at 217.2 drachmas and unleaded at 201.3 drachmas.

In the second zone super is sold at 220.2 drachmas and unleaded at 204.3 drachmas.

In the third zone for areas with 18% VAT, super is sold at 222.2 drachmas and unleaded at 206.3 drachmas, while in areas with 13% VAT, super is sold at 212.2 drachmas and unleaded at 197.3 drachmas. Athens News Agency

[12] AIDS rise in Greece not explosive, official says

Mr. Kotsonis visited the Special Epidemics Control Centre mobile unit in the centre of Iraklion and in continuation he held a press conference in the prefecture offices.

The undersecretary said that the disease was still incurable, but he referred to the positive results of the medication provided to AIDS patients by the health ministry during the past two years, at a total cost of 4 billion drachmas, and he added that this medication gave mobility to AIDS patients helping them to get up from their beds, prolonging their life and giving them hope for final victory over death.

Mr. Kotsonis said that worldwide, 33 million people have been infected by AIDS, of whom 1.5 million are children and 42% women.

There are 1,766 registered AIDS cases in Greece.

Athens News Agency

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