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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece and Cyprus united in struggle for justice, Kranidiotis reassures

[02] Burns addresses AHEPA convention

[03] Ankara to protest US sale of missiles to Greece

[04] Gov't pledges to embark on massive reforestation programme

[05] Greece qualifies for basketball semi-finals

[06] No concern of meningitis epidemic

[07] Berlin to host "Struggle for more democracy' event

[08] Parliament releases Universal Declaration for Democracy

[09] Ballet dancers to honour memory of Ulanova

[10] Greece in the European Court

[11] Cyprus will not submit to pressures regarding S-300 missiles, president says

[12] Greek stocks edge up in lacklustre trade

[13] Bank of Macedonia-Thrace to renew portfolio, focus on provisions

[14] Athens bourse ends week with losses, dragged down by foreign markets

[15] Athens bourse slaps trade ban on Balkan Export

[01] Greece and Cyprus united in struggle for justice, Kranidiotis reassures

Speaking after a working lunch with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Mr. Kranidiotis said rumours about an American proposal and pressure from Athens on Nicosia "do not relate to reality", adding that he did not know the reasons behind them.

"The only message I convey", he said, "is one of solidarity and identical views" of Greece with Cyprus. "This is the message we send to third parties: That Greece and Cyprus are united in the struggle for justice and the interests of the people of Cyp rus," he stressed.

Mr. Kranidiotis reassured that the two countries would not detract from the basic aims, which are, Cyprus' accession to the European Union and resolving the Cyprus problem according to UN resolutions.

"The substance of the Cyprus problem is the illegal Turkish behaviour," the Greek deputy foreign minister stressed, pointing to Ankara's refusal to comply with the directives of the international community and to withdraw its occupation troops from the is land.

Mr. Kranidiotis also made special reference to the Turkish side's refusal to enter a dialogue aiming at a Cyprus settlement and to take part in accession talks with the EU.

Defending Cyprus' right to self-defence, he said the S-300 issue is not the dominant, but only part of issues preoccupying Greece and Cyprus.

He said the two countries' concern is "the substance of the Cyprus problem, how to convince Turkey to comply with international law and UN resolutions, how the dialogue between the two communities will be resumed and how a process will begin which would help towards Cyprus' demilitarisation."

"The S-300 is a weapon that strengthens Cyprus' defence, but our efforts aim at the demilitarisation of the island, on the basis of President Clerides' proposals," he concluded.

Earlier, Mr. Kranidiotis met with Cyprus' Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and exchanged views on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

President Clerides told yesterday a delegation of refugee organisations from the Turkish-occupied villages of Lapithos and Karavas that foreign officials were making suggestions to the Cyprus government on the missile system, to which the government rep lies accordingly.

Foreign governments, especially the US administration and the British government, have opposed the deployment of the S-300 surface-to-air missiles, expected later this year.

President Clerides had proposed the island's complete demilitarisation.

The Cypriot president criticised the mass media for "exaggerations" in their reports about the missiles. Referring to the Cyprus problem, Mr. Clerides said he believes that there would not be any developments before the Turkish elections in April 1999.

Athens News Agency

[02] Burns addresses AHEPA convention

Mr. Burns made the statement in a keynote address during the Supreme Convention of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) in Orlando, Florida.

Outlining the five challenges for the future of relations between the US and Greece, Mr. Burns said first the two nations must bring their leaders and peoples together in a stronger relationship and establish trust between the two countries.

They must also strengthen and maintain the US military alliance with Greece and rebuild economic trade.

Referring to Cyprus, Mr. Burns said, "we must realise the importance of peace in Cyprus and between Greece and Turkey".

The ambassador noted Greece and Turkey have not succeeded in finding solutions and Cyprus remains a divided nation.

In a speech, Greece's newly appointed ambassador to the US, Alexandros Philon, referred to national issues "with the major priority revolving around the question of Cyprus".

"The continued occupation and no progression have been disastrous occurrences in recent years" but Greece is working very hard and intends to go beyond the past to find solutions, he said.

During the banquet, Cyprus' ambassador to the US Andros Nicolaides was presented with the 1998 Aristotle Award.

Mr. Nicolaides retires from the diplomatic service in September.

Receiving the award, Mr. Nicolaides thanked AHEPA Cyprus and Hellenic Affairs Committees for its dedication and support for the people of Cyprus.

Noting that Cyprus is fighting for the very same principles the US is dedicated to liberty and justice, he called on AHEPA "to continue your fight for the just cause of Cyprus." Referring to the island's defence, Mr. Nicolaides said the people of Cyprus have the right to defend their land at any cost.

He also said that Cyprus will become a member of the European Union in three to four years, "regardless if it is a divided nation".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Athens News Agency

[03] Ankara to protest US sale of missiles to Greece

According to Anadolu, the Turkish embassy in Washington was instructed to present a demarche to the US officials in efforts to stop the sale.

The Anadolu report noted that the Turkish officials' argument will be that the missiles might end up in the hands of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Millyet daily called the decision hypocritical and noted that "the US are pressuring the Greek Cypriots not to buy the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, and give to Athens 1,322 missiles.

Athens News Agency

[04] Gov't pledges to embark on massive reforestation programme

The announcement was made in a joint decision by the ministries of Agriculture and Environment, which said the plan initially envisaged extensive works to prevent soil erosion and upgrade flood control.

Reforestation would place emphasis on broad-leaved species which increase the resistance of forests to fires.

According to Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas, the number of fires only in July this year was 2,800, compared to 3,170 in the whole of the country in 1997. He said a total of 10,600 fire-fighting staff had been mobilised this year, compared to 5 ,400 last year.

The fires, which ravaged 9,000 hectares of forest and agricultural areas in the Attica region earlier this week, mainly on Mt Penteli north of the capital, were brought under full control yesterday, while the local prefecture declared a state of emergen cy and imposed a curfew in the ravaged areas, to be enforced by groups of vigilantes, soldiers and policemen.

A state of emergency was also declared in Ileia prefecture in the Peloponnese, where officials said the destruction was of biblical proportions, leaving 17 villages and a large section of Pyrgos town without electricity.

Other large fires were in progress late in the afternoon, in the areas of Mesolongi, Agrinio, Argostoli on the island of Kephalonia, Achaia, Volos, Serres, Kalavryta, Megalopolis, Gytheion, Konitsa, Kastoria, Komotini and Andros. Helicopters to the rescue: - Meanwhile, the German foreign ministry said yesterday four Luftwaffe helicopters and 35 crew members would be dispatched to Greece to assist in combatting fires which have ravaged the country during the past four weeks,

The CH 53 helicopters, which have been modified to carry 5-tonne water loads, are due to arrive today and will be ready for service by Sunday.

France and Italy have already responded to a Greek request and sent three and two fire-fighting aircraft respectively.

Two Russian Iluyshins, each capable of carrying 50 tonnes of water, are also expected in Athens today. Russian experts have already arrived in Athens to help coordinate any operations.

Contacts are also under way with Spain regarding the dispatch to Greece of similar fire-fighting means. Arrests: - Three people have been arrested on suspicion of arson in two separate incidents, one in Attica and the other near Aegio in the northern Peloponnese.

Two young men, whose identities have not yet been released, were arrested this morning in Glyka Nera, in the foothills of Mt. Hymettus which overlooks Athens, parts of which were ravaged by fires last month.

The two were spotted by local residents who have formed groups to guard the forest and were later arrested by an army patrol.

A search of their car revealed a container with a small quantity of gasoline and a gas burner.

The two men told police that they were drug addicts and had gone to the area simply out of curiosity. They claimed that the gas burner was used to prepare their heroin injections.

According to initial reports, the two men are residents of the greater area.

In another incident, the police late last night arrested Albanian Alushi Qerim, 18, from Fieri, as he reportedly tried to light a fire near the Corinth-Patras highway.

Qerim was seen by a passing motorist who, with the assistance of other motorists, detained and handed him over to the police.

He was due to appear before a public prosecutor.

Ministers on Thursday expressed certainty most of the fires were the work of arsonists. Scientist warns: - A UN-acclaimed atmospherics physicist yesterday warned of the climatological consequences of the widespread destruction of Attica's forests, and urged that anti-flooding projects be commenced immediately.

Christos Zerefos, a professor of atmospheric physics at Thessaloniki's Aristotelion University, told the ANA that the destruction of Attica's forests would have repercussions on the region's climatological conditions, and said he did not believe the eco -balance could be restored in a short length of time.

Mr. Zerefos, recipient of the United Nations' "Ozone Award" in 1997 for his contribution to protecting the earth's ozone layer, said the first step for the burned expanses, apart from protecting them from would-be landgrabbers, was to shield them from the fall and winter rains.

"If the climatic instability continues, and I have no reason to believe it will stop, with the first rainstorms the soil will start being washed off, and the rainwater will not be contained", resulting in mudslides and floods, Mr. Zerefos warned.

The second major repercussion, he added, would affect the climate of the Attica regions close to the burned expanses.

In those areas, he explained, given the international metereological organisations' predictions of climate warming throughout the planet, the daily temperature fluctuations will be smaller.

This meant that the nights would be less cool and, during heatwaves, would offer less respite from the heat of the day, causing a greater sense of inconvenience to the inhabitants, Mr. Zerefos explained.

Athens News Agency

[05] Greece qualifies for basketball semi-finals

Today's semi-finals: US - Russia and Greece - Yugoslavia

Yesterday's quarter-finals results:

• Russia - Lithuania 82-67
• US - Italy 80-77
• Greece - Spain 69-62
• Yugoslavia - Argentina 70-62

Athens News Agency

[06] No concern of meningitis epidemic

The recent death of a six-year old boy, the seventh victim of meningitis in Iraklion, Crete, within the year, generated fear among the local community of an epidemic on the island and prompted a release by the ministry of health.

The ministryYs release stressed that there was no outburst of the illness in the country and that since the beginning of this year the number of incidents not only in Greece but also in Iraklion had been within the same parameters that are registered ea ch year.

The concern that stirred the Iraklion community, continues the ministry's release, was unjustified and the health authorities have already taken appropriate protection measures regarding the persons in the immediate environment of the dead child.

Pursuant to fixed ministry guidelines, specialists from the Epidemiology Centre travel to the site wherever epidemic disease incidents are reported to monitor developments.

Microbiology Professor Jenny Kourea-Kremastinou has pointed out in the past that of utmost importance in a meningitis incident is diagnosis of the symptoms of the illness that are unfortunately still today confused with the symtoms of other viruses or i nfections.

Replying to what was said about mass vaccination, the health ministry pointed out that this measure is not recommended for any European country by the International Health Association or by any other international epidemic control organisations.

Meningitis incidences and the number of deaths caused by this disease in Greece continue to be distinctly lower than in other countries in Europe, Great Britain for example.

Athens News Agency

[07] Berlin to host "Struggle for more democracy' event

Former French culture minister Jack Lang, Prime Minister of Lower Saxony Gerhard Shroeder and writer Claus Steck, the inspirer of the cultural movement, initiated the event where Greece will be represented by Theodoros Angelopoulos, Costas Gavras and An tonis Samarakis.

Among the speakers at the event, Antonis Samarakis' speech will be about "the duty of the writers in our times".

German edition daily ATHNER ZEITUNG writes that Mr. Samarakis will more specifically say that "the title of todayYs event should be Struggle for more Democratic Democracies, because in our time and in our democracies we have traces of totalitarianism.

"There is no democracy with a democratic regime that does not have secret services. The citizensY personal life is surveilled and recorded....Today, with the ruthless social and economic problems, unemployment being on the lead, unemployment of the youn g, the situtation looks bleak.

"Almost forty million unemployed in Europe, four and a half millions in Germany, seven hundred thousand in Greece. When people are deprived of their right to work, they are deprived of their right to life. This is an expression of totalitarianism and fa scism...

"What is the duty of the writer today before this reality? Like the great writers throughout the centuries, the duty of the writers in our day is to become the voice of those who have no voice...of the victims to social exclusion, of the unemployed, the refugees, the migrants, the poor, the jailed and expatriated for political reasons, of all those in trouble, unjustifiably suffering on the eve of the 21st century.

"I am afraid this century will be the century of social brutality. I hope the political leaders shall have the will and courage to fight against the large interests and various trusts that have all the power in our world".

Athens News Agency

[08] Parliament releases Universal Declaration for Democracy

The Parliament press release noted that this is the first such initiative by the representatives of the Union's 137 member-parliaments.

The Greek-English language edition of the declaration will be available to the visitors of the Parliament's historical exhibitions.

Athens News Agency

[09] Ballet dancers to honour memory of Ulanova

The Bolshoi and Mariinsky (former Kirov) ballet dancers along with their Donetsk Opera colleagues will perform at this tribute.

For more detail please call Prime Art production at 7293822 or visit the Virgin Megastore in Athens or Maroussi for tickets to the event.

Athens News Agency

[10] Greece in the European Court

Athens News Agency

[11] Cyprus will not submit to pressures regarding S-300 missiles, president says

Speaking to reporters at the end of the Council's two-and-half-hour meeting, Mr. Kasoulides said that President Clerides will meet Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, on August 27 in Athens.

President Clerides will then head to Durban, South Africa, to take part in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit.

The National Council, the top advisory body to the president on the handling of the Cyprus problem, will convene before political party leaders travel to New York.

Mr. Kasoulides said President Clerides briefed the members of the Council on his recent talks with US State Department Special Cyprus Coordinator Thomas Miller, and the envoy of Britain and of the Austrian Presidency of the European Union on the Cyprus problem Sir David Hannay.

Asked if there is any change of the government policy on the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile system, Mr. Kasoulides replied: "You know there is a decision. Today you have heard what's been said. What you know is what applies. "

President Clerides pledged earlier yesterday that the Cyprus government would not submit to pressures regarding the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, expected to be deployed later this year.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Athens News Agency

[12] Greek stocks edge up in lacklustre trade

The Athens general share index finished 0.39 percent higher at 2,716.49 points from 2.706.06 points. Turnover slipped to 32.5 billion drachmas from 34.5 billion in the previous session.

Sector indices mostly finished higher. The heavily weighted banking sector gained 0.51 percent, Leasing lost 0.63 percent, Insurance surged 5.20 percent, Investment crept up 0.27 percent, Industrials shed 0.24 percent up, Construction jumped 2.05 percen t, Holding rose 1.50 percent, and Miscellaneous gained 1.57 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies finished 3.61 percent higher.

Of 259 stocks traded, advances led gains at 158 to 79 with 22 shares remaining unchanged.

The day's biggest percentage gainers finishing at the daily upper eight percent volatility limit were Elfiko, Minerva, Hatzioannou (common), Halyps, Varagis, Sportsman, Imperio, Boutaris, Kyriakopoulos and Dane Sea Line.

The day's biggest percentage losers were Development Invest, Ippotur, Endysi, Dimitriadis, Hadzioannou (preferred), Bank of Central Greece, Ideal and Allatini.

National Bank of Greece ended at 53,000 drachmas, Ergobank at 30,990, Alpha Credit Bank at 28,050, Ionian Bank at 17,380, Commercial Bank of Greece at 29,150, Delta Dairy (common) at 3,880, Intracom (common) at 12,955, Titan Cement (common) at 23,230, H ellenic Petroleum at 2,795 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8,240 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[13] Bank of Macedonia-Thrace to renew portfolio, focus on provisions

The Thessaloniki-based bank will cast 1998 profits as provisions and reshape its 1997 balance sheet in order to create additional provisions.

The overhaul will bring Bank of Macedonia-Thrace's balance sheet in line with that of its parent company, which is turn is based on internationally accepted standards.

Athens News Agency

[14] Athens bourse ends week with losses, dragged down by foreign markets

Foreign institutional investors in the bourse took a wait-and-see attitude, but domestic institutionals dumped stock, especially on Wednesday when the market dived 3.27 percent.

The Athens share index finished the week at 2,716.49 points, shedding 80.92 points, or 2.89 percent, from the 2,797.41-point close a week ago.

The index has gained 83.59 percent since the beginning of the year.

Turnover this week was 207.138 billion drachmas to post a daily average of 41.4 billion drachmas, down from 48.5 billion in the previous week.

At the same time, economic fundamentals were healthy with consumer price inflation slipping to 5.1 percent year-on-year in July from 5.2 percent the previous month. Revenue from tax also was satisfactory.

In the mid-term, the market's progress depends on whether the government carries out its privatisation plan, the analysts said.

Listed Ionian Bank, a subsidiary of state Commercial Bank of Greece, is due to be tendered through the bourse on August 24; and Hellenic Duty Free Shops SA is slated for retender via the market in the autumn after bids were considered too low in the first auction.

Athens News Agency

[15] Athens bourse slaps trade ban on Balkan Export

The ruling, effective today, applies to both common and preferred stock, and will remain in force until company finances are clarified.

Balkan Export has shown chronic financial problems, and creditor banks are unwilling to negotiate a settlement.

Athens News Agency

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