Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tsohatzopoulos stresses that Kosovo issue a `political problem`

[02] Cross-border cooperation support unit for construction companies

[03] Meetings focusing on '99 state budget to begin

[04] Reaction to Yiannopoulos` intent to change broadcast slander, dafamation statutes continues

[05] Civil defence bill debated in Parliament

[06] New website for recyclable energy sources

[07] Draft bill for creation of environmental inspectors corps

[08] Kostov in Athens next week

[09] Klima in Greece for private visit

[10] Souflias-PASOK cooperation denied

[11] Taxi driver overcharges tourist 25 times

[12] Economic News

[01] Tsohatzopoulos stresses that Kosovo issue a `political problem`

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

Speaking in Parliament, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed at the same time that minorities should not be allowed to change borders in the Balkans, referring in particular to "extremist" elements among Kosovo Albanians who want the region to be united with Albania.

Replying to criticism levelled by Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said his recent call for an end to military operations by Serbian forces in the troubled Yugoslav province was to jumpstart direct negotiations between Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Ibrahim Rugova, aimed at greater autonomy for Kosovo's Albanians but without any change of borders.

Greek armed forces are participating in the NATO exercise with a C-130 military transport aircraft, two F-16 fighter jets, two helicopters and a company of paratroopers. The exercise began on Monday.

Greece has also sent a medical team to provide services to residents of remote villages in central Albania and in areas near the exercise, codenamed "Cooperative Assembly '98".

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos criticised Mr. Milosevic on Saturday for the recent military operations in Kosovo, comments which were later reprinted in several Belgrade dailies and condemned by media outlets supporting the Yugoslav president.

Athens News Agency

[02] Cross-border cooperation support unit for construction companies

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

The unit will be financed by the European Union's Interreg II programme and will provide technical and informational support to construction firms and construction materials manufacturers.

According to the announcement, the unit will provide information on technical issues related to construction projects in Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Bulgaria, as well as organise business trips and conferences in the a bove-mentioned countries.

Athens News Agency

[03] Meetings focusing on '99 state budget to begin

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

The national economy minister will meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday or Tuesday and will brief him on latest economic developments in conjuction with latest economic conditions in the international stock and money markets.

The two men will also discuss the primary direction of the new budget, namely, income, spending and deficit.

Mr. Papantoniou noted that new budget moves are in the spirit of "stability" toward EMU goals, so Greece is ready for induction by the 2001 deadline.

According to reports, the premier will attempt to press this point during his address at the inauguration of the Thessaloniki International Fair in early September.

Press reports noted that the new budget will be austere, but will not include new taxes or tax rebates.

Mr. Papantoniou also noted that Ionian Bank buy-out offers for 51 per cent of the state-owned bank's shares will be submitted on Monday.

He did not preclude the possibility of declaring the tender unsuccessful if bids are judged unsatisfactory, while he announced that in such a case a new tender will be called for the end of September.

Athens News Agency

[04] Reaction to Yiannopoulos` intent to change broadcast slander, dafamation statutes continues

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

The justice minister unexpectedly announced on Tuesday that he wanted to prescribe ex-officio prosecution for broadcast journalists, analysts TV hosts etc. who allegedly slander and defame over the airwaves, or who allow third parties to do so on their programmes or reports.

POESY stressed its opposition to the changes and stated that existing criminal statutes are adequate for the protection of citizens, while any infrigement by the government or anyone else will create conditions against journalism and freedom of the press.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said the idea constituted an "impertinent threat against the press and institutions, which he (Mr. Yiannopoulos) continuously insults".

The penal code presently prescribes possible jail terms of up to one year for slander and up to two years for defamation, although these sentences can be, and practically are always, paid off.

Mr. Spiliotopoulos added that even if Mr. Yiannopoulos managed to push the amendments through Parliament, they would be abrogated by the competent national or European Union courts as being clearly unconstitutional and oppressive.

The Comminist Party of Greece (KKE) called the changes "further tension of a galloping governmental authoritarianism."

Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspimos) noted that such changes in statutes will bring about conditions for a wave of press persecution.

The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) noted that such proposed strict criteria are "direct threats against the freedom of the press." Finally, Athens Journalists' Union president Aristidis Manolakos said the proposed amendments would "overturn standing values regarding freedom of the press".

Athens News Agency

[05] Civil defence bill debated in Parliament

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

He added that owing to a low birthrate, the number of new conscripts in the Greek armed forces has dropped by 20 per cent within a year.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos further added that civil defence was designed to effect a coordinated mobilisation of the entire nation, both in cases of natural disasters and emergencies at the regional level.

Replying to objections about the drafting of females into the armed forces, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said civil defence was about a mobilisation of all citizens wishing to strengthen the country's defence.

The bill on civil defence provides for the drafting of women. It would exclude the pregnant, mothers with children under the age of 12, those having more than three children or caring for elderly parents as well as women with special needs and those with health problems.

With regard to a new plan announced on Monday regarding a compulsory nine- month period of service in border regions for all conscripts, the defence minister said that detailed measures will be announced next week, including provisions maintaining that all soldiers doing their military service in border regions will be eligible for a short bi-monthly leave and reduced transportation fares.

In a related development, the group "Front of Reason Against Nationalism" criticised the bill on civil defence, claiming it would increase nationalism.

Athens News Agency

[06] New website for recyclable energy sources

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

The page will be updated by a group of specialists in energy issues from 30 European countries and it will address businesses and organisations active in the recyclable energy area.

Operation of the website in Greece is supervised by the Center for Recyclable Energy Sources (KAPE). Information provided by the development ministry shows that the European market in recyclable energy sources has an annual revenue reaching 4.3 billion Ecu, and an upward trend since all countries must conform to Kyoto pact resolutions on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Athens News Agency

[07] Draft bill for creation of environmental inspectors corps

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

The draft bill, composed and tabled by the environment, town planning and public works ministry, aims at crucial interventions in the sectors of environment and town planning as well as establishment of a national environment and viable development centre and special environmental management agencies.

The inspectors corps will initially inspect more than 12,500 public and regional projects and will operate in the form of a company, entitled "Environmental Inspectors S.A.", and staffed with specialised personnel.

Inspections will be either initiated by the company or conducted at the request of state agencies or based on reports by individuals, while hefty fines will reportedly be imposed for violations.

Athens News Agency

[08] Kostov in Athens next week

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Kostov has been invited by Premier Costas Simitis, with whom he will discuss bilateral issues and the general situation in the region.

Athens News Agency

[09] Klima in Greece for private visit

VIENNA, 20/8/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

On Saturday, the Austrian chancellor and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, his host, will pay a visit to the autonomous Mount Athos monastic community.

Athens News Agency

[10] Souflias-PASOK cooperation denied

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

A press release stressed that the former main opposition New Democracy (ND) minister and long-time cadre has made clear-cut statements on the issue both in the past and recently.

Mr. Souflias was expelled from ND earlier this year.

Athens News Agency

[11] Taxi driver overcharges tourist 25 times

Athens, 20/8/1998 (ANA)

"Overcharging tourists arriving at the airport is a common problem but it's the first time anyone has dared to ask for so much more," a police official said.

Kelly Jane Smith, 23, was duped into paying 38,500 drachmas for a 1.6-km ride that should not cost more than 1,500 drachmas, police said.

The driver, who had not put on his meter, was arrested after Smith picked him out of a police book of photographs of taxi drivers that frequent the airport. (Reuters)

Athens News Agency

[12] Economic News

Greek stocks rise again in wake of rebound abroad: Equities gained more ground on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday following a recovery in international markets.

The general index ended 2.21 percent higher at 2,701.46 points in active trade with turnover at 51.6 billion drachmas, sharply up on recent daily averages.

Traders said buying focused on stocks in the banking sector, which soared 2.62 percent. Sector indices were mixed. Insurance fell 0.25 percent, Investment rose 0.59 percent, Leasing was 0.05 percent higher, Industrials increased 1.87 percent, Construction was 1.37 percent up, Miscellaneous fell 0.89 percent and Holding eased 0.19 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies fell 0.99 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index jumped 2.73 percent higher to 1,655.25.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 138 to 105 with another 20 issues unchanged. Bank of Central Greece, Ionian Hotels, Etma, Eskimo, Desmos, Remek and Commercial Investments scored the biggest percentage gains.

NEL, Britannia, Constantinidis, Alkar, Macedonian Plastics, Xylemporia and Keranis suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 52,950 drachmas, Ergobank at 31,790, Alpha Credit Bank at 27,050, Ionian Bank at 17,990, Hellenic Telecoms at 8,100, Delta Dairy at 3,790, Intracom at 13,100, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,875 and Titan Cement at 22,010 drachmas.

Greek eurodeputy asks EU to harmonise social spending: A Greek eurodeputy yesterday called on the European Union to harmonise the level of social spending among member states in order to eliminate a two-speed Europe for workers.

In a question to the 15-nation bloc's executive Commission, Alekos Alavanos of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos), backed his argument with an EU report on expenditure for social protection and unemployment benefit that revealed wide discrepancies among member states.

According to the report, spending fluctuates from 20 percent of gross domestic product in Ireland, ranking last, to 36 percent for Sweden, at the top of the league.

Greece, ranking second to last, spends 21 percent of GDP on social spending.

In the category of average unemployment benefit in relation to wages, Greece ranks lowest at 25 percent, in sharp contrast to Denmark at 80 percent, Portugal at 75 percent, France at 73 percent and Germany at 65 percent.

Mr. Alavanos pointed out that for 35 percent of households in the EU, social benefits accounted for the main source of income.

Without the benefits, 40 percent of households would fall into the poverty bracket, he said.

Agreement for decrease in motor oil prices: The retail sales price of motor oils will drop by 10 per cent as of Sept. 7 after an agreement was reached yesterday between the development ministry and oil companies' representatives.

In addition, the development ministry recently announced that a reduction in the price of automobile spare parts will be in the region of 10 to 15 per cent.

Athens News Agency

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