Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] Klima: EU accession talks with Cyprus, other candidates to begin in Nov.

[02] Ionian Bank, Greece's oldest, goes on the block Monday

[03] Researchers point to faulty checks for Down's Syndrome in Greece

[04] Two Albanians arrested on drug smuggling charges

[05] Low success rate recorded for recent teachers' appointment exam

[06] Greek stocks end lower, market awaits Ionian Bank sale outcome

[07] Gov't dismisses Turkish press reports

[08] US embassy in Nicosia tightens security

[01] Klima: EU accession talks with Cyprus, other candidates to begin in Nov.

VIENNA, 22/8/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

The Austrian chancellor arrived yesterday afternoon at Thessaloniki's "Macedonia" Airport for a three-day private visit, being greeted by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos and Alternate Foreign Minister Giorgos Papandreou.

In brief statements at the airport, he reiterated his country's adherence to decisions taken at the Luxembourg EU summit regarding the Union's relations with Turkey and the EU's intention to start accession negotiations with Cyprus and the other candidate-countries in November.

In the Vienna interview, Mr. Klima said he looked forward to his talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, which he said would "further deepen the traditionally very good relations" between the two countries.

He said that among the priorities of his country's EU presidency were "the issue of employment and achieving specific progress in the implementation of the European strategy on employment".

He added that there was room for "more intensive cooperation between Greece and Austria on such matters, which concern the populations of both countries".

The Austrian chancellor also expressed a belief that Greece and Austria could together, and in collaboration with their other EU partners, solve various problems much better than they could alone, adding that this was one of the reasons for their EU membership.

Mr. Klima said that nothing had changed in Austria's stance regarding Eu- Turkey relations. He said the EU summit decisions of Luxembourg and Cardiff had clarified that while Turkey did have a European prospect, "specific steps need to be taken for materialisati on ofthe European strategy on Turkey in complete harmony with all the EU partners".

In addition, the Austrian EU presidency did not see any change in the basic parametres of the Cyprus issue, Mr. Klima said, adding that further efforts needed to be made for a peaceful solution to the problem based on relevant UN Security Council resolu tions, while he noted his country's support for the UN Secretary General's efforts.

Mr. Klima stressed that the Austrian EU presidency would seek an improvement in EU-Turkey relations and would especially try to convince the Turkish Cypriot population and leaders and Ankara that Cyprus' EU accession would be to their benefit.

He expressed hope and a conviction that very soon Greece's efforts for full participation in the third stage of Ecnomic and Monetary Union (EMU) with the establishment of the common European currency 'euro' would be successful.

Mr. Klima said he believed that a common currency would substantially increase economic stability in Europe and contribute to the long-term ensurance of prosperity for Austria and the other EU member-states.

He further said the formulation and development of an EU common external policy and security policy needed to be advanced with greater emphasis in the coming years, and expressed belief that it would someday become a reality.

The Austrian chancellor warned of the negative consequences of a prospective change in the EU's structure at the expense of the small member-states and in favour of the larger members. He said the proceedings of the Intergovernmental Con-ference and the ensuing Treaty of Amsterdam showed that that danger was widely recognised, adding that the balances needed to be maintained between the smaller and larger states, and that the EU was something much more than just a free trade zone.

Mr. Klima said he believed that Austria's expectations from its EU membership had been fulfilled to a great degree. In general, he said, Austria's participation in the EU was supported now, just as before accession, by a clearcut majority of the population who saw that, even as a small country, Austria could more effectively advance its issues and co- formulate decision-taking procedures.

Balkans policy: Turning to the Balkans, Mr. Klima noted the example of the cooperation between an Austrian army unit and a Greek military contingent in the multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, whi-ch he said was an exceptional contribution to ensuring peace and stability in the Balkans.

Such examples, he added, could show the people of the region that there certainly was a prospect for a peaceful future there.

Meeting with Simitis: Accompanied later by Premier Simitis, who received him at a local waterfront hotel, Mr. Klima visited in the evening the city's archaeological and Byzantine museums. The two leaders are scheduled to visit the more than 1,000 years-old monastic community of Mount Athos.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis is expected to brief the Austrian chancellor on Greek national issues and Greek-Turkish relations, while talks will also focus on items to be discussed at an unofficial EU summit set for Oct. 24- 25 in Pšrtschach and at the Dec. 11-12 summit in Vienna, marking the end of the Austrian presidency. "Mr. Klima is visiting Greece for discussions on European Union (EU) issues, particularly on issues that will be on the agenda during the extraordinary summit at the end of October," Mr. Simitis said, adding:

"His visit, however, does not only have this character, it is a friendly visit. We will go to Mount Athos so that he can be introduced to this aspect of Hellenism and ChristianityIour visit here aims at projecting the significance of Thessaloniki and the significance of northern Greece for the Balkans and the EU".

According to sources, while in Thessaloniki the Greek premier will also meet with PASOK deputies and cadres to discuss issues pertaining to the upcoming municipal and prefectural elections.

Athens News Agency

[02] Ionian Bank, Greece's oldest, goes on the block Monday

Athens, 22/8/1998 (ANA)

Ionian's major shareholder, state-owned Commercial Bank, decided earlier in the year to sell its majority stake amid widespread mobilisations by striking employees.

Press reports have focused on two major contenders for the package, Alpha Credit Bank and Eurobank in collaboration with Ergobank, while the possibility of a third bidder has not been discounted.

Ionian, the sixth largest bank in Greece in 1997, maintains 223 bran-ches around the country P 86 in the greater Athens area P one in London and one in Sofia.

The bank's assets stand at about 2.2 trillion drachmas, while as of Dec. 31, 1997 deposits stood at 1.7 trillion drachmas and net profits reached 775 million drachmas. At the end of 1997 the bank's payroll included 4,217 employees.

Furthermore, Ionian is active through subsidiaries in various financial services, with Ionian Stockbrokers, Ionian Finance, Ionian Leasing, Ionian Educational and Ionian Hotel Enterpises, the owner of the Athens Hilton.

According to reports, the real estate holdings of Ionian's subsidiaries are one of the bank's major attractions for the bidders.

Ionian was established in Corfu in 1839 and operated only in the seven Ionian islands until their 1864 union with Greece.

In 1864, the bank opened branches in Athens and Patra, while in 1939 it bought-out the majority share of Popular Bank of Greece. In January 1958 the two banks merged, creating the Ionian and Popular Bank of Greece, while in 1986 the bank changed its name back to Ionian.

Athens News Agency

[03] Researchers point to faulty checks for Down's Syndrome in Greece

Athens, 22/8/1998 (ANA)

Medical researchers specialising in the study of Down's Syndrome underlined that many positive results are the result of a faulty method of checking for the disease, as data from other western nations used to in cross- checking blood samples is often skewed.

According to Bulgarian professor V. Dimitrova, her research has showed that the high percentage of false test results is due to the indicators and relevant medical software used for the tests, determined by foreign pharmaceutical companies (mainly in Britain) and based on haematological data prevailing in that particular country. She cited varying dietary habits with accompanying different blood content indicators.

As a result, many tests for Down's Syndrome on pregnant women come back positive, leading to aimless, painful and costly further tests, she said.

To eliminate false test results and avoid putting pregnant women through additional discomfort, researchers suggested that mass diagnosis centres define indicators for Down's Syndrome tests to better match local populations.

Athens News Agency

[04] Two Albanians arrested on drug smuggling charges

Athens, 22/8/1998 (ANA)

According to press sources, authorities two months ago received information that Albanian drug traffickers were using a speedboat to smuggle large quantities of the drugs into the country via the west coast of Corfu or southern Thesprotia prefecture.

Late yesterday night, police following a suspect arrested both him and another man. Police said the two Albanians were found to be in possession of 153 kilos of hashish wrapped in 17 packets.

They were identified as Stara Bakiou, 27, a permanent resident of Corfu, and Thanasi Naso, a construction worker from Sarande.

In an unrelated incident, five illegal immigrants from Albania, four of them minors, have been arrested in a rural area of Florina prefecture in northern Greece after being found in possession of 1.3 kilos of hashish.

Only Lupo Erman, 18, was named by police, since the other four are all 15 years old.

The five were spotted by a joint army and police patrol near the community of Kelli, Florina yesterday evening.

The hashish was found in a plastic bag which they were carrying. All five are expected to appear before a public prosecutor today.

Athens News Agency

[05] Low success rate recorded for recent teachers' appointment exam

The Supreme Council for Personnel Recruitment (ASEP) is concerned over the low success rate exhibited during a nationwide examination earlier this year for appointment of public school teachers.

ASEP announced that about 800 posts at schools around the country will be filled by temporary personnel.

Meanwhile, the education ministry is considering the possibility of a new recruitment exam regarding six categories of teachers for later in the year.

One particularly bleak figure was the results among unappointed physics teachers, since out of 1,643 who took the exam only eight posted a passing score.

In an unrelated development, the ministry is expected to announce the base scores for entrance into the Greek universities and higher education institutions by the end of next week.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greek stocks end lower, market awaits Ionian Bank sale outcome

Athens, 22/8/1998 (ANA)

Traders said that a price fall in the last two sessions of the week did not change a prevailing positive climate in the market as investors seemed discounting a successful procedure in the sale of a majority stake in Ionian Bank. The share price of Comm rcial Bank, Ionian's major shareholder, scored substantial gains leading a rise in bank stocks.

The general index ended 1.39 percent off at 2,638.14 points, to show a net gain of 2.20 percent in the week. The index stands 78.30 percent higher from the start of the year.

Analysts expect the market to break the 3,000 level following a successful outcome in the country's largest bank privatisation. Also, fading concerns over the situation in international markets and a steady improvement in Greece's macro-economic figures (inflation, interest rates, revenues) combined with higher corporate profitability were expected to encourage sentiment.

Several foreign financial institutions, like ABN AMRO, Warburg Dillon Read and Deutsche Bank, underlined recently the Greek market's positive prospects suggesting investments in Greek blue-chips.

However, analysts warned that failure in the sale of Ionian Bank could negatively affect the market in the short-term.

Sector indices were lower. Banks fell 1.83 percent to show a 3.53 percent gain in the week, Insurance eased 0.11 percent, Investment ended 1.30 percent off, Leasing dropped 1.35 percent, Industrials fell 0.83 percent to a 2.32 percent weekly loss, Construction ended 1.43 percent off, Miscellaneous ended 1.50 percent down and Holding rose 0.77 percent. The parallel market index ended 0.96 percent off while the FTSE/ASE 20 index dropped 1.62 percent to 1,614.68.

Trading was heavy with turnover at 55.7 billion drachmas. The week's turnover totalled 231.87 billion drachmas or a daily average of 46.38 billion, down from 51.6 billion the previous week. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 163 to 64 with another 21 issues unchanged.

Giannousis, Allatini, Alcar-Aemet, Britannia, Klonatex, Boutaris, Athinea, Kambas, Etma and Ippotour scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Keranis, Klaoudatos, Bank of Central Greece, Hellenic Mills, Dimitriadis, NEL and Mesochoritis suffered the heaviest losses. National Bank of Greece ended at 52,300 drachmas, Ergobank at 29,900, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,170, Ionian Bank at 17,490, Hellenic Telecoms at 7,955, Delta Dairy at 3,680, Intracom at 12,600, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,835 and Titan Cement at 21, 680.

Athens News Agency

[07] Gov't dismisses Turkish press reports

NICOSIA, 22/8/1998 (ANA/CNA)

"The said articles appear to be untrue and this is also reflected in statements by the US envoy for Cyprus", government spokesman Christos Stylianides said.

Mr. Stylianides said the government's assessment is also based on contacts it had with the US embassy here and specific reports in prestigious American newspapers which reflect Mr. Miller's views. Ankara is said to have turned down Mr. Miller's proposal for a no-fly zone over Cyprus in exchange for the cancellation by the Cyprus government of an order to deploy Russian surface-to-air missiles.

Press reports added that Ankara also rejected a proposal to drop its demand for the recognition of the illegal regime in Turkish -occupied Cyprus in return for a suspension of talks between the EU and Cyprus.

Mr. Stylianides underlined that "according to EU decisions Cyprus' accession course is a completely separate issue to the resumption of peace negotiations".

"We are not prepared to give Mr. Denktash anything in exchange to see him return to the negotiating table", he added. Mr. Stylianides said the Turkish Cypriot leader has to comply with UN Security Council resolutions and the appeals of the international community to return to the negotiating table without preconditions or terms.

Athens News Agency

[08] US embassy in Nicosia tightens security

NICOSIA, 22/8/1998 (ANA/CNA)

"The US embassy is taking appropriate security measures in light of recent events", an embassy spokesman told CNA here yesterday.

The spokesman said that "without going into details there have been enhancements taken and security precautions".

"We are satisfied with the excellent cooperation we have received from local authorities", the spokesman added. The air raids came a week after 263 people, including American citizens, were killed in two bomb attacks against the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Athens News Agency

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