Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] Croatia's President Tudjman begins first visit to Greece

[02] Bourse to be privatised, then listed in first-half of '99

[03] Domestic railways join Euro-strike

[04] Athens bus, trolley workers to stage stoppages Tuesday-Friday

[05] Stocks end higher in active trade

[06] Nikas posts 40 pct rise in Jan-Sept pre-tax profits

[07] Eurodeputy urges wider use of renewable energy

[08] Money, forex markets lacklustre ahead of bond auction

[09] ELVAL posts 86.3 pct profit jump Jan-Sept

[10] Karamanlis meets with GSEE presidium

[11] Simitis meets with Athens Mayor today

[12] Prince Charles meets with President Stephanopoulos

[13] Southern EU states reject spending freeze

[14] Turkey needs human rights to enter EU,Germany says

[15] Greece, Egypt hold first ever joint military exercise

[16] Turkish ambassador tours the northeast

[17] UNICEF's Greek section sends aid to Mitch victims

[18] Turkish map shows Greek islands as Turkish

[19] Gov't rules out early polls

[20] Greek,Turkish businesses debate handling political crises

[21] Three killed in tanker fire

[22] Angelopoulos wins barrage of prizes at festival

[23] Weather to improve as of today

[24] Creation of SE European force at its final stage

[25] Pangalos' letter to Albright on S-300 missiles

[26] Patriarch says Istanbul Greeks to stay put

[27] Christodoulos meets Petros of Alexandria

[28] Use of addictive substances among youth increases

[01] Croatia's President Tudjman begins first visit to Greece

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Greece and Croatia's foreign ministers later signed accords on combatting the narcotics trade, terrorism and organised crime and on cooperation in the tourism sector.

Mr. Tudjman met with President Stephanopoulos and both officials said there was room for improvement in bilateral relations, particularly in trade and the economy.

The situation in the Balkans,and particularly in Kosovo, were the focus of talks between the two presidents and delegations from their countries.

Taking part in the talks on the Greek side were the ministers of foreign affairs, merchant marine and transport and communications; and the deputy minister of national economy.

In statements to reporters after their meeting, the Greek president called Mr. Tudjman "the father of Croatian independence" and underlined his contribution to his country and to the cause of peace.

Mr. Tudjman said that Greece had a major role to play in the resolution of the Yugoslav crisis and that Croatia and Greece would continue to work towards a satisfactory answer to the problems in Bosnia and Kosovo.

He also expressed hope that Greece would contribute to plans to construct a highway linking southern and central Europe along the Adriatic coast.

Particular emphasis was laid on the Adriatic Highway project, which will link Croatia to Greece and pass through Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Slovenia, Italy and Austria during Mr. Tudjman's talks with Mr. Simitis.

The project, based on an idea first put forward by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, will be the focus of a meeting of the foreign, public works and transport ministers of both countries in the first-half of 1999, a statement issued after Mr. Simitis and Mr. Tudjman's mee ting said.

Both sides agreed on the need to use the excellent relations between the two countries to strengthen ties in the economic and trade sectors, and both agreed that economic growth depended on an improvement in infrastructure.

The two leaders said they would promote the ambitious infrastructure project as being in the interests of the countries involved.

In statements to reporters, the Greek prime minister said Greece supported Croatia's efforts to fall into step with European and NATO institutions and procedures, and reiterated the Greek stance that the European Union had to gradually extend to all of Europe in order to achieve stability and economic cooperation.

President hosts dinner : President Stephanopoulos gave an official dinner in honour of Mr. Tudjman last night.

In a toast, the President expressed his conviction that law will prevail in conflicts between states, adding that Greece's cooperation will be widened "with the countries in our immediate neighbourhood, with no exception."

He referred to Turkish aggression in the Aegean and Cyprus, saying: "We have put forward the need for respect for international law and international agreements which, unfortunately, has not met with a response from the other side, obliging us to mainta in a capable deterrent force for whatever action against us."

The President also reiterated Greece's support for Croatia's accession to Euro-Atlantic organisations and said that the Greek side had proposed, and Croatia had responded, to the construction of a modern motorway, the Dalmatian motorway, along the country's western coast.

Meetings with party leaders : The Croatian president earlier met with main opposition ND party leader Costas Karamanlis, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) politbureau member Orestis Kolozov, Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) leader Nikos Constantopoulos and Democratic Social Move ment (DHKKI) President Dimitris Tsovolas.

Talks focused on the situation in the Balkan peninsula and the eastern Mediterranean as well as on prospects for European Union canditate members.

Athens News Agency

[02] Bourse to be privatised, then listed in first-half of '99

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Bourse president Spyros Kouniakis told a news conference yesterday that on sale are 750,000 stocks representing 15 percent of share capital, which follows a previous offer of 39.7 percent in holdings.

The state, which currently owns 60.3 percent of the bourse, will hold less than 50 percent after the latest share sale, leading to a majority privatisation.

It will, however, retain supervision of the stock exchange.

Eligible to buy stock are brokerages, investment companies, mutual fund managers, insurance firms, state health and pension funds and enterprises already listed.

Bids will be accepted on November 25-27 by the share offer's financial consultants - National Investment Bank for Industrial Development and Alpha Finance.

The bourse's share price will range between 14,000 drachmas and 17,000 drachmas. The previous sale was held at 11,500 drachmas.

Beyond the state, the current owners of the bourse are banks (22.8 percent), listed companies (5.5 percent), brokerages (3.1 percent), health and pension funds (3.0 percent), mutual fund managers (2.4 percent), insurance firms (1.6 percent), and investm ent companies (1.4 percent).

The Athens Stock Exchange posted profits of 5.5 billion drachmas in the first half of 1998.

Initial plans to list the bourse were nipped in the bud as it was not legally permissible for the institution, as the supervisor of transactions, to have its own shares traded.

But the latest plan being studied to overcome the problem is to unify the bourse's profitable subsidiaries into one firm for listing that will exclude the core of the bourse as a supervisory body, market sources told the Athens News Agency.

The scheme would allow listing and ensure the autonomy of the bourse in handling and monitoring transactions.

Athens News Agency

[03] Domestic railways join Euro-strike

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Staff of Hellenic Railways Organisation allowed several trains to run in order to handle emergency traffic. Railway services were halted in Greece, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Luxembourg.

Athens News Agency

[04] Athens bus, trolley workers to stage stoppages Tuesday-Friday

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[05] Stocks end higher in active trade

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.54 percent up at 2,477.26 points, sharply off the day's highs that initially took the market 1.60 percent higher.

Buying interest turned from blue chips to small and medium-sized cap firms, propelling many stocks to the daily upper volatility limit of 8.0 percent.

Trading was active with turnover staying robust at 62.1 billion drachmas. Volume was 14,835,000 shares.

Sector indices scored gains. Banks rose 0.28 percent, Leasing ended 0.15 percent up, Insurance increased 1.65 percent, Construction soared 3.0 percent, Industrials rose 0.64 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.31 percent up, Holding jumped 2.84 percent, but Investment bucked the trend to end 0.23 percent off.

The parallel market index for small cap companies surged 3.24 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 164 to 84 with another 14 issues unchanged.

Strintzis Lines, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation, Hellenic Petroleum and Attica Enterprises were the most heavily traded stocks.

European Credit, Sato, Sidenor, Diekat, Nireas, Selonda, Galis, Epiphania, Xifias, Levenderis, Sanyo, NEL Lines and Riopesca hit the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Dimitriadis and Xylemporia hit the daily 8.0 percent limit down, followed by Radio Athina, Technodomi, St. George Flour Mills, Rocas, Intrasoft, Ergas and Kalpinis, which all suffered heavy losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 49,650 drachmas, Ergobank at 27,625, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,290, Ionian Bank at 12,300, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 7,230, Delta Dairy at 3,830, Intracom at 13,750, Titan Cement at 19,850, Hellenic Petro leum at 2,380 and Minoan Lines at 6,600 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[06] Nikas posts 40 pct rise in Jan-Sept pre-tax profits

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Sales totalled 15.4 billion drachmas, up 21 percent from 12.7 billion in the same-period of 1997.

The Nikas Group attributed its profit growth to sound strategic decisions and the promotion of new products.

Company executives expect sales and profits to rise at the same pace in the last quarter of 1998.

Athens News Agency

[07] Eurodeputy urges wider use of renewable energy

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Addressing a news conference on an upcoming conference in Athens on renewable energy, Mr. Lambrias said that the rise in use would benefit both the economy and the environment.

Backing Mr. Lambrias' viewpoint were academics who are experts in the field.

The conference on national priorities for renewable energy and strategies in Europe will be held on November 30-December 2, organised by the National Technical University of Athens.

Among the speakers are Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and Public Works, Environment and Town Planning Minister Costas Laliotis.

Athens News Agency

[08] Money, forex markets lacklustre ahead of bond auction

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Traders were awaiting Wednesday's regular intervention by the Bank of Greece in the money market, with a turning point seen if the rate drops.

In the secondary bond market prices fell slightly in light trade with long- term issues dropping 10-20 basis points.

The 10-year bond was at 106.85-106.90 and the 15-year bond at 101.95.

Traders said the decline was a fairly usual reaction by the market ahead of auctions of state securities.

They expected the 250 billion drachma bond issue to be absorbed, despite the size of the amount, and thought a new decline in yield was likely.

Despite a recent fall in bond yields, interbank rates remained at high levels because of lack of liquidity and the Bank of Greece's tight monetary policy. The overnight rate was around 12.20 percent.

The drachma remained significantly higher than its central ERM parity.

The Bank of Greece intervened in yesterday's daily fixing in order to contain the national currency's advance.

At the fixing the Ecu was at 330 drachmas, the DMark at 167.93 drachmas and the US dollar at 286.03 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[09] ELVAL posts 86.3 pct profit jump Jan-Sept

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Turnover was 81.6 billion drachmas in the same period, ELVAL said in a news release.

The company announced that it had completed an 11-billion-drachma investment programme, including a continual smelting rolling line for the production of very thin foil used in liquid foods packaging.

Athens News Agency

[10] Karamanlis meets with GSEE presidium

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The meeting, also attended by relevant ND officials, focused on taxation issues, unemployment and funds which are not used to tackle the problem, as well as the question of social expenditures.

A GSEE representative said that there was no response to their demands by the government, while on taxation an identity of views was ascertained in principle between the trade unionists and ND.

ND supports the view that the tax-free amount should be increased to two million drachmas and the taxation system should become simpler and fairer.

The government's income policy was also discussed at the meeting.

The main opposition party says that Greece's entry into Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) will not mean a solution to problems since convergence will be nominal and not real.

Athens News Agency

[11] Simitis meets with Athens Mayor today

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Municipalities are threatening with strikes before the Christmas Holidays in the event they are not paid 64 billion drachmas immediately, which they claim that they are owed by the state budget.

They have also announced exorbitant increases in municipal dues on an average of 20-25 per cent in Attica and lower in rural areas.

In some cases they will reach 48 per cent. However, some municipalities will go ahead with single-digit increases, such as the Athens municipality.

On the part of the government, Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos has made it clear that municipalities would receive the entire amount due to them from the state budget in 1998 which amounts to 51 billion drachmas, terming amounts of 60 or more billion drachmas "imaginary."

Athens Newsd Agency Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

ATHENS FCOREIGN EXCHANGE

Bank of Greece closing rates of: November 23,1998

Parities in Drachmas Banknotes Buying Selling US Dollar 283.742 290.320 Can.Dollar 183.361 187.613 Australian Dlr 182.042 186.263 Pound Sterling 469.295 480.176 Irish Punt 414.656 424.270 Pound Cyprus 563.952 577.027 Pound Malta 711.789 741.447 Turkish pound (100) 0.087 0.091 French franc 49.671 50.823 Swiss franc 201.961 206.644 Belgian franc 8.075 8.263 German Mark 166.587 170.449 Finnish Mark 54.784 56.054 Dutch Guilder 147.719 151.144 Danish Kr. 43.807 44.822 Swedish Kr. 35.061 35.874 Norwegian Kr. 37.865 38.743 Austrian Sh. 23.679 24.228 Italian lira (100) 16.820 17.210 Yen (100) 233.973 239.398 Spanish Peseta 1.958 2.004 Port. Escudo 1.624 1.662 Banknotes Buying Selling New York 283.742 290.320 Montreal 183.361 187.613 Sydney 182.042 186.263 London 469.295 480.176 Dublin 414.656 424.270 Nicosia 563.952 577.027 Paris 49.671 50.823 Zurich 201.961 206.644 Brussels 8.075 8.263 Frankfurt 166.587 170.449 Helsinki 54.784 56.054 Amsterdam 147.719 151.144 Copenhagen 43.807 44.822 Stockholm 35.061 35.874 Oslo 37.865 38.743 Vienna 23.679 24.228 Milan 16.820 17.210 Tokyo 233.973 239.398 Madrid 1.958 2.004 Lisbon 1.624 1.662

Athens News Agency

[12] Prince Charles meets with President Stephanopoulos

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The British heir-to-the-throne, who arrived in Athens on Sunday evening, met with President Kostis Stephanopoulos yesterday and toured the Acropolis in the afternoon, accompanied by Greek culture minister Evangelos Venizelos.

The culture minister said he told the Prince that the British government should "make a brave move and return the Parthenon marbles to Greece".

Prince Charles was later awarded the Gold Key to the City by Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos during a special ceremony at the Athens Town Hall .

On bestowing the city's medal on the Prince of Wales, Mr. Avramopoulos requested his support for a return of the Parthenon Marbles, saying:

"The time has come for the monuments of Athenian civilisation to return to the place which has been preparing for exactly this reason - the new Acropolis museum".

Following the ceremony, Charles, Mr. Avramopoulos and the British envoy to Athens toured the Athens Cultural Centre's exhibition of British artists "12 for 2000".

Earlier, the Prince of Wales visited the British School of Archaeology where he spoke with students and planted an olive tree in the school's grounds.

Later, he inaugurated a new British Council education centre.

He flies to Crete today to visit the Knossos archaeological site.

Athens News Agency

[13] Southern EU states reject spending freeze

BRUSSELS 24/11/1998 (ANA - M.Spinthourakis)

The Austrian presidency proposed the measure in order to satisfy a demand by wealthier member-states for a reduction in their contribution to the EU's budget.

Speaking for Greece, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said:

"If some people believe that reaching the final phase of economic and monetary union should be achieved on the basis of divergence, and not convergence, of member-states' economies, they are seriously mistaken."

He added that the proposal for the freeze will result in the abandonment of efforts to achieve economic and social convergence within the EU, one of the 15-nation bloc's most basic aims.

Mr. Papantoniou said that talks on the EU's fiscal prospects ahead of enlargement would be tough but he added that Greece was adamant that the contribution of each state should be based on the per capita income of its citizens.

Replying to reporters' questions, the minister said that Greece would enter the Euro-zone on exclusively economic criteria, and not based on its stance on a financial protocol between the EU and Turkey.

Mr. Papantoniou said that a manifesto by the EU's 11 socialist economy ministers contained many of the ruling PASOK party's policies.

Since the socialists were a clear majority among the EU's member-state governments, the policies had acceptance on issues such as unemployment, social spending and economic and social convergence.

Finally, he said the manifesto was in line with fiscal discipline and would act as a base for victory by the EU's socialist parties in the next Europarliament elections.

Athens News Agency

[14] Turkey needs human rights to enter EU,Germany says

BONN 24/11/1998 (ANA - P. Stagos)

In an interview to the German newspaper "General Anzeigen", the minister said: "If Turkey wants to be a candidate country, it is a candidate. It has, however, a central problem with human rights and democracy. It also has a special problem with Greece, which focuses on the issues of the Cyprus and Aegean.

"We are expending effort on achieving a significant improvement in our relations with Turkey after they dramatically worsened through statements (by Helmut Kohl)", he added.

In March 1997 former Chancellor Helmut Kohl had noted religious and cultural differences in Turkey, which made it incompatible with the European Union.

Mr. Fischer also said: "The EU is not a religious community, but a community of values and interests. There are specific preconditions for accession: the adoptation of the EU's justice system, the application of the Copenhagen decisions regarding human rights the protection of minorities, the state of justice and democracy. Turkey knows that. However I do not think that Trukey should be excluded from having prospects in Europe..."

Athens News Agency

[15] Greece, Egypt hold first ever joint military exercise

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The naval exercise, codenamed "Alexandria '98", will be held off the coast of Alexanrdia from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2.

The exercise aims to boost relations between the two nations' navies and promote operational cooperation.

Two frigates from each country will take part in the manoeuvre with any supplementary vessels or forces to be decided during the exercise.

Athens News Agency

[16] Turkish ambassador tours the northeast

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The press release noted that Mr. Tuygan will pay a courtesy call on the region's leadership, and on the Turkish consul in Komotini, Rodopi.

Athens News Agency

[17] UNICEF's Greek section sends aid to Mitch victims

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The hurricane has left an estimated 3.5 million casualties facing problems of survival and disease, especially children.

UNICEF is taking measures to provide psychological assistance to children, purify drinking water and reorganise health services.

Athens News Agency

[18] Turkish map shows Greek islands as Turkish

ISTANBUL 24/11/1998 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The booklet, which was handed out to foreign delegations taking part in celebrations for the anniversary, was described in yesterday's edition of the Turkish newspaper "Turkish Daily News" as scandalous.

According to the newpaper, a map in the booklet also contained further geographical distortions as it showed Iraq in Iran's location and Armenia in Azerbaijan's place.

Athens News Agency

[19] Gov't rules out early polls

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a recent speech to the ruling PASOK party's Central Committee had set as priorities the PASOK congress, Euroelections, entry into European economic and monetary union (EMU) and national elections.

He added that the government had no reason to call early elections as progress towards EMU was sound.

The government's policy was not solely aimed at achieving entry into EMU but also at strengthening Greece by lowering deficits, inflation and interest rates.

Asked about a policy of giving "a gift" to public utilites (DEKO) by writing off their debts, Mr. Reppas replied that the government did not "make donations".

The scheme was an accounting arrangement to deal with outstanding issues, he said.

Athens News Agency

[20] Greek,Turkish businesses debate handling political crises

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

It was the first such meeting of entrepreneurs from all the Aegean islands.

On the Greek side, participants included chamber officials and business executives; and on the Turkish side, 180 business officials headed by Ismir Chamber president Ekmer Demiraz.

Apart from economic cooperation, participants also held sessions on political interventions and initiatives.

A decision was taken for the meeting to be held every six months in Greece and Turkey.

An intervention that Turkish officials said they would embark on in coming weeks will centre on a recent row between Greece and Turkey involving the Halki School of Theology, whose board was sacked by Turkish authorites without adequate reason earlier this month.

Another session at the event examined political matters concerning improvement in Greek-Turkish relations.

A resolution passed during the meeting - which also hailed Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou's statements in favour of the meeting - stressed that peace, friendship and cooperation in the Aegean were necessary for prosperity and social development.

Athens News Agency

[21] Three killed in tanker fire

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Authorities said the bodies were so badly burnt that a positive identification was nearly impossible.

A spokesman for the Thessaloniki port authority told the ANA that the Piraeus-based "Aghios Georgios" tug had rushed to assist firefighting efforts at the "Golden Crete" tanker, owned by the Vardinoyiannis Group. The fire quickly spread to the tugboat, which ran aground one mile off the port of Thessaloniki.

The tugboat braved gale force winds and low visibility to extinguish the fire on the tanker, which was carrying 23 tons of gasoline, the spokesman said.

Another harbor authority spokesman later quoted a crew member from the tanker as saying that the fire broke out aboard the tugboat first and spread to the Golden Crete as it was guiding it into port.

The Thessaloniki port authority said the fire on the tanker had been placed fully under control and consequently there was no danger of its gasoline cargo catching fire.

Athens News Agency

[22] Angelopoulos wins barrage of prizes at festival

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Angelopoulos' picture received the best film, direction, script, music, second female role, costume and stage-designing awards.

Constantine Yiannaris' film "From the edge of the city" won second best film award, while Menelaos Karamangiolis' "Blackout" won the third best picture award.

Athens News Agency

[23] Weather to improve as of today

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

The storm that hit the capital at around 9 a.m. was accompanied by thunder, lightning and low cloud. An Olympic Aviation flight for Kastoria and another two to Syros were cancelled.

One report said that winds were so strong that it had moved an empty Boeing 727 parked on the runway some 15 metres.

In Thessaloniki, gale force winds uprooted trees and brought down billboards on parked cars causing traffic jams.

Fire brigade officials in both Athens and Thessaloniki said they had received dozens of calls for assistance from people trapped in lifts due to power surges.

Overnight, the storm struck in the areas of Argos and Nafplion. Fifteen people were freed by fire department officers from cars trapped by swirling waters in Argos, with another 10 saved from their flooded homes.

Schools in the two Peloponnese towns were shut for the day as water levels reached a metre.

Winds had abated somewhat in the Rio-Antirrio region, allowing ferries to resume crossings.

The Meteorological Service said that the weather would start improving markedly as of today.

Athens News Agency

[24] Creation of SE European force at its final stage

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Romania and Turkey will be participating in the multinational force, while the United States and Slovenia will be observers.

In a recent meeting of military experts relevant protocols were discussed and signed concerning the force's headquarters, its administration and the presidency of its political and military committee.

According to the reports, it was agreed that the principle of alternation every four years will apply for the force's headquarters. The force's first country to host its headquarters will be Bulgaria, followed by Romania, Turkey and Greece.

The first presidency of the political and military committee will be assumed by Greece and will be followed by Romania, Turkey, Albania and FYROM.

The period of office of the force's administration and of the committee's presidency will be two years.

The protocols are expected to take on the form of an agreement which will be signed by the defence ministers of participating countries at the end of December in Athens.

Athens News Agency

[25] Pangalos' letter to Albright on S-300 missiles

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Pangalos made the comments while speaking to reporters.

The Sunday newspaper "To Vima" said that Mr. Pangalos's letter called on Ms Albright to assist in finding a way out of the impasse that has arisen over the issue of the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles on Cyprus.

Turkey has openly threatened to take out the missiles if they are deployed. Nicosia says they are purely for defensive use.

The issue of the missiles will be the focus of a meeting tromorrow between the ministers of foreign affairs and defence and the prime minister.

The issue is expected to be discussed during Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides's visit to Greece later this week.

Athens News Agency

[26] Patriarch says Istanbul Greeks to stay put

ISTANBUL 24/11/1998 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Mr. Vartholomeos, during the inauguration ceremony for a renovated educational and arts centre in Ferikoy, Istanbul, said that activities at the centre were a showcase for the community's dynamism.

He added that he would draw the attention of the Turkish government to problems faced by the Patriachate and the community during an inter- religious conference in Ankara.

In a related development, the Patriarch awarded the title of the office of the Noble of the First Notary of the Holy Church of Christ to American College Athens branch president, John Bailey.

Athens News Agency

[27] Christodoulos meets Petros of Alexandria

CAIRO 24/11/1998 (ANA - M. Papoustaki)

The two men also discussed the stance of the Orthodox Christian Church at the Theological Dialogue conference, while next month a pan-Orthodox meeting is planned.

Later in the day the Archbishop met with the Coptic Patriarch Senounda.

The Greek prelate visited the ancient tombs, the Sphynx and the 6th century AD church of Agios Georgios in Cairo.

He is expected to arrive in Greece today.

Athens News Agency

[28] Use of addictive substances among youth increases

Athens 24/11/1998 (ANA)

Presenting the results of the studies on students conducted by the Mental Health Institute, speakers said the most worrying aspect about the findings was the increasingly common perception that some substances were harmless.

The increase in the use of cannabis was linked to the increasing numbers of those who believed that its use was harmless, despite the fact that recent studies in the U.S. have shown an adverse effect of cannabis on brain function, Athens University asso ciate professor Anna Kokevi said.

The studies show the use of illegal narcotic substances, and particularly hashish, to have more than doubled among the student population since 1993.

The findings revealed that 18 percent of male students and 10 percent of female students aged 17-18 had tried narcotic substances. Those aged 18-24 , the age group with the highest systematic use, the rates were 32 percent for males and 12 percent for fe males. Marijuana and hashish were reported used by all those who had gone on to other narcotics.

Some 5.0 percent of students reported use of synthetic drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD, a figure that was closely linked to the popularity of nightclubs as a form of entertainment for Greek youth. Experts said that although drug use was mo re prevalent among men, women seemed to be closing the gap over the past 10 years.

Narcotics use was most common in the urban centres of Athens and Thessaloniki, but with a marked increase in many rural towns.

The popularity of cigarettes and alcohol, legal but still addictive, had also not fallen, according to the study. Four in ten students aged 17-18 smoked on a regular basis while in the same age group, 16 percent of boys and 9.0 percent of girls consumed alcohol more than 10 times a month.

Athens News Agency

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