Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-11-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Deputy cenbank governor sees inflation falling to 4.1 pct Dec

[02] Consultations in light of Clerides talks in Athens tomorrow

[03] Israeli defence minister refers to possible Athens-Tel Aviv defence cooperation

[04] Avramopoulos to attend Vienna conference

[05] Fischer in Athens on Dec. 14

[06] Venizelos statement following British press criticism over Parthenon Marbles

[07] Christodoulos mediation in Serbian, FYROM church dispute

[08] Synaspismos hails Rome's decision in Ocalan case

[09] Vartholomeos replies to press question on Ocalan issue

[10] Four charged in fatal tugboat fire

[11] PM on police issues

[12] Reparations issue agains resurfaces

[13] Tsohatzopoulos attends cartography exhibition

[14] Students continue mobilisations against education reform bill

[15] One in 20 Greek children face dyslexia problem

[16] Prefects warn gov't not to cut allocations

[17] Gov't lists firms taking part in anti-inflation price cuts, freeze

[18] Contractors again submit bids for delayed Dr 45 bln project

[19] Hellenic Petroleum completes buyout of Mamidakis

[20] PM to speak at Greek-American chamber economy conference

[21] Gov't to auction 12-M T-bills tomorrow

[22] Central bank keeps intervention rate unchanged

[23] Gov't launches restructuring for exports group

[24] Stocks shed gains in technical correction

[25] Greek, Chinese finance officials debate double taxation

[26] Athens, Commission agree on improving public works system in Greece

[27] PM: heightened monitoring of public works projects occurring

[28] Karamanlis cites 'obsolete fixations' by gov't over state's role, private sector

[29] "Int'l shipping conference in Piraeus commences

[30] SECI agreement on SE Europe transports signed in Athens

[31] Petrol prices drop

[32] Athens Foreign Exchange

[33] Authorities investigate claims that woman sold her 10 infants

[01] Deputy cenbank governor sees inflation falling to 4.1 pct Dec

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The country was making every effort to meet alignment criteria with the European Union that will allow entry into economic and monetary union by the government's target date of January 1, 2001, Mr. Thomopoulos said.

"Greece is no longer an emerging economy, and should not be viewed as such, " he said.

Consumer price inflation in October was 4.7 percent year-on-year, down from 5.2 percent in September.

Although the economy had a poor record in the past, steps were being taken to remove prejudices that still remained. The deputy governor was speaking at a shipping club in Piraeus as part of an international meeting in the port city.

Gov't lists firms taking part in anti-inflation price cuts, freeze (See page 6)

Athens News Agency

[02] Consultations in light of Clerides talks in Athens tomorrow

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Friday's talks are expected to focus on the course of Cyprus' bid to become a full member of the European Union as well as the issue of the Russian- made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, which Nicosia plans to deploy on the island republic.

Nicosia's plans to install the missiles have been criticised by the United States and European Union countries, which say that it will raise tension in the region.

Despite the defensive nature of the Russian missiles, Turkey has openly threatened to prevent their deployment by any means.

According to sources, the various options concerning the missile deployment will be discussed in detail and no final decisions will be taken.

"The discussion will open but not close," a highly-placed government source said.

One of the reasons why no decisions will be taken on Friday is that ultimate responsibility lies with Cyprus' National Council.

At the same time, as both Athens and Nicosia have said in the past, any final decision will also depend on any progress made prior to deployment towards a settlement of the Cyprus problem or steps towards demilitarisation of the island.

Yesterday's meeting was attended by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohadzopoulos, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis.

Cyprus gov't spokesman : NICOSIA (ANA - I. Frangouli) - Cyprus government spokesman Christos Stylianides said in a radio interview yesterday that the focus of Friday's meeting would be current issues related to the Cyprus problem and the cooperation between Athens and Nicosia in dealing with them.

While not ruling out the possibility of armaments issues being discussed, Mr. Stylianides said the decision to install the S-300 missiles could be overturned only by the body which took it, namely the Cyprus National Council.

Athens News Agency

[03] Israeli defence minister refers to possible Athens-Tel Aviv defence cooperation

TEL AVIV 26/11/1998 (ANA - M. Psylos)

Mr. Mordechai, who is expected to arrive in Greece on Dec. 19, said that Israel "wants to build the same cooperation with Greece".

He categorically denied a report in the Turkish daily "Hurriyet" that the secretary general of the Israeli defence ministry reportedly said that "before examining an issue of military cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, Israel will take Turkey's vital interests into consideration."

"They are groundless and do not live up to the truth," the Israeli minister said, repeating that Israel's cooperation with Turkey "is not directed against whatever third country. Nothing has changed in our policy."

Questioned on Ankara's effort to exploit cooperation with Israel and direct it to an anti-Greek or anti-Cypriot direction, Mr. Mordechai said that "nothing has changed in relations between Israel and Turkey at this period. We want to build the same coop eration with Greece."

Mr. Mordechai said that during his visit to Greece he will be discussing naval cooperation between the two countries. He also said that a year ago he had called the Greek ambassador to Tel Aviv and had asked him whether Athens wishes to participate in the joint naval search and rescue exercises in the Mediterranean between Israel, Turkey and the US.

"We decided to conduct the exercises in the Mediterranean all together, but you decided not to participate," he said.

Mr. Mordechai also said that Israel offered to mediate between Greece and Turkey to resolve differences between the two countries.

"I believe that if we can help for a way to be found for the dispute to be resolved we will support it," he said.

Replying to a question regarding Turkey's threats of military reprisals in the event that Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles are deployed on Cyprus, Mr. Mordechai said that "we do not want any threats in our region. It is better for us to find a solution so that there is no crisis in Cyprus.This means that a solution must be found on the negotiating table and not with military measures."

Commenting on the same issue, Israeli foreign ministry officials emphasised that Israel has expressed no official position and neither has it sided with complaints made by other western countries against the deployment of the Russian missiles on Cyprus.

Athens News Agency

[04] Avramopoulos to attend Vienna conference

VIENNA 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The conference will focus on issues of development, environment and the use of European Union funding for the improvement of living conditions.

Athens News Agency

[05] Fischer in Athens on Dec. 14

BONN 26/11/1998 (ANA - P. Stangos)

According to the foreign ministry, which confirmed relevant reports in Germany, Mr. Fischer's agenda in Athens will include, apart from the initiatives and programme of the German presidency, three specific issues, namely, relations between the EU and Turkey; the Aegean (evidently the handling of the problem of disputes raised by Ankara) and the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Fischer's visit will start two days after the end of the Vienna summit on Dec. 11-12, with the first stopover taking place on Dec. 14 and the last on Dec. 18 in Paris.

Mr. Fischer's arrival in Athens will be preceded by a familiarisation with "special" problems on a bilateral level, through talks to be held in Bonn initially on Dec. 1 by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou with his counterpart Gunther Verheug en and Deputy Minister Friedrich von Pletsch, and then on Dec. 7 between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Athens News Agency

[06] Venizelos statement following British press criticism over Parthenon Marbles

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The Greek minister said he has requested of the British ambassador to Athens on several occasions to relay his opinions on the issue to London.

"...as the Greek culture minister I had the obligation to this major monument of western civilisation and international cultural heritage to stress the self-evident to the honoured guest, namely, that this monument is dismembered and that the return of the Marbles of the Parthenon is an open issue which does not only affect the two countries but global civilisation.

"His (the Prince of Wales) sensitivity, expressed through his visit to the monument, is enough for me. I am glad that some people in Britain give so much importance to gentility since there is nothing more noble than the grand gesture of the return of the Marbles of Parthenon in view of the new millennium."

Athens News Agency

[07] Christodoulos mediation in Serbian, FYROM church dispute

BELGRADE 26/11/1998 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

The announcement appeared in a Belgrade daily yesterday, according to which the decision will be forwarded to the Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Greece in writing.

Apparently, Christodoulos' initiative occurred during an unofficial meeting recently between the Archbishop and FYROM church representatives at a border post in Florina prefecture.

The mini-schism dates to 1967, when the FYROM church broke away from the Serbian Orthodox Patriarchate and declared its autonomy.

Athens News Agency

[08] Synaspismos hails Rome's decision in Ocalan case

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Commenting on the issue yesterday, Mr. Constantopoulos said Rome's decision defended both international law and the social, ideological and political values of the social and political leftist movement.

He further underlined that Turkey should realise that issues related to stability, peace, security, human rights and international law were negotiated on the basis of diplomatic and political guarantees given by the international community, while he added that a political procedure to resolve the Kurdish issue has now started.

Athens News Agency

[09] Vartholomeos replies to press question on Ocalan issue

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

"Our grief increases when such actions victimise innocent people, children, women and the elderly", the Patriarch said, adding "We believe that Abdullah Ocalan, who has been active in that direction for years and has caused the death of thousands of people, will answer to God."

The Ecumenical Patriarch, on a visit to Ankara to participate in the annual religious conference organised by the General Directorate of Religious Affairs in Turkey, said that he would meet with Vatican representatives set to visit the Ecumenical Patria rchate next Friday.

Athens News Agency

[10] Four charged in fatal tugboat fire

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The Piraeus-based "Agios Georgios" on Monday rushed to help put out a fire that had broken out aboard the tanker "Golden Crete", owned by the Vardinoyiannis group.

The fire quickly spread to the tugboat, which ran aground one mile from the port of Thessaloniki.

The fire aboard the tanker, which was carrying a cargo of gasoline, was in the meantime placed under control.

Three charred bodies were pulled from the burning tugboat and a fourth crew member of the tug was presumed dead.

The four persons on trial are the captain and second mate of the "Golden Crete", Eleftherios Proedros and Panayiotis Kavvadas, respectively, and EKO refinery employees Christos Georgiadis and Dimitris Masmanidis.

All four appeared before an investigating magistrate in Thessaloniki yesterday, after which their lawyer told reporters that his clients, by their actions, had saved the port of Thessaloniki from destruction.

A public prosecutor on Tuesday night charged the four with manslaughter, causing marine pollution, causing a shipwreck and arson. According to the charges, the four are accused of failing to comply with safety regulations and ensure the water-tightn ess of the oil refinery pipe as the "Golden Crete" took on the gasoline.

They have also been charged with failing to notify the harbour authorities about fuel spilling into the sea.

Athens News Agency Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Panathinaikos lost 2-1 to Ukraine's Dynamo Kiev last night in the European Champions' Leage group E. The Kiev macth was watched by 35,000 spectators. In group A, Olymkpiakos Piraeus defeated Portugal's Porto 2-1 in Athens.

Athens News Agency

[11] PM on police issues

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The premier was replying to a question tabled in Parliament by ruling PASOK deputy Nasos Alevras, concerning measures to improve policing in the Greek capital.

Mr. Simitis said the government was seeking to make the police force more effective by bringing 3,000 to 4,000 police officers into active service units, while he referred to decisions for more partols in the city.

Athens News Agency

[12] Reparations issue agains resurfaces

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Parliament VP Loukas Apostolidis yesterday said an inter-party committee was formed to bring up the issue during contacts with German political parties, while a resolution of the British House of Lords to recognise that court immunity does not apply to crimes against humanity, in regards to former Chilean strongman Augusto Pinochet, was viewed as favourable for the reparations issue.

Certain actions by Germany and its political leadership were also viewed as favourable, such as its recourse to the Greek Supreme Court in order to appeal first instance court decisions by Greek courts that awarded reparations to residents of two towns that suffered damage during the Nazi occupation.

Newly elected German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer appears to agree about the need for discussions on the issue.

Athens News Agency

[13] Tsohatzopoulos attends cartography exhibition

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also inaugurated an exhibition of maps of Greek city ports in the 20th century, organised by the navy at the Cultural Centre of Thessaloniki Prefecture through Nov. 29.

Athens News Agency

[14] Students continue mobilisations against education reform bill

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

In Thessaloniki, the number of students occupying schools or being prevented from attending lessons in occupied schools are estimated to now number in the thousands.

Schools in the city itself as well as in the rest of the prefecture are now affected by the protests.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting against a number of issues, including teacher shortages, education ministry changes to grading and examinations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and the introduction of open university type pro grammes.

Some demands are specific to certain areas: in Thessaloniki, one technical high school listed one of its demands as "fairness" for the Thessaloniki- based football team, PAOK.

The coordinating committee for Athens schools has called for protests to last up to Christmas and are planning a programme of marches, rallies and occupations of schools and road sit-ins.

Yesterday morning, Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis was jeered by students during a visit to a junior high school in Athens, part of a programme of visits to explain the ministry's reforms.

Students are also planning rallies on December 9 and December 15, the date for which the General Confederation of Greek Labour has called a general strike to protest the government's economic policies.

Meanwhile, an Athens prosecutor ordered police in the suburb of Ayia Paraskevi to conduct preliminary checks on occupations at two local junior high schools.

The police have been empowered to visit the schools and investigate whether they are being allowed to operate normally, investigate whether non- students are on the premises and whether any unlawful acts have been committed.

Asked about the prosecutor's unprecedented move, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas refused to be drawn on the issue, saying that the government had no involvement with the decisions of judicial officials.

Issues arising from educational reforms should be resolved through dialogue and understanding, Mr. Reppas said, adding, however, that justice could not remain mute on matters which fall within its competence.

Athens News Agency

[15] One in 20 Greek children face dyslexia problem

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The association said children with dyslexia do not recall names, numbers or dates, regardless how hard they study them; they confuse letters and numbers, forget the sequence of days, months or seasons and cannot memorise the alphabet or time-tables.

Scientists, however, stressed that dyslexia was not a disease, therefore, therapy was not required and that children with dyslexia learned through the use of an unorthodox and peculiar system, which was not compatible with the conventional educational system.

Children with dyslexia can live fruitful and highly productive lives with an accurate diagnosis and immediate measures, such as word-therapy, special glasses and work-therapy.

Athens News Agency

[16] Prefects warn gov't not to cut allocations

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The Association of Prefectual Administrations of Greece (ENAE) yesterday condemned a finance ministry circular, which requires prefectures to prepare for "deficit" budgets in 1999.

Specifically, the circular provides for credits amounting to 90 billion drachmas instead of 109.8 billion drachmas stipulated by a relevant law on prefectures' finances that has yet to be passed, besides 113 billion drachmas that ENAE requests.

At a press conference, the ENAE board demanded that the government scrap the circular and see that the bill on prefectures' finances is passed.

Prefects warned that prefectural administrations will face serious problems in their operation, with the burden falling on citizens.

An extraordinary meeting of all prefects has been called for Dec.7 to take final decisions.

The latest edition of the "Defense Directory", an English-language publication was unveiled yesterday.

The guide deals with Greek foreign and defence policy. The second part of the publication refers to the armaments programmes of Greece and Turkey, while another focuses on the Greek defence industry and companies.

Athens News Agency

[17] Gov't lists firms taking part in anti-inflation price cuts, freeze

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The plan aims to bring down consumer price inflation and ensure the country's participation in European economic and monetary union (EMU) by January 1, 2001.

Ms Papandreou said that any price increases would not be higher than the anticipated inflation rate, and that the scheme to lower or freeze prices would safeguard the real income of consumers.

Among sectors and services included in the agreement are building materials, furniture, electrical appliances, apparel, electronic games, plumbing services, parking charges, hairdressing, dental treatment, foodstuffs, fast food, restaurants, cafes, gymn asiums and insurance premiums.

Both domestically produced goods and imports will have their prices reduced or frozen.

In some cases individual firms have stated their agreement to the scheme, and in others, trade associations.

The minister said the deal showed that the business sector had confidence in the government's drive to place the country on an equal footing with other European Union states.

Attaining the agreements with companies on prices was also evidence of the effectiveness of recent government measures to lower indirect taxes and freeze public utility rates, Ms Papandreou said.

The two moves had helped to lower production costs, facilitating a freeze or cut in consumer prices.

Athens News Agency

[18] Contractors again submit bids for delayed Dr 45 bln project

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Financial and technical bids were originally submitted in May 1997 for the 45 billion drachma construction project at Psyttalia in a tender employing a shortlist arrangement, called by the public works ministry.

Evaluation ended in July this year but the ministry decided to declare all bids null and void following vigorous objections by some of the groups that technical data on the basis of which they calculated their offers was inadequate.

Following consultations with the tender's six bidders, the ministry decided to draw up a new preliminary study for the project's second phase and call for fresh financial bids.

A contract is expected to be signed with the lowest bidder.

The competing consortiums and their latest bids are as follows:

• Themeliodomi, Hellenic Technodomi, Passavant Werke Aggiovanni Putignano & Figli (Dr 33,987,000)
• Austrian Energy & Environment SGP/WB, TE, Christophoros D. Konstandinidis, ATE Gnomon (Dr 35,200,000,000)
• Degremont, Eteth,TEB (Dr 37,710,000,000)
• Michaniki, Hans Brochier (Dr 39,100,000,000)
• SA SNC Lavalin Europe, GEK, Tega (Dr 45,258,838,511)

The sixth consortium, Athina with FCC, did not submit a new bid.

Athens News Agency

[19] Hellenic Petroleum completes buyout of Mamidakis

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The Hellenic Petroleum Group now owns Mamidakis' six high-technology installations with a total capacity of 217 km3, and 530 liquid fuel outlets.

Signing the handover of shares was Hellenic Petroleum's president and managing director, Eleftherios Tzellas, the managing director of EKO-ELDA, and a representative of the Mamidakis family, the majority shareholder in the firm, and small shareholders.

Athens News Agency

[20] PM to speak at Greek-American chamber economy conference

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Speakers and delegates at the conference will discuss the country's financial sector, the impact of a recent international financial crisis on banks and stock markets, the overall course of the economy, and the impact of the euro.

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will open the conference.

In his speech, he will outline next year's budget and Greece's prospects of participation in European economic and monetary union.

Sponsors of the conference are National Bank of Greece, National Investment Bank for Industrial Development, Commercial Bank of Greece, Sigma Securities and Agricultural Bank of Greece Mutual Funds.

Athens News Agency

[21] Gov't to auction 12-M T-bills tomorrow

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The auction is open to primary dealers, and the ministry will pay a 0.45 percent commission to participating banks. It also plans to hold a public offering of two-year savings bonds in electronic form on December 2 and December 3.

Athens News Agency

[22] Central bank keeps intervention rate unchanged

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Interbank rates remained high in yesterday's session, but bond prices slipped.

The finance ministry is due to tender 12-month Treasury bills tomorrow, and traders estimate that the rate will slip below the previous 11 percent.

Athens News Agency

[23] Gov't launches restructuring for exports group

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Signing the management contract were National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Deputy National Economy Minister Alexandros Baltas and HEPO's chairman, Yiannis Tzen.

The contract sets out the organisation's role, aims and activities as follows:

• Consultant to the state on foreign trade
• Information agency on exports promotion
• Providing support services to exporters
• Developing a domestic cooperation network

The organisation's funding will be secured from the European Union, the state and private resources.

HEPO's restructuring will be achieved through cutbacks in its operational costs, a rationalisation of human resources and a repricing of its services.

Athens News Agency

[24] Stocks shed gains in technical correction

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.73 percent down at 2,476.75 points, off the day's lows.

Trading was moderate with turnover at 55.7 billion drachmas.

Sector indices lost ground.

Banks fell 0.80 percent, Leasing dropped 0.09 percent, Insurance eased 0.20 percent, Investment ended 0.85 percent off, Construction jumped 4.53 percent, Industrials ended 1.33 percent down, Miscellaneous rose 0.03 percent and Holding increased 0.28 per cent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 2.74 percent up, reflecting interest in smaller capitalisation stocks.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 141 to 112 with another 11 issues unchanged. Volume was 14,690,000 shares.

Mytilineos, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation, Thessaliki and Strintzis Lines were the most heavily traded stocks.

Spyros Kouniakis, the bourse's chairman, ordered Technodomi engineering contractors to be placed under surveillance due to severe financial problems faced by the company.

Aegek, Dimitriadis, Eskimo, Hadzioannou, Metka, Kyriakoulis, Lampsa and Keranis scored the biggest percentage gains, hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Vis, Technodomi, Elfico, Bank of Central Greece, Strintzis Lines, Klaoudatos, Alpha Finance, Ionian Invest, Kalpinis and Koumbas suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 50,100 drachmas, Ergobank at 27,250, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,830, Ionian Bank at 12,130, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 7,145, Delta Dairy at 3,690, Intracom at 13,560, Titan Cement at 19,360, Hellenic Petro leum at 2,365 and Minoan Lines at 6,430 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[25] Greek, Chinese finance officials debate double taxation

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The two officials debated ways of expanding bilateral cooperation in tax procedures and exchanging information. They also shared views on tax inspection systems and sanctions imposed on tax evasion in the two countries.

Athens News Agency

[26] Athens, Commission agree on improving public works system in Greece

BRUSSELS 26/11/1998 (ANA - G. Daratos)

According to relevant European Commission circles, the committee responsible for monitoring the carrying out of projects in the framework of the third Community Support Framework has expressed satisfaction over the measures announced by Athens which are targeted at a greater improvement in the quality of public works with a parallel decrease in their cost.

According to these decisions, the agreed cost for auctioned projects can only be exceeded in special cases and the duty of checking the quality of these projects has been assigned to a foreign company.

The same sources said the government explained to the European Commission how and with what means it will proceed, apart from the existing legal and other control measures, with an in-depth examination of both the cost of each project and its quality. The European Commission was satisfied on hearing of these additional measures and expressed support for Gre-ece's effort, which will contribute to the avoidance of negative repercussions in the European Union's funding participation in the carrying out of these projects.

Athens News Agency

[27] PM: heightened monitoring of public works projects occurring

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Speaking in Parliament on the issue of transparency and legality in public works, he added that 20,000 projects are currently being carried out throughout the country P improving infrastructure, increasing jobs and boosting the economy.

Mr. Simitis, replying to a question by main opposition New Democracy deputy Manolis Kefaloyiannis, said that after problems of quality and cost that appeared in certain projects in the first Community Support Framework (1989- 1993), the environment, town planning and public works ministry has promoted settlements which, among others, are the hiring of management and construction advisers for major projects, intensification of controls from the group of public works inspectors and consolidation of a "Spec ial Qualitative Control Adviser" (ESPEL) who has conducted sample checks at 1, 500 public works.

Mr. Simitis said that the ministry has imposed, after systematic checks, sanctions and fines amounting to seven billion drachmas on contractors to remedy substandard work and has taken back contracts from 28 businesses.

Athens News Agency

[28] Karamanlis cites 'obsolete fixations' by gov't over state's role, private sector

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Karamanlis said it is clear today more than ever that the Simitis government insists on "obsolete fixations regarding the role of the state and private sector."

He added that the government is "not in sync" with the international environment and expectations of the Greek people, adding that it defends a "reactionary system in the throes of death and fighting a rear-guard battle."

Mr. Karamanlis said the government has failed to handle tax burdens.

He went on to analyse his party's proposals on the economy, stating that ND supports tax cuts, fair taxation and the simplification of the tax system, while adding that Greece needs development, restructuring of the public administration, restitution of the state's credibility and elevation of the private sector as the basic engine of development.

Mr. Karamanlis finally said ND is ready to govern the country and to give Greece "an honest and effective government.

Athens News Agency

[29] "Int'l shipping conference in Piraeus commences

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Soumakis, in his opening address to the 16th annual International Meeting in Piraeus, organised by the Piraeus Marine Club and the City University Business School of London, said it was imperative that the shipping sector be ready for the transition from the drachma to the euro.

"Shipping, as the most globalised industry and activity, is subject to and directly affected by international changes and economic crisis...the impact of such crisis was and still is immediate and clear, such as imbalances in the cargo market, low shipp ing rates and reductions in the prices of ships, which have led to the overturn of a fragile balance in the shipping sector, causing many problems to many shipping companies," he said.

BritainYs ambassador to Athens, Sir Michael Llewellyn Smith, who also addressed the meeting, referred to the special relations between Greece and Britain, saying that the strong ties were owed to the long-standing relations of trust and solidarity betwe en the two countries.

Athens News Agency

[30] SECI agreement on SE Europe transports signed in Athens

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The agreement is aimed at a gradual deregulation of the international road transports market.

The text of the agreement was put together by the Greek transport ministry.

Athens News Agency

[31] Petrol prices drop

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Decreases will be 3.10 drachmas per litre for super gasoline, 3.20 drachmas per litre for unleaded, 2.50 drachmas per litre for diesel and 2.20 drachmas per litre for heating oil (for quantities more than 1,000 litres).

In the Attica area and Thessaloniki prefecture, super will cost 194.80 drachmas per litre, unleaded 178.30 drachmas per litre and heating oil 67.10 drachmas per litre (for quantities more than 1,000 litres).

Athens News Agency

[32] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            282.720 289.275
Can.Dollar           182.528 186.760
Australian Dlr       181.541 185.750
Pound Sterling       470.208 481.110
Irish Punt           413.664 423.255
Pound Cyprus         562.841 575.891
Pound Malta          709.226 738.777
Turkish pound (100)    0.087   0.091
French franc          49.646  50.797
Swiss franc          201.773 206.451
Belgian franc          8.070   8.258
German Mark          166.458 170.317
Finnish Mark          54.758  56.028
Dutch Guilder        147.654 151.078
Danish Kr.            43.781  44.796
Swedish Kr.           34.928  35.738
Norwegian Kr.         37.835  38.712
Austrian Sh.          23.663  24.212
Italian lira (100)    16.813  17.203
Yen (100)            233.914 239.337
Spanish Peseta         1.957   2.003
Port. Escudo           1.625   1.663

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
New York             282.720 289.275
Montreal             182.528 186.760
Sydney               181.541 185.750
London               470.208 481.110
Dublin               413.664 423.255
Nicosia              562.841 575.891
Paris                 49.646  50.797
Zurich               201.773 206.451
Brussels               8.070   8.258
Frankfurt             166.458 170.317
Helsinki               54.758  56.028
Amsterdam             147.654 151.078
Copenhagen             43.781  44.796
Stockholm              34.928  35.738
Oslo                   37.835  38.712
Vienna                 23.663  24.212
Milan                  16.813  17.203
Tokyo                 233.914 239.337
Madrid                  1.957   2.003
Lisbon                  1.625   1.663

Athens News Agency

[33] Authorities investigate claims that woman sold her 10 infants

Athens 26/11/1998 (ANA)

The 36-year-old woman, identified only as "Stella S.", is thought to have given birth to at least 10 children which were then adopted by affluent but childless couples. Police are seeking the woman, whose whereabouts are unknown, for questioning.

Villagers said they had noticed the woman, who occasionally worked in local bars, pregnant on at least 10 occasions, but that she did not live with any children.

"Whenever we saw her pregnant, she refused to tell us who the father was," villagers said.

Athens News Agency

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