Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM attends session targetting reform of public administration

[02] Yiannopoulos receives three ambassadors

[03] Tsovolas in Australia

[04] State telecom's CEO resigns, citing personal reasons

[05] Central bank holds key intervention rate steady

[06] Panafon postpones trading debut to finish share distribution

[07] Stocks resume climb, boosted by leasing

[08] Naoussa Spinning Mills reports net 1.14 bln profit Jan-Sept

[09] Mutual funds stand at 8.9 trillion drachmas in Nov.

[10] Kavala Petroleum workers to strike

[11] More tonnage, 2 less vessels under Greek flag in Nov.

[12] Drop in petrol prices

[13] Upgraded credit rating for DEH

[14] US special envoy cites SECI cooperation

[15] Athens Foreign Exchange

[16] Separate Pangalos contacts with Icelandic, Czech, Slovakian FMs

[17] US says Athens interested in 4 Kidd-class destroyers

[18] French foreign ministry announcement on Pangalos-Vedrine talks

[19] Klima: Cyprus progress justifies decisions to start EU accession talks

[20] Bonn announces Simitis visit to Germany

[21] Greece a favourite of Quebec tourists

[22] Greece warns Turkey not to interfere in its domestic affairs

[23] Gov't: No decision on president of the republic election

[24] Skandalidis on PASOK congress

[25] Gov't, environmental groups meet

[26] Anti-smoking campaign, competition at Greek schools

[27] Asthma spreading, specialists warn

[28] Custom officers' unanimously vote to continue strike

[29] Woman goes undercover as drug addict,prostitute to shed light on daughter's death

[30] Different views by parties over soccer violence,pro football's status

[31] Authorities announce major VAT scam

[32] Three-nation meeting in Bulgaria focuses on infrastructure, transports

[01] PM attends session targetting reform of public administration

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Visiting the interior ministry, Mr. Simitis said the government was undertaking a "radical reform" of the structure of state services whi-ch will be more responsive to the needs of the public.

Ministries, Mr. Simitis said, should not be "issuing certificates but drafting and implementing policy".

The new model of ministries will require new specialised staff and those hoping to enter the civil service will have to be versed in new technologies and at least one foreign language, he noted.

Mr. Simitis said the government was developing a supervisory me-chanism that would at the outset monitor 10,000 major public works projects with hopes that this service will be extended to another 20,000 public projects under way, part of efforts to ens ure greater transparency in public affairs.

The prime minister placed much emphasis on new technologies doing away with the curse of modern Greek life - standing in queues at public services.

The transfer of documents from services to the public will be available through e-mail and fax, and a related bill will be submitted to Parliament, probably next week, according to reports.

Mr. Simitis pointed to a recently introduced phone service for documents, saying it had provided the public with a way of getting the documentation it needed within 10 days and without having to wait in line.

He said the government would soon establish a "one stop shop" at which the public would have to deal with only one civil servant for a variety of administrative issues, such as applying for a pension or getting a driver's licence, rather than visiting a variety of services to collect papers.

The performance of services and employees must also be able to be evaluated, he added, saying that indices of performance would soon be introduced.

Athens News Agency

[02] Yiannopoulos receives three ambassadors

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The US envoy raised the issue of US citizens' property copyright infringements in Greece and the need for copyright protection.

Mr. Yiannopoulos shared the ambassador's concerns over the problem and reassured him that all necessary measures included in agreements between the two countries have already been taken.

Athens News Agency

[03] Tsovolas in Australia

MELBOURNE 03/12/1998 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)

Mr. Tsovolas has been invited to the country by the Greek-Australian communities of Melbourne and Sydney.

He is also expected to meet with state and federal government officials, among others.

The DHKKI leaders meets with Victorian State Premier Jeff Kennet today.

Athens News Agency

[04] State telecom's CEO resigns, citing personal reasons

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Chryssolouris, who will return to his academic duties at Patras University, said in a statement that he had submitted his resignation to National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis on November 16.

He repeated his decision to resign during a meeting with Mr. Papantoniou yesterday.

Mr. Chryssolouris said that he was leaving the state telecom on completion of five major projects.

The projects were rapid digitalisation of OTE's network; an oversubscribed third flotation on the Athens and New York stock markets; the purchase of Romania's state telecom, which more than tripled OTE's market; and the rapid growth of Cosmote, OTE's mobile phone subsidiary, which, after seven months of operation, held 12.5 percent of the domestic market.

Ministry proposes Inmarsat executive for the job : The transport and communications ministry later proposed George Symeonidis, 53, the executive vice president of London-based International Maritime Satellite Organisation (Inmarsat), as successor to Mr. Chryssolouris.

Mr. Symeonidis, who is also a former senior OTE executive, was chosen from a shortlist drawn up in the past when OTE had invited applications from Greece and abroad for the same post.

Parliament will be asked to endorse the appointment in line with the law.

OTE's stock drops on Wall Street due to resignation : OTE's stock slumped on Wall Street yesterday with market players in the doldrums over the resignation of Mr. Chryssolouris, who was viewed as the architect of a successful strategy to list the Greek state telecom on New York's bourse.

The share price plunged 8.0 percent at the opening, but analysts believe that the stock will recover due to its robust longer-term outlook.

Athens News Agency

[05] Central bank holds key intervention rate steady

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Market players are now looking to next Wednesday's regular central bank depo tender, hoping anew for a decline in the intervention rate.

According to banking sources, the Bank of Greece is more likely to cut its rate next week due to fresh data showing that core inflation in dropping.

In its two-week depo tender yesterday, the central bank drained 350 billion drachmas of funds from 1.317 trillion drachmas offered by banks.

Short-term deposits were steady due to inflows of 670 billion drachmas on expiry of a Wednesday depo tender held two weeks ago.

In liquidity of around 220 billion drachmas,rates remained at relatively low levels.

The overnight rate was around 11.90 percent and one-month funds at 12.20 percent.

Rates ended flat in the domestic foreign currency market with the mark at 168.300 drachmas, the US dollar at 282.050 drachmas, and the Ecu at 330.040 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[06] Panafon postpones trading debut to finish share distribution

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The decision was taken in order to complete the work of processing and distributing depository receipts destined for foreign institutional investors.

Panafon's shares, which were due to make their debut yesterday, are now to begin trading on the Athens bourse on Monday.

Athens News Agency

[07] Stocks resume climb, boosted by leasing

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The general index just held above the 2,500-point barrier, closing at 2, 500.04 points, up 1.21 percent. Trading was moderate to active with turnover at 58.3 billion drachmas. Volume was 13,762,000 shares.

Sector indices scored gains across the board.

Banks rose 1.14 percent, Leasing soared 6.76 percent, Insurance increased 0.79 percent, Investment ended 0.19 percent up, Construction rose 0.08 percent, Industrials ended 0.55 percent up, Miscellaneous jumped 3.19 percent and Holding rose 1.16 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.59 percent up. The FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 1.03 percent to 1,555.85 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 150 to 96 with another 18 issues unchanged.

Thessaliki, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation, Attica Bank and Hellenic Duty Free Shops were the most heavily traded stocks.

Dimitriadis, Elfico, Eskimo, General Bank, Klonatex, Ergodata, Metrolife and Nafpaktos Spinning Mills hit the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Macedonian Plastics, Aspis Invest, Pairis, Karelias, Ekter, Parnassos and Sarandopoulos suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 50,200 drachmas, Ergobank at 27,795, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,955, Ionian Bank at 13,100, Hellenic Telecommunications at 7,230, Delta Dairy at 3,570, Intracom at 14,015, Titan Cement at 20,270, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,340 and Minoan Lines at 6,750 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[08] Naoussa Spinning Mills reports net 1.14 bln profit Jan-Sept

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Gross profits were 3.22 billion drachmas on sales of 21.5 billion drachmas.

Naoussa executives told a presentation of the company to the Union of Institutional Investors that they expect to see 1998 consolidated net profits of 1.85 billion. Their target is to attain consolidated pre-tax profits of more than 5.0 billion drach mas in 2002.

Following investments of 20.6 billion drachmas in 1991-1998, Naoussa Spinning Mills will have nine industrial units and 913 personnel by 2001.

The company is a subsidiary of listed Klonatex Abentte.

Athens News Agency

[09] Mutual funds stand at 8.9 trillion drachmas in Nov.

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The number of mutual funds available in the Greek market amounted to 181 following the circulation of three new mutual funds (Interamerican Profit Interamerican Developing Countries and Nationale Nederlanden) and the merger of two Mutual Funds of Diethn iki AEDAK (Astir and Ethniki Asfalistiki) with the Delos mutual funds.

The increase in mutual funds' total assets observed in November is primarily due to an increase in the assets of the Availables Management Mutual Funds by 164 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[10] Kavala Petroleum workers to strike

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

A representative of workers said the company was planning to fire 350 of its 400 employees by Dec. 8, and cut salaries to the remaining 50 workers by 30 per cent.

He added the firm was considering contractors for oil pumping activities.

GSEE president Christos Polyzogopoulos said the confederation would take up mediation initiatives to resolve the crisis.

Workers, meanwhile, rejected the company's claims that there is not enough oil in deposits for exploitation, noting that last year's turnover amounted to US$2.5 billion with declared profits at US$25 million.

Kavala petroleum has rejected an earlier proposal by the government for an early and voluntary retirement plan.

Athens News Agency

[11] More tonnage, 2 less vessels under Greek flag in Nov.

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[12] Drop in petrol prices

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[13] Upgraded credit rating for DEH

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

This resulted from an extensive study of necessary data, as well as from relevant meetings with senior officials from DEH, the development ministry and the national economy ministry.

Athens News Agency

[14] US special envoy cites SECI cooperation

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Special US presidential envoy Richard Shifter outlined an initiative by Washington to help develop a free market in the region and for cooperation in the sectors of transport, communications, energy and the environment.

The US envoy said that 11 countries are taking part in the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI), including Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Croatia, Moldava, Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey.

Four countries, the US, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, constitute a support group.

Politics play no part in SECI, Mr. Shifter told reporters.

A meeting of SECI's "Business Support Council" will be held in Skopje tomorrow, with members set to draft a report on the needs of businesses in southeast Europe.

Athens News Agency

[15] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            279.794 286.281
Can.Dollar           182.528 186.760
Australian Dlr       178.486 182.624
Pound Sterling       463.363 474.107
Irish Punt           414.676 424.290
Pound Cyprus         562.563 575.606
Pound Malta          693.786 722.694
Turkish pound (100)    0.081   0.084
French franc          49.792  50.947
Swiss franc          203.866 208.593
Belgian franc          8.093   8.280
German Mark          166.954 170.824
Finnish Mark          54.907  56.180
Dutch Guilder        148.091 151.524
Danish Kr.            43.910  44.928
Swedish Kr.           34.601  35.403
Norwegian Kr.         37.660  38.533
Austrian Sh.          23.729  24.279
Italian lira (100)    16.862  17.253
Yen (100)            231.424 236.789
Spanish Peseta         1.963   2.009
Port. Escudo           1.627   1.665

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
New York             279.794 286.281
Montreal             182.528 186.760
Sydney               178.486 182.624
London               463.363 474.107
Dublin               414.676 424.290
Nicosia              562.563 575.606
Paris                 49.792  50.947
Zurich               203.866 208.593
Brussels               8.093   8.280
Frankfurt            166.954 170.824
Helsinki              54.907  56.180
Amsterdam            148.091 151.524
Copenhagen            43.910  44.928
Stockholm             34.601  35.403
Oslo                  37.660  38.533
Vienna                23.729  24.279
Milan                 16.862  17.253
Tokyo                231.424 236.789
Madrid                 1.963   2.009
Lisbon                 1.627   1.665

Athens News Agency

[16] Separate Pangalos contacts with Icelandic, Czech, Slovakian FMs

OSLO 03/12/1998 (ANA - A. Podimata)

The meeting is to end today on the occasion of the assumption of the organisation's presidency by Norway.

According to diplomatic sources, the FMs of the Czech Republic and Slovakia reiterated their request to Mr. Pangalos for a speedy accession to European and Euro-Atlantic institutions. Mr. Kavan and Mr. Koukan also requested Greek support, in particular, for their accession negotiations with the European Union to proceed.

The Czech Republic belongs to the first enlargement group and has already started accession negotiations, while Slovakia belongs to the group of countries which will start negotiations later.

On his part, the Icelandic FM requested Greek support for the enlargement and further strengthening of cooperation programmes between his country and the EU.

According to the same sources, Mr. Pangalos reminded his counterparts from the Czech Republic and Slovakia that the EU has already sent a positive message with the start to accession negotiations with candidate countries, adding that all countries must be evaluated with the same criteria and according to the rate with which each one will fulfill the required preconditions and criteria.

Mr. Pangalos, who will address the OSCE's ministerial session today, will have private talks with his German counterpart Joschka Fischer.

Athens News Agency

[17] US says Athens interested in 4 Kidd-class destroyers

WASHINGTON 03/12/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)

The announcement noted that the particular warships are equipped with US- made "Standard" anti-aircraft missiles, 32 "Harpoon" surface-to-surface missiles, 48 MK-46 torpedos, 62,000 20mm magazines, 4,800 5-inch shells and spare parts.

The total cost of the leasing-purchase package requested by Greece stands at US$742 million and includes the general maintenence of the vessels.

The announcement stated that Greece's application is accompanied by an assessment that such a bolstering of the Hellenic Navy, with four ships, will not tip the arms balance in the region, while it would promote US foreign and defence policies.

It added that the move would not obstruct the US efforts for a solution to the Cyrpus problem.

Finally, the US Pentagon announcement noted that Greece already retains "Harpoon" missiles and needs the four warships to modernise its naval forces and boost its air defence capabilities.

It should be noted that a month ago the Pentagon announced the transfer of 11 "Perry" and "Knox" class frigates to Turkey for a total value of $205 million.

Athens News Agency

[18] French foreign ministry announcement on Pangalos-Vedrine talks

PARIS 03/12/1998 (ANA)

"Mr. Hubert Vedrine met his Greek counterpart Mr. Theodoros Pangalos on Nov. 30, as had been scheduled some time ago," he said.

"During the discussion, which lasted two hours, the two ministers had a productive exchange of views in a friendly atmosphere on a large number of issues, including the Cyprus issue. The two ministers will meet again in Oslo, in any case, during the min isterial session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe," he added.

According to French diplomatic circles, the meeting was held in a positive climate during which the French minister committed himself that France will make efforts for a solution to the Cyprus issue. It was also stressed that the Pangalos-Vedrine meeting in Paris constituted the basis for the continuation of more substantive efforts in this direction by France.

Athens News Agency

[19] Klima: Cyprus progress justifies decisions to start EU accession talks

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Addressing reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Mr. Klima, whose country currently holds the six-month EU rotating presidency, said: "I am in a position to know that the EU report which will be submitted next week to member-states regarding the progress of the six- candidate countries, underlines the important steps of the Republic of Cyprus and justifies the decision to start accession talks".

Mr. Klima paid a brief visit to Athens within the framework of his European capitals tour before the EU Vienna summit this month.

Regarding the Ocalan case, Mr. Klima said that Italy could and should count on the support of its EU partners when subjected to trade or other pressure, because the European Union is also a Union of principles and all lawful states must enjoy solidarity . He refrained from replying to a question whether the Ocalan affair would have an impact on European-Turkish relations.

Mr. Simitis and Mr. Klima also discussed the controversial subject of EU fiscal policy, which will constitute the main negotiations agenda item at the summit in Vienna. According to sources, the Greek premier expressed reservations on the proposed allocation plan for EU resources.

Mr. Simitis praised the Austrian presidency for its six-month service which proved, as he said, that the Union has prospects.

Earlier, Mr. Simitis presided over a meeting in light of the Dec. 11 and 12 European Union summit in Vienna.

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis participated.

Athens News Agency

[20] Bonn announces Simitis visit to Germany

BONN 03/12/1998 (ANA - P. Stangos)

According to the spokesman, talks between Mr. Schroeder and Mr. Simitis will focus on the preparation, issues and the timetable of the German EU presidency as of Jan. 1. The German EU presidency's priorities were decided on yesterday during a cabinet meeting and will be presented to the German Bundestag on Dec. 10 by Mr. Schroeder, on the eve of the start of the Vienna summit. Austrian Prime Minister Viktor Klima is expected in Bonn tomorrow for talks on the same issue.

Mr. Simitis will arrive in Germany tomorrow afternoon, staying in Frankfurt until Sunday where, according to press reports, he is expected to meet unofficially with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. The meeting with Mr. Fischer had initially been scheduled during a dinner on Saturday night but it might ultimately be held shortly after the PM's arrival tomorrow night.

However, according to German foreign ministry sources, Mr. Fischer will have a private meeting with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos in Oslo today on the sidelines of the session of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Foreign Ministers. The Greek minister will be in Bonn for the Simitis-Schroeder talks on Monday morning.

Mr. Simitis' programme includes, after his meeting with Mr. Schroeder, private talks with SPD President and German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine.

Athens News Agency

[21] Greece a favourite of Quebec tourists

MONTREAL 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The honour is particularly noteworthy as the other two top destinations are France and Italy, the ancestral homes of most residents of the Canadian province.

By contrast, Greek Canadians in the province number around 90,000.

Athens News Agency

[22] Greece warns Turkey not to interfere in its domestic affairs

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

"We do not allow any third party to interfere in our domestic affairs," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding that the governments of Greece and Cyprus were handling the missile issue responsibly in accordance with their own needs.

Turkey has openly threatened to prevent their deployment.

Recent press reports claim that Athens and Nicosia were considering the possibility of installing the missiles on Crete, although Greek and Cypriot officials have underlined that the final decision rests with the Cyprus National Council.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said in Paris on Monday that a proposal to deploy the missiles on Crete was not an irrational one, while stressing that no decision had been taken.

Speaking in the French capital the following day, Mr. Cem opposed the idea of the missiles being deployed on Crete as an alternative to Cyprus.

"Crete belongs to the same geographical region...I believe that this kind of talk is not serious," Mr. Cem said.

Mr. Reppas called on Turkey to be more like Greece with respect to its achievements on the economic front, the operation of democratic institutions and respect for individual rights.

Accusing Turkey of attempting from time to time to export its domestic problems, Mr. Reppas said:

"Thank you very much but we don't want any. The problems will remain in your own hands."

"Turkey must finally understand that it should behave like a normal country, respect its international obligations and the autonomy and territorial integrity of other states," Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said later, commenting on Mr. Cem's statements.

Mr. Papandreou said Turkey ought to change its aggressive policy to one of peace and refrain from trying to transfer its responsibilities to neighbouring countries.

"Turkey has no say in matters pertaining to the security of neighbouring countries," Mr. Papandreou added.

Athens News Agency

[23] Gov't: No decision on president of the republic election

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

"The issue will be dealt with in due time," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding that any discussion of the issue now would be premature and harmful to the country.

Mr. Reppas underlined, however, that the president of the republic, whose term ends in March 2000, was performing his duties in an "excellent" manner.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said that the prime minister "did not insinuate something like that, the government spokesman will give details."

On his part, former main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Miltiades Evert met with the president yesterday, stating afterwards that "Mr. Stephanopoulos is an excellent president, we must not forget that he belonged to our party, but the issue will b e examined a year from now. I believe it (the issue) is a part of PASOK's maintained election-speculation, which damages the interests of the country."

ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos stressed that "Mr. Simitis, panicked by a general outcry...entan-gles in the election games the institution of the president of the republic."

Athens News Agency

[24] Skandalidis on PASOK congress

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The event coincided with the opening pre-congress debate within PASOK. Mr. Skandalidis referred extensively to the congress, stressing that unless the party underwent certain changes and if these changes did not occur now, then PASOK will become outdated.

Athens News Agency

[25] Gov't, environmental groups meet

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Kranidiotis, during the meeting, spoke of Athens' policies on the protection of the environment and stressed that the government aims to place it as one of the basic parameters of its foreign policy.

He added that a special directorate has been created in the ministry to aid the activities of Greek environmental organisations.

Athens News Agency

[26] Anti-smoking campaign, competition at Greek schools

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The competition is open to the 835 junior high schools in Attica, Achaia, Corfu, Thessaly, Crete and Thrace.

It will be accompanied by visits from doctors and members of the Society to distribute leaflets on the adverse effects of smoking.

According to the results of a study by the Greek Cardiology Centre earlier this year, Greeks are beginning to start smoking at younger ages and on average at the age of 13.5.

The study was conducted on 5,000 students aged 12-18 in 20 different areas around Greece. Of the sample group, 9 per cent were regular smokers, 30 per cent were occasional smokers while 86 per cent had parents who were smokers.

Although only 26 per cent of Greek women smoke - compared to 60 percent of Greek men - the percentage is still one of the highest in the European Union.

Athens News Agency

[27] Asthma spreading, specialists warn

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

The statement was made by medical specialists at press conference yesterday on the occasion of the World Day Against Asthma.

He added that asthma will be one of the most serious socio-medical problems in developed countries as the dawn of the 21st century.

A lung specialist said that one in 10 children and one in seven adults suffer from the ailment in Greece.

Athens News Agency

[28] Custom officers' unanimously vote to continue strike

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Officers' representatives said later they had told the government they would continue rolling 24-hour strikes with different demands each day. The move was designed to bypass the court ruling.

All three major party-affiliated factions of the union supported the decision.

The labour ministry and unionists on Tuesday forged an initial deal, according to which customs officers hired before Jan. 1, 1993, would have received a supplementary pension to the tune of 40 per cent of their regular pension benefits

According to the deal, all the money collected by special accounts and directed to their social security fund would have been funneled to a special account that was to be created within the unified social security fund so that officers eligible under the previous system would not lose any benefits.

The customs officers' supplementary fund received proceeds collected as a percentage of duties payed on exports and imports.

Simitis : Earlier, Prime Minister Costas Simitis was optimistic that the end of the day would see an end to the customs strike that has paralysed border traffic and left Greece all but out of petrol.

"We are here to do something and if we don't do anything, we may as well go home," Mr. Simitis said during a visit to the interior ministry.

Customs officials are striking over government plans to reform and merge a number of pension and health funds, including their own. An Athens court ruled yesterday that the five days of rolling 24-hour strikes called by the customs union was illegal, ruling in favour of a finance ministry injunction.

The decision came as representatives of the strikers went back into a second day of meetings with labour ministry officials to try and forge an end to the strike.

Mr. Simitis said that objections to the mini-package of reforms to pension funds (currently being discussed by a parliamentary committee) were "most peculiar".

"Why don't some want this mini social security package which, among other things, unites 119 auxiliary funds for civil servants. Shouldn't there be the one auxiliary fund, which will be computerised and managing its resources better?", Mr. Simitis asked .

He ruled out even one fund being exempted from the new measures, stating that "special arrangements" forged through the ability of some to exert pressure in the past, were the reason behind the present protests. This form of pressure ended up being, he said: "like one putting their hand into the pockets of another".

Lines of vehicles at borders, losses mount : Reports from Thessaloniki said that lines of trucks and cars waiting to cross Greece's northern borders were continually growing.

The Greek state loses 6-8 billion drachmas in revenues a day from a customs strike, according to finance ministry's estimates.

Finance Undersecretary George Drys said that state revenue losses could total 90-100 billion drachmas as a result of the strike.

He warned that export companies of perishable goods were particularly hit by the strike and that some of them could face collapse.

Mr. Drys criticised striking customs officers and said that their demands were unjustified. He said the government has not yet reached a decision on whether it would seek provisional remedies against customs workers' new strike action.

In another repercussion of the strike, Albanian newspapers reported that the south of the country, which receives most of its supplies from Greece, was suffering.

The price of most goods had risen due to shortages stemming from the strike.

According to estimates by Albanian customs authorities, losses to Tirana from the strike are estimated at around 140-150 million lek, or 300 million drachmas daily.

Athens News Agency

[29] Woman goes undercover as drug addict,prostitute to shed light on daughter's death

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

A coroner had ruled that the woman had died from a drug overdose.

Eleni Fotiadou, an employee with the Social Security Foundation, said she frequented several hang-outs of drug addicts and prostitutes over the 20 days, collecting information she maintains proves her daughter died from injuries following a brutal beating, and after she had been gang-raped.

Speaking to reporters, the woman said she began the investigation because of indifference, as she noted, by police. She also criticised the coroner in charge of the case, Dimitris Psaroulis, over his report on the causes of her daughter's death. The young woman's body was found on June 12 with a needle next to it.

Ms Fotiadou repeatedly said her daugter had not been involved with illicit drugs and that her suspicions were triggered by a series of markings on her daughter's body, saying "the bottom teeth were displaced; the nose was broken; she had a large bruise on her forehead and a lesion on the middle of her forehead; a bruise on the right eye and bruises on the legs".

A private investigator also assisted Ms Fotiadou, following her every move. He added that the girl's dress was torn and stained with semen in several places.

In response, Dr. Psaroulis said the alleged injuries on the body would not have gone "unnoticed" by the coroner's office or police and that there are photos showing the condition of the corpse.

However, Ms Fotiadou's attorney said the woman's charges are documented on video-tapes filmed during her private undercover investigation, and that the tapes were submitted to the public prosecutor's office.

Finally, the local chief of police said the causes of the young woman's death were thoroughly investigated and that Ms. Fotiadou's suspicions were examined.

Athens News Agency

[30] Different views by parties over soccer violence,pro football's status

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Although the deputies tended to agree that Greek soccer was "a battlefield for profit-making and other interests", each party's report differed in certain respects.

The deputies of the ruling PASOK party, in their report, said soccer violence emanated chiefly from the sport's general lack of credibility in Greece and inherent structural weaknesses.

"The inflammatory statements and acts of soccer club presidents, biased refereeing and the failure of sports justice to strictly adhere to the relevant laws and sanctions..." are the main reasons given for the situation in the PASOK deputies' report.

In their view, while present legislation is adequate, the problem lies in its enforcement. In similar vein, the main opposition New Democracy deputies also speak of a lack of credibility "due to the poor quality of sports justice, the poor quality of refereeing, the bad functioning of institutional bodies, the ineffective or poor implementation of laws and regulations and the impunity and tactics adopted by the mass media".

In their report, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputies see the causes of the problem springing from "the non-existent and anti-popular policy of the government which leads to commercialisation, professionalism and the domination of big capital i n sport, which has thus been deprived of all its idealistic and noble characteristics".

The Coalition of the Left and Progress apportioned blame to PASOK and previous governments, while noting that soccer supporters "do not trust officials, referees nor sports judges".

The Democratic Social Movement maintained that "the political relationship which the social groups have with the political establishment and it is manifested through the major interests of the owners of the professional soccer clubs must be uprooted".

Athens News Agency

[31] Authorities announce major VAT scam

Athens 03/12/1998 (ANA)

Vassilios Roumeliotis, 43, was arrested on Nov. 6 as several convictions were pending against him for fraud, bankruptcy and lack of payment contributions.

According to the crimes unit of the finance ministry, the suspect and his accomplices "created" businesses under various names and activities, subsequently purchasing goods with bounced checks.

Before suppliers started pressuring for their money, Roumeliotis would close the bogus businesses and disappear after selling the purchased goods for cash, reports state.

Court documents said the suspect would receive half the value of VAT from the forged invoices, while the companies buying them were spared of the other half, since payment to the tax bureau meant paying double the amount.

According to police, dozens of companies, many of which are well-known, reportedly bought such invoices.

The invoices were perforated with a special machine that was confiscated at the home of Constantinos Skrombolas, 32, who was also arrested in Peristeri.

Athens News Agency

[32] Three-nation meeting in Bulgaria focuses on infrastructure, transports

SOFIA 03/12/1998 (ANA - B. Borisov)

The entire phase of joint development focuses on the upgrade of infrastructure and the transports network, but also concerns coordinated action for environmental protection in the Balkans. The proposals were included in a joint communique which concluded the tri-party meeting.

Bulgarian Deputy Minister and Town Planning/Public Works Minister Evgueni Bakardjiev, who referred in detail to the Greek-Bulgarian development initiatives in the transportation sector, said that "the basic result of the meeting is the confirmation of a new regional development model with European specifications, based on the multi-sided cooperation."

"The Bulgarian and Greek ministers stressed the need for a new national highway connecting Sofia and Thessaloniki and they agreed that with the active support of Greece, as an EU member-state, they will coordinate the actions of both countries for funding of the highway through the EU programmes", according to the communique. It also pointed out the positive steps recently taken for the creation of a joint administration to control the waters of rivers shared by the countries.

The communique also foresees a series of joint measures for an improvement in the environmental situation in the Black Sea.

"We are still at the phase of discussions...no doubt this is a significant phase, but the most significant phase, that of materialisation, is still to come".

"The Greek side, and this is important, has already made some commitments toward the direction of this cooperation, one of them being construction of the Promahonas-Kulata (Greek-Bulgarian border posts) bridge at the expense of Greece, and the other one is a road connection from Ormenion with Burgas, where the cost of study of this large highway will be carried by Greece," he said.

Greek Transportation Deputy Minister Nikolaos Salayiannis, Bulgarian Transportation Minister Wilhelm Kraus and the Secretary General of the Romanian transportation ministry said the three countries placed great importance in a speedier transportation of passengers and cargo.

Athens News Agency

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