Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-14

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens satisfied with Vienna summit results

[02] Karamanlis issues call to all voters,raps PASOK over huge public sector

[03] Simitis-Clerides meeting in Vienna focuses on summit results

[04] Holbrooke touts trilateral business meeting in Istanbul

[05] KYSEA meeting on armaments programme tomorrow

[06] ND leading PASOK by 7.1%,latest poll claims

[07] Tsohatzopoulos: Coalition governments a future prospect

[08] Arsenis urges educators to persuade pupils to end school occupations

[09] Bomb blast

[10] Trolley drivers to strike tomorrow

[11] Gov't promotes telecoms investments in light of 2001 deregulation

[12] Future for Thessaloniki Stock Exchange centre foreseen

[01] Athens satisfied with Vienna summit results

VIENNA 14/12/1998 (ANA - S. Liarellis/M.Spinthourakis)

The final communique includes the exact wording of the previous summit, referring to the implementation of the European strategy for Turkey's preparation for accession, which remains separate from that for other candidate-countries, he said.

Mr. Simitis reiterated that Greece favours Turkey's accession, as this is conducive to the development of all countries in the area, but this position is conditional on Ankara's observance of international treaties and respect for international law.

"The decisions reached serve these aims," he said, stressing that "absolutely nothing has changed" with regard to the prospect of EU financing for Turkey.

"We are at the same point we were the day before yesterday," he said.

The Greek prime minister clarified that the re-adoption of the exact wording of conclusions at the Cardiff summit regarding Turkey was the result of a relevant request by his British counterpart Tony Blair.

Referring to the other key issues discussed at the summit, Mr. Simitis said "a hard and difficult round of negotiations" lay ahead until March, when the final decisions regarding "Agenda 2000" would be reached.

He expressed the view that there was no danger of drastic cutbacks to "Santer Package" funds, but special caution was needed for Greece to secure the resources needed. He said Athens would insist in the forthcoming negotiations on the validity of the pr inciples of community solidarity and convergence.

"Policies must be brought out as the dominant element, and resources adjusted to them," he stressed.

Mr. Simitis said the issues of employment, growth and stability had emerged as the prominent issues during the summit. He reminded of the need for reaching a "European Employment Pact", noting that a decreasing number of unemployed indicated a change in climate, and that general statements have now given way to working out policies for fighting joblessness.

He also referred to the need for coordinating economic policies with a view to attaining the targets of increasing prosperity and incomes, and maintaining growth rates despite the global economic crisis.

Mr. Simitis said Greece was particularly interested in the EU formulating a clear common foreign and security policy on Yugoslavia, Albania and Croatia, given that Romania and Bulgaria were candidate-members, while a strategy for Turkey was already in p lace.

Referring to Greek-EU relations in 1998, he said despite problems due to continuously changing conditions and new developments, significant progress had been made.

He cited as a prime example the drachma's incorporation in the Exchange Rate Mechanism, which showed a recognition of Greece's efforts towards convergence.

"There are always issues requiring strong efforts, such as in the case of some EU countries which attribute particular significance to Turkey's geopolitical position and try to blunt differences and problems. However, it is a positive development that n egotiations for Cyprus' accession have got underway and it is equally positive that, despite the general climate, the EU's general line on Turkey's position regarding enlargement remains the same.

"It is an open front, continuously changing, but despite this, Greece has recorded significant progress," he concluded.

Cyprus conclusions : Regarding Cyprus, European Union leaders expressed their support to the efforts of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a solution, and in particular, to his latest initiative to embark, through his resident representative, on shuttle talks between the Gre ek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

The EU position is outlined in the conclusions of the six monthly rotating Austrian presidency at the Vienna EU summit.

In a separate paragraph on Cyprus, the EU Council "reaffirms its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem and in particular for the process which his Deputy Special Representative has developed with a view to reduce tensions and achieve progress towards a just and permanent solution."

On enlargement, EU leaders noted "with satisfaction that the six accession conferences with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have entered into substantive negotiations and reached the first concrete results."

Describing this as "an important stage in the negotiations", EU leaders invite the Council and the Commission "to maintain the momentum in order to permit intensive negotiations in the first half of 1999."

The EU Council welcomed the fact that the overall enlargement process "is now well under way" and the Commission's first regular progress report on the basis of its conclusions in Luxembourg and Cardiff.

It "invites the Commission to present its further report in view of the Helsinki European Council." Referring to EU-Turkish relations, the Council "underlines the great importance it attaches to the further development of relations between the EU and Turkey" and in this context "it recognises the central role of the further implementation of the European strategy for the preparation of its (Turkey's) accession in line with its conclusions in Luxembourg and Cardiff."

Neither Luxembourg nor Cardiff included Turkey in the list of candidate- countries eligible to start accession talks.

The EU developed a European strategy for Turkey to enhance its ties with the country and asked Turkey to help settle the Kurdish problem, assist the peace effort in Cyprus, iron out its disputes with Greece and put its own house in order as far as respect of human rights is concerned, if it wants to get closer to Europe.

Commenting on the European Conference, the EU Council notes its work as "a forum for political consultation on question of general concern to the participants."

Athens News Agency

[02] Karamanlis issues call to all voters,raps PASOK over huge public sector

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

The two-day conference opened at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in the Faliro district.

"An era is ending. A new one is beginningIA leap to reach effectiveness, dependibility, transparency, quality, inspiration and humaneness," he told his audience.

Mr. Karamanlis noted that politicians, especially those from the new generations, should venture a break from the past, and from attitudes and methods that sealed the last, 'lost' as he described it, 15-year period.

Mr. Karamanlis reiterated that the "sick man" of society is the public sector, which he added is a reflection of the era's decay. "The maintenance of this state, which the government does not dare to limit, has led to unprecedented tax raids."

The ND leader added that "the extent and role of the public sector is responsible for Greece being left out of the first (EMU) wave," while he stressed that the PASOK government chose for Greece "a recipe" of defeat.

Mr. Karamanlis said ND is different from PASOK because ND does not believe in an expanded role for the public sector; that the government does not believe in privatisations, and that PASOK believes in the maintenance of a large public sector that requires a high tax burden on citizens.

He underlined that the government also believes that "human creativity and private initiative should play a secondary role".

Mr. Karamanlis said ND's political priorities are hightened development, privatisations, restructuring of the public sector, limiting wasteful public spending and a daring restructuring of the tax system.

He added that political priorities of ND include a dynamic employment policy, combatting crime, support for SMEs, support for farmers and a competitive educational system.

Mr. Karamanlis said that EMU entry should not be achieved in numbers only, rather in real terms, adding: "naturally EMU is a national goal, but it does not fulfill the total content of European orientation."

He stressed that ND's political ideas were confirmed and now established globally.

Finally, Mr. Karamanlis stressed that "social alliances are the best indication that the country wants to turn a page and that citizens are looking for today's solutions and not yesterday's divisions."

Bakoyianni : ND deputy and former culture minister Dora Bakoyianni proposed a party congress for March where ND should be "re-invented".

She added that there is no issue of leadership in the party, stressing that the issue was resolved during the 1997 congress.

Ms Bakoyianni said it is time for brave decisions, since Mr. Karamanlis, on account of his name and past, has the ability to contribute in changing everything in the party.

In closing the conference yesterday, Mr. Karamanlis said "we are comming" to power.

He called on ND cadres to send the message that the party "should not close its doors and windows, rather it should look outward to society," stressing that the "dividing lines of the past have fallen and the chasm that separates ND from PASOK is with those who want to maintain the decay, which includes today's government."

Gov't spokesman : Responding Saturday to Mr. Karamanlis, Government Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis charged that the ND leader was resorting to "gene-ralities without content, presented as a programme".

"Mr. Karamanlis today had the occasion to present responsible views and positive proposals for his party and the country... but instead he again devoted his speech to his well known attacks against the prime minister and generalities without content which he presented as objectives and a programme for ND," Mr. Athanassakis said.

Athens News Agency

[03] Simitis-Clerides meeting in Vienna focuses on summit results

VIENNA 14/12/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis/CNA)

Cyprus government spokesman Christos Stylianides said the two men, who met on the sidelines of the EU summit, discussed diplomatic attempts aiming at reducing tension on the island republic.

Replying to questions, Mr. Stylianides said Cyprus is ready to participate "in a constructive and positive manner in any attempt to reduce tension and military forces."

Meanwhile, US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller was on the island republic on Friday for talks with UN resident representative Ann Hercus.

Mr. Stylianides told the press after the Clerides-Simitis meeting that both men "briefed each other about various issues and assessed the Vienna conclusions as far as Cyprus' accession course is concerned." The spokesman welcomed the Cyprus reference and described it as "very satisfactory", noting that there is no link between Cyprus' accession process and efforts to resolve the Cyprus question.

EU leaders noted "with satisfaction" that the accession conferences with Cyprus and other candidates have entered into "substantive negotiations and reached the first concrete results," which constitutes "an important stage in the negotiations."

The Council and the Commission are also asked to maintain momentum in order to permit intensive negotiations in the first half of 1999.

"Cyprus is part of the group of six (candidate-countries which started substantive talks) and is moving along on the basis of the criteria set out for the remaining countries," Mr. Stylianides said.

Present at the meeting in Vienna were Foreign Ministers Theodoros Pangalos and Ioannis Kasoulides and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, along with Mr. Stylianides.

Athens News Agency

[04] Holbrooke touts trilateral business meeting in Istanbul

ISTANBUL 14/12/1998 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

"We did not come to Istanbul to solve the region's problems, or to negotiate political differences between the two communities in Cyprus," Mr. Holbrooke told the first day of the conference.

"We are here to talk about things that citizens of the three countries, and especially business people, can do to increase communication and cooperation, " he said.

"This is what we call alternative diplomacy."

The meeting was arranged by Oslo's Peace Institute and Columbia University as a continuation of earlier sessions held in Oslo in July and in Brussels last year.

"What is happening here does not change objective realities in Cyprus, but it will soften the hostile climate that exists so that we do not again witness a tragedy, as in the past," Mr. Holbrooke said.

He said the initiative to bring conflicting groups into contact already had shown some success with the installation of a telephone link in Cyprus, boosting communications with the Turkish-occupied north.

"Telephone communication between Greek and Turkish Cypriots has shown a major increase recently. We are seeking similar practical steps, and that is why we are meeting in Istanbul," Mr. Holbrooke said.

Also taking part in the meeting is Thomas Miller, US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus.

Neither US diplomat has held meetings with Turkish government officials. Mr. Holbrooke is due to arrive in Athens today.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference, participants stressed that the meetings are developing into a regular procedure, while a series of measures were also announced.

The lack of drinking water on Cyprus was one of the primary issues discussed, according to the communique, adding that it will be faced with 'non-political' initiatives and through expanding cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Other measures business people will promote are the teaching of Greek in Turkish schools as a second language and vice versa, the teaching of history in a way that doesn't stress differences as well as restoration of historical monuments, among others.

Athens News Agency

[05] KYSEA meeting on armaments programme tomorrow

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

The programme is currently in underway, aimed at bolstering the effectiveness of all three branches of Greece's armed forces.

At Tuesday's meeting, the focus will be on procurements for the Hellenic Air Force, primarily the purchase of fourth-generation fighter planes and airborne radar.

The main contenders for the lucrative warplane contract are the French "Mirage" 2000-5, the "Eurofighter" 2000, the US-made F-15 and F-16 (block 50+) and Russia's Sukhoi 27.

In recent statements, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos hinted at Greece's possible participation in the manufacture of the Eurofighter.

The airborne radar "battle" is being waged by two US and one Swedish manufacturer.

Tomorrow, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will also brief KYSEA on the progress in the implementation of the rest of the armaments programme. The Defence Council met on Friday and Saturday, chaired by Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, to put the finishing touches to recommendatio ns set to be presented at the KYSEA meeting.

Athens News Agency

[06] ND leading PASOK by 7.1%,latest poll claims

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

The ALCO poll showed that 32 per cent of those questioned would vote for ND, compared to 24.9 per cent for those supporting PASOK.

It is the second opinion poll in a week to show ND leading PASOK by a wide margin. A survey by MRB last week gave ND a 6.5 per cent lead over PASOK.

In the ALCO poll, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) had 5.3 per cent support, compared to 5.2 per cent for Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos). Political Spring, which has no seats in Parliament, receive d 1.5 per cent.

Some 25.9 per cent of those polled said they did not know which party to vote for or would vote for none.

According to the MRB poll, 31.8 per cent of respondents said they intended to vote for ND, compared to 25.3 per cent for PASOK.

The results for other parties were: DHKKI 5.2 per cent; KKE 5 per cent, Synaspismos 4.8 per cent; Political Spring 1.5 per cent. The percentage of undecided respondents was 26.4.

Athens News Agency

[07] Tsohatzopoulos: Coalition governments a future prospect

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was speaking on the Vienna summit results, saying Greece is on the right path regarding recent European developments.

Athens News Agency

[08] Arsenis urges educators to persuade pupils to end school occupations

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Arsenis, who was speaking to reporters after closed meetings with high school principals and administrators in the northern city, said he was optimistic that the protests were dissipating.

"The situation is improving because disinformation is receding," he said. The minister has repeatedly blamed disinformation for the outcry, without naming its source.

He added that lost teaching time due to strikes and sit-ins would be made up within the academic year as in the past, when no extension was ordered.

Asked by reporters whether the government would backtrack on reforms, Mr. Arsenis said: "Progress cannot be achieved through deals and concessions, but through courage, persuasion and dialogue."

At the same time, he indicated during the closed meetings that several changes to grading may be made, possibly this year, sources said.

He also told the meetings he was considering a rule allowing students to switch from one university faculty to another in the first year after taking special exams.

The measure would be introduced through a presidential decree, the same sources claimed.

The majority of high school principals and administrators present at the meetings came out in favour of the goverment's reforms, although several expressed qualms about the law's rationale and the amount of information they had been given.

Their objections centred on what they called a more intensive approach, which they feared would drive pupils to private-sector tutorial institutes even more than at present.

A small group of pupils and teachers who have yet to be appointed to public schools waited outside the building where the talks were held, claiming they had been barred from entry.

Meanwhile, firefighters were called in to extinguish a fire that broke out early yesterday at a junior high school under occupation by students in the Athens suburb of Kallithea.

Police said the fire was deliberately lit, probably by intruders who entered the premises through a ground-floor window. Damage to school property was estimated at some 1.5 million drachmas. There were no injuries.

The number of schools around the country presently occupied by pupils protesting planned reforms to the education system is thought to number in the hundreds.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting a number of issues, including teacher shortages, education ministry changes to grading and examinations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, the introduction of open university type programmes, and changes to procedures for appointing new teachers.

Also sparking discontent are budget allocations for education, private schooling, and the prosecution of those occupying or vandalising school property.

Athens News Agency

[09] Bomb blast

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

An anonymous caller warned a private TV station about the bomb, although an explosion occurred almost simultaneously.

Athens News Agency

[10] Trolley drivers to strike tomorrow

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

Regular buses and the railway will run from 9 a.m. tomorrow and stop at 9 p.m.

Hospital doctors, meanwhile, will stage walkouts between 8-2 p.m. today and tomorrow.

GSEE and the civil servants union, ADEDY, are demanding an increase in the tax-free threshold for wage earners and pensioners, higher wage and pension increases than those foreseen in the budget and an inflation-linked tax scale.

Athens News Agency

[11] Gov't promotes telecoms investments in light of 2001 deregulation

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

"Telecoms today are a tool for attracting foreign investment to our country. Investment in the sector to date has only been undertaken by OTE (the state-controlled Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation), but for all citizens to have access to the inf ormation and communications networks, investment by the private sector is necessary, particularly in view of the deregulation of the market," Transport and Telecommunications Minister Tassos Mantelis told the two-day "Money Show" conference, which began on Saturday in Thessaloniki.

He said significant allocations would be devoted to the sector through the third Community Support Framework, and that deregulation could come earlier than Jan. 1, 2001, provided there was adequate planning and organisation in order to avoid "piracy", such as in radio and television frequencies.

"Deregulation frightens neither the government nor OTE, because the appropriate preparations have been made. The market is not going to function in an anarchic fashion, as this would enhance the inequalities between rich and poor by separating those with access to information from those without," he said.

The minister said that subscribers to mobile telephone services today numbered 1.8 million, and given the current 80 per cent growth rate of this particular market segment, they were expected to reach three million by 2001. The growth in the number of I nternet users was projected to rise similarly.

"Greece today must tap existing infrastructure which permit the passage of international communication networks, and play a signifi-cant role in the development of the sector in the broader region of southeastern Europe," he said.

Speaking at the same conference, the president of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece, Vassilis Takas, stressed that the telecoms sector was considered one of the most important and dynamically growing of the Greek economy, representing (ac cording to data in a survey by ICAP) 3.1 per cent of GDP, or 1.029 billion drachmas in 1997, up from 2.7 per cent in 1996, while the forecast cites a doubling in the next five years.

OTE turnover accounted for 78.8 per cent of this sum, and mobile telephony companies for 20.8 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[12] Future for Thessaloniki Stock Exchange centre foreseen

Athens 14/12/1998 (ANA)

"The centre could be a vehicle for privatisation in southeastern Europe and a channel for Greek, European and US capital into those countries," said Mr. Magriotis, addressing a "Money Show" conference being held in the northern port city.

As part of its original design, the centre is to negotiate Elpis depository certificates and other paper for firms in the region.

Athens Stock Exchange President Spyros Kouniakis told the same conference that the Thessaloniki centre had the bourse's support and plans existed to complete its operation through Balkan listings.

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article