Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't chooses Sweden's Ericsson for airbrne radars

[02] Gov't to start talks in early '99 on overhauling tax system

[03] Doudos to sell yarn to Benetton, Marks & Spencer

[04] Average weighted rate drops in 10-yr bond auction

[05] Stocks end higher in wake of declines

[06] National Bank of Greece holds presentations in Paris, London

[07] Hellenic Petroleum-Bruckner agreement for BOPP film

[08] EU allows write-off of Greek farm cooperatives' debts

[09] Turkish tourism official calls for cooperation with Greece

[10] Pangalos to visit Kuwait, Pakistan

[11] Pangalos visit to FYROM

[12] Venizelos meets with Armenian counterpart Saroyian

[13] Controls to fall for Schengen Pact countries' citizens

[14] G.Papandreou: Implementation of Dayton agreements will benefit entire region

[15] Holbrooke concludes talks with Greek leadership

[16] Kranidiotis disagrees with 'ethnocentric' solution to Cyprus

[17] Study on women journalists

[18] Strikes,students and inclement weather bring traffic to a standstill

[19] Pre-historic archaeological find in Evros

[20] Romania's Ugureanu lectures on his country's course over last decade

[21] Bill allowing cremation expected

[22] Publication on Acropolis Museum unveiled

[23] Icon exhibition in Thessaloniki

[01] Gov't chooses Sweden's Ericsson for airbrne radars

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The decision was announced by Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, following a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) that was chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

The radar systems are expected to be delivered in 45 months, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said. In the meantime, Greece will receive a system that will enable crews to be trained in the new system.

The Erieye radar system will be fitted on the Brazilian-made twin-propeller "Embraer 145" aircraft.

KYSEA also said it would take a final decision on the purchase of new fighter aircraft for the Hellenic Air force at its next meeting, at the end of January or early February.

The main contenders for a lucrative fighter jet 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.

Gov't spokesman : Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said later that the price for the radar systems would be about $570 million, which included pilot training costs, spare parts and support.

However, he added, a final price - possibly lower - would be announced after talks.

Spending for this item has been accounted for and will not further burden the budget, he said, adding that the acquisition was one which the economy could shoulder.

Mr. Reppas said KYSEA also discussed replacing the air force's transport C- 130 planes with lower maintenance and cost aircraft.

Meanwhile, in an ANA dispatch from Sweden, commenting on the Greek government's decision to purchase the Eireye radar tracking system, the general director of Ericsson Microwave System, Jan Oke Kark, said "it is one of the biggest orders that Ericsson has ever received and I believe that further negotiations will have a small duration and a favourable conclusion."

The director of Ericsson's AEW System department Lenard Yewelson said the order will create about 100 new jobs in Sweden but in coming years jobs will also be created in Greece, where the system will ultimately be assembled and fitted onto aircraft.

Brazil has already ordered the same type of radars by virtue of a contract signed two years ago while their delivery is due to start in 1999.

News of the Greek government's decision has been dominating the Swedish mass media as of yesterday afternoon.

Athens News Agency

[02] Gov't to start talks in early '99 on overhauling tax system

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Among topics on the table for discussion will be the abolition of base assessed taxes, the introduction of an inflation-linked tax scale, a review of tax-exempt income levels, and a streamlining of tax brackets, Mr. Drys said.

The government has already pledged to introduce changes to the tax system in 2000, including probable cuts in income tax.

Addressing a seminar of the Senior Executives Association, Mr. Drys also said that the government was taking part in European Union talks on the adoption of a taxation ethics code that would try to eliminate tax wars sparked by individual countries shar ply lowering their taxes in order to attract investors.

"We are moving towards a full harmonisation of fiscal policies based on joint agreements," Mr. Drys said.

Athens News Agency

[03] Doudos to sell yarn to Benetton, Marks & Spencer

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The agreements were concluded after presentations by Doudos at the two latest Expofil trade fairs in Paris, Doudos said in a statement.

Doudos forecast profits of 250 million drachmas in 1998 against 133 million a year earlier.

Sales in January-September totalled 3.5 billion drachmas from 2.9 billion in the same period of 1997, up 20 percent.

Exports, which represent almost half of turnover, were worth 1.7 billion drachmas in the first nine months, up 41 percent on 1.2 billion a year earlier.

Athens News Agency

[04] Average weighted rate drops in 10-yr bond auction

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The l0-year paper was a reopening of the original March 26, 1998 issue.

Demand was 3.7 times the 280 billion drachmas the government was seeking.

Accepted by the finance ministry were bids totalling 336 billion drachmas.

Traders said the auction showed that Greece was making progress in its target of alignment on rates with the European Union.

Athens News Agency

[05] Stocks end higher in wake of declines

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.70 percent up at 2,423.83 points. Trade was light to moderate with turnover rising to 66.5 billion drachmas from 51.5 billion drachmas a day earlier on volume of 12,466,000 shares.

The FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index gained 0.70 percent to finish at 1,494.62 points.

The parallel market for smaller cap stocks underperformed the general index, closing 0.11 percent lower.

Sector indices were mostly higher.

Banks gained 0.89 percent, Leasing rose 1.39 percent, Insurance jumped 3.09 percent, Investment nosed up 0.34 percent, Construction lost 1.30 percent, Industrials edged up 0.62 percent, Miscellaneous increased 1.70 percent, and Holding gained 1.17 perce nt.

Of 267 shares traded advances led declines at 130 to 116 with 21 unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks were Mytilineos, Panafon, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation and Viosol.

Scoring the highest percentage gains at or near the daily 8.0 percent upper volatility limit were Daring, Halyps (preferred), Metka (common and preferred), Remek, Mytilineos, Aspis Housing, Corinth Spinning Mills, Elfiko and Dimitriadis.

Posting the biggest percentage losses at or near the 8.0 percent limit down were Bank of Athens, Inerga, Mouriadis, Thessaliki, Viosol (preferred and common), Ideal, Eskimo (common and preferred) and Halyvdofyllon.

National Bank of Greece ended at 52,525 drachmas, Ergobank at 26,750, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,300, Ionian Bank at 12,900, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 6,190, Delta Dairy at 3,390, Intracom at 12,520, Titan Cement at 18,995, Hellenic Petro leum at 2,160, Minoan Lines at 6,150, and Panafon at 6,850 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[06] National Bank of Greece holds presentations in Paris, London

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Handling the presentation, which was also held a day earlier in London, were deputy governor Nikos Karamouzis, the directors of the bank's treasury and strategic planning departments, the managing director of London-based NBG International, Pavlos Stellakis, and NBG's head of equities, Mariela Porfyratou.

In addition to a macro-economic outlook and investment opportunities in the domestic bond and stock markets, the officials outlined financial services offered by National Bank of Greece in the drachma and in foreign currencies.

Athens News Agency

[07] Hellenic Petroleum-Bruckner agreement for BOPP film

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The investment is budgeted at seven billion drachmas and will create 50 nnew jobs. The operation of the new line is scheduled to begin in mid-2000 and is expected to further promote the vertical integration of the polypropylene sector in Greece, which is a strategic goal of the group.

Athens News Agency

[08] EU allows write-off of Greek farm cooperatives' debts

BRUSSELS 16/12/1998 (ANA-F. Myrtsidou)

The decision is expected to be welcomed by the concerns in question, many of which, such as Elaiourgiki, the country's largest olive oil producers' cooperative, were in danger of shutting down and could not undertake any restructuring investments.

The measure will also provide a much needed injection to the portfolio of Agricultural Bank, which will now receive from the state bonds of equal value to cover its claims.

Agriculture Minister Giorgos Anomeritis said the opportunity will be utilised correctly, will not lead to distortions of competition and will contribute to and improvement in the productivity and competitiveness of Greek farm production.

Athens News Agency

[09] Turkish tourism official calls for cooperation with Greece

ISTANBUL 16/12/1998 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Tourist Agency Union (TUSAB) President Tahla Camas said this cooperation is necessary to compete against Far East and African destinations.

"What is important is not to steal water from the jug, but to increase it. I call on my Greek collegues to jointly increase tourism. This cooperation will contribute to peace and brotherhood between the two countries."

Athens News Agency

[10] Pangalos to visit Kuwait, Pakistan

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The Greek FM will meet with Kuwaiti Emir Jabir al-Ahmad al-Jabir as-Sabah, to whom he will convey a letter by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. He will also meet other Kuwaiti government officials.

Mr. Pangalos will then fly to Islamabad for talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Several agreements on bilateral relations are expected to be signed during Mr. Pangalos' visit to Pakistan.

Athens News Agency

[11] Pangalos visit to FYROM

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Pangalos is expected to meet with FYROM government officials on developments in the Balkans and international affairs and will exchange views on the present state of bilateral relations and room for improvement, a foreign ministry statement said yes terday.

Athens News Agency

[12] Venizelos meets with Armenian counterpart Saroyian

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

The two discussed archaeological research, contemporary arts and decided to pursue the mutual translation of works by Armenian and Greek writers.

A protocol of cooperation focussing on film, audio-visual productions, theatrical works, concerts and the fine arts is also being pursued.

Athens News Agency

[13] Controls to fall for Schengen Pact countries' citizens

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

At a meeting of Parliament's foreign affairs and defence committee yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said the abolition of controls at airports has been scheduled for April 1, 1999 - and at the country's land and sea borders as of July 1, 1999.

Mr. Kranidiotis said that Greece has so far implemented the Schengen Pact, which has been partially valid since Dec. 8, 1997. He accepted the holding of a special meeting on the course of the country's participation in the Pact, while the foreign affairs and defence committee's newly elected chairman, Karolos Papoulias, said that the public order and justice ministers will be called on to participate in the meeting.

Referring to the Lisbon Protocol, Mr. Kranidiotis termed it a "purely procedural amendment" concerning the shadowing and pursuit of people having perpetrated serious offences leading to their extradition.

According to this amendment, authorisation is given to each country to change the principles which will apply for the above actions with internal processes.

"We indicated the public order ministry for monitoring and pursuit and the justice ministry for extradition," Mr. Kranidiotis said.

Athens News Agency

[14] G.Papandreou: Implementation of Dayton agreements will benefit entire region

MADRID 16/12/1998 (ANA)

"Some important steps have been taken lately and more specifically that of the elections which we could characterise a landmark in the process. But a great deal has yet to be done for the development of the economy, the education of young people and tol erance among ethnic groups," he said while speaking at an international conference on Bosnia.

"...it is also very important for the entire region since Bosnia-Herzegovina is the place where three different ethnic groups live whose harmonious cohabitation is an issue concerning all the Balkans. The importance of the success of the implementation of the Dayton agreements is also great since it will not only benefit Bosnia-Herzegovina but the entire region as well," he said.

The conference, due to come to a close today, is convened every year to ascertain the course of developments in the peace process in the region. Delegates participating in the conference said that steps taken in the past year are "positive" but stressed the need for an intensification of efforts on issues concerning the return of refugees, security and the stabilisation of democratic institutions.

On his part, Mr. Papandreou said that "the contribution by Balkan countries towards the further settlement of problems which have arisen from the crisis in Bosnia is not only necessary for the specific case but must also constitute the general vision for the future of the peoples in the region.

"We must support the forces of pluralism in Bosnia's society and not those who promote nationalistic and secessionist trends. Greece is interested in the region's security and the good course of all the countries in the Balkans with which it is linked with bonds of friendship and considers them its moral associates for the future," he said.

On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Papandreou met with the special envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina Carlos Westendorp and representatives of ethnic groups in the region for an exchange of views on progress in the peace process. He also met with the Foreign Ministers of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Jovanovic and Albania's Milo, as well as NATO's representative for Bosnia, Gen. Wesley Clark.

Last night, Mr. Papandreou attended a dinner given by the heir of the Spanish royal house for the officials participating in the conference.

Athens News Agency

[15] Holbrooke concludes talks with Greek leadership

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said Mr. Holbrooke and Greek government officials exchanged views on regional issues, including Cyprus and Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr. Holbrooke, accompanied by special US State Department coordinator on Cyprus, Thomas Miller, arrived in Athens on Monday, part of a tour of capitals involved in the Cyprus dispute.

They met with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[16] Kranidiotis disagrees with 'ethnocentric' solution to Cyprus

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

"The Cypriot people comprise two communities and a solution must provide solutions to problems of both sides," he said during a speech on the possibilities of a more integrated projection of the Cyprus problem through the mass media and an opening of new channels of communication with international public opinion.

Referring to current developments on the issue, he said that the island republic's EU accession course, dialogue on security with a view to its partial demilitarisation and intercommunal dialogue converged towards the prospect of a solution.

He said the EU accession course was developing smoothly, and that arguments in favour of a solution of the political problem before accession did not arise in any official document of the European Union, but from European leaders who "are sending the wr ong message to Turkey".

Cyprus government spokesman Christos Stylianides, who also spoke at the event, stressed that Athens and Nicosia reached common decisions and had a common strategy, "although through different concerns and different starting points."

He also said that "the period of our self-evident just cause has passed, as the pace of development of the Cyprus issue does not create news, the result being that our communication policy is suffering."

Athens News Agency

[17] Study on women journalists

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

According to the study, presented during a press conference, 63 per cent answered they did not regret choosing these vocations and would choose it again, but only 49 per cent said they had found a balance between their personal lives and work, while only 8.5 per cent held higher management positions.

Athens News Agency

[18] Strikes,students and inclement weather bring traffic to a standstill

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens suffered more traffic congestion than usual during yesterday's rush hour as trolley bus drivers called a 24-hour strike to support a General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) general strike against the government's 1999 budget.

Buses and the metro began rolling only at 9 a.m. and stopped again at 9 p.m.

Also joining the GSEE and the civil servants union ADEDY strike were state- run Olympic Airways and ground handling crews. Only one OA flight per destination was being carried out yesterday and only six train routes between the Peloponnese and northern Greece.

In Thessaloniki, strikers and students protesting education ministry reforms blocked roads.

A split in unionists' ranks meant that two, instead of one, rallies were held in Thessaloniki and in Athens.

Unappointed teachers and students in the northern Greek capital held three rallies at different points around Thessaloniki.

Gale force winds forced the closure of the Rio-Antirrio link early yesterday but it was reopened at about 11 a.m.

Adverse weather conditions also forced ferries scheduled to sail from the ports of Rafina and Piraeus for the Aegean and Dodecanese islands and Crete to remain in port.

In Hania, Crete, phone and power company crews worked despite the strike to restore power and phone lines cut by strong winds and rain prevailing in the area.

Power cuts were reported in a number of regions, while the eastern Selino region was without phone lines.

Part of a wall on the old port of Hania was brought down by the rough seas, and strong winds uprooted a number of trees in the region.

Youth violence : Police said a group of about 10 youths set fire to a car in the central Athens district around 2 p.m., following the end of the protest rally by students and teachers.

The fire was extinguished by residents.

Police said the group attempted to damage another car shortly afterwards but was chased away by the car's owner.

The protest march by students and teachers, who declared a 24-hour strike yesterday, ended at the Parliament building.

Teachers issued a resolution condemning the government for understaffing, lack of textbooks, lost teaching hours and underfunding for education.

The resolution called for the abolition of the education ministy's reforms as the "only way out of the impasse currently found in the education sector".

According to an announcement from GSEE, there was universal support for the strike from the public transport, shipping, banking, public utility and construction sectors.

Keynote speaker at the GSEE-ADEDY rally was the president of the teachers' union, Nikos Tsoulias, who said the union movement demanded the support and improvement of workers' wages, increased spending on education, health and social security, tax relief for wage-earners and pensioners and measures to combat unemployment.

The rally also voted through a resolution to fight for the introduction of the 35-hour working week.

The GSEE-ADEDY protesters were smaller in number to the separate rally held by the Communist Party-affiliated union faction ESAK. Students separated the rival factions during the march to Parliament House.

Athens News Agency

[19] Pre-historic archaeological find in Evros

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Archaeologists working on the site found a large number of clay human- shaped figurines, which allow for the interpretation that the site is significant. The major discovery is of an archives storage site, while construction of a shelter-type museum is considered.

In an unrelated development, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday inaugurated the "Gold Neolithic Treasure" exhibition, confiscated from antiquities smugglers in 1997.

Artifacts include 53 gold items, while finds on loan from other Greek museums are also exhibited.

Athens News Agency

[20] Romania's Ugureanu lectures on his country's course over last decade

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Ugureanu, who paid an official visit to Greece in the light of the assumption of the presidency of multipartite Balkan Cooperation in 1999 by Romania, gave a lecture at the foreign ministry's amphitheatre last night. The event was organised by the Greek Foundation of Defence and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).

Referring to Greece, he thanked Athens for what he called its support of Romania's claims to join European structures.

Athens News Agency

[21] Bill allowing cremation expected

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Cremation is currently not available in Greece, as it runs counter to Orthodox Church dogma.

Mr. Floridis said the conditions were right for the matter to be brought to Parliament.

Last month, several Parliament deputies tabled an amendment to a local government finances bill requesting that persons that do not belong to the Orthodox Christian faith be allowed the option of cremation instead of burial.

The 13 deputies hail from ruling PASOK, main opposition New Democracy, the Coalition for the Left and Progresss and Democratic Social Movement.

A second amendment signed by three Communist Party of Greece deputies proposes that all persons be given the right to cremation regardless of faith if they so declare to the municipality they reside in before their death.

In 1994, Attica municipalities proposed allowing families to choose cremation as one way of dealing with overflowing cemeteries.

The proposal was dopped after it ran into objections from the Church, with the director of the Holy Synod's press office Ioannis Hatzifotis, saying that cremation ran counter to Church and Holy Synod rulings.

Athens News Agency

[22] Publication on Acropolis Museum unveiled

Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

It is the first time the museumYs sculptures along with other minor, never exhibited, pieces are featured in an illustrated publication.

Ms Trianti, who has connected her prolific scientific work with the Acropolis Museum, was sacked on Dec. 3 by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos from her position as the director of the first department of prehistoric and classical antiquities for tem porarily closing the ancient Agora due to personnel shortages.

Mr. Venizelos, in a message on the occasion presentation of the book, said that "despite the distance"created between them due to an administrative problem, he held Ms Trianti's scientific work and contribution in 'high esteem'.

Earlier in the month, the minister promised to reinstate the archaeologist if an administrative review found she acted responsibly in the running of the ancient Agora site.

Athens News Agency

[23] Icon exhibition in Thessaloniki

VIENNA 16/12/1998 (ANA)

Greek ambassador to Vienna Yiannis Gennimatas will inaugurate the exhibition next Thursday, while the Orthodox Metropolitan of Austria, Mihail, is scheduled to speak. Exhibited icons were produced during the 18th and 19th centuries at the Greek printing houses of Vienna for the Orthodox monasteries and communities in the Austro-Hungarian empire.

Athens News Agency Athens 16/12/1998 (ANA)

ATHENS FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Bank ofc Greece closing rates of: December 15, 1998

Parities in Drachmas Banknotes Buying Selling US Dollar 275.439 281.825 Can.Dollar 178.897 183.045 Australian Dlr 172.057 176.047 Pound Sterling 465.030 475.812 Irish Punt 413.466 423.052 Pound Cyprus 562.047 575.079 Pound Malta 682.987 711.445 Turkish pound (100) 0.080 0.083 French franc 49.671 50.823 Swiss franc 206.177 210.958 Belgian franc 8.075 8.262 German Mark 166.512 170.373 Finnish Mark 54.778 56.048 Dutch Guilder 147.778 151.205 Danish Kr. 43.815 44.831 Swedish Kr. 34.262 35.056 Norwegian Kr. 35.261 36.033 Austrian Sh. 23.682 24.231 Italian lira (100) 16.821 17.211 Yen (100) 236.165 241.641 Spanish Peseta 1.958 2.004 Port. Escudo 1.636 1.674 Foreign Exchange Buying Selling New York 275.439 281.825 Montreal 178.897 183.045 Sydney 172.057 176.047 London 465.030 475.812 Dublin 413.466 423.052 Nicosia 562.047 575.079 Paris 49.671 50.823 Zurich 206.177 210.958 Brussels 8.075 8.262 Frankfurt 166.512 170.373 Helsinki 54.778 56.048 Amsterdam 147.778 151.205 Copenhagen 43.815 44.831 Stockholm 34.262 35.056 Oslo 35.261 36.033 Vienna 23.682 24.231 Milan 16.821 17.211 Tokyo 236.165 241.641 Madrid 1.958 2.004 Lisbon 1.636 1.674

Athens News Agency

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