Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Karamanlis lashes out at gov't policy,budget vote tonight

[02] FYROM PM refers to thawing of relations with Athens prior to Pangalos visit

[03] Ethnic Albanian leader Tzaferi lauds Greek economic presence in FYROM

[04] Joint PASOK political secretariat, cabinet session

[05] Christodoulos: Turkish underwear bearing Christ's image an 'insult'

[06] KKE cadre Avdis' office firebombed, anarchists claim responsibility

[07] Constantopoulos decries lack of gov't criticism overIraqi strikes

[08] Protesting students warn of road blocks

[09] New Athens administrative courts in Ambelokipi

[10] 12 to face loan shark charges

[11] Five convicted for soccer violence

[01] Karamanlis lashes out at gov't policy,budget vote tonight

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

Last night, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis sharply criticised overall government policy. Mr. Karamanlis termed the budget "a budget of fictitious reality", adding that the government was unable to handle the country's major problems.

"You have failed and the overwhelming majority of the Greek people condemn government options, while the rift between the government and society is worsening. Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the government are isolated from reality. They are mere obse rvers," he said.

Mr. Karamanlis referred to five points which, according to him, are shaping the current political scene: "The economic options and the deadlock created by Mr. Simitis' talk of indicators; a considerably weakened government and the premier's inability to proceed with necessary structural changes, as well as PASOK's explosive internal situation."

Mr. Karamanlis insisted on this point, saying that a divided party is unable to rule and criticised Mr. Simitis because these internal problems have led him to even play with institutions.

"The more the government is weakening the more problems will multiply and the PM will be an observer of decomposition and decline," he said.

Mr. Karamanlis said ND is the rising political force "and this was apparent in the municipal elections and it will appear in the Euro-elections and will be sealed in the national elections."

In response, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said the Greek economy's rate of growth was at 3.5 per cent this year while in 1993, when ruling PASOK came to power, it stood at -1.6 per cent.

He said privatisations under the PASOK governments brought to national coffers 1.06 trillion drachmas, while during the three-year reign of ND between 1990-93 the figure stood at 400 billion drachmas. Mr. Papantoniou called Mr. Karamanlis' references on agricultural policies "demagoguery".

On his part, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas accused the government and the national economy minister, in particular, saying they were disorientating the people.

Contradicting the argument put forth by relevant ministers that the government has decreased the public debt with its policy, Mr. Tsovolas said this debt increased eightfold in a decade. It increased from five trillion drachmas in 1988 to 41 trillion drachmas, an amount corresponding to 116 per cent of the public debt, he said.

Mr. Tsovolas termed the 1999 budget "the worst I have seen as a member of Parliament", stressing that "it attempts to further decrease the social salary and shrink the welfare state."

From ND, MP Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the "national economy was being offered up as a sacrifice on the altar of 'nominal' convergence", compromising the country's future.

"You promise the paradise of EMU but you say nothing about the post- inclusion period," Coalition of the Left and Progress deputy Fotis Kouvelis said.

He queried whether production, administration and development policies would be enough to deal with the competition developing within EMU, saying this competition would lead to lower wages and to lay-offs.

Venizelos : Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos criticised the main opposition party's tactics in Parliament yesterday, saying that the government was fighting to get Greece into EMU while New Democracy stood by and waited for it to fall "like a ripe fruit".

"New Democracy has to take a stand on issues, otherwise it lacks credibility, " Mr. Venizelos said.

Mr. Venizelos said inclusion in EMU would bring a better future for welfare, education and culture.

Papaioannou : In his speech Saturday, Labour and Social Security minister Miltiades Papaioannou said the government would spend 300 billion drachmas in the framework of its employment policy until the end of 1999, which would create 110,000 new jobs and would also incl ude programmes against social exclusion, and in favour of the elderly, the young, and women.

He said unemployment in Greece had been stabilised at 10.3 per cent while showing upward trends in the rest of the European Union, and that only four percent of Greeks were engaged in part-time employment, compared to an average of 18 percent in the oth er partners.

Former ND minister Vassilis Kontoyiannopoulos, now an independent deputy, stated his intention to abstain in the vote, expressing the view that the budget was indeed capable of attaining at least the target of nominal convergence with the other EU econo mies.

National Economy Deputy Minister Christos Pachtas said Greece will have absorbed the total sum of Santer Package funds until the end of 2000,one year before EMU accession. He said statements by EU Commissioner Monica Wulf-Matthies, according to which the Greek rate of absorption was higher that the EU average lent support to his view, and that the completion of large projects would change the face of the country.

Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis said in contrast to the rest of the EU, producers' nominal prices in Greece were rising, and that fiscal inflows from the Union were double the value of Greek produce.

Nevertheless, he claimed the funds were not enough for the modernisation of the Greek farm sector. "We need an institutional re-orientation of the role of the state in the development of rural areas, and the provision of funds not only towards support for specific products," he said.

Mr. Anomeritis added that the "cooperative movement has served its purpose and we now need new models and systems to improve competitiveness of products, and achieve sustainable development and conquer new markets".

Athens News Agency

[02] FYROM PM refers to thawing of relations with Athens prior to Pangalos visit

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

According to the Athens Sunday paper "To Vima", Mr. Georgievski said the Greek FM's visit "will have a historic dimension", adding: "we will have a major rewarming in relations between the two countries after this visit" and "it will be easy for us to agree on whatever issue from then on."

The FYROM premier and leader of the VMRO party, which in the recent past expressed some of the most extreme positions on the issue of the former Yugoslav republic's name, appeared much more moderate, saying his party's national policy was related to the country's independence from Yugoslavia.

Greece opposes the use by the neighbouring country of the term 'Macedonia', saying it implies expansionist designs against its northern province by the same name. An interim agreement between the two countries was signed in September 1995 concerning the normalisation of bilateral relations, while talks under UN auspices to find a solution for the land-locked republic's name are underway between the two countries.

Mr. Georgievski said that both his party and himself have a European orientation and also pursue the participation of FYROM in NATO's structures.

According to Mr. Georgievski, the issue of the name will not be the first issue which he will try to have resolved, but will place priority on economic and cultural relations between Greece and FYROM. However, in referring to his country he insists on using the term 'Macedonia'.

Additionally, the coalition partner in the government alliance, Vasil Tupurkovski "threatens" Greece with "thousands of recourses" with European courts in connection with ownership claims by citizens of FYROM on Greek territory.

However, both men place particular importance on developing considerable economic relations between the two countries.

Mr. Georgievski said FYROM, within the framework of economic cooperation and the opening to a free market, is ready to cooperate with Greek businesses, intending to award the construction of major road axes, as well as the development of railway lines with the Greek Railways Organisation(OSE), provided it shows interest.

Athens News Agency

[03] Ethnic Albanian leader Tzaferi lauds Greek economic presence in FYROM

SKOPJE 21/12/1998 (ANA - M. Vihou)

Mr. Tzaferi made the statement on Saturday to the head of Greece's liaison office in FYROM, Alexandros Mallias.

The Greek envoy visited the ethnic Albanian leader in Tetovo to brief him on the visit by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos to FYROM tomorrow.

Mr. Tzaferi, whose party participates in the new FYROM government, said Greece is the only neighbouring country capable of contributing to the economic development of FYROM. He further said that Albanians in FYROM have a distinct economic power base, as they receive some 500 million D-marks a year in remittances from abroad, adding however, that the ethnic Albanian community lacks necessary know-how to convert their cash into investments and as a result the money is spent on consumer goods. "We are very open to Greek presence in our regions, but also because Greece is the sole neighbouring country of ours which is a member of the European Union and NATO," he said.

Athens News Agency

[04] Joint PASOK political secretariat, cabinet session

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

However, no decision was taken, according to PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis.

Mr. Skandalidis said that at the meeting the PM expressed scepticism over PASOK's structure and functioning, while in the ensuing discussion a convergence of views was reached over views expressed by participating cadres. Mr. Skandalidis added that rele vant decisions will be taken by the party's bodies.

On the question of turmoil in the educational sector, Mr. Skandalidis said that "what is of importance is for the pupils to return to school", adding that "this issue must come to an end for the good of the country and the new generation."

Athens News Agency

[05] Christodoulos: Turkish underwear bearing Christ's image an 'insult'

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

According to press reports from Istanbul, Christ's image - apparently taken from an icon - is printed directly in front of the underwear brief.

After a church service, Christodoulos expressed his sorrow over the incident, saying it insults "one of the most sacred areas of man's soul."

"...It is not correct, not logical, it is not noble and civilised for people to be attacked on what they believe. I am certain that this action does not correspond with the deeper beliefs of the Turkish people, because Muslims respect God. However, an i ssue of human rights is now broached. No one has the right to insult another's religion," he said.

The Archbishop also reminded that several years ago western entrepreneurs had manufactured underwear with sayings from the Koran printed on them. A firestorm of protest from the Islamic world, Christodoulos said, immediately led to their removal.

"I am sure that the Christian world will rise up against this hubris and disrespect," he added.

Athens News Agency

[06] KKE cadre Avdis' office firebombed, anarchists claim responsibility

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

A phone call to the Athens daily "Athinaiki" by an unidentified person denounced what he called an "effort by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) to break up pupils' takeovers (of schools) and continue its (KKE) destructive action, as it also did at the march for the Polytechnic (last November)".

The explosion, from a makeshift device composed of gas cannisters attached to a plastic container filled with gasoline, caused a fire at the office - located on Solonos street. The only injury reported was of a 21-year-old woman being treated for shock.

She was at an adjacent foreign language institute at the time of the blast.

A number of students were also at the institute.

A subsequent fire was extinguished before it could do serious damage.

Also on the same floor are the law offices of the leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress Nikos Constantopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[07] Constantopoulos decries lack of gov't criticism overIraqi strikes

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Constantopoulos claimed that the government's "disgraceful stance" over the attacks was a form of legitimisation.

"The US and British bombings are a wilful provocation to humanity and trample international legality underfoot. The Greek government should do the same as any sensitive and democratic person who respects law and order, " he said.

Mr. Constantopoulos was speaking during a visit to an open-air encampment in Koumoundourou Square, central Athens, where hundreds of homeless Kurdish refugees have been living in tents for months.

Again blasting the government, he said it had neither secured European Union funding for hosting Kurdish refugees nor housed them in hotels. "In addition, despite sensitivity shown by residents and businesses near the encampment, the situation could lead to tension, racism and problems of hygiene. The refugees' living conditions are nightmarish," Mr. Constantopoulos said.

Athens News Agency

[08] Protesting students warn of road blocks

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

Student committees from around the country meeting in Athens vowed to continue their protests until the education ministry withdrew the reform package. They said they aimed to cut off traffic on the national highways "from the Peloponnese to Evros".

Summary road blocks and occupations of schools have been the major characteristics of the weeks-long movement by students at high schools to have the education ministry change its tack on the reforms.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting on 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.

The approach of the Christmas and New Year holiday break appears to have had little effect on hundreds of students still occupying school premises in protest at the education ministry's reforms. Nationwide the number of schools under occupation is estim ated to be a thousand.

The meeting yesterday decided occupations of school buildings will continue throughout the Christmas and New Year season at a number of locations, while students have also planned a rally in Athens on Jan. 15.

The committees said they would review their protest action again on Jan. 24.

Athens News Agency

[09] New Athens administrative courts in Ambelokipi

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

The two buildings are situated at the corner of Riankour and Panga streets in the densely populated Athens district of Ambelokipi. The ceremony was attended by party and judicial union representatives.

Mr. Yiannopoulos referred to efforts aimed at satisfying the long-standing demand by administrative judges and judicial employees for modern offices.

However, several dozen local residents gathered outside the construction sites and voiced their opposition, saying the new buildings eliminated precious green space in their neighbourhood. A heated verbal exchange between the residents and the minister followed.

Costs are expected to reach 5.8 billion drachmas, with a completion date set in 2000.

Athens News Agency

[10] 12 to face loan shark charges

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

Among the group are the legal adviser for a bank, businessmen and a former senior public servant. None of the 12 has made any statement regarding the charges.

Press reports said the alleged long-running scheme had brought in up to 10 billion drachmas for the group. Their activity was uncovered when dozens of people filed complaints in 1996.

Athens News Agency

[11] Five convicted for soccer violence

Athens 21/12/1998 (ANA)

All five filed for appeal and were released after the sentence was handed down.

Of the other four arrested during Thursday's unrest, three, who are minors, were placed in the custody of their parents, while another was acquitted of any involvement.

The nine were arrested for throwing rocks and planks at police. About 20 police officers were injured during the unrest - none seriously.

The violence forced referees to call off the match for 30 minutes. Olympiakos won the match 3-1.

Athens News Agency

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