Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] Clerides arrives for Athens talks on S-300 missile issue

[02] Traffic accidents over Christmas period claim 18 lives

[03] Canadian FM expresses support for UN resolutions on Cyprus

[04] Greek visas to FYROM citizens reach 1.3 m

[05] T-bill auction today

[06] Greek equities end higher at ASE

[07] Locals, tourists try their luck at Rhodes Casino

[08] New electricity line to be put into service soon

[09] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Clerides arrives for Athens talks on S-300 missile issue

NICOSIA 28/12/1998 (ANA- CNA)

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides said Mr. Clerides would meet Mr. Simitis tomorrow "to brief him on the views of political party leaders and there will be consultations as agreed during an earlier meeting in Athens," held in late November.

No decision was taken at Thursday's meeting of the all-party Cypriot National Council regarding Nicosia's plans to deploy the anti-aircraft missiles, which have provoked fears in the United States and European countries of an increase in tension on the island.

The meeting followed the adoption of two UN Security Council resolutions, 1217 for the renewal of the mandate of the UN Peace-keeping force on the island for a further six months and 1218 on the good Offices Mission of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus .

The resolutions were described as positive by Nicosia and satisfactory by Athens,while they were also welcomed by the US, Britain and the European Union.

The first resolution renewed for six months the UN Peacekeeping Force in the divided island republic and the second calling on the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to respond positively to efforts by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's special repres entative for Cyprus, Dame Ann Hercus, to secure agreement on measures to reduce tension and build confidence between the two communities.

US President Bill Clinton said on Wednesday that he was committed to ending the "tragic division of Cyprus" and urged Cypriots to do their part to support international efforts to end the dispute.

In the statement, issued by the White House late on Tuesday immediately after the approval of the two resolutions, Mr. Clinton vowed to "take all necessary steps to support" them.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also expressed his commitment to work for the implementation of the resolutions, adding that his government wanted to see "a major, sustained effort towards securing a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement in Cyprus...".

Nicosia said it viewed the UN resolutions as positive, since they created "new prospects" to efforts for a settlement of the protracted problem and a reduction of arms on the island.

The Greek government on Wednesday welcomed the Security Council's adoption of the resolutions

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said the simultaneous adoption of the two resolutions not only illustrated the strong interest of the international community in the Cyprus issue, but also showed that the Security Council had realised the dangers ent ailed by any further prolongation of the problem.

Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on the other hand, rejected them repeating their provocative demands for a confederation of two states on the island. In statements Cypriot political party leaders appeared with differing views on whether the S-300 should be deployed on the island or not, but most underlined that any decision should be taken together with Greece as it affects both countries.

Ruling conservative Democratic Rally Party President Nicos Anastasiades said any decision on the S-300 should be taken jointly with Athens and underlined that all consequences should be taken into consideration.

Left-wing AKEL Parliamentary leader Andreas Christou said "the decision should be taken together with Greece" as the S-300 issue also affects Athens.

The initial reaction of the Democratic Party and House of Representatives President Spyros Kyprianou to the resolutions was that "they do not change the situation" which made the government decide to purchase the S- 300.

Mr. Kyprianou also questioned why president Clinton expressed his support only to one of the two resolutions, which refers to the reduction of tension on the island.

In a written statement socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides said that the S-300 should be deployed here as "conditions have not changed nor have the preconditions set been met."

Mr. Lyssarides, whose party participates in government, said the Security Council resolutions are not satisfactory and described statements of support made by world leaders as "Christmas wishes" with no commitment for concrete measures.

Nicosia has said that the decision to deploy the S-300 would be reconsidered if stalled talks for a settlement in Cyprus resume and progress is achieved or if negotiations for the reduction of troops and armaments, leading to demilitarisation, get unde rway.

United Democrat party leader George Vassiliou noted that the international community has sent a clear message for the reduction of tension and arms as well as the importation of high-technology weapons, and said "we must clearly express our support to the UN." The S-300 missile system was in the centr of February's pre-election campaign.

Main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos yesterday said that the Cyprus issue is entering a new phase under very difficult circumstances.

He added that "one more - of the many and well known - United Nations Security Council resolutions is used as an alibi for the non-deployment of the S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

"The Cypriot government has restricted margins of options and manoeuvering...the Greek government on the other hand - and the prime minister personally - bear the heaviest of responsibilities for the unfavourable developments."

"Naturally at this time it is not important to assess the self-evident blame. What is paramount is national unity and understanding and minimising the serious repercussions of this development on the joint defence doctrine and hellenism in general, he s aid."

In a statement meanwhile on Thursday, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) charged that the Cypriot government's decision to purchase and install the S-300 missiles had been motivated by criteria related solely to electoral considerations at the time and had led to an impasse.

In Thessaloniki, Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos urged the president of the republic to call a meeting of party leaders to discuss the issue of the S-300 missile system.

Speaking to a local radio station, Mr. Constantopoulos criticised the government for failing to bring the issue up at an institutional level.

He called developments in the issue the "practical result of a lack of national strategy".

"The Cyprus issue, under the weight of the S-300 (issue), has entered a difficult phase," he said.

Athens News Agency

[02] Traffic accidents over Christmas period claim 18 lives

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

Greek traffic police were on standby yesterday at major intersections and on national highways as vacationers were scheduled to return from the Christmas long weekend.

Conditions on roads have been made more difficult by snowfall in many parts of Greece, with dozens of villages in central and western Macedonia cut off from the rest of the country.

In mountainous areas, wheel-chains are a must, while drivers also had to contend with patches of ice.

According to the National Meteorological Service, the weather will improve today with a gradual rise in temperature up until New Year's Day.

Athens News Agency

[03] Canadian FM expresses support for UN resolutions on Cyprus

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Axworthy, in his letter, endorsed the UN proposal for averting violence or the use of violence, for the two sides commiting themselves to the non- development of military forces and armaments, for an ensuing reduction of armaments, and for ratificati on of an agreement on a package of measures by the UN peacekeeping force on Cyprus aiming at reducing tension along the buffer zone, and in the taking of further measures, including ridding the area of landmines.

He also stressed in his letter that the two sides on Cyprus should cooperate with Ms. Hercus in that direction so that there may be progress towards a viable solution to the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Axworthy said his country had increased sensitivity on the Cyprus problem as Canada would assume, as of January 1, 1999, a non-permament seat on the UN Security Council.

He further offered Canadian knowhow for ridding Cyprus of landmines.

Athens News Agency

[04] Greek visas to FYROM citizens reach 1.3 m

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

The figure is equal to more than two entry visas for each of the 500,000 households in the country, and, according to Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, speaking during his visit last week to Skopje, is an indication of Greece's willingness to further improveties between the two countries.

The liaison office was established under the terms of a 1995 interim agreement which also states that Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are to proceed to talks under UN auspices to find a mutually acceptable solution to the name of the former Yugoslav republic.

Athens and Skopje have been at loggerheads over the country's name since the republic declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Greece opposes the use of the name 'Macedonia' by the landlocked republic, arguing it conceals expansionist designs against its northern province of Macedonia.

Mr. Pangalos had talks in Skopje last Tuesday with FYROM Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski during which both sides expressed the desire for the further development of bilateral economic cooperation.

Athens News Agency

[05] T-bill auction today

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

The auction is to take place through competitive bids by primary dealers, while non-competitive bids will be accepted by non-primary dealers to the tune of 20 per cent of the auctioned sum.

Also, tax-free savings bonds in electronic form will be available to the public on January 4 and 5, 1999.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greek equities end higher at ASE

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.90 percent higher to 2,655.46 points to a net gain of 6.3 percent in the week. Turnover reached 195.2 billion drachmas on volume of 27.5 million shares boosted by several block trades, notably Sidenor.

Sector indices scored gains. Banks rose 2.68 percent to bring total gains since the previous Friday to 10.44 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index added 2.17 percent to 1,672.96 points, up 7.9 pecent since the previous Friday. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 172 to 76 with another 21 issues unchanged.

Sidenor, National Bank of Greece, Commercial Bank, Alpha Credit Bank and Xiosbank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Eskimo, Panafon and Infoquest hit the daily 8.0 percent limit up, followed by Alcar-Aemet, Despec, Aspis Bank and Boutaris which scored big percentage gains. Radio Athina plunged 12 percent, followed by Halyps Cement, Desmos, Xylemporia and Papo utsanis which suffered heavy losses.

Athens News Agency

[07] Locals, tourists try their luck at Rhodes Casino

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

However the casino recorded profits of 1.4 million drachmas as the losses were covered by the entry tickets.

Visitors played an average of 80,000 drachmas per capita, according to casino statistics.

The casino is a favourite destination for Israeli tourists during this season, who once again arrived on the island to spend their holidays.

Finally, more than 2,000 locals visited the casino, as this time of year is the only period they are allowed by regulations to enter. The regulations will be abolished in March.

Athens News Agency

[08] New electricity line to be put into service soon

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

The line, whose construction was vehemently opposed by local residents claiming health risks, is to be put into service soon.

Athens News Agency

[09] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 28/12/1998 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            279.397 285.875
Can.Dollar           180.147 184.324
Australian Dlr       171.507 175.483
Pound Sterling       468.065 478.918
Irish Punt           413.466 423.052
Pound Cyprus         561.968 574.997
Pound Malta          692.802 721.669
Turkish pound (100)    0.073   0.076
French franc          49.610  50.760
Swiss franc          203.613 208.334
Belgian franc          8.066   8.253
German Mark          166.358 170.215
Finnish Mark          54.729  55.998
Dutch Guilder        147.629 151.052
Danish Kr.            43.731  44.745
Swedish Kr.           34.686  35.490
Norwegian Kr.         36.404  37.248
Austrian Sh.          23.664  24.213
Italian lira (100)    16.800  17.189
Yen (100)            240.848 246.432
Spanish Peseta         1.955   2.001
Port. Escudo           1.623   1.661

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             279.397 285.875
Montreal             180.147 184.324
Sydney               171.507 175.483
London               468.065 478.918
Dublin               413.466 423.052
Nicosia              561.968 574.997
Paris                 49.610  50.760
Zurich               203.613 208.334
Brussels               8.066   8.253
Frankfurt            166.358 170.215
Helsinki              54.729  55.998
Amsterdam            147.629 151.052
Copenhagen            43.731  44.745
Stockholm             34.686  35.490
Oslo                  36.404  37.248
Vienna                23.664  24.213
Milan                 16.800  17.189
Tokyo                240.848 246.432
Madrid                 1.955   2.001
Lisbon                 1.623   1.661

Athens News Agency

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