Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] Nicosia to adopt final decision on S-300s after Athens meeting

[02] President Stephanopoulos to bestow distinctions on occasion of New Year

[03] Operation of illegal immigration from Bulgaria to Greece

[04] Police must clear the roads of protesting students,FM says

[05] Police discover illegal immigrants hiding in hearse

[06] Elval aluminum foil sector to be undertaken by Symetal

[07] 'Blind' landing system due to be installed at Thessaloniki airport

[08] Greek stocks test the 2,700 level

[09] Attica Enterp buys majority stake in Cronus Airlines

[10] Ionian Bank to offer euro products and services

[11] Changes in Greek Tourism Organisation

[12] Air Greece to add two Fokker aircraft to its fleet

[13] Negotiation for Tegopoulos shares

[14] Xiosbank interest rates

[15] Info Quest participates in increases of Unifon's share capital

[16] New electric power line starts operating in Athens

[17] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Nicosia to adopt final decision on S-300s after Athens meeting

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The plans have been criticised by the United States and European countries which fear deployment will increase tension.

In an interview published in yesterday's edition of the Athens daily "Apogevmatini", Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said "new conditions" had been created "in light of which the S-300 issue must be reassessed".

The conditions referred to by Mr. Pangalos were two resolutions on Cyprus passed last week by the UN Security Council and a statement by US President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Pangalos also mentioned Mr. Clerides' fixed objective, namely the demilitarisation of the island and the political settlement of the Cyprus problem.

The Security Council adopted the two resolutions unanimously and without debate on Tuesday, one renewing for six months the UN Peacekeeping Force in the island republic and the second calling on Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to respond positively to efforts by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's resident representative in Cyprus, Ann Hercus, to secure agreement on measures to reduce tension and build confidence between the two communities.

Mr. 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 immediately after the approval of the two resolutions, Mr. Clinton vowed to "take all necessary steps to support" them.

Mr. Pangalos stressed in the interview that the final decision regarding the S-300 will be taken by Mr. Clerides and Cyprus' National Council but also "seriously taking into consideration Athens' views".

Mr. Clerides is expected to convene the National Council immediately after returning from Athens today.

Tsohatzopoulos : Speaking at an army post on the Greek-Turkish border yesterday, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the issue of whether the missiles would eventually be installed in Cyprus or, as some reports suggest, Crete, was "a technical matter" which would be dealt with jointly by the governments of Greece and Cyprus.

"The responsibility of Cyprus and Greece in tomorrow's talks, but also subsequently with respect to the decisions to be taken by each side in its own area of responsibility, will reflect the steadfast choice of strengthening the joint defence of both co untries, the strengthening of our capability to stand firmly and defend the prospects for Cyprus' accession to the European Union - a perspective which will complete and vindicate Greece's participation in the EU," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told reporters.

Speaking also of the Greek government's efforts to further develop cooperation with neighbouring countries, particularly Albania, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said he would be visiting Tirana on Wednesday at the invitation of his Albanian counterpart.

Gov't spokesman : Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that "this issue is handled responsibly by the Cyprus government, in consultation with Greece."

He added that during today's meeting between Prime Minister Simitis and Cyprus President Clerides "all the parameters of the issue will be examined, " and following the meeting the National Council of Cyprus will convene anew and the "final decision wil l be taken, guided by the national interest."

Responding to a question on whether the Greek government has abondoned the step-by-step approach with Ankara, Mr. Reppas said that Greece "will continually call Turkey to abide by the international legal order and to recognise the institutions and operations as all developed countries."

He added that Greece will follow this policy since it is the only advisable one with which to secure the country's European course, as a strong partner with economic development and social prosperity.

Mr. Reppas said that Greece wishes to have good neighbourly relations and cooperation with Turkey and stressed that for this to be achieved there is the precondition of respect for the principles of International Law.

He said that unfortunately, Turkey's policy is not inspired by the same principles and added that Greece has proposed specific methods and approaches for the solution of the problems, which are created by Turkey's policies, but Turkey continually maintains a negative stance .

Mr. Reppas said that Greece will continue to contribute to the creation of conditions of peace, stability and security in the region, while on the other hand it will confront Turkey's provocations with decisiveness and wisdom.

Tsovolas : Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas requested an extraordinary meeting of the Party Leaders' Council in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Simitis yesterday.

Mr. Tsovolas requested the meeting prior to talks Mr. Simitis will be holding with Cyprus President Clerides today "to enable all the political forces of Greece to state their position responsibly and to contribute to the shaping of a national strategy which will also include the issue of the substantive strengthening of the defence of both our country and Cyprus in the framework of the Unified Defence Doctrine between Greece and Cyprus."

Mr. Tsovolas further said in a statement that in the event the cancellation of the deployment of the (Russian S-300 anti-aircraft) missiles in Cyprus is decided then "developments will be rapid", meaning "the legalisation of fait accomplis on the island with a confederation and immediately afterwards Turkey, with the support of the same major powers, will pursue the implementation of the same formula in the Aegean with partition."

Clerides statements : NICOSIA (ANA/CNA) - The National Council will meet today to decide on the future of Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles and if unanimity is not achieved President Glafcos Clerides will take the final decision.

Speaking shortly before his departure yesterday for Athens where he will meet Prime Minister Costas Simitis, President Clerides said the current National Council decision was for a postponement of the arrival of the missiles till the end of 1998 and consequently that decision will be valid only till December 31.

Replying to a question, President Clerides said there had been no suggestions for a referendum on the future of the S-300, but if such a suggestion was made it would be examined. He pointed out, however, that "a referendum will not serve national interests".

Asked whether he will ask the Greek prime minister to express his support to today's National Council decision, he said he would not ask for any statement by Mr. Simitis.

The Greek government's position on the issue has been publicised, he noted.

Expressing his own stance on the decision-making process concerning the S300 missiles, he said if today's National Council decision is unanimous, that decision "will be respected".

If not, the decision will be taken by the President of the Republic himself, Mr. Clerides added.

Asked to comment on recent statements by both Mr. Denktash and Turkey's President Suleiman Demirel, Mr. Clerides pointed out Mr. Denktash's statements prove "the Turkish side's refusal to discuss a solution based on UN Security Council resolutions".

Instead, they demand recognition of the self-styled regime in the occupied north of Cyprus and a solution based on confederation, which is not in line with the UN resolutions, he added.

The Turkish side refuses to accept any commitment to reducing military forces unless a Cyprus settlement, providing also for such a reduction is reached, he pointed out.

Asked whether this Turkish position will be taken into account when the decision on the missiles will be formulated, Mr. Clerides said he did not connect the Turkish positions to the decision on the future of the S- 300s.

The S-300 missiles were ordered by the Cyprus government in January 1997 in a bid to boost the island's air defence, in case of a new Turkish offensive.

Earlier yesterday government spokesman Christos Stylianides at his daily press briefing underlined that relations between Athens and Nicosia are very good, decisions are taken jointly and the two countries follow common strategies.

Asked whether after today's meeting of the National Council a decision on the S-300 will be announced, the spokesman replied that "there will be a final decision on the issue".

Athens News Agency

[02] President Stephanopoulos to bestow distinctions on occasion of New Year

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The list of the Greek citizens includes Professor Constantinos Despotopoulos who will be awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of Phoenix, Cycladic Museum owner Dolly Goulandri, painters Ioannis Moralis and Dimitris Mytaras as well as banker Lazaros Efremoglou, who will be awarded the Commander of the Order of Phoenix.

The Commander of the Order of Honour will be bestowed on Thomas Michael Cox and Edward OYHara from Great Brittain and Dr. Luc Hoffmann from Switzerland. The Commander of the Order of Phoenix will be awarded to D. Reinsch and R. Wuensche both from Germany and Robert Fagles from USA, while the Gold Cross of the Order of Honour will be awarded to Guy Sanier and Henri Tonnet both from France.

Athens News Agency

[03] Operation of illegal immigration from Bulgaria to Greece

SOFIA 29/12/1998 (ANA - B. Borisov)

In an interview with the credible daily Trount, Col. Kirilov provided shocking data regarding the entire operation of illegal immigration from Bulgaria to Greece and other European countries.

In the past two months alone police have broken four rings specialising in transportation of illegal immigrants, while in the area of Petrici, 172 people have been arrested and sentenced this year for transporting illegal immigrants.

The price for the "service" ranges between 200 and 500 German marks per head.

According to the Bulgarian police, there are two routes for entering Greece, a short and dear one -about two hours- through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), and a long and cheaper one - about 10 hours- through the mountains.

Col. Kirilov said that most of those who took the risk to go through the illegal journey to Greece this year were gypsies.

He said, however, that the number of illegal immigrants is dropping mainly due to the fact that people are starting to realise that the future of an illegal immigrant is not that bright as it used to be.

Athens News Agency

[04] Police must clear the roads of protesting students,FM says

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

"The police must clear the roads," Pangalos said in an interview with daily Apogevmatini.

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 changes.

Students 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.

The foreign minister lashed out at opposition Communist Party of Greece, claiming that it was behind the continuing protests and occupations. He also blamed teachers for inciting students to protests and occupations, in "revenge", he said, for their "de feat" over the issue of how appointments to schools are made.

Gov't spokesman : Replying to reporters whether he shares Mr. Pangalos' views regarding police intervention to break the students' road-blocks and put an end to students protests, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that "we can reach full operation of the schools to avoid loss of more valuable time", adding that "without any outside intervention, the students will themselves realise the significance it primarily has for their own life, even when they challenge and react, even when they struggle and demand, for the schools to remain open and in operation".

ND, Political Spring : Reacting to Mr. Pangalos' statements, main opposition New Democracy (ND) in a release advised Mr. Pangalos to "busy himself with the important foreing policy area...an area which he has unfortunately neglected...an area that has neither continuity nor reliability...and this is the reason why recently we see us going from one defeat to another and from there to national humiliation and vise- versa".

Political Spring in a release charged Mr. Pangalos with "une-thical behavior in view of a new national retreat" and called upon Prime Minister Costas Simitis not to use police forces to confront students' protests, as Mr. Pangalos advised during the interview.

Athens News Agency

[05] Police discover illegal immigrants hiding in hearse

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The incident took place in Kastoria, when the suspicions of the officers of a joint army and police patrol were aroused by the hearse and they gave chase.

They managed to corner the vehicle near the village of Kaloneri, Kozani but the driver managed to escape in the darkness.

It turned out that the vehicle had been stolen the previous day from the village of Maniaki, Kastoria. The Albanians told the police that they had paid the unidentified man to take them to Thessaloniki. According to police figures, 52,530 illegal immig rants were arrested near the Greek-Albanian border in 1998 and sent back to Albania.

Athens News Agency

[06] Elval aluminum foil sector to be undertaken by Symetal

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[07] 'Blind' landing system due to be installed at Thessaloniki airport

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

Greece's second biggest airport is plagued by problems due to fog in winter every year. It is hoped that a modern electronic system which enables "blind" landings will solve the problem.

The ILS 2 system, which is due to be installed in 1999, will safely guide aircraft from the ground in conditions of zero visibility to within 30 metres above the runway. The pilot will then be able to safely land the aircraft.

The present ILS system is an older version which is ineffective in conditions of thick fog.

Athens News Agency

[08] Greek stocks test the 2,700 level

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended at 2,670.61 points, up 0.57 percent, sharply off the day's highs which saw the index temporarily breaking the 2,700 level.

Turnover was 94.2 billion drachmas with volume at 14,606,000 shares.

Sector indices were mixed. Banks rose 1.05 percent, Leasing soared 2.63 percent, Insurance ended 1.01 percent up, Investment surged 2.04 percent, Construction fell 0.30 percent, Industrials were 0.30 percent down, Miscellaneous eased 0.10 percent and Ho lding jumped 2.96 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 0.31 percent up, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 0.82 percent to 1,686.70 points.

Viohalco, Interinvest, Viosol and Bank of Central Greece were the most heavily traded stocks.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 129 to 111 with another 29 issues unchanged. Athinea, Despec, Dorian Bank, Alcar-Aemet, Aspis Bank, Attica Enterprises, Bitros and Korinth Spin Mills hit the day's 8.0 percent limit up.

Bank of Athens, Marfin Invest, Parnassos, Bank of Central Greece, Macedonian Spin Mills, Papoutsanis, Thessaliki, Klaoudatos and Etma suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 62,000 drachmas, Ergobank at 31,290, Alpha Credit Bank at 28,880, Ionian Bank at 15,100, Hellenic Telecoms at 7,100, Delta Dairy at 3,935, Intracom at 12,450, Titan Cement at 20,350, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,200 and Minoan Lines at 6,360.

Athens News Agency

[09] Attica Enterp buys majority stake in Cronus Airlines

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The purchase will be completed through Attica Enterprises' participation in an equity capital increase scheme by Cronus Airlines to be launched following a legal and financial inspection of the company.

Attica Enterprises aim to expand transport services, domestic and abroad, through the developing of an international air and sea transport network.

Cronus Airlines was founded in 1994 and is a member of IATA.

The airline operates 126 regular flights per week in Greece and abroad and offers charter flight services. It employs 400 workers and operates 14 ticket offices.

Cronus Airlines transported almost 500,000 passengers in 1998, an increase of 100 percent compared with 1997. It expects this year's sales to rise to 15 billion drachmas from 8 billion last year.

Athens News Agency

[10] Ionian Bank to offer euro products and services

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

A bank statement said yesterday that Ionian Bank aims to gradually offer euro bank deposits to its clients.

All Ecu accounts will be automatically transformed into the single European currency on a one-to-one rate while all foreign currency depositors (in Eurozone currencies) will be informed regularly on their accounts balance denominated in euros.

Ionian Bank will also offer business loans in euros from the start of the new year.

Athens News Agency

[11] Changes in Greek Tourism Organisation

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The Presidential Decrees are four and concern the reallocation of EOT's duties at the Development Ministry and regional services, EOT's new organisational programme, overseas offices and the transformation of EOT into an S.A. company.

The employees' unions will examine the Presidential Decrees and will submit their proposals to Ms. Papandreou to facilitate the finalisation of texts and the process of their implementation.

Athens News Agency

[12] Air Greece to add two Fokker aircraft to its fleet

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

According to the company's president Constantine Mantouvas, procurement of the two aircraft will change the company's profile, potential and commercial orientation.

The airline will expand both its domestic and overseas networks and in particular to Mytilene, Alexandroupolis, Ioannina, the Cyclades and airports in central and southern Europe.

The company has been operative over the past five years. It possesses three ATR-72 70-seat aircraft, it employs 170 people and its destination network covers Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Hania and, during the summer period, Santorini.

The number of passengers carried by the airline is expected to exceed 400, 000 this year compared to 330,000 in 1997, while its turnover will reach 6.2 billion drachmas as against 3 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[13] Negotiation for Tegopoulos shares

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[14] Xiosbank interest rates

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[15] Info Quest participates in increases of Unifon's share capital

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The share capital of Unifon, which is a commercial associate of Panafon, currently amounts to 2.4 billion drachmas and increased in two stages. Initially, it increased by 100 million drachmas in cash and then by the capitalisation of the special reserve s, amounting to 2.1 billion drachmas, which was paid by the new shareholder of Panafon S.A. from the excess value of shares resulting from the first increase and the distribution of free shares.

Panafon also acquired shares by purchasing them from certain other shareholders of Unifon and is now participating in the company's share capital with 25.075 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[16] New electric power line starts operating in Athens

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

The new north-south line, whose construction was vehemently opposed by local residents, who claimed it was a health risk, is designed to eliminate the risk of a black-out during times of heavy power demand.

Ms. Papandreou said the government had promised to complete the 25 billion drachma project before the end of the year and that it had met its promise.

The study for the new line, which requires seven additional pylons in the Kryoneri area, was begun in the early 80s.

Construction began in 1985 and was scheduled to be completed in 1991.

But protests from residents in August 1990 delayed the completion of the project until recently.

Police used teargas earlier this month to disperse protesting Kryoneri residents blocking the installation in their town of the last five pylons of the Public Power Corporation's transmission line.

Kryoneri's residents have been blocking the installation of the pylons for the past two years, and had appealed to the Council of State, the country's highest administrative authority, to stop the pylons being installed. Their appeal was rejected.

The new line will transmit electrical power from northern Greece to the south and, particularly, to the Attica basin, which is home to 38 percent of the country's total population and consumes 36 percent of electrical power.

Athens News Agency

[17] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 29/12/1998 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            279.476 285.956
Can.Dollar           180.544 184.730
Australian Dlr       170.376 174.326
Pound Sterling       468.581 479.445
Irish Punt           413.267 422.849
Pound Cyprus         563.456 579.520
Pound Malta          692.999 721.874
Turkish pound (100)    0.073   0.076
French franc          49.679  50.831
Swiss franc          204.025 208.755
Belgian franc          8.081   8.269
German Mark          166.492 170.353
Finnish Mark          54.828  56.099
Dutch Guilder        148.031 151.463
Danish Kr.            43.985  45.005
Swedish Kr.           34.853  35.661
Norwegian Kr.         36.571  37.419
Austrian Sh.          23.803  24.355
Italian lira (100)    16.868  17.259
Yen (100)            241.225 246.818
Spanish Peseta         1.966   2.012
Port. Escudo           1.627   1.665

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             279.476 285.956
Montreal             180.544 184.730
Sydney               170.376 174.326
London               468.581 479.445
Dublin               413.267 422.849
Nicosia              563.456 579.520
Paris                 49.679  50.831
Zurich               204.025 208.755
Brussels               8.081   8.269
Frankfurt            166.492 170.353
Helsinki              54.828  56.099
Amsterdam            148.031 151.463
Copenhagen            43.985  45.005
Stockholm             34.853  35.661
Oslo                  36.571  37.419
Vienna                23.803  24.355
Milan                 16.868  17.259
Tokyo                241.225 246.818
Madrid                 1.966   2.012
Lisbon                 1.627   1.665

Athens News Agency

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