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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-01-07Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Epiphany Day celebrated in GreeceAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Greece celebrated Epiphany yesterday with celebrations and religious ceremonies throughout the country.President Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis attended the sanctification of the waters ceremony at the Agios Spyridon pier in Piraeus, where Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos tossed the Holy Cross into the sea at the end of the service. Archbishop Christodoulos also officiated at a church service at the Holy Trinity Church earlier. The sanctification of the waters ceremony was also attended by former president Christos Sartzetakis, main opposition New Democracy honourary president Constan-tine Mitsotakis, Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, newly elected Piraeus mayor Christos Agrapidis, government officials and crowds of local residents. Speaking at the end of the ceremony, Mr. Simitis said that "I will also have the opportunity to visit Piraeus in the coming weeks. The government and I personally will contribute with all our strength and, together with the city's agencies and authorities, we will resolve long-standing problems." The sanctification of the waters in Athens was held at Dexameni Square in the Kolonaki district in the presence of Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, ND deputy Dora Bakoyianni and political, military and municipal representatives. Concluding his visit to the island of Kassos on the occasion of Epiphany, ND leader Costas Karamanlis stressed the need for a national strategy to be determined for the promotion of the interests of Hellenism with the widest possible consensus. "The Aegean is the breath of Greece and without the Aegean there is no Greece," Mr. Karamanlis said. He said that the state must abandon its slack position and stand by people living in border regions and create necessary infrastructure projects. Mr. Karamanlis attended a church service in the morning and the sanctification of the waters. Afterwards, he visited a military checkpoint and the historic monastery of Agios Georgios, founded in 1690. Athens News Agency[02] Bourse slips following profit-taking on TuesdayAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Greek equities succumbed to a late bout of profit-taking on Tuesday, reversing Monday's spectacular rise on the Athens Stock Exchange.The general index ended 0.48 percent off to 2,907.14 points, although it recorded gains up to 1.60 percent earlier in the session. Turnover remained heavy at 97 billion drachmas while volume was 17,197,000 shares. Sector indices ended lower. Banks fell 0.37 percent, Insurance eased 1.15 percent, Investment dropped 0.48 percent, Construction ended 1.58 percent down, Industrials fell 1.37 percent and Miscellaneous ended 0.14 percent off. Leasing and Holding, however,remained in focus to rise 6.35 and 2.02 percent respectively. The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 0.13 percent up. The FTSE/ASE 20 index fell 0.26 percent to 1,843.21. Mytilineos, Hellenic Telecoms, Viosol and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 159 to 98 with another 17 issues unchanged. Dimitriadis, Zampa, Fintexport, Kyriakoulis, Kalpinis, Alcar-Aemet, Radio Athina and Britannia scored the biggest percentage gains, hitting the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Techniki Olympiaki, Sato, Tegopoulos, Athina, Metka, Gnomon, Esha and Macedonian Plastics suffered the heaviest losses. National Bank of Greece ended at 68,150 drachmas, Ergobank at 35,400, Alpha Credit Bank at 31,600, Ionian Bank at 15,800, Hellenic Telecoms at 7,910, Delta Dairy at 4,100, Intracom at 14,000, Titan Cement at 22,995, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,365 and Minoan Lines at 6,515. Athens News Agency[03] Fishermen continue strikeAthens 07/01/1998 (ANA)Fishermen on Tuesday decided to continue a strike in protest against a European Union directive, following a meeting at Nea Michaniona, Thessaloniki earlier that day.Fishermen are protesting EU Directive 1626. At the meeting, members of the Panhellenic Union of Trawler Owners decided not to go out fishing Tuesday and on Thursday to moor their boats in protest along the Thessaloniki seafront, as they did on Monday. The leadership of the agriculture ministry is expected to meet today with union representatives. The vice-president of the trawler owners' union, Theodosis Maritsas, said that if the meeting ended without result, the members would step up their labour action, possibly using their vessels to blockade ports around the country. Trawler owners claim the provision of the directive stipulating a larger mesh for nets will result in a 50 per cent reduction in catches, since smaller fish will slip through, while Turkish trawlers will continue to catch those fish and channel them to the Greek market. The Panhellenic Union of Trawler Owners numbers over 190 members who own approximately 150 trawlers that supply all the fishmarkets of the country. Athens News Agency[04] Athens Foreign ExchangeAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Bank of Greece closing rates of: January 6, 1999Parities in Drachmas Banknotes Buying Selling US Dollar 272.731 279.054 Can.Dollar 178.560 182.700 Australian Dlr 169.632 173.565 Pound Sterling 451.618 462.089 Irish Punt 409.175 418.662 Pound Cyprus 553.536 566.370 Pound Malta 676.272 704.450 Turkish pound (100) 0.071 0.074 French franc 49.127 50.266 Swiss franc 199.585 204.213 Belgian franc 7.988 8.174 German Mark 164.764 168.585 Finnish Mark 54.199 55.455 Dutch Guilder 146.231 149.622 Danish Kr. 43.251 44.254 Swedish Kr. 34.272 35.066 Norwegian Kr. 36.690 37.541 Austrian Sh. 23.419 23.962 Italian lira (100) 16.643 17.029 Yen (100) 245.580 251.273 Spanish Peseta 1.937 1.982 Port. Escudo 1.607 1.645 Foreign Exchange Buying Selling New York 272.731 279.054 Montreal 178.560 182.700 Sydney 169.632 173.565 London 451.618 462.089 Dublin 409.175 418.662 Nicosia 553.536 566.370 Paris 49.127 50.266 Zurich 199.585 204.213 Brussels 7.988 8.174 Frankfurt 164.764 168.585 Helsinki 54.199 55.455 Amsterdam 146.231 149.622 Copenhagen 43.251 44.254 Stockholm 34.272 35.066 Oslo 36.690 37.541 Vienna 23.419 23.962 Milan 16.643 17.029 Tokyo 245.580 251.273 Madrid 1.937 1.982 Lisbon 1.607 1.645 Athens News Agency[05] Simitis chairs PASOK executive bureau on ideological,political positionsAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting of the ruling PASOK party's executive bureau on Tuesday during which suggestions to be discussed at the party's precongressional dialogue on ideological and political positions as well as the charter, were discussed.Mr. Simitis said PASOK's policy over the years to come will be shaped at the congress and will be based on its targets, which are the Euro-elections in June and national elections. He said that for the government there is nothing that is a dogma. He added that there were values and general directions, but the method of implementation depends on developments and special conditions and policy must be adjusted. Mr. Simitis noted that other issues requiring attention were Greece's prospects in the European Union's great changes, its reactions to globalisation of the economy and rapid technological changes, as well as tackling illegal immigration and crime. Replying to a relevant question, Mr. Simitis said there is no question of changing PASOK's inaugural proclamation of the 3rd of September 1974, adding that the relevant text refers to the 3rd of September. He said that every party has its development and its history and the need to redetermine targets and policies. Mr. Simitis said that if democracy is wanted in the country democracy must be promoted in the parties and this means that there are different views in every party. He added that a party has dynamism and prospects if it gathers as many people as possible and that at the congress views, dialogue and voting will be hailed. According to reports, he also said that the electoral law will not be changed. According to the same reports, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos requested that the party congress should not have a charter nature and that the organising conference should take place in October (the proposal was not accepted), while at the same time he said that the issue must come to an end with the registration of new members. PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis said that for the time being only two objections have been lodged on this issue, while it was agreed that the issue will pre-occupy the established practice committee. Athens News Agency[06] Gov't presses for schools to open on time tomorrowAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis has reportedly called for every effort to be made to enable schools to function tomorrow.Mr. Simitis was speaking at a meeting of PASOK cadres and government officials at a ruling party executive bureau meeting. The meeting included Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis. Following an assessment of the situation, the view prevailing was that the climate at present is better than what it was before the holidays and reserved optimism was expressed that several schools will open for the new term tomorrow. However, according to the same reports, it is also believed that the confrontation will probably continue until Jan. 15 when students will be holding a rally. Cadres attending the meeting said the confrontation does not have motives related to education but solely political ones. In another development, the board of the Union of Secondary School Teachers (OLME) decided to call two 24-hour strikes on Jan. 21 and 27 during its meeting on Tuesday. In parallel, the federation has accepted a proposal by Mr. Arsenis for a meeting today to discuss institutional and economic issues. Athens News Agency[07] Gov't dismisses latest Turkish machination to appropriate Athens FIRAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Deputy Defence Minister Dimitris Apostolakis stressed yesterday that another manifestation of Ankara's audacity and exaggeration in the region is evidenced by a recent Turkish foreign ministry announcement regarding flight control within the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) and criticism of Greece's technical ability.Speaking to a private radio station, the retired general said it is "not defined anywhere that the determination of flight information regions (FIR) takes place in accordance with existing means of radars. Entire areas are divided into flight information regions in accordance with existing borders and geographical allocation in general." Mr. Apostolakis said Turkey always made such efforts because in the Athens FIR there is also, among others, the responsibility for search and rescue in the event of an accident. Commenting on the issue, he said "supposedly, it can provide information quicker at a time that it is well known that in every air or naval accident in this region, even a Turkish one, Greece has arrived first and has offered its help to save victims." Mr. Apostolakis said that the issue of installing radars was a minor detail, adding that the limits of the Athens FIR are specific, as responsibilities are on this issue, and nobody can move them whatever Turkey says. Turkish provocation : ANKARA (ANA/AFP) - Turkey claimed the responsibility for air traffic control over the entire Aegean region on Tuesday, criticising Greece for what it called "lacking in its technical responsibility". According to the Turkish foreign ministry's announcement, Greece has not yet activated the air traffic radar system despite repeated requests by international civil aviation agencies. In another development, Civil Aviation Service director Dionysis Kalofonos told the private radio station yesterday that as of Feb. 15 the new automated air traffic control system will be fully operational. He said the system will provide fivefold cover age in Greek airspace and its radius will cover Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria from the north, Italy from the west and Crete and the Libyan Sea from the south. Mr. Kalofonos said that the new automated system is considered the most advanced in Europe, adding that the Turkish system is antiquated and has no relation with automation. "Our system (PALAS) has been operational over the past two years but is not in a state of full operational readiness. It will present a double flow during the first year with its full operation," he said. Commenting on delays, he said that for Greece 29 per cent emanate exclusively within August. He added that it is known to all that this is due to the many movements due to the summer period and at the same time to the many crossings of airspace. "It is noteworthy that real delay reach 17 per cent, considered extremely satisfactory if one considers that France, which has the same system as us, records a delay of 21 per cent and Britain 14 per cent," he said. Athens News Agency[08] Kosovo dominates talks between Kaklamanis, Serbia's MarkovicAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis on Tuesday expressed his grave concern concerning the prolonged crisis in Kosovo during talks in Athens with Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ratko Markovic.The solution to the problem, Mr. Kaklamanis said, must be sought through peaceful means, chiefly on the initiative of the countries of the region rather than powers outside the Balkans. He also stressed the need for the rights to be recognised of the ethnic minorities of the Yugoslav province of Kosovo, within the framework of respect for the borders of Yugoslavia. Mr. Markovic briefed Mr. Kaklamanis on the latest developments in Kosovo and his country's positions regarding a just settlement of the problem. Mr. Markovic also met on Tuesday with Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, whom he briefed about Belgrade's positions on Kosovo prior to talks due to commence within the framework of the European Union and the OSCE. Mr. Kranidiotis expressed Athens' understanding and reiterated Athens' insistence that a solution - one granting wide-ranging autonomy to the province's ethnic Albanians - be found through peaceful means. Mr. Kranidiotis left yesterday for Brussels to participate in the sessions of the group working on the manifesto of the European Socialist Party in view of European elections in June. The final text of the manifesto will be submitted to the party's summit meeting in Vienna on Jan. 29. Athens News Agency[09] Tsovolas calls for Parliament discussion over S-300sNICOSIA 07/01/1999 (ANA)Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said on Tuesday that he intended to request a special session of Parliament to discuss the recent decision by Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides not to deploy Russian- made S-300 missiles on the divided island.Mr. Tsovolas was speaking to reporters after talks in Nicosia with ruling Democratic Rally (DHSY) leader Nicos Anastasiades. He arrived on Monday for a two-day working visit and talks with political party leaders. "My briefing by the (Cypriot political) parties was very useful because I intend to provoke a special session of parliament so that we can discuss this change in position," Mr. Tsovolas said. Mr. Clerides announced his decision not to install the S-300 missiles after a meeting of Cyprus' National Council on Dec. 29. Earlier the same day, he had held talks in Athens with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Greek leadership. Greece and Cyprus entered into a joint defence doctrine in 1993. "We believe in promoting further more the joint defence doctrine, because it is the only way to deal with the Turkish threat and Turkish provocativeness, which unfortunately is supported by the major powers and international organisations, which are sup posed not to serve the interests of specific countries but rather to protect international legality and human rights, when they are violated, as they have been violated to the detriment of Cypriot Hellenism," Mr, Tsovolas said. Mr. Anastasiades, meanwhile, told reporters that there was no possibility of reversing the missile decision. Referring to the decision itself, Mr. Anastasiades spoke of "bitter-ness" and "disappointment". Athens News Agency[10] Containers filled with NATO force weaponry momentarily detainedAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Several sea containers filled with weapons and destined for a NATO multinational force being deployed in FYROM were detained in Thessaloniki's port on Tuesd ay after a customs check found that the cargo was not accompanied by the necessary shipping documents.Port sources said the 18 containers, containing rifles, rockets and other light weaponry, were detained by order of a Thessaloniki prosecutor. They said the 18 containers were unloaded by a Honduran-flagged merchant ship on New Year's Eve together with other weaponry destined for the NATO multinational "Extraction Force", being deployed in FYROM to conceivably protect OSCE observers in the tro ubled neighbouring Yugoslav province of Kosovo if the need arose. A customs check revealed that the 18 containers were not accompanied by the required shipping documents, and the merchant marine ministry, which was immediately informed, alerted the Thessaloniki prosecutor's office. They said the cargo was detained until the sender and recipient were ascertained. A government official said it was "a purely procedural matter, since the shipping company had not promptly supplied the shipping documents, which it has said it will do within the next few hours". A military source later said it would be "extremely difficult, if not impossible, for someone to try to smuggle weapons on a ship transporting weaponry to the multinational force via the port of Thessaloniki, which is swarming with NATO officials at this time and where stringent checks are being carried out". "Nor, of course, does NATO have reasons to want to send weapons secretly," the military source added. Massive quantities of military equipment are being shipped to FYROM via Thessaloniki for the 2,000-man NATO protection force, which is expected to be fully deployed by mid-January. A ministry announcement later attributed the issue to omission by the shipping company to submit the necessary documentation. The ministry subsequently set in motion a process for issuing the transit permit, in agreement with the other relevant ministries, and after the company submitted the necessary documentation. The merchant marine ministry announcement further said that legal procedures had also been set in motion against the shipping company for violation of Law 2168 with respect to its omission. Athens News Agency[11] Press report: Cyprus interested in mid-range Russian anti-aircraft missilesMOSCOW 07/01/1999 (ANA/D. Konstantakopoulos)Nicosia is reportedly considering the purchase of the Russian-made medium- range "TOR-MI" anti-aircraft missiles, with unofficial talks supposedly already underway.The report was published in the Russian newspaper "Sivodnia", which cites Cypriot diplomatic sources. The same press report refers to Cyprus' interest in the Italian-made anti- aircraft system "Aspide", a weapons system rumoured to be on Nicosia's shopping list for the past three years. An official at the Cypriot embassy in Moscow simply referred to the embassy's standing position of not commenting on defence-related issues for the island republic. The report comes on the heels of Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides' recent decision to cancel the planned deployment of the Russian-made long-range S- 300 anti-aircraft system on the island republic. Athens News Agency[12] OA,pilots' talks breakdownAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Talks on Tuesday between the management of state-run Olympic Airways with the pilots' union failed to end the latest impasse plaguing the debt-ridden national carrier.OA pilots are refusing to work overtime in order to press their demands, which include the hiring of more flight personnel - a move which has caused cancellations and long delays to domestic and international flights. An announcement released by OA's management after the talks on Tuesday night said the pilots were now putting forth financial demands that the company could not afford and which, if satisfied, would violate provisions of an ongoing five-year restructuring plan. Pilots' representatives, meanwhile, described as a "mockery" the proposals put forth by OA management in an effort to resolve the impasse. National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said in a radio interview on Tuesday that the government was determined to press ahead with plans to find a strategic partner and establish cooperation with the private sector, adding that this was the only solution which could save the national carrier. Acknowledging that the situation was becoming more difficult, Mr. Papantoniou called for "the active cooperation" of all parties involved and declined to make further statements saying he did not want to "add fuel to the fire." Athens News Agency[13] Kavala products in NurnbergAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)Products from Kavala, northern Greece, have made their debut on Nurnberg's market for German consumers and expatriate Greeks living in this major German city.A trade mission was carried out at the initiative of the Kavala Chamber of Commerce and the Municipal Tourist Development Enterprise, while several of the Kavala products and goods were also given to consumers for advertising reasons. In addition, a proposal was made to the Kavala Chamber of Commerce to attend the commercial exhibitions taking place in Nurnberg. Meanwhile, the president of the Greek community in Nurnberg and the president of the "Filos-Protovoulia" society, announced that the twinning of Nurnberg and Kavala is being promoted. Athens News Agency[14] Delta to inaugurate Athens-Atlanta route in JuneAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)The US air carrier Delta announced on Tuesday the commencement of a non- stop route connecting Athens with Atlanta.The route will begin on June 3 and last until October. Delta already operates a non-stop Athens to New York flight. Four flights weekly to Atlanta are scheduled on MD-11 type passenger jets, featuring 50 'business class' seats and 219 'economy class' se ats. Both Development Minister Vasso Papandreou and US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns attended the company's press conference on Tuesday announcing the route. On her part, Ms Papandreou said the new route will allow more American tourists to visit Greece. She said the government projected a 10 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from the US in 1999. According to the government, approximately 250,000 American tourists visited Greece in 1998. Mr. Burns said Delta's initiative exemplified the interest shown by US firms for Greece's economy, adding it was also a "confidence vote" for "the significant steps taken by the Greek government in the economic sector." Athens News Aagency [15] 'Amtech' gets underway on Jan. 21Athens 07/01/1999 (ANA)The annual US high-tech exhibition "Amtech" will be inaugurated at a downtown Athens hotel on Jan. 21 with the participation of some of the most well-known companies in the informatics and telecoms sector that are active in Greece.During the exhibition, organised by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, events will be held focusing on such issues as modern technological solutions for the financial sector as well as convergence of informatics and telecommunications technologi es in the Greek economy. The exhibition will last until Jan. 24. Athens News Agency[16] Intimidation cited as cause behind attack on SDOE officialAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)A lone gunman fired four shots into the driver's side door of a vehicle belonging to an economic crimes squad (SDOE) official as he was about to leave his residence in the Agia Paraskevi district early Tuesday morning.SDOE deputy director Nikos Kokosias, 54, said the assailant was about 25 and had the hood of his raincoat pulled over his head. Police believe the purpose of the attack was intimidation. Mr. Kokosias was unhurt. Speaking to reporters, SDOE director Panayiotis Stathis said Mr. Kokosias had not dealt with any important case recently but added that the service, which deals primarily with cracking down on smuggling and tax evasion, receives threatening calls freque ntly. Deputy Finance Minister George Drys visited SDOE's offices later on for a briefing on the attack. He told SDOE employees that "such actions cannot daunt our spirit nor prevent us from continuing our important work." Athens News Agency[17] Three convicted of smuggling illegalsAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)A Kos court yesterday sentenced two Greeks and a Yugoslav each to 10 years' in prison and a fine of 3.5 million drachmas after finding them guilty of ferrying illegal immigrants to Greece in a boat which sank off the island of Nisyros.The three crew members of the Italian-flagged "Mustang" were among those rescued when the vessel sank in icy waters about seven nautical miles off Nisyros on Dec. 31. About 10 people are presumed to have drowned and 24 were rescued. The two Greek nationals sentenced were Iosif Tsagarakis and Constantinos Logothetis, as well as Ifet Cosovic. The 'Mustang' sailed from the Turkish coast late at night on Dec. 30. The exact number of illegals on the boat has still not been established. Athens News Agency[18] Hania man, 31, the latest victim in bloody Cretan vendettaAthens 07/01/1999 (ANA)A 31-year-old Hania man appears to be the latest victim in a bloody four- year vendetta that has left six people dead and another two in jail.Police said Ioannis Mouzourakis, the father of two, was ambushed in the Peristeri district of western Athens after leaving a residence. Two gunmen were spotted, while authorities believe the man was shot with a Kalashnikov- type assault rifle. A .357 mag num handgun was found on the victim. Although land differences were initially the cause of the feud between the Mouzourakis and Dikonymakis families in the Cretan village of Patima Apokoronou, Hania prefecture, the "cycle of blood" began in May 1994 with the rape murder of Fotoula Mouzourakis, the mother of yesterday's victim. Five shootings followed. Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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