Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-01-29

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

CONTENTS

[01] UNESCO initiative decided for return of Parthenon Marbles

[02] Domestic, foreign consultants drawn to Athens Olympics tender

[03] Equities again hit record high, boosted by blue chip buying

[04] Drachma stays rampant, bond prices rise in active trade

[05] National Bank of Greece (London) issues Dr 8.0 bln bond

[06] Morgan Stanley Dean Witter sees Jan inflation at 3.6 pct

[07] Foreign investors see Greece heading for EMU, newspaper says

[08] Ionian Invest posts 116 pct profit rise in 1998

[09] EU to fund euro information programmes

[10] State telecom changes policy on non-payment of bills

[11] Record high unemployment in Dec. '98

[12] Anomeritis: 'Bank techniques', not write-offs available for ATE farm debts

[13] Cypriot banking executive Lazarides confident of island republic's EU entry

[14] US Consul in Thessaloniki briefed on DIPEK activities

[15] Athens Foreign Exchange

[16] Gov't denies press report that S-300 sale permanently cancelled

[17] Clerides receives Karamanlis in Nicosia

[18] Gov't responds to reports of Clinton visit in Nov.

[19] Pangalos cites his opposition to bombings,military intervention in Kosovo

[20] Athens conference on Greece-FYROM relations

[21] Pangalos welcomes statement by FYROM FM Georgievski

[22] Workers,college students join pupils in yet another central Athens rally

[23] 10 PASOK Euro-MPs press for Olympics in ancient Olympia

[24] New information bulletins for farmers by ANA, ELYROS

[25] SPD delegation in Athens

[26] Charges filed in New Jersey woman's killing

[01] UNESCO initiative decided for return of Parthenon Marbles

PARIS 29/01/1999 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

After three days of deliberations, the committee adopted a special recommendation on the issue, which instructs the UNESCO's director general to assume initiatives in the immediate future with a view to bilateral negotiations between Greece and Britain.

It also calls upon the director general to participate, through the specialised consultative organs of the organisation, in all international scientific discussions to take place on the issue of the maintenance of the Parthenon Marbles.

It notes three such conferences in future, one in Washington next month, in the British Museum in November 1999, and in Athens in December 1999.

The UNESCO director general will have the responsibility for informing the Intergovernmental Committee on the results of the negotiations during its next meeting in two years' time.

It may be noted that the Greek and British delegations agreed on the final text after two days of deliberations. Acccording to sources, the inflexibility of the British side was expressed, among other things, through positions that the British Museum is an independent non-governmental organisation, able of making its own decisions.

Commenting on the content of the recommendation, Greek culture ministry officials expressed satisfaction on "the future activation of UNESCO on the issue, and on the fact that bilateral negotiations will, in some way, come under the organisation's auspices, and that they will take place at both ministers' and specialists' level."

Athens News Agency

[02] Domestic, foreign consultants drawn to Athens Olympics tender

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The consortiums and individual firms that submitted bids are as follows:

• Hochtief
• Bovi/WS Atkins/SGI/SGI
• Brown & Root
• Parsons Brinckerhoff Int./Heery Int.
• Dames & Moore
• Assman Beraten & Plannen
• Gibb/Vipetva/Millet-Biosca & Associats
• Lahmeyer Int./Europroject
• Sogelerg Ing./Omec
• Yamakos Architects/Sizemore Floyd Sports Planning Int.
• Maunsell/Asprofos
• Aris Hellas Consulting Engineers
• Parsons Group Int./Hellenic Technical/Tecnicas Reunidas
• Chesterton Group
• Specht and Kalleja & Partner/SMV

Athens News Agency

[03] Equities again hit record high, boosted by blue chip buying

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.59 percent higher at 3,093.81 points, reversing an early drop of 1.0 percent. Turnover was 103.514 billion drachmas and volume 19,753,505 shares.

Sector indices scored gains.

Banks rose 1.84 percent, Leasing jumped 2.62 percent, Insurance soared 4.13 percent, Investment fell 0.48 percent, Construction increased 0.59 percent, Industrials ended 1.52 percent up, Miscellaneous ended 2.29 percent higher, but Holding fell 0.32 per cent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.32 percent higher, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 1.68 percent up at 1,961.92 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 140 to 138 with another 15 issues unchanged.

Aegek, Sanyo, Hellenic Telecoms and Mytilineos were the most heavily traded stocks.

Aspis Invest, Papoutsanis, Ideal, Lanacam, Yalco, Loulis, Elfico, Fanco and Orion hit the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Viosol, Alcar-Aemet, Xylemporia, Mesohoritis, Daring, Anek Lines, ETEBA and Eskimo suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 75,000 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 32, 400, Ergobank at 37,980, Ionian Bank at 15,800, Titan Cement at 23,195, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,305, Intracom at 14,490, Minoan Lines at 7,400, Panafon at 8,950 and Hellenic Telecoms at 8,350.

Athens News Agency

[04] Drachma stays rampant, bond prices rise in active trade

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The Bank of Greece intervened at the fix, buying 95 million euro when it reached 321.780 against the drachma.

In trade after the fixing the euro fell further to hit 321.30 drachmas.

In the secondary bond market most prices gained 0.30-0.40 basis points, with the rises most noticeable in long-term securities. Electronic trade was heavy at 105 billion drachmas.

The 10-year bond auctioned this week was trading at 102.20, and past 10- year paper at 116.80-117.10.

Merrill Lynch said in report that foreign investors would continue to plough funds into the Greek market as long as monetary authorities kept to their plan to align with the European Union.

Athens News Agency

[05] National Bank of Greece (London) issues Dr 8.0 bln bond

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The six-year bond expiring in 2004 has a 7.0 percent coupon for the first two years, and then a six-monthly floating rate based on the six-monthly Euribor plus 12.5 percent.

The issue price is 101.50 with a recommended resale price of 99.90.

The main underwriter and bookrunner is the London-based National Bank of Greece.

Athens News Agency

[06] Morgan Stanley Dean Witter sees Jan inflation at 3.6 pct

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The figure was likely to prompt the central bank to cut its money market intervention rate, currently at 12.0 percent, rate by 25 basis points on February 10, it said. The company also said it believed the Bank of Greece would continue to pursue a cautious policy of lowering interest rates, seeking to keep the drachma high against the euro.

Athens News Agency

[07] Foreign investors see Greece heading for EMU, newspaper says

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Quoting analysts abroad, the financial newspaper said that domestic 10-year bonds had a yield 2.5 percent higher than their German counterparts, and 1.4 percent above their US equivalents.

Although investors have been bullish about Greece so far, dangers still existed.

The rise in bond prices had been determined by healthy sentiment in the stock market, leading to fears of a downward correction, the newspaper quoted an analyst as saying.

Athens News Agency

[08] Ionian Invest posts 116 pct profit rise in 1998

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The sharp rise in profits was entirely due to the business activities of the firm, which did not acquire new capital by means of a share capital rise, the statement said.

Boosting profits were the Athens Stock Exchange's excellent performance in 1998 coupled with the company's investment strategy.

The share's market price on December 31 last year was 1,470 drachmas, trading at a discount of 7.8 percent.

Ionian's portfolio showed capital gains on the same date that were higher than profits for the financial year, totalling 1.47 billion drachmas, up 887 percent on 1997's 149 million drachmas.

The company said its dividend for 1998 would be 150 drachmas, up 67 percent on the previous year.

Ranking top in Ionian Invest's list of domestic stocks are Chipita, Xiosbank, Altec, Mailis and Titan Cement Co. (common) on the basis of market value.

Athens News Agency

[09] EU to fund euro information programmes

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

In order to receive up to 50 percent funding, the programmes should be targeted at special interest groups including small and medium sized enterprises, local authorities, women, young people and the elderly.

Eligible to apply are European non-profit organisations, or organisations working on a European level.

The funding available in the EU Commission scheme has been divided into two periods with the first deadline for application on February 28, and the second on June 15.

Athens News Agency

[10] State telecom changes policy on non-payment of bills

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

The measure has been applied on a pilot basis in Patras and will soon be introduced to prefecture capitals around the country.

Athens News Agency

[11] Record high unemployment in Dec. '98

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

According to OAED, 306,982 individuals were registered with the organisation, while the total number of those employed in December was more than 2.66 million.

Labour ministry officials, commenting on the report, said the new government policies lead most of the unemployed to register, so as to be eligible for health care benefits and training.

OAED director Costas Eustratoglou said more than three out of four unemployed persons are registered with the agency, while in the past only one of every two were registered.

OAED also noted that 65.762 new hirings were recorded in November, outpacing layoffs (62,639).

The labour ministry expects that a new series of government plans, including the "National Action Plan for Employment", will reduce joblessness by next Spring.

However, although labour unions have not rejected the action plan, they are not as optimistic of its projected results, demanding additional and more decisive measures, including funds to combat unemployment. They also warned that they will not accept the abuse of employees' rights on the pretext for a need to decrease labour costs.

Unions also noted the need for increased unemployment benefits, regarding both cash benefits as well as their duration, stressing that Greece allocates the lowest percentage of funds for the unemployed in the EU.

Athens News Agency

[12] Anomeritis: 'Bank techniques', not write-offs available for ATE farm debts

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Anomeritis, in Thessaloniki to attend events related to the 'Agrotica' exhibition, said "the course of the economy makes the use of bank techniques possible for reviewing the issue."

Responding to warnings from farmers' organisations over renewed mobilisations in case their demands are not met by Feb. 6, the minister said he was hopeful a Cabinet meeting on Feb. 5 would offer solutions.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputy Savvas Tsitouridis said ND did not support "extreme methods" of protest, while he pointed to "serious mistakes made by the government in the agricultural sector."

He was heading a delegation of ND cadres touring Agrotica.

In addition, the president and the secretary general of the Democratic Agricultural Associations of Greece (SYDASE) yesterday warned of farmers' mobilisations throughout the country if the government failed to respond to at least some of their demands.

The president of the Panhellenic Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives noted that the absence of public investments, high labour cost and high lending rates by ATE, along with the small numbers of farmers are making the Greek farm sector less competitive.

Athens News Agency

[13] Cypriot banking executive Lazarides confident of island republic's EU entry

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Lazarides said the effort by a number of countries to link Cyprus' accession with a solution to the island republic's problem cannot be accepted because, on the one hand, the situation prevailing on the island is not just, while on the other, a people cannot remain a hostage of Turkish intransigence forever.

Mr. Lazarides referred at length to the state of the Cypriot economy, saying that the country needs a new model of development since the Cypriot economic miracle has come to an end so as to participate actively in the challenges of the new millennium.

He was addressing a 'Financial Times' business luncheon in a downtown Athens hotel.

Mr. Lazarides said that the old model of development, focusing on rebuilding the country after the Turkish invasion in 1974, succeeded in enlarging the economy, with a spectacular improvement of living standards and the creation of an enviable infrastructure.

Athens News Agency

[14] US Consul in Thessaloniki briefed on DIPEK activities

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

During the meeting, which mainly focused on the need for development through joint investments, it was mutually decided that DIPEK will brief and invite the US side to business missions it organises, while the US consul will brief DIPEK on similar visits of interest.

Athens News Agency

[15] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            279.308 285.783
Can.Dollar           183.222 187.470
Australian Dlr       174.394 178.437
Pound Sterling       460.526 471.204
Irish Punt           405.308 414.705
Pound Cyprus         550.560 563.325
Pound Malta          692.580 721.438
Turkish pound (100)    0.073   0.076
French franc          48.663  49.791
Swiss franc          197.740 202.325
Belgian franc          7.913   8.096
German Mark          163.208 166.992
Finnish Mark          53.687  54.931
Dutch Guilder        144.849 148.208
Danish Kr.            42.928  43.923
Swedish Kr.           35.950  36.784
Norwegian Kr.         37.349  38.215
Austrian Sh.          23.198  23.735
Italian lira (100)    16.486  16.868
Yen (100)            241.721 247.325
Spanish Peseta         1.918   1.963
Port. Escudo           1.592   1.629

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             279.308 285.783
Montreal             183.222 187.470
Sydney               174.394 178.437
London               460.526 471.204
Dublin               405.308 414.705
Nicosia              550.560 563.325
Paris                 48.663  49.791
Zurich               197.740 202.325
Brussels               7.913   8.096
Frankfurt            163.208 166.992
Helsinki              53.687  54.931
Amsterdam            144.849 148.208
Copenhagen            42.928  43.923
Stockholm             35.950  36.784
Oslo                  37.349  38.215
Vienna                23.198  23.735
Milan                 16.486  16.868
Tokyo                241.721 247.325
Madrid                 1.918   1.963
Lisbon                 1.592   1.629

Athens News Agency

[16] Gov't denies press report that S-300 sale permanently cancelled

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas bluntly stated that the article in yesterday's edition of "Eleftherotypia" was not true.

Nicosia had originally ordered the anti-aircraft missiles to bolster its defences, however, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides late last month cancelled their deployment.

Cyprus' plans to install the anti-aircraft missiles had been criticised by the United States and several European countries.

Turkey had openly threatened to prevent their deployment.

Athens and Nicosia both claimed that deployment of the S-300s might harm Cyprus' EU accession prospects. Following Mr. Clerides' decision, the Greek government said it would take delivery of the missiles and deploy them on Crete.

Mr. Reppas said the original agreement between Nicosia and the Russian side remained valid, adding that both sides are currently negotiating changes to the relevant contracts.

"The choice is Crete, and the Greek government has agreed that the missiles be deployed on the island," Mr. Reppas said.

According to "Eleftherotypia" which cites western defence officials with contacts in Russia, the order for the missiles has been cancelled by Nicosia and there is therefore no question of their being deployed or stored on Crete or anywhere else in Greece.

Athens News Agency

[17] Clerides receives Karamanlis in Nicosia

NICOSIA 29/01/1999 (ANA - A. Panagopoulos)

Mr. Karamanlis arrived in Cyprus earlier to attend and address a dinner held by the Nicosia-based Institute for Eurodemocracy on the sidelines of a two-day conference on privatisation co-organised with the Constantine Karamanlis Institute of Democracy.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Mr. Karamanlis stressed the need for a decisive national strategy to prevent what he called Turkish expansionism, pointing out at the same time that "the future of Greece, Cyprus and Turkey is the European prospect, not violence or threat of using violence or the law of the jungle".

Recent developments in the protracted Cyprus problem and the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles issue were among issues discussed during the meeting at the presidential palace.

Address at Cypriot Eurodemocratic Institute : Addressing an event of the Greek Institute of Democracy and the Cypriot Eurodemocratic Institute, Mr. Karamanlis said the two countries had to adopt a non-negotiable and resolute front, or they risked sustaining expansionary pressures.

"The less resolute we are, the nearer we bring the prospect of conflict," he said.

He said there was abysmal difference between honest dialogue and unconditional surrender, between federation and confederation, the recognition of the rights of Turkish Cypriots and the surrender of Cyprus to the settlers in the north, their participati on in EU accession negotiations and the elevation of that participation into a condition for progress towards accession.

He accused Athens of makeshift reactions, self-negating actions and messages, and improvisation.

Mr. Karamanlis added that Greece should boost the feeling of security of Cypriots.

"It is inconceivable that the occupation should remain undisturbed for 25 years and that the right of Cyprus to defence should be doubted. There must be no acceptance of any blackmail on this issue."

G. Papandreou in Cyprus : Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou left for Cyprus last night to confer with Cypriot officials on the island republic's current European Union accession talks.

Mr. Papandreou is scheduled to meet today with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, House Speaker Spyros Kypranios, Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides.

He will meet Cypriot party leaders later in the day.

Tomorrow, Mr. Papandreou will speak at the opening ceremony of the Cypriot National Olympic Academy and meet Nicosia Mayor Lelos Dimitriades.

On Sunday, Mr. Papandreou will meet Socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssarides and speak to a group for the modernisation of society.

Athens News Agency

[18] Gov't responds to reports of Clinton visit in Nov.

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

"Greece is happy to receive all leaders, but it would be preferable if their visits were not a supplement or sequel to some other visit," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Diplomatic sources said on Wednesday that Mr. Clinton had expressed the desire to visit Greece in November for talks with Greek leadership.

According to the sources, which underlined that it was still too early to say with certainty that the visit will eventually take place, Mr. Clinton will be in Istanbul on Nov. 18-19 to attend an OSCE summit.

The same sources said Mr. Clinton wanted to take advantage of this occasion to hold talks regarding the region's problems, including the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations. An earlier meeting between Premier Costas Simitis and President Clinton ca nnot be ruled out in April, on the sidelines of events marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of NATO.

The events will be held in Washington from April 22-24.

Mr. Reppas said it was the desire of the Greek government that visits to Greece by the leaders of other countries should be "autonomous, just as our country is autonomous" and that they are made following consultations between the governments concerned.

The spokesman said the precise date for Mr. Clinton's visit had not yet been fixed, while expressing a hope that the US president visit in a private capacity "to enjoy a wonderful vacation in Greece".

A statement from the foreign ministry later said that no specific date had been set for a Clinton visit to Greece.

The statement said Mr. Simitis had extended an invitation to the US president during his visit to the United States in April 1996.

"The standing view of the Greek government is that visits of foreign dignitaries to our country should not be combined or considered a natural extension of their visits to Turkey," the statement added.

"Each country has its own distinct international presence and personality."

Washington flatly denies any knowledge of Clinton trip to Greece : WASHINGTON (ANA - T.Ellis) - US State Department spokesman Jim Foley yesterday said he knew nothing about reports claiming that US President Bill Clinton would visit Greece in November.

"No such plans or reports have come to my notice," he said, adding that speculation regarding presidential trips 10 months in advance was certainly premature.

Athens News Agency

[19] Pangalos cites his opposition to bombings,military intervention in Kosovo

BELGRADE 29/01/1999 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

He said Athens' position categorically rules out every form of military presence on the territory of Yugoslavia without agreement with the Yugoslav government.

Mr. Pangalos added that the theory of ultimatums is groundless and leads unavoidably to conflict, adding that Kosovo is not Iraq and with bombings and destruction nothing can be achieved.

"It would be a great mistake if it was expected from Greece, Italy or another European country to send land forces of theirs to occupy a specific region with the purpose of implementing some political solution," he said, and added that every symbolic bo mbing will only produce symbolic results and will lead to the taking of extremist positions, a development which would destabilise the entire region immediately.

Speaking to the magazine 'Nin', Mr. Pangalos expressed opposition to Washington's approach to the Kosovo problem and placed priority on the approach of Europe, saying that it is Europe that is interested in the development of the region more than anyone else.

"The US is a superpower but it is far away and has interests which are secondary," he said.

Mr. Pangalos placed responsibilities on the Yugoslav government. Firstly, for not heeding Greek proposals at the start to the crisis, on stabilising the situation, but accepted proposals by Richard Holbrooke who came to Belgrade with bombing arguments. Secondly, because in connection with the problem it is implementing old-fashioned ideological positions on the non- intervention of foreign forces in domestic affairs.

However, he said that human rights are not a domestic issue but international issues and for this reason those who are murdering in Kosovo must be warned that they will be punished.

Athens News Agency

[20] Athens conference on Greece-FYROM relations

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Invitations to attend the conference, to be held at the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have been sent to the leaderships of the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, development and culture.

Also expected to attend is Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who was officially sworn in yesterday for a second term, and members of the diplomatic corps.

Among the speakers at the conference, which has been organised by the International Scientific Forum, will be former foreign minister Michalis Papaconstantinou, FYROM diplomats and entrepreneurs.

Athens News Agency

[21] Pangalos welcomes statement by FYROM FM Georgievski

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

In a statement to state-run FYROM television, Mr. Georgievski distanced himself from references to a "Slavo-macedonian" minority in Greece's northern province of Macedonia, made by FYROM FM Aleksandr Dimitrov.

Mr. Pangalos, who was speaking to reporters after meeting the newly elected members of the presidium of the ethnic Greek organisation in Albania 'Omonoia' and its President Evangelos Doules, said that both he and the Greek government would be the last to question the right of anyone to self- deter-mination. He said that anyone has the right to speak whichever language he desires and follow whatever religion he wants.

"We request the same from our neighbours with great consistency. When minorities exist in a country, inter-state agreements also exist in parallel for these minorities," he said.

Mr. Pangalos said that there is a Moslem minority of Thrace in Greece just as a Greek minority exists in Albania. But he emphasised that a Slav minority in Greece did not exist, does not exist "and will not exist".

Referring to his recent visit to Skopje, Mr. Pangalos said that what he pointed out to his counterpart was that an inter-state issue would not be created on a "Slav minority" in western Macedonia because, among others, it does not coincide with the spir it of the times.

Mr. Pangalos said there were various international and European organisations, such as the Council of Europe or the OSCE, which deal with human rights, adding that whoever thinks that his rights are being infringed on can resort to justice in his country or to some international organisation to find vindication. He expressed satisfaction because, as he said, Mr. Georgievski realises that relations between the two countries in their entirety are of considerable importance and issues should not be created which are anachronistic to say the least.

Mr. Pangalos had held talks in Athens a few days ago with the Deputy Foreign Minister of FYROM Boris Traikovski and had discussed the whole spectrum of bilateral relations with him, as well as European developments, in a very constructive spirit, accord ing to diplomatic sources at the foreign ministry.

The sources said that Mr. Traikovski had also distanced himself during the meeting from Mr. Dimitrov's references to a "Slav mino-rity in Macedonia".

Omomoia : After his talks with the leadership of the ethnic Greek organisation of Albania, Mr. Pangalos stressed the common intention of both sides to work together for the creation of the political, economic and social preconditions which will enable Greeks in Alb ania to improve their living conditions in the place belonging to them historically and at the same time to contribute towards the democratisation and economic prosperity of the country they live in.

Mr. Pangalos wished every success to the new presidium of the "Omonoia" organisation and assured it of the government's support, and particularly that of the foreign ministry.

On his part, Mr. Doules expressed his pleasure over the invitation extended to the presidium by Mr. Pangalos, adding that the meeting constituted an opportunity for prio-rities to be discussed concerning the safeguarding and development of the cultural heritage of the Greeks living in Albania as well as the safeguarding of human rights based on what is set out in international accords.

Athens News Agency

[22] Workers,college students join pupils in yet another central Athens rally

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Police estimated the crowd at some 5,000 people, although violence that had marred previous marches was absent. Police did report some tension and scuffles.

A group of self-styled anarchists threw bottles and stones at riot police at the corner of Stadiou and Omirou streets which, however, failed to develop into more serious incidents.

There was a strong police presence deployed along side streets throughout the course of the march with orders to immediately intervene at any sign of disturbance.

Reporters and riot police came under attack by about 250 university and high school students who threw stones and bottles and chanted slogans against them, protesting against arrests of students during previous marches.

The protest and rally meant that traffic into the city centre came to a virtual standstill from 10:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m., when marchers dispersed.

Shopkeepers in the city centre said they were exasperated with the marches called by students to protest the education ministry's reforms, saying they were keeping customers away.

Meanwhile, a statement from the "Initiative from Students of Occupied Schools" said that the government and ministry's refusal to back down on revoking the law served only to fan the fires of the protests and make the students more determined to continue.

"We students don't think our vision is unattainable and we will continue to struggle to create an education system and a future that meets our needs and demands," the statement read.

Marches in Patra and Irakleio were also reported to be fairly peaceful, with protesters in Patra briefly blocking the road with skips.

Reports from Irakleio said the turnout was lower than for previous marches.

Merchants : The National Confederation of Greek Commerce (ESEE) has urged the prime minister in a letter to take action to end the crisis in the education sector and, consequently, increasingly frequent student and teachers' protest marches.

ESEE called on students "to stop mimicking sick practices" and return to their "natural environment, which is school".

High school students have held several marches since the beginning of their protests in late November. The marches effectively prevent commuters and shoppers from entering the city centre and are often marked by violence between protesters and police.

"It is unacceptable that the market should freeze, the economy be undermined, traffic be stopped, workers prevented from working....and for Greece to be ridiculed internationally because there is nobody in this country who will accept the responsibility and say 'mea culpa'," the letter said.

ESEE also called on teachers - who declared a 48-hour strike beginning on Thursday to protest the education ministry law - to "play their important role in defusing the tension" and called for a return to normality through "well-intentioned and construc tive dialogue".

Gov't : Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas appeared optimistic that the recent initiative of the education minister will draw a positive response.

He stressed Mr. Arsenis had honoured the dialogue process and made alternative proposals.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga called on the prime minister to answer the question why he would not abolish nationwide examinatinons for the second grade of high school, in parity with one category of pupils in private schools.

Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos urged the government to make the decisive step for a resolution of the problem through substantive dialogue.

Mr. Arsenis for his part said he remained open to dialogue, despite Tuesday's breakdown of talks with teachers.

"It is up to them if they wish to meet me. I'll be here," he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the upheaval in the education sector, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos urged New Democracy party supporters to ask themselves what they had in common with those of the KKE, and vice- versa.

"If their aim simply is to bring down the government, then do not rise to the occasion," he said.

ND party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos responded that the less the foreign minister busied himself with education, the better.

Athens News Agency

[23] 10 PASOK Euro-MPs press for Olympics in ancient Olympia

BRUSSELS 29/01/1999 (ANA - P. Pantelis)

In a declaration submitted for approval by the Euro-parliament, the 10 Eurodeputies state that "the staging of the Olympic Games in their birthplace, ancient Olympia, on a permament basis is the best way out of the impasse and the only viable solution."

Six members of the IOC were suspended on Sunday for accepting gifts from Salt Lake City bid committee officials before the Utah capital won a 1995 vote to stage the 2002 Winter Games. Four have since resigned.

In their declaration, the EuroMPs expressed a view that - following the uncovering of corruption - it will no longer be possible to ensure impartiality and the criterion of merit in evaluating cities bidding to stage the Olympic Games.

Athens News Agency

[24] New information bulletins for farmers by ANA, ELYROS

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

Agricutlure Minister George Anomeritis and Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis attended the event.

The information bulletins are produced by the Athens News Agency (ANA) and the Brussels-based ELYROS firm. They aim at briefing farmers and various farm-related agencies and organisations on European Union and international developments concerning the agriculture sector.

ANA General Director Andreas Christodoulides said the news agency, just as other international and national news agencies, is developing multifaceted activities in areas not covered to date through the utilisation of new technologies.

He added that the ANA is utilising not only news but statistics, specialised information and in-depth analyses.

The ANA bulletins can be sent by regular mail electronic mail (e-mail).

Athens News Agency

[25] SPD delegation in Athens

BONN 29/01/1999 (ANA - P. Stagos)

The visit of the eight high-ranking SPD delegates reciprocates a visit to Bonn by PASOK cadres last March.

German Alternate Foreign Minister Gunther Verheugen is expected to lead the delegation.

Athens News Agency

[26] Charges filed in New Jersey woman's killing

Athens 29/01/1999 (ANA)

A Kavala prosecutor formally charged Georgios Skiadopoulos with the premeditated murder of Julie Marie Scully, along with charges of desecrating a corpse and false statements to authorities.

According to reports, the American one-time model was murdered by the man, who confessed that he cut up her body into pieces and threw them into a lake near Kavala.

A police source said Skiadopoulos confessed on Tuesday night to the murder. He was taken early Wednesday by police to Kavala, where he took authorities to the site where he buried pieces of the woman's body.

Athens News Agency

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