Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-02-16

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stephanopoulos: Greece to facilitate NATO in case it deploys in Kosovo

[02] Athens repeats its position over Ocalan issue, one Kurd sets himself on fire

[03] Kurdish refugees moved off central Athens square

[04] New military chief of staff assumes command

[05] Gov't to allow NATO equipment headed for Kosovo passage via Thessaloniki

[06] Premier predicts inflation at 2.5% by end of 1999

[07] IOC delegation in Athens

[08] 'Times' reports says Eurofighters Athens' choice

[09] Ocalan in Kenya, whereabouts unknown Reppas says

[10] SE European conference on audio-visual media this week

[11] Virtual transactions to be launched by Athens Derivatives Exchange

[12] EIU predictions on Greece

[13] Stock market increases

[14] Construction firms buyout

[15] Proposals to boost trade between border regions of Greece, Bulgaria presented

[16] Japanese trade specialists in Athens

[17] Farmers in central Greece call off protests

[18] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Stephanopoulos: Greece to facilitate NATO in case it deploys in Kosovo

VIENNA 16/02/1999 (ANA - N. Megadoukas)

"Greece will definitely provide facilities, even though it may not participate - I am not aware of the government's final decision," he told reporters after talks with Austrian counterpart Thomas Klestil.

He added, however, "we had doubts as to whe ther a military intervention would be useful, and our impression is that it is not," although he expressed the hope for a peaceful solution, which as he said, concerned both Greece and Austria.

Mr. Stephanopoulos, accompanied by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis and National Economy Deputy Minister Alekos Baltas, had arrived earlier in the Austrian capital on a three-day official visit, the first of a Greek head of state.

Besides Kosovo, talks included bilateral relations, the role of the two countries in the EU, Greek Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Stephanopoulos said talks with his counterpart had been "easy", as the two countries were members of the EU, and shared the same values and believed in the strength of international rules.

Mr. Klestil stated that when his country exercised the EU presidency it unreservedly supported the beginning of negotiations of Cyprus with the Union, adding that he hoped this procedure would make a positive contribuition to a resolution of the island's political problem.

Referring to other issues, Mr. Stephanopoulos again invited Turkey to seek recourse to the International Court at The Hague rather than tactics which "were anachronistic", contrary to the UN Charter, and condemned by all European states if it considered it had any sort of legal difference with Greece. Speaking at the official dinner later, Mr. Klestil praised Greece "as the cradle of democracy, spiritual homeland of mankind which owes it so much."

He expressed his country's gratitude for Greece's significant role played in Austria's accession to the EU, particularly the efforts of then alternate foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos.

Responding, the Greek president noted that relations between Greece and Turkey were not developing satisfactorily as with the other Balkan countries.

"Our desire for a development of Greek-Turkish relations stumbles at our neighbours' unacceptable and and groundless claims, which, accompanied by threats of war, reached as far as the disputing of our very territorial integrity," he said.

Referring to Cyprus, Mr. Stephanopoulos reiterated that Greece sought a just solution of the problem on the basis of UN resolutions, and expressed the view that stability in the area would be enhanced by the island republic's unimpeded accession to the EU.

Regarding the prospects of the European Union, he said, "our vision is for a Europe open to the world, but also able to protect the security of its citizens and the independence of its member-states.

"Greece lays very large expectations on the recently introduced common European currency, being convinced that it will not only strengthen the EU's economic position worldwide, but will also decisively contribute to the establishment of social cohesion," he added. The Greek ministers accompanying the president, Messrs. Papandreou and Mantelis, held separate talks with their counterparts Messrs. Wolfgang Schuessel and Caspar Einem.

Athens News Agency

[02] Athens repeats its position over Ocalan issue, one Kurd sets himself on fire

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

About 50 Kurdish protesters had rallied outside Parliament yesterday morning demanding that Greece grant political asylum to Mr. Ocalan.

The man set himself alight as police attempted to move the protesters away from Parliament. He was later reported in stable condition in a local hospital.

Another two protesters rushing to his assistance had their clothing set alight as they tried to extinguish the flames. Neither of the two was injured in the incident.

Police moved to clear the protest at about 4.30 p.m. as the group had blocked traffic on Vassilissis Sofias Avenue. Mr. Ocalan, in a statement faxed to foreign media over the weekend, castigated the Russian, Greek, German and French governments for their stance on the Kurdish issue and failure to give him asylum. Saying that his life was in danger, he called on Athens to grant him political asylum, as well as criticising the Russian government's refusal to do so and Paris and Bonn's stance on his group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas repeated yesterday that Greece did not desire for Mr. Ocalan to apply for political asylum in Greece, as such a move would not be useful for the country or the Kurdish people.

He added that Greece was participating in diplomatic efforts at this time to resolve the Kurdish problem within the framework of the European Union.

"We do not consider useful the presence of the leader of the Kurds in Greece...in case such an application is made, I already responded - since you know our political stance - what chance will such an application have?"

"We believe that because of the relations of Greece with Turkey, for which the Kurdish issue is a problem, it is not the best solution for the PKK to look for asylum for Mr. Ocalan in Greece," he said.

Mr. Reppas added that such a move "would place the issue within the already tense framework of Greek-Turkish relations and thus will limit it from an international problem of respect for human rights to one more point on the Greek-Turkish agenda."

Opposition : Main opposition New Democracy party (ND) spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said that "on such issues we should be very careful, and since there is a statement by the government that there is no such application we are obliged to stand by that until the opposi te is proven."

On behalf of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Politbureau, Orestis Kolozov called for "political and diplomatic actions to be taken in order to allow Abdullah Ocalan to find refuge in Greece or any other country."

"The Greek government should not remain indiferrent about the fate of a persecuted leader, who is forced to appeal to the governments of Europe, including the Greek government, to grant him asylum and secure safe conditions for his life," Mr. Kolozov said.

The Coalition for the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) called on the international community and especially the European Union to be sensitised by the tragedy of the Kurdish people and to pressure Turkey in order to solve the problem by political-peaceful means.

Synaspismos Euro-MP Alekos Alavanos called on the government, in the wake of Mr. Ocalan's letter, to convene the European Union's Council of Ministers over the issue.

Mr. Alavanos said the Ocalan issue required a "European approach, on the bases of international treaties and the decisions of the European Union."

He pointed to the Council's resolution of June 20, 1995, which underlined the basic prerequisites for the examination of political asylum applications.

Fifteen Kurds began a hunger strike outside the Macedonia-Thrace Ministry in the northern city of Thessaloniki yesterday, also demanding political asylum for Mr. Ocalan.

A statement from the Solidarity Committee for Kurdistan condemned "the cont inuing hypocritical policy of the international community over the Kurdish issue and the issue of poltical asylum for Mr. Ocalan."

Athens News Agency

[03] Kurdish refugees moved off central Athens square

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

The Kurds, including several women and children, had been languishing in Koumoundourou Square for more than a year after being illegally ferried to Greece from Turkey.

Police raided the square at dawn yesterday, transporting the Kurds on police buses to the welfare services building of eastern Athens.

On seeing the busloads arriving, local residents took to the streets, led by the two mayors, and tried to bar the refugees' relocation to an out-of- use hospital for contagious diseases.

The residents claimed that the transfer of such a large number of refugees there would cause problems for the locals.

A strong police contingent had been stationed on alert to prevent the protests from getting out of control.

The health ministry's secretary general was in negotiations with the two mayors since 10:30 am in a bid to allow the housing of the refugees in the former hospital facilities.

The transfer came after strong protests by local residents around Koumoundourou Square who pointed to the squalid living conditions in the camp as constituting a serious health hazard for both the Kurds and the local residents.

Meanwhile, Deputy Health and Social Services Minister Theodoros Kotsonis said the stay of the Kurds at the Agia Varvara hospital was temporary.

He added that by Easter all the Kurds will be settled in different areas in smaller groups.

On their part, the two mayors stated that they accepted the deputy minister's commitment and said they will brief their municipal councils on the issue.

Finally, main opposition New Democracy (ND) spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said such cases should be handled with great sensitivity and organisation, which was often absent.

Athens News Agency

[04] New military chief of staff assumes command

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

Present at the ceremony were the political and military staff of the ministry and armed forces.

"Greek-Turkish relations, the Cyprus issue, and the instability in the Balkans will continue as they are for some time, with fluctuations in tension and much danger of a quick escalation into local or wider conflicts, " he said.

"Our major national problems, with absurd claims by Turkey on our sovereign rights and in Cyprus...de-mand unity for the realisation of our mission and the achievement of our common goals," Gen. Paragioudakis said.

He said the new structure of the three branches of the armed forces was close to being completed and was geared to the needs of the operational environment of Thrace and the Aegean and to meet with the needs of the joint Greek-Cypriot defence pact.

He also mentioned the armed forces' efforts to upgrade the role of the country as a factor of stability in the wider region.

Gen. Paragioudakis, formerly chief of the Army General Staff, was named by the Cabinet as the new head of Greece's armed forces in November.

Gen. Tzoganis will retire with the title of honorary chief of the general staff, after completing the longest permissible term in the post.

Athens News Agency

[05] Gov't to allow NATO equipment headed for Kosovo passage via Thessaloniki

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

"We have stated that we will participate in operations aimed at evacuating citizens from the specific region desiring to leave it and, of course, we will be present there, provided that all sides desire our presence," Mr. Reppas said.

He expressed a hope for diplomatic discussions taking place in France to reach a favourable conclusion.

Athens News Agency

[06] Premier predicts inflation at 2.5% by end of 1999

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

"Lower inflation is not only the responsibility of the government but all of those who participate in the economy," Mr. Simitis said in Thessaloniki during a luncheon held in his honour by the city's MPs and business people.

He said inflationary pressures were possible through an increase in currency circulation.

Unemployment had fallen "margi-nally" on the basis of the latest figures, he said, adding that there was a need for more effective employment programmes.

Mr. Simitis reiterated the government's interest in developing Thessaloniki's role in the wider Balkans and called for greater cooperation from business and industry in this direction.

"We want Thessaloniki to be a centre of great prospects because we believe that it is from here that we will make our mark on the Balkans," he said.

The prime minister said the recently-signed contract for the construction of a subway system for the city will be tabled today in Parliament for ratification.

On better health care : He also said that the government was determined to improve the national health system, smoothing access to efficient health care for all Greek citizens.

The PM was speaking at the inauguration of a new Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Thessaloniki's Papanikolaou Hospital.

The unit was a donation by the Association of Friends of Children with Cancer.

Mr. Simitis said there were numerous problems and issues in the health sector that needed to be sol-ved.

"The government is taking steps, in the framework of improving the health system, such as (introducing) the institution of the family doctor, so that every Greek may have quick and efficient access" to medical care, the premier said.

He noted that time was necessary, but "with the constant improvement of the economic indicators, the government will have more resources to earmark for health".

Mr. Simitis said it was a significant fact that the new unit was incorporated in the National Health System (ESY), which as an institution "will comprise the basis for the further course and upgrading of healthcare".

Finally, Mr. Simitis said the Thessaloniki Music Hall, which is scheduled to begin operating on New Year's Day in the year 2000, is the culmination of all efforts for the cultural development of northern Greece, to enable Thessaloniki to become a culture pole for both the country and the wider Balkan region. Mr. Simitis visited the project's work shop on the sea front in Thessaloniki at noon yesterday and was briefed on the course of work by its technical supervisors, the president of the Thessaloniki Music Hall Organisation and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Mr. Simitis stressed the need for party unity during a meeting with the members of prefectural committee secretariats of Thessaloniki's first and second constituencies.

Athens News Agency

[07] IOC delegation in Athens

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

The delegation - made up of the president of the coordinating committee, Jacques Rogge, IOC General Director Francois Carrar and head of sports and international federations' liaison Gilbert Felli - will meet with Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, the president of the ministerial committe on the Games, on Thursday.

Also scheduled are meetings with political parties.

The delegation will hold a news conference on Friday.

Athens News Agency

[08] 'Times' reports says Eurofighters Athens' choice

LONDON 16/02/1999 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

The purchase of the 80 Eurofighter aircraft will cost 2.8 billion pounds, according to the paper.

The report said that the purchase of the aircraft is contrary to proposals made by the Greek armed forces' hierarchy, which had reportedly proposed the purchase of 35 US-made F-15 warplanes, produced by Boeing, as well as a number of F-16s and French-ma de Mirage-2000s to replace corresponding warplanes either lost or unable to be used any more.

According to the Times, Athens considered the purchase of the F-15s not to be economically beneficial for its budget, since only 40 of them would cost 2.330 billion pounds.

The report said the Eurofighters would be ready for delivery in 2005.

Athens News Agency

[09] Ocalan in Kenya, whereabouts unknown Reppas says

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

"After consultations between Ocalan himself and Kenyan authorities, Ocalan yesterday afternoon left the location provided and the Greek government has no knowledge of his whereabouts since then. The Greek government," Reppas added, " is asking the Keny an government through diplomatic channels for relevant information."

"At the same time, the Greek government, as is known, has made representations for a substantive discussion of the Kurdish issue on an international level, " Reppas concluded.

Athens News Agency

[10] SE European conference on audio-visual media this week

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[11] Virtual transactions to be launched by Athens Derivatives Exchange

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

ADE's board estimates that trading will begin with the participation of 15 securities firms, but it will be limited to institutional players initially because of the complexity of its financial products and the inexperience of Greek investors to the new market.

Trading will begin with a futures contract based on the FTSE/ASE 20 index. Each contract will be valued at 2,000 drachmas per point. Each investor will have to deposit a minimum of 20 million drachmas as security margin to participate in the futures market, a figure likely to deter small private investors' participation.

Put and call prices for the contracts will be set by the market's makers/traders.

Trading will begin at 10.00 a.m until 15.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Athens News Agency

[12] EIU predictions on Greece

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

The country's rating in the previous period 1993-1997 was 5.88, but its place in the world table was 32nd.

A decline in the country's world position for the next five years is attributed to an expected improvement in other countries' business climate compared with Greece's.

In a quality rating of the business climate, the EIU rated Greece "moderate" for the period 1993-97 but upgraded the country to "good" for the next five years.

The EIU's report forecasts that Greece's participation in EMU will depend on technical factors, in contrast with Britain, Sweden and Denmark which all faced political problems.

The report notes that economic convergence with the Maastricht treaty criteria was a challenge for Greece, while for the other three European Union states, not participating in the euro, the problem was to overcome strong domestic political resistance to EMU.

Athens News Agency

[13] Stock market increases

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 2.18 percent up to 3,466.95 points, its 15th record this year. Turnover was 160.5 billion drachmas and volume 30,971,461 shares.

Dealers said the market easily absorbed an early wave of profit-taking to rebound later in the day.

The Athens Stock Exchange remains on a record breaking rally despite signs of fatigue showed by other European bourses.

Sector indices scored gains. Banks rose 1.02 percent, Leasing increased 0.31 percent, Insurance fell 0.60 percent, Investment ended 0.54 percent, Construction surged 4.50 percent, Industrials jumped 5.05 percent, Miscellaneous ended 1.16 percent up and Holding soared 6.41 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 4.08 percent up, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 1.21 percent to 2,183.48. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 213 to 70 with another 11 issues unchanged. A total of 95 share prices hit the day' s 8.0 percent limit up. Among them were Dorian Bank, ETEVA, Bank of Athens, Hellenic Petroleum, Delta Dairy, Attica Aluminium, Alcatel, Intracom, Hellas Can, Karelias, Papastratos and others.

Alcar-Aemet, Ippotour, Eskimo, Desmos, Seafarm Ionian, Fintexport, Anek Lines and Connection suffered the heaviest losses.

Eskimo, Bank of Piraeus, Hellenic Petroleum and Strintzis were the most heavily traded stocks.

National Bank of Greece ended at 21,300 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 35, 200, Ergobank at 25,100, Ionian Bank at 17,500, Titan Cement at 23,940, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,527, Intracom at 18,079, Minoan Lines at 8,050, Panafon at 9,900 and Hellenic Telecoms at 8,050.

Athens News Agency

[14] Construction firms buyout

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

AEGEK announced the purchase of 51 per cent (1,530,000 shares) of the Ekter firm.

AEGEK projects profits totalling 3.5 billion drachmas for 1998.

Ekter is active in both the public and private works sectors. Its turnover for 1998 is expected to reach 2.2 billion drachmas (3.4 billion drachmas in 1997) and its profits 250 million drachmas.

ATTIKAT announced the purchase of a majority stake in the Sigalas construction firm. ATTIKAT participates in the Attiki Odos joint venture, as well as in the Thessaloniki metro and Spata airport projects. Sigalas has undertaken considerable projects in the Middle East.

Athens News Agency

[15] Proposals to boost trade between border regions of Greece, Bulgaria presented

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

In fact, the president of the broader prefectural self-government of Kavala- Drama-Xanthi proposed various recommendations for better cooperation between the two neighbours.

He proposed the establishment of a permanent Greek-Bulgarian committee to deal directly with any problems, installation of pollution control mechanisms on both sides, preferred customs treatment for Greek products exported to Bulgaria and participation of Greek businesses in the privatisation of state defence industries in Bulgaria.

Athens News Agency

[16] Japanese trade specialists in Athens

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

Lifestyle items specialist I. Hirose already visited the country between Feb. 8 and 13, while software expert H. Kanno will be in Athens between March 2 and 5.

The specialists' task is to buy product samples from Greece with export potential and exhibit them in Japan at various trade exhibitions.

JETRO was established in the early 1970s and is a non-profit government- funded trade promotion organisation.

Athens News Agency

[17] Farmers in central Greece call off protests

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

"We are leaving but we plan to continue our struggle for our demands to be met with other forms of protest," Communist Party of Greece MP and member of the PASE farmers union Evangelos Boutas told a short meeting of the protestors gathered at the juncti on of the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway, near Larissa.

Farmers had lined up their tractors along the sides of national roads at several points along the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway in central Greece last Monday, to demand lower debt repayment rates.

They warned of a repeat of protest action in 1997, when the country's road and rail network was paralysed by tractor blockades.

Last week, the government announced a package of measures to facilitate the repayment by farmers of debts to the Agricultural Bank of Greece, according to which 50 per cent of outstanding debts will be written off.

The measures also provide for the write-off of all default interest due, 50 per cent of accrued interest and refinancing with new loans at favourable interest rates.

Athens News Agency

[18] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 16/02/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             283.563 290.138
Can.Dollar            189.928 194.332
Australian Dlr        183.917 188.181
Pound Sterling        462.391 473.112
Irish Punt            405.522 414.924
Pound Cyprus          550.957 563.731
Pound Malta           697.661 726.730
Turkish pound (100)     0.074   0.077
French franc           48.688  49.817
Swiss franc           200.111 204.751
Belgian franc           7.917   8.101
German Mark           163.293 167.079
Finnish Mark           53.715  54.960
Dutch Guilder         144.926 148.286
Danish Kr.             42.964  43.960
Swedish Kr.            35.946  36.780
Norwegian Kr.          37.162  38.024
Austrian Sh.           23.210  23.748
Italian lira (100)     16.494  16.876
Yen (100)             247.484 253.222
Spanish Peseta          1.920   1.964
Port. Escudo            1.593   1.630

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              283.563 290.138
Montreal              189.928 194.332
Sydney                183.917 188.181
London                462.391 473.112
Dublin                405.522 414.924
Nicosia               550.957 563.731
Paris                  48.688  49.817
Zurich                200.111 204.751
Brussels                7.917   8.101
Frankfurt             163.293 167.079
Helsinki               53.715  54.960
Amsterdam             144.926 148.286
Copenhagen             42.964  43.960
Stockholm              35.946  36.780
Oslo                   37.162  38.024
Vienna                 23.210  23.748
Milan                  16.494  16.876
Tokyo                 247.484 253.222
Madrid                  1.920   1.964
Lisbon                  1.593   1.630

Athens News Agency

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