Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-03-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] No need to ease inflation goal for euro entry,Papademos says

[02] Gov't pledges price freeze in 1999

[03] Stocks stage cautious rally in lower turnover

[04] Building activity rises 9.4 pct in 1998

[05] Industrial output at 3.2 pct in 1998

[06] EU may take Greece to court over telecoms

[07] Savings bonds raise around Dr 120 bln, ministry says

[08] Spending on media advertising up 22.68 pct in February

[09] Greek-registered ships show drop in number, rise in tonnage

[10] SEKAP eager to enter Athens bourse

[11] Simitis announces pending ATE circular on refinancing of farm debts

[12] Gov't: Tourism unaffected by Ocalan affair

[13] Intracom founder on CNN programme

[14] Athens Foreign Exchange

[15] Greece points to Ankara as seeking tension in bilateral relations

[16] SAE's Athens: Expatriate Greeks will help in counteracting Turkish propaganda

[17] G.Papandreou briefs Mitsotakis on latest developments

[18] Karamanlis set to visit US

[19] New NATO structure ratified

[20] Seminar on Athens 2004

[21] 'Euro' events in downtown Athens

[22] SBBE had responds to Turkish claims

[23] Trolley strike today

[24] Series of heroin-related deaths

[25] Thessaloniki lecture on environment

[26] Samos earthquake

[27] EU-Cyprus website launched

[28] UN chief says Cyprus problem has become 'a bit more complicated'

[01] No need to ease inflation goal for euro entry,Papademos says

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Reaffirming his confidence in the country's anti-inflationary policy, Mr. Papademos said that easing the criterion would be damaging.

Lowering inflation to below 2.0 percent and then keeping it there were necessary targets, which should be attained in order to achieve a smooth transition into the euro zone, he said.

In addition, talk of easing the criterion should not lead to expectations that monetary authorities would relax policy.

At the same time, the authorities should be watchful to ensure that the criterion was not raised due to conditions affecting individual economies, the central bank governor said.

The evaluation of Greece for entry into the euro zone should be the same as for other countries, he added.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said separately in reply to a reporter's question that there was no need for a relaxation of criteria for Greece to join the euro, and it would be judged on the same basis as other countries.

Athens News Agency

[02] Gov't pledges price freeze in 1999

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

He also said that the ministry would soon submit to parliament a bill incorporating changes to the rental of business premises, the code of commerce, and operation of the ministry's competition commission in order to improve its efficiency.

Mr. Venizelos was speaking after a meeting with representatives of the Federation of Greek Industries, the Association of Supermarkets, the Association of Greek Food Industries and the National Confederation of Greek Commerce.

The minister added that Greece would achieve the inflation criterion needed to join the euro zone without the need for political negotiation with the European Union.

Athens News Agency

[03] Stocks stage cautious rally in lower turnover

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.67 percent up at 3,340.39 points, off the day's highs of 3,385 points. Turnover was 105.4 billion drachmas and volume 26, 102,878 shares.

Traders said the fall in turnover reflected a reluctance to open new positions in the market in the wake of recent sharp price fluctuactions.

Sector indices socred gains.

Banks rose 0.78 percent, Leasing ended 0.17 percent up, Insurance fell 0.42 percent, Investment increased 0.86 percent, Construction ended 0.97 percent higher, Industrials surged 1.26 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.95 percent up and Holding fell 0.35 pe rcent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies soared 3.51 percent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 0.32 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 180 to 96 with another 19 issues unchanged.

Thessaliki, Xifias, Mytilineos and Viosol were the most heavily traded stocks.

A total of 53 shares hit the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Among them were Katselis, Nikas, Avax, Athina, Gekat, Gnomon, Proodeftiki, Viokarpet, Metka, Kallinis, Naoussa, Papoutsanis, Klonatex and Mytilineos. Ergas, Athens Bank, Eskimo, Development Invest , Mevaco, NEL Lines, Sea Farm Ionian, Ippotour and Halyps Cement suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 20,455 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 33, 800, Ergobank at 22,950, Ionian Bank at 18,700, Titan Cement at 23,100, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,550, Intracom at 19,350, Minoan Lines at 7,600, Panafon at 9.115 and Hellenic Telecoms at 7,400.

Drachma rises, bonds end flat : The drachma gained in the foreign currency market yesterday and the central bank intervened to soak up around 100 million euros in order to curb the national currency's ascent.

The euro was set at 321.660 drachmas at the central bank's daily fix from 322.100 a day earlier.

Prices in the secondary bond market ended flat after buying early in the session mainly by investors abroad, later offset by profit-taking.

Electronic trade was moderate at 84 billion drachmas.

Interbank rates eased slightly with the overnight rate at 9.85 percent.

Athens News Agency

[04] Building activity rises 9.4 pct in 1998

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Building activity increased 10.3 percent in December compared with the same month in 1997. onstruction permits issued last year accounted for 64,796 cubic metres, up from 59,246 in the previous year.

The Attica prefecture accounted for the biggest increase in 1998 at 14.7 percent. Construction rose 7.5 percent in the rest of the country.

Athens News Agency

[05] Industrial output at 3.2 pct in 1998

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The NSS said that industrial production fell by 1.4 percent in December.

Athens News Agency

[06] EU may take Greece to court over telecoms

BRUSSELS, 04/03/1999 (ANA-P.Pandelis)

The government has two months to reply to the Commission's five reasoned opinions. If the replies are considered unsatisfactory, or none are received, the Commission has the right to lodge a recourse with the European Court.

The Commission said in a statement that following a check on compliance by member states with directives on the deregulation of telecommunications, it was found that Greece had not provided information about the measures it planned to take.

Among the charges were that Greece has yet to set up a procedure for the issue of new mobile phone operating licences employing DCS 1800 technology despite the availability of frequencies.

Athens News Agency

[07] Savings bonds raise around Dr 120 bln, ministry says

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The bonds, which carried a 9.0 percent annualised rate, are tax-free if held until maturity. They were on sale to the public on March 2-3.

Athens News Agency

[08] Spending on media advertising up 22.68 pct in February

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The monthly report showed that television commercials again accounted for the lion's share of spending, totalling 15.6 billion drachmas, or 51.17 percent of the market.

Ranking second was spending on advertisements in magazines at 7.1 billion drachmas, or 23.44 percent of the market.

Newspapers and radio stations followed with spending totalling 6.2 billion drachmas and 1.5 billion drachmas respectively.

The products or services that drew the biggest spending were Bodyline, Cosmote Cosmocarta, Panafon a la Carte, Silhouette and government savings bonds.

Athens News Agency

[09] Greek-registered ships show drop in number, rise in tonnage

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

He said he hoped that the registry would gain in both tonnage and number of ships.

Athens News Agency

[10] SEKAP eager to enter Athens bourse

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

They were addressing a presentation for the firm's new cigarettes, BF Ultra One.

SEKAP is known for its existing BF cigarettes, which have a biological filter the makers say is friendly to health.

The cigarettes are the only Greek ones available on the US market, the officials said.

The biological filter's patent has recently been recognised in the US, Canada, Russia and Australia.

Endorsement is expected from the European Union and its member states, they said.

The firm's charter would need to be amended to allow private ownership before bourse entry can be formally sought.

Athens News Agency

[11] Simitis announces pending ATE circular on refinancing of farm debts

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The Greek premier was speaking in Parliament in reply to a question by Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) deputy Evangelos Apostolou.

He also referred to discussions on the agricultural sector at European bodies, and on the occasion of a question by PASOK deputy Evangelos Vlassopoulos.

Mr. Simitis also appeared optimistic over the result of relevant negotiations, saying that "we are expecting good results" by the end of March, when the European Union summit will be held in Berlin.

Mr. Simitis termed negotiations difficult and said Greece has to face proposals such as those by France over subsidies, which will gradually decrease.

He said it is unfair and irrational for products whose expenditures had already been stabilised to be "punished" with a decrease in expenditures and for this reason "we request that primarily Mediterranean products be excluded."

Mr. Simitis went on to say that the last point for which the Greek government is pressuring is a strengthening of policies for the development of rural areas, special care for small producers and the prospect of reform that takes the size of an agricult ural plot into consideration.

Athens News Agency

[12] Gov't: Tourism unaffected by Ocalan affair

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

"It does not appear to have affected tourism in our country, where everything shows that there are no cancellations and special problems. On the contrary, there will be an increase in tourist movement at particularly high levels this year."

"The economic course is the outcome of many things. The political situation, political stability plays a very big role in the economy. Our course towards Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is certain, stable and will have a successful conclusion if we fo llow the wise policy we have had to date..." Ms Diamantopoulou added.

Athens News Agency

[13] Intracom founder on CNN programme

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The programme, featuring well-known business leaders from around the world, will be repeated on Monday on Saturday, March 13.

Athens News Agency

[14] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             292.233 299.009
Can.Dollar            191.912 196.362
Australian Dlr        182.607 186.841
Pound Sterling        471.736 482.673
Irish Punt            405.157 414.550
Pound Cyprus          551.651 564.441
Pound Malta           707.714 737.202
Turkish pound (100)     0.070   0.073
French franc           48.645  49.773
Swiss franc           200.592 205.243
Belgian franc           7.910   8.093
German Mark           163.146 166.929
Finnish Mark           53.666  54.910
Dutch Guilder         144.795 148.152
Danish Kr.             42.920  43.915
Swedish Kr.            35.496  36.319
Norwegian Kr.          36.956  37.813
Austrian Sh.           23.189  23.727
Italian lira (100)     16.479  16.861
Yen (100)             241.096 246.686
Spanish Peseta          1.918   1.962
Port. Escudo            1.591   1.628

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              292.233 299.009
Montreal              191.912 196.362
Sydney                182.607 186.841
London                471.736 482.673
Dublin                405.157 414.550
Nicosia               551.651 564.441
Paris                  48.645  49.773
Zurich                200.592 205.243
Brussels                7.910   8.093
Frankfurt             163.146 166.929
Helsinki               53.666  54.910
Amsterdam             144.795 148.152
Copenhagen             42.920  43.915
Stockholm              35.496  36.319
Oslo                   36.956  37.813
Vienna                 23.189  23.727
Milan                  16.479  16.861
Tokyo                 241.096 246.686
Madrid                  1.918   1.962
Lisbon                  1.591   1.628

Athens News Agency

[15] Greece points to Ankara as seeking tension in bilateral relations

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement when asked by reporters about the state of relations between Greece and Turkey in the wake of the Ocalan affair.

Mr. Reppas accused Turkish officials of making statements which further exacerbated the climate of bilateral relations.

The Greek spokesman dismissed a statement by Turkish Foreign Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktan, who claimed that the notorious "November 17" terrorist group "was part of the Greek state", emphasising that the Turk official's remarks were "completely ridiculou s and absurd."

"We have always fought against terrorism, constantly and relentlessly," Mr. Reppas added.

Prosecutors' investigation pending : Meanwhile, prosecutors investigating the circumstances surrounding the rebel Kurdish leader's arrival and brief stay in Greece yesterday continued their preliminary probe, which is scheduled to be completed tomorrow.

According to reports, the three prosecutors assigned to the case will present a joint report on Monday to prosecutor Georgios Koliokostas, who is heading the investigation.

Mr. Koliokostas will have the final say on possible prosecution, while he will also decide whether to send the report to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, in the event any Parliament deputies bear responsibility in the affair. Among those quest ioned were Greek intelligence service officers and foreign ministry officials, while today prosecutors are expected to question several civilians and politicians on their role in the affair.

Athens News Agency

[16] SAE's Athens: Expatriate Greeks will help in counteracting Turkish propaganda

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Speaking in Thessaloniki, Mr. Athens and his associates said expatriate Greeks would work with the Greek government on the issue, while he noted that upon returning to the United States next week, he will have meetings with several high-ranking US officials, possibly including US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

"Turkey is looking after its interests and we shall do our duty in cooperation with the Greek government. The United States must understand that Greece is a country which has always supported human rights," Mr. Athens said, referring to the Ocalan affair.

He declined, however, to comment on how the affair might develop and whether the Greek government had made mistakes in its handling.

Mr. Athens expressed a view that there would be no serious "incident" in the Aegean, saying that Washington did not want this.

"The US does not want a further problem in this region," he emphasised.

Mr. Athens met yesterday morning with Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis for talks on SAE and assistance for ethnic Greeks in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

On Monday, the SAE leader was received by Prime Minister Costas Simitis for talks on issues concerning expatriate Greeks.

Athens News Agency

[17] G.Papandreou briefs Mitsotakis on latest developments

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Calling the FM's briefings of political party leaders useful, Mr. Mitsotakis said better informed parties meant a better informed public and that these contacts would help in settling the atmosphere and creating unity and consensus on issues of national importance.

Mr. Mitsotakis said Greek-Turkish relations appeared to be at a low point and that self-restraint and consensus was called for to respond to the "jitteriness and exaggeration coming from the other side of the Aegean."

Earlier, the honorary president of main opposition ND had issued a statement stressing that he was concerned about developments. Mr. Mitsotakis said the capture of Kurd rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan after Greece had sheltered him in its embassy in Nairobi for 12 days had left the country "deeply wounded."

"Our relations with neighbouring Turkey are at the most sensitive and dangerous point of the past decades," Mr. Mitsotakis said, adding that he hoped that Washington realised it also had some responsibility for the present situation.

He also said the PASOK government was "politically crippled" by the event but that, in the immediate future, Greeks would have to "march ahead" with the government in a period that was exceptionally difficult and dangerous for national issues.

Conversely, he said the opposition should put an end to "exaggerations and easy counter-charges".

On his part, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas greeted Mr. Mitsotakis' statements as a "level-headed response to the situation."

He added that a number of members of main opposition New Democracy had set out similar views in the past. The goverment spokesman further criticised ND for continuing to condemn the government and unquestioningly adopting various claims, as he said, "re asoning that the government must fall, and without taking into consideration the interests of the country."

Athens News Agency

[18] Karamanlis set to visit US

NEW YORK, 04/03/1999 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

Mr. Karamanlis' long-scheduled visit to the US will last from March 6-16 and will include contacts with several senior US officials, Greek expatriate representatives and academics in Washington, New York and Boston.

Asked whether ND was annoyed by the recent support given to PM Costas Simitis by the US State Department, the ND spokesman said the support for the Greek government elected by the people is "absolutely normal."

Athens News Agency

[19] New NATO structure ratified

BRUSSELS, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Among others, the new structure anticipates activation of the Larisa NATO subheadquarters.

According to NATO's new administration structure, the four countries on its southern flank, Greece, Italy, Spain and Turkey will each acquire a subheadquarters to be activated simultaneously on Sept. 1.

Yesterday's ratification was a formal procedure to have the issue of NATO's institutional bodies closed before the summit due in April.

Athens News Agency

[20] Seminar on Athens 2004

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Synaspismos cadre Alekos Flambouraris stressed that the Games are a huge affair, which overcome the narrow framework of the government, while there is a need for participation of all institutions in order to achieve total transparency.

Sports Deputy Minister Andreas Fouras, in his address, said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not accept any changes and called on all responsible agencies, parties and persons to display more maturity toward the efforts at organising the 20 04 Olympic Games.

He also disclosed that the European Union will fund the "Olympic Village" project by by 25 per cent in terms of new technologies for the protection of the environment.

"Athens 2004" president Stratis Strategis stressed that efforts to organise the Games must succeed, so as to promote Greece, improve the environment, the quality of life and the image of the country.

"Athens 2004" managing director Costas Bakouris requested a "political truce" over the Games.

On his part, Athens Major Dimitris Avramopoulos said that what he was interested in was the "day after" for the greater Athens area.

Athens News Agency

[21] 'Euro' events in downtown Athens

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

A competition will be held during the event with three trips to Brussels as the main prizes. Citizens from all the European Union countries can participate by filling out a coupon with which they will include a few simple questions on the European Union and the euro.

A draw for the three trips will be held publicly at the central pavilion on March 13.

The start to the event will take place in Ermou Street on March 5, with several ministers and EU officials scheduled to speak.

Athens News Agency

[22] SBBE had responds to Turkish claims

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Takas was replying to a press question regarding the reasons their Turkish counterparts, including well-known Turkish tycoon Rahmi Koc - the president of the Greek-Turkish Council - froze the Council's activities and called for an end to commercial relations with Gre-ece.

Mr. Takas announced that SBBE has undertaken an initiative to reverse the climate, while he also addressed a recent letter sent by the Turkish group to the Union of European Employers (UNICE), accusing Greece of harbouring terrorism.

Referring to the letter, Mr. Takas said Greece defends individual liberties, without this position rendering it a country which supports terrorism.

Asked whether Mr. Koc was sincere when he was very friendly with Greek business people from the podium of the Inter-Balkan Conference, Mr. Takas said the Turkish entrepreneur had supported the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the past and had presented himself as a philhellene, at a cost. Conversely, Mr. Takas pointed out that Turkish businessmen have always aligned themselves with the policy of the Turkish establishment.

Athens News Agency

[23] Trolley strike today

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

A general assembly is scheduled during the work stoppage to determine their future stance. HLPAP's administration has taken the issue to court, requesting that the work stoppage be declared illegal.

Athens News Agency

[24] Series of heroin-related deaths

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[25] Thessaloniki lecture on environment

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The event is organised by the university's atmospheric physics laboratory, the Greek Society for the Protection of the Environemnt and Cultural Heritage and the US consulate in Thessaloniki.

Prof. Marvin Sorrows, a political science instructor at the University of North Carolina and a specialist on international environmental law and policy, is expected to analyse international and regional efforts to tackle the problem.

Athens News Agency

[26] Samos earthquake

Athens, 04/03/1999 (ANA)

The quake was recorded at 6:20 a.m. some 300 kilometres east-southeast of Athens. The Panathinaikos Athens soccer club yesterday announced the hiring of a new coach, opting for one of its former players and an ex-coach, Argentinian-Greek Juan Ramon Rotsa, to re-assume the post. Mr. Rotsa, who coa-ched Panathinaikos from March 1994 to O ctober 1996, replaces Vassilis Daniil. Panathinaikos currently shares second place with its crosstown rival, AEK Athens, four points behind Olympiakos Piraeus. The vice- president of Bulgaria's Socialist party, Nikolai Dobrev, was admitted yesterday into an Athens clinic for a series of medical tests. The former Bulgarian interior minister was admitted to the Apollonio clinic yesterday afternoon after arrivi ng from Sofia. He is expected to remain in the clinic for a few days. The Greek-language edition of the book "Sick from Passion P Medicine and Poetry in Erotocritos" was unveiled yesterday in Irakleio.

The book, written in Italian by Padova University professor Massimo Peri, was published by the Crete University Press.

Prof. Peri focuses on the connection between literature and renaissance-era medicine found in the poem "Erotocritos", written by Vicenzo Cornaros in the mid 17th century.

Athens News Agency

[27] EU-Cyprus website launched

NICOSIA, 04/03/1999 (ANA/CNA)

A Delegation press release says the site includes institutions, the euro as well as a euro-rate converter and press releases that relate to Cyprus.

The website address is: http://www. ec-eu-delegation.com.cy

It is currently operational in English but will soon be accessible in Greek and Turkish.

The site also includes further web links for more detailed information on the EU and its programme of cooperation and the latest on the accession negotiations.

Cyprus, along with five eastern and central European countries opened accession talks with the EU last year.

The Cyprus team negotiating accession launched its own website earlier this year, in Greek and Turkish, with the main aim of informing Turkish Cypriots on the Republic's EU course.

Athens News Agency

[28] UN chief says Cyprus problem has become 'a bit more complicated'

NICOSIA, 04/03/1999 (ANA/CNA)

Replying to questions during a press conference in New York Tuesday the UN chief also said the Cyprus government decision not to deploy the Russian made S-300 missile system helped reduce tension.

"We will continue our efforts to try to seek a solution to this conflict. It is not an easy conflict and as you know we have lived with it quite a while", Mr. Annan said.

He added that the Cyprus problem has become "a bit more complicated for various reasons", but did not elaborate.

The UN Secretary General expressed the hope that "in the course of this year we may be able to move the process a bit more, because of a certain initiative we are taking, but I am not in a position to get into details at this stage".

Mr. Annan said that "based on the work of UN resident representative Dame Ann Hercus the S-300 missiles were not deployed and that has helped reduce tension somewhat".

The UN chief also expressed the hope "there will be no war between Greece and Turkey".

"We have all followed the developments with the arrest of Ocalan and also the relationship between Turkey and Greece, but I hope this difficult period of tension will be overcome and it is not going to lead to any war", he said.

Athens News Agency

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