Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-03-19

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

CONTENTS

[01] `Greece first`, Simitis tells opening of PASOK congress

[02] Tipper Gore addresses Athens event, no word on husband's possible bid

[03] Skandalidis calls for overhaul of PASOK

[04] Other Speakers

[05] Simitis foresees no confrontation between Athens, Ankara

[06] Solana: Greek PM and other NATO states' leaders have all condemned terrorism

[07] Japanese Prince Hitachi arrives for official visit in Greece

[08] Greek state telecom only bidder in Bulgarian tender

[09] Stocks hit new high, fuelled by selected banks

[10] Bank of Piraeus shows consolidated profit jump of 376 pct

[11] Xiosbank to boost share cap by Dr 51.3 bln

[12] Minoan Lines to acquire Air Greece through share cap rise

[13] Crete to get solar-powered electricity plant by 2001

[14] Latvian, Romanian businesses visit Thessaloniki today

[15] National Bank general assembly postponed

[16] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] `Greece first`, Simitis tells opening of PASOK congress

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Addressing the party's 5th congress, which began yesterday, Mr. Simitis said the "prophets of doom" who had predicted the dissolution of the party following the death in 1996 of its founder, Andreas Papandreou, had been proven wrong.

"We are here today for an open and substantive dialogue. We are not here to discuss and decide on 'trench conflicts', on intrigues and on the 'logic of arithmetic', but on ideological and political positions," the premier said, underlining the content of the congress.

He forecast that PASOK would emerge victorious in June Euroelections and win the general elections scheduled for 2000.

Mr. Simitis said the party's slogan is "Greece first", adding that government policy was aimed at a strong Greece, "a Greece providing security, stability, peace, development and prosperity, a Greece of humanity and of social solidarity. Greece as an equal country in the European Union, Greece having a voice and prestige in Europe and a powerful Greece which will be respected by friends and foes."

He noted that preconditions for a powerful Greece were a strong economy, a strong society, social cohesion and social solidarity.

The Greek PM said that targets were more possibilities and opportunities for the citizen and freedom to take initiatives, but also having social responsibility. The radical reform of the state and institutions, the radical reform of education and the creation of a Greece of quality and culture.

"The target is a powerful Greece which safeguards national interests everywhere, from Thrace and the Aegean as far as Cyprus, our national just causes and rights," he added.

"The key to Greece attaining its targets is the country's participation on an equal basis in the European Union, and EMU is the means and not the end, " Mr. Simitis stressed.

The premier added that the government had sharply increased social spending in recent years and was ready to implement a fiscal policy which would considerably relieve the tax burden on low- and middle-income wage earners.

He said that despite difficulties and despite the great effort the country had to make over the past five years, it was the "only country in Europe to safeguard and expand the social state". He added that everywhere else in Europe, the targets of conver gence meant cutbacks in social expenditures.

Mr. Simitis predicted that interest rates will also drop.

"The target of our government policy is to provide a new depth and a larger dimension to our social policies. And only we (PASOK) can do this. Because these targets are incorporated in our political ideology, in our values, they are targets which we are safeguarding through the reallocation of funds which is achieved by our policy," he said.

The premier said that now was the time to proceed with certain major incisions in the taxation system, adding that social dialogue on the reform of the country's taxation system had started at the government's initiative.

"We are ready to take a decisive step in social solidarity, implementing a taxation system which alleviates considerably the taxation of low and medium income brackets. The tax-free limit will be increased, percentages and scales for low and medium inco mes will improve and rebates will increase for all who have children," he added.

Nat'l issues : Turning to national issues, Mr. Simitis said that Turkey had in recent years become "an imponderable factor" in the eastern Mediterranean.

"Greece refuses to play the game of aggravation and tension, and will not provide an alibi for the impasses facing Ankara's military cum political establishment," Mr. Simitis said.

"Greek sovereign rights along the entire line of contact between Hellenism and Turkey, from Thrace and the Aegean as far as Cyprus, are not negotiable, " he said

"Greece will be supportive of Turkey provided the neighbouring country decides to harmonise itself with the acquis communautaire; and if it respects democratic and human rights on the domestic front and provided it accepts international law and international rules in settling its overseas relations," he said.

Mr. Simitis said that peace and security in the region was in the interests of both countries.

"But as long as Turkey ignores and treats international law with contempt, Greece will defend its national just causes and rights effectively," he added.

Regarding the Ocalan affair, which resulted in the resignation of three Greek ministers, Mr. Simitis said "no one has the right to play with the fortunes of the country".

"The supposed fervent patriots who recently presented Greece with faits accomplis, dealt a severe blow to our national interests and bear heavy responsibility," Mr. Simitis said, referring to the persons who arranged for the illegal entry and short stay in Greece of rebel Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan.

"These people cannot have and do not have any relationship with PASOK," he added.

The prime minister said Turkey must abandon the "vicious circle of propaganda which traps Ankara into making mistakes".

"Turkey's problem is not Greece but the choices made by Ankara itself, which simply recycle the neighbouring country's domestic problems," Mr. Simitis said.

The premier reiterated that the entire spectrum of Greek sovereign rights was non-negotiable and stressed:

"Greece will remain calm, being the only guarantee for security and stability in the region."

Criticism of opposition parties : Mr Simitis also accused opposition parties of following an "irrespon-sible" policy and singled out the main opposition New Democracy party for strong criticism.

"If the promises of (ND leader) Costas Karamanlis had been realised, Greece would not only fail to join EMU but would assume debts which it would still be paying off many years later," Mr. Simitis said.

He accused ND of forming a common front with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), saying the alliance would probably "operate" during European elections in June.

The premier issued an open invitation for dialogue with the forces of the Left without preconditions.

PASOK : Mr. Simitis advised the "opposi-tion" within his own party which, he said, was making plans based on the outcome of the June elections, not to "tire themselves making additions and subtractions, because defeatism does not become PASOK".

Making self-criticism on his government's mistakes, he said "of course we also made mistakes in our course. If we remained inert, if we made just simple repairs, we would not have made these mistakes, but we would not have benefited the country."

Mr. Simitis said that PASOK won battles when it struggled, when it left introversion and defeatism aside and when it rallied for a different and better tomorrow.

Opposition reactions : In response, ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said that Mr. Simitis had launched his election slogan "Greece first" but in "reality had relegated the country to the bottom of Europe".

Responding to Mr. Simitis' address Mr. Spiliotopoulos said Greek citizens were the "most heavily and unjustly taxed Europeans, had the worst public services and a standard of state which was Third World-like".

Mr. Spiliotopoulos charged that Mr. Simitis "had lost all political and economic battles" in Brussels, citing in particular "the scandalous negligence and incompetence in failing to safeguard traditional Greek products".

The latter reference was probably to a European Court of Justice ruling on Tuesday that Greece no longer had exclusive rights to use the "feta" label for its traditionally made cheese.

An announcement by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said "the PM's arrogant and intimidating address towards working people showed once again that PASOK's leadership and the government are determined to impose anti- popular policy with the whip and false dilemmas.

"The only thing they are interested in is increasing profits for capital," KKE said, adding that Mr. Simitis "reiterated the government's decision to handle KKE's policy with slander and not with arguments."

In a similar statement, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that "with his address at the congress, the PASOK president and prime minister proved that he has nothing to do with Greek reality."

He said that "while he is the premier of dependence, subjugation, social injustice, poverty and the impoverishment of the biggest part of the Greek people, he spoke today, with self-complacency, of national independence and pride, of a powerful Greece and of social justice."

Mr. Tsovolas said Mr. Simitis and the new PASOK will receive a due reply from the Greek people in June (during the Euroelections) "when they will realise that they can no longer play with their pain and pride."

Athens News Agency

[02] Tipper Gore addresses Athens event, no word on husband's possible bid

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

In statements to the ANA, Ms Gore called her visit to Greece something "she had dreamed about since college" and cited what she called the two countries' "dedication to democracy, values that as an American I can relate to. It's exciting to arrive here...the cradle of Democracy." In an interview in a hotel suite overlooking rain-soaked Syntagma square, she also cited the "very strong US-Greek ties that must become stronger in the future" as well as "shared values", trade and economic relations and even military cooperation as binding the two countries.

Before arriving in Greece, she had visited Sarajevo.

Although not even hinted at in public, the fact that Al Gore is currently viewed as one of the top contenders -- if not the leading one -- to win the Democratic Party's nomination for US president in the November 2000 elections added to the significance of his wife's official visit to Greece, and the possible positive effect it could have with the Greek-American community back in the United States come election time.

Asked about her husband's "political aspirations" and future goals, Ms Gore sufficed to say that "he has demonstrated an ability to lead with identifiable action," adding that the one-time US senator from Tennessee has had the "most active vice presidency" in US history.

Al Gore has not officially declared his candidacy to succeed Bill Clinton, although he has taken the first tentative steps in line with US federal law to form a campaign committee.

Earlier, the wife of the US vice president was received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, saying they discussed bilateral cooperation in the region as well as economic and trade ties. Ms Gore was accompanied by US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns. After her talks with President Stephanopoulos, Ms Gore addressed a luncheon organised by the Hellenic American Women's Council and the Association of Interbalkan Women, emphasising on several occasions what she called the role of women in "building strong civil societies" around the world, their contribution to politics, women's rights and society in general.

"...Women's rights are human rights, and human rights are women's rights - that's a new standard," she told an audience made up mostly of women at a downtown Athens hotel.

Earlier in the week, Ms Gore spoke in Thessaloniki at an Anatolia college event on the subject of "volunteerism", before touring several archaeological and historical sites in the greater Thessaloniki region, including Vergina. She is scheduled to conti nue her stay in Greece for another two days on a private visit.

Athens News Agency

[03] Skandalidis calls for overhaul of PASOK

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

"There is a need for rejuvenation and re-foundation of the party. If there is no radical change now, PASOK may be de facto overtaken by events and may not have another chance," he said in his address to the party's congress in Athens.

"The government has to provide daily proof that it is a socialist government and not one that simply adopts some measures. The prime minister has to undertake an initiative for a structural change in the power management model, irrespective of the time this will take place," he said.

The June Euroelections would provide a first step towards this overhaul, that should bring an end to the present situation of a party of officials, he stressed.

"A modern socialist party cannot be the sum of groups, mechanisms and fractions, it must have an ideological identity, a single political strategy and moral solidarity among its forces. These forces are united by their historical self-knowledge, their roots, ideas, Greece, and the new prosperity model," he said.

Referring to the party's roots, he stressed it was a "socialist, progressive, patriotic and democratic movement," that now had to rewrite the "modern version" of its founding declaration of September 3, 1974.

"PASOK under Costas Simitis today continues the path begun by Andreas PapandreouIThere must be an answer to any threat, particularly against the Turkish threat. Tranquil waters presuppose a strategic settlement based on the principles of international l aw," he stressed.

He also referred to the role of Greece as a strong regional force in the Balkans, in a world of open borders, and to EMU as the beginning rather than the end of an era.

Mr. Skandalidis also stated his opposition to the holding of national elections simultaneously with Euroelections, to the subjugation of long- term planning to electoral expediencies and to a change in the present electoral system, but recommended that the party support the re-election of president of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos.

Athens News Agency

[04] Other Speakers

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Stavros Dimas, for main opposition New Democracy, said a rejection of the present political framework would lead to a crisis of explosive dimensions and that party differences should not weaken national unity.

Panagiotis Zacharis, member of the Communist Party of Greece's political bureau, expessed concern over developments in the Balkans, NATO intervention, and developments in the European Union itself.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas cautioned that if what he called the "new world order" prevailed, the day would come when Greece would also face the possibility of interventions in its internal affairs, and for this reason it should not grant facilities to NATO troops aimed for Kosovo.

Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos criticised the government on the path it had opted for to achieve participation in EMU, and also called for a change in the two-party system.

Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras stressed the need for relinking political parties with the sensitivity marking Greek society.

Cypriot Socialist EDEK party leader Vassos Lyssaridis said a realignment of forces on a world level was inevitable and had to be utilised.

"But we shall never accept to determine our policy on the basis of threats and blackmail," he added.

Walter Veltroni, representing Italy's Democratic Party of the Left, said the European Centre Left proposed a common political vision for the continent and the building of new alliances between all reform and democratic movements that would start amending European policies, particularly on the management of immigrant flows, investment in human resources, education and cultural development, a reform of the social security systems and the protection of workers' rights.

Philip Vujanovic, of the Democratic Socialist Party of Montenegro, stressed that Greece and Yugoslavia should not allow a change of borders in Kosovo.

"This would be catastrophic for the Balkans and Europe," he stressed.

Other foreign delegates included Albanian Prime Minister Panteli Majko, Alexander Tomov, chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, Chinese ambassador Yang Guangsheng, Alberto Rodriguez Arufe of the Communist Party of Cuba, Andreas Christou of the Cypriot AKEL party, Leonidas Lazo Seregian of the Armenian Popular Movement, Rosemary Nuamah of the British Labour Party, Joaquin Almunia of the Spanish Socialist Party, Georgi Spasov of the Social Democratic Union of FYROM, Goran Percevic of the Socialist Party of Serbia, P. Passerieux of the Socialist Party of France, Zviad Mukbaniani of the Citizen's Union of Georgia, Mechtild Tothe of Germany's SPD, Vilmos Szabo of the Socialist Party of Hungary, Hanni Al Hasan of the PLO, and Nazim Yamak of the Kurdistan Socialist Party. Other countries represented were Iraq, Angola, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Gabon, Mali, and Lebanon.

Represenatives of the British and US embassies in Athens attended as observers.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis later hosted the foreign delegates to dinner at a central Athens hotel.

Athens News Agency

[05] Simitis foresees no confrontation between Athens, Ankara

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

He also warned that if Turkey made any move, it would find itself up against the international community and a determined Greece.

In the second part of an interview with the Athens afternoon daily "Eleftherotypia", published yesterday, the premier said that Greece believed that Turkey's participation in the European processes would help stability in the region and in the development of the eastern Mediterranean.

"But naturally a necessary condition is that Turkey recognise the rules of international law, the manner of resolving international differences prevalent in the European Union and, in general, it's adapting to what is called the 'acquis communautaire'," he added.

Greece, he explained, had vetoed EU funding to Turkey and insisted on that position, adding that EU efforts to overcome that veto would not succeed.

Athens News Agency

[06] Solana: Greek PM and other NATO states' leaders have all condemned terrorism

ANKARA, 19/03/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Mr. Solana was replying to persistent questions by Turkish reporters.

Mr. Solana visited Ankara and met with President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Defence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk in the framework of his tour of NATO capitals to pave the way for the NATO summit in Washi ngton at the end of April.

Mr. Solana said he did not discuss issues concerning confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey with the Turkish leadership, but noted that relevant initiatives are continuing. Mr. Solana appealed to Serbia to respond "wisely" and sign the Paris agreement.

Athens visit postponed : Mr. Solana postponed his visit to Greece yesterday. He was scheduled to deliver the opening address of the Atlantic Treaty Association in Athens, organised by the Athens chapter, in light of the 50th anniversary of NATO. According to ANA sources, the po stponement of the visit is related to the bogdown of the Kosovo talks in France and the relevant scenarios of military action. Mr. Solana visited Greece two months ago and at that time he discussed NATO issues with Greek officials.

Athens News Agency

[07] Japanese Prince Hitachi arrives for official visit in Greece

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

The couple will be visiting the Vergina archaeological site in south- central Macedonia on Sunday.

Athens News Agency

[08] Greek state telecom only bidder in Bulgarian tender

SOFIA, 19/03/1999 (ANA-B. Borisov)

The joint bid for a 51 percent stake in BTK through an international privatisation tender will be opened in London by the sale's consultant, Deutsche Bank, the state privatisation agency said.

The bank will send its evaluation to a Bulgarian government committee a week after receiving the bid.

Bulgaria's telephone network is relatively developed with 2.5-3 million telephone lines. It has the potential to be turned into a transit point for communications between Europe and the Middle East.

Athens News Agency

[09] Stocks hit new high, fuelled by selected banks

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.81 percent up at 3,666.26 points, its 21st record this year, after showing gains of nearly 1.50 percent in early trade.

Also attracting strong buying interest was Intracom, a blue-chip information technology and telecoms manufacturer.

Turnover was 176.443 billion drachmas and volume 27,537,948 shares.

Sector indices mostly scored gains.

Banks gained 1.17 percent, Leasing dived 2.52 percent, Insurance closed flat, Investment edged down 0.47 percent, Construction dropped 0.72 percent, Industrials nosed up 0.30 percent, Miscellaneous increased 1.58 percent and Holding jumped 2.06 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.05 percent down while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 0.89 percent to 2,267.34 points.

Of 293 shares traded advancers led decliners at 142 to 131 with another 20 issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 22,800 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 40, 200, Ergobank at 26,495, Ionian Bank at 23,590, Titan Cement at 26,480, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,655, Intracom at 21,350, Minoan Lines at 7,560, Panafon at 8,805 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 7,700 drachmas.

Bond prices stay firm : Bond prices ended flat at yesterday's high levels after jumping in early trade, only to fall later in the session on profit- taking, dealers said.

The new 10-year bond finished at 103.40, posting a yield of 5.81 percent. The previous 10-year issue carrying the highest coupon ended at 118.30- 117.55 to show a yield of 5.91 percent.

Many bond prices gained an average 10-15 basis points.

Electronic trade was at 58 billion drachmas, slightly up from 57 billion drachmas a day earlier.

The drachma nosed down against the euro in the foreign currency market.

The euro was set at 321.400 drachmas at the fix from 321.200 drachmas in the previous session.

Athens News Agency

[10] Bank of Piraeus shows consolidated profit jump of 376 pct

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

The banks that comprise the group are Bank of Piraeus, Xiosbank and Macedonia-Thrace Bank.

Also yesterday, the Athens Stock Exchange approved an application by Bank of Piraeus for a share capital increase with preference rights.

For issue are 39,150,000 new shares at 3,000 drachmas each, including a private placement for staff.

Athens News Agency

[11] Xiosbank to boost share cap by Dr 51.3 bln

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Also approved was management's proposed dividend of 152 drachmas per share. The private bank posted pre-tax profits of 7.8 billion drachmas, up 73 percent on 1997. Consolidated pre-tax profits were 9.4 billion drachmas. Capital managed by Xiosbank total led 834.9 billion drachmas, up 58 percent on 1997.

Deposits including repos totalled 403.9 billion drachmas last year, up 94 percent.

Loans were 174.7 billion drachmas, posting a 32 percent increase on 1997.

Athens News Agency

[12] Minoan Lines to acquire Air Greece through share cap rise

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[13] Crete to get solar-powered electricity plant by 2001

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

The 50 megawatt station is being built in Sfakia by private investors and will create 50 permanent jobs.

The station's output will be 113 million kilowatt hours, accounting for one tenth of the island's needs.

Athens News Agency

[14] Latvian, Romanian businesses visit Thessaloniki today

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[15] National Bank general assembly postponed

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

The main subject of the general assembly meeting is a 150- to 180-billion- drachma increase of the bank's share capital.

Athens News Agency

[16] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 19/03/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            289.565 296.279
Can.Dollar           190.464 194.880
Australian Dlr       182.330 186.557
Pound Sterling       471.656 482.592
Irish Punt           404.829 414.215
Pound Cyprus         549.667 562.411
Pound Malta          697.899 726.978
Turkish pound (100)    0.073   0.076
French franc          48.605  49.732
Swiss franc          199.610 204.238
Belgian franc          7.904   8.087
German Mark          163.014 166.794
Finnish Mark          53.624  54.867
Dutch Guilder        144.678 148.033
Danish Kr.            42.902  43.897
Swedish Kr.           35.627  36.453
Norwegian Kr.         37.517  38.387
Austrian Sh.          23.170  23.707
Italian lira (100)    16.466  16.848
Yen (100)            244.865 250.543
Spanish Peseta         1.917   1.961
Port. Escudo           1.590   1.627

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             289.565 296.279
Montreal             190.464 194.880
Sydney               182.330 186.557
London               471.656 482.592
Dublin               404.829 414.215
Nicosia              549.667 562.411
Paris                 48.605  49.732
Zurich               199.610 204.238
Brussels               7.904   8.087
Frankfurt            163.014 166.794
Helsinki              53.624  54.867
Amsterdam            144.678 148.033
Copenhagen            42.902  43.897
Stockholm             35.627  36.453
Oslo                  37.517  38.387
Vienna                23.170  23.707
Milan                 16.466  16.848
Tokyo                244.865 250.543
Madrid                 1.917   1.961
Lisbon                 1.590   1.627

Athens News Agency

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