Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-03-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Give diplomacy a new chance in Kosovo, Greece says

[02] Kranidiotis holds talks with Albanian FM

[03] Tsohatzopoulos

[04] Gov't spokesman

[05] Opposition

[06] Protesters clash with police

[07] KKE calls on gov't to withdraw signature

[08] Rubin clarifies statements on Greece, Turkey

[09] ABNA calls for self-restraint

[10] Greece braces for wave of Kosovar refugees

[11] German military planes land in Thessaloniki

[12] Albanian PM meets Greek ambassador

[13] Army general staff denies missiles report

[14] Greece says satisfied with deal at Berlin Agenda 2000 summit

[15] Benefits to Greek farmers

[16] Gov't spokesman, parties

[17] Cooperation protocol to be signed with New York

[18] Greece eagerly awaits 2004 Olympic Games

[19] Gilman says US administration expected to provide assurances

[20] Two bidders vying for Ionian Bank

[21] Ionian Bank workers threaten strikes, lawsuits

[22] Stocks jump with investors seeing economy unscathed by Kosovo

[23] Athens bourse to phase in paperless trade from Monday

[24] Finance ministry to auction 12M T-bills on Tuesday

[25] Northern exporters see Kosovo crisis hurting exports

[26] Petzetakis plastics maker gets syndicated loan

[27] Textiles sector promoted in Thraki

[28] Intrakom chairman announces founding of research centre in Xanthi

[29] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Give diplomacy a new chance in Kosovo, Greece says

Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis held separate meetings yesterday with US Ambassador Nicholas Burns and exchanged views on the Yugoslav crisis.

Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Burns held lengthy talks in the afternoon at the latter's request, while diplomatic sources disclosed that the US envoy underlined to the Greek foreign minister the US point of view that NATO should appear and act united regarding the Alliance's strikes against Yugoslavia with the aim of convincing President Slobodan Milosevic to accept the proposed agreement on the strife-torn province of Kosovo.

The same sources stated that Mr. Papandreou reiterated to Mr. Burns the Greek government's stance that whatever military solution will create more problems than solve. The diplomatic sources added that Mr. Burns requested from the Greek side to keep its reactions low key, regarding US President Bill Clinton's statements that Greece and Turkey could be drawn into the Kosovo conflict if it worsened, while he reiterated that those statements were misinterpreted.

Mr. Kranidiotis, who met earlier in the day with Ambassador Burns, expressed the Greek government's wish to see an end to NATO strikes against Yugoslavia and give diplomacy a new chance.

Diplomatic sources said Greece was even considering using its veto if the offensive continued up to the third phase.

Greece's permanent representative to NATO has been instructed to keep a close watch on developments.

Mr. Burns, who requested the meeting with Mr. Kranidiotis, reiterated the U.S. position that NATO's objective was to convince Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic to concede.

He also discussed the issue of coordination between the US and Greece in providing humanitarian assistance for any refugees.

According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Burns told the Greek minister that President Clinton's remarks about Greece and Turkey had been misinterpreted.

"Mr. Burns told Mr. Kranidiotis that President Clinton did not mean that there could be a war. He meant that the continuation of the Kosovo crisis could intensify and take on wider dimensions in the region but not with the meaning that there would be a military clash between Greece and Turkey," the sources said.

Mr. Kranidiotis, however, pointed out that such statements created a climate of insecurity.

[02] Kranidiotis holds talks with Albanian FM

According to reports, the two men discussed developments in Yugoslavia, but neither commented on the content of their talks.

Mr. Milo made a stopover in the Greek capital following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, in Brussels earlier in the day.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) problems in catering for a large number of refugees were the focus of talks later between Mr. Kranidiotis and Skopje's representative in Athens, Ljupco Arsovski.

Mr. Arsovski said his government was concerned about the number of refugees coming in from Kosovo and unable to deal with more than 20,000.

There are an estimated 15,000 refugees already on FYROM territory.

Mr. Kranidiotis informed Mr. Arsovski of the Greek government's decision to allocate aid worth 200 million drachmas and was bringing the issue to the European Union.

The Council of Ministers has established a working group to look at the issue, he said.

[03] Tsohatzopoulos

"There can be no military resolution of the Kosovo issue - only a political settlement," he said, following a meeting with President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The defence minister briefed the president on Greek measures to receive a possible influx of refugees fleeing the bombing as well as on the details of the NATO strikes on Yugoslavia.

"The international community is seeking a guarantee of the rights of the Kosovo minority through a wider autonomy in the framework of existing borders," he said.

"Of course, if hostilities continue, the developments will be different and this is why it is necessary for dialogue to resume, so that developments can be controlled."

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos yesterday received separately the Ambassadors of Russia and Yugoslavia Mikhail Botcharnikov and Dragomir Vucisevic respectively. Talks focused on the Yugoslav crisis, while no statements were made after the meetings

[04] Gov't spokesman

Responding to press questions, Mr. Nikolaou said Greece was not alone in its position on what was happening in the Balkans.

Greece has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a resumption of diplomatic efforts for a political solution.

"It is time for all of us to return to dialogue, to try for a political setttlement and for the bombing to stop," Mr. Nikolaou said.

Athens has undertaken initiatives in the past to bring peace and stability to the region and it has made its position clear to all, he said.

Asked about U.S. President Bill Clinton's warnings that the Kosovo situation could spiral out of control and drag Greece and Turkey into a war, Mr. Nikolaou said Greece was "an oasis of stability in the region".

"Greece does not worry because it does not believe that these tragic developments will have repercussions on our country," he said.

[05] Opposition

ND leader Costas Karamanlis and party officials believe that the NATO strikes should have been cleared by the UN Security Council, the sources said.

New Democracy believes that negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the dispute in the framework of the Rambouillet agreement should resume once the bombing stops and that peacekeeping forces from the UN or Organisation for Security and Cooperatio n in Europe should be deployed in Kosovo.

The opposition party is adamantly opposed to a change in prevailing borders in the region and believes that the Greek government must seek EU support for any possible wave of refugees.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas called on Yugoslav ambassador Dragomir Vucisevic at the embassy at noon, and in statements later expressed his party's solidarity with Yugoslavia and promised all possible humanitarian and fin ancial help.

[06] Protesters clash with police

The protesters, mainly members of lelf-wing youth organisations and trade unionists burned American flags and threw stones and paint at police in full riot gear, after breaking glass at the residence of Britain's ambassador and hurling similar objects a t the embassy during the march.

The crowd dispersed after police used tear gas and there were reports of several arrests.

Rallies were also held in Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patra and Irakleion.

[07] KKE calls on gov't to withdraw signature

Ms. Papariga believes that more generalised planning exists in the Balkans which is linked to how the Germans, British and Americans will distribute the region, adding that "wherever there is distribution there is war."

She also expressed concern over the position of the European Union member- states which, as she said, "have joined the logic of the new world order."

In another development, former prime minister Costas Mitsotakis met with Yugoslav Ambassador to Athens Dragomir Vucicevic yesterday morning and was briefed on developments following the intervention of NATO forces in Kosovo. Neither of the two made stat ements afterwards.

Meanwhile, reactions by trade union and social bodies are continuing against NATO bombings of Yugoslavia. The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) called a work stoppage yesterda y, while gatherings and marches were organised in the afternoon by the Coalition of the Left and Progress and political parties' youth wings.

The 11 unions of press employees issued a joint announcement in which they expressed "anxiety over developments in neighbouring Yugoslavia and express abhorrence for this war in the heart of Europe, in the heart of the Balkans."

They condemn NATO air strikes against cities and villages in Yugoslavia and request an immediate end to bombings and a political solution to be given, reminding at the same time that the international community has systematically ignored the just causes of the Cypriot and Kurdish people and stressing that Greece should stand by the side of the Yugoslav people.

[08] Rubin clarifies statements on Greece, Turkey

"We do not mean that Greece and Turkey will attack each other. What we mean is that as the pressure expressed by this conflict spread, it could also influence Greece and Turkey if the war spread. And given the interest we have for Geece and Turkey and the close relationship we have wih both countries, we are concerned over the situation," he said.

[09] ABNA calls for self-restraint

ABNA also called on them to observe the principles of ethics, objectivity and truth and to avoid the exaggeration of events, contributing in this way both to efforts for a return to calm, stability and security in southeastern Europe and to efforts to c onvert the Balkans into a region without nationalism and chauvinism and far from the use of force.

ABNA reiterated a call it made last November to the governments of Balkan countries, and of the rest of the world, not to obstruct the work of mass media representa-tives but to support them in their mission, safeguarding both freedom of movement for jo urnalists from one country to another and free access to information.

[10] Greece braces for wave of Kosovar refugees

A series of receiving centres have been set up in three prefectures in central Macedonia to house an eventual influx of refugees through the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Albania.

The officials said that the Greek government would also grant humanitarian aid to Skopje and Tirana to harbour the refugees.

The centres, in the northern Greek prefectures of Pella, Kilkis and Serres are already in the process of getting organised and equipped.

The officials said that an estimated 1,200 refugees will be housed in an orphanage in Serres while another 900 will be hosted at a closed gymnasium in Pella.

"The refugees will be sheltered for a few days, or even weeks, before being transfered to Larissa, Fthiotida and near Mt Olympus in central Greece", the officials said.

[11] German military planes land in Thessaloniki

Three German Air Force C-130 planes landed at the "Macedonia" airport transporting 30 men and war supplies while one of them was used to transport 120 observers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who were based in Kosov o. According to reports, an additional German C-130 is expected to land in Thessaloniki today.

[12] Albanian PM meets Greek ambassador

Mr. Mallias stressed the Greek government's readiness to respond to an official claim by Albania for humanitarian aid to be provided.

[13] Army general staff denies missiles report

The officials said that on March 24 two C-130 transport planes loaded with a number of Russian-made RM-70 ground to ground missiles were destined for a Slovak maintainance facility for scheduled periodic operational maintainance.

This event was in no way connected to the recent developments in the region, the officials said.

Acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou affirmed the above information and added that all should be more careful with such issues.

Athens News Agency

[14] Greece says satisfied with deal at Berlin Agenda 2000 summit

"I don't know if burning the midnight oil works generally, but this time it did," Prime Minister Costas Simitis told reporters on the conclusion of the extraordinary summit.

Mr. Simitis said Greece would receive nine trillion drachmas from structural funds over the 2000-2006 period, a 13 percent increase over allocations for the 1993-1996 period.

"The final result is positive because inflows to Greece from the Common Agricultural Policy are expected to be higher - albeit marginally - in the next seven years, while inflows from structural funds will be significantly higher," he said. The promised funds will ensure Greece will be able to build on developmental and social policies, including tax reform, he added.

Along with national resources, public investments over the next seven-year period will total 15 trillion drachmas, an increase of 50 percent over previous years and will constitute five to six percent of GDP.

The exploitation of Community funds will create the basis for an increase in the purchasing power of the average Greek to 80 percent of the EU average in 2006, compared to 69 percent today, the prime minister said.

"With this development, the Greek economy is realising real convergence with the economies of other member-states," Mr. Simitis said.

[15] Benefits to Greek farmers

The overall benefits for Greece from the Berlin summit amount to 25.33 billion euro.

Funds from the EU for the Greek Community Support Framework are increased from 15.2 to 21 billion euro, an increase of 38 percent.

The final decision of the summit introduces certain amendments to the agreement of the farm ministers of March 11 in Brussels, which is maintained as a whole.

The most important of the amendments include a reform of the market for milk in 2004 instead of 2003 as had been agreed. The agreement does not affect Greek producers, who will receive additional dairy quotas as of 2000. Also, the acceptance of Greece's basic position -in common with other countries- that the agreement for the agricultural aspect of the Agenda 2000 is the framework for future negotiations with the World Trade Organisation.

The solutions adopted by the Berlin summit partially meet the Greek view that "the fiscal position of every country reflects the prosperity level and its ability to contribute to the Community".

[16] Gov't spokesman, parties

New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said the agreement was lower than the expectations the government had cultivated beforehand, and that the prime minister, Costas Simitis, due to inadequate negotiating skills, had missed the opportunity to secure more funds.

The Communist Party said in a statement that the decisions of the Berlin summit on the Agenda 2000 were "expected", essentially adopting the German presidency's proposals with minor changes and "favouring once again the leading imperialist countries tha t receive the lion's share".

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said the summit's decisions would promote the further impoverishment of the majority of the Greek farming population, and that the prime minister's claims of improved terms were the result of " alchemies".

Athens News Agency

[17] Cooperation protocol to be signed with New York

The cooperation protocol which, according to reports, will be signed today before the concert at the Concert Hall and during the offering of independence awards anticipates among others, he said, "the exchange of experiences on the way and systems of ma naging the issues and problems of a big city such as Athens."

Mr. Avramopoulos attributed the fact "Athens is making its presence felt all the more in the US" to the activities of expatriate Greeks.

Replying to questions on Greece's positions concerning NATO's action in Kosovo, Mr. Avramopoulos said "our country is handling the issue in a responsible way. There is an official political expression of the Greek state and the government is handling th e issue."

He expressed the hope that "all that is happening at the moment will stop soon, leading the situation to a peaceful settlement."

Mr. Avramopoulos said "it is true that we are experiencing a crisis phase but we want to believe that Greece and Athens, functioning not only as stable and stabilising factors, will contribute to the crisis being overcome."

Athens News Agency

[18] Greece eagerly awaits 2004 Olympic Games

Ms. Aggelopoulou's address, entitled "the new Greece in the new century under the influence of the 2004 Olympic Games".

She addressed the methodical and team oriented work of the people involved in successfully claiming the Games for Greece.

Ms. Aggelopoulou said "Greece for 17 days in 2004 will be the centre of the world. Almost all of the country's productive sector will be put to the test. It is my belief that we can succeed, and that is so because I believe in the new Greece. I believe in the abilities of modern Greeks."

Athens News Agency

[19] Gilman says US administration expected to provide assurances

He made the statement yesterday to Greek foreign undersecretary Grigoris Niotis, Archbishop of America Spyridon, Greek ambassador to the US Alexandros Filon, World Council of Hellenes Abroad president Andrew Athens, and other figures of the Greek-Amer ican community.

He said the embargo on the provision of military aid to Greece could not be officially lifted before April 5, when the US Defence Department would submit its official report absolving the Greek side from any involvement in the alleged leaks.

US Ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns has already submitted a report to the State Department in the same spirit.

Athens News Agency

[20] Two bidders vying for Ionian Bank

According to sources, the bidders for the 51 percent stake in Ionian were Alpha Credit Bank and the Bank of Piraeus Group. The deadline for offers expired at yesterday evening.

EFG Eurobank, which had submitted a non-binding offer in the first round of the tender, said in a separate statement that it had not bid in the second round.

Only the three banks that took part in the earlier phase were eligible to submit binding offers.

Piraeus' bid was around 250 billion drachmas, according to sources at the bank.

The adviser to the sale, JP Morgan in London, will begin evaluating the bids immediately, Commercial said in its statement.

Both the main shareholder and adviser wanted a final decision on the winner as soon as possible, the statement said.

[21] Ionian Bank workers threaten strikes, lawsuits

Representatives of three tendencies in Ionian's staff association claimed at a news conference that the bank's sale represented a political and economic scandal, including the fact that no evaluation had been made of the bank's assets ahead of the sale.

They said that the sale price should at least match the market value of the 51 percent stake up for sale, which they cited as 350 billion drachmas.

If the sale price were lower, the unions would take Commercial to court for breach of faith in their capacity as shareholders, backed by the parent bank's stockholders' association.

The trade unionists also complained that a 250-million-drachma viability study on Ionian Bank carried out by Monitor, a consultancy firm, had never been released to the public or given to parliament.

They also claimed that confidential information in the form of Ionian's customer list may have been given to bidders because three days before their offers were submitted, the sale's adviser, JP Morgan in London, had been given the list.

The trade unionists criticised the union's party-aligned majority, which has members backing both the ruling socialist and main conservative opposition parties; and said they would try to call a general union assembly.

The representatives said unions were seeking the following assurances: workers should be informed of the buyer's investment plan and a contract should be signed by all parties, including staff; the contract should ensure job security with a penalty clau se ordering full pay for the contract's 25-year duration for staff who were sacked; and guarantees that staff would remain in the same pension fund until a unified fund was created for bank workers.

Athens News Agency

[22] Stocks jump with investors seeing economy unscathed by Kosovo

The general index ended a highly volatile session 2.22 percent up at 3, 548.46 points reflecting gains in banks, construction, investment and insurance stocks.

Financial analysts said that adverse developments in the Balkans would only have a limited impact on the domestic economy.

They predicted a gradual decoupling of the market from regional developments if the current crisis did not escalate.

Traders noted that an EU summit agreement earmarking nine trillion drachmas from structural funds for Greece in the period 2000-2006 would greatly benefit the country's economic growth.

The market has also discounted a positive outcome in a second tender for the sale of a majority stake in Ionian Bank whose deadline for bids was yesterday.

Sector indices ended higher.

Banks rose 2.93 percent, Leasing ended 0.74 percent up, Insurance jumped 5.96 percent, Investment soared 5.63 percent, Construction surged 5.54 percent, Industrials ended 0.86 percent, up, Miscellaneous rose 0.05 percent and Holding increased 1.95 perce nt.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.49 percent higher.

Turnover was 155.9 billion drachmas and volume 22,539,062 shares.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 193 to 76 with another 16 issues unchanged.

National Bank, Hellenic Telecoms, Strintzis and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded stocks. Alpha Finance, Phoenix, St.George Mills, Ionian Hotels, Nafpaktos Mills, Ergas, Ellatex, Tasoglou, Ionian Invest and Aktor scored the biggest percentage g ains hitting the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Nematemboriki, Constantinidis, Katselis, Karelias, Zampa, Boutaris, Phaliro Medical, Etma, Xifias and Giannousis suffered the heaviest losses.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 2.09 percent to 2,210.18 points.

National Bank of Greece ended at 22,000 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 38, 700, Ergobank at 25,050, Ionian Bank at 24,145, Titan Cement at 24,830, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,445, Intracom at 21,205, Minoan Lines at 7,270, Panafon at 8,100 and Hellenic Telec oms at 7,005.

Athens News Agency

[23] Athens bourse to phase in paperless trade from Monday

Two more groups of stocks will follow in the middle of April and the beginning of May.

Remaining shares will switch to paperless trade on the day following their annual general shareholders meetings.

Athens News Agency

[24] Finance ministry to auction 12M T-bills on Tuesday

The ministry also said in a statement yesterday that it will hold a public offering of tax-free savings bonds in paperless form from Thursday, April 1 until Monday, April 5.

Athens News Agency

[25] Northern exporters see Kosovo crisis hurting exports

"(The situation) will immediately create problems, mainly at border posts, and will affect the transportation of our products," said SEBE president Thomas Algianakoglou.

According to SEBE's Institute of Export Research and Studies, Greek exports to Yugoslavia represent 2.0 percent of total exports and 11.0 percent of exports to Balkan countries.

The main products Greece exports to Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are petroleum products (11.4 billion drachmas); vehicles (5.3 billion drachmas); tobacco products (4.7 billion drachmas); and fruit and vegetables (4.3 billion drachmas). In 1997, total exports to the two countries were 56.8 billion drachmas, up from 40 billion in 1996 and 4.5 billion in 1995. Greece's main imports from Yugoslavia are ferrous ores (23.3 billion drachmas).

Total imports totalled 38.2 billion drachmas in 1997 from 18.9 billion in 1996 and 240 million drachmas in 1995.

Athens News Agency

[26] Petzetakis plastics maker gets syndicated loan

Petzetakis said obtaining the loan was a major success for the company and that it would aid an effort to improve the company's capital structure.

The loan will be used mainly to lower the company's financial and operational expenses, which are currently around 400 million drachmas annually. Much short-term debt will be refinanced.

Athens News Agency

[27] Textiles sector promoted in Thraki

The textile sector was chosen for this year, without this meaning that the exhibition will place less emphasis on participations from remaining sectors in the economy.

The amount of visitors amounted to 15,000 last year (an increase of 23 per cent compared to 1997), while the target for this year is to exceed the 20, 000 record and focus on foodstuffs, beverages, industrial products, building materials and machinery.

Athens News Agency

[28] Intrakom chairman announces founding of research centre in Xanthi

He said the Intrakom R&D centre will be staffed with students from the Thrace region, Democretian University, thus realising the cooperation between the academic and business sectors in Greece.

Finally, Mr. Kokkalis said that details about the centre will be released on May 15.

Athens News Agency

[29] Athens Foreign Exchange

Banknotes          Buying    Selling
US Dollar           296.013   302.876
Can.Dollar          196.416   200.970
Australian Dlr      188.510   192.880
Pound Sterling      480.981   492.133
Irish Punt          406.781   416.213
Pound Cyprus        552.167   564.969
Pound Malta         714.012   743.763
Turkish pound (100)   0.073     0.076
French franc         48.839    49.971
Swiss franc         200.468   205.116
Belgian franc         7.942     8.126
German Mark         163.801   167.599
Finnish Mark         53.881    55.131
Dutch Guilder       145.376   148.746
Danish Kr.           43.114    44.114
Swedish Kr.          35.807    36.637
Norwegian Kr.        38.228    39.114
Austrian Sh.         23.282    23.822
Italian lira (100)   16.546    16.929
Yen (100)           248.298   254.055
Spanish Peseta        1.925     1.970
Port. Escudo          1.598     1.635

Foreign Exchange   Buying    Selling
New York           296.013   302.876
Montreal           196.416   200.970
Sydney             188.510   192.880
London             480.981   492.133
Dublin             406.781   416.213
Nicosia            552.167   564.969
Paris               48.839    49.971
Zurich             200.468   205.116
Brussels             7.942     8.126
Frankfurt          163.801   167.599
Helsinki            53.881    55.131
Amsterdam          145.376   148.746
Copenhagen          43.114    44.114
Stockholm           35.807    36.637
Oslo                38.228    39.114
Vienna              23.282    23.822
Milan               16.546    16.929
Tokyo              248.298   254.055
Madrid               1.925     1.970
Lisbon               1.598     1.635

Athens News Agency

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