Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-07-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] Athens calls on int'l community to work towards ending Cyprus' continuing occupation

[02] Greece, Albania agree to better tackle surging crime problem

[03] Cultural, economic issues on the agenda of first Greek-Turkish meeting

[04] US official meets with Greek leadership over anti-terrorism cooperation

[05] Tsohatzopoulos meeting with his Austrian counterpart Fasslabend

[06] Gov't on Deutsche Welle's Greek-language programme

[07] Apostolakis continues official visit to Georgia

[08] Gov't on EU decision to base agency in Thessaloniki

[09] Bourse slips as profit-taking succeeds record high sessions

[10] Alico-Eurobank mutual fund assets top one trillion-drachma mark

[11] Mutual fund assets surge

[12] OTOE wants adherence to union work-schedule

[13] Unofficial ceiling on petrol prices on the table

[14] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Athens calls on int'l community to work towards ending Cyprus' continuing occupation

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

"Dealing with this problem is now urgent," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on the quarter-century anniversary of the Turkish invasion of the island republic.

Turkish troops have occupied 37 per cent of the island since July 20, 1974 in defiance of repeated UN resolutions.

"The international community can no longer remain indifferent to the Cyprus problem. Twenty-five years of the occupation of Cyprus is a long time for the international community to remain unconcerned," Mr. Reppas said.

He said Turkey could not convince the international community it was "a modern state" when it continued to support the invasion, defend the occupation and torpedo any attempt at resolving the problem.

He said, however, that recent renewed international interest in the Cyprus problem was an encouraging sign.

"Greece will contribute with all the means at its disposal so that within the framework of international legality a solution may finally be reached to the Cyprus problem," he said.

In his message, Foreign Minister George Papandreou stressed that the "forceful division of Cyprus is a black page in the history of European civilisation, which must be soon erased for the good of peace and security in SE Europe".

Mr. Papandreou said that first of all Turkey itself has an interest in contributing constructively to a solution to the Cyprus issue.

"The Cyprus issue is not solely its historic guilt, there is also the problem on whose solution the course of Turkey in Europe of the 21st century will depend. The recent crisis in Yugoslavia highlighted the deadlocks of nationalism. It is a message of history which the Turkish policy of intransigence and nationalism must not forget," he said.

Mr. Papandreou said that at the same time in Cyprus the international community is called on to "show in practice that it is following, without selective sensitivities, the implementation of the same principles of international law, just as in other int ernational problems".

"The present day is not only a day of denunciation. It is also a day of thinking for all Hellenism, for the actions and omissions of its recent past. The tragedy of Cyprus highlighted the deadlocks of our nationalism as well. Historic memory cannot be s elective," he said.

"Today, the international community is undertaking a new initiative. The political forces of Cyprus and in Greece must work for a solution to the political problem and the reunification of the island with realism and historic responsibility, where the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus will co-habit peacefully, regardless of ethnic origin and religion. It is the best armouring of Cypriot Hellenism against Turkish intransigence," Mr. Papandreou added.

Opposition parties : In its message, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) called on opposition parties to denounce "imperialist plans, both American and European Union, as well as the stance of the Greek government."

The KKE message stated that "developments over the Cyprus issue are part of the same chain, whose links are the situation in Kosovo and the drama experienced by the people of Yugoslavia...general plans against the peoples of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, the partitioning and 'NATOisation' being promoted for the Aegean and the continuing crime against the Kurdish people."

KKE reiterated that a just solution to the Cyprus issue can only be had on the basis of an independent, federal, non-aligned and demilitarised Cyprus.

In a similar message, the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) said the Cyprus problem is an issue of the invasion and occupation of part of an independent and sovereign state and must be handled as such by the international community and international or ganisations.

DHKKI added that a just and viable solution to the Cyprus issue can only be had with the restoration of international legality, which necessitates the withdrawal of even the last Turkish soldier from the island.

The Political Spring party said that all Greeks have the duty to struggle together steadfastly for an end to the drama of Cyprus.

In a related event, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and the Cypriot ambassador to Greece, Christodoulos Pashiardis, released two white doves from the Acropolis as a message for peace and vindication for Cyprus' struggle.

The event was attended by representatives of Greek Cypriot organisations and unions.

Athens News Agency

[02] Greece, Albania agree to better tackle surging crime problem

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

"We agreed on all the issues we discussed. There was a coincidence of views on solving problems," Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis told reporters after meeting with his Albanian counterpart, Spartak Potsi, in the northwestern Greek city of Ioa nnina.

He said Tirana and Athens would step up cooperation on both sides to stem illegal activity and immigration.

Mr. Chrysohoidis said Greek police checks on an estimated 500,000 illegal immigrants would continue to determine whether they had applied or possessed residency or work papers.

He said these operations were standard fare in all democratic countries of the world and that they would not turn into a means of persecuting legal immigrants.

"We support law-abiding immigrants and it is in our interests that they be in Greece. These police checks also protect them from criminal elements, which often use blackmail and force against them in their places of work or residence," he said.

The two ministries agreed to upgrade their cooperation by introducing direct "red" phone lines for immediate access and consultation as well as linking up on-line to facilitate the exchange of information.

Posted at each ministry will be a police liaison officer from the other country.

The Greek public order ministry also plans to establish an operation centre at the Gjirokaster police station which will provide surveillance capability for the wider Delvine and Sarande areas, both near the border with Greece.

Also provided for are regular weekly meetings between local authority representatives of regions neighbouring both sides of the border.

"The political message from my meeting with Mr. Potsi is that both governments are determined to stamp out organised and common crime at its roots," Mr. Chrysohoidis said.

Mr. Potsi thanked the Greek government for immediately responding to the Albanian government's requests for support and training of the local police force, while he said his government and ministry wanted to cooperate with Greece in curbing cross-border criminal activity.

"The Albanian government and the public order ministry are determined to do battle against crime. We are also determined, with the continuing cooperation with Greece, to jointly deal with the problem," he said.

He admitted that there were problems in the guarding of the border but that efforts were under way to fix the problems. He also admitted that Albania faced a major problem in combatting the cultivation and trafficking of narcotics but said police had ma de significant inroads over the past few weeks. "As of today, the cooperation between the two ministries and police forces will be consistent and I hope that soon we will have positive results," he said.

Gov't measures on green cards : The government submitted an amendment to Parliament yesterday which foresees accelerated procedures for issuing green cards as well as protection against possible forged green cards.

Labour Minister Miltiades Papaioannou said the interim 'white card' supplied to those foreigners who have registered for a green card had the force of a state document and protected holders from being deported. He added that checks into the a uthenticity of documents were reliable and that those found in possession of forged residency or work permits would face deportation.

A government meeting on Monday decided to step up procedures issuing green cards to foreigners meeting all the legal requirements for residency in Greece.

A bill will be tabled in parliament which will double the number of Manpower Employment Organisation (OAED) committees currently processing the applications, a meeting between the ministers of the interior, labour and public order decided.

Mr. Papaioannou said recently that 73 committees were presently processing the applications and these were taking up to 12 months to approve or reject applications.

Up until June 30, only 40,000 of an estimated 225,691 requests for green cards had been processed. Of this number, 35,000 applications were approved.

Athens News Agency

[03] Cultural, economic issues on the agenda of first Greek-Turkish meeting

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Foreign ministry ambassadors Skopelitis and Gerokostopoulos will represent Greece at the meeting, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Mr. Reppas said the next cycle of meetings would be held in Athens and would focus on issues not touched on in the Ankara meetings, such as combatting crime, illegal immigration, terrorism and related issues.

Asked whether the government was prepared to take some action on the Kurdistan People's Party (PKK), as requested by the Turkish government, the spokesman said that Greece had not changed its position on the Kurdish issue.

Athens News Agency

[04] US official meets with Greek leadership over anti-terrorism cooperation

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

"Issues of terrorism have an internal aspect for every country, and of course, an international aspect...In the context of this international aspect, the Greek foreign ministry coordinates and supports bilateral and multilateral cooperation with all count ries, and of course, with the United States," Mr. Niotis said after the meeting.

He added that the talks were not designed to lead to a binding agreement.

US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns also attended the meeting.

"This is a dialogue within the context of Greek-American cooperation, which is continuing and we believe will be beneficial to both sides," he said.

According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Sheehan, who has been in Greece since last week and has already held contacts with the public order ministry, asked the Greek side for closer cooperation in the exchange of information, training of anti-terrorist forces and the transfer of know-how.

The same sources added that the issue of changes in the existing Greek legal framework, for which the United States has been pressing for some time, was also discussed, but the Greek side declined to adopt any specific stand, considering that the legal provisions in force are adequate.

"Our country's political will in dealing with the plague of terrorism is also secured through the adherence to constitutional provisions and the safeguarding of the individual freedoms of citizens," Mr. Niotis said.

Athens News Agency

[05] Tsohatzopoulos meeting with his Austrian counterpart Fasslabend

VIENNA, 21/07/1999 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

The two ministers are expected to also discuss Greek-Austrian cooperation in peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, Kosovo and the presence of Austrian troops in the peacekeeping force on Cyprus.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will remain in Austria until Thursday to participate in the European Socialist Party (ESP) summit on the Balkans, as he holds the post of ESP vice-president.

The summit will focus on issues of security, economic and social development, democracy and human rights in the Balkans.

FM George Papandreou and Alternate FM Yiannos Kranidiotis will represent ruling PASOK at the summit.

Athens News Agency

[06] Gov't on Deutsche Welle's Greek-language programme

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

In his letter, Mr. Reppas stresses the Greek government's interest in the continuation of the station's Greek programme, adding that apart from memories brought to mind during its tenure throughout the seven-year military dictatorship in Greece (1967-74 ), it is of interest to a considerable sector of the Greek public.

Athens News Agency

[07] Apostolakis continues official visit to Georgia

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

He added that what is necessary is for the Cyprus issue to exit from the morass and find a solution in the framework of UN resolutions.

The Greek minister was speaking after meeting his Georgian counterpart Grigol Katamazde in Tbilisi yesterday.

The opposition of both Greece and Georgia to the creation of selective axes, which they said was not a productive policy, was also stressed during the two officials' meeting.

Mr. Apostolakis reiterated Athens' steadfast position on the inviolability of borders, adding that irredentist visions fuelling instability and undermining peace in the wider region should be discouraged.

Greece's support for Georgia's approach to European organisations was also stressed in his meeting with Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Burdul. Mr. Apostolakis will meet the Patriarch of Georgia Ilias II today.

Athens News Agency

[08] Gov't on EU decision to base agency in Thessaloniki

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

"The practical value and political significance of yesterday's decision is obvious," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas told reporters.

He also lauded FM George Papandreou and Alternate FM Yiannos Kranidiotis' efforts on the issue.

"Thessaloniki being chosen was the result of a responsible policy followed by the government during the bombing of Yugoslavia," he said.

Athens News Agency Athens 21/07/1999 (ANA)

The government announced yesterday that some 17 billion drachmas have been allocated since 1994 for cleaning Greece's prolific coastlines as well as the regen eration of various coastal areas.

The 'adoption' of beaches by local government administrations is one of the measures implemented in the programme, begun in 1994. Other measures include water sample checks at more than 1,200 sites in 1998 alone.

According to figures, 60 per cent of Greece's population lives in coastal areas, while 70 per cent of all industries are on the coasts, as are 90 per cent of all tourism-related businesses. In a related development, it was announced that Greece was awar ded 327 "Blue Flags" from the European Union in 1998, nine of which were for marinas.

Athens News Agency

[09] Bourse slips as profit-taking succeeds record high sessions

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Liquidations in the banking sector dragged the market below 4,500 points.

The general index ended 0.98 percent lower at 4,483.90 points from 4,528.38 points in the previous session.

The session kicked off with the index reaching 4,554.92 points, the highest intra-session level of all time, followed by liquidations, primarily among banks stocks, which led the index to 4,466.43 points (-1.09 percent) shortly before closing time.

The greatest losses in the banking sector was recorded by General Bank with 6.1 percent, while the Alpha Credit Bank decreased by 4.8 percent.

The price of 34 shares closed at the 8 percent high.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (-3.12 pct), Leasing (-1.63 pct), Insurance (+1.46 pct), Investment (+2.39 pct), Construction (-2.01 pct), Industrials (+1.22 pct), Miscellaneous (+1.29 pct) and Holding (+5.00 pct).

The parallel market for smaller capitalisation ended 0.16 percent higher.

Of 297 shares traded advances outpaced declines at 157 to 135 with five issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 22,650 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 21, 620, Bank of Piraeus at 9,060, Ergobank at 40,105, Titan Cement (common) at 30,780, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,840 and Intracom (common) at 21,870.

Athens News Agency

[10] Alico-Eurobank mutual fund assets top one trillion-drachma mark

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Average daily inflows to the company's growth funds amount to 3-3.5 billion drachmas.

After 18 months in operation, the company commands 10 percent of the total assets which social security organisations have placed in mutual funds, the statement said.

Athens News Agency

[11] Mutual fund assets surge

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Domestic growth funds command 1.834 trillion drachmas in assets, recording a 285.3-percent increase since the beginning of the year. All mutual fund assets have risen by 16.53 percent since Jan. 1, 1999.

Three-year bond yield rises : The yield on three-year bonds rose substantially in yesterday's auction of 120 billion drachmas' worth of paper, the finance ministry said in a statement.

The bond has 7.6 percent annual coupon.

The average weighed rate yield rose to 7.3 percent from 6.53 percent in the previous auction of three-year bonds on May 18.

Bids sumbitted by basic dealers totalled 310 billion drachmas, 2.5 times more than the amount sought, reflecting strong interest despite unfavorable developments in international markets, the finance ministry said.

The finance ministry accepted bids totalling 129 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[12] OTOE wants adherence to union work-schedule

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

OTOE noted that several banks are violating the existing collective bargaining agreements as they keep longer hours, with employees working up to 45-hours a week in some cases.

OTOE also stressed that such conditions create unfair competition against state banks, which maintain the work-hour schedule.

OTOE also noted its opposition against the privatisation of Commercial Bank.

Athens News Agency

[13] Unofficial ceiling on petrol prices on the table

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said that the agreement, which will apply to the maximun profit margins in both wholesale and retail sales, will be valid until Aug. 17 and will include the regions of Evrytania, Imathia, Preveza, Fokida, Thesprotia, Corfu, Cephalonia, Lefkada, the Dodecanese islands, Lesvos, Samos and Hios.

Athens News Agency

[14] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 21/07/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             310.228 317.421
Can.Dollar            207.626 212.439
Australian Dlr        202.031 206.715
Pound Sterling        488.104 499.421
Irish Punt            408.734 418.210
Pound Cyprus          557.861 570.795
Pound Malta           722.859 752.978
Turkish pound (100)     0.064   0.067
French franc           49.074  50.212
Swiss franc           200.726 205.380
Belgian franc           7.980   8.165
German Mark           164.587 168.403
Finnish Mark           54.140  55.396
Dutch Guilder         146.074 149.461
Danish Kr.             43.277  44.280
Swedish Kr.            36.952  37.809
Norwegian Kr.          39.551  40.468
Austrian Sh.           23.393  23.936
Italian lira (100)     16.625  17.010
Yen (100)             262.672 268.762
Spanish Peseta          1.934   1.979
Port. Escudo            1.606   1.643

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              310.228 317.421
Montreal              207.626 212.439
Sydney                202.031 206.715
London                488.104 499.421
Dublin                408.734 418.210
Nicosia               557.861 570.795
Paris                  49.074  50.212
Zurich                200.726 205.380
Brussels                7.980   8.165
Frankfurt             164.587 168.403
Helsinki               54.140  55.396
Amsterdam             146.074 149.461
Copenhagen             43.277  44.280
Stockholm              36.952  37.809
Oslo                   39.551  40.468
Vienna                 23.393  23.936
Milan                  16.625  17.010
Tokyo                 262.672 268.762
Madrid                  1.934   1.979
Lisbon                  1.606   1.643

Athens News Agency

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