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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-09-10

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] Aftershock activity in Athens subsides, death toll climbs to 88
  • [02] Greek and Turkish officials try to find common ground
  • [03] PM pledges to help the homeless
  • [04] Kranidiotis expresses thanks for international solidarity and help
  • [05] Karamanlis postpones visit to Thessaloniki fair
  • [06] Simitis postpones China trip
  • [07] Greek representative raises issue of EU quake funding
  • [08] Papandreou, political leaders visit quake-stricken areas
  • [09] Start of soccer season postponed due to quake
  • [10] Kaklamanis sharply criticises mobile phone operators
  • [11] Farm minister ends visit to Israel
  • [12] Albanian minister in Thessaloniki
  • [13] PASOK delegation holds talks with Turkey's Republican Party
  • [14] German tourism to Greece intact after quake
  • [15] Deputy foreign minister inaugurates conference
  • [16] Cabinet to debate reconstruction today
  • [17] Gov't likely to send tax bill to parliament Monday
  • [18] Bonds hold low levels, drachma stable
  • [19] Hotels energy and environment conference in Athens
  • [20] Petzetakis forges alliance with UK's Arco
  • [21] Athens Foreign Exchange

  • [01] Aftershock activity in Athens subsides, death toll climbs to 88

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Aftershock activity following Tuesday's killer earthquake in Athens subsided yesterday but the death toll climbed to 88 at press time, with 280 hospitalised, health ministry officials said.

    An estimated number of 30 persons were reported still missing

    The Greek Emergency Rescue Squad (EMAK), assisted by several foreign rescue teams, working through the night, has so far managed to pull out of the rubble of collapsed homes and factories 85 persons all alive.

    The 150 rescue teams digging in the worst-hit quake regions, mostly northwest of the capital, were joined by a 10-member strong Israeli rescue group, which flew from Tel-Aviv at 04.00 am. yesterday. They sped to the collapsed cleaning products Ricomex factory. Teams from France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Cyprus and Ukraine were making efforts to extricate persons still buried in the debris in 13 hard-hit locations.

    The ministry said that an Austrian rescue squad was also due to arrive to assist operations.

    "Aftershock activity has been reduced allowing most of the inhabitants to return to their homes," seismologist Gerasimos Houliaras told ANA.

    More than 40 hours after Tuesday's major 5.9 Richter scale jolt, aftershocks ranged from 4.9 to 4.1 "indicating a de-escalation of tremor activity in the quake fault making us more optimistic that the worse is over," Mr. Houliaras said.

    So far state engineers have inspected 8,969 buildings and homes in the stricken northwestern Athens suburbs of Menidi, Metamorphosis, Ano liosia, Nea Kifissia, Philadelphia, and Thracomacedones.

    Twelve per cent of the buildings inspected must be demolished, while 42 per cent are in need of repairs. The remaining 46 per cent could be immediately inhabited.

    On Wednesday, Prime Minister Costas Simitis had announced a series of measures and a five-point plan to assist thousands of people left homeless.

    Meanwhile, Athens public prosecutor Lambros Karambelas visited the ruins of the Ricomex factory and other destroyed buildings early yesterday to get a first hand account on the situation before taking legal action against building contractors and engine ers responsible for faulty construction.

    "We will search and find, if and who is to blame for the destruction," he told reporters at the site. "We will investigate any possible responsibilities, " he added.

    Quakes in northeastern Aegean : Two strong earthquakes struck the sea region in northeastern Greece shortly before noon yesterday. They were the result of the killer earthquake that hit Turkey last month killing 15,000 people, a top Greek seismologist said.

    Professor Vassilis Papazahos of the geophysics department of Thessaloniki university said the epicentre of the two tremors measuring 4.8 and 5.2 on the Richter scale recorded by the university's seismographs at ll.l3 and 11.16 yesterday was the sea regi on between the northern Aegean islands of Samothrace in Greece and Imvros (Gokce) in Turkey.

    "The tremors were expected and are the result of the 7.4 Richter scale quake that shook Turkey on August 17 and have no connection with Tuesday's earthquake in Athens, Mr. Papazahos told the ANA.

    "Aftershocks from the quake in Turkey "will continue for a long time," he said.

    Charges filed : An Athens public prosecutor yesterday filed charges against a seismologist for spreading false rumours that Greece would be hit by a major new earthquake.

    According to the charge sheet, seismologist Efthymios Lekkas said in a radio interview on Wednesday that he expected a major earthquake to hit Greece yesterday.

    His comments caused fear and panic among jittery Athenians many of whom had spent the night outdoors after Tuesday's earthquake.

    Mr. Lekkas, a professor of geology at the University of Athens, later expressed his "surprise" at being prosecuted.

    "It is incredible to be prosecuted for a scientific opinion that is, indeed, documented," Mr. Lekkas told the ANA.

    Mr. Lekkas said he was being prosecuted for his opinion that the Anatolian fault which caused the Turkish quakes could affect Greek territory in the Aegean.

    "Two hours after charges were brought against me, five quakes were recorded in the northern Aegean and one of these was as high as 5.2 on the Richter scale," he said.

    Mr. Lekkas clarified that what he said on Wednesday was that there were questions as to how far the fault responsible for Tuesday's quake would affect other faults in the southern Gulf of Evia.

    A judicial investigation has also been called into reports in yesterday's edition of the newspaper Eleftheri Ora in which a researcher called Ilias Tsiapas claims that a 6.0 magnitude earthquake will occur on October 11.

    Meanwhile, most other experts said they were extremely satisfied with the course of developments in the wake of the quake, just 48 hours after it struck.

    "We're doing very well," Geodynamic Institute seismologist Gerasimos Houliaras told the ANA.

    "The most serious aftershock (overnight) was about 4.0 on the Richter scale and recorded at 0710 this (yesterday) morning."

    Mr. Houliaras said it was evident the strength of the aftershocks was decreasing and said the fault which gave rise to the quake would not cause a stronger quake.

    Athens News Agency

    [02] Greek and Turkish officials try to find common ground

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    High-ranking Greek and Turkish foreign ministry officials began a second round of low-profile talks in Athens yesterday, trying to find common ground on economic and commercial cooperation, tourism and the environment.

    The talks, which will last until today, will also focus on cooperation between the two countries on dealing with natural disasters, following a proposal from Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and in light of the latest developments.

    The next round of talks is slated for Ankara on September 14-15 and these will tackle whether there is common ground for joint action to tackle organised crime, illegal immigration and terrorism, as well as cultural issues and regional cooperation.

    Diplomatic sources at the foreign ministry said the initial round of talks in Ankara had seen a convergence of views on a number of issues and that if this could be worked upon in this round of talks, a draft bilateral agreement on various sectors could be considered.

    But this possible consideration of a draft agreement, they added, would take place at a future round of meetings, involving the participation of officials from the competent ministries.

    The same sources added that Mr. Papandreou would meet with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on September 23 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

    The two ministers will also be together days earlier, when the European Union General Affairs Council convenes on September 13-14 in Brussels.

    Mr. Cem has been invited to attend the meeting, at which relations between the European Union and Turkey will be discussed.

    While in New York, Mr. Papandreou will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as well.

    Ms. Albright on Wednesday telephoned to Mr. Papandreou expressing the readiness of the US administration to send aid to Greece after Tuesday's killer quake in Athens.

    Athens News Agency

    [03] PM pledges to help the homeless

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday affirmed the government's commitment to restoring normality for thousands of people left homeless by Tuesday's 5.9 Richter quake.

    "The state will do its duty to repair the damage and restore normality for tens of thousands of families," Mr. Simitis said.

    The prime minister was speaking after accepting two cheques for 100 million drachmas each donated by shipowner Pericles Panagopoulos of Attica Enterprises and Super Fast Ferries and industrialist Thomas Lanaras of Klonatex-Naoussa Textile Mills.

    "In these hours of great grief at the disaster which has befallen Athens, such acts of social sensitivity and altruism indisputably relieve the pain and misfortune of many families that have remained homeless. It shows that we are still a society of solidarity and humanity."

    "The catastrophic results of the earthquake will be dealt with by all of us together," he said. The 200 million drachmas will be handed over to the health and welfare ministry, which has already launched a fund-raising drive, Mr. Simitis said.

    Meanwhile, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos has arranged for the donation of 10 million drachmas to be distributed to those who have been affected by the quake. Five million drachmas donated to the bishopric of Nea Ionia and Filadelphi a will be used for the practical needs of those affected by the quake.

    National carrier Olympic Airways offered free flights to the next of kin of those injured or killed in the quake to allow them to be near their family members, or attend the funerals.

    The coffins of those killed during the quake will be transpor ted free of charge by Olympic if the families of the deceased wish to have them buried elsewhere in Greece. The prime minister late last night chaired a ministers meeting on tackling problems due to the earthquake. Following the meeting, acting government spokesman Nikos Athanasakis said the session was a precursor to a cabinet meeting today called to arrange t he second phase of short and long term relief for quake victims. He added that an initial seven billion drachmas of emergency aid would be allocated without red tape, while additional funding was being sought for long term relief.

    Athens News Agency

    [04] Kranidiotis expresses thanks for international solidarity and help

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday expressed warm thanks over the messages of solidarity, support and readiness for assistance by a large number of foreign countries, organisations and agencies, as well as over aid provided for Greece so far to help it handle the consequences of Tuesday's disastrous earthquake.

    "I wish in particular to thank the foreign rescue teams which are participating in efforts to rescue and save fellow humans of ours with their precious contribution. International solidarity which has been shown from the very first moment of the devasta ting earthquake which struck Athens forges the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our peoples," Mr. Kranidiotis said.

    Pope sends condolences : ROME (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakos) - Pope John Paul II extended his condolences for victims and solidarity for the population of Athens which was struck by an earthquake on Tuesday.

    In a telegramme sent to the apostolic nuncio in Athens, he expressed his strong emotion and sadness over the victims and is praying for feelings of solidarity among the population of the country and the international community which will help rebuild wh at has been destroyed.

    The French news agency AFP said in a dispatch yesterday that French President Jacques Chirac sent a message of "sympathy and solidarity" to Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    "My thought is with the injured and the families of the dead," Mr. Chirac said.

    Israeli President Ezer Weizman has addressed a letter to President Kostis Stephanopoulos, expressing his condolences and sympathy to the Greek people over the earthquake victims.

    An ANA dispatch from Berlin said that the president of the German Bundestag, during the House's session yesterday, called on German citizens to show active solidarity towards the peoples of Greece and Turkey.

    The German government will send tents, beds and blankets to Greece as aid for the victims.

    Following consultations between German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos, 300 tents, 1,500 beds and 3, 000 blankets are expected to arrive in Athens today.

    A 14-member German rescue team with 11 sniffer dogs is already in Athens.

    In a related development, Saudi Arabia decided to send humanitarian aid.

    According to the Saudi Arabian news agency SPA, foodstaffs, tents and blankets will be sent.

    Soudi Arabia had sent similar aid to the victims of the Aug. 17 earthquake that hit Turkey.

    Athens News Agency

    [05] Karamanlis postpones visit to Thessaloniki fair

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis yesterday postponed his visit to the Thessaloniki Internatianal Trade Fair.

    Mr. Karamanlis said that "the great political and economic issues are very important. However, they should be set aside for a while, since the needs of the people take precedent.

    "Our efforts are focusing on assisting the efforts of the state and local government authorities in the regions worst hit by the quake."

    The leader of the ND called on all citizens to aid the earthquake victims and on the state to increase its efforts for the provision of tents, health care and policing. He said that his party's specialists have been placed at the disposal of responsible agencies, adding that "we will continue to participate and stand together (to the victims) in any way and by any means."

    In a related development, Mr. Karamanlis sent a letter to European Commission President Romano Prodi requesting re-allocation of funds from the Second Community Support Framework for the reconstruction of damaged and collapsed homes and infrastructure.

    In his letter, he noted that the cost of reconstruction is expected to be high, although it has not yet been estimated. Mr. Karamanlis also created an ND party unofficial emergency needs committee, composed of deputies, which will convene twice a day to follow developments regarding the earthquake and to intervene where needed.

    Athens News Agency

    [06] Simitis postpones China trip

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis has postponed his planned visit to China to stay in Athens and coordinate activity in the wake of Tuesday's 5.9 magnitude quake, his press office announced yesterday.

    Mr. Simitis was due to leave on his seven-day trip to China on September 15. On his schedule were talks with a number of Chinese government and state officials.

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that the prime minister had postponed his trip so as to head the relief effort.

    Mr. Simitis will have a round of briefings of political party leaders on issues related to the killer quake, beginning over the weekend and culminating with a meeting with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis on Monday, Mr. Reppas said .

    On Saturday the premier will meet with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) President Nikos Constantopoulos and Social Democratic Movement (DHKKI) President Dimitris Tsovolas.

    Athens News Agency

    [07] Greek representative raises issue of EU quake funding

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Acting on instructions by Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, Greece's permanent representative at the European Union, ambassador Loukas Tsilas, raised the issue of the extraordinary funding of the country by the EU to handle consequences of Tuesday's earthquake during Wednesday's meeting of the EU's Council of Permanent Representatives.

    According to diplomatic sources of the foreign ministry, the European Commission was assigned with examining existing possibilities of financing by EU funds.

    The sources revealed that one of the alternate proposals being examined is for funding to be provided from the budget's "lines" concerning natural disasters, from Community Support Framework funds or through interest-free loans from the European Invest ment Bank. This issue will also be raised at the next General Affairs Council, which will convene in Brussels on the 13th of the month. Participating on the part of Greece will be Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, where the European Commission might present its finalised proposals.

    Athens News Agency

    [08] Papandreou, political leaders visit quake-stricken areas

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday visited the municipalities of Menidi and Nea Liosia to see from close up conditions in two of the worst- hit areas of the greater Athens region.

    Following his visit, the minister decided to allocate 80 million drachmas from the foreign ministry budget to quake victims' relief, while he ordered ambassadors in countries which offered aid to Greece to request for tents and bed linen.

    On his part, ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis also visited the municipalities of Menidi, Zefiri and Nea Liosia and donated 20 million drachmas to each.

    The 60 million drachmas was earlier allocated by the party budget for the 25-year-anniverssary celebrations, since the party's founding, which were cancelled following the earthquake.

    Earlier in the day, Mr. Skandalidis met with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and discussed ways PASOK may more effectivelly provide assistance to resolve problems caused by the quake.

    The two men decided that the PASOK civil engineers' committee will be placed at the disposal of the environment, town planning and public works ministry.

    In a related development, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga called for the allocation of funds from the Third Community Framework Support Fund for the purchase of tents, while on a visit to Ano Liosia and Menidi.

    She added that the first priority of the state should be the immediate initiation of rebuilding homes, as "people cannot live in tents for a long time."

    Athens News Agency

    [09] Start of soccer season postponed due to quake

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    The Greek Soccer Federation (EPAE) said yesterday it would postpone the beginning of the first division soccer season this weekend in the wake of the capital's 5.9 magnitude quake.

    EPAE said it had accepted a proposal by Deputy Sports Minister Andreas Fouras that all first division games be postponed for the sake of safety of fans and to allow time for engineers to check the condition of football stadiums.

    Mr. Fouras also said it was inappropriate for sports events to be held while the country grieved for at least 83 people killed during the quake, and while there were others still trapped under collapsed buildings.

    Also cancelled was the second round of third division matches.

    Mr. Fouras has asked the head of the basketball federation to call off games scheduled to be played on Sunday, for the same reasons. The request was expected to be accepted.

    Mr. Fouras said quake damage to stands at AEK's home ground in Nea Filadelphia would be discussed with Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis next week, but that the first division club would receive a third of the cost of repair as a subsidy and two-thirds as an interest-free loan. The Sports General Secretariat said in a statement that inspections by engineers so far had shown that the Olympic Pool and Olympic Stadium facilities were in excellent condition, apart from so me minor non-structural damage.

    Inspections are continuing at other sports facilities.

    Athens News Agency

    [10] Kaklamanis sharply criticises mobile phone operators

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis told Parliament yesterday that the government needed to look into the case of mobile telephony providers, under fire for failing to deliver in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake.

    "At a critical moment, they showed that they were not in the position to provide even the most basic of services," Mr. Kaklamanis told the assembly, after a briefing by Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou. The mobile phone network went dead completely just seconds after the 5.9 earthquake on Tuesday; companies said the network's failure was due to overload as people tried to reach their families. Mr. Kaklamanis praised state-run Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation, saying that compared to the mo bile phone companies, it had operated "excellently".

    Athens News Agency

    [11] Farm minister ends visit to Israel

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis yesterday ended his visit in Israel where he met his counterparts in the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority.

    Mr. Anomeritis and his Israeli counterpart Haim Oron agreed to activate a bilateral standing committee of experts on agricultural cooperation.

    The two ministers also decided to promote agri-tourism, trade and water resource enrichment technology.

    Mr. Anomeritis also visited the "Agritech" international trade fair, where the Greek delegation headed by the minister met with their counterparts from other Mediterranean countries in the framework of Euro-Mediterranean and Mediterranean cooperation.

    He also met with Jerusalem Patriarch Diodorus and the city's Greek community.

    Athens News Agency

    [12] Albanian minister in Thessaloniki

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    An Albanian delegation headed by Agriculture and Foodstuffs Minister Lufter Xhuveli visited the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday and held talks with its administration on the development of business cooperation.

    The delegation also proposed the Chamber's participation, as well as that of Greek businesses, at the Tirana International Exhibition due to take place on November 25-30.

    Chamber President Dimitris Bakatselos said that Greece was Albania's second trade partner, covering 48 per cent of Albanian imports, adding that the prospects for further developing trade relations were favourable if the wider region stabilised.

    Bavarian Interior Minister Herman Regensburger, who has been visiting Mount Athos since Wednesday, also visited the Chamber.

    Athens News Agency

    [13] PASOK delegation holds talks with Turkey's Republican Party

    BRUSSELS, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    A delegation of the ruling PASOK party, headed by Alternate Foreign Minister and PASOK Central Committee member Yiannos Kranidiotis, held talks with a delegation of Turkey's Republican Party headed by the party's vice president Inal Batu here yesterday on the sidelines of the European Socialist Party (ESP)presidium meeting.

    The Turkish Republican Party, as is the case with PASOK, is a member of the ESP and the Socialist International. It is the first time such a meeting was held between the two parties.

    Issues discussed between the two delegations concerned the situation created in the two countries in the wake of recent disastrous earthquakes, as well as cooperation between the two parties in international fora.

    Mr. Kranidiotis invited the Republican Party's delegation to visit Greece. The invitation was accepted.

    Athens News Agency

    [14] German tourism to Greece intact after quake

    BERLIN, 10/09/1999 (ANA -P. Stangos)

    German tourism to Greece is unlikely to be affected by a major earthquake that hit Athens earlier this week, a spokesman of Germany's largest travel agency said yesterday.

    Speaking in Frankfurt, the spokesman for C&N Touristic noted that there were no cancellations so far of trips to Greece following the quake.

    "In any case, the overwhelming majority of packages are to Crete and Greece's Aegean islands with no stopovers (in Athens)," the spokesman said.

    In addition, a Lufthansa official confirmed that there were no more cancellations to Greece, including Athens, than usual for the time of the year.

    Athens News Agency

    [15] Deputy foreign minister inaugurates conference

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis Wednesday night inaugurated the international conference organised by the Greek Defence and Foreign Policy Institute (ELIAMEP) as well as the International Black Sea Studies Centre (DIKEMEP) on the island of Halki o n "The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (OSEP) towards the 21st century - new challenges and new prospects."

    The conference is attended by a considerable number of politicians, diplomats and university professors from Black Sea countries.

    On the occasion of OSEP's Greek presidency over the period from May to October 1999, Mr. Niotis analysed the significance of this international organisation to delegates on maintaining peace, development, security and stability in the wider Black Sea re gion, where many countries comprising it have not completed the transitional process to the market economy, while they are surrounded by flashpoints.

    Mr. Niotis stressed the importance of OSEP's institutional transformation from an intergovernmental cooperation forum to an international organisation dominating a region linking Europe to Asia and the Middle East, an area populated by 350 million people.

    Greece, being the sole member-state of both OSEP and the European Union, has undertaken initiatives which it is intensifying to promote closer cooperation between the two organisations.

    Archbishop of America pays courtesy visit to Simitis : The newly-elected Archbishop of America Dimitrios yesterday payed a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

    Mr. Dimitrios will depart for the United States for the enthroning ceremony, scheduled for next week.

    Athens News Agency

    [16] Cabinet to debate reconstruction today

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis is to chair a cabinet meeting today called to debate swift reconstruction and compensation after a fatal earthquake that struck Athens and Attica earlier this week.

    Deputy National Economy Minister Christos Pahtas told the Athens News Agency that no official estimate existed of the cost of the damage from Tuesday's earthquake, and it was too soon to name an exact figure.

    According to initial estimates, the damage is estimated at more than 100 billion drachmas, higher than originally expected.

    Mr. Pahtas added that a specific figure would be ready at the beginning of next week.

    The national economy ministry has endorsed the release of an emergency payment of 15 billion drachmas from the public investments programme.

    In the first phase, funds will be sought from the European Union's second Community Support Framework, which expires this year, and fresh monies sought from the third CSF, which begins in 2000.

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou will raise the issue of EU funding for the damage at a meeting of finance ministers of the 15-nation bloc to take place in Finland at the weekend.

    Also today, the government is to launch the disbursement of a 200,000 drachma allowance to the homeless and other casualties of the earthquake.

    Among measures the government is working on are a rent subsidy of 60,000 drachmas and an allowance to pensioners and the unemployed in quake-hit areas of 100,000 drachmas.

    Also being discussed are a resettlement of debts to the tax office for the earthquake's casualties, an extension of deadlines for the payment of Value Added Tax and for contributions to the Social Insurance Foundation by businesses, and a long-term free ze on the issue of public utility bills.

    In addition, Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday that specialised measures were being devised in conjunction with the national economy ministry to aid businesses with repairs to buildings, computers and other equipment, raw materials and goods for sale.

    The Greek National Tourism Organisation and Union of Athens Hoteliers had already made its property, including hotel rooms, available to earthquake victims, Mr. Venizelos added.

    Furthermore, the Public Power Corporation is to foot the bill for power supplies and infrastructure needed by camps for the homeless, and encampments by individuals or families not in state-run camps.

    Finally, Coco-Mat, a manufacturer of environment-friendly mattresses, has collected bedding for the homeless, ready for distribution today.

    Coco-Mat, which is headquartered in the northern suburb of Kifissia, suffered damage to its premises in the earthquake.

    Athens News Agency

    [17] Gov't likely to send tax bill to parliament Monday

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou is expected to submit the government's taxation bill to parliament on Monday, and release its details to the media for the first time.

    The bill contains reductions in direct and indirect taxation and a hike on a stock transactions tax to 0.6 percent from 0.3 percent.

    It also lays out the new tax regime for small and medium sized enterprises and the self-employed following the abolition of base assessed income.

    Many of the measures aim to help lower income groups and assist the government's counter-inflationary drive to allow entry into the euro zone on target in January, 2001.

    Athens News Agency

    [18] Bonds hold low levels, drachma stable

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Secondary bond market prices held their low levels in scant trade yesterday with investors bypassing 10-year bonds.

    Electronic trade was 2.0 billion drachmas. Of the total, trade in 15-year bonds accounted for one billion and three-year bonds for another billion drachmas.

    The benchmark 10-year bond was still trading below par at around 98, showing a yield of 6.68 percent.

    The 10-year paper's yield spread over German bunds was steady around 160 basis points, later widening to 163 percent after statements by Bundesbank governor Wim Duisenberg.

    In the foreign exchange market, the drachma was stable after minor bouts of speculation in the previous session, nipped in the bud by the Bank of Greece's intervention.

    At the central bank's daily fix, the euro nosed up fractionally against the drachma.

    It was set at 326.990 drachmas from 326.950 drachmas in the previous session.

    The dollar edged down marginally against the drachma. At the fix it was set at 308.600 drachmas from 308.730 drachmas a day earlier.

    Stocks, derivatives re-open trade today : The Athens Stock Exchange and Athens Derivatives Market will resume trade today.

    The two markets suspended operations on Wednesday and Thursday following technical problems caused by a strong earthquake that hit Athens on Tuesday.

    The problems affected the settlement of Tuesday's transactions, which have now been completed.

    A check by public works ministry engineers of the stock exchange revealed that damage was minor, and the building was declared safe.

    The Athens bourse had staged a weeklong record-breaking rally before the suspension of trade on Wednesday.

    Athens News Agency

    [19] Hotels energy and environment conference in Athens

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    A conference on energy and the environment in the Mediterranean hotels sector will be held on October 14 and 15 on the island of Hydra.

    Holding the conference is the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (KAPE) in association with European agencies and the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers. The conference has received funding under the European Union's Thermie programme.

    The purpose of the conference is to present European and national policy, and action taken in the fields of energy and environmental management, including information flow.

    Also set for presentation are the findings of a survey on the conference's theme by an EU working group coordinated by KAPE, again under the Thermie programme.

    Athens News Agency

    [20] Petzetakis forges alliance with UK's Arco

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    AG Petzetakis, a plastic pipes maker listed on the Athens bourse, said yesterday it had forged a commercial alliance with Arco, the UK's largest distributor of industrial pipes.

    Arco will arrange the distribution of the full range of Petzetakis products in the United Kingdom, the Greek firm said in a statement.

    The deal states an initial level of sales of one billion drachmas annually.

    In the near future, Arco will also extend the distribution of Petzetakis' products to Northern Ireland.

    In May, Petzetakis was awarded the ISO 9001 quality assurance certificate, an upgrade from its existing ISO 9002 certification, a factor that helped to produce the deal with Arco, the statement said.

    On Monday, Petzetakis will announce the details of an investment plan at a repeat shareholders' meeting. The programme is due to be funded from an upcoming share capital increase, the company said.

    Athens News Agency

    [21] Athens Foreign Exchange

    Athens, 10/09/1999 (ANA)

    Bank of Greece closing rates of: September 9, 1999

    Parities in Drachmas

    Banknotes             Buying  Selling
    US Dollar             306.131 313.229
    Can.Dollar            205.800 210.572
    Australian Dlr        198.827 203.436
    Pound Sterling        496.139 507.642
    Irish Punt            411.870 421.420
    Pound Cyprus          560.976 573.982
    Pound Malta           714.788 744.571
    Turkish pound (100)     0.063   0.066
    French franc           49.450  50.597
    Swiss franc           202.666 207.365
    Belgian franc           8.041   8.227
    German Mark           165.850 169.695
    Finnish Mark           54.556  55.821
    Dutch Guilder         147.195 150.608
    Danish Kr.             43.628  44.640
    Swedish Kr.            37.672  38.546
    Norwegian Kr.          39.382  40.296
    Austrian Sh.          23.573  24.119
    Italian lira (100)    16.753  17.141
    Yen (100)            281.034 287.549
    Spanish Peseta         1.949   1.994
    Port. Escudo           1.618   1.655
    
    Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
    New York             306.131 313.229
    Montreal             205.800 210.572
    Sydney               198.827 203.436
    London               496.139 507.642
    Dublin               411.870 421.420
    Cyprus               560.976 573.982
    Paris                 49.450  50.597
    Zurich               202.666 207.365
    Brussels               8.041   8.227
    Frankfurt            165.850 169.695
    Helsinki              54.556  55.821
    Amsterdam            147.195 150.608
    Copenhagen            43.628  44.640
    Stockholm             37.672  38.546
    Oslo                  39.382  40.296
    Vienna                23.573  24.119
    Milan                 16.753  17.141
    Tokyo                281.034 287.549
    Madrid                 1.949   1.994
    Lisbon                 1.618   1.655
    
    Athens News Agency

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