Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Cyprus bid farewell to Kranidiotis

[02] Fifth 'Athens Summit' honours four pre-eminent int'l personalities

[03] Aftershock

[04] Gov`t says no issue of Mantelis` resignation, Falcon probe continues

[05] France's Kouchner on Greece's role in Balkans, Kosovo conflict

[06] Majko discusses ethnic Greeks' problems in Gjirokaster

[07] Committee chairman Hadjipateras dies in Athens

[08] Fund-raising campaign, donation by SAE for quake victims

[09] Canadian aid for quake victims

[10] Stolen artifact recovered

[11] Unemployment drops in EU for `98, rises in Greece

[12] Donations by shipowners

[13] Economic News

[01] Greece, Cyprus bid farewell to Kranidiotis

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

The Cypriot-born Kranidiotis was buried, with full state honours, alongside his 23-year-old son Nicholas, who was also killed on the fateful flight.

"It is for me, personally, a tragic loss of a friend and a close associate, " Prime Minister Costas Simitis told those gathered at the Aghios Dionysios Aeropagitis Cathedral in Athens' Kolonaki district.

"Our souls ache for the man, the fighter, the worthy comradeIUp until the last moment, Yannos' life was a sacrifice to the homeland, duty and the defence of national rightsIHe was an example of morality and responsibility. Greece owes him a great deal. Cyprus owes him a great deal.

"He had a rare gift of being able to be, at the same time, a visionary and a pragmatist. He believed more than anyone in the vision and reality of a united Europe P a vision and a reality which he believed Cyprus could not be absent from."

The prime minister called Kranidiotis "the architect of Cyprus' accession process to the European Union" and said he had contributed to the improvement of relations between Greece and Turkey and to bolstering Greece's role as a European power in the Bal kans.

"He believed that the crisis in the Balkans would not be overcome if economic under-development was not overcome, if democratic institutions did not operate properly in all the countries of the Balkans," Mr. Simitis said.

"He decisively promoted the (Balkans) Stability Pact. On a mission on which he was once again prepared to do battle for cooperation in the Balkans, his life was suddenly cut short.

"We have lost Yannos at a particularly critical timeIHe had the art of imparting his passion to his work, for the battles he undertook daily on a diplomatic level.

"The void he leaves cannot be filled. We will do what we can and fight with his strength, with his insistence on achieving the joint goals of Hellenism."

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said Kranidiotis had played a special role in foreign policy planning.

"We honour him for his special contribution in Greece and in Cyprus to our national issues, his contribution to the European future.

"His life ended prematurely. We thank him for the example he left behind," Mr. Kaklamanis said.

Costas Karamanlis, the main opposition New Democracy leader, described Kranidiotis as a politician who with calmness and moderation served the two directions of foreign policy which could be called "national axes": the Cypriot issue and Cyprus' accessio n process for the European Union.

"There must be a solution to the Cypriot issue. We cannot forget this. This procedure can be served only with unity. It is incomprehensible, for we Greeks, not to be able to decide on a common strategy," he said.

Spyros Halvatzis, speaking on behalf of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), spoke of a man with "a low profile who was able to bring to pass whatever he took on". Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos expressed his grief a t the loss of the six people in the accident.

"They were visionaries for a better life. Both Yannos and his son Nikos loved life," he said.

Democratic Social Movement MP Yiannis Dimaras said Kranidiotis had gained the deep respect and recognition of all.

Foreign Minister George Papandreou also spoke movingly of his "associate and friend".

"(He was) a person with whom I had close cooperation, common goals and common vision.

"(His was) a Greek voice, with conviction, fixed on the goal, a tireless voice which shaped conscience. "His associates and my associates travelled with his dreams: a dream of a Cyprus in the European Union, the dream of a united Cyprus, the dream of a Balkans in which Greece had a strong voice."

Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, a close friend of Kranidiotis, spoke on behalf of the Cypriot government.

"When the grieving ends, we will all deeply realise what the loss of Yannos Kranidiotis means for Greece and Cyprus," he said.

The president of the Cyprus House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou, described Kranidiotis' death as "a national tragedy" and called upon the political leaderships of Greece and Cyprus to pledge to continue his fight for the freedom of Cyprus and the progress of the two countries.

Vassos Lyssarides, the president of Cypriot Socialist EDEK party, weeped as he spoke of his personal loss.

"It is incomprehensible to me that I am in Athens to farewell my friends Yannos and Nikos KranidiotisII apologise. This task is psychologically beyond my capabilities. But I had no right to refuse to do it."

Wreaths flooded the well-known cathedral in central Athens, despite calls from Kranidiotis' family that donations be made instead to the quake relief effort to house the homeless.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat also sent a wreath as did the Harvard University Alumni Association, as well as many embassies and associations.

The public was allowed to file through the cathedral at 10 a.m. to pay respects to the late minister, whose coffin lay alongside that of his son's.

At 1 p.m., the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Petros, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos and Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios began the funeral service.

Petros, a fellow Cypriot as well as a personal friend of Kranidiotis, spoke of the minister's "courage and competence" and of his great love for his only child, Nikolas.

"Even death was not able to part him from his child," he said.

Chief among mourners was Kranidiotis' elderly mother, Chrysso, who had seen, in two years, the death of her husband, a former ambassador to Athens, her son and her grandson.

Next to her were Kranidiotis' wife, Katerina Boura, and his ex-wife Lena Pambouki, Nicholas' mother.

Almost every diplomatic mission was represented and also present were many European Parliament deputies from France, Germany, Austria and other countries and from foreign ministries of Albania, Bulgaria and Poland. The funeral cortege, followed by the bereaved family and members of the government, led by Mr. Simitis, stopped for one minute at the foreign ministry and then at Parliament for a brief and final farewell to the two institutions Kranidiotis had served.

Both father and son were buried at the Athens First Cemetary.

Athens News Agency

[02] Fifth 'Athens Summit' honours four pre-eminent int'l personalities

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

The four individuals were awarded prizes for their contribution towards enhancing human values throughout the world, during the opening ceremony of the 5th "Athens Summit".

Apart from Italy's Bertolucci, who cited health reasons for his absence, the other three were present at the ceremony organised by the summit's sponsors P ( the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), the Athens Economics University (ASOEE) and the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE). The entire event focused on economic priorities at the threshold of the 21st century.

Mr. Kouchner's titles are the UN Secretary General's special representative for Kosovo, French deputy health minister and the founder of the "Medecins sans Frontiers" organisation.

"The purpose of the UN is to protect all minorities in Kosovo," Mr. Kouchner said while receiving his award at the Grande Bretagne Hotel in downtown Athens.

Mr. Ustinov mounted the rostrum with a discreet walking stick. On receiving his award, Mr. Dassin said "if I could do something for Greece I should have to think first how much Greece has done for me."

On his part, Romanian Prime Minister Radu Vasile referred in his address to "the future of the state and of national identity in a state of economic globalisation."

"The prospect of globalisation is an opportunity for Romania," Mr. Vasile said.

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos added that the merger of economic powers reinforced uncontrolled market forces.

Finally, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos said he preferred the term "america-nisation of nations" instead of globalisation.

Athens News Agency

[03] Aftershock

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

The aftershock, recorded at 2:03 a.m., and with the same epicentre as the stronger quake, measured 4 on the Richter scale.

Athens News Agency

[04] Gov`t says no issue of Mantelis` resignation, Falcon probe continues

Athens,, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

Nothing can stop the investigation into the circumstances of the accident, the spokesman said, adding that Mr. Mantelis' presence was imperative for the completion of the investigation.

Kranidiotis, his son and four other people were killed when the Falcon jet, belonging to the government and used for state visit, plunged thousands of feet as it approached the Bucharest airport. An investigation is under way into the cause of the plung e.

Mr. Reppas said documents related to the technical condition of the airplane released Thursday night by Mr. Mantelis were part of efforts to ensure full transparency of the investigation and that additional documents would be released shortly.

Simitis-Mantelis meeting: On his part, Mr. Mantelis held talks with Prime minister Costas Simitis and delivered an envelope containing data regarding the accident and the maintenance records of the Falcon plane.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Mr. Mantelis said a report by the special committee set up to probe the causes of the accident must be awaited. He added that the contents of the plane's "black box" flight recorder were due to be sent yesterday to the air accident investigation service of Germany's federal air force service.

Asked by the press whether there was any question of his resignation, Mr. Mantelis said such an issue has not been raised, adding: "I have been instructed to go ahead and investigate this accident fully."

Meanwhile, two people seriously injured during the freak air accident over Romania continued to be listed in critical condition at an Athens hospital.

The hospital announced yesterday that Grigoris Papadopoulos, Kranidiotis' diplomatic director, suffered from serious head injuries and was still in a comatose condition, while he required respiratory support.

Greek Television cameraman Panayiotis Poulos, who was transported to Athens on Thursday from Bucharest, is also listed as being in an extremely critical condition.

Doctors said he had serious respiratory problems as a result of serious chest injuries. He is also hooked up to a respirator.

Athens News Agency

[05] France's Kouchner on Greece's role in Balkans, Kosovo conflict

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Kouchner, who met with Foreign Minister George Papandreou and briefed him on conditions in Kosovo, called the Greek people's stance vis-a-vis the conditions created during the NATO strikes against Yugoslavia "extraordinary".

Mr. Kouchner said the greatest problem to be confronted in the region is the disarming of various groups in Kosovo, as the deadline is today. He noted that according to agreements, Sept. 19 was set as the deadline beyond which possession of weapons wil l not be allowed.

Mr. Kouchner also said that 500 police officers are charged with security in Kosovo, while a decision of the UN Security Council will raise the number to 3,000.

He added that the Security Council will probably not approve a request for 6,000.

Athens News Agency

[06] Majko discusses ethnic Greeks' problems in Gjirokaster

GJIROKASTER, 18/9/1999 (ANA - P. Barkas)

Athens News Agency

[07] Committee chairman Hadjipateras dies in Athens

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

Hadjipateras came to Athens last Monday for a brief meeting with Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis and was due to chair a joint meeting between the Committee and the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) in Piraeus next Tuesday.

Hadjipateras was a few months ago re-elected to the Committee chairmanship for the fourth consecutive term and was a prominent figure in international shipping.

He was born in 1926 on Oinousses islet off Hios and studied law at the University of Athens, with post-graduate studies in Switzerland and England.

He first entered shipping in 1950 with the family firm Hadjipateras Naftiliaki (shipping).

He was a delegate at the International Maritime Conference of the International Labour Office in Geneva in 1958 and an adviser to the delegation at the International conference for the revision of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), in London in 1961.

Hadjipateras also was the Union of Greek Shipowners representative in the International Shipping Federation since 1958, serving as vice-chairman in 1978.

He was elected chairman of the London-based Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee for four consecutive terms since 1981, and held that post up to his death.

John Hadjipateras was a co-founder of the London-based Hellenic Society cultural organisation, serving as its president from 1976 to date. His distinctions include the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix, the George Cross, the Gold Insignia of the Ro yal National Institute, the Gold Cross of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Diploma of the Order of the Phoenix by Presidential decision, and Honorary Officer of the most Excellent order of the British Empire (honorary O.B.E.).

He was married to Maria Pateras of the Pateras shipping family and had four daughters.

A memorial service will be held at noon today at the Church of Aghios Nikolaos in Akti Miaouli, Piraeus.

The funeral service will take place in London. The details will be announced as soon as they are finalised.

Athens News Agency

[08] Fund-raising campaign, donation by SAE for quake victims

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

SAE President Andrew Athens announced that the "Leadership 100" group of the group voted to immediately donate $100,000 for quake relief, beyond the personal contributions of its members.

In addition, Mr. Athens said, the non-government organisation "Counterpart Inc." has donated $800,000 worth of medical supplies for the victims of the earthquake, to be transported to Greece by a US government cargo plane.

Counterpart Inc. is a NGO formed by Greek expatriates, which built, furnished and still maintains medical centres for ethnic Greeks and their surrounding communities in several former Soviet Union republics.

Mr. Athens also said the International Orthodox Church Council (IOCC) has donated tents and four tons of foodstuffs for the immediate needs of quake victims.

Meanwhile, the SAE president personally called on US President Bill Clinton to grant additional aid to Greece, above and beyond what has been already allocated.

Specifically, he requested the drafting of a plan for the provision of know- how regarding natural disasters by a team of US experts and the provision of shelter for the victims of the earthquake.

Mr. Athens also announced a fund-raising drive in the more than 500 Greek Orthodox Churches of the United States and 75 in Canada, for long-term reconstruction and quake relief.

Finally, the Greek-Canadian Council called on expatriates in Canada to donate funds toward the same goal.

Athens News Agency

[09] Canadian aid for quake victims

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

The aid, to be distributed through the Canadian International Development Agency, includes emergency shelters, mattresses as well as other relief items.

According to a press release, Canadian ambassador to Athens David Hutton will present the confirmation of the aid to the Greek Red Cross.

Additional appeals for private donations have been made in the country to aid the quake victims, the press release stated.

Ambassador Hutton again expressed his condolences for the victims and those of Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy.

Athens News Agency

[10] Stolen artifact recovered

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi said the Hellenistic-era wreath was now in the hands of the authorities in Evia. The wreath was stolen on June 25 from the museum.

According to police, the artifact was stolen by a 23-year-old unemployed man who had hidden the object in his home in Politika, Evia, while he negotiated with prospective buyers.

According to reports, the theft may have been executed with the help of others, possibly working within the museum itself.

On Tuesday, Ms Papazoi announced that US authorities had found most of the artifacts stolen from Corinth Archaeological Museums almost a decade ago in Miami and were preparing to return them.

-Four gunmen seized 50 million drachmas from a security transport van in the Glyfada district yesterday before fleeing in a car. The robbery occurred outside a Marinopoulos super market on Vouliagmenis street.

Athens News Agency

[11] Unemployment drops in EU for `98, rises in Greece

BRUSSELS, 18/9/1999 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The European Commission unveiled the results and study tables of its services yesterday concerning unemployment in EU member-states, as well as in the administrative regions of member-states P Greece is divided into 16 regions, while there is a total of

205 in the EU.

The highest percentages of unemployment in the EU in 1998 were reported in Spain with 19.1 per cent; Finland 12.7; Italy 12.3 and Greece.

The main conclusion drawn from the report regarding Greece is not only that it is no longer included among member-states with the lowest unemployment but also that over the past two years it is showing a strong upward trend in the number of unemployed, primarily in the regions of Epirus, Thessaly, western Greece, the northern Aegean and Crete. These regions show the biggest percentages in the increase in unemployment in Europe between 1997 and 1998. The percentages range between 3.5 per cent and 4.4 per cent.

The biggest percentage of unemployed in Greece in 1998 appeared in Epirus with 14.9 per cent and the lowest in the Ionian islands with 4.2 per cent.

Regarding unemployment among young people under the age of 25, the lowest percentage of unemployed in this category appears in Greece in the southern Aegean with 15.7 per cent, but in the northern Aegean, Thessaly, western Greece and Epirus the number o f unemployed under the age of 25 between 1997 and 1998 increased with rates ranging between 5.5 per cent and 11.4 per cent.

On the question of unemployment among women, Epirus shows the highest percentage of unemployed among women in Greece with 23.4 per cent and the Ionian islands the lowest with 5.8 per cent.

Between 1997 and 1998, unemployment among women in Greece increased in almost all regions, but primarily in Crete, western Greece, the northern Aegean and Thessaly where the increase amounted to 7 per cent.

Athens News Agency

[12] Donations by shipowners

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

Simitis yesterday morning. Leaving the premier's office afterwards, Mr. Soumakis said the benefactors wish to maintain their anonymity.

Athens News Agency

[13] Economic News

Athens, 18/9/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.53 percent higher at 6,355.04 points, sharply off the day's highs of 6,484.38 points.

It was its 53rd record close this year, and the sixth in as many straight sessions.

Turnover was 612.878 billion drachmas with 55,172,020 shares changing hands.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (+1.74 pct), Insurance (+3.44 pct), Construction (-2.17 pct), Miscellaneous (-1.78 pct), Leasing (-5.30 pct), Investment (+5.58 pct), Industrials (+0.82 pct) and Holding (-1.71 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 1.69 percent off, while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chips and heavily traded stocks rose 0.65 percent to 3,270.85 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 180 to 126 with another five issues unchanged.

A total of 50 shares ended at the day's 8.0 percent limit up, while two (Kekrops, Alysida) ended at the day's limit down.

Hellenic Petroleum and Bank of Piraeus were the most heavily traded stocks.

Fourlis and Papoutsanis resumed trading following a five-day suspension to end moderately lower.

National Bank of Greece ended at 27,490 drachmas, Commercial Bank at 30,500, Alpha Credit Bank at 28,045, Minoan Lines at 9,850, Intracom at 29,500, Titan Cement at 41,000, Hellenic Petroleum at 6,004, Hellenic Telecoms at 7, 500 and Panafon at 9,710.

Futures trade picks up steam: Trade on the newly created Athens Derivatives Exchange (ADEX) yesterday rose to around 3.6 billion drachmas on 564 futures (Cont. p. 6) (Continued from page 5) from 3.1 billion drachmas in the previous session from 2.6 billion drachmas on Wednesday.

Equity futures on the FTSE/ASE 20 for September 1999, which expired yesterday, ended at 3,302.29 from 3,208.06 a day earlier; for October at 3, 222.40 from 3,169.50; for November at 3,228.13 from 3,178.82; and for December at 3,296.50.

September 1999 futures will be replaced by September 2000 futures.

ADEX sees no manipulation aimed at derivatives: ADEX yesterday issued a statement rejecting a report in the Imerissia financial daily that stocks on the FTSE-ASE 20 were being manipulated on the Athens bourse in order to bull up futures, whose prices are based on the index.

The statement said the report was untrue and created a negative image of the newly established market.

It said that Imerissia's allegations did not hold water from a technical point of view.

Bonds get lift from talk of S & P upgrade: Secondary bond market prices gained impetus yesterday on talk that Standard & Poor's, the international credit rating agency, would upgrade Greece following a similar move by Moody's in July.

In after-hours trading on Thursday, institutional investors in London had bought into 10-year bonds.

Electronic trade totalled 29.5 billion drachmas from 16 billion drachmas in the previous session and 14 billion drachmas on Wednesday.

The benchmark 10-year bond was still trading below par, showing a yield of 6.59 percent from 6.70-6.74 percent a day earlier and about 6.72 percent in the previous two sessions.

The 10-year paper's yield spread over German bunds was 156 basis points from 168 basis points in the last two sessions and 167 basis points on Tuesday.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro was flat against the drachma.

The euro was set at 326.350 drachmas, the same as a day earlier, from 326.300 drachmas on Wednesday and 326.460 drachmas on Tuesday.

The dollar crept down against the drachma.

At the fix, it was set at 313.470 drachmas from 313.980 drachmas in the previous session.

PM, banks meet to debate earthquake relief: Prime Minister Costas Simitis met leading bankers yesterday to discuss measures taken to aid victims of a killer earthquake that hit Athens on September 7.

Taking part in the meeting were the president of the Union of Greek Banks, Theodoros Karatzas, and its general secretary, Ioannis Manos.

The banking union has offered a number of relief measures concerning housing, consumer, personal and business loans for members of the public and for enterprises hit by the quake.

The two officials also briefed the premier on a plan by the union to fund the construction of homes costing a total of more than three billion drachmas for the homeless in the temblor.

Coordinating the project will be the ministry of environment, public works and town planning.

The officials assured the premier that individuals and banks hit by the quake would experience no delay in receiving loans.

Mr. Simitis welcomed the contribution of banks to the relief effort.

More quake donations from companies: Another round of companies yesterday announced donations for the quake relief effort.

They were as follows:

Banknotes Buying Selling
US Dollar 310.962 318.172
Can.Dollar 210.899 215.789
Australian Dlr 201.817 206.497
Pound Sterling 503.638 515.315
Irish Punt 411.064 420.595
Pound Cyprus 560.976 573.982
Pound Malta 726.070 756.323
Turkish pound (100) 0.064 0.067
French franc 49.354 50.498
Swiss franc 201.927 206.608
Belgian franc 8.025 8.211
German Mark 165.525 169.363
Finnish Mark 54.449 55.711
Dutch Guilder 146.906 150.312
Danish Kr. 43.547 44.556
Swedish Kr. 37.412 38.280
Norwegian Kr. 39.313 40.224
Austrian Sh. 23.527 24.073
Italian lira (100) 16.720 17.108
Yen (100) 289.902 296.624
Spanish Peseta 1.945 1.990
Port. Escudo 1.615 1.652