Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-10-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Muriad of millennium events scheduled for new year

[02] CoE ministers' committee demands Turkey comply with Eurocourt ruling in Loizidou case

[03] Niotis cites US interest in Cyprus issue despite Ecevit intransigence

[04] Papandreou: Greece expects specific policy change from Turkey

[05] ECOFIN expected to take Greece off 'most indebted' list

[06] Gov't on Cyprus' EU prospects

[07] Chrysohoidis meets with FBI head Freeh in Wash.

[08] Tsohatzopoulos talks with top Israeli leaders on the agenda

[09] Pro golf seniors tournament at Glyfada course

[10] Gov't to overhaul passenger shipping policy

[11] Unemployment rises to 10.8 pct in 1998

[12] Stocks rise despite intra-day correction

[13] Drachma seeks to make up lost ground

[14] Silver & Baryte to prospect for Romanian gold

[15] Local authorities, workers back TVX Hellas

[16] Gasoline prices drop this week

[17] SE European, Black Sea countries to debate transport links

[18] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Muriad of millennium events scheduled for new year

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Apart from the Acropolis, the archaeological site of the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion will be kept open for revellers to watch the first sunrise of the year 2000. Also scheduled in Athens are a youth party at the Panathenian Stadium - the s ite of the 1896 Olympics - and a popular music concert in the old quarter Thisseion district.

Planning for millennium celebrations was rudely interrupted by the Sept. 7 earthquake, which forced the cancellation of a meeting scheduled for that day between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi to discuss events.

That meeting finally took place on Tuesday, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding afterwards that the quake had forced a "rescheduling" of events. The culture ministry plans a year of events to mark the end of the millennium and beginning of the new one, including celebrations to mark 10,000 years of Hellenic civilisation, 5,000 years of urban living, 3,000 years of the Greek alphabet - entitled "From 'Word' to Software" - and "2, 000 years of Christianity".

February will mark the beginning of a year of events dedicated to the centenary of the birth of Greek Nobel laureate George Seferis.

In Thessaloniki, millennium celebrations will include music, dancing, theatrical shows and other events in the foyer and surrounding areas of the restored Royal Theatre in the northern port city.

The port itself will play host to a 6,500m2 exhibition and design space geared toward the younger generation, while a design and cinema museum will be housed there as well.

Thessaloniki's new concert hall is also scheduled to be inaugurated on Jan. 2.

"Greek Artists of the 20th Century" is the title under which a number of events will be held throughout the year, culminating in a major retrospective in Athens in December 2000.

These events will include an exhibition of works by Yiannis Tsarouhis at the renovated Fix brewery off Syngrou Avenue - an event set to coincide with the inauguration of the Modern Art Centre.

Also included is a "Songs of the Century" festival, to be held later this year, a photographic exhibition entitled "Greece in the 20th Century', a retrospective on the life of noted conductor Dimitris Mitropoulos in March 2000, which will include exhibits and performances, and finally, a Greek film panorama.

The Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Greece will work closely with the culture ministry in planning for the series of events that will comprise the "2000 Years of Christianity" subject, which will also include participating in "Bethlehem 2000" events at the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

Conferences, an exhibition of Greek jewellery, an exhibition on "the City under the City" by the Cycladic Art Museum, an international forum on ancient drama and an exhibition on the issue of "Olympic Spirit" are all elements of the events making up the 2,500 years of classical Greece events. Further details of the programmes will be available later in the month.

Athens News Agency

[02] CoE ministers' committee demands Turkey comply with Eurocourt ruling in Loizidou case

STRASBOURG, 07/10/1999 (ANA - N.Roussis/CNA)

Yesterday's development was welcomed in several quarters, including legal circles, who described it as an additional lever of pressure on Turkey to meet its obligations to the CoE, while pointing out that it would be rather difficult for Turkey to push for candidacy status in the European Union at a time when it refuses to abide by European norms and regulations.

The Committee, which met here yesterday, adopted by 36 votes in favour, one against and one abstention an interim resolution which "strongly urges Turkey to review its position and to pay the just satisfaction awarded in this case in accordance with the conditions set out by the European Court of Human Rights so as to ensure that Turkey, as a high contracting party, meets its obligation under the Convention (European Convention on Human Rights)."

Titina Loizidou, the Greek Cypriot woman who won her case against Turkey before the Court, told CNA that "today's decision reaffirms that the system (for protecting human rights) should work and that this same system, which issued the judgement, must implement its own decisions."

Dimitris Konstas, the head of Greece's permanent representation to the council said the adoption of the "interim resolution" was a "slap" in the face of Ankara and as the "first political sanction" imposed on the neighbouring country by an international body.

"Following Greek action all Turkish attempts to postpone the adoption of the interim resolution failed," Mr. Konstas said.

Ms Loizidou's lawyer, Achilleas Demetriades, described the decision as "a very important step as it shows that the Committee, in the execution of its duties to oversee the execution of the Court rulings, took today this decision which is in fact a strong call on Turkey to review its position to date and comply with the ruling."

He expressed a hope that Turkey will take seriously into account the political message the Committee sent out to Ankara yesterday in order to have the July 1998 Court decision executed.

Turkey now has a reasonable period of time to pay more than 400,000 Cyprus pounds (about 800,000 US dollars set by the Court) to Ms Loizidou for depriving her from enjoying her property in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

Commenting on yesterday's decision, Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the CoE ambassador Christophoros Yiangou said this is a "serious form of exercising pressure on Turkey to execute the Court judgement to pay Ms Loizidou compensation."

During yesterday's proceedings, Turkey's representative reiterated Ankara's long-standing position that the Court decision is a political one, not legal, and its execution would have negative repercussions on efforts to find a lasting settlement in Cyprus, a stance not adopted by the Committee of Ministers.

The Court found Turkey guilty of continuous violation of Ms Loizidou's human rights and said Turkey, by virtue of the presence of its occupation troops in Cyprus, has effective control of the island's northern third.

It also dismissed any notion of recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus and said the only legal government on the island is the government of the Republic of Cyprus.

Ms Loizidou, who hails from the currently Turkish-occupied town of Kyrenia, is one of 200,000 Greek Cypriots forcibly uprooted from their homes and properties by Turkish invasion troops in 1974.

Ankara has ignored numerous UN resolutions calling for the withdrawal of its troops and Turkish mainland settlers from the island's northern third.

Greek reaction : In Athens, Foreign Minister George Papandreou welcomed the resolution, saying:

"With the adoption of the resolution on the Loizidou case, it is reaffirmed that the Council of Europe, beyond any expediency, is the guarantor of the protection of human rights and principles of international law".

"It is a particularly important development, both from a legal and a political point of view and it will definitely influence developments of the resolution of the political problem of Cyprus, as well as Turkey's course toward the European Union.

"We waged all this time, along with the Cyprus government, a tough struggle on principles. Those are the principles for the protection of human rights and international law, on which Greek foreign policy is based," the minister said.

Mr. Papandreou also noted that "Turkey should honour its membership in the Council of Europe, and prove by its compliance to the ruling of the European Court, that it wishes to become a part of the great democratic family of Europe."

Athens News Agency

[03] Niotis cites US interest in Cyprus issue despite Ecevit intransigence

WASHINGTON, 07/10/1999 (ANA - T. Ellis)

Following his meeting with White House Chief of Staff Leon Podesta, Mr. Niotis said US officials hope that the possibility exists to change the stance of Ankara and the Turkish Cypriots, so T/C leader Rauf Denktash may come to the United Nations.

Mr. Niotis said he requested that the invitations to both Greek and Turkish communities on Cyprus to talks by the United Nations Secretary General be sent as soon as possible, so as not to coincide with Mr. Clinton's visit in Athens, or the European Uni on Summit in Helsinki.

Athens News Agency

[04] Papandreou: Greece expects specific policy change from Turkey

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

"We shall welcome any steps on the part of Ankara. However, the issue is not to ask for some specific move, but for there to be a specific desire on Cyprus and bilateral issues," he said at a joint press conference with French counterpart Hubert Vedrine .

Replying to a question regarding the results of his visit to Istanbul earlier this week, Mr. Papandreou referred to new dynamics in bilateral relations, which began with small ambitions in a letter to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem for the commencem ent of dialogue, and to the new situation emerging after the destructive earthquakes in the two countries.

"The attitudes of the two peoples sent a message to political leaders and a window has opened for opportunities which we must tapI(Nevertheless) we must not expect a solution of problems tomorrow, which will be overcome with creativity, persistence and a long-term view," he said.

Replying to the same question, Mr. Vedrine expressed his country's sincere desire to see a rapprochement between the two countries.

"The latest development opens up new prospects and hopes for both coutnries and Europe," he said, describing the work of his Greek counterpart in this field as "praise-worthy".

The two ministers agreed on the need for the democratisation of Yugoslavia, while Mr. Papandreou said the country should not be pushed into isolation but there should be initiatives aiming to provide relief to the people and the formation of a joint platform for the opposition. They also agreed on the need for action regarding energy, heating and free navigation in the Danube.

Greek and French diplomats, experts and academics who met for two days in Thessaloniki appeared to form broad consensus that the Milosevic regime has come out strengthened from the Kosovo crisis, as the sanctions have not had the desired effect.

The seminar on the democratisation, development and integration processess in SE Europe, which ended yesterday.

The head of the French delegation, Michel Fouche, said another common conclusion was that the Yugoslav opposition needed strengthening and that the Albanian issue remained open, as there was a lack of control on the Albanian-Kosovo border and the rekindling of the claims of ethnic Albanians in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) was likely.

Referring to Greece, Mr. Fouche said it was the only country of the Balkans which had gone through the full process of Balkan integration.

Mr. Papandreou stated strong support for the idea of setting up a university which will promote the democratisation of the Balkans by training people to that end.

He announced that the seminars would continue on a six-month basis and proposed the broadening of the range of issues which will be discussed, with the participation of business people. Mr. Vedrine proposed the discussion of issues relating to the Middle East and Turkey in future.

Athens News Agency

[05] ECOFIN expected to take Greece off 'most indebted' list

BRUSSELS, 07/10/1999 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Greece is, in fact, the only member-state on the list remaining. The development is expected on account of the fact that the country's fiscal deficit no longer exceeds 3 per cent of GDP, a Maastricht Treaty criterion.

Athens News Agency

[06] Gov't on Cyprus' EU prospects

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas made the statement when asked by reporters why German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder had omitted to refer to Cyprus' accession during a two-day working visit to Athens, which ended on Tuesday.

"Cyprus' accession to the European Union cannot be undermined by anyone. Cyprus' candidacy constitutes a position and decision of the EU. It cannot be subject to any revocation. Besides, all the EU countries agree regarding Cyprus' accession," Mr. Reppas said.

From time to time, Mr. Reppas continued, certain EU officials raise issues related to the occupation regime.

"We believe that Mr. Schroeder simply did not want to set Cyprus apart from the other candidate countries, particularly given that Cyprus fulfills all the criteria for accession. As far as I know, Mr. Schroeder did not express any position which would indicate negation or reservations," Mr. Reppas said.

The spokesman said that the progress in negotiations regarding Cyprus' accession was satisfactory, while noting that there were no dates for EU entry, as was the case also for the other five candidates.

Athens News Agency

[07] Chrysohoidis meets with FBI head Freeh in Wash.

WASHINGTON, 07/10/1999 (ANA - T. Ellis)

"We described to our interlocutors all the initiatives which we have made for the dealing with terrorism and crime, in general," Mr. Chrysohoidis said, adding that the US officials acknowledged that the Greek side is attempting to restructure its relati ve law enforcement services.

He noted that an FBI team is already in Athens and working closely the Greek anti-terrorist squad.

Athens News Agency

[08] Tsohatzopoulos talks with top Israeli leaders on the agenda

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Greek-Israeli contacts have dramatically increased in recent years, especially in 1999. The late Yannos Kranidiotis, in his capacity as deputy foreign minister, held talks with Israeli leadership during his visit in early August.

In addition, a high-ranking Israeli public security ministry delegation explored greater bilateral cooperation during a visit to Greece in February, while the Israeli naval chief, Read-Adm. Alex Tal, officially visited the country in late August and met with his Greek counterpart. Athens Mayor Dimitris Avrampoulos also visited Jerusalem recently for contacts with his counterpart Ehud Olmert.

"Maybe the last election (in Israel) gave new impetus for better relations...there are better prospects (for peace) in the Middle East," diplomatic sources said,referring to the heightened level of Greek-Israeli contacts.

The Hellenic army chief is also expected to travel to Israel some time during November, while standing invitations have been made for an exchange of visits by both Greece's and Israel's head of states and government.

Sources said main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis may also visit Israel before the end of the year.

The same sources added that if the Greek side brings up the issue of Athens' serious concerns over expanded Turkish-Israeli cooperation in the military field, they (Greek side) will again been given the same reassurances as before.

Diplomatic circles emphasised again that Israel "has never acknowledged military intelligence cooperation" with Ankara, while Israeli circles maintain that there is a "growing realisation" that Turkish-Israeli military ties lie within the boundaries of what they refer to as usual defence-related trade activities.

"We will try to alleviate any misunderstandings," a diplomatic source in Athens said, adding that Israeli leadership is aware that Athens and Greek public sentiment sternly disagree with the budding military relationship between the Jewish state and Ankara, and that the issue has been repeatedly brought up in talks between Greek and Israeli officials.

Turkey's military establishment has shown an interest in the Israeli-made Merkaba main battle tank, while the hi-tech Israeli defence industry is set to supply Turkey's air force with its "Popeye" missiles, along with modernising Ankara's fleet of F-4 ' Phantoms'. In terms of the Mideast peace process, diplomatic sources said the time is now conducive for a substantive follow-up to the "Wye River" agreements, with the Labour victory under Ehud Barak eliminating any "excuse" on the part of the Arab side.

"Either you deal with Labour and Barak now...or you deal with Likud and the right," one source said.

Athens News Agency

[09] Pro golf seniors tournament at Glyfada course

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

The "TEMES Greek Seniors Open" will be held at Glyfada golf course from Oct. 8-10.

Taking part will be 92 of the best players in the world, including two Greek nationals. The winners will share prize money totalling 70 million drachmas.

The tournament is expected to attract interest from around the world and will be covered by 20 TV networks.

Tourist Enterprises of Messinia (TEMES), which is realising the major investment "Integrated Tourist Development Region" has the exclusive rights to promote the pro golf championship in Greece.

TEMES aims to make the sport more popular in Greece and project the country's comparative advantages for golf in relation to more established venues in the Mediterranean.

The main sponsors for the Greek Seniors Open are Sap Hellas, Aegean Airlines, BMW and Hyundai Heavy Industries. Entrance is free.

Athens News Agency

[10] Gov't to overhaul passenger shipping policy

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis was quoted as saying in a letter to sector groups that the reform was timed to coincide with a gradual renewal of the passenger and vehicle shipping fleet.

The minister called the groups to a meeting on October 14 to put forward proposals.

Among the government's targets are job creation in the sector, safeguarding shipping links to the islands, and upgrading services.

Athens News Agency

[11] Unemployment rises to 10.8 pct in 1998

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis on employment, Mr. Papaioannou attributed the rise in joblessness to a growing workforce outstripping job availability, due primarily to more women entering the workforce and a fall in agricult ural work.

Also attending the meeting were Deputy Labour Ministers Christos Protopappas and Fivos Ioannidis and the prime minister's advisers, Tasos Yiannitsis and Nikos Themelis.

Mr. Papaioannou said he expected a fall in unemployment next year and that a plan to create 200,000 new jobs in the 1998-2000 period was being implemented.

Athens News Agency

[12] Stocks rise despite intra-day correction

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Sentiment was fuelled by Salomon Smith Barney's decision to upgrade the emerging Athens Stock Exchange to the status of a developed bourse, traders said.

The general index ended 1.01 percent higher at 5,884.05 points from 5, 825.45 points in the previous session.

Turnover was 438.742 billion drachmas from 370 billion drachmas a day earlier and 240 billion drachmas on Monday. Changing hands were 41,117,000 shares.

Buying interest again focused on small and medium capitalisation stocks listed on the parallel market and in the main market's construction sector.

Buying was seen in blue chips, chiefly banking, early in the session, followed by profit-taking.

The market is seeking a steady support level around 5,600 points after a volatile phase.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banking (+0.21 pct), Insurance (+0.47 pct), Construction (+3.39 pct), Miscellaneous (+1.24 pct), Leasing (-2.25 pct), Investment (+3.33 pct), Industrials (+1.40 pct) and Holding (+1.97 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks gained 6.45 percent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chips and heavily traded stocks gained 0.26 percent to finish at 2,999.48 points.

Of 305 stocks traded, advances outpaced declines at 239 to 61 with five shares remaining unchanged.

Among 73 shares to end at the daily 8.0 percent upper volatility limit were Lambrakis Press Organisation, Technical Olympic and Hellenic Sugar Industry.

Finishing at the 8.0 percent lower volatility limit was Lanakem.

The day's most heavily traded stocks were Lampsa and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation.

National Bank of Greece ended at 23,900 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 24, 500, Commercial Bank of Greece at 28,400, Minoan Lines at 9,670, Intracom (common) at 29,300, Titan Cement (common) at 39,400, Hellenic Petroleum at 5,780, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 7,080 and Panafon at 8, 195 drachmas.

Thessaloniki Centre has Dr 1.1 trillion in turnover : The Thessaloniki Stock Exchange Centre yesterday reported turnover of 1.1 trillion drachmas in September, posting a new monthly record.

The rise against the same month of 1998 was 870.53 percent, and 10.56 percent higher than August this year.

Turnover in January to September this year was more than five trillion drachmas, up 353.39 percent against the same period of last year.

Athens News Agency

[13] Drachma seeks to make up lost ground

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Speculators appeared to back off after the central bank made it clear it would not tolerate an unbridled descent of the drachma to its central parity in the European Union's exchange rate mechanism II of 353.1 to the euro.

A plan for a phased depreciation of the drachma, which currently stands around 8.0 percent above parity, towards the ERM rate is part of the country's counter-inflationary policy devised to take Greece into the euro zone by January 1, 2001.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro ended lower versus the drachma.

The European currency was set at 328.370 drachmas from 328.550 drachmas a day earlier from 328.700 drachmas on Monday.

The dollar finished lower against the drachma.

At the fix, it was set at 305.170 drachmas from 307.510 drachmas in the previous session and 306.350 drachmas on Monday.

Bonds come under pressure in sell-off : Secondary market bond prices yesterday slumped further with institutional investors in London selling off mainly seven-year paper.

Electronic trade totalled 24 billion drachmas from 12 billion drachmas a day earlier and 25 billion drachmas on Monday.

Of yesterday's turnover, sell orders accounted for 23 billion drachmas of the total.

The benchmark 10-year bond, which was still trading below par, showed a yield of 6.80 percent, the same as the previous three trading days, from 6.73 percent on Thursday.

The 10-year paper's yield spread over German bunds was around 169 to 170 basis points from 163 basis points in the two previous sessions and 161 basis points on Thursday.

Athens News Agency

[14] Silver & Baryte to prospect for Romanian gold

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

The company will exercise its exclusive rights through a subsidiary, Gramex Srl.

It won the rights in an international tender.

Athens News Agency

[15] Local authorities, workers back TVX Hellas

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

The Council of State has ordered the temporary halt to the company's gold mining and processing operations.

The local officials and workers told a news conference that the company was suffering losses due to the state's slowness in issuing permits.

Furthermore, the investment was being sabotaged by recourse to court rulings and other forms of obstruction due to what they implied were vested interests, without naming them.

Loss of the project would leave around 1,000 families without a livelihood, the officials added.

Athens News Agency

[16] Gasoline prices drop this week

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Heating fuel and diesel are to edge up in line with world prices, the development minister and state-controlled Hellenic Petroleum said yesterday in their weekly update of indicative retail prices.

Athens News Agency

[17] SE European, Black Sea countries to debate transport links

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Both meetings have been organised on the initiative of the Transport and Communications Ministry.

On October 11, within the framework of Greece's presidency of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), the organisation's Transport Group will meet to discuss infrastructure policy and easing transport.

The meeting will focus on the prospects for integrating the transport infrastructures of Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria and Albania, particularly within the framework of the inter-European netwo rks.

It will also look at the possibilities of funding viable investment programmes.

Greece aims to project its strategic role in formulating policy by making optimum use of a Memorandum of Understanding on easing road transport in southeastern Europe.

The memorandum was signed in Athens by transport ministers of southeast European countries within the framework of the Southeast European Cooperation Initiative (SECI) on April 28, 1999.

Participating in the cooperation initiative are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Moldova, Greece and Turkey.

The Transport and Communications Ministry aims to extend the initiative to countries of the Black Sea region, which is why it was decided to combine the BSEC meeting with a meeting of the SECI Regional Committee for Road Transport on October 12-13.

The committee was set up to implement and action under the Memorandum of Understanding.

Within the framework of efforts to integrate the transport infrastructure programmes, the venue for the two meetings - Alexandroupoli - is expected to become a key location for the development of transport networks and transit trade in the greater region.

Athens News Agency

[18] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 07/10/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             302.729 309.748
Can.Dollar            206.177 210.958
Australian Dlr        200.285 204.928
Pound Sterling        501.496 513.123
Irish Punt            413.608 423.198
Pound Cyprus          564.230 577.312
Pound Malta           712.685 742.380
Turkish pound (100)     0.060   0.062
French franc           49.660  50.811
Swiss franc           204.997 209.750
Belgian franc           8.075   8.262
German Mark           166.550 170.411
Finnish Mark           54.786  56.056
Dutch Guilder         147.816 151.243
Danish Kr.             43.836  44.853
Swedish Kr.            37.458  38.326
Norwegian Kr.          39.513  40.429
Austrian Sh.           23.673  24.222
Italian lira (100)     16.823  17.213
Yen (100)             282.274 288.818
Spanish Peseta          1.958   2.004
Port. Escudo            1.625   1.663

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              302.729 309.748
Montreal              206.177 210.958
Sydney                200.285 204.928
London                501.496 513.123
Dublin                413.608 423.198
Nicosia               564.230 577.312
Paris                  49.660  50.811
Zurich                204.997 209.750
Brussels                8.075   8.262
Frankfurt             166.550 170.411
Helsinki               54.786  56.056
Amsterdam             147.816 151.243
Copenhagen             43.836  44.853
Stockholm              37.458  38.326
Oslo                   39.513  40.429
Vienna                 23.673  24.222
Milan                  16.823  17.213
Tokyo                 282.274 288.818
Madrid                  1.958   2.004
Lisbon                  1.625   1.663

Athens News Agency

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