Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-10-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] Hellenic Petroleum eyes electricity before deregulation

[02] Papandreou begins Berlin talks, German MPs say Turkey`s EU candidacy conditional

[03] There are no complications concerning Clinton's visit, Reppas says

[04] Premature to say anything concerning possible Simitis-Ecevit meeting

[05] Greece praised for Balkan peace effort

[06] FYROM presidential candidates favour direct dialogue with Greece over name issue

[07] Greece elected ECOSOC member

[08] In UNESCO address, Arsenis refers to problems concerning implementation of educational reforms

[09] Papazoi reacts to decision to exclude Ancient Greece and Byzantium form `Museum of Europe`

[10] Culture minister to visit Sydney in November

[11] Constantopoulos briefs Parliament President on Turkey visit

[12] Finance ministry gives clarifications on family grants following European Court decision

[13] Airline flight safety of paramount importance, transport minister says

[14] PM Simitis to tour Arkadia prefecture

[15] EU's Council of Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers convenes

[16] OA reduces fares on specific domestic flights

[17] President inaugurates replica of prehistoric lake settlement in Kastoria

[18] Radar problems force OA airbus to turn back to Athens

[19] National Bank of Greece to acquire Stopanska Banca

[20] Economic News

[01] Hellenic Petroleum eyes electricity before deregulation

THESSALONIKI, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos told a news conference yesterday that the state-owned corporation planned to build a 15-billion-drachma electricity station with a capacity of 50 megawatts in the Thessaloniki area.

The plant will power Hellenic Petroleum's own installations with the surplus for sale on the open market when deregulation occurs.

Mr. Venizelos, who was inaugurating construction of a polypropylene plant for Hellenic Petroleum, also announced that a bill allowing liberalisation of the electricity market in line with European Union rules will be submitted to parliament in coming da ys.

In another investment, Hellenic Petroleum is to modernise its Thessaloniki refinery at a cost of 150 billion drachmas.

"The refinery is badly lagging the company's Aspropyrgos refinery (near Piraeus) and should now overtake it," the minister said.

He added that the two investments were designed to protect the environment. A working group would be set up by Hellenic Petroleum and local authorities to handle environmental questions.

The two investments are to be funded under the European Union's 3rd Community Support Framework and development ministry programmes.

The polypropylene plant Mr. Venizelos inaugurated cost 49.6 billion drachmas to build. It forms part of a 75-billion-drachma project to achieve vertical integration.

Workers staged a protest at the plant during the inauguration ceremony. They were objecting the the planned closure of an ethlyene unit in the first quarter of 2000 and a reduction in the operations of a caustic soda plant. The minister pledged to look into their grievances.

Finally, Mr. Venizelos said in reply to a reporter's question that Hellenic Petroleum had expressed interest in becoming a strategic investor in Romania's Petrom.

It was seeking an alliance with a sector firm from a European Union country in order to carry out the project, he added.

Athens News Agency

[02] Papandreou begins Berlin talks, German MPs say Turkey`s EU candidacy conditional

Berlin, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

The issue of Turkey`s candidacy for EU accession, in conjunction with safeguarding Cyprus` accession prospects, will be discussed during the "marathon" private talks the two ministers were due to have until today's final consultations between the two countries' delegations.

After their meeting yesterday, the two ministers referred only to the general outline of issues preoccupying them in light of the EU summit in Helsinki in December and, according to Mr. Fischer, a "great degree of convergence" was ascertained.

Mr. Papandreou underlined the role the EU has to play for stability and the establishment of democratic institutions in the Balkans.

Replying to a relevant question by the Athens News Agency, Mr. Fischer assured that it has been made clear to Ankara that "the problems of an EU member-state are collective problems of the EU" and that "the principle of EU solidarity has effect."

"The improvement of relations between Greece and Turkey constitutes an improvement in relations not only between the two countries but an improvement in relations between the EU and Turkey," Mr. Fischer said.

On the question of Cyprus, Mr. Fischer wished "a consenting solution to the problem safeguarded by treaties" in the framework of an overall defusion of tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

The issue of safeguarding Cyprus' unimpeded accession to the EU is a major issue in the two men's talks in the coming hours.

Talks with German MPs: Earlier, Mr. Papandreou held talks with German MPs , who told him that granting Turkey the EU candidacy status could not take place with a "carte blanche", namely without there being specific moves by Ankara, particularly over the Cyprus issue.

The members of the German Parliament's joint Greek-German Committee - President Siegrid Skarpeli-Sperk (SPD), Deputy President Thomas Rachel (CDU) and the members of the presidium, the "Green", of Turkish origin, and close associate of Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Cem Ezdemir and Ulrich Irmer (FDP) - stressed that the climate regarding Turkey's EU candidacy "has been reversed" and that for the promotion of this target "it is necessary that commitments are made."

"A timetable is necessary and processes for the verification of progress which should be achieved in sectors concerning human rights, democracy and Turkey's policy towards Greece and Cyprus," Ms. Skarpeli-Sperk said, "otherwise the candidacy (of Turkey) could become a boomerang."

The four representatives of the German parties share this view in general. Christian Democrat Thomas Rachel, whose party has positioned itself clearly against the prospect of Turkey becoming a full EU member at some time and against it being given the s tatus of a candidate country, said that "if a referendum was held in Germany on this issue today 80 per cent would vote against."

Cem Ezdemir focused on internal reactions by a section of Turkey's establishment before the "danger" of the country's Europeanisation which, according to the deputy, entails structural changes in the existing power framework.

The issue of German armaments to Turkey was also the object of talks between Mr. Papandreou and the German MPs.

Mr. Papandreou expressed concern over the possibility of an "un-controllable course" in this sector, saying that "changes in balances in armaments constitute a danger for stability in the region."

Athens News Agency

[03] There are no complications concerning Clinton's visit, Reppas says

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

Asked whether Mr. Clinton will bring a plan to the government on a solution to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Reppas said if the plan is related to the European rapprochement of Turkey and Cyprus and the lifting of the veto, he said "it is premature to discuss a ll this" and confirmed that the Cyprus issue will be part of discussions with the US president.

Athens News Agency

[04] Premature to say anything concerning possible Simitis-Ecevit meeting

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday it was premature to say anything concerning a possible meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Bulent Ecevit. He explained that he was speaking of a substantive meeting and not a meeting which could have a social or typical character.

Mr. Reppas said no proposal has been made in the framework of the programme prepared on the prime minister's presence at the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) summit in Istanbul on November 15- 16.

Athens News Agency

[05] Greece praised for Balkan peace effort

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

The conference, which opened on Wednesday, was organised by the political and defence committees of the Western European Union's (WEU) parliamentary assembly. In a resolution adopted by a majority, the members of the WEU Parliamentary Assembly u rged the international community to work for the inviolability of existing borders in the Balkans, the protection of minorities in the region with no discrimination and the consolidation of democracy in all Balkan countries.

Presenting the conclusions at a press conference, the president of the WEU Parliamentary Assembly, Luis Maria de Puig, stressed that "the repercussions for the Balkans will be dismal in the event of a change of borders in this part of SE Europe".

The heads of delegations in Chania underlined that the decisions taken at the conference had the form of recommendations to the governments of the WEU member states and the international community.

They added that these recommendations would constitute a basis for the drafting of a joint report, which would then be discussed before final decisions were taken by the plenary of the WEU Parliamentary Assembly in Paris in early December.

Mr. De Puig said Greece was the strongest country in the Balkans, both politically and economically, and had already contributed greatly to restoring peace in the region. As the only member of NATO and the European Union in the Balkans, he added, Greece has made enormous and substantial efforts for "the creation of a bridge of dialogue and cooperation between the Balkan states".

Mr. De Puig said "we must assist efforts for the enlargement of the EU and the WEU, with the accession of all the Balkan countries". He stressed that this was the only way to consolidate peace in the sensitive region of the Balkans, SE Europe an d, by extension, Europe as a whole.

Athens News Agency

[06] FYROM presidential candidates favour direct dialogue with Greece over name issue

SKOPJE, 30/10/1999 (ANA - M. Vihou)

Mr. Traikofski, VMRO candidate, said "now the negotiations continue in New York and I believe that a good climate has been created, so that in the near future, through cooperation and mutual understanding, the two governments in good faith may find a di rect and final solution so as to overcome the problem."

He also supported increased bilateral economic cooperation, as well as cooperation in sectors affecting everyday life, so as to promote a commonly acceptable solution to the problem of the name, adding "no one will be the winner, but the solution will b e acceptable by both sides." On his part, Social-Democrats Union candidate Mr. Petkofski said that in the event of his election to the presidency, his first priority will be the development of relations with Greece.

"The two countries have the strength to promote their relations without a mediator, so as to find a solution to the problem of the name. Mediation is not a good thing and our interest is for this dispute to be resolved as soon as possible," he added.

Mr. Petkofski said he favoured Greek investments in FYROM, adding that he was not fearful of "the political influence, which Greece may exert through investments," to the contrary he added that such a development can aid the progress of the economy, rai sing the standard of living in his country.

However, he said that he was not in favour of the sale of the OKTA refineries to Greece, a development which, as he added, might lead to loss of jobs in the sector.

Athens News Agency

[07] Greece elected ECOSOC member

NEW YORK, 30/10/1999 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)

From the West European group, France was elected first with 161 votes, Greece second with 157, Portugal third with 155 and Germany fourth with 153.

Greece's three-year tenure begins on January 1, 2000.

Athens News Agency

[08] In UNESCO address, Arsenis refers to problems concerning implementation of educational reforms

PARIS, 30/10/1999 (ANA - O. Tsipira)

On the occasion of his address, Mr. Arsenis stressed the interest shown by many member-states for the exchange of experiences and information in the sector of educational reform and proposed the creation of a special forum at UNESCO to enable every coun try to gain from the experiences of other countries.

Summing up his positions on UNESCO's future, which he set out in his address in the afternoon, Mr. Arsenis told reporters "the UNESCO of the 21st century should be a different UNESCO."

The General Conference, held every two years, started on October 25 and will come to a close on November 17 with the ratification of the election of Koichiro Matsuura from Japan as general director.

The climate in which the General Conference is taking place is relatively affected by the tough struggle made last week for the election of the Japanese candidate and by revelations by the press on nepotism, extravagance and ineffectiveness in the slow-m oving organisation which, in the view of many, is UNESCO today.

Commenting on this situation in reply to a question by the Athens News Agency, Mr. Arsenis said: "The member-states of UNESCO are divided. Others see that the 21st century vindicates the organisation's principles and believe that UNESCO should be promot ed not on traditional lines but on human sensitivities, while others do not see UNESCO taking initiatives and would prefer it to be a half-dead organisation which is being worn out year after year."

Athens News Agency

[09] Papazoi reacts to decision to exclude Ancient Greece and Byzantium form `Museum of Europe`

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

According to the symposium's decisions, the historical exhibits will begin with Charlemagne's reign during the 9th century A.D., while the Greco-Roman and Byzantine civilisations were considered "anti-European".

Greek Greek Culture Minister Elisabeth Papazoi yesterday reacted strongly to the decision.

"The effort to overlook Greek antiquity and Byzantium, which took place during the symposium, constitutes a distortion of European history," Ms Papazoi noted in a statement.

She said that she will request the issue be discussed during the next European Union Culture Ministers' meeting.

Ms. Papazoi also said that she will inform via letters her Finnish counterpart, as Finland currently holds the Union's presidency, all Greek Eurodeputies, the Union's commissioner on cultural issues, Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and the intern ational and Greek academic communities.

The statement also noted that the influence and contribution of ancient Greek and Byzantine civilisation to the formation of western thought and the creation of western civilisation - that is the European civilisation - is internationally known and acce pted.

"The Museum of Europe" is expected to open to the public during the second half of 2003 and will be housed in a 6,500-square-metres building next to the Europarliament in Brussels.

The total cost is estimated at 10 billion drachmas, while a special hall will be dedicated to the "smaller" member-states.

The symposium took place on Oct. 21-22 with the participation of European Commission President Romano Prodi and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, among others.

Athens News Agency

[10] Culture minister to visit Sydney in November

Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi is expected to visit Sydney as of November 10, while it is very probable she will be visiting the Powerhouse Museum where Greek archaeological treasures will be displayed during the 20 00 Olympic Games.

The director of the Powerhouse Museum Terence Misham, who visited Greece recently and saw the antiquities which will be exhibited in Sydney, expressed his pleasure over hospitality bestowed on him.

Mr. Misham said the 79 antiquities will come from the Athens Archaeological Museum, Olympia and Kerameikos.

Athens News Agency

[11] Constantopoulos briefs Parliament President on Turkey visit

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday received Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos who briefed him on the results of his visit to Turkey earlier this week. Referring in particular to his meeting with Turkish Natio nal Assembly President Mr. Akbulut, Mr. Constantopoulos conveyed the Turkish Parliament's warm thanks for solidarity displayed by the Greek Parliament during the recent earthquakes in Turkey.

During his meeting with Mr. Akbulut, Mr. Constantopoulos referred to the Greek Parliament's proposal on a visit to Athens by a delegation of Turkish Parliamentarians.

Mr. Constantopoulos also referred to his party's proposal to the two Parliaments for a Parliamentary Greek-Turkish Friendship Committee to be established.

During his visit to the neighbouring country, Mr. Constantopoulos was also received by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.

Athens News Agency

[12] Finance ministry gives clarifications on family grants following European Court decision

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

This was stressed in an announcement by the Finance Ministry yesterday which said that "the court's decision is neither related, nor concerns nor is it linked in any way to the salary and pension legislation applied for civil servants and pensioners for the following reasons:

- The provision of the family grant to civil servants was never partial for the husband or wife. Consequently, an issue of unequal treatment of the two genders by the Hellenic state was never raised."

- The family grant was never included in the pensionable remuneration of either the husband or the wife. Consequently, there has never been privileged pensioning treatment for a man against a woman civil servant by the Hellenic state."

The Finance Ministry's announcement further said that according to to the clauses of law 1997 (2470 article 12) on the payroll in the public sector, the family grant is paid to one of the two spouses at their choice.

According to the ministry, Greece is a pioneer in granting this support to the families of working people since, it was added, in the other EU countries it is only granted if the wife is not employed.

Athens News Agency

[13] Airline flight safety of paramount importance, transport minister says

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

Responding to a relevant question, Mr. Mantelis also said "all operates according to the rules of international law, according to international specifications. We do not need any kind of verification.

"The conclusions stated today (yesterday) to the director of the (Greek) Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) by the delegation of the American civil aviation authority experts prove our constant care for the safety of flights," the minister added.

Mr. Mantelis concluded that the aforementioned proved wrong those who spoke differently over the past few days.

Athens News Agency

[14] PM Simitis to tour Arkadia prefecture

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Simitis will visit Levidi, Vytina, Lagadia and Megalopoli.

The delegation also includes Minister of State Costas Geitonas, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis, Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos and Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas.

Athens News Agency

[15] EU's Council of Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers convenes

LUXEMBOURG, 30/10/1999 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Delegations focused on results of the European Council in Tampere in the framework of an open discussion and examined further action expected to be taken for the implementation of the Council's decisions.

On the part of Greece, the results of the Tampere Council were hailed as a milestone in the development of European unification. There were sectors such as the creation of a European fund for refugees, as well as the unified EU area for asylum which did not go ahead.

However, it was underlined that the Council took important decisions in many other sectors. The importance of shielding external borders with full utilisation of modern technology and cooperation with other countries was stressed, with regard to Greece.

Athens News Agency

[16] OA reduces fares on specific domestic flights

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

- OA 700 Athens-Rhodes with departure time 04.55 and return from Rhodes with flight OA 717 with departure time 22.15.

- OA 500 from Athens to Irakleio with departure time 05.05 and return from Irakleio with flight 517 with departure time 22.55

- Flight 530 for Hania with departure at 05.30 and return with flight 531 for Athens and departure time 07.00 and also OA 539 Hania-Athens with departure time 21.10.

- OA 904 for Thessaloniki with departure time 06.45 and return with flight 919 for Athens and departure time 22.35.

- Flight 600 for Corfu with departure time 05.30 and return to Athens with flight 607 and departure time 21.10.

Athens News Agency

[17] President inaugurates replica of prehistoric lake settlement in Kastoria

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

PASOK deputy Philippos Pestalnikos was also present at the inauguration.

Later in the day, the Municipality of Macednos, where the settlment is located, proclaimed Mr. Stephanopoulos an honorary citizen.

Athens News Agency

[18] Radar problems force OA airbus to turn back to Athens

Athens, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

The recently delivered airbus was on its first flight with destination Sydney via Bangkok.

The problem with the aircraft's radar was observed as the airbus was flying over the northeast Aegean island of Chios.

The crew jettisoned fuel in the sea and the aircraft returned safely to Athens.

The passengers were able to resume their journey after being transferred to another aircraft.

Athens News Agency

[19] National Bank of Greece to acquire Stopanska Banca

SKOPJE, 30/10/1999 (ANA/M.Vihou)

Under the terms of the agreement, National Bank of Greece will buy 65 percent of the FYROM bank's equity, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will acquire 10 percent, and the International Finance Corporation 10 percent.

The remaining 15 percent of stock is to remain in the hands of local private investors.

The agreement contains a pledge to retain staff for two years. The purchasers are also committed to raising the bank's capital by 50 million German marks to help fund modernisation projects.

The acquisition is due for completion by March 2000. Stopanska Banca has 92 branches and outlets throughout FYROM. Its assets total 650 million marks, making it the neighbouring country's largest bank.

Athens News Agency

[20] Economic News

Athes, 30/10/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.96 percent higher at 5,442.14 points, off the day's high of 5,540. Traders said investors remained cautious and preferred to take early profits.

Turnover was light to moderate at 298 billion drachmas.

Shares in the parallel market for smaller capitalisation stocks attracted heavy demand with its index ending 1.32 percent higher.

Other sector indices ended as follows: Banks (+2.17 pct), Leasing (-0.50 pct), Insurance (-2.57 pct), Investment (-0.37 pct), Construction (+3.03 pct), Industrials (+0.82 pct), Miscellaneous (+0.37 pct) and Holding (-1.43 pct).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 1.31 percent higher at 2,780.05 points.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 202 to 99 with another 19 issues unchanged.

A total of 30 issues ended at the day's 8.0 percent upper volatility limit, while Techniki Olympiaki, Doudos and Barba Stathis ended at the day's limit down.

Naoussa Spinning Mills, Viosol and Dimitriadis were the most heavily traded stocks. National Bank of Greece ended at 22,100 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 24,005, Commercial Bank at 23,340, Titan Cement (common) at 34,800, Hellenic Petroleum at 4,755, Intracom at 13,950, Panafon at 4,150 and Hellenic Telecoms at 6,695.

Bonds rally, drachma under pressure: Secondary market bond prices rallied again yesterday with 15-year paper gaining up to 135 basis points.

The benchmark 10-year bond gained 70-75 basis points to show a yield of 6.97 percent, taking the yield spread over German bunds to 178 basis points.

Electronic trade was light at 30 billion drachmas.

In the foreign exchange market, the central bank intervened to support the drachma, selling around 120 million euros.

The euro edged up against the drachma.

At the Bank of Greece's daily fix, the euro was set at 330.050 drachmas from 330.020 drachmas a session earlier.

The dollar rose sharply against the drachma.

At the fix, the US currency was set at 316.040 drachmas from 310.840 in the previous session.

Money supply drops in September: Total money supply fell by 237 billion drachmas in September, taking the M4N index to 6.9 percent from 5.6 percent in August, below the 7-9 percent target increase for the year, the Bank of Greece said yesterday.

The M4N index was running at 7.9 percent in July.

The central bank said the fall in liquidity reflected a change in investment patterns in August into categories not appearing in the index, and more restrained credit expansion.

The money in circulation index rose 11.2 percent year-on-year in September, up from 10.5 percent in August.

Loans to the private sector accelerated to 16.4 percent in September from 9.8 percent in August.

Mutual fund assets up on the year: Mutual fund assets totalled 11.95 trillion drachmas on Wednesday, 27 October showing an increase of 32.89 percent from the start of the year, Ionian Bank said in a report yesterday.

The figures showed a slight 1.78 percent decline from the previous day, reflecting reluctance by investors due to increased volatility on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Analysts expect capital inflows to return to the mutual fund market after a steady recovery of equity prices on the Athens bourse.

Domestic equity mutual fund assets have shown a spectacular 882 percent rise from the start of 1999.

Info-Quest reports Jan-Sept profit jump: Info-Quest, a listed software company, announced a spectacular 290 percent rise in its pre-tax profits for the first nine months of 1999 to 1.596 billion drachmas while sales totalled 34.127 billion, up 54 percent from the same period last year.

Consolidated sales rose 61 percent to 36.691 billion drachmas and profits totalled 1.644 billion drachmas, up 443 percent.

The figures included results by Com Quest, Hellas On Line, Decision, Intelltech, Quest Thessaloniki, Medex and AC&E, in which Info-Quest has equity stakes.

Aremisoft, a Nasdaq listed US software company, in which Info-Quest has acquired a 20 percent equity stake, announced a 38.2 percent rise in sales to 50.1 million US dollars in the first nine months of the year compared with the same period in 1998.

Profits after tax rose 115.7 percent to 6.6 million dollars.

Athens bourse ends week with losses: Equity prices ended the week with substantial losses despite an improvement in the climate and a modest recovery yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange.

Sentiment was undermined by worries over the outlook for inflation, and technical selling took place ahead of end of month accounting.

Analysts said sentiment had changed and that the market was looking tired after a prolonged record rally in summer.

A number of investors remained sidelined awaiting a renewed effort to push the market closer to the 7,000 barrier.

A drop in daily turnover below the 300 billion drachma level in the last few sessions was also seen as a sign of market fatigue.

Traders noted that the market was searching for new consolidation levels, and that new investments were short-term ones.

Others, however, believe that the market's correction has ended and that a new set of favourable economic or company news could restart a rally.

The general index ended the week 2.82 percent lower for a net gain of 98.80 percent from the start of 1999.

Turnover totalled 1.253 trillion drachmas to post a daily average of 313.462 billion, down from 451.707 billion in the previous week.

The Holding and Insurance indices suffered the sharpest losses, ending 9.48 and 6.53 percent lower respectively.

Banks bucked the trend to end 2.67 percent higher.

Titan Cement shows higher profit, sales: The Titan Cement Group reported an 18 percent rise in consolidated sales in the first nine months of 1999 to 142.2 billion drachmas while net profits totalled 20.2 billion drachmas, up 20 percent from the same period last year.

The parent company's sales totalled 81.1 billion drachmas and net profits reached 17.1 billion drachmas over the same period.

The Group said in a statement yesterday that high reserves totalling 34.5 billion drachmas would be used for the purchase of a 50 percent equity stake in an Egyptian company which controls the Beni Suef factory.

Titan Cement's shareholders will discuss a board proposal for a one-to-one share split on December 6.

Venizelos calls on people to contribute to combat inflation: The government is ready to employ measures, if need be, to limit inflation to acceptable levels, Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos said yesterday.

During a press conference in Thessaloniki, following the founding of a new plant at the Hellenic Petroleum (EL.PE) grounds, Mr. Venizelos called on all Greek society and especially to industry to contribute to the "battle against" inflation, adding that it is not just a government issue, rather of all Greek people.

Speaking on an unrelated development, Mr. Venizelos expressed his sorrow over "misinformation spread" over the Public Power Corporation's (DEH) agreement with employees and pensioners of the pension fund in light of the deregulation of the energy market in Greece.

He added that petty politics were the motives for such efforts at misinformation.

Banknotes Buying Selling
US Dollar 313.512 320.781
Can.Dollar 212.685 217.616
Australian Dlr 201.148 205.812
Pound Sterling 512.844 524.735
Irish Punt 415.724 425.363
Pound Cyprus 567.662 580.824
Pound Malta 744.121 775.126
Turkish pound (100) 0.062 0.065
French franc 49.913 51.071
Swiss franc 204.248 208.983
Belgian franc 8.116 8.304
German Mark 167.402 171.283
Finnish Mark 55.066 56.343
Dutch Guilder 148.572 152.017
Danish Kr. 44.057 45.078
Swedish Kr. 37.710 38.584
Norwegian Kr. 39.638 40.557
Austrian Sh. 23.794 24.346
Italian lira (100) 16.910 17.302
Yen (100) 298.255 305.170
Spanish Peseta 1.968 2.014
Port. Escudo 1.633 1.671

Athens News Agency

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