Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-04

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

CONTENTS

[01] Cem gets warm welcome at start of key visit

[02] Security issue examined at meeting between Cyprus president and UN adviser at proximity talks

[03] US human rights groups take stand on Cyprus

[04] Defense minister briefs Parliament committee on armaments program

[05] ND files motion of support for Stephanopoulos re-election

[06] Second poll underlines PASOK lead over opposition

[07] Timing of elections is based on national interest, Papantoniou says

[08] ND leader accuses government of creating ambiguity

[09] Greece's EU commissioner voices concern on Austria coalition

[10] Cartoon exhibition set alongside Greek-Turkish journalism conference

[11] Greek deputy defense minister discusses NATO, EU enlargement in Bratislava talks

[12] Greek monograph on Greek military and political life

[13] Thessaloniki to host international political conferences

[14] Greek Eurodeputies among those to propose changes to Amsterdam Treaty

[15] Greek equities end up for second consecutive day

[16] Central bank proposes gold market deregulation

[17] Drachma noses up vs. dollar

[18] Greek-Dutch telecom joint venture unveils improved bid for BTC

[19] Volatility limit to rise on Athens bourse

[20] Eurobank, Deutsche Bank launch new mutual funds

[21] Struggle goes on to preserve ouzo as unique Greek product

[22] Canadian trade delegation to visit Thessaloniki

[23] Athens hosts experts' meeting on unemployment issues

[24] Sports figures side with Laliotis in efforts to keep new Metro safe

[25] Scuffling on limited scale at teachers' rally in Athens

[26] Priceless ancient statuette of Pan confiscated, 2 arrests announced

[27] The Art of Icons: Contemporary hagiography exhibition opens in Thessaloniki

[28] Thessaloniki airport approach and landing radar operational by April

[29] Illegal immigrants detained on Karpathos

[01] Cem gets warm welcome at start of key visit

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

This is the first visit of a Turkish foreign minister in Greece in the last 40 years and comes at the heals of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's visit to Ankara for talks with Turkey's leadership - the first such official trip by a Greek FM to the neighboring country in 38 years - punctuated by the signing of four "low-level" agreements, the product of months of contacts and careful negotiations between the two countries' foreign ministries and in the wake of this past summer "seismic rapprochement" between the two peoples on opposite sides of the Aegean.

Upon arrival, Cem and his Greek counterpart held an impromptu press conference at the airport noting the importance of the rapprochement of the two countries.

"I would like to welcome you along with your wife here in Athens," Papandreou said, mentioning earlier efforts by Eleftherios Venizelos and Kemal Ataturk at rapprochement between the two countries at the wake of a war between the two nations in the 1920s, as well as efforts by Constantine Karamanlis and Suleyman Demirel and his own father Andreas Papandreou.

Speaking on past and present problems between the two countries Papandreou referred to the enormous "Cyprus tragedy" as he called it, mentioning that "in every diplomatic forum we met, we viewed each other with suspicion and instead of cooperation each side tried to undermine the other".

Papandreou, however, noted what he called the outpouring of "citizens' diplomacy over the past few months", citing "how impressive and immediate it is", adding that peaceful co-existence emanated from the principles and values found in the EU and UN resolutions.

"The more we continue sincere dialogue the more each country will understand the other's concerns although views differ on this major problem (the Cyprus issue) we can't but hope that progress will occur," Papandreou said before citing the on-going proximity talks in Geneva between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Papandreou concluded by calling his Turkish counterpart "a man who attempts to promote a more European Turkey".

On his part, Cem began his statements thanking his counterpart and the Greek government for the invitation, noting that his visit is the first official one of a Turkish foreign minister in the last 40 years.

"One of the purposes of my visit is to create a proper environment so our ministers can visit each other, as any two neighboring ministers should," Cem said, addressing Papandreou in English.

"I do not want to exaggerate what our two governments accomplished within the last six months, but I believe that our governments accomplished within the last six months more than in the last 40 years," Cem said, adding that "we are trying to catch up and make up for the last 40 years."

"The agreements signed, are substantial, I would say crucial, I don't think anything can be more substantial than the easing of tension, than the growing sense of security on both sides of the Aegean," he said.

"Nothing can be more substantial than our two flags waved together. Nothing can be more substantial than joint economic cooperation already initiated. We shall work for the future together," Cem concluded.

The reciprocal visit to Athens, including Cem's scheduled meetings with the Greek leadership, will witness the signature of yet another five bilateral agreements, focusing on technology and science, cooperation in the maritime transports sector, heightened economic cooperation, education and a pact on establishing a framework to avoid customs violations.

The schedule of the Turkish foreign minister and his wife's visit begins with a dinner Thursday evening hosted by Papandreou.

Cem's official program begins on Friday morning with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Greek Parliament followed by a meeting with Greek President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos. The two foreign ministers will later hold talks, with lengthier contacts to follow between the two delegations at the foreign ministry.

Diplomatic sources have noted that talks between the two ministers will include such issues as specifying the Greek proposal on the transfer of EU know-how to Turkey and consular issues already discussed during Papandreou's visit to Ankara.

The sources said Papandreou will reiterate his proposal on the reactivation of a "expert's committee" procedure.

On the question of Ankara's two proposals regarding the creation of a committee of military experts as well as the adoption of confidence-building measures in the Aegean, Athens is expected to stress that existing fora of political consultations can be extended to include a wider variety of issues without the creation of a special military committee.

With regard to CBMs, Greek leadership will point out that the institutional framework concerning the memorandum set out by former Greek and Turkish foreign ministers Karolos Papoulias and Mesut Yilmaz, respectively, already exists, which can proceed both within the framework of NATO and that of bilateral consultations.

Two weeks ago in Ankara, Cem had proposed measures to decrease military exercises in the Aegean, the disarming of warplanes, courtesy visits to ports and an exchange of information.

Papandreou at the time had reserved judgement until consultations with the Greek defense ministries could take place.

Cem itinerary: After the signing of the agreements in Athens, the two foreign ministers will hold a joint press conference and then Cem will hold talks with Greek Prime Minister Simitis. Later, the ministers and the members of the two delegations will attend a working lunch given by Turkish ambassador to Athens Ali Tinaz Tuygan. In the evening, an official dinner will be given in honor of Cem and the Turkish delegation.

On Saturday morning Papandreou and Cem will inaugurate an international political cartoon exhibition before addressing a Greek-Turkish journalists' conference at Zappeion Hall in downtown Athens.

Cem and his wife will be given a guided tour of the Acropolis at noon and attend in the afternoon the ceremony for the Ipekci awards - given to individuals and organizations that promote Greek-Turkish rapprochement.

Cem and the Turkish delegation will leave Athens on Saturday evening.

[02] Security issue examined at meeting between Cyprus president and UN adviser at proximity talks

GENEVA, 04/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Clerides said they had a "very useful" meeting, which lasted one and a half-hours. He said "we discussed an issue which we discussed in the New York talks, the issue of security".

Discussion at this round of proximity talks centers on the four core issues of the Cyprus problem, namely territory, security, property and distribution of powers.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of the island's territory.

Denktash: Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on Thursday said he considers a written statement by President Glafcos Clerides on the Cyprus peace effort as "disruptive", adding he has replied in writing and will deal with it when he considers the time fit.

In statements to the press after a 90-minute meeting with de Soto, within the framework of proximity talks on the Cyprus question, Denktash claimed the Cyprus president issued the statement in a bid to make him leave the negotiating table but he will not do so.

Describing President Clerides' statement as 'disruptive", the Turkish Cypriot leader said "it is a very serious matter for us, it is still before us and we'll deal with it as we see fit as time goes by".

Asked if he will step out of the talks, Denktash claimed "this is what Mr. Clerides wanted me to do but I will not please him".

The second round of proximity talks, led by de Soto, are expected to end around February 10 and aim at paving the way for substantial negotiations.

[03] US human rights groups take stand on Cyprus

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

In a letter to President Bill Clinton, sent as the second round of Cyprus settlement talks continued in Geneva, these human rights groups also stated that "a settlement which unites the last divided capital city and nation in Europe will enable both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to enjoy human rights realized by citizens of other democracies around the world."

The National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes in a press release issued in Washington added that these human rights groups also called on President Clinton to "make the settlement of the Cyprus dispute a high foreign policy priority during your last year in office."

In conclusion, these human rights leaders stated that "25 years of division have been long enough for the people of this island nation...it is time for the division of the Republic of Cyprus to come to an end."

[04] Defense minister briefs Parliament committee on armaments program

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Briefing the Parliament's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee on the government's armament program, Tsohatzopoulos also said that any thoughts on freezing or reducing that program do not take into account the strategic conditions in the region.

He added that the armaments program for the 2001-2005 period would be corresponding to that of the 1996-2000 period, taking into account Greece's economic conditions, noting that the total cost will not exceed 2 per cent of GDP, while the defense ministry expenses total 3.8 per cent of GDP.

[05] ND files motion of support for Stephanopoulos re-election

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

ND leader Costas Karamanlis filed a motion with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis that said that "in accordance with Article 140 of the Parliament's Regulations, the New Democracy Parliamentary Group proposed. Stephanopoulos as president of the republic."

Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday informed Kaklamanis that the ruling PASOK party had nominated Stephanopoulos for re-election.

Karamanlis' move on Thursday effectively makes the re-election of Stephanopoulos as president no more than a formality and puts a definitive end to speculation that the opposition would boycott a re-election of the popular president to push for early elections.

The Greek constitution provides for dissolution of parliament and the holding of national elections if the House fails to garner a convincing two-thirds majority in favor of one presidential candidate.

Ruling PASOK has said from the outset that it would support Stephanopoulos for a second term as president but, despite having a majority in Parliament, it fails to have the number of seats needed to re-elect Stephanopoulos outright.

The first round of voting by Parliament is scheduled for February 8, using a roll call procedure. A swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for March 11.

[06] Second poll underlines PASOK lead over opposition

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The Metron Analysis poll, conducted on 2,500 people in the prefecture of Attica December 17 to January 28 and released on Thursday, shows PASOK with 35.7 percent, New Democracy 28.7 percent, Communist Party of Greece 5.5 percent, Left Coalition 4.8 percent and Democratic Social Movement 4.2 percent.

Parties not represented in parliament, Political Spring and The Liberals, polled 0.9 and 1.6 percent respectively. Those undecided totalled 18.5 percent.

Some 52.4 percent of those polled said the best person for Prime Minister was Costas Simitis; ND leader Costas Karamanlis polled 24.9 percent.

Some 56.7 percent believe that ruling party PASOK will win the next elections, compared to 22.1 percent who believe New Democracy will win.

According to reports, Prime Minister Simitis may clear the air on his intentions on when he will call elections during Friday's Cabinet meeting.

Thursday's poll was the second this week indicating that Simitis and his government's popularity was on the rise, at least in the wider Athens region.

An opinion poll conducted by V.PRC and published in Tuesday's edition of Ta Nea. According to the poll, conducted between January 15 and 27, a majority 50.7 respondents consider Simitis the most appropriate person for prime minister, against 26.5 percent for Karamanlis.

Also, 55.1 percent of those polled predicted a PASOK victory in the next general elections, against 15.9 percent who saw a ND victory.

[07] Timing of elections is based on national interest, Papantoniou says

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Papantoniou, speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said that the elections would not be based on whether opinion polls gave favorable projections to the ruling party.

Papantoniou briefed the Prime Minister on the results of Monday's ECOFIN Council meeting which approved Greece's updated convergence program.

"The next-final-step," Papantoniou said, "will occur at the beginning of March with the submission of our application for inclusion in economic and monetary union."

He said the course of inflation - the trickiest of the five criteria Greece must make to ensure its inclusion in EMU - was favorable and that the index would continue its downward course.

He said harmonized inflation-on, which Greece would be judged for its EMU, bid-would be significantly below the criteria levels

[08] ND leader accuses government of creating ambiguity

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Karamanlis said the government's stance was in line with "neither with the word, nor the spirit of the Constitution".

He said the Prime Minister must realize that "it is necessary for the election-mongering to stop", and held premier Costas Simitis responsible for its continuation.

"He (Simitis) must clarify his intentions. Our position is crystal clear: elections are necessary as soon as possible," Karamanlis said.

Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, Karamanlis accused the government of "avoiding" to brief the people on the developments, "just as he does not inform parliament on the agreements being signed, and does not reveal his intentions regarding the proposals put forward by Ankara".

It was "unprecedented that the co-responsible ministers are in disagreement and the previous foreign minister is criticizing the current foreign minister" over policy on Turkey, "as the Prime Minister maintains a Pontius Pilate-like stance," Karamanlis said.

Stephanopoulos asked Karamanlis on his trip later Thursday to Madrid for an extraordinary meeting of the European Parliament's European Popular Party grouping, to which ND belongs.

Karamanlis noted that he would be one of the speakers at the event, addressing the topic "The euro in the year 2010".

The ND leader added that he would return to Athens on Saturday evening, in time for the party's pre-Congress conference on the 2004 Athens Olympics scheduled for Sunday.

[09] Greece's EU commissioner voices concern on Austria coalition

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Diamantopoulou, who holds the 15-nation bloc's social security and employment portfolio, said in a written statement released in Athens Thursday that the political situation in Austria gave rise to concern over the prospective future developments in the political scene in that country.

The European Commission, she said, was the "guardian of the EU Treaty and, therefore, of the principles it represents, namely respect of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual".

She said that the member states, which participated in the EU with the free will of their people, not only accepted but also supported adherence to those principles.

The European Commission was continuing its cooperation with the Austrian authorities, and was, together with all the other EU member states, closely monitoring the developments, she said.

KKE: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Eurodeputy Stratis Korakas on Thursday said the party's Euro-MPs "condemn the participation of the extreme-right, neo-fascist Freedom Party of Jeorg Haider in the new government of Austria".

"We consider this development particularly serious, unpleasant and dangerous because, among others, it will contribute to the further spread of neo-fascist, racist and xenophobic perceptions throughout all of Europe," Korakas said in a statement released in Athens, explaining the vote by KKE Euro-deputies in the European Parliament after a plenary discussion on the political situation in EU member-state Austria.

The Europarliament, in a resolution, urged the European Union to be prepared to suspend any Austrian government that included the Freedom Party and if it made a "serious and persistent" breach of basic EU principles, a Reuter's dispatch reported from Brussels.

[10] Cartoon exhibition set alongside Greek-Turkish journalism conference

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

ISTANBUL, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The Turkey-based Aydin Dogan Vakfi Foundation of the Dogan media group is organizing the event, set to include works by cartoonists from some 87 countries.

"For the exhibition in Athens we've chosen the best cartoons out of 4,000 works the Aydin Dogan Foundation has collected for some 16 years now," exhibition director Isin Saygun told the ANA.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, who will be in Greece for an official visit, will inaugurate the event.

The exhibition will be housed at the Zappeion Hall near the Greek Parliament and last from between Feb. 5 to 12.

[11] Greek deputy defense minister discusses NATO, EU enlargement in Bratislava talks

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Apostolakis, who returned to Athens on Wednesday, reiterated Greece's support for Slovakia's bid to join NATO and the EU.

On the level of defense cooperation, agreement was reached for an exchange of students at post-graduate schools and observers at exercises.

Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, the deputy minister said that "the Turkish side must express specific and practical steps, in continuation to the commitments undertaken at the EU summit in Helsinki, as a result of which practical steps must follow in the future."

On his part, Slovak Defense Undersecretary Jozef Pivaci expressed his satisfaction over the fact that the procedure for the signing of contracts for the procurement to Greece of "Zuzana" artillery pieces is being concluded.

[12] Greek monograph on Greek military and political life

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The monograph, entitled "The Military in Greek Politics", traces the creation and development of the Greek military, since the creation of the modern Greek state, in detailed historical form and was initially published in the English language in 1997.

The Greek version presented on Thursday, "does not make judgements, does not criticize, it explains with objective criteria the then and now," Prof. Theodoros Kouloumbis, who along with National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and former defense minister Yiannis Varvitsiotis participated in the presentation.

The book was "delightful to read and very interesting, since it examines the sociology of the Armed Forces staff in the modern Greek state," Tsohatzopoulos said. Meanwhile Varvitsiotis presented the historical chronology of the periods Veremis focused on.

[13] Thessaloniki to host international political conferences

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Ministers, Socialist Eurodeputies and other political figures from EU member-states and the Balkans, Greek and foreign technocrats and academics have been invited to the PASOK event, scheduled for February 12 and 13, which is entitled "Europe and the World at the beginning of the new millennium: A modern progressive approach".

Items on the agenda include European integration, globalization, the future of peace, the single European security framework and the Balkan Stability Pact and its implementation.

Members of the European Peoples' Party and other conservative Balkan parties have been invited to the New Democracy event, scheduled for February 25 and 26, where party leader Costas Karamanlis will set out ND's Balkan policy positions.

[14] Greek Eurodeputies among those to propose changes to Amsterdam Treaty

BRUSSELS, 04/02/2000 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

The conference was set up work on the revision of the Amsterdam Treaty as was decided at the European Union's Helsinki summit in December, in light of the Union's enlargement process.

New Democracy (ND) Eurodeputy Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos, representing the European Peoples' Party (EPP), and German Socialdemocrat Joe Lainen, representing the European Socialist Party (ESP) will present the positions of the Europarliament at the conference.

PASOK Eurodeputy Dimitris Tsatsos, who was elected to the conference as well, sided with the draft proposals of his two colleagues.

[15] Greek equities end up for second consecutive day

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The trading session was extended by 45 minutes to account for the delay. It is the second time that the new transaction system has presented malfunctions since it was installed.

The climate, however, was unaffected by the glitches, with all sectors ending up, except for Investments.

The general share index hit an intra-day high of 5,325.72 points (+2.24%) to close at 5,297.32 points, up 1.69 percent. Turnover came to 278 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks rose by 1.64 percent to close at 2,757.97 points. The FTSE/ASE MID 40 also rose, by 1.85 percent, to finish at 947.59 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: +1.79% Leasing: +2.17% Insurance: +1.21% Investment:

-1.10% Construction: +2.88% Industrial: +1.85% Miscellaneous: +1.93% Holding: +1.11%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 4.98 percent higher at 1,620.78 points.

Of 326 shares traded, advancers led decliners at 268 to 52 with another six issues remaining unchanged.

Among shares to end at the daily 8.0 percent upper volatility limit were Aluminium Attikis, Edrassi, Pantechniki, Rokas, Benrubi, Moscholios and Metrolife. Among shares to suffer the heaviest percentage losses were Intersat, Minerva, General, Karelias and Lambropoulos.

Closing prices of selected leading shares (in Drs) are as follows: National Bank of Greece: 22,460 Alpha Credit Bank: 24,500 Ergobank: 30,100 Eurobank: 13,360 Hellenic Telecommunications Organization: 8,000 Panafon: 4,530 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,460 Titan Cement (c): 17,640 Intracom:

14,700

Most equity futures rise on Athens market: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange mostly finished higher on Thursday in line with the indices on which they are based.

A total of 1,037 futures were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 for blue chip and heavily traded stocks, showing turnover of 5.6 billion drachmas.

The contracts ended as follows: expiring February at 2,780; expiring March at 2,825; expiring April at 2,836; and expiring June at 2,835.

Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalization shares numbered 304, posting turnover of 1.1 billion drachmas.

Contracts closed as follows: expiring February at 965, the same as the previous session; and expiring March at 975.

Bonds end flat, turnover rises sharply: Bonds in the secondary market traded mostly flat on Thursday, and turnover jumped.

The benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.45 percent to 6.46 percent from 6.48 percent in the two sessions before, and 6.61 percent in the three previous consecutive sessions.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 100 basis points from 101 basis points a day earlier and 102-103 basis points on Tuesday.

Trade through the central bank's electronic system was 142 billion drachmas from 74 billion drachmas in the previous session and 66 billion drachmas on Tuesday.

Traders said there was little room for the yield spread over German bunds to fall below 100 basis points, with 98 basis points seen as the lowest it can drop.

[16] Central bank proposes gold market deregulation

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The proposal would allow credit institutions to trade in gold with Greek residents and non-residents, as well as with each other, under terms to be set by the central bank.

Existing regulations allow only the Bank of Greece and authorized banks and stockbrokers to conduct transactions in gold.

Also under the proposal, the central bank would keep records of amounts of gold worth more than 2,000 euros exiting the country and amounts worth more than 10,000 euros entering.

[17] Drachma noses up vs. dollar

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

At the central bank's daily fixing, the dollar was set at 341.120 drachmas from 341.870 drachmas a day earlier and 342.590 drachmas on Tuesday.

In trading after the fix, the US currency dropped to 338.900 versus the drachma, which is roughly where the market is expected to open on Friday.

On Tuesday, the drachma had lost 4.31 percent against the dollar since the start of the year.

Also at the fixing, the euro was set at 332.350 drachmas from 332.070 drachmas in the two previous sessions and 331.900 drachmas on Monday.

[18] Greek-Dutch telecom joint venture unveils improved bid for BTC

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The new bid sees the Bulgarian side receiving an extra 225 million dollars in addition to the 510 million dollars already agreed on as the price for a 51 percent stake in BTC share capital.

The new conditions will provide OTE and KPN with the license to create a second GSM mobile phone network in Bulgaria.

The radically improved bid by the OTE-KPN consortium was presented at a news conference in the Bulgarian capital by OTE representative Vassilis Fetsis and KPN's Henk Vierenga.

It is drastically different from the previous bid for control of BTC, the largest privatization project in the country, and comes in an attempt to satisfy the 37 amendments to exiting agreements for the sale drafted by the Bulgarian side in the wake of a government reshuffle in December.

A preliminary agreement reached with the government in July set the sale price at 510 million US dollars, which covered a 51 percent stake in BTC and a license for the use of GSM mobile phone technology, the second of its kind to be awarded in Bulgaria.

Fetsis said that the consortium's attempt to deal "constructively" with the new demands from the Bulgarian side had forced them to drop earlier demands for a monopoly on international digital data transfers and the Internet.

The consortium's formal response has already been sent to the Bulgarian transport and Prime Minister.

"We have been working on this transaction for more than a year and are convinced that this is the best proposal that can be made at this time," the representatives said.

KPN is one of the largest telecom operators in Europe. It recently acquired E-plus, a major German GSM provider, for 9.1 billion euros in cash.

[19] Volatility limit to rise on Athens bourse

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The daily higher and lower trading limit on individual stocks - except new listings - will increase to 10 percent either way, effective on February 7, the commission said in a statement.

The next rise of two percentage points to 12 percent will follow at an unspecified date, the statement said.

Newly listed companies are exempt from volatility curbs for the first three days of trade.

[20] Eurobank, Deutsche Bank launch new mutual funds

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The barrage of new products is part of Eurobank's strategic alliance with the German banking giant, EFG retail banking chief Byron Ballis told a news conference.

He said that the two banks were also introducing an innovation into the Greek market - the abolition of entry commissions for investors and of commissions for players switching from one mutual fund to another.

EFG Mutual Fund Managers will manage the new funds in Greece, a newly created company that belongs to Eurobank, working with a team of specialists in technical analysis.

The team is headed by Spyros Makridakis, a professor at the Insead business school in France and of Piraeus Economics University.

Management of the alliance's funds outside Greece is by Deutsche Asset Management Europe, a member of the Deutsche Bank Group that is currently handling more than 158 billion euros of investments.

[21] Struggle goes on to preserve ouzo as unique Greek product

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Rokofyllos said the country's vigilance is constant and efforts being made aim at ensuring that ouzo remains a Greek product all over the world.

A representative of the Greek federation of alcoholic beverage extracts told the conference that ouzo exports have been on the increase over the past five years, while in 1998 alone 11,600 tons of ouzo were exported worth 3.5 billion drachmas.

[22] Canadian trade delegation to visit Thessaloniki

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The 17-member delegation represents a broad array of industries, such as advanced technology, telecommunications, multimedia, foodstuffs, merchant marine, environmental protection, furniture, construction and engineering, marketing and legal services.

More info may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate in the city, tel. 256350.

[23] Athens hosts experts' meeting on unemployment issues

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The aim of the meeting is to examine the pros and cons of social protection systems established in European Union member states and elsewhere in the field of combatting unemployment and promoting employment.

The meeting will attempt an evaluation of the effectiveness of these systems, and will draft recommendations for their further improvement and adjustment to new social and financial needs in the job market.

The meeting is expected to draw experts from Greece, the European Union and the United States. Topics to be discussed include: profiles of the long-term unemployed; taxation policies and insurance systems: the future of the unemployment benefit; youth unemployment and vocational training; spending on employment policy; and health care systems for the unemployed.

The conference will be held at the Divani Palace Acropolis.

[24] Sports figures side with Laliotis in efforts to keep new Metro safe

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

All those who attended the meeting called by Laliotis said they would do what they could to make sure the message got through to fans.

"We sincerely and jointly call on all the region's and country's sports fans to protect with responsibility and sensitivity both the Attika Metro as well as other means of public transport, because they are all useful and necessary for our lives," Laliotis said.

He said that sports fans and the Metro were "signing a protocol of respect and protection"

The ministry said it was pursuing three initiatives aimed at getting sports fans and clubs on side in the battle. These included providing club management and fan club groups with free tours around the Metro; free visits to the Museum of Cycladic Art to view the artifacts uncovered during the Metro's construction; and the provision of informative material for fans to use at specially-organized functions at the clubs, outlining the importance of the Athens Metro.

"Greek fans must understand that the Metro is a national affair. They must stick to the 'protocol of respect and protection.' With dialogue and cooperation, we will achieve a great deal," Laliotis said.

Transport ministry sets fines for non-payment of Metro fares: The transport ministry on Thursday filed an amendment to Parliament providing for the imposition of fines on those who fail to purchase tickets or validate tickets on the new Athens Metro.

According to the amendment, violators will face fines of 10,000 drachmas (40 times the cost of a single journey on the Metro). If the fine is not paid within 20 days, violators are liable to pay a higher fine of 100,000 drachmas.

[25] Scuffling on limited scale at teachers' rally in Athens

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Teachers staged their rally as part of the 48-hour strike called by the Organization of Secondary Education Teachers (OLME) which will end on Friday.

About 700-800 people gathered near the Athens University campus and marched to the Education Ministry to meet Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis to discuss their problems, primarily salary increases. A group of teachers tried to break through police lines outside the ministry, but order was quickly restored.

A teachers' delegation met with Deputy Education Minister Ioannis Anthopoulos who ruled out a dialogue on abolishing the education reform bill.

According to the Education Ministry, the teachers' participation in the strike was around 20 percent, while the teachers claimed it was 30-35 percent and stressed that they will press on with their claims.

[26] Priceless ancient statuette of Pan confiscated, 2 arrests announced

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

Archaeologists at the National Museum in Athens have dated the confiscated 37-cm-tall artifact to the late Hellenistic period (first century BC to first century AD).

Athanasios Galanopoulos, 44, a farmer and 66-year-old body shop owner Constantinos Pathekas were arrested in connection with the incident.

Both are scheduled to face a prosecutor in the central Greek town of Trikala.

[27] The Art of Icons: Contemporary hagiography exhibition opens in Thessaloniki

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The 1st International Exhibition of modern hagiography, organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki in collaboration with the municipal cultural enterprise of Glyfada Municipality in Athens and the Pieridis Pinakotheque, comprises hagiographies by such renowned artists as Fotis Kontoglou, Yannis Tsarouchis, George Sikeliotis and others.

Titled "The Art of Icons", the exhibition represents all hagiography art forms and techniques, such as icons, mosaics, frescoes, engravings, and stained-glass, as well as gold-embroidered priestly vestments.

Other exhibits include hagiographies from the all-male monastic community of Mount Athos, as well as from Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, Italy and England.

The exhibition will run until March 3.

[28] Thessaloniki airport approach and landing radar operational by April

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

The radar installed at Perea municipality east of the city of Thessaloniki has already been constructed and following a period of necessary controls and personnel training will allow airplanes to approach and land even during foggy conditions, the minister said.

He added that the ILS2 approach system would be mandatory for all airliners by April.

[29] Illegal immigrants detained on Karpathos

Athens, 04/02/2000 (ANA)

They said the group of 45 men, 34 women and 40 children, all of the Iraqis of Kurdish origin, were spotted Wednesday night on Saria islet, north of Karpathos.

The illegal immigrants were temporarily sheltered in a Church at Diafani village on Karpathos.

The authorities were searching for the boat that landed them on Saria, which was believed to be owned by Turkish immigrant-smugglers.

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