Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] Prime Minister Simitis calls early general elections for April 9

[02] Greece, Turkey sign an additional five bilateral agreements in Athens

[03] Clerides says not optimistic of Cyprus settlement after third round of UN talks expected late May

[04] Solana supports EU's more active involvement in Cyprus

[05] Kaklamanis reiterates proposal for EU committee on new technologies

[06] PM scheduled to address party conference

[07] Greek equities welcome news of election date

[08] January inflation at 2.6 percent

[09] Futures Rise on Athens derivatives market, turnover up

[10] Greek Tourism prospects

[11] US ambassador lauds joint venture of American and Greek companies

[12] Labor minister announces new laws that grant Greek citizenship to immigrants

[13] Restoration drive to rebuild parts of ancient 'psychiatric clinic'

[14] Turkish Railway to organize tours to Greece in April

[01] Prime Minister Simitis calls early general elections for April 9

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Simitis said after a Cabinet meeting that he had already informed President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos of his intentions, and would ask him to dissolve parliament and proclaim elections for April 9.

The Prime Minister said he had come to this decision because the speculation and uncertainty about when elections would be held "continues to hover" over the country. Coupled with the main opposition party's dispute of the government's economic policy, "doubt will be hovering among our EU partners whether this policy will be followed in the future", he said.

This would be detrimental to Greece in the negotiation process for the terms of EMU entry, he said.

"The country needs a strong government with a fresh popular mandate," Simitis said.

Greece's formal application for EMU entry is due to be submitted in early March, with approval pending by the EU summit in June and EMU entry scheduled for January 1, 2001.

Simitis told reporters that Greece's EMU entry "in essence 'locks in' with the submission of the application on March 8".

"But tough negotiations will be required in order to ensure the terms of entry and safeguard the country's positions and 'acquis communautaire'," he added.

Simitis stressed that in February Greece will have met all five criteria for EMU entry as inflation -- the last remaining criterion to be met -- will have fallen to the level of the other EU member states "barring unforeseeable circumstances".

Greece, he said, had the prerequisites for equal participation in EMU, and with formal submission of its application on March 8, "we lock" into EMU, which he said the country had earned.

"Greece's equal and strong presence must be maintained, because we are now discussing our policy in the coming years," he said.

He explained that Greece's "ability to keep pace with European competition" after EMU entry would depend on those negotiations.

Simitis said that he had selected April 9 so that the Greek people would "decide which political party will guarantee the benefits of EMU entry, will give the country this historic prospect, and provide a credible, dependable and capable government".

"PASOK is the party that fulfills all these conditions," he added.

Simitis said the timetable for the election of President of the Republic would be strictly adhered to, culminating with Stephanopoulos' swearing in on March 11. Parliament is set to begin the process of electing a new President of the Republic on February 8.

After the ruling PASOK and main opposition parties formally nominated Stephanopoulos for re-election earlier this week, the Presidential election process is now a virtual formality as the two parties together control more than the two-thirds majority in the 300-member House required for election of a President in the first of three rounds of voting set out by the Constitution.

Failure by parliament to elect a President in three rounds meant automatic dissolution of the House and general elections held, with the new parliament electing a President.

Simitis said the presidential election process could not comprise a pretext for early general elections, "despite the fact that ND had in the summer stated it would not vote for Mr. Stephanopoulos, claiming that the (PASOK) government is dangerous for the country".

Stephanopoulos, he said, had proven himself during his current term in the Presidency, "and ND made an about-face, abandoning its demand for early elections".

"My main concern is always to safeguard the prestige of the institution (of the Presidency) and the person (President)," the premier said.

The response to the news that an election date had been set was positive. Money markets greeted the news of elections with enthusiasm with the Athens Stock Exchange's general price index surging 2.0 percent.

In more good news for the government and Greece's EMU prospects, the National Statistics Service (ESYE) announced that consumer price inflation was running at 2.6 percent on a year-on-year basis in January.

ESYE Secretary General Nikos Karavitis said that the CPI had fallen 1.1-percentage points in January from the preceding month and that the harmonized inflation rate - used to judge entry criteria for economic and monetary union - would also show a decline as would core inflation.

The harmonized inflation rate for January is expected to be around 2.3 percent.

"Everything's going well," National Economy and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou said after the inflation figures were announced. "The work continues."

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said that the news had provided an end to uncertainty.

In a statement, Kaklamanis said that the country had been subjected to election speculation for months, and that this had harmed the Greek economy.

Opposition reactions: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, who is currently in Madrid, said that the news of the early elections on April 9 was to be expected and necessary.

"Mr. Simitis' decision was necessary because he had become hostage to the speculation that he himself had created," Karamanlis said. "He cited the same reasons that early elections were needed that he cited shortly earlier for the government seeing out its four-year term."

"The country must have a government, which will be able to negotiate with the European Union... one with a fresh mandate from the people," he said.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) claimed that the government rushed elections so that they may take place before the measures against the people during the so called post-European Monetary Union (EMU) era, which will take effect immediately after April.

The KKE press release also stated that the it is clearly blackmail for ruling PASOK to say to the people grant it majority, so as to negotiate Greeces entry to the EMU, as the governments course to date has been for the monopolies and not for the workers.

On his part, Coalition of the Left leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the the reason that led the government to this choice was very simple: (ruling) PASOKs petty political interests and not national interests.

Constantopoulos accused the prime minister of unbelievable political irresponsibility and a blatant disregard for the Constitution as far as the date of holding elections is concerned, because the premiers statements today come into complete contradiction with what Mr. Simitis has been saying up until now.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said the Prime Minister's cited reasons for calling an early election date were "hollow" and wondered whether the President of the Republic, Costis Stephanopoulos, would accept them.

"Government and main opposition are belittling the country's top democratic procedure and the Constitution in order to serve petty party expediencies... The masks of Mr. Simitis and the PASOK leadership, who for a year said one thing and meant another, have fallen. The only thing they are indifferent about is the interests of the Greek economy, the country, the Greek people," he said.

Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras said the holding of early elections would mean sacrificing the proper handling of the country's crucial issues.

Holy Synod - Elections Satisfaction: The ecclesiastical leader responsible for the Autocephalus Orthodox Church of Greeces media relations, Metropolitan of Piraeus Kallinikos, on Friday expressed the Churchs satisfaction over the date chosen for general elections by the Greek premier just a few hours earlier.

The Churchs satisfaction emanates from the fact that April 9 the date chosen by Prime Minister Costas Simitis for early general elections -- will not fall too close to Greek Orthodox Holy Week and Easter, celebrated on April 30.

Earlier press reports citing April 23 (Palm Sunday on the Orthodox calendar of 2000) as a possible election date had drawn criticism by the Churchs hierarchy.

[02] Greece, Turkey sign an additional five bilateral agreements in Athens

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Both Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his visiting Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem - the 'point men' in a recent flurry of heightened bilateral Greek-Turkish contacts and discussions - stressed to reporters after their morning talks that more has been done to further cooperation between the countries "over the past six months than has been accomplished in the last 40 years." Additionally, the two FMs cited some "130 initiatives" for cooperation in various fields proposed by the public and private sectors of the two countries, including a proposal to jointly host the 2008 Euro-championship in soccer.

"We are finding areas of cooperation where we can both profit," Papandreou said, adding: "...only two things can be negative: either if we are expecting results in an overly quick way -- that we will solve everything as magicians in one or two days; or, on the other hand, since we have problems, we can't do anything. Both these approaches are doomed for failure. We have chosen the approach of a very cautious, systematic way... creating the basis to be able to deal with obviously more sensitive issues."

In his response, Cem said: "...we know that there are some Greek concerns, some Greek sensitivities and, of course, we are working on that...we are conscious of the sensitive questions in our bilateral... we're not really aiming at making the newspaper headlines or banners, or to make spectacular announcements...On sensitive issues we are as much concerned as our Greek colleagues, we're not shying away from any questions in our bilateral..."

Responding to a question over the Cyprus problem, Papandreou replied:

"...it's very important that Greece and Turkey, that are guarantor powers, along with Britain, have been in favor of the continuation of these (proximity) discussions... in that sense, I very much feel that we do move ahead, and that this process is important for all sides, and that would be my expectation.

"I also want to mention the fact that Greece and Turkey are able to show in a practical way, not simply in words but in practice, in very specific agreements and acts and day-to-day now cooperation - at the governmental level, at the level of the NGOs, at the level of business and so on - that we can work together. I think this creates a new hope for the cooperation of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots," Papandreou also added in response to a press question over what he expects from the Turkish side in relation to the long-standing Cyprus issue.

"...I would also like to add that it's obvious we have some differences of approach and interpretation, but if we were afraid of our differences six months ago we wouldn't be able to make it here today, so we have differences, we have different approaches, we will have them in the future as well, but this should not make us afraid of the differences..." Cem said, referring to the same issue.

The Turkish FM also said the decisions reached at the EU summit in Helsinki last December, especially in reference to the designation of Turkey as an EU candidate state, were not a "give-and-take" process amongst the Union, Turkey and Greece. "I believe both countries got what they wanted."

Papandreou agreed with the Turkish foreign minister, the first to officially visit Greece in 40 years.

"...I would very much agree with what Minister Cem says. I believe we have both profited by this development. I think the decision also in Helsinki was mutually beneficial, and I also want to say as a Greek foreign minister that I believe it is in our interests, our national interests, that Turkey is a candidate country for the European Union."

Papandreou had officially visited Ankara two weeks ago, while Cem's reciprocal visit to Athens, complete with meetings with Greece's top leadership, was punctuated by the signing of the bilateral agreements -- focusing on technology and science, cooperation in sea transports, heightened economic cooperation, education and culture as well as a pact on establishing a framework to avoid customs violations. The Greek FM also noted that talks are continuing to finalize an agreement over the all-important issue dealing with the avoidance of double taxation. Other areas discussed included cooperation in the energy sector and the possible linking of natural gas networks, along with the scheduling of various joint trade and economic cooperation seminars in the next two months, both in Greece and Turkey.

In concluding, Papandreou said an agreement over embassies is imminent, while he verified that discussions are underway over the opening of a Greek consulate in the historic Black Sea port city of Trabzon, the one-time metropolis of Pontian Hellenism in the region.

The number of 'low-level' agreements signed between Athens and Ankara totals nine with the pacts finalized on Friday.

Simitis meets Cem, underlines need for substantive Turkish-EU relations: Prime Minister Costas Simitis met with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Friday, telling him that Greece hoped to see Turkey build substantively on the recent European Union decision to accept it as a candidate country.

"Greece as a member of the Union supported Turkey's candidacy during the recent Helsinki summit. For us the issue was not confined to opening the Turkish market to foreign products. It was found mainly in the reconstruction of Turkey on a democratic basis, to its incorporation in a framework defined by the European Union's guidelines for cooperation, in dealing with divisive issues, such as the Cyprus issue and that of the Aegean continental shelf, in accordance with international law," Simitis said during a reception for Cem and visiting Turkish journalists.

"I am pleased that the Turkish political world responded to the European Union's invitation," the Greek Prime Minister said.

Cem, will participate in a meeting of Greek and Turkish journalists. Afterwards, Simitis hosted a reception for the two ministers and for the delegation of Greek and Turkish journalists.

Simitis told Cem and the assembled journalists that the normalization of bilateral relations was to the benefit of both countries.

"Greece and Turkey have new prospects before them - many of these originate from the European Union. As the climate improves with the efforts both of politicians and of journalists, so do the margins for both peoples to benefit.

"In the past, our bilateral relations have been sorely tried. We have, therefore, an increased sense of duty to help in restoring stability and in maintaining friendly and peaceful relations in the entire region,"

"Southeast Europe and the Balkans have a long history. We live in a region, which has been much tried by wars and civil or social unrest. The war in Yugoslavia ended just a few months earlier, after lasting some seven years...

Simitis said the role of journalists in this improving climate was critical. "You cultivate the friendship or the hostility between peoples, the trust or the suspicion...The journalist is the carrier of the news, the comment, the interpreter of events," he said.

President receives Cem, expresses satisfaction with improvement in Greek-Turkish relations: Turkish foreign minister Ismail Cem on Friday expressed hope that talks between Greece and Turkey and several bilateral cooperation agreements in a variety of sectors would give new momentum to the development of relations between the two countries.

Cem, who arrived in Athens Thursday afternoon on the first official visit here by a Turkish foreign minister in 40 years, was speaking to reporters after being received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos Friday morning.

Earlier, Cem kicked off his official visit with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Greeting Cem at the Presidential Mansion, Stephanopoulos expressed satisfaction with the contacts between the two countries and the bilateral cooperation accords signed in Ankara last month -- when Papandreou paid the first official visit to Turkey by a Greek foreign minister in 36 years.

Stephanopoulos expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in relations between the two countries, and hope that they would improve even more in the future in order to stabilize the framework of friendship and cooperation between the two Balkan neighbors.

He expressed hope that the Athens talks would prove to the benefit of that cooperation.

Cem conveyed to Stephanopoulos Turkish President Suleyman Demirel's pleasure at the accords between the two countries, and expressed hope that the bilateral talks would give a new impetus to the development of relations between the two countries.

"That is our common hope," Stephanopoulos interjected.

Eurodeputy says new Greek-Turkish rapprochement overlooking real issues: Left Coalition European Parliament deputy Alekos Alavanos on Friday wondered publicly why the Greek government was silent on issues related to the living conditions faced by ethnic Greeks in Istanbul and the island of Imvros.

Speaking at a news conference attended by representatives of the Greeks of Istanbul and Imvros, Alavanos said the Greek government appeared to be missing the point with its declared policy of low-key rapprochement and the signing of bilateral agreements with Turkey.

"Why are we signing investment agreements with Turkey and ignoring the problem of the effective confiscation of the property of the Greeks of Istanbul, Imvros and Tenedos ... why are we signing an educational agreement and not putting forward the issue of the Halki Theological Academy?" Alavanos asked.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Friday signed the second batch of ten bilateral agreements forged by foreign ministry officials over months of talks.

The agreements were deliberately focused on non-contentious issues and aimed at finding "common points, not sore points," according to Papandreou.

The status and living conditions of the dwindling Greek communities of Constantinople, and the Aegean islands of Tenedos and Imvros - ceded to Turkey earlier this century when largely Greek-inhabited - have long been 'sore points' in relations between Greece and Turkey.

The Halki Theological Academy joined this list when it was summarily shut down in the early 1970s, although there has been speculation recently that it may be reopened in the wake of the recent warming of relations between Ankara and Athens and Ankara and Brussels.

[03] Clerides says not optimistic of Cyprus settlement after third round of UN talks expected late May

GENEVA, 05/02/2000(CNA/ANA)

Speaking after his meeting on Friday with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto, within the framework of the proximity talks, Clerides said that on Monday or Tuesday they will discuss whether face-to-face negotiations will take place.

Invited to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's statement that a settlement can only be achieved in a confederation, Clerides said he is not the one to have made this statement.

"My position has been made clear by the public written statement I made the day before yesterday", (Wednesday) the president said.

In his written statement Clerides outlined the general principles guiding the UN-led proximity talks and made it clear that the Greek Cypriot side is "ready to negotiate a settlement within the parameters established by Security Council resolutions".

He also said the aim of the negotiations is to amend the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus from a unitary to a federal system and ruled out Denktash's demand for the establishment of a confederation.

Clerides told reporters there has been no change in his positions and that on Friday they discussed one of the four core issues, that of territory.

The other issues under discussion are security, property and distribution of powers.

Asked if he is more optimistic for a solution after the third round of the UN talks, Clerides replied: "At the moment I cannot say that I am hopeful because as you know these are proximity talks, we do not know what the other side is saying so we cannot compare and say the gap is closing or widening".

The president said that on Monday or Tuesday they will discuss issues relating to the third round of talks, expected to take place late May.

He said the Geneva proximity talks would probably finish on Tuesday.

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

Government spokesman: Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou expressed on Friday "sadness" over a written statement by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, accusing President Glafcos Clerides of "hypocrisy" and "distortion of the reality" in Cyprus.

In a written statement, Papapetrou points out that President Clerides had "simply stressed his willingness and readiness to negotiate within the ambit set by the international community and the UN by their resolutions and decisions" for a settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation.

Replying to Denktash's allegations that the Republic of Cyprus and its Constitution do not exist, Papapetrou says the Turkish Cypriot leader "evidently overlooks the fact that the Republic of Cyprus is a state, member of the UN and is recognized internationally as the only state entity in Cyprus".

He also rejects Denktash's allegations that the UN Security Council has allegedly adopted "global exchange of properties, pointing out that the only reference made was "to voluntary exchange of properties".

He reaffirms the good will of the Greek Cypriot side for a peaceful understanding and compromise between the two communities on the island in the context of a bizonal bicommunal federation.

Calling for polemics to be left aside, Papapetrou notes, "the real interests of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are not served by prolonging the confrontation, but with friendship, cooperation and peaceful coexistence".

[04] Solana supports EU's more active involvement in Cyprus

BRUSSELS, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Addressing the press on the occasion of the New Year and the assumption of his new duties, Solana referred to Cyprus' accession course to the EU, the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.

Commenting on the Cyprus issue, he hailed the Geneva proximity talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, under UN sponsorship, as a positive event, adding that the EU should intensify its efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

"Cyprus will join the EU and, consequently, the EU has every reason to contribute to a solution to the Cyprus issue," he said.

On the question of a proposal by Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou for the creation of a Committee of Wise Men between Greece and Turkey, under Solana's sponsorship, aimed at examining bilateral issues concerning the EU, Solana said he discussed the proposal with both Papandreou and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and believes that it should be the object of further thought and consideration.

[05] Kaklamanis reiterates proposal for EU committee on new technologies

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Speaking to 50 deputies from European countries, who participated in a relevant conference, Kaklamanis pointed out the example of the United States, where President Bill Clinton charged Vice-president Al Gore with the responsibility of his country's infrastructure in that sector.

[06] PM scheduled to address party conference

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis will inaugurate the conference, which was scheduled before the premier's call for general elections on April 9.

Following the inauguration and the premier's address, former foreign minister and PASOK deputy Theodoros Pangalos will present a draft proposal for the ruling party's positions.

Several party cadres are also scheduled to address the conference.

[07] Greek equities welcome news of election date

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Analysts said that the market - on the upturn over the past two days - had reckoned on the government clearing the air and settling on a date for elections.

Led by small cap parallel market shares and the construction sector, all sectors, except for Leasing, ended with profits.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks rose by 1.75 percent to close at 2,806.14 points. The FTSE/ASE MID 40 also rose, by 1.98 percent, to finish at 966.39 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: +1.71% Leasing: -0.13% Insurance: +2.41% Investment: -0.15% Construction: +4.84% Industrial: +0.42% Miscellaneous: +1.00% Holding: +3.12%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended 5.06 percent higher at 1,702.81 points.

Of 327 shares traded, advancers led decliners at 234 to 83 with another ten issues remaining unchanged.

Among shares to end at the daily 8.0 percent upper volatility limit were Pantechniki, Benrubi, Pairis, Kekrops, Radio Athinai, Terna, Xifias, Texapret and Vioter. Among shares to suffer the heaviest percentage losses were Emporikos Desmos, Klaoudatos, Alcatel, Sarantopoulos and Yalko.

Closing prices of selected leading shares (in Drs) are as follows: National Bank of Greece: 22,980 Alpha Credit Bank: 25,000 Ergobank: 30,680 Eurobank: 13,265 Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation: 8,340 Panafon: 4,650 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,420 Titan Cement (c): 17,480 Intracom: 14,740

[08] January inflation at 2.6 percent

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

ESYE Secretary General Nikos Karavitis said that the consumer price index had fallen 1.1 percentage points in January from the preceding month.

Year on year inflation in January was running at 2.6 percent compared to 3.7 and 4.4 percent in 1999 and 1998, respectively.

Karavitis said that the harmonized inflation rate - used to judge entry criteria for economic and monetary union - would also show a decline as would core inflation.

The harmonized inflation rate for January is expected to be around 2.3 percent.

Karavitis attributed the 2.6 percent inflation rate to increases of 4.6 percent in the alcoholic beverages and cigarettes basket and to a 5.5 percent increase in the hotels, cafes and restaurants grouping, as well as increases in housing costs.

[09] Futures Rise on Athens derivatives market, turnover up

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

A total of 1,519 futures were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 for blue chip and heavily traded stocks, showing turnover of 8.5 billion drachmas.

The contracts ended as follows: expiring February at 2,820; expiring March at 2,865; expiring April at 2,375; and expiring June at 2,890.

Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalization shares numbered 807, posting turnover of 3.0 billion drachmas.

Contracts closed as follows: expiring February at 1,000; and expiring March at 1,015.

Current Account Deficit Narrows Jan-Sept: The current account deficit narrowed to 2.629 billion euros in January to September, down 141 million euros from the same period in 1998, the Bank of Greece said on Friday.

However, the trade deficit widened by 644 million euros, due to a rise in spending on imports, the central bank said in a statement.

At the end of 1999, foreign currency reserves stood at 19 billion US dollars, the statement said.

Bonds direction-less in brisk trade: Bonds in the secondary market were direction-less on Friday in line with markets abroad, and turnover rose for a second straight session.

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

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 101 basis points from 100 basis points in the previous session and 101 basis points on Wednesday.

Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 196 billion drachmas from 142 billion drachmas a day earlier, 74 billion drachmas on Wednesday, 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.

In addition, profit taking was natural following several recent surges in the market, the analysts said.

Euro's rally dominates drachma trade: The euro's rally versus the dollar in world markets dominated the domestic foreign exchange market on Friday in the wake of the greenback's surge in recent sessions.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the dollar was set at 337.260 drachmas from 341.120 drachmas a day earlier and 341.870 drachmas on Wednesday.

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

Also at the fixing on Friday, the euro was set at 332.530 drachmas from 332.350 drachmas in the previous session and 332.070 drachmas in the two trading days before. Cabinet says tourism holds central place in policy planning

[10] Greek Tourism prospects

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Venizelos, speaking during a Cabinet meeting on tourism policy, said that tourism to Greece last year had been "satisfactory" despite the crisis in neighboring Kosovo.

He also underlined the need for Greek tourism policy to look further afield and attract new markets, such as China.

Cabinet decided to underline the government's emphasis on the tourism sector and support of it both financially and institutionally by instructing regions around the country to maintain current levels of funding for tourism projects and not transfer funds to other projects.

Some 270 billion drachmas have been allocated for tourist projects in the Third Community Support Framework. Cabinet also said it would attempt to maintain a 1: 1 ratio in public and private tourist spending, so as to provide support for private investment.

In regard to Second Community Support Framework absorption rates, Venizelos said that absorption of tourism-related funds was currently running at 60 percent and would reach 100 percent of funds by December 31, 2001.

Venizelos said that the basic directions of the government's policy on tourism was not to discriminate between established and non-established tourist regions, enabling in this way all regions to be upgraded and modernized.

The better utilization of the enormous real estate holdings of the Greek National Tourist Organisation - worth an estimated three trillion drachmas - remained a basic priority for the government, Venizelos said.

Venizelos said he hoped to have ready a presidential decree introducing the 'star' system for hotels and a 'key' system for rented rooms by the time elections are held.

[11] US ambassador lauds joint venture of American and Greek companies

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

The new company will represent Silicon Graphics' activities in Greece, Cyprus, the Balkans and Malta and will be totally owned by Sanyo Hellas Holding.

US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns, who addressed the event of the announcement, said that the move by the two companies strengthens US investments in Greece, noting that the governments of both countries have been working to boost bilateral economic relations for the past three years.

[12] Labor minister announces new laws that grant Greek citizenship to immigrants

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

Since the creation of the Greek state "indigenous rights" were separate from citizenship rights, allowing only those who could prove Greek parentage to claim them.

Addressing a one-day conference on "Immigrants in the Greece of 2000", organized by English language daily Athens News and Polish language newspaper Kurier Atenski, the minister noted that the new bill aims at allowing equal rights to those Greeks enjoy.

"The children of economic immigrants go to Greek schools, play with the Greek children in their neighborhood, they are very good students, they know Greek as their mother language ... many told me they feel Greek," he added.

"The new bill is at the final stages being drafted with the collaboration of the labor ministry along with the ministries of interior, foreign affairs and public order," Papaioannou said

"My position is that the new law should be connected, in the immediate future, with the granting of 'indigenous rights' to certain categories of citizens, which could be enforced for recognized refugees, economic legal immigrants and the children of that first generation of new citizens," the minister said.

He added that this particular bill has been under consideration, not by his ministry but by the ministry of interior and is a part of a package aiming at the integration of immigrants in mainstream Greek society.

Papaioannou also announced that his ministry, within the next few months, would table a comprehensive bill dealing with immigration issues.

The new bill will focus on standardizing procedures for the long term, regarding legal and illegal immigration, within the legal framework set by the Union as is prescribed by the Schengen Treaty, the minister said.

The minister also noted that the process of registering and providing legal documents to illegal immigrants in Greece will be complete by May, as to date unexpected problems crept up, as Greece and most other Union member-states confronted large numbers of immigrants only relatively recently.

Greece experienced a wave of an estimated 600.000 immigrants following the changes in east-west relations in 1989.

"We began the experiment of registering and legalizing economic immigrants, and I call it an experiment as it was a new process not only for Greece, but for all of Europe. We did not copy anything from anyone," Papaioannou said.

"When we began this process we knew of the difficulties and I must confess that in the beginning we could not evaluate the result of that effort. It was an experiment, which initiated legalizing procedures through labor and not like the rest of Europe where legalization procedures took place via the ministries of interior," he added.

"The results, however, were better than what we expected," he said, adding that "we expected 180,000 application, but 380,000 entered the process ... and acquired now a name and an identity," Papaioannou said.

"Of those 220,000 met the conditions of employment, income and insurance and applied for the 'green card', which grants them the right to residency and employment in Greece. To date about 100,000 obtained the 'green card'," he said.

Representatives of workers' unions also addressed an audience comprised mainly of the immigrants' community leaders and interested Greek citizens.

[13] Restoration drive to rebuild parts of ancient 'psychiatric clinic'

Athens, 05/02/2000 (ANA)

The Epidaurus site in the north-central Peloponnese is, of course, associated by most tourists and classical scholars with the exquisite centuries-old outdoor theatre of the same name - hailed as the best-preserved ancient Greek or Roman venue in the world. Asclepius, on the other hand, was revered by ancient Greeks (known as 'Aesculapius' to the Romans) as the god of healing and medicine.

The effort to rebuild the avaton, which according to historical texts treated ancient patients with various "purifications" and "psychotherapeutic sleep", is based on a study by architect Ioannis Mavrommatidis, the Thursday edition of the Athens daily "Ta Nea" reports in a feature story.

The Greek architect's study for the sanctuary's restoration employs several new archaeological finds, placing them in their precise 4th century BC location, the newspaper reports. Among the most significant artifacts are several tall, colored stone partitions used in a two-storey arcade as a place of rest and isolation by patients - and following the ancient healers' regime of purification and therapeutic sleep.

As experts relate, the following day priests at Asclepius' temple would 'interpret' the avaton-hosted patients' dreams of the previous night before prescribing the proper treatment. Therapies ranged from fasting, dieting and prayer, to ancient forms of hydrotherapy, herbal therapy and even surgery - sans sterilization, unfortunately.

As opposed to the nearby theatre of Epidaurus - the venue for a heralded annual summer festival - Asclepius' temple fared much worse over the centuries, having been almost completed demolished. It was only over the past few years that the Epidaurus Monuments Maintenance Committee, led by archaeology professor Vassilis Labrinoudakis, took low-key steps, with spectacular results, towards restoring portions of the sanctuary and adjacent buildings. The first excavations in contemporary times took place about a century ago by Greek archaeologist P. Kavvadias.

Centuries before Sigmund Freud's case studies of psychoanalysis or Karl Jung's "gestalt" theories appeared on the scientific horizon, the avaton continued to treat patients of the ancient world up until the late fourth century AD.

[14] Turkish Railway to organize tours to Greece in April

The Turkish Railway Organisation (TCDD) announced on Friday that it would organize tours to cities in Greece from 17-23 April.

TCDD said the tours would include visits to historic and tourist regions in Greece, including the island of Aegina, Syntagma Square in Athens and Poseidon Temple at Sounio Cape, southeast of Athens

Tickets for these tours will be available beginning Mar. 13.

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