Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-03-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis and Karamanlis underline differences at political level during TV debate

[02] Papariga urges voters to back Communist Party

[03] Skandalidis slams ND "middle ground" claim

[04] EU lodges demarche with Ankara over blacklist

[05] Karamanlis: Greek-Turkish normalization not possible unless Cyprus issue on course for solution

[06] British envoy for Cyprus arrives in Athens

[07] Rau to visit Greece as planned despite domestic accident

[08] Greek stocks move cautiously higher

[09] National Bank of Greece to bid for Bulgarian bank

[10] Bulgaria to announce outcome Friday of telecom sale

[11] Plans for productive investments in Albania

[12] Defense minister announces plans for allocation of 2,000 parcels of land to Armed Forces Officers

[13] Europarliament approves amendment for natural disaster credit line

[14] Athens Journalists Union holds discussion on "War and Information"

[15] Mayors of Athens and Istanbul promote climate of friendship between the two cities

[16] Ottawa Greek community to host events in light of Easter celebration

[17] US aircraft carrier "Eisenhower" arrives at Souda

[18] Turkish mayor invites Greek embassy military attache to visit his town

[19] President Clerides visits Israel's second biggest air base

[20] CoE Committee of Ministers to re-examine Loizidou case in May

[01] Simitis and Karamanlis underline differences at political level during TV debate

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

Responding separately to questions by three journalists, the two main contenders in the April 9 election stood their ground and expressed satisfaction that their differences remained of a political nature devoid of any personal animosity.

Simitis said his government's record in power and its program were the best guarantees for further upgrading the country's position in Europe. Karamanlis recognized that Greece's accession to the euro zone next year was one of a number of positive achievements which should be added to, emphasizing that this required a change of guard with fresh ideas and initiatives.

Simitis disputed Karamanlis' claim that Greece's falling economic competitiveness bode ill for covering the considerable distance from its EU partners, insisting that the country's falling inflation and higher than EU-average growth rates were unmistakable indicators of real convergence.

Regarding a possible negative impact of a falling stock market on the election result, Simitis said the success of an economy was not measured by short-term fluctuations in share prices, which were common in all bourses, but by its growth rates, potential, investment and exports, which also provided good prospects for stocks in the longer term.

He said New Democracy's program, if implemented, was certain to make the public deficit rise above the EU-set ceiling and be rejected. He also disputed the claim that Greece was the only EU country where unemployment and regional and income inequalities were on the rise and said the government's policy would lead to the creation of 300,000 new jobs.

Karamanlis questioned the credibility of the government to produce such improvements when unemployment during its tenure had increased by 200,000 and said an increase in the minimum old-age pensions to 150,000 drachmas monthly was urgent and feasible, meaning an extra cost of only 180 billion drachmas to the budget. The Prime Minister said the true figure was near 600 billion drachmas. He reiterated an assurance that the expected reform of the social security system would be done only after careful study and the achievement of consensus.

Karamanlis said he was in agreement with closer ties between Turkey and Europe but claimed that the government had sent the wrong message to Turkey by its stance at the EU summit in Helsinki where it had not ensured Ankara's future respect for international law and treaties, and noted that Turkish intransigence was increasing. Simitis disputed this, saying that Turkey was indeed required to adjust to the acquis communautaire and smooth out differences with its neighbors according to EU treaties, and was expected to make gestures of goodwill.

Finally, both men agreed that young Greeks needed education standards to be set high if they were to compete successfully with their European partners tomorrow.

[02] Papariga urges voters to back Communist Party

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

Speaking at a press conference, Papariga said (KKE) was gaining strength by the day as a result of the growing number of voters who were becoming disaffected with the ruling PASOK party and would not trust the main opposition New Democracy. This trend would grow, she predicted.

"The austerity of recent years and the anti-popular measures adopted for our country's accession to EMU are only the beginning of worse days ahead," she warned.

She said that the coming reform of the social security system would spell greater poverty and a dismantling of the welfare state.

Papariga also accused the Coalition of the Left of not really putting up a substantive fight against the two-party system.

"When it indicates willingness to participate in a possible coalition government, it shows that it has no differences with PASOK," she said.

[03] Skandalidis slams ND "middle ground" claim

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

"No matter how many promises they make and dud cheques they distribute, they will not be able to conceal their anti-popular face ... (which) privatizes the welfare state, widens the gap between rich and poor and undermines social cohesion," he said at a pre-election rally in Athens.

[04] EU lodges demarche with Ankara over blacklist

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

The demarche, delivered to the Turkish foreign ministry on behalf of the Portuguese EU presidency by Portugal's ambassador in Ankara, called for "clarifications" on the list of "persona non gratae" that recently appeared in the Turkish daily Sabah. The list included Archbishop Christodoulos, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church and several Greek MPs.

Sabah said the eight Greeks were among 56 Europeans, including lawmakers and journalists, placed on the list for actions considered harmful to the Turkish state.

The Portuguese diplomat called for "official clarifications" by the Turkish foreign ministry, noting that such practices were "totally contrary to the European policy on the free movement of individuals, and on the free expression of journalists, writers and others".

He also called for the complete withdrawal of the list.

Turkish deputy foreign undersecretary Faruk Logoglu confirmed the existence of the list, but said it was an old list compiled under a practice of 'registering' individuals who had on occasion expressed themselves against Turkey's policy on the Kurdish issue.

Logoglu also said that Archbishop Christodoulos' name had been removed from the list in mid-1999.

Meanwhile, Greece's caretaker press and media minister Dimitris Fatouros confirmed the lodging of the demarche, and said the Portuguese envoy had warned Logoglu that the existence of such a list was contrary to the principles of the European Union that Turkey had embraced at the EU summit in Helsinki when it was upgraded to 'candidate country'.

Logoglu had conceded the existence of the list and explained it had been compiled in the past, but also called it Turkey's "sovereign right to consider certain individuals as undesirable", Fatouros said in reply to press questions.

Fatouros further said that a second EU demarche was being prepared over the return to prison of veteran Turkish human rights activist Akim Birdal.

Birdal was on Tuesday taken to prison to serve the last six months of a one-year prison sentence after a state health agency refused an application for a postponement on health grounds.

Birdal still receives daily treatment after being shot a number of times by two attackers in May 1998. He was released on health grounds from prison in September last year, just before a visit to Turkey by U.S. President Bill Clinton.

The former head of the Human Rights Association was jailed for speeches he made on World Peace Day in 1995 and 1996 in which he called for an end to the "dirty war" against Kurds in southeast Turkey.

Greek foreign ministry sources said Athens did not consider the blacklist issue had closed, and was in contact with diplomatic circles in Ankara and well as in Brussels over the matter, which would be discussed by the council of EU foreign ministers at a meeting in Portugal on April 10.

Replying to questions, Fatouros said that "such issues are now the concern of EU-Turkey relations", adding that was fully covered by the Portuguese EU presidency's actions regarding the blacklist.

[05] Karamanlis: Greek-Turkish normalization not possible unless Cyprus issue on course for solution

NICOSIA, 31/03/2000 (ANA-G. Leonidas)

In an exclusive interview on Cyprus' state-run RIK television, Karamanlis said such an eventuality required a change of Turkey's intransigent stance.

He described the EU as having given "too much" to Turkey.

Karamanlis said the Greek side was "correct in its orientation", but with its concessions was sending the "wrong messages" and literally "equating Greece and Turkey in the eyes of the European" partners.

On the prospect of calling a Pan-National Conference on the Cyprus issue, Karamanlis said such a forum could prove a "very positive step" if "appropriately prepared", otherwise it could create problems.

Greece, he said, had a moral and political duty to defend Cyprus against all outside scheming.

He also criticized the deployment of the Soviet-made S-300 defense missiles on the Greek island of Crete instead of Cyprus as "mishandling" that had "hurt the credibility of Hellenism in the crucial matter of deterrence and defense".

[06] British envoy for Cyprus arrives in Athens

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

Hannay is scheduled to meet on Friday with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, while later he is expected to hold a meeting with the British ambassadors to Athens, Nicosia and Ankara.

During his visit to Ankara the British envoy met with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Faruk Logoglu.

[07] Rau to visit Greece as planned despite domestic accident

BERLIN, 31/03/2000 (ANA-P. Stangos)

Rau, who is due on an official visit to Greece on April 3-5, "cut himself" in a domestic accident, and his attending doctor ordered the German president to remain bed-ridden for two days, resulting in the cancellation of all his scheduled activities until Monday, a German presidency spokeswoman said.

Rau made an exception, however, and received a group of German experts on Greek and Turkish issues, and on bilateral German-Greek and German-Turkish relations at his home on Thursday morning in preparation of the upcoming visits, reliable sources told ANA.

The accident, which occurred Wednesday night, caused Rau to cancel his participation at a planned briefing with Greek and Turkish foreign correspondents later in the day, who will meet instead with undersecretary to the presidency Rudiger Frohn, and a visit to Bade-Wuerthemberg.

After Greece, Rau will visit Turkey on April 6-8.

[08] Greek stocks move cautiously higher

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

Traders said confidence was steadily restored in the market as selective buying easily absorbed share offer.

The general index ended at 4,782.04 points, up 0.58 percent, off the day's highs of 4,829.40 and the day's lows of 4,732.71 points.

Turnover was a low 162.68 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.63 percent higher at 2,707.82 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.53 percent to 687.31 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 9,242.18 +0.92% Leasing: 1,075.89 -0.04% Insurance: 3,257.55 +0.60% Investment: 2,067.61 +0.09% Construction: 2,335.65 -0.22% Industrials: 2,823.92 +0.28% Miscellaneous: 5,102.91 -1.02% Holding: 5,249.33 +0.96%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 820.43, up 1.10 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 167 to 156 with another 18 issues unchanged.

Athens Water, Hellenic Telecoms, National Bank, ETBAbank and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 24,650 Alpha Credit: 23,100 Commercial Bank: 20,650 Ergobank: 8,190 Eurobank: 11,470 Heracles Cement: 9,300 Titan Cement (c): 14,300 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,490 Intracom: 15,100 Minoan Lines: 7,175 Hellenic Telecoms: 9,825 Panafon: 5,250

Bonds trade actively, turnover jumps: Bond trade in the domestic secondary market on Thursday was active, bucking forecasts that a moribund phase would continue until national elections on April 9, dealers said.

Little action was expected until after the polls, despite the attractiveness of Greek paper, including the 20-year bond, the dealers said.

Some dumping was seen by players abroad, partly on uncertainty over the polls, the dealers added.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.21 percent from 6.20 percent in the two last sessions and 6.23 percent on Monday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was between 91 and 95 basis points from 92 basis points in the previous session and between 91 and 93 basis points in the two trading days before that.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 104 billion drachmas from a scant 8.0 billion drachmas a day earlier and 24 billion drachmas on Tuesday.

Of the total, buy orders accounted for 56 billion drachmas of turnover and sell orders the remaining 48 billion drachmas. Ten-year bonds made up the bulk of trade.

According to the final opinion polls allowed under electoral law, the ruling socialist PASOK party and main opposition conservative New Democracy party are likely to run neck-and-neck in voting.

The market had not so far been hit by negative sentiment over the elections, unlike the Athens Stock Exchange.

Drachma slips vs. euro, noses up vs. dollar: The drachma on Thursday fell against the euro and edged up versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market with the greenback soaring in late trade, traders said.

The central bank had sold roughly 750 million euros last week in a spate of interventions, but did not step into the market on Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it sold about 225 million euros.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 334.500 drachmas from 334.450 drachmas a day earlier and 334.350 drachmas on Tuesday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 349.650 drachmas from 349.830 drachmas in the previous session and 346.350 drachmas on Tuesday.

In late trade, the greenback surged to 351 drachmas.

[09] National Bank of Greece to bid for Bulgarian bank

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

According to a report in a Bulgarian newspaper earlier this week, Bank of Piraeus is also reportedly interested in acquiring the bank.

Another possible bidder is Italy's second largest commercial bank, Uno Credito Italiano, the report added.

The owners of OBB are a Bulgarian state bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, each of which holds 35 percent of the target bank's stock. Two investment funds from abroad hold the remaining 30 percent of shares.

Karatzas also told the annual general shareholders' meeting that shares of Stopanska Banka in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would be transferred to National Bank of Greece next week, following their recent purchase.

He added that National would concentrate on rapid expansion of its retail banking business domestically, including electronic banking.

National Bank is to pay a dividend of 400 drachmas per share on 1999 profits.

Its net pre-tax earnings last year totalled 228.7 billion drachmas, up 75.7 percent on 1998.

The National Bank of Greece Group's consolidated net pre-tax profits were 361.5 billion drachmas in 1999, up 98.7 percent on the previous year.

Present at the shareholders' meeting were National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou and central bank Governor Lucas Papademos.

[10] Bulgaria to announce outcome Friday of telecom sale

SOFIA, 31/03/2000 (ANA-B. Borisov)

A consortium comprising Hellenic Telecommunications Organization and KPN of the Netherlands were the sole bidders in the tender but a final sale agreement was severely delayed by repeated disagreements over terms.

The Bulgarian privatization minister told reporters about the day of the decision after a cabinet meeting that debated the matter.

[11] Plans for productive investments in Albania

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

Greek ambassador Alexandros Mallias, accompanied by the Albanian health minister and an embassy delegation, began the tour Wednesday at the town of Fieri.

Mallias outlined the Greek plan to local producers and party representatives, and noted that the remittances from Albanian immigrants abroad, estimated at some one billion dollars annually, should be channeled to productive investments.

He further stressed Greece's interest in the region, noting that a branch of a Greek bank was already operating in the town, while more were expected to be launched in the near future.

Mallias called for specific proposals to be submitted for productive investments, noting that prospects existed for dynamic growth in the sectors of dairy products and food processing.

In the energy sector, Mallias said Greece looked favorably on Albania being hooked up to the Italy-Greece natural gas pipeline, and also stressed the importance of improving the highway running through Fieri, Tepeleni, Gjirokaster, and Kakavia (on the Albanian-Greek border).

A delegation from the Chamber of Commerce of the Greek town of Trikala would visit Fieri in late April to examine investment prospects in the food-processing sector, Mallias said.

Greece last year was the first country to propose an integrated plan for the economic reconstruction of the Southeast Europe region.

Under the plan, Greece would provide 100 billion dr. over the five-year period 2000-2004 for reconstruction of the countries of Southeast Europe, of which 56 million dollars were earmarked for Albania and 81 million dollars for Kosovo.

The plan also provided aid for FYROM, Bulgaria, and Romania, as well as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia if it fulfilled the conditions set out by the international community.

[12] Defense minister announces plans for allocation of 2,000 parcels of land to Armed Forces Officers

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

The land, located in Picermi, Attica prefecture, is part of a 600 hectare expanse, belonging to the Armed Forces and will be allocated via the Independent Construction Organization of Officers (AOOA), the minister said.

AOOA has all the same legal rights of the Labor Housing Authority to grant low interest loans, to build housing and to grant lots for home construction.

Tsohatzopoulos also announced raises to the benefits of Air Force and Special Forces personnel.

[13] Europarliament approves amendment for natural disaster credit line

BRUSSELS, 31/03/2000(ANA - B. Demiris)

The amendment was tabled by Greek PASOK party Euro MP Yiannis Souladakis and creates the preconditions for the funding of reconstruction of damages caused in Athens by the Sept. 7 earthquake.

The specific amount to be budgeted for the credit line will be finalized within the next few months and will be part of the 2001 Union budget.

In an unrelated development, Souladakis also tabled an amendment to forbid the transfer of fund from the Union's agricultural policy fund to the fund for reconstructing Kosovo, and an amendment to initiate the funding of projects in the Union's island regions, as was prescribed by the Amsterdam Treaty.

[14] Athens Journalists Union holds discussion on "War and Information"

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

The role of certain media, news which only revealed half-truths and propaganda passing with big and not small letters played their own role in developments. John Piltzer, a reporter and journalist, said the correspondent is not responsible for this situation, but those who instead of listening to people rule people.

A total of 2,500 journalists covered the events and some of them, according to Piltzer, clearly served the propaganda of certain centers. In his opinion, the future of journalism will be somber unless journalists stand their ground against this situation.

The role of NATO, TV channels and of the major powers in the war in Yugoslavia was not so transparent, according to Eve-Anne Prentiss, a reporter for the "Times" newspaper, who was a war correspondent in the region and who registered, as she said, the terror spread by the civil war and by NATO's irresponsible interventions.

She said that western public opinion was "informed" on the events of the war, NATO's intervention and the present image of Kosovo through disinformation.

"There was news, which I sent which did not interest my newspaper as material," she said, but added that she did not believe that some of it was censored.

The situation in Yugoslavia after the end of the war is termed "a triumph for the military and a disaster for journalism" by "The Sunday Times" journalist Philip Nightly, who is considered one of the few journalists and writers who has an in-depth knowledge of intelligence services. He said that the war in Yugoslavia even had journalism as a victim since war correspondence had reached the level of travesty.

[15] Mayors of Athens and Istanbul promote climate of friendship between the two cities

WASHINGTON, 31/03/2000 (ANA - A. Ellis)

Speaking at the "Western Policy Center", the two mayors stressed the human dimension of the two peoples' response and the positive climate created by initiatives from ordinary citizens and referred to the signing of a friendship and cooperation agreement between the two cities.

Avramopoulos, who was the main speaker (Gurduna was only a guest), praised the constructive role of the media after the earthquakes which struck both cities "in contrast", as he said, "to the negative role they had played in past cases."

Avramopoulos also emphasized the role played by businessmen with regard to the development of Greek-Turkish relations and Balkan reconstruction.

Referring to the Athens Olympic Games to be held in 2004, Avramopoulos said they were Athens' greatest moment, adding that the city of Athens, and Greece in general, will be ready to host this paramount sporting event.

Addressing the opening of the US-Turkish Conference, Avramopoulos said that if someone said a year ago that the mayor of Athens would be attending the event all would laugh, but now it is something that comes as no surprise for anyone.

The two mayors also spoke of the visits they made to each other's city, the personal friendship they have developed and their intention to continue in the same direction.

[16] Ottawa Greek community to host events in light of Easter celebration

MONTREAL, 31/03/2000 (ANA - I. Frangouli)

Traditional Greek foods, religious icon painting and informative sessions on religious rites will be included in the events along with hand crafting shows, dances, singing and chanting.

[17] US aircraft carrier "Eisenhower" arrives at Souda

Athens, 31/03/2000 (ANA)

The "Eisenhower" has a force of 6,287 people, while 18,600 meals are served on it daily. It is equipped with two nuclear reactors enabling it to reach a speed of up to 30 knots and with more than 100 aircraft.

[18] Turkish mayor invites Greek embassy military attache to visit his town

ISTANBUL, 31/03/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

"The family of Mr. Frangoulis originates in Redestos, (northwestern Turkey) and we want to host a tour for him in the regions where his grandfather lived," Guzelocak said, while he expressed his hope that Hayrabolu is twined with a Greek town.

The Turkish press gave extensive reports on Frangoulis' knowledge of the Turkish language and his hospitality during the Greek embassy's celebrations of Greek Independence Day on March 25.

[19] President Clerides visits Israel's second biggest air base

JERUSALEM, 31/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to the press, Clerides said he was impressed by his visit to Hatzerim base in the Negev desert, while asked about his meetings during his three-day official visit to Israel, he expressed satisfaction pointing out that relations between the two countries are developing.

Referring to his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Clerides said they discussed the peace process both in Cyprus and the Middle East and added "we had the chance to stress our view that no military blocs should be created".

Clerides said he exchanged with Barak views "on the general situation in the region and identified the dangers that could emerge".

Asked whether economic and political cooperation between Cyprus and Israel could expand to include cooperation on military matters, Clerides replied there was an exchange of views.

He also praised the role of the Cyprus Embassy in Israel in the development of close relations between the two countries, describing it as "exceptional".

President Clerides and his Israeli counterpart Ezer Weizman, who accompanied him to the base, both served as pilots in RAF (British Royal Air Force) and fought against Nazism in the Second World War.

They had the chance to reminisce and the Israeli president gave the president of Cyprus a pilot's jacket as a gift.

Later in the day Clerides met with Greek Orthodox Patriarch in Jerusalem Diodoros.

[20] CoE Committee of Ministers to re-examine Loizidou case in May

NICOSIA, 31/03/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The "Loizidou" case is set to be re-examined by the Committee at its next regular meeting in May, when Italy will hold the chair.

The letter, to be signed by current Committee President, Ireland's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, is expected to be sent before the start of the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the CoE on Monday.

This is the second letter Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is going to receive from the Committee. The first letter was sent in February last year and in October 1999 the Committee adopted an interim resolution "strongly urging Turkey to review its position and pay the just satisfaction awarded in this case in accordance with the conditions set out by the European Court of Human Rights so as to ensure that Turkey, as a High Contracting Party, meets its obligations under the Convention."

Legal circles close to the case have not ruled out the adoption of a second interim resolution, which would note that Turkey is a member state of the Council which does not respect human rights, if in the meantime Ankara does not comply with the judgement.

So far, all member states have complied with Court judgements. Titina Loizidou won her case against Turkey, which the Court found guilty for denying Loizidou access to the property, in the northern Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, and not allowing her to enjoy that property peacefully.

The Court ordered Turkey to pay damages amounting to 900,000 dollars to Loizidou and allow her access. It also said the Greek Cypriot is and will remain the legal owner of her property.

At Wednesday's Committee meeting in Strasbourg, Turkey's representative tried to avert the dispatch of the letter.

Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the Council, Ambassador Christoforos Yiangou, dismissed the arguments put forward by the Turkish diplomat and pointed out that the Committee has the overall responsibility for the execution of the judgements.

Yiangou said the credibility of the Court and the Council was at stake because of Turkey's continuing refusal to comply with the ruling.

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