Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] German president Rau pays homage at site of 1943 mass execution

[02] Simitis calls for consolidation of achievements

[03] Karamanlis promises to slash unemployment

[04] Coalition leader accuses major parties of attempting to monopolize political life

[05] POL.AN cadres to support PASOK

[06] European Youth Parliament to meet in Athens April 6-16

[07] Greek bourse freezes ahead of Sunday's elections

[08] National Bank of Greece gets shares in FYROM bank

[09] Greece donates prefabricated homes for Serbian refugees

[10] IRS tax official in Athens next week to answer questions by US citizens

[11] OA begins flights with third Airbus 300-600 aircraft

[12] Greece gets election Internet address

[13] Peter Livanos new chairman of HELMEPA

[14] Rau inaugurates exhibition

[15] Europe, US must consider what will happen if Denktash insists on two 'states' in Cyprus

[16] UN, US, UK agree on 'change of gear' in procedure at next proximity talks on Cyprus

[01] German president Rau pays homage at site of 1943 mass execution

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

More than 1,300 males were executed by Nazi occupation troops in December 1943 as a reprisal against resistance activity in the Kalavryta region, northwest Peloponnese.

As the highest-ranking German leader to ever officially visit Kalavryta, Rau was accompanied by his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos to the exact hill where the executions took place laying a wreath during a brief ceremony followed by a memorial service. Both men had arrived in the mountainous village by helicopter in the morning.

The German president landed in Athens on Monday afternoon for a three-day state visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart.

The church clock of Kalavryta still shows the tragic minutes of 13 December, 1943, which heralded the beginning of this suffering for the residents of this town. Here, where the Greeks struggle for freedom once began, the atrocities and destruction wrought by German soldiers dominated; when the Wehrmacht murdered all the male residents, including children and teens, for reasons of revenge, Rau said in a brief address.

I came here to keep the memory of this event alive in Germany. Here, at this place, I feel immense grief and shame. Only one who knows and accepts his past can find the path to a better future.

A half century after the end of the war Greeks and Germans are proceeding together towards a common European future. Together we have the opportunity to shape a European future of peace, democracy and respect for human rights. In such a Europe atrocities and destruction have no place, he stressed, adding:

Young people have a particular interest in resisting all forms of hatred, intolerance, violations of human rights, barbarity and war, Rau said.

The German president also mentioned his support for an exchange program between a northern German city and Kalavryta, whereby a group of local youths would visit the Federal Republic of Germany.

Maybe then it can be proven that even from Kalavryta, this place of memory, a road towards the future begins.

Stephanopoulos: In his response, Greek President Stephanopoulos called the visit emotionally charged, adding however, that although it cannot reverse the events of 13th of December, 1943, on this day Greeks and Germans met with totally different feelings than on that terrible day and time.

At one point in his comments, the Greek president also emphasized that the German state can do more to alleviate the consequences of the occupation massacres, as part of efforts to lessen the repercussions as well as the (negative) feelings, which no amount of compensation can assuage.

Stephanopoulos was referring to a rising crescendo of demands over the past few years that a now united Germany pay war reparations to the victims and communities brutalized during the 1941-44 occupation.

Your visit to Kalavryta and your expression of emotions over the tragic events during the occupation acquire an important symbolism and a heightened moral significance not only for Kalavryta, not only for the other martyred cities that are so numerous in Greece, but for all Greeks, Stephanopoulos, a native of the nearby port city of Patra, said.

As president of the German republic youve done what your conscience has dictated, and as much as you could as the highest official of your great country he added.

Both Stephanopoulos and Rau later toured the Agia Lavra Monastery, the site where the Greek War of Independence was declared in March 1821.

On Wednesday, Rau will visit the northern port city of Thessaloniki, where local officials will greet him before visiting the German School of Thessaloniki, the archaeological museum and the citys Protestant parish.

Meeting with Simitis: Replying to questions by reporters after a meeting earlier with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Rau praised what he called Greece's "significant role" in the "new order" and peace in the Balkans, while he also said most people in his country considered that the war in Yugoslavia was "absolutely necessary".

Rau discussed bilateral relations, the situation in the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean, as well as EU enlargement in his talks with Simitis. He also described bilateral relations between Greece and Germany as "excellent" and problem-free.

Germany, he noted, was the largest investor in Greece, adding that some two million Germans spend their holidays in Greece each year.

The German president, who is due to visit Turkey after he winds up his visit to Greece on Wednesday, also said it was necessary to make it clear to Turkey that "Europe is not simply a market, but a society of values".

Simitis said after the meeting that the progress in Greek-German relations was "very positive", particularly in the economic sector. He said that the EU's course should lead to closer cooperation among the European countries, while simultaneously allowing the autonomy and particularity of each of the individual member states.

Turning to EU enlargement, he said the EU could not move ahead without first clarifying its new form, thus ensuring the European Union's operation as well as improvement of the standard of living of the new member states.

Greece, Germany are discovering common future, Rau says in press conference: Greece and Germany are attempting to discover their common future, in remembering the past, Germanys fault and history, German President Johannes Rau said during a press conference in Athens on Tuesday.

I tried to find the words, which are appropriate (but) lets not play with words.

My move today (visit to Kalavryta) was understood and was accepted and for that I thank you, Rau said, commenting on a question on whether he apologized to the Greek state for damages caused during the Second World War.

Rau also noted that Germanys opinions on the issue of war reparations to Nazi victims in Greece did not coincide with those of Greece.

Speaking on the loan Germany took from Greece during the occupation years, he said that he was over and beyond administrative and institutional bodies so he could not respond. He added, however, that the issue is under discussion, noting that there are differences of legal opinions.

Discussing his visit to Ankara, which will follow his visit in Athens, Rau said that he hoped to hear comments on European values and not European markets, adding that those who enter the European Union say a great yes to democracy, parliamentary processes and respect for human rights.

He also hailed the Greek-Turkish rapprochement and the improved climate, stressing that those who lived the reunification of Germany and the "collapse of alliances in Europe know how important it is to enjoy good neighborly relations".

Finally he said that he was impressed by the Greek hospitality and departed for the site of the new airport of Athens at Spata, where he noted that Greeks and Germans work jointly for Greece and Europe.

[02] Simitis calls for consolidation of achievements

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

Simitis warned against the experimentation of the main opposition.

"This is precisely what he are deciding on April 9, whether to go in security and certainty of the future, or leave Greece to the experimentation and improvisations of the apprentice magicians of New Democracy," he said.

Simitis said his party's priorities in the new four-year term would be boosting employment, improving the welfare state and fighting crime. He promised the creation of 300,000 new jobs, of another 300,000 paid positions in training and retraining, that the lowest monthly pensions would rise considerably above 150,000 drachmas, and that the state would undertake to pay for the social security contributions of the lowest paid.

He laid particular emphasis on the role of Thessaloniki in the region and the development of northern Greece.

"The government has a vision of Thessaloniki as a big center of financial and investment services in the Balkans and eastern Europe, an important transit center based on its port and the new road axes, the cross-border infrastructures and the railway network, but also a large center of research and technology," he said.

Simitis said that Macedonia would reach the top flight of Greece's developed regions and the per capita income of the northeastern region of Thrace would exceed the Greek average in the next four years.

[03] Karamanlis promises to slash unemployment

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

Outlining his party's proposals on the economy at a press conference in Athens, he said unemployment was rising out of control and that the New Democracy government which would emerge from

Sunday's election would implement a program yielding high growth rates and tackling unemployment in the long-term.

"Market deregulation, boosting competition and privatizations which our program includes will lead to an increase in the number of jobs," Karamanlis said, reiterating proposals for the privatization of Olympic Airways, the Commercial Bank of Greece and public transport, and the deregulation of the energy and telecommunications sectors.

He also said ND guaranteed a general rise in stock prices in the long run by ensuring a healthy economy and upgrading institutional safeguards.

Karamanlis accused the government of approving illegal hiring in the public sector recently and produced a list of appropriations for sport activities which were really intended for election campaign purposes. He also said the government's announcement Monday promising the payment of social security contributions of the low-paid by the government was really an affront to citizens' intelligence.

[04] Coalition leader accuses major parties of attempting to monopolize political life

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

Addressing a party rally in Athens' central Omonia Square, Constantopoulos said that the "pendulum of the two party system shows the wrong time, wrong historical time and as time is passing this becomes more obvious.

"PASOK and ND are at conflict over who is going to rule the country and are attempting to monopolize the political life of the country and to push all others to the margin," Constantopoulos said.

He stressed that the next few years will be very important for the future of Greece, as the country's position in Europe, which is changing radically, and in the Balkans, which are unstable, will be at stake.

He added that the model of development and social model of Greece would be at stake over the next few years.

He called on voters to force new political solutions in governing the country.

[05] POL.AN cadres to support PASOK

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

POL.AN will not be participating in Sunday's general election.

Papandreou expressed her joy over POL.AN cadres' support of and trust in PASOK and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, adding that PASOK attracts wider political and social forces in the framework of creating a new social and political majority to govern Greece in the 21st century.

On his part, also addressing the gathering Skandalidis said that those who claimed that POL.AN cadres will "move toward" main opposition New Democracy (ND) were proven wrong.

[06] European Youth Parliament to meet in Athens April 6-16

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

Katra said it was a great honor for the Greek chapter to host the meeting, in which youth from all over Europe will discuss issues aiming at solidarity, cooperation and understanding among peoples.

Present at the meeting were Eurodeputies Marieta Yiannakou (New Democracy) and Michalis Papayiannakis (Coalition of the Left).

During their stay in Greece, the youth will go on tours of archaeological sites and attend events in Athens.

[07] Greek bourse freezes ahead of Sunday's elections

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.12 percent higher at 4,813.37 points, after moving within a narrow range of 4,751-4,823 points throughout the session.

Turnover was a low 138.05 billion drachmas.

News that US credit rating agency Standard & Poor's upgraded three Greek banks' (National Bank, Alpha Credit, Eurobank) ratings were largely ignored by the market.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.21 percent higher at 2,728.99 points, while the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.82 percent to 672.12 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 9,406.33 +0.57% Leasing: 1,077.62 +0.05% Insurance: 3,266.96 -0.20% Investment: 2,038.50 -0.35% Construction: 2,352.70 +0.02% Industrials: 2,829.94 -0.27% Miscellaneous: 4,974.18 -0.34% Holding: 5,311.07 +0.32%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 805.43 points, off 1.36 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 229 to 100 with another seven issues unchanged.

Athens Water and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 24,790 Alpha Credit: 23,910 Commercial Bank: 21,780 Ergobank: 8,150 Eurobank: 11,730 Heracles Cement: 9,720 Titan Cement (c): 14,645

Hellenic Petroleum: 4,530 Intracom: 15,000 Minoan Lines: 6,850 Hellenic Bottling: 6,380 Hellenic Telecoms: 9,950 Panafon: 5,000

Bonds attract buyers in light trade: Bond prices crept up on Tuesday for the second straight session in light buy-oriented trade with sentiment still subdued due to national elections on April 9.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.16 percent, the same as the previous day, from 6.21 percent in the two trading days before that.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 96 basis points from 98 basis points a day earlier and between 95 and 99 basis points on Friday.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 48.5 billion drachmas from 48 billion drachmas in the previous session and 69 billion drachmas on Friday.

Of Tuesday's total, buy orders accounted for 38.5 billion drachmas and sell orders the remaining 10 billion drachmas.

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.

Greek bond yields fall substantially: Bond yields fell substantially during Tuesday's regular auction of state securities by the finance ministry.

The average weighed yield of a three-year bond, worth 200 billion drachmas, was 5.99 percent, down from 6.37 percent in the previous auction of same bonds.

Bids submitted by the market's primary dealers totalled 955 billion drachmas, 4.78 times more the asked sum, evidence of continued strong interest in Greek securities.

The auction was a re-opening of a bond auctioned in February 11, 2000, paying a fixed coupon of 5.90 percent.

Its average weighed price was 99.719 points with a minimum accepted price of 99.705 points. Settlement date is Friday, 7 April 2000.

Drachma drops vs. euro, rises vs. dollar: The drachma fell against the euro and rose versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Tuesday.

The central bank did not intervene in the market. On Monday, the Bank of Greece sold around 35 million euros to meet demand for euros after releasing around 250 million euros a session earlier. It has sold over a 100 million euros over the last two weeks.

At the central bank's daily fixing on Tuesday, the euro was set at 334.870 drachmas from 334.760 drachmas a day earlier and 334.720 drachmas on Friday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 351.090 drachmas from 351.190 drachmas in the previous session and 350.330 drachmas on Friday.

[08] National Bank of Greece gets shares in FYROM bank

SKOPJE, 05/04/2000 (ANA-M. Vihou)

The sale of the stock to Greece's largest commercial bank had already been agreed.

Acquiring 10 percent of shares each were the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation.

Shareholders will meet for the first time on Wednesday, when the board of directors will be appointed.

The sale of Stopanska Bank raised 93 million German marks, of which 83 million marks must be deposited immediately.

[09] Greece donates prefabricated homes for Serbian refugees

BELGRADE, 05/04/2000 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

Serbian National Council sources said that the prefabricated homes will arrive at the port of Bar in Montenegro next week and will be set up at a village where there are now no Serbs because their homes have been destroyed. The move is seen as an incentive for those wishing to return to Kosovo.

[10] IRS tax official in Athens next week to answer questions by US citizens

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

Interested parties will be seen on a "first come, first serve" basis.

The same official will conduct a seminar for educators at the American Community Schools. Most tax forms for federal US taxes are now available at the US embassy, consular section, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily each workday. For help in filling out a return, the embassy can provide a list of private tax preparers in Greece.

Any US citizen with income of more than $7,050 (if single) or $12,700 (if married) from sources anywhere in the world must file a return. Americans who live abroad may qualify for exemptions, but must still file a return to claim those exemptions.

[11] OA begins flights with third Airbus 300-600 aircraft

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

The new aircraft, sister to "Macedonia" and "Athina", has a capacity of 269 passengers and can carry 34 tones of cargo with a flight range of 4,600 km.

The new aircraft, along with the other two currently servicing European and Middle East destinations, will service the Athens-Boston flight via Manchester from June 2000.

[12] Greece gets election Internet address

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

The site also carries an electronic magazine, entitled the Greek Politics Journal, which carries articles by politicians, journalists and communications theory experts.

Neurosoft is a member of the Epiphania Group.

[13] Peter Livanos new chairman of HELMEPA

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

The 18th general assembly of HELMEPA also elected Nikolaos Tsakos as vice-president, Nikolaos Tsavliris as secretary general, Katerina Daskalopoulou-Haritatou as special secretary, George Yannatos as treasurer, and Stavros Roussos as alternate treasurer, as well as 10 board members.

Konstantakopoulos expressed satisfaction at having been given the opportunity to assist in the development of what he called the unique initiative called HELMEPA, adding that the cost of protecting Greece's marine environment was "an investment" with a multiple benefit.

He called on the HELMEPA members to strengthen the association, which he said honored the unique Greek sensitivity and seamanship.

HELMEPA is a non-profit, non-governmental organization comprising Greek shipping companies that was founded in 1982 by the late shipowner George Livanos to pursue preservation of the marine environment. Its revenue comes exclusively from membership fees.

[14] Rau inaugurates exhibition

Athens, 05/04/2000 (ANA)

The exhibition, on loan from the National Museum of Bavaria, deals with the influences on the country of the Bavarian Regency, which came to Greece in the 1830s, after the liberation from Ottoman rule. It includes paintings, engravings, town planning and architectural designs, and other relics of historical value.

Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos also attended the event.

[15] Europe, US must consider what will happen if Denktash insists on two 'states' in Cyprus

NEW YORK, 05/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides told the press here Monday after arriving in New York to attend the opening of the new Cypriot Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, that no one can make an evaluation what stance the Turkish side will maintain during the next round scheduled to start on May 23 in New York.

He noted that the Greek Cypriot side is not concerned about whether the talks will be proximity or direct, but whether the other side is willing to negotiate and added that he does not share the view that any progress made on the Cyprus problem will be solely due to the forthcoming US presidential elections.

Clerides, who will hold a number of contacts in New York during his five-day visit, said that "we have no new evidence on what stance the Turkish side will maintain during the next round of the talks".

"Until now, the stance they maintained was one of preconditions to start some dialogue. They came to a dialogue but won't negotiate unless their position on the so-called creation of two 'states' in Cyprus is accepted," the president told reporters.

He noted the Greek Cypriot side is not concerned whether the talks will be either on a proximity level or face-to-face, adding that "what is important is whether the other side is ready to negotiate".

To a question that many have pinned their hopes on the forthcoming US presidential elections, and whether he shares the view that if some progress is made on Cyprus this would be mainly due to these elections, President Clerides stressed he does not share at all this view.

"The elections will be a landmark because we know that President (Bill) Clinton is at the end of his term in office," Clerides said.

"If no progress is made, then it will be evident that we will have to wait for the new government, which will be elected, to see which will be its priorities," he added.

Asked if Denktash appears with the same intransigent attitude during the next round of the talks, President Clerides said that if this happens "I am not the one to think what should happen, but Europe, the US and the others who are pursuing a solution in a short period of time".

Referring to Cyprus' European Union course, President Clerides said that Cyprus "continues to rank first in the first group (which will accede) on harmonization issues".

He noted that the EU has a "substantial role" to play and this will become more evident in October when it will prepare a document to be given on Turkey setting out its conditions."

"Greece," he added, " has clearly positioned itself on this issue".

"I believe we will not have any obstacles, unless we make grave mistakes", the president said, noting that "even if no solution is achieved, we will not have problems with accession".

Clerides opens new Cypriot galleries at Metropolitan Museum: President Clerides was due to inaugurate on Tuesday evening New York time the four new galleries of Cypriot art at the Metropolitan Museum of New York. The 600 Cypriot exhibits, stored in the vaults of the Museum, were exported from Cyprus by the then US Consul Luigi Palma de Cesnola, between 1865 and 1876, when Cyprus was under Ottoman occupation.

The Cypriot galleries will host some 600 of the finest works from the Museum's collection, comprising works dating to 2500 BC to about AD 300, which Cesnola removed from Cyprus and were "bought" by the Metropolitan Museum.

Cesnola served as American Consul in Cyprus from 1865 to 1876 and amassed an unrivalled collection of Cypriot antiquities both by excavation and by purchase. In 1879 he was named the Metropolitan Museum's first director, a position he held until his death in 1904.

The priceless collection, about 35,000 objects, was a bone of contention between first Napoleon III of France and then Russian officials. In the end, Cesnola shipped them to London where they were exhibited. It was at this time that the Metropolitan showed an interest in the collection and eventually purchased a significant part of the collection, which remains the most important and comprehensive collection of Cypriot material in the western hemisphere.

[16] UN, US, UK agree on 'change of gear' in procedure at next proximity talks on Cyprus

NEW YORK, 05/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

For this purpose, envoys from the three sides will pay another visit to the region in the next seven weeks prior to the talks to urge the two sides to be as flexible as possible on the proposals they have put forward during the last two rounds of talks.

This was the result of a meeting here on Monday between UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto, US Presidential Emissary Alfred Moses and British representative for Cyprus Sir David Hannay.

UN Secretariat sources told CNA the meeting was part of "normal consultations which take place on a regular basis but are never made public." However, Monday's meeting concentrated on "developments in the island and particularly preparations for the next round of the proximity talks" due to commence on May 23 in New York.

British government sources at the UN headquarters told CNA that it was a "very much informal meeting in advance of the proximity talks between three people" who "compared notes" on their separate trips to the region.

Essentially all want to see "a change of gear" during the next round of the UN-led proximity talks, the source told CNA. Noting the last two rounds in New York and Geneva "were useful", the British source said they acknowledge that "there has to be an acceleration of the process" but avoided answering a question whether this implies going into direct talks.

The source said the three sides "are looking at what each can do in the next seven weeks" and agreed to visit the region again in an effort to bring the process forward.

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