Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-13

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis unveils new Cabinet

[02] Opposition reactions to new Cabinet

[03] Coalition leader says party will forge its new course

[04] SAE vice-president congratulates government, ND, and calls for cooperation in handling crucial issues

[05] Return of US marines returning from NATO exercise in Kosovo completed

[06] Verheugen reiterates that Helsinki, Copenhagen criteria govern Turkey's EU course

[07] Greek and Turkish mayors create cooperation network

[08] Budget revenues up 12.9 pct in March

[09] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

[10] Greece's Agricultural Bank to set up insurance firm in Romania

[11] Greece is Bulgaria's third biggest trade partner

[12] Fuel prices decrease as international crude oil prices drop

[13] Thessaloniki Int'l Fair (TIF)unveils series of events to commemorate 75th anniversary

[14] Harold Pinter to receive honorary Ph.D. in Thessaloniki

[15] Government satisfied with EU clarifications on guarantees for Cyprus

[01] Simitis unveils new Cabinet

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Four more ministers, those of interior and public administration, environment and public works, public order and press and media also retain their portfolios.

Simitis said the new government had a mandate to complete the tasks of taking the country to the mainstream of the European Union and further pursue policies that will improve the welfare state, social cohesion and solidarity and the quality of life for Greek citizens.

"The criterion in the formation of the new government has been a combination of experience and renewal," he said.

Yiannos Papantoniou, credited with the successful drive to meet the criteria for the country's participation in European Economic and Monetary Union --to be confirmed by the EU Porto Summit in June-- stays in command at the national economy and finance ministries. George Papandreou, the architect of a recent thaw in Greek-Turkish relations remains in charge of foreign affairs and Akis Tsohatzopoulos at the defense ministry.

Vasso Papandreou, a former EU employment and social affairs commissioner, retains her interior and public administration portfolio, Michalis Chrysohoidis stays at the ministry of public order, Costas Laliotis, "chief-of-staff" of PASOK's campaign for the April 9 election, remains in charge of the environment and public works ministry, and Dimitris Reppas stays as press minister and government spokesman.

The government is also to propose again Apostolos Kaklamanis as Parliament President.

Notable absentees from the new Cabinet are Evangelos Venizelos, who headed the key development ministry --being replaced by Nikos Christodoulakis -- and Gerasimos Arsenis, the architect of an extensive reform in secondary education which sparked strong reactions from students during the previous government's tenure.

Prominent party figures returning to the fold are former foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos at the culture ministry and Alekos Papadopoulos, who will be expected to tackle the hot issue of social security reform as head of the health and welfare ministry.

Former EU energy commissioner Christos Papoutsis is given the merchant marine portfolio.

The new Cabinet, which numbers 43 ministers and deputy ministers and includes 15 members who have not previously held ministerial posts and five women, will be sworn in on Thursday at 11 am before the President of the Republic, Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The new cabinet

Prime Minister: Costas Simitis

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization: Vasso Papandreou

Deputy Minister: Constantinos Kaiserlis

Deputy Minister: Leonidas Tzanis

National Defense: Akis Tsohatzopoulos

Deputy Minister: Dimitris Apostolakis

Foreign Minister: George Papandreou

Alternate Foreign Minister: Elisabet Papazoi

Deputy Minister: Angeliki Laiou

National Economy: Yiannos Papantoniou

Deputy Minister: Christos Pachtas

Deputy Minister: Yiannis Zaphiropoulos

Finance Minister: Yiannos Papantoniou

Deputy Minister: George Dris

Deputy Minister: Apostolos Photiadis

Development Minister: Nikos Christodoulakis

Deputy Minister: Alexandros Kalafahtis

Deputy Minister: Milena Apostolaki

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister: Costas Laliotis

Deputy Minister: Ilias Efthymiopoulos

Deputy Minister: Athanassios Alevras

Education and Religious Affairs Minister: Petros Efthymiou

Deputy Minister: Philippos Petsalnikos

Agriculture Minister: George Anomeritis

Deputy Minister: Evangelos Argyris

Deputy Minister: Fotis Hatzimichalis

Labor and Social Security Minister: Athanassios Yiannitsis

Deputy Minister: Christos Protopappas

Deputy Minister: Nikos Farmakis

Health and Welfare Minister: Alexandros Papadopoulos

Deputy Minister: Dimitris Thanos

Deputy Minister: Christina Spyraki

Justice Minister: Michalis Stathopoulos

Culture Minister: Theodoros Pangalos

Deputy Minister: George Floridis

Merchant Marine Minister: Christos Papoutsis

Public Order Minister: Michalis Chrysohoidis

Macedonia-Thrace Minister: George Paschalidis

Aegean Minister: Nikos Sifounakis

Transport and Communications Minister: Christos Verelis

Deputy Minister: Alexandros Voulgaris

Press and Mass Media Minister: Dimitris Reppas

Deputy Minister: Telemachos Chytiris

Minister of State: Miltiades Papaioannou

[02] Opposition reactions to new Cabinet

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

"We shall wait before we proffer judgement on the policy of the government, its priorities and political choices, whether they are the same as in the past or different," he said.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, whose party failed to clear the required three percent hurdle for parliamentary representation in Sunday's election, said the composition of the new government indicated its policies would be even more socially unjust and more intertwined with vested and foreign interests.

[03] Coalition leader says party will forge its new course

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

He said that the party secured its presence in Parliament, suffering, however, a serious decline of its electoral strength. It did not succeed in realizing its basic aims, facts that force greater responsibility and effort, he added.

He also said that Synaspismos will evaluate the results in a comprehensive way and will forge its new course within the new conditions, adding that the necessary procedures for such action have been mandated.

"The cry of those who can hardly hide their joy over the result and want to use it in order to create, once again, problems to Synaspismos, constitute a pitiful phenomenon," he said, adding that the party as a whole will condemn such phenomena and will not allow the creation of conditions of decay.

[04] SAE vice-president congratulates government, ND, and calls for cooperation in handling crucial issues

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

In a letter of congratulations to prime minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis, the SAE official stressed the "need for cooperation" between the two major political parties "for efficient handling of the crucial issues that will arise for Greece over the next four-year term", the press release said.

Tomaras said Simitis' "long experience in government, political ethos and leadership stature rendered you, according to the popular verdict, as the most appropriate person for the leadership of our country".

"Your electoral victory is without doubt an important achievement after an intense effort by the cadres of your party to present their accomplishments and the future policy of your party," Tomaras said in his letter to Simitis.

In a message to ND leader Costas Karamanlis, the SAE official said congratulations also should go to ND "which, with the increase in its voters, proved its bonds with the Greek society and the popularity of the programs it presented, which should guide its efforts to fulfill the needs of the Greek people".

But the biggest success is that of the Greek people who, with their vote, displayed their interest in and expressed the need for improvement of the existing social status quo, materialization of their economic expectations, and Greece's participation, with a leading role, in the integration and operation of the United Europe," Tomaras said, according to the press release.

"This success of the Greek people is reflected in the unanimous call to both the major parties to take advantage of converging positions for the achievement of the common national targets," Tomaras said.

[05] Return of US marines returning from NATO exercise in Kosovo completed

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

This was in contrast with Communist Party of Greece (KKE) protestors who threw stones at returning marines on Tuesday and scuffled with police resulting in three injuries and one arrest.

Police said 196 US Marines of the 24th Rapid Deployment Unit travelling on 93 military vehicles boarded three warships anchored off the northern Greek town of Litochoro in the Thermaikos Bay early Wednesday headed for the American base in Italy.

The convoy, returning from manoeuvres in Kosovo was accompanied by a strong police force to prevent a repeat of Tuesday's incidents.

On Tuesday, a group of KKE demonstrators hurled rocks against the first convoy of some 580 US marines also returning from Kosovo via Litochoro. Two protestors and a policeman were injured when the demonstrators tried to break through a police cordon around the port to approach the marines.

The exercise was held from March 19 to April 3 in the northeast section of Kosovo with the participation of 1,600 American, Dutch, Polish, Romanian and Argentinean marines.

Apart from the US marines who passed through Greece, the rest of the troops returned to their bases by airplane from Pristina.

Sources said that although the manoeuvre had ended on April 3, the passage of the American units through Greece was delayed until after the April 9 general elections in order to avoid its exploitation in the election campaigning.

[06] Verheugen reiterates that Helsinki, Copenhagen criteria govern Turkey's EU course

STRASBOURG, 13/04/2000 (ANA - Y. Haralambopoulos)

German EU Commissioner Gunter Verheugen also told an Europarliament plenary session that "we're at the beginning of the beginning" when referring to EU-Turkey relations.

"Turkey will be treated by the EU just as any other candidate country, and we're not going to make discounts on accession criteria for its sake," he said, adding that the European Commission will present a report regarding EU-Turkey relations in the autumn detailing the present situation in that country and whether progress has been achieved in procedures to promote its European orientation.

The current president of the European Council, Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, echoed Verheugen's comments, while noting that Greece has a particular interest in following any such progress in Turkey's European orientation. He added that the current process of negotiations could also falter if Turkish leadership does not implement all the reforms the European Union considers as necessary.

On his part, PASOK Eurodeputy Yiannis Souladakis stated during the relevant discussion that the Union must deal with Ankara on the basis of purely European criteria, condemning at one point what he called attempts by many Europeans from time to time to use Greek-Turkish relations as an excuse, calling such a policy a "distortion of reality."

Additionally, the Greek Euro-MP stressed that Ankara has so far not provided adequate assurances of its good faith in meeting the EU's criteria, citing its rejection of the International Court at The Hague and the European Court of Human Rights' jurisdiction. However, he noted that the Union must on its part alleviate any Turkish fears over a possible breakup of the Turkish state should the rights of minorities be recognized.

Finally, New Democracy Euro-deputy Christos Folias said that despite several goodwill gestures on the part of Athens recently, Ankara remains intransigent. He cited comments by Turkish FM Ismail Cem earlier in the week in Luxembourg terming the Turkish occupation army in northern Cyprus as "liberation forces". He also condemned the continuing jailing of Turkish human rights defender Akin Birdal and a personae non gratae "black list" the Turkish foreign ministry reportedly kept to prevent the entrance of several European and American personalities it considered dangerous to Turkey's security.

[07] Greek and Turkish mayors create cooperation network

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

A meeting was held in Ypsala, Turkey, where existing legal commitments and institutional operations, which are in force in Greece and Turkey, were registered. The two sides adopted legal formations in order to jointly proceed in programs for the further strengthening of friendly ties.

From the Greek side, present at the meeting were the mayors of Sapes, Rodopi, Dinos Haritopoulos, of Traianoupolis, Dimitrios Hrysanidis and of Vistonida, Vassilis Tsolakidis.

The participants at the meeting decided to adopt procedures for the undertaking of events and initiatives in western and eastern Thrace where all the municipalities of Greece and Turkey can attend, providing they become members of the network.

The Greek and Turkish mayors decided to forward invitations to the local governments of the two countries to become equal members of the network.

[08] Budget revenues up 12.9 pct in March

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Budget revenues' growth rate was 14.5 percent in the period from January to March this year, sharply up from an official target for a 3.5 percent increase.

Drys predicted that revenues would continue rising in the following months and that the budget surplus would exceed 400 billion drachmas this year. He attributed the spectacular increase in revenue growth to a more efficient VAT collection, the operation of Taxis payment system and higher income taxes resulting from improved corporate profitability.

VAT income rose 19.0 percent in March, for a 19.9 percent increase in the first quarter of 2000.

Drys said that securities tax revenues also contributed in the rising budget surplus and predicted that the government would achieve its goal for tax income totalling 350 billion drachmas from stock share transactions this year.

Drys said the Finance ministry has three priorities for the next four years: first, to improve services, second, to promote tax reform including tax cuts and third, to modernize its structure through the Taxis system and the implementation of a integrated information program in customs.

He said that the ministry would promote a project for taxpayers to submit their annual tax statements through the Internet, probably in 2001.

[09] Greek stocks remain under pressure, end lower

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said the market was awaiting news and incentives to break its current stalemate.

Buying interest again focused on smaller capitalization stocks, while blue chip stocks, particularly in the banks sector, suffered losses.

The general index ended 0.78 percent lower at 4,877.91 points, off the day's lows of 4,838.88 points. Turnover was a moderate 135.9 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 2,746.16 points, off 1.11 percent, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.59 percent to 680.78 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 9,445.13 -1.36% Leasing: 1,053.65 -0.11% Insurance: 3,319.96 +0.40% Investment: 2,054.99 +0.37% Construction: 2,519.08 +0.11% Industrials: 2,890.68 -0.44% Miscellaneous: 4,909.20 -1.88% Holding: 5,621.78 +0.13%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 945.75 points, up 3.75 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 177 to 148 with another 15 issues unchanged.

Agricultural Life, Hellenic Telecoms, Lambrakis Press and Alpha Credit Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 24,150 Alpha Credit: 23,650 Commercial Bank: 22,310 Ergobank: 8,215 Eurobank: 11,400 Hellenic Telecoms: 9,650 Panafon: 4,860 Hellenic Petroleum: 4,595 Intracom: 14,990 Minoan Lines: 6,890 Hellenic Bottling: 6,415 Heracles Cement: 10,055 Titan Cement (c): 14,890

Bond rise in light trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market nosed up in light trade on Wednesday with buying interest seen from players at home and abroad.

Demand focused on 15- and 20-year paper for the second straight session.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.11 percent from 6.08 percent a day earlier and 6.06 percent on Monday.

The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 89 basis points, the same as the previous day, from 91 basis points on Monday and 94 basis points on Friday.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 36 billion drachmas from 48 billion drachmas a day earlier and 16 billion drachmas on Monday.

Of Wednesday's total, buy orders accounted for 24 billion drachmas of turnover and sell orders the remaining 12.0 billion drachmas.

Drachma drops vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Wednesday dropped against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

The Bank of Greece intervened, selling around 45 million euros.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 334.900 drachmas from 334.870 drachmas a day earlier and 334.650 drachmas on Monday.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 349.810 drachmas from 348.550 drachmas in the previous session and 349.810 drachmas on Monday.

[10] Greece's Agricultural Bank to set up insurance firm in Romania

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Agricultural Life will own 50 per cent of the new company's shares, while Agricultural Insurance will own 40 per cent, Agricultural Holding will own 5 per cent and ATE Finance will own the remaining 5 per cent, according to the announcement.

The company will apply for the necessary license to operate in Romania over the next few days.

The new firm's capital will rise to 500 million drachmas over the next three years.

The products of the company will be promoted initially via a sales network and later via one or more banks under Bancassurance.

[11] Greece is Bulgaria's third biggest trade partner

SOFIA, 13/04/2000 (ANA-B.Borisov)

Greece ranked third after Germany and Italy, the NSI said.

[12] Fuel prices decrease as international crude oil prices drop

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Specifically, in its regular weekly fuel price review, the ministry decided a decrease for unleaded gasoline of 7.7 drachmas per litre, leaded gasoline by 7.6 drachmas per litre, vehicle petrol fuel by 1.4 drachmas per litre and heating petrol by 2 drachmas per litre.

Thus, the suggested retail price for unleaded gasoline in Athens, at 12 a.m. Thursday will be 230.6 drachmas to the litre and leaded gasoline will be 247.6 drachmas to the litre.

This decrease was the direct result of falling crude oil prices in international markets as producers promised higher production.

[13] Thessaloniki Int'l Fair (TIF)unveils series of events to commemorate 75th anniversary

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

To commemorate the 75th anniversary since its founding, TIF's board announced a series of events - beginning in May - and lasting until November, including a special exhibition entitled: "A Currency for Europe", focusing on the historical development of currencies on the continent down to the institution of the euro.

[14] Harold Pinter to receive honorary Ph.D. in Thessaloniki

Athens, 13/04/2000 (ANA)

Events will include the inauguration of an exhibition of photographs from 40 different plays of Pinter's on Greek theatre stages. It will be entitled "Pinter on the Greek stage" and will be open until April 23.

Pinter was born in London's East End and first appeared as a playwright in 1957 with his plays "The Room" and "Birthday Party". Of late, Pinter has directed many of his plays.

[15] Government satisfied with EU clarifications on guarantees for Cyprus

NICOSIA, 13/04/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The Union also said the presence of foreign troops in Cyprus does not hinder the country's bid for membership either.

The government on its part expressed satisfaction with these clarifications from Brussels, sought after EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement Gunter Verheugen told a press conference Tuesday that the presence of foreign troops in a candidate country does not mean that country cannot join the EU.

A statement issued here on Wednesday evening by government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, said the Republic's Ambassador in Brussels Theofilos Theofilou had a meeting with the EU officer responsible for relations with Cyprus. "It was clarified that what Mr. Verheugen referred to in his remarks yesterday is that existing guarantees or any other guarantees that may be agreed in future in Cyprus do not in any way affect Cyprus' possibility to become an EU member," the statement said.

It adds that Ambassador Theofilou was also told that "the presence of foreign troops in Cyprus does not affect Cyprus' possibility to join the EU either. "In view of the above clarifications the government expresses its satisfaction and does not consider that there is anything negative in Verheugen's statements," the statement said.

The government sought clarifications from Brussels following critical press reports about Verheugen's statements.

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article