Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-04-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Positive prospects for trade in Balkans, Black Sea, BSTDB conference participants say

[02] Election Commission releases final results

[03] New Parliament to meet on Thursday

[04] Political leaders continue meetings with party seniors

[05] Defense minister addresses PASOK's post election priorities

[06] Synaspismos will not tail other parties, party leader says

[07] Greek, Turkish foreign ministry delegations meeting in Athens

[08] 22 Greek and Turkish mayors discuss joint cross border initiatives

[09] Cyprus president reportedly to visit Athens in May for talks

[10] Victoria State gov't criticized over OA flights

[11] Unions oppose "green tax"

[12] Communist sentenced over KFOR protest

[13] Kyprianou to step down from DIKO Presidency

[01] Positive prospects for trade in Balkans, Black Sea, BSTDB conference participants say

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

The conference entitled Business Day of the Black Sea, was organized by the BSTDB, as part of the annual meeting of the banks governing board and was attended by 350 persons, among them ministers from countries of the region, bank governors and academics.

Thessaloniki-based BSTDB was established in 1998 by 11 countries of the greater Black Sea region -Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. Its purpose is to promote cooperation among its member states and accelerate their economic development, providing funds to public and private enterprises for financing of projects and trade transactions. Its authorized capital is USD 1.35 billion.

Greek Deputy National Economy Minister Yiannis Zapheiropoulos stressed that investment of Greek capital in those countries already propelled Greece among the five top international investment partners in that region.

"This effort should continue speedily. The sectors of telecommunications, advance services, development of computer software, financial services, construction, foodstuffs present notable business opportunities in those countries," the minister said.

He underlined the importance of the commitment of those countries to the principles of stability, maintaining current borders as well as respect for democratic institutions, as a framework for the general prospects of a widening cooperation between them.

He added that should this not come to pass it would become impossible to lure investors, who will contribute positively in a coordinated effort toward reconstruction.

On his part, National Bank of Greece Theodoros Karatzas addressed the role of BSTDB in business activities and Greece's role in developing regional economic cooperation.

Meanwhile, the BSTDB has approved a US$10 million loan to Avin, a member of the Vardinoyiannis group of companies, for a project involving construction of an oil tanker in Ukraine, a press release said on Saturday.

The project is part of a long-term shipbuilding deal between the Greek group and Ukraine's Black Sea Shipbuilding Yard at Nikolaev.

[02] Election Commission releases final results

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

PASOK gathered 3,008,081 votes, or 43.798 percent, winning 158 seats in the 300-member Parliament, the conservative New Democracy 2,934,948 votes, or 42.733 percent, and 125 seats, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) 379,280 votes, or 5.22 percent, and 11 seats, the Coalition of the Left 219,988 votes, or 3.203 percent and six seats. The Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) failed the clear the three percent of the poll required for parliamentary representation, gathering 184,648 votes, or 2.688 percent.

No other party mustered more than 0.5 percent of votes cast.

[03] New Parliament to meet on Thursday

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

The official ceremony will begin at 11 am and will include the swearing-in of the newly elected deputies. Parliament will elect a new presidium on Friday. The ruling PASOK party has proposed the re-election of incumbent Apostolos Kaklamanis as President of the House.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will read the new government's policy statement on Saturday, April 22, which is to be followed by a two-day debate. The first vote of confidence in the government will be held in the evening of Monday, April 24.

[04] Political leaders continue meetings with party seniors

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

On the opposition front, New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis met with former culture minister Dora Bakoyianni for an exchange of views on party structure, the result of the April 9 election and the policy stands which the main opposition is to adopt in the immediate future.

New Democracy increased its share of the poll from 38.15 percent in 1996 to 42.74 percent, just one percentage point less than Simitis' Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK).

Sources said Bakoyianni insisted on the need for the party to confirm its turn to the middle ground and hold a congress in the autumn.

[05] Defense minister addresses PASOK's post election priorities

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

"We entered a new era, which demands that the result is tangible and by this standard will our government be judged daily," the minister said.

"We are ready to stand in front of public opinion, with our ability to realize with success those goals," he added.

[06] Synaspismos will not tail other parties, party leader says

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

In the last day of Synaspismos' discussions on the election results, Constantopoulos said "I am not running away (from responsibility) and I am not to become the spoils of victory, nor will Synaspismos".

In criticizing the party's performance during the election campaign, Constantopoulos said that the party presented itself as confused, since there was not an effective synthesis of opinions, adding that that the way those opinions were promoted was problematic and ineffective.

He countered criticism over the party's poor showing at the April 9 election, saying its left-wing progressive stand was correct and had secured its parliamentary representation.

The party has scheduled its congress in June in light of its narrow success in clearing the three- percent of the poll required for parliamentary representation at the April 9 election.

Synaspismos suffered a loss of about two- percent from the previous 1996 poll, and electing just six deputies in the 300-member Greek parliament. The party has long favored European integration, in contrast to its rival Communist Party of Greece, which held its ground at the polls, gathering 5.2 percent and electing 11 deputies.

[07] Greek, Turkish foreign ministry delegations meeting in Athens

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

The delegations will meet in the Greek foreign ministry and will be chaired by Greek Foreign Ministry General Secretary Stylianos Perrakis and Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister on EU affairs Ambassador Ozulker.

The agenda of the meeting includes Greece support in Turkey's process of adjustment to the European justice system and the current developments in the Union.

Following the two-day meetings, the Turkish delegation will visit Thessaloniki, where they are scheduled to visit the Center of International European Economic Law.

[08] 22 Greek and Turkish mayors discuss joint cross border initiatives

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

As Evros and Edirne prefectures border each other, the mayors discussed ways to utilize European Union funding for joint economic, social and cultural projects.

It was stressed that funds for the projects can stem from Union cross border programs, such as INTEREG, ECOS-OUVERTURE, INCO, ALTENER, PHARE and others.

These programs have already contributed greatly in promoting cross border cooperation, while future programs will also depend upon public institutions and private initiatives

[09] Cyprus president reportedly to visit Athens in May for talks

NICOSIA, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

The two men will meet two days before the initiation of the third round of proximity talks between Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York, in an effort to arrive at a solution for the long-standing Cyprus problem.

[10] Victoria State gov't criticized over OA flights

MELBOURNE, 17/04/2000 (ANA- S. Hatzimanolis)

According to a report in "The Age" newspaper, the Victoria government will spend 600,000 Australian dollars in the next two years to promote the carrier.

Olympic Airways' management recently said it would redirect flights from Melbourne to Sydney for economic reasons, but later announced it would reconsider.

The paper specifically targets state tourism minister Yiannis Pantazopoulos, claiming that he plans to spend taxpayers' money to support the Greek airline and that an increase in the number of its flights from two to three weekly is under consideration.

[11] Unions oppose "green tax"

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

Officials of the Public Power Corporation's (DEH) labor union said in a statement they would "demand" of newly appointed Development Minister Nikos Christodoulakis that he does not consent to the imposition of the tax on the corporation, which mines and uses the mineral.

The statement was issued at the end of a conference organized by ENECS, a European miners' union in Ptolemaida, northwestern Greece, center to the country's lignite and electricity production. The union represents 3.5 million of miners across Europe and the agenda of the conference included the preservation of jobs in the face of increasing deregulation in the industry, and environmental protection.

According to data presented at the conference, Greece ranks sixth among lignite-producing countries in the world, accounting for six per cent of global output, while the country's power production is 70 per cent dependent on this type of carbon mineral. Greek lignite reserves are estimated at 2.7 billion tons and expected to last for the next 50 years.

The conclusions of the conference included a call for coordinating the activities of labor unions in the mining and energy sectors across borders.

[12] Communist sentenced over KFOR protest

Athens, 17/04/2000 (ANA)

Zacharias Karakitsos was tried on charges of causing bodily harm, insubordination and violating the traffic code during the incident in the port of Litohoro, in which he and a senior police officer were slightly injured. He refused to buy out his sentence -a common practice- but was freed on appeal.

[13] Kyprianou to step down from DIKO Presidency

NICOSIA, 17/04/2000(CNA/ANA)

In an emotional speech at a special constitutional party conference, Kyprianou said he always believed in the need for renewal in the party and pledged to assist in every way he can the new leadership of the party he founded 24 years ago.

He explained he reached his decision not to re-run for DIKO presidency long ago and that it had nothing to do with his recent health problems, adding that "conditions are now suitable to make my decision final".

Referring to the presidency of the Republic, Kyprianou said he does not intend to stand as a candidate, but noted the next candidate for the presidency should come from DIKO and expressed hope that the party would manage to secure the necessary support from other ranks as well.

Kyprianou said he intends to continue as House President until his term in office concludes, but did not disclose whether he would run for re-election to the post.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Kyprianou noted that Turkish expansionist policy continues and that the international community does not seem determined to press Ankara to abandon its intransigent stance.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island. Efforts to solve the Cyprus problem have stumbled on Turkey's intransigence.

Kyprianou pointed out that with a reviewed strategy, the Greek Cypriot side could manage to push things forward and added that DIKO will present to the National Council (top advisory body to the President of the Republic on the Cyprus problem) its positions and proposals towards this end in writing.

He also pledged to continue working for a just solution of the Cyprus problem and to contribute towards greater unity among the people of Cyprus and the political leadership, on the basis of an agreed national policy.

Concluding, Kyprianou said he was proud of everything DIKO has offered to Cyprus so far and described the period 1977-1988, when he served as President of the Republic, as "a golden period for Cyprus in every respect", adding that he was optimistic about the future of his party.

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