Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Balkan foreign ministers say that much still remains to be done despite stability pact

[02] More wildfires reported, international help requested

[03] German Chancellor Schroeder sends letter to Simitis on forest fires

[04] Greece has informed international organizations about Akkuyu power plant, spokesman says

[05] Greek-British talks on combatting terrorism considered effective

[06] Church committee to propose referendum on identity card issue

[07] Eurodeputies condemn the arrest of Turkish Cypriot journalists by occupation regime

[08] Verheugen meets Yilmaz in 'constructive' meeting

[09] Greece to participate in first "Euro Group" meeting

[10] Greek tourism not hurt by fires, minister says

[11] Olympic Airways increases domestic airfares by 5.0 percent

[12] Shipping Committee holds first meeting

[13] Greek stocks rebound strongly at the end of the week

[14] Eurobank shareholders OK merger with Ergobank

[15] Measures to contain foot-and-mouth outbreak in Evros cattle

[16] Cosmote to donate free cell phones to help fire-fighting efforts

[17] Russia ready to contribute towards finding a solution to Cyprus problem

[18] EPP fully supports Cyprus' EU accession

[01] Balkan foreign ministers say that much still remains to be done despite stability pact

OHRID, FYROM, 15/07/2000 (ANA - M. Vichou)

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou attempted to widen the stability pact's scope with specific proposals such as cooperation among Balkan countries at parliamentary level, as well as in the sectors of non-governmental organizations, youth, culture and sports. He also called on countries in the region to participate in the 2004 Cultural Olympiad organized by Greece.

Papandreou made another proposal, accepted by all the participants, on cooperation among the countries of southeastern Europe in combatting natural disasters on the occasion of forest fires currently raging in most of the Balkans.

On his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem proposed the immediate granting of aid to Greece from his country to assist it in tackling forest fires in the country.

At political level, Papandreou proposed that representatives of Kosovo Albanians and Serbs be invited to direct talks with the Balkan countries, in the framework of the inter-Balkan initiative, and that a wide dialogue should open with all political forces, including the Serbian opposition and Montenegro.

Papandreou said the aim of these proposals is to enable the Balkan peoples to take into their hands the responsibility of developments taking place in the region and to strengthen the voice of the Balkans in the international community.

The foreign ministers of FYROM, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Romania, as well as Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia who attended as observers attended the Ohrid meeting. Stability pact coordinator Bodo Hombach and representatives from international organizations were also present.

Papandreou held private talks with Cem on the sidelines of the meeting on issues currently preoccupying the two countries and said "naturally, the issue of Cyprus was also discussed, on which each one conveyed the views of his country."

Papandreou held similar talks with his Albanian counterpart Paskal Milo and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezhda Mihaylova, as well as with FYROM Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and Deputy Prime Minister Basil Tupurkovski.

A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting said, among others:

"The Ministers noted with satisfaction the high level of good relations among their countries, based on the principles of the UN Charter, shared Euro-Atlantic values and OSCE principles for relations among states, respecting the sovereignty, the inviolability of borders, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities. They reaffirmed their commitment to further develop their cooperation in the spirit of good-neighbourliness, openness and cooperativeness in order to attain their countries' common goal to transform South-Eastern Europe into a region of security, stability and economic prosperity.

"The Ministers reviewed the situation in the region, including the developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). They expressed their deep concern over the recent revision of the FRY Constitution with a clear objective for prolonging the mandate in office of the current President, entailing serious consequences for the country and for the stability and security in the region. They expressed their support to the democratic forces, independent media and civil society in their struggle for democratization of the country.

"The Ministers also reviewed the situation in Kosovo, FRY and expressed their high appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the international community for the stabilization and reconstruction of the province, where the rights of all citizens, ethnic and religious communities will be fully and equally respected. In this context, they confirmed their full support to the UNMIK and KFOR activities to bring peace and democracy in Kosovo. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to contribute to building in Kosovo a democratic, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society, on the basis of substantial autonomy, taking into account the Rambouiller accords, as well as the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the FRY, pending on a final settlement in accordance with UNSCR 1244."

[02] More wildfires reported, international help requested

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Greece's fire brigade, on full deployment along with military units and volunteers, identified 16 major wildfires on Friday afternoon, as hundreds of hectares of forests, farmland and dozens of homes were destroyed.

The largest blaze was in the Corinth prefecture, west of Athens, which spanned a 25-kilometre front and was approaching several evacuated villages. More than 30 homes were burned and 10 people were taken to nearby hospitals on Thursday with burns or respiratory problems. The entire prefecture was declared a disaster area on Friday.

Another large fire was blazing in the nearby Achaia prefecture, near the town of Akrata, as firefighters were concentrating efforts on keeping the fire from spreading to the Vouraikos valley. The fire, according to estimates Friday morning, had consumed 1,200 hectares of forest and farmland and burned 10 homes.

Other major wildfires were reported in northern Greece, the islands of Hios and Thassos, the western Peloponnese, central Greece and the fire-ravaged Kavala prefecture.

Int'l help: Israel and Germany, among others, pledged to send firefighters, with the former also dispatching a C-130 transport plane and two fire-fighting helicopters. Germany, along with the Scandinavian countries and the Czech Republic were also sending firefighting helicopters, it was reported.

On Thursday, police had closed the Athens-Corinth and Patra-Athens national highways to traffic because of nearby wildfires.

On Samos, brisk summertime winds also rekindled the flames of an immense blaze on Thursday that had ravaged the eastern Aegean holiday island for six days, before being partially contained.

PM chairs meeting: Back in Athens, Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a high-level government meeting focusing directly on the issue of dealing with wildfires, saying afterwards that firefighting efforts, especially using aircraft, would be intensified as extreme weather conditions subsided.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis toured the Corinth prefecture, where local government officials in the coastal towns of Kiato and Xylokastro briefed him on the extent of the destruction.

Firefighters were also on alert in the Evros border region after a major fire broke out in southern Bulgaria near the frontier with Greece. Authorities in southern Bulgaria declared a state of emergency on Thursday as gusting winds fanned fires that had been smoldering since last week. Elsewhere, fires were raging in more than 60 places in Bulgaria's southern districts of Plovdiv, Haskovo, Stara Zagora and Yambol.

As of Thursday, the government estimated that 11,500 hectares of rural expanse had been burned by the latest wildfires, whereas several government officials have repeatedly blamed "arson and high temperatures", among others, as behind the blazes.

[03] German Chancellor Schroeder sends letter to Simitis on forest fires

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

The extent of aid was agreed in a telephone conversation between German Ambassador to Athens Heinz Kuna and Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis.

Two firefighting helicopters were expected to arrive in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Friday, while another four helicopters will leave over the weekend, accompanied by a transport aircraft.

"I was informed with regret and surprise of the latest rekindling of fires in Greece and its call for support.

"It is self-evident that, just as in previous similar emergencies, we shall do everything in our power to support the Greek authorities in combatting fires. I have requested from relevant political and military services to immediately schedule measures of support to whatever degree is considered necessary," Chancellor Schroeder's letter said.

[04] Greece has informed international organizations about Akkuyu power plant, spokesman says

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Reppas said that Greek authorities had also informed the contractors for the project of the region's unsuitability.

Greece, he added, is against the commercial use of nuclear energy and insists on this position.

[05] Greek-British talks on combatting terrorism considered effective

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

British Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Foreign Office, Baroness Patricia Scotland, arrived in Athens on Friday and held talks with Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Justice Minister Mihalis Stathopoulos and Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis, as well as with main opposition New Democracy party Deputy Dora Bakoyianni.

According to diplomatic sources, talks between the Greek and British governments are considered to be particularly effective.

Britain has offered to help both at the level of know-how and legislation since the British Parliament recently ratified a draft law on combatting terrorism.

The British side believes that the two countries can extend their cooperation on the issue in the framework of the European Union as well. It also believes that in the case of the murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders in particular, the terrorist organization "November 17" failed to win over public opinion, since there have been considerable demonstrations of support for the victim's family by the Greek people.

[06] Church committee to propose referendum on identity card issue

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

The Church disagrees with a government decision to scrap the religious affiliation category on new IDs, saying that it should be retained on a voluntary basis. The government has steadfastly refused to discuss reversing its decision, saying that the issue is the sole concern of the State and that the Church has no say in the matter.

The committee will propose that signature-collection begin in September, and that a special committee of senior clerics be set up to coordinate the efforts, in addition to an expert committee to validate the collection procedures.

[07] Eurodeputies condemn the arrest of Turkish Cypriot journalists by occupation regime

BRUSSELS, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

The illegal regime in the northern Cyprus areas occupied by Turkish troops since 1974 had illegally arrested six journalists, including Editor-in-Chief, Siener Levent, who is one of the most prominent critics of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, but released two of them later on.

The regime also fined "Avrupa" 225.000 dollars in December for allegedly libeling Denktash and later seized computers when the newspaper failed to pay the fine.

According to an announcement, the Eurodeputies initiative belonged to the German President of the Joint European Union-Cyprus Parliamentary Committee Mechdilde Rothe and the Deputy President and Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Eurodeputy Constantine Alyssandrakis

"Being members of the European Parliament, we denounce and condemn the arrests which violate basic human rights, including the right of freedom of the press, and aim at silencing every free voice, crushing opposition and imposing oppression on the Turkish Cypriot community. We demand from the government of Turkey, which is responsible for the occupied region of northern Cyprus, to order their immediate release," it added.

According to a CNA dispatch from London, the National Union of Journalists, representing 30,000 members in Britain and Ireland, in a letter to the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus expresses its grave concern over the illegal arrest of the journalists.

In its letter, the Union notes its concern over the fact that the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island cannot tolerate a free press as well as the fact that its so-called "police" are controlled by the Turkish military, pointing out that Turkey has "one of the worst records of abusing journalists and press freedom in the entire world".

[08] Verheugen meets Yilmaz in 'constructive' meeting

ISTANBUL, 15/07/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Verheugen described his meeting on Friday with Mesut Yilmaz, the new Turkish minister for EU affairs, as "constructive" and said that Ankara knows what reforms are necessary to improve its human rights situation.

The two men also discussed the EU's Accession Partnership Accord for Turkey. The EU has made Turkey's accession to the community conditional on its cleaning up its human rights record.

[09] Greece to participate in first "Euro Group" meeting

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Papantoniou will also participate in a ECOFIN meeting in Brussels on Monday to discuss the French presidency's policy targets, including strengthening and improving the coordination of economic and tax policies in Europe and particularly in the eurozone, preparing the EU's expansion and drafting the EU's budget.

The French presidency recently unveiled proposals to set up a group of "Wise Men" to regulate Europe's securities and financial information markets.

[10] Greek tourism not hurt by fires, minister says

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Christodoulakis, in a message to foreign visitors in Greece, reassured that the government ensured their safety and pleasant stay in the country. "There is," he added "a network of permanent readiness accessible to all visitors covering the safety and the reliability of tourist services in the country".

He said that the Greek Tourism Organization was constantly briefing on the real developments prevailing in tourist areas around the country to avoid any wrong views on the situation.

Christodoulakis noted that no tourist facilities were hit by recent fires in the island of Samos and pledged that the government would soon announce measures to restore economic and social stability on the island.

He reassured that "there is no wave of cancellations towards the country" and that foreign visitors were showing their confidence and affection towards Greece through initiatives to economically support regions hit by fires.

Christodoulakis said that the cancellation of a charter flight from the Netherlands was a decision taken by a private organization and added that this decision was revoked. He also dismissed talk of a 30 percent rate of cancellations in tourist arrivals.

"Tourism must not be hurt by the fires ravaging southern Europe. Our country is very well equipped, it has the most extensive fire fighting mechanism in Europe and ranks third in the world," he said.

He said that the European Union has mobilized powers and mechanisms to decide on policy measures to be taken in the wake of a wave of fires across the North Mediterranean region.

[11] Olympic Airways increases domestic airfares by 5.0 percent

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

The new fares will be reduced by 2.0 percent from September 15.

The decision has been approved by the National Economy Ministry last month.

Olympic Aviation to improve ground services in small airports: Aegean ministry secretary-general, I. Mahaeridis, on Friday handed over the sum of 646 million drachmas to Olympic Aviation to be used for the supply of airports over the next six years.

The supplies include 11 mini-vans, a mini-bus, six computer systems, two multi-purpose vehicles, three fuel-tank trucks, an air-compressor, eight tractors, three passenger ladders and nine power generators.

The supplies will be used to improve ground services at the island airports of Astypalaea, Syros, Paros, Milos, Karpathos, Kassos, Leros, Naxos and Kastelorizo in south Aegean.

[12] Shipping Committee holds first meeting

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Papoutsis stressed that the deadline for the committee to complete its work was the end of September. "The timing of presenting the new draft bill will guarantee the success of an effort to deregulate Greece's shipping sector. Ship owners, seamen, local communities and the state will have to timely know the new legal framework to prepare themselves for the new era in investments and infrastructure needs. The Committee will discuss policy, it will not draft the draft bill," he said.

Papoutsis noted that the time left for Greece to fully adopt community directives on shipping is short and urged for speedy procedures.

"The Committee has undertaken an important and historic task because its recommendations will determine the framework for the future operation of Greece's coastal shipping sector," he said.

"I am certain that you will see your participation in the committee as a challenge for a new plan covering half of Greece," Papoutsis told members of the committee.

[13] Greek stocks rebound strongly at the end of the week

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

Traders said foreign institutional investors reappeared in the Greek market after a prolonged absence.

The general index ended at 4,006.41 points, up 2.03 percent, in persisting low turnover of 71 billion drachmas.

Analysts said that the 4,050 level was the next resistance level of the market.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.07 percent higher at 2,232.16 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index jumped 2.47 percent to 576.92 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,547.00 +2.05% Leasing: 744.07 +4.21% Insurance: 2,511.86 -0.13% Investment: 1,642.72 +2.35% Construction: 2,160.84 +3.56% Industrials: 2,478.81 +2.18% Miscellaneous: 4,106.01 +1.75% Holding: 4,493.15 +1.27%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 758.13 points, up 4.89 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 316 to 19 with another seven issues unchanged.

Doudos, Hellenic Telecoms, Naoussa Spinning, Alpha Bank, Klonatex (c) and Athenian Holding were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 13,800 Alpha Bank: 14,195 Commercial Bank: 15,590 Eurobank: 9,500 Lambrakis Press: 10,170 Heracles Cement: 7,405 Hellenic Telecoms: 8,300 Panafon: 4,270 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,900 Attica Enterprises: 3,710 Intracom: 12,900 Hellenic Bottling: 5,475

Equity futures rise in line with bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Friday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 2.07 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 2.47 percent higher.

Turnover was 12.54 billion drachmas from 10.90 billion drachmas a day earlier.

A total of 1,648 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 7.31 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 2,274 contracts changed hands on turnover of 5.23 billion drachmas.

Bond prices nose down in sell-oriented trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished lower in light to moderate trade dominated by sellers.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.093 percent from 6.10 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 80 basis points from 83 basis points a day earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 54 billion drachmas from 57 billion drachmas in the previous trading session.

Sell orders accounted for 42 billion drachmas of turnover.

Drachma up vs. euro, dollar: The drachma on Friday rose against the euro and the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 336.650 drachmas from 336.720 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 359.210 drachmas from 359.500 drachmas a day earlier.

[14] Eurobank shareholders OK merger with Ergobank

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

The new private bank to emerge will be named EFG Eurobank Ergasias.

It will be the country's third largest banking group after state National Bank of Greece and private Alpha Bank.

The group will hold 12 percent of the banking market on completion of the merger, planned to rise by 2.0 percent annually.

At the end of 2000, the EFG Eurobank Ergasias Group will have a network of 350 branches and 7,500 staff.

[15] Measures to contain foot-and-mouth outbreak in Evros cattle

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

According to chief veterinarian for Evros Costas Dadousis, the rest of the animals showing clinical symptoms or suspected of being infected would be put down over the weekend, so that the spread of the disease could be checked.

He said that teams of vets would continue carrying out intensive testing of the region's other herds, to locate other infected animals.

Committees have been set up to assess the value of the destroyed animals, which will include a vet, an agriculturalist and a representative of the Evros prefecture. Compensation will be awarded both for the animals destroyed and for the animal feed that has been designated as suspect.

Authorities have also set up disinfectant ditches on the borders of Evros and Rodopi, through which all in-coming and out-going traffic must pass. Similar disinfectant ditches are also operating in the supervised zones and at customs points in the district.

[16] Cosmote to donate free cell phones to help fire-fighting efforts

Athens, 15/07/2000 (ANA)

One hundred of the phones were delivered on Friday, while the rest will be delivered by Monday.

[17] Russia ready to contribute towards finding a solution to Cyprus problem

NICOSIA, 15/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The Russian position was set out in a statement released on Thursday by the country's Foreign Ministry on the third round of the UN-led proximity talks on Cyprus, the first phase of which ended on Wednesday in Geneva.

The statement says the Russian Special Representative for Cyprus Vladimir Prygin held separate meetings in the wings of the talks in Geneva with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and other countries' envoys.

The Russian side has expressed its interest in the continuation of the talks and in achieving progress, the statement adds.

It points out that Russia, as a permanent member-state of the UN Security Council and a member-state of the G8, "is ready to continue its active contribution to the international efforts to find a stable, permanent and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, based on the relevant UN resolutions to the benefit of all Cypriots, peace, security and stability in East Mediterranean".

The Cyprus proximity talks are scheduled to resume on July 24 in Geneva. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

[18] EPP fully supports Cyprus' EU accession

NICOSIA, 15/07/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Spanish EuroMP Alejandro Agag Logo, EPP Secretary General, told a gathering here Thursday night that "we should not let the Cyprus problem be an obstacle to your integration in the Union."

Agag, who is currently visiting Cyprus at the invitation of the island's biggest party, the ruling rightwing Democratic Rally party, said after the decision adopted in Helsinki by the European Council, "it is important for Turkey to realize that its road towards the European Union has to go through a constructive approach to the solution of the Cyprus problem, based on human rights and on the common values of the EU itself."

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974 in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

Referring to Cyprus' bid to become a full member of he EU, the EPP Secretary General said Cyprus fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria and as a functioning market economy, it should be able to cope with the competitive pressures and market forces within the Union without any problems.

"The Cypriots can be proud. A strong economy, a stable political system, and a country with an almost un-existing unemployment rate, are some of the best letters of presentation any candidate country can show," Agag said.

The Spanish EuroMP referred to EPP, noting that the group has 233 deputies out of 626 in the European Parliament, becoming the largest group in the Parliament.

"We have a place amongst us waiting for the Democratic Rally. We will work together to spread our ideas and values around our continent," Agag told the Nicosia gathering attended by Cypriot government ministers and deputies.

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