Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-08-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek industry continues recovery in 1999

[02] Greek GDP growth estimated at 5.0 pct next year, Papantoniou

[03] Simitis meets ministers, Diamantopoulou

[04] Turkey has not changed its views on the Aegean issue, Ankara says

[05] Minister promises crackdown against 'protection' rings

[06] Church eyes Sept. 1 as beginning of drive to allow optional listing of religion on IDs

[07] Seventeen per cent of Greek wage earners under poverty line

[08] Gov't wants to sell more than 51 pct of Skaramanga Shipyard

[09] Mutual funds' assets total 11.57 trillion drachmas in June

[10] Fuel prices to rise slightly

[11] Slight increase in Greek shipping registry

[12] Greek stocks drift lower in subdued trade

[13] Orthodox Metropolitan of Sudan murdered in apparent burglary attempt

[14] 2004 Olympic football venues

[15] Clerides says good work done in meeting with UN special adviser de Soto

[16] Cyprus government spokesman comments on UN-led peace talks

[17] Clerides fends off critical press remarks

[01] Greek industry continues recovery in 1999

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

The study, conducted by the market research company ICAP, was based on am extended sample of 4,561 industrial firms for 1999 and 1998.

It shows that total sales of the sample came to 9.2 trillion drachmas, compared to 8.3 trillion drachmas in 1998, representing a 10 per cent increase, compared to a 2.6 per cent rate of inflation. A favorable factor accounting for the improvement in results was a larger gross profit margin, which increased to 23.6 per cent in 1999 from 23.3 per cent in 1998.

Net pre-tax profits exceeded 736.4 billion drachmas in 1999, representing a 48.7 per cent increase from 1998.

Of the companies included in the sample, 3,482 were profitable (76.3 per cent) compared to 3,437 in 1998. Those businesses, which recorded losses, were fewer in number, coming down to 1,079 from 1,124 in 1998.

[02] Greek GDP growth estimated at 5.0 pct next year, Papantoniou

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to review the course of the economy, Papantoniou said that next year's budget "will be a difficult budget".

He said that a plan for the privatization of Skaramanga Shipyards did not include lay-offs.

Simitis and Papantoniou discussed the basic figures of next year's budget and structural changes in the economy.

[03] Simitis meets ministers, Diamantopoulou

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Government sources later described as "ludicrous" rumors of a government reshuffle that have circulated in recent days.

The prime minister and his wife, Daphne, in the afternoon left for Elounda Beach on Crete, where they will spend a few days before moving on to Sifnos.

[04] Turkey has not changed its views on the Aegean issue, Ankara says

ISTANBUL, 03/08/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

In reply to a reporter's question whether the recent statements made by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Greek-Turkish relations indicates a change in Ankara's stance on Aegean matters, Dirioz said that "Turkey has not changed its views on the Aegean."

Dirioz reiterated Ankara's views regarding bilateral negotiations and referred to Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, which provides for the peaceful solution of international differences through various methods, including negotiations.

Dirioz claimed that Greece's approach, according to which there exists only one problem in the Aegean -that of the delineation of the continental shelf- and its views concerning the jurisdiction of the International Court, "do not help the solution of the Aegean issues".

Cem's recent statements were made in this spirit, the spokesman said.

In an interview to the newspaper Turkish Daily News on July 31, Cem stated that "Turkey is ready to discuss all the matters which concern the Aegean, within the framework of the United Nations," adding that regarding the conclusions of the EU Summit in Helsinki, Turkey draws attention of the EU that all matters should be referred to the International Court, without prior selection."

[05] Minister promises crackdown against 'protection' rings

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Statements by Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis were published in the Athens daily "Ta Nea".

[06] Church eyes Sept. 1 as beginning of drive to allow optional listing of religion on IDs

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

The government's decision in June to abolish the religious affiliation category, among others, on new IDs has appreciably soured Church-state relations, sparking a heated reaction by the Church's hierarchy and the holding of two massive protest rallies in the country.

On its part, the PASOK government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis personally, have sternly maintained that police-issued IDs fall clearly within the state's domain, while the issue of an individual's religious beliefs ranks as "personal data" afforded the right of privacy.

A high-ranking ecclesiastical committee met on Wednesday at the Archbishopric to discuss the matter and the collection of signatures, as the committee's proposal will be tabled for approval by the Greek Church's standing Holy Synod on Aug. 31.

The committee of Church prelates proposes that signatures be collected at Metropolitan seats throughout Greece, and using a specially printed form.

[07] Seventeen per cent of Greek wage earners under poverty line

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Only 12 per cent of low wage earners attributed their situation to reduced working hours, while 73 per cent said it was due to the low level of salaries.

Eighty-five per cent worked in the private sector and 15 per cent in the public sector. In the European Union the corresponding percentages were 77 per cent and 33 per cent.

In terms of educational qualifications, 23 per cent of low-wage earners were college graduates, 34 per cent were secondary school leavers and 43 per cent of lower levels. The respective EU levels were 9 per cent, 45 per cent and 46 per cent.

[08] Gov't wants to sell more than 51 pct of Skaramanga Shipyard

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Speaking after a meeting with the shipyard's union representatives, Protopappas said it would be difficult to sell only a 51 percent stake that belongs to listed ETBAbank, as new buyers were likely to reject the marginal control offered in the deal.

Workers currently own 49 percent of Skaramanga, the country's largest shipyard.

A union spokesman said his members were not opposed to the scheme. At the same time, they wanted to conduct their own sale negotiations, bypassing ETBAbank.

The government decided on Tuesday to privatize the yard early in 2001.

[09] Mutual funds' assets total 11.57 trillion drachmas in June

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

A Union of Institutional Investors report said that domestic money market mutual funds' assets rose 3.48 percent in July, domestic equity funds' assets fell by 2.66 percent, international equity funds' assets rose 2.54 percent, while domestic and foreign bond funds' assets eased slightly in the month.

Money market mutual funds increased their share in the total market to 46.53 percent in July, from 45.31 pct in the previous month, while equity funds' share fell to 30.68 percent from 31.69 pct, over the same period.

Domestic equity mutual funds' average return was -26.2 percent at the end of July (from the start of the year), and the combined domestic funds' average return was -13.8 pct.

SOGEN Money Market topped the list of returns in the money market mutual funds category, with a 12.14 percent return so far this year. In the international money market category, Interamerican MM USD showed an annual return of 13.72 percent, up from 7.19 percent of the sector's average return.

Domestic equity funds' average return was -26.18 percent in the first seven months of 2000. Vergina MIDCAP yielded 0.44 percent.

Eurobank Health topped the list of returns in the foreign equity mutual funds market, with an annual return of 12.4 percent, up from 2.77 pct of the sector's average.

HSBC International Equity led the list in the international equity funds with an annual return of 7.88 percent, compared with a -6.08 percent negative return of the sector's average so far this year.

In the bonds mutual funds category, SOGEN Income topped the list with an annual return of 17.33 percent, up from a 4.85 pct average return of the sector.

Interamerican USD and Barclays USD topped the lists in the international and foreign bonds funds with annual returns of 14.53 pct and 16.25 pct respectively, up from the sectors' average return of 8.31 pct and 9.04 percent, respectively.

In the combined mutual funds sector, ErgoInvestment, Ergo European and Marfin International Focus topped the lists of annual returns with 4.84 pct, 8.52 pct and 4.26 pct, respectively.

[10] Fuel prices to rise slightly

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

The ministry said on Wednesday that unleaded gasoline prices would rise by 1.0 drachma a liter to around 241.5 drachmas a liter and super gasoline would increase by 0.9 drachmas to 258.2 drachmas a liter. Diesel petrol prices would fall by 2.9 drachmas a liter. The suggested weekly retail prices are based on the international dollar rate and world oil prices.

[11] Slight increase in Greek shipping registry

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

The average age of ships added was nine years, and 21 for those that withdrew.

[12] Greek stocks drift lower in subdued trade

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Dealers said buying interest focused on smaller capitalization stocks with their index ending 3.91 percent higher, but off the day's highs of 6.0 percent.

The general index, however, ended 0.40 percent lower at 3,981.61 points with turnover at 76 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 2,218.12 points, off 0.60 percent and the FTSE/ASE 40 index fell 0.12 percent to 557.46 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,504.72

-0.85% Leasing: 763.22 -0.79% Insurance: 2,448.06 -0.03% Investment: 1,612.19 -0.51% Construction: 2,199.72 +0.88% Industrials: 2,504.24 -0.33% Miscellaneous: 3,941.40 -0.74% Holding: 4,246.31 +0.07%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 793.23 points, up 3.91 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 212 to 110 with another 19 issues unchanged.

Papafilis, Sex Form, Dionik, Lyberis Publications, Epiphania and Hellenic Telecoms were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 14,260 Titan Cement (c): 13,630 Alpha Bank: 13,350 Hellenic Telecoms: 8,155 Commercial Bank: 16,080 Panafon: 4,200 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,700 Eurobank: 9,490 Attica Enterprises: 3,665 Intracom: 12,830 Lambrakis Press: 10,000 Minoan Lines: 3,615 Heracles Cement: 7,750 Hellenic Bottling: 5,370

Equity futures drop, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Wednesday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.60 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.12 percent lower.

Turnover was 6.9 billion drachmas from 11.14 billion drachmas a day earlier.

A total of 882 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 3.97 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,292 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.93 billion drachmas.

Bonds end mixed in light trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished mixed in light trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.03 percent from 6.011 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 85 basis points for the second session.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 42 billion drachmas, also for the second straight session.

Buy orders accounted for 18 billion drachmas of turnover.

Drachma flat vs. euro, down vs. dollar: The drachma on Wednesday ended flat against the euro and fell versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 337.220 as in the previous session.

Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 368.450 drachmas from 364.040 drachmas a day earlier.

[13] Orthodox Metropolitan of Sudan murdered in apparent burglary attempt

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

According to Egyptian newspapers, the 73-year-old Metropolitan Titos -- nee Demosthenes Karatzalis -- was stabbed to death when one or more burglars broke into his home in Khartoum Monday evening. The Metropolitan was alone at the time of the burglary.

According to the newspaper reports, Greek ambassador in Sudan George Vallidis and the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, to which the Sudan Bishopric is affiliated, said there were no indications of religious or political motives behind the killing.

The newspaper reports, citing an Egyptian news agency MENA cable from Khartoum, said the Sudanese police had set up a special team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Titos' killing.

The reports said that the Metropolitan was found dead with his hands tied, lying in a pool of blood on the floor, while his telephone line had been cut.

The body was found by a member of the Greek Orthodox congregation at around 7:00 p.m. when he went to remind the Metropolitan of the weekly community gathering. After receiving no response to the doorbell, the man forced open the door and found the Metropolitan's body.

Metropolitan Titos was transferred to Khartoum from Alexandria four years ago.

The body was taken to a Khartoum hospital for an autopsy, and was due to be sent to Athens in the next few days, Vallidis was cited as saying.

[14] 2004 Olympic football venues

Athens, 03/08/2000 (ANA)

Only the championship game must be played in Athens, it was reported.

Additionally, FIFA expressed a desire of increasing the number of female soccer teams competing in the Olympics to 12, up from eight.

[15] Clerides says good work done in meeting with UN special adviser de Soto

GENEVA, 03/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking after the meeting, which lasted about an hour, President Clerides said that "good work was done", while asked if he was satisfied with the pace of the UN-led proximity talks, he said: "As a man who wants an early solution of the Cyprus problem, I am happy that we are talking".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island.

Two rounds of UN-led proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash, have already been held since December. A third round is underway in Geneva and fourth round is scheduled for September in the US.

De Soto met earlier with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who said all is going fine at the UN-led peace talks.

"Everything is going on fine. We will meet again tomorrow," Denktash said after the meeting.

[16] Cyprus government spokesman comments on UN-led peace talks

GENEVA, 03/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, speaking from Geneva, said discussions at the talks cover all the four core issues (constitution, security, territory, refugees-property) and noted the Greek Cypriot side shows flexibility but not on matters relating to certain principles.

The spokesman said the government would welcome any break in the current impasse but expressed doubt whether the deadlock can be overcome by the end of this phase of talks, on Friday.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the northern third of the island.

Two rounds of UN-led proximity talks, separate meetings of the UN with President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, have already been held since December. A third round is underway in Geneva and fourth round is scheduled for September in the US.

"The timetable of the procedure of the talks until September was agreed between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and President Glafcos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader on 5 July," Papapetrou said, commenting on a statement by Annan's Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto that one does not need anything to see the talks through to September.

This calendar, he added, "is still valid and we are bound by it."

Replying to questions, he said the government wishes to see something substantive emerging from the talks by October and aims at clinching a deal at any time.

He said the President on Wednesday met with his advisers and the party leaders who have accompanied him to Geneva "to have an in depth discussion of the latest developments and take decisions about future moves at the forthcoming meetings with de Soto."

"We are discussing all core issues, the four chapters Annan has defined", Papapetrou said, responding to press questions.

He refrained from further comment because of the news blackout the UN has imposed. The spokesman said "this is a procedure which is in process and we shall judge it by its final result."

Asked if the president handles the talks with flexibility and courage, Papapetrou said the Greek Cypriot side has always displayed flexibility because of its keen wish to see a settlement reached.

"However, there are many issues relating to certain principles and certain safety limits on which there is no room for flexibility," he added.

Referring to the role of foreign envoys in the wings of the UN-led talks, he said it was obvious that the US and Britain play a leading role and added "we would be very pleased if others, especially Russia and the European Union, were to be more actively engaged in this process."

Commenting on remarks US envoy Alfred Moses is said to have made about breaking the deadlock on certain issues, Papapetrou said "it would be utopia to expect that there can be a full break in the impasse in the next few days, until the end of this phase of talks" on Friday.

"We wish the deadlock could be broken even in some areas to see that things are moving in the right direction. We would welcome such a development," he added.

So far, there is no indication that the deadlock would break, he concluded.

The Turkish Cypriot leader and Turkey will continue to be responsible for this impasse because of their intransigence, he said.

[17] Clerides fends off critical press remarks

GENEVA, 03/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The president dismissed reports about the cost of their presence as unfounded and said this should not create any problem in that the future of the country is at stake at the Geneva talks.

"The leaders of the four parties and my advisers here in Geneva, who meet and are briefed everyday, offer significant help to me, at this stage of the talks," the president said in a statement from this Swiss town.

Four parliamentary party leaders are in Geneva for the talks.

Referring to erroneous information about the cost of the presence of the party leaders in Geneva, the president said "even if the numbers quoted in the reports are correct, something which does not correspond to reality, there should be absolutely no problem, taking into consideration the fact that the future of Cyprus is being discussed."

The president expresses surprise at "ironic reports which present the presence of the government in Geneva as a holiday."

"Obviously, those who utter such allegations have never found themselves in a position where they had to face the burden of responsibility, being here and giving a fight for the solution of the Cyprus problem," President Clerides concludes.

The English daily "Cyprus Mail" carried a front-page report on Wednesday that the cost to the taxpayer for the presence of the four party leaders is more than 31,000 Cyprus pounds (1 Cyprus pound is about 1,6 US dollars) and could be as high as 44,600 pounds.

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