Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-09-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to see first budget surplus in 2001

[02] Statements draw opposition fire

[03] Greece signs latest deal for French-made missiles

[04] Greece to send extra infantry unit to Kosovo

[05] Papandreou departs for E.U. ministers' meeting in Evian, France

[06] Greek, Russian officials discuss issues concerning supply of natural gas

[07] Kaklamanis notes flaws of globalization

[08] Reppas slams proposed bill as 'attempt to disorient public'

[09] Council of Hellenes Abroad convenes in new Thessaloniki offices

[10] Holy Synod meets to discuss school curriculum changes and identity card issue

[11] Vartholomeos makes plea for end to controversy that has divided Church and State

[12] Serbian Patriarch awards medal of honor to Greek ambassador

[13] Turkish military chief cites proposals to Greek side

[14] EU Commissioner to present proposals for people with special needs

[15] Trade union report sees unemployment down at 7.5 pct in 2004

[16] Ministry to provide data on social insurance fund investments in the bourse

[17] Greek stocks rebound strongly on ASE

[18] Bond prices edge down in moderate trade

[19] Drachma ends down vs. euro, up vs. dollar

[20] Prime minister, Bank of Greece governor discuss monetary policy

[21] Greece calls for comprehensive approach to single-hull tanker issue

[22] Athens Water reports 7.8 percent rise in H1 turnover

[23] Banca Monte Dei Paschi di Siena buys 5.0 pct stake in Alpha Bank Romania

[24] Alleged 'scam artist' in custody, robbery reported

[25] Experts' report on 27 collapsed buildings due out this year

[26] Head of International Civil Aviation Organization due in Athens

[27] Greece transports 9,500 tonnes of peaches to Serbia

[28] Group claims Polish embassy car torching

[29] Defense minister says Cyprus has the right to join European army

[30] Kyprianou attends summit of parliamentary presidents in New York

[31] Greenpeace activists chain themselves to rails at Presidential Palace

[32] Britain to continue to remind Turkey concerning Loizidou case

[01] Greece to see first budget surplus in 2001

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters after an inner cabinet meeting, Papantoniou also said that in coming years the government would save 1,500 billion drachmas. The sum would be used to help finance reform plans in health and education.

He added that the new budget, which is due to be sent to parliament in October for a vote in December, contained tax relief the ruling PASOK party had pledged before national elections on April 9.

The measures are to raise the tax-exempt ceiling, reduce tax rates, introduce 5.0 percent inflation-linked indexation of the tax scale, increase farmers' and state IKA pensions, and boost welfare and unemployment benefits.

Papantoniou also repeated that the government aimed to achieve a growth rate of 5.0 percent in coming years, attaining real and social convergence with the European Union's developed economies.

"(With inflation at 2.0 percent) we have one of the best combinations of economic returns in the European and world economy," the minister added.

Also attending the inner cabinet meeting were Health and Welfare Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and Labor and Social Security Minister Tassos Yiannitsis.

[02] Statements draw opposition fire

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

"Running contrary to expectations it cultivated before the elections of (economic) redistribution policies for the more vulnerable and for the social state, the government has intensified its tough, one-sided policy at the expense of those who bore the brunt of entry into the euro zone," said Dimitris Papadimoulis, a member of the party's political secretariat.

[03] Greece signs latest deal for French-made missiles

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Delivery of the Exocet MM40 (Block 2) missiles will begin in December 2001 and conclude in latter part of 2004, in line with a building schedule for the three missile patrol boats at a local shipyard west of Athens.

Additionally, the French side also stressed it was ready to supply the Hellenic Air Force's fleet of Dassault-made "Mirage" 2000-5s with the same type of missiles.

According to the defense ministry, Greek firms participating in the offset benefits emanating from the Aerospatiale Matra order include the Elefsina Shipyards, Neorion Shipyards on the island of Syros, the state-run EBO ordnance maker, Denifet, Olympic Tool and Miltech.

(One US dollar equals about 380 drachmas)

[04] Greece to send extra infantry unit to Kosovo

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

[05] Papandreou departs for E.U. ministers' meeting in Evian, France

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

According to a foreign ministry spokesman, the E.U. ministers will discuss issues such as the future of the E.U., the course of enlargement, the European defense and security identity and the Yugoslav crisis.

More specifically, the meeting will examine the course of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) while it may also discuss relations between the E.U. and Turkey, in the light of E.U. Commissioner Guenter Verheugen's recent visit to Ankara.

The Yugoslav crisis, however, is among the main priorities of the French presidency and, along with sending in teams of foreign observers, talks will focus on the upcoming presidential elections in the country on September 24, which the E.U. believes could become the springboard for democratic developments.

The spokesman noted that Greek and French views on Yugoslavia coincide, while on the question of sanctions against the neighboring country, he said these would be discussed and that events had confirmed Greece's position that these should be lifted.

Finally, the spokesman announced that the French E.U. presidency was going to call an international conference on the western Balkans on November 24-25, in which the leaders of the E.U. and the countries of former Yugoslavia would take part.

[06] Greek, Russian officials discuss issues concerning supply of natural gas

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

[07] Kaklamanis notes flaws of globalization

Globalization began as a promising phenomenon but has offered very little to date, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said on Thursday. "Differences between rich and poor are increasing, unemployment and organized crime are on the rise, the environment is being continuously burdened and conflict and tension in international relations have not abated," he said in an address to the UN - sponsored Inter-parliamentary conference in New York. He cited Cyprus as a "characteristic" example of a victim of provocative policies, with its citizens suffering violations of their most fundamental rights during the 26 years since the Turkish invasion of the island. Kaklamanis said that national parliaments were in a position and should contribute to the consolidation of democracy and equality, claiming a leading role in the protection of human rights and individual freedoms.

[08] Reppas slams proposed bill as 'attempt to disorient public'

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

The government spokesman said the bill backed by ND leader Costas Karamanlis created the impression of serving conflicting private interests that were going against each other in order to secure public-sector procurements contracts. According to Reppas, transparency in the public sector was legally secured by a series of laws that fully protect the interests of the Greek state.

[09] Council of Hellenes Abroad convenes in new Thessaloniki offices

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Thursday's session was devoted to organizational matters, while the agenda for Friday includes such issues as a program for medical care in the former Soviet republics, training programs for young ethnic Greeks and forums for youth, women, culture etc.

The medical care program concerns ethnic Greeks in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Albania, where 100 million dollars will be spent on setting up 20 medical centers in these countries.

Three centers already operate in Georgia, the Ukraine and Armenia and provide free treatment to both ethnic Greeks but other citizens of those countries. In Georgia, in particular, several dozen operations for heart problems have been carried out.

Also sitting in on the meetings is the chairman of the parliamentary committee for overseas Greeks, Grigoris Niotis, a number of MPs, Overseas Greeks General Secretary Dimitris Dolis and others. Thursday's meeting was also attended by Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Pashalidis.

[10] Holy Synod meets to discuss school curriculum changes and identity card issue

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

[11] Vartholomeos makes plea for end to controversy that has divided Church and State

ISTANBUL 01/09/2000 (ANA/A. Kourkoulas)

The Patriarch made the statements in Istanbul, after officiating the mass in a church in the city's old quarter.

On Wednesday, President Stephanopoulos had appealed for an end to the conflict that had pitted the Church of Greece and the government against each other - referring to the identity-card crisis and a recent government decision to drop religious studies as an exam subject for nationwide university-entrance exams.

[12] Serbian Patriarch awards medal of honor to Greek ambassador

BELGRADE 01/09/2000 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

The Patriarch underlined that the Greek people supported the Serbian people during a difficult period in their history and thanked the Greek ambassador for his contribution towards strengthening the ties between the two peoples.

[13] Turkish military chief cites proposals to Greek side

ISTANBUL, 01/09/2000 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Meanwhile, the Turkish daily "Radikal" reported that Kivrikoglu said Turkey's general staff "regularly holds talks" with the Greek armed forces' general staff, among others.

Asked by reporters of Greece's intention to purchase a batch of French-made air-to-ground "Scalp" cruise missiles, Kivrikoglu said, "Turkey will take the necessary measures."

[14] EU Commissioner to present proposals for people with special needs

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Diamantopoulou's proposals will chiefly address non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and are expected to stress the rights of people with special needs to contribute to society creatively and not as passive recipients of policy. She is expected to emphasize the importance of education, vocational training and employment in social integration.

[15] Trade union report sees unemployment down at 7.5 pct in 2004

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Savvas Robolis, a professor at the Panteion University of Athens, presenting GSEE's report in Thessaloniki said he expected the unemployment rate to rise to 11.9 percent this year but presented a model to combat unemployment which could contain the unemployment rate to 7.5 percent over the next four years. "Increasing competitiveness and combating unemployment is not achieved through lowering labor cost, deregulating the labor market, industrial relations and the social welfare, but through increasing productivity and upgrading quality in production procedures," GSEE's report said.

Robolis said that according to Eurostat's - the EU's executive agency - figures 20 percent of Greek workers have more than one job, earning 65 percent of the EU's average earnings.

Only 6.0 percent of Greek workers are part-time employed, compared with a 17.4 percent figure in the E.U., due to low-paid jobs in the country.

Robolis said that 86 percent of Greek businesses and one in three industries were operating with multiple working shifts, compared with a 71 percent average rate in the E.U.

GSEE's report also reveals that Greece spends only 0.35 percent of its gross domestic product on labor policies, compared with an average of 1.13 percent in the E.U., ranking one step from bottom in the EU's relative list.

The report said that economic immigrants in Greece were creating jobs for Greek citizens. Professor Robolis said that immigrants working in the agricultural sector helped in increasing the total volume of turnover, while those working in the manufacturing or the construction sectors occupied low-paid jobs for which Greek workers had no interest.

The situation was different, however, in the small- and medium-sized enterprises sector where employers were employing unskilled immigrants paying low wages and no social security contributions, he said.

[16] Ministry to provide data on social insurance fund investments in the bourse

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

State social insurance funds invested 17,360 million drachmas in shares listed on the Athens Stock Exchange in the first four months of 2000, the statement said in response to a question tabled in Parliament by Coalition of the Left deputy Panagiotis Lafazanis.

Meanwhile, the Construction Workers Union said that the government and the Social Security Foundation (IKA) bore a huge responsibility for investing a considerable part of its funds in the bourse, and called for their liquidation.

[17] Greek stocks rebound strongly on ASE

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

Dealers, however, remained cautious over the market's trend reminding of short-lived rebounds in the past.

Turnover exceeded the 100 billion drachmas level, a sign that liquidity may be improving. Buying interest focused on smaller capitalization stocks creating a general upward trend which steadily expanded in blue chip stocks.

The general index ended 3.72 percent higher at 3,557.15 points, recouping part of a 8.75 percent loss in the previous six sessions. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks jumped 3.80 percent to 2,010.09 points and the FTSE/ASE 40 index soared 5.05 percent to 489 points. Turnover was an improved 103.9 billion drachmas.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 614.05 points, up 7.40 percent. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 333 to 10 with another 17 issues unchanged. Hellenic Bottling, Hellenic Telecoms, Alpha Bank, Hellenic Petroleum, Doudos and National Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Equity futures end up, tracking Athens bourse

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 3.80 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 5.05 percent higher.

Turnover was 15.385 billion drachmas.

A total of 2,117 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 8.0 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 3,802 contracts changed hands on turnover of 7.34 billion drachmas.

[18] Bond prices edge down in moderate trade

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.093 percent from 6.039 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 78 basis points from 79 basis points for the two previous trading days.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totaled 72 billion drachmas from 48 billion drachmas in the session before. Of the total, buy orders accounted for 40 billion drachmas of turnover.

[19] Drachma ends down vs. euro, up vs. dollar

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

[20] Prime minister, Bank of Greece governor discuss monetary policy

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

"The result of this conversation was that monetary policy should be eased cautiously as it will have both positive and negative results. It will rekindled investment interest but if interest rates were rapidly lowered there was a risk of overheating in the economy," Reppas said.

[21] Greece calls for comprehensive approach to single-hull tanker issue

Athens, 01/09/2000 (ANA)

The Commission's proposals envisage the withdrawal of single-hull tankers built before 1982 when they reach age 23, and of those built after 1982 when they reach age 28, despite longer operating limits envisaged by the Marpol international convention.

According to a Greek memorandum submitted to the European Commission and the current six-month rotating French presidency, if all 278 tankers affected were included in the plan, 3,295 seamen would lose their jobs and many countries would face supply problems. The total withdrawn capacity would be more than 14 million d.w.t.

The Commission's proposals were prompted by the sinking of an oil tanker off the coast of Brittany in France in 1999, which caused considerable oil pollution.

Merchant Marine Minister Christos Papoutsis said on Thursday that plans to promote safety in sea transportation and environmental protection, in which Greece was prepared to cooperate closely, would have to take seriously into account the competitiveness of the European Union's merchant navy and issues of employment.

"Additionally, due to the international character of the industry, it is necessary for the solutions to be found to be acceptable and applicable worldwide," he added.

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