Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-11-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't proposes new legislation over immigration policy

[02] Tsohatzopoulos heralds changes in Greece's defensive strategy

[03] Athens notes democratic deficit in Albania prior to EU-western Balkan nations summit

[04] Athens tables bilateral agreement with Turkey on combatting crime

[05] Cabinet approves justice bill containing measures for speedier judicature

[06] Anniversary of Athens Poytechnic uprising to be celebrated

[07] OTE becomes national telecoms sponsor for 2004 Olympics

[08] Greek stocks end flat in directionless trade

[09] Greece launches first trade fair in Turkey

[10] National Bank launches new wave of rate cuts

[11] 'Grandmother of New Wave' receives 'Golden Alexander' award

[12] Exhibition on Seferis' life opens in Athens

[13] Collector's edition of noted Byzantine chronicler's work unveiled

[14] Greece to enter into association with EU space organization

[15] Clerides says Cyprus should not be concerned by Turkish threats

[16] Government welcomes EP resolution urging Turkey to withdraw occupation troops from Cyprus

[17] US official on European affairs comments on Cyprus proximity talks

[18] EU candidate countries issue joint statement

[01] Gov't proposes new legislation over immigration policy

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

Conversely, any undocumented non-EU foreigner who doesnt meet the proposed criteria for residency and work permits must abandon the country, Papandreou told reporters on Thursday, shortly after the end of a Cabinet meeting held specifically to discuss the bills provisions.

Foreigners illegally residing in Greece would have to submit a photocopy of their valid passport along with at least one official document verifying their two-year residency in Greece. A residency permit would then be issued if within six months from the moment they submit their application they also present proof from police authorities of an unblemished criminal record and verification of their employment.

Other provisions in the proposed bill include the creation of labor recruitment centers at Greek consulates in specific immigrant-generating countries, whereas responsibility for the issuance of residency permits would shift from police precincts to central government-appointed regional general secretaries, among others.

Those who fail to meet the criteria will be considered illegal and be treated as such.

The bill also proposes that immigrants could request for the families to enter Greece legally once they have legally resided in Greece for three years, in the event that those members would reside with that person and can provide proof that he or she can support them financially.

The specific article of the bill states that spouses and children under the age of 18 may be included in such a petition, which would have to be submitted at the municipality of his residence that in turn would submit them to the relevant immigration authorities.

Over the last decade Greece has been transformed into a country that once sent emigrants abroad to a desired destination for thousands of would-be immigrants, mainly from the surrounding Balkans and former Soviet states, although waves of Third World nationals have in recent years attempted to cross into the country from neighboring Turkey in order to either seek a better fortune here or as the first stop before reaching another European Union destination.

[02] Tsohatzopoulos heralds changes in Greece's defensive strategy

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

"The new security environment formulating in the wider geopolitical region to which we belong offers Greece the ability to emerge as a European security and stability pillar, which will influence conditions of peace in the region," Tsohatzopoulos said. He said that the restructuring of the Greek armed forces aims at allowing the country to fully participate in the European Union's policy on security and defense.

The defense minister underlined the need for changes in the armed forces' infrastructure, technology, training and structure.

He added that the necessity for change stems from Greece's participation in the European defense and security systems, aiming to confront crises in the region.

He stressed that the changes would lead to the upgrading of Greece's role, as well as the prospect of positive developments in the country's national issues.

[03] Athens notes democratic deficit in Albania prior to EU-western Balkan nations summit

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

According to foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis, ministry general secretary George Savvaidis is in Tirana and will be meeting with Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Foreign Minister Pascal Milo on Thursday to convey messages from their Greek counterparts Costas Simitis and George Papandreou, respectively.

Beglitis said the messages note the need for democratic reforms in Albania to proceed more quickly, for the human rights and property of Albania's ethnic Greek population to be respected and for additional measures by Albanian officials to police the borders with Greece.

The spokesman said that a message on similar lines had been sent by Papandreou to the EU's foreign affairs Commissioner, Chris Patten, in which Papandreou points out the problems created by Albania's democratic deficit.

Beglitis said these actions had been prompted by the irregularities noted during recent municipal elections in the Albanian district of Himare, where a sizeable portion of the Greek minority lives, and were linked to the upcoming EU-western Balkans summit, where Europe would begin the process of preparing agreements of association and stabilization with Albania and other countries in the region.

The foreign ministry spokesman also announced that a Balkan Pact foreign ministers' meeting, to be held next Tuesday in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, had been proposed by Greece in order to draft a text that would then be presented to a Zagreb summit meeting of western Balkan nations.

The text would note the need to begin an institutional dialogue between the Balkan Pact countries and the EU. Should the foreign ministers' meeting in Skopje not finally take place, Beglitis added, FYROM Foreign Minister Alexander Dimitrov and Yugoslav Foreign Minister Miodrag Zivanovic had asked to visit Athens for talks with the Greek government.

Participants of the Balkan Pact include Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Zagreb summit, on the other hand, will only include Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia, FYROM and Albania.

[04] Athens tables bilateral agreement with Turkey on combatting crime

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

Specifically, the pact foresees cooperation by the two countries' law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism, organized crime, drugs and weapons smuggling, illegal immigration and money laundering.

In terms of anti-terrorism provisions, Article III of the pact envisions the taking of joint measures to block terrorist actions, as well as assessment and sharing of intelligence and information.

[05] Cabinet approves justice bill containing measures for speedier judicature

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

He said that the government aimed at freeing up court backlog of misdemeanor cases in lower courts, adding that court fees would not increase as was suggested since the government decided that such a move would allow only wealthy individuals to seek justice.

He said, however, that the litigant to lose the case would have to pay court costs, as in such a manner frivolous lawsuits may be minimized.

"Our basic aim is to make judicature more effective, both in speed and in essence", the minister said.

Stathopoulos also announced that construction of eight new prisons would be completed within the next two and a half years, adding that funding for a study on the location of new prisons was approved.

[06] Anniversary of Athens Poytechnic uprising to be celebrated

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

[07] OTE becomes national telecoms sponsor for 2004 Olympics

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

The subsidiaries of listed OTE are Cosmote, its mobile telephone arm, and OteNet, an Internet services provider.

According to sources, OTE will pay 10 billion drachmas in cash for becoming national sponsor, and contribute another 10 billion drachmas' worth of equipment, goods and services.

The committee's president, Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, signed the contract with OTE chairman Nikos Manasis at a ceremony the same day attended by Transport and Communications Minister Christos Verelis.

[08] Greek stocks end flat in directionless trade

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.13 percent higher at 3,476.94 points, after moving within the 3,418.93-3,515.38 points range throughout the session.

Turnover was an improved 54.70 billion drachmas. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.08 percent at 1,982.53 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.15 percent to 416.15 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 7,181.82 -0.44% Leasing: 535.21 +1.17% Insurance: 1,604.16 +0.34% Investment: 1,247.27 +1.12% Construction: 1,395.52 -1.14% Industrials: 2,130.49 +0.62% Miscellaneous: 3,181.58 -0.42% Holding: 4,232.73 +1.76%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 361.45 points, up 0.12 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 194 to 135 with another 25 issues unchanged.

Hellenic Telecoms' share price ended 2.9 percent off at 6,050 drachmas, a new low for the year.

Hellenic Telecoms, Athenian Holdings, Alpha Bank, National Bank and Eurobank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in Drs): National Bank: 13,100 Alpha Bank: 12,780 Commercial Bank:

17,550 Eurobank: 9,300 Piraeus Bank: 5,500 Lambrakis Press: 6,250 Heracles Cement: 4,770 Titan Cement (c): 14,090 Hellenic Telecoms: 6,050 Panafon: 3,100 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,640 Attica Enterprises: 3,000 Intracom: 9,980 Minoan Lines: 1,805 Hellenic Bottling: 5,340

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

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.08 percent lower, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.15 percent lower.

Turnover was 23.1 billion drachmas.

A total of 5,176 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 20.8 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 1,383 contracts changed hands on turnover of 2.3 billion drachmas.

Bond prices rise in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in moderate trade focusing on 20-year securities and short-term paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.86 percent from 5.88 percent a day earlier.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 69 basis points from 70 basis points in the last five sessions.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 96 billion drachmas from 60 billion drachmas in the trading day before.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

Drachma/dollar fixing rate moves lower on Thursday: The drachma eased moderately against the US dollar on Thursday reflecting pressures on the euro/dollar rate in international markets ahead of an European Central Bank's meeting to discuss monetary policy.

The Greek currency eased to 396.440 drachmas against the dollar at the day's fixing, from 395.760 drachmas the previous day.

The drachma was stable against the euro currency at 340.180 drachmas per euro.

First sale of bonds to lower the public debt goes well: The government on Thursday held its first sale of bonds linked to future state revenue from the Deposits and Loans Fund that will help to pay off the public debt, the finance ministry said in a statement.

On issue are around 250 billion drachmas' worth of paper, which have been classed A2 and A- by Moody's and Standard & Poor's, the international ratings agencies.

Handling the issue were BNP Pariahs, Deutschebank AG, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Merril Lynch and NBG International.

[09] Greece launches first trade fair in Turkey

ISTANBUL, 17/11/2000 (ANA/A. Kourkoulas)

Attending the inauguration of the fair, which ends on Sunday, was Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis.

"The message of my presence here is backing for business cooperation between Greece and Turkey," Paschalidis said.

On Wednesday, Paschalidis told a news conference in Istanbul, the fair's venue, that the Greek government backed business cooperation between the two countries.

Organized by Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, the event spans a wide range of sectors including transport, building materials, plastics, agricultural machinery and dairy products.

Among companies and trade groups taking part are the Association of Northern Greek Industrialists, the Association of Northern Greek Exporters, the National Bank of Greece and Thessaloniki Port Authority.

[10] National Bank launches new wave of rate cuts

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

National's savings deposit rate falls to 4.25 percent and its base operating capital loan rate to 8.50 percent.

In addition, the blue chip bank's floating consumer loan rate drops 25 basis points to 12.25 percent from 12.50 percent.

[11] 'Grandmother of New Wave' receives 'Golden Alexander' award

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

The award ceremony took place at 8:00 p.m. at the city's Olympion Cinema. The ceremony followed by the screening of Varda's film "Don't throw away anything."

Agnes Varda was born in 1928 to a Greek father and French mother, grew up in Belgium and studied in Paris.

She directed her first film in 1954 and is widely hailed as "the grandmother of French New Wave". In 1985 she received the Venice Film Festival's 'Golden Lion' award for her film "Vagabond: Without roof or rule".

A number of her films are to be screened during the course of the Thessaloniki film festival's tribute to her work.

Up to 25,000 have watched film screenings so far: More than 25,000 people had watched the films screened over the course of the 41st Thessaloniki Film Festival by Thursday, the seventh day of the festival.

According to organizers, another 38 films would be shown on Thursday in the seven cinemas hosting the festival.

Quite a lot of interest has also been shown in the books on the film industry and its people published by the festival in cooperation various publishing houses.

Among these is a 355-page illustrated edition on director Theodoros Angelopoulos, the subject this year's tribute by the festival, published by Kastaniotis and with a full list of his films, as well as essays about his work by Greek and foreign film critics.

Other editions include one on Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski - also the subject of a festival tribute - and the recently deceased cinema theorist Vasilis Rafailidis, filmmaker Dinos Katsouridis and a special tome on Greek cinematographic bibliography.

[12] Exhibition on Seferis' life opens in Athens

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

The exhibition was organized by the culture ministry and the municipality of Athens in honor of the Nobel Prize winning poet, who was born in Ismir and died in Athens in 1971, as 2000 was proclaimed the "Year of Seferis".

The material of the exhibition showcases the life of the poet and diplomat, as Seferis was an employee of the Foreign Service.

The exhibition will remain open until Dec. 20.

[13] Collector's edition of noted Byzantine chronicler's work unveiled

Athens, 17/11/2000 (ANA)

Three thousand numbered copies of Byzantine high official's Ioannis Skylitzis' "Synopsis Historion - Codex 26-2" are set to go on sale in the country.

Skylitzis' chronicles remained stored in the library of a Sicilian monastery for centuries before being transported to the National Library of Madrid. The collector's edition was unveiled on Thursday at the Old Parliament Building in downtown Athens, where a message by Spain's culture minister, Luis Alberto de Cuenca, was read out by Madrid's envoy to Athens, Javier Jiminez Ugarte.

[14] Greece to enter into association with EU space organization

BRUSSELS, 17/11/2000 (ANA - B. Demiris, G. Zitouniati)

Following the meeting of the European Union Research and Development Ministers' Council, Dianelos said that Greek achievements in the sector were better than initially expected, which proves the ability of Greek researchers to compete in an environment of high technology.

During the meeting the Council discussed the creation of a European Space for Research and Development.

[15] Clerides says Cyprus should not be concerned by Turkish threats

NICOSIA, 17/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

He was speaking to the press after a meeting with high-ranking clerics from the region who are in Cyprus for the Major Synod aiming at solving the problems facing the Church of Cyprus.

President Clerides was asked to comment on statements by Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem that Cyprus might turn into another "Kosovo" or another "Bosnia", if two separate states are not recognized on the island.

He said the Turkish prime minister and foreign minister are trying to create the impression that Cyprus will turn into another "Kosovo" in a bid to achieve "their own goals".

The Cyprus people must not "fall in the trap" and be concerned about these statements, President Clerides pointed out.

[16] Government welcomes EP resolution urging Turkey to withdraw occupation troops from Cyprus

NICOSIA, 17/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

It calls upon Turkey to withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus and contribute without preconditions in the creation of a convenient climate for the talks between the two communities of the island, aiming at reaching a comprehensive settlement in line with UN decisions and resolutions.

Commenting on Thursday on EP's resolution, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou described it as "very positive", adding it is in the right direction and strengthens the positive climate for Cyprus created by other recent EP decisions.

Papapetrou expressed confidence that the EU and its institutional bodies are turning into an important factor regarding the Cyprus problem, expressing the hope that "the EU will play the role of a catalyst".

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.

[17] US official on European affairs comments on Cyprus proximity talks

NICOSIA, 17/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking in a telephone intervention from Washington at a discussion organized on Wednesday by the Cyprus Union of Municipalities, Associations and Organizations of the Kyrenia area, Blinken urged all those involved in a Cyprus settlement to keep cool, keep calm, keep working, as "we are on a positive track".

He said "it was just about a year ago that the Cyprus proximity talks were re-instituted under UN auspices after a stalemate of more than two years" and that "getting these talks, imperfect as they may be, off the ground is something that we worked very-very hard on".

Blinken added that "if you asked people 18 months or two years ago whether there would be talks, whether we would get the parties to come to New York on a couple of occasions, whether we would get them to engage, begin to engage in substantive issues, I think people would have been very skeptical".

He noted "the fact of the matter is over the past year, working very closely with the UN and the UK and other interested parties, we have all been able to achieve just that" and "it seems to me that now, the critical thing that has to happen, and the Administration in its remaining time in office and the next Administration will strongly support, is moving the talks that we have seen over the past year into substantive negotiations, that can lead finally to a settlement of the Cyprus problem".

[18] EU candidate countries issue joint statement

NICOSIA, 17/11/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Cyprus was represented by Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia also attended the meeting.

Foreign ministers reviewed the progress of their countries' membership negotiations and discussed accession procedures and the prospects of the EU enlargement.

The Foreign ministers welcomed the commitment undertaken by the "15" EU member states in Biarritz regarding EU institutional reforms, which would allow the Union to accept new members by the end of 2002.

They also welcomed the EU report on enlargement strategy, which includes a program to speed up accession negotiations. The Foreign Ministers of the six candidate countries for accession into the EU will hold their next meeting in May 2001 in Prague.

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