NEWS IN DETAIL

Pangalos lightning visit and talks in Skopje, Belgrade

The foreign minister's trip to Skopje and Belgrade was part of Athens' initiative to promote peace, stability and development in the region, in light of the recent political crisis in Albania.

Mr. Pangalos' visit was the first ever to FYROM by a Greek minister, since the landlocked state declared its independence in 1991. Greece objects to the use of the name "Macedonia" by the neighbouring country, an issue which is the subject of ongoing UN -mediated negotiations between the two nations.

In Skopje, Mr. Pangalos met FYROM President Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branco Crvenkovski, Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frckovski and the ministers of defence and the interior. Mr. Pangalos told a press conference afterwards that "the situation in the region made it necessary for the Greek government to have direct consultations" with FYROM.

Talks with Milosevic, Milutinovic

Mr. Pangalos stated afterwards that there was agreement on three points: To seek promotion of security and political stability through the restoration of democratic procedures in Albania; that there should be strict policing of borders to avert side-eff ects from the crisis -- such as smuggling, arms and drugs running -- and that there should be cooperation between the two countries' ministries of defence and public order.

He also reported it was agreed there should be frequent contacts among Greece, Yugoslavia and FYROM, with a view to formulating a common position at the meeting of Balkan foreign ministers in Thessaloniki on June 9, and the need to promote an internatio nal initiative that will help the former communist countries of eastern Europe in their transition to social cohesion, democracy and political freedoms. Mr. Pangalos added the spilling over of the Albanian crisis into the Serbian province of Kosovo a nd other areas of Yugoslavia should be averted at any cost.

Regarding his stopover in Skopje, Mr. Pangalos described his reception as "enthusiastic", and added that the talks focused on the protection of Greek exports and the sizeable Greek private investment in FYROM, cooperation in the fields of river water management and crime, as well as the issue of the name for the former Yugoslav republic.

"The issue of the name is being discussed at the UN, and we could not substitute for the UN and its procedures. But the intention to promote the search for a commonly acceptable solution was strongly expressed at all levels, by the foreign minister, the prime minister, and by President Gligorov himself," he said before leaving Belgrade, adding that he would be briefing the EU on the results of his trip to both capitals.

Athens statements

Regarding the issue of the name for FYROM, he said both the Greek delegation and the hosts in Skopje "avoided naming the country we were visiting."

Concerning the Albanian crisis, he reported that both Serbia and FYROM consider the presence of a force that will contribute to the restoration of order as "desirable", and that following the discussions, he had formed the view that contrary to what was widely believed, the insurgency had a discouraging effect on the nationalist circles both inside and outside these countries.

Mr. Pangalos said that FYROM President Kiro Gligorov extended an invitation to Prime Minister Costas Simitis to visit his country.

Gligorov cites common views of Athens, Skopje on regional goals

The statement also stresses the common desire of both countries for full development of bilateral relations in all areas.

Mr. Gligorov, the announcement adds, believes that the first visit by a Greek minister to FYROM is a real turning point for the future friendly and close relations and the overall cooperation between the two nations.

Education, cultural cooperation renewed

Under the plan, there will be cooperation between universities in the two countries, student exchange programmes and the participation in cultural events.

The Greek and Serbian languages will be taught in the two countries' universities, while history and geography will be presented in an impartial manner in school textbooks.

Ukrainian parliamentary delegation in Thessaloniki

During the meeting, Mr. Petsalnikos stressed that there is a broad field for economic cooperation between the two countries.

The minister also stressed the role Greece can play as an EU member in the economic development of Balkan and Black Sea countries. He added that the Interbalkan Black Sea Business Centre and the Commerce and Black Sea Development Bank, both based in The ssaloniki, are a stable base for facilitating development and cooperation.

"Of course, the recent economic and political events which have occurred in Albania, and the negative economic situation in Bulgaria, for which the Greek government took important initiatives, create additional difficulties, but these commitments do not in any measures mean the deceleration of cooperation," the minister said.

The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Gennadi Vasiliyev said that the investment climate was improving and that an increase in foreign investments was expected.

Gov`t making efforts to boost competitiveness in shipping

Mr. Soumakis was speaking on the occasion of the prime minister's meeting with Greek shipowners' representatives earlier this week, during which the Prime Minister proposed trilateral talks aimed at solving the problems.

The premier proposed a dialogue between the Greek Shipowners Union, the Panhellenic Seamen Federation and the merchant marine ministry to find solutions to the problems of competitiveness and unemployment.

The minister further announced that electronic reservations systems on coastal shipping will go into effect on April 1.

Gov't determined to privatise ailing state enterprises

"The state cannot play the role of businessman. This logic was tried and failed, with consequences both as regards unemployment and for viable concerns, which faced unfair competition from state-backed enterprises," she said in Iraklio, Crete.

She also referred to a planned aggressive policy by DEP, with the establishment of subsidiaries that will cooperate with private concerns to create electrical power units, both in Greece and other Balkan countries.

Registered unemployment figure marks slight increase

In February 1997, unemployed individuals registered with OAED totalled 226, 273 compared to 221,192 in February 1996. In the past year there were 5,081 more unemployed. However, the rate of increase appears to be slowing down between February 1995 and February 1996 when unemployment increased by 0.91 per cent, while between February 1996 and the corresponding month this year the increase was 0.24 per cent. OAED stated that in February 1997, 13,221 people were dismissed from their work and 30,994 were hi red, bringing to 2, 218,492 individuals employed - compared to 2,207,619 last year. In OAED's view, this trend means that structural measures taken against unemployment are beginning to bear fruit. The labour ministry's leadership had predicted stabilisation in the number of unemployed and a slight decrease at the end of 1997.

EU official says absorption rates satisfactory

Cohesion Fund disbursements to Greece totalled 440 million Ecu in 1996 and 128 million Ecu in the first few months of 1997, Mr. Vestrynge told a press conference at the offices of the European Commission in Athens.

The delays, he said, have been caused by the failure to prepare studies, such as in the case of the Evinos River project, or for reasons pertaining to archaeological concerns, as in the case of the Spata airport.

Some delays though were due to the bureaucratic inflexibility of state services, he said.

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