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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-05-16

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 16/05/1997 (ANA)


MAIN HEADLINES

  • Greece awaits UN initiative on Cyprus problem
  • G. Papandreou: No negotiation of Greek sovereign rights
  • Gov't denies US moratorium on arms deliveries
  • Greece reacts to latest tension in Albania
  • Former ND premier praises Simitis' policies
  • Tobacco traders urged to honour contracts with producers
  • Europarliament's Fisheries Committee to visit Kos, Kalymnos
  • Athens mayor to address Amsterdam meeting
  • Ian Holm as king Lear in Thessaloniki theatre
  • Garbage strike continues
  • Gov't to support airline co. to be formed by tour operators
  • Ionian Bank 'treasure' surfaces
  • Greece elected to vice-presidency of UNESCO committee
  • Special stamp series for IAAF championships in Athens
  • Weather
  • Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece awaits UN initiative on Cyprus problem

Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday chaired a meeting attended by the leadership of the foreign and defence ministries that focused on the latest developments on the Cyprus question as well as issues concerning the "committee of experts" and Greek-Turkish relations.

On the question of Cyprus, reports said the government is awaiting an initiative by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who intends to invite Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash over the summer for a start to direct talks.

On Monday, the UN secretary general's envoy, Sir Kieran Prendergast, will visit Athens for talks with Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis. Sir Kieran will also visit Turkey.

The Greek side of the "committee of experts" has already started work to prepare the document it will send to the European Union's Dutch presidency, with Turkey doing likewise.

An in-depth discussion was held on Greek-Turkish relations and, according to sources, extensive reference was made to NATO's involvement in the creation of confidence-building measures between Greece and Turkey. Satisfaction was expressed over figures gathered by NATO in connection with national airspace violations by Turkish aircraft.

NATO headquarters in Naples had been receiving a Reconnaissance Aircraft Projector (RAP) image of the Aegean for about three months with the consent of both Greece and Turkey. Reports reveal that collected information absolutely vindicates Greece, which had pointed out the Turkish violations long ago. It is noteworthy that about 80 per cent of these violations take place even further than six miles inside Greek airspace.

According to reliable sources, the government intends to call on NATO to exert pressure on Turkey to stop airspace violations.

G. Papandreou: No negotiation of Greek sovereign rights

Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday reiterated Athens' firm position not to negotiate any of its sovereign rights, saying the government never fails to clearly state Greek positions during international contacts.

He made the statement in response to a tabled Parliament question by main opposition New Democracy deputy Ioannis Varvitsiotis regarding recent meetings by the foreign ministry's political leadership with their Turkish counterparts, as well as the "committee of experts" Athens and Ankara recently agreed to form.

Noting what he called a "provocative Turkish stance," Mr. Varvitsiotis said "the government was sliding into a Greek-Turkish dialogue without conditions and terms."

Mr. Papandreou said Athens had reacted immediately to the "unacceptable statements" of the Turkish Foreign Undersecretary Inal Batu, regarding the sovereignty of the island of Gavdos (south of Crete) with demarches and briefings to foreign governments.

Mr. Papandreou said "there is no negotiation of our national sovereign rights. At the meetings with our counterparts," he added, "we reiterate the clear Greek positions." "This dialogue cannot be confused with negotiations of our sovereign rights," he said.

Gov't denies US moratorium on arms deliveries

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has denied as "absolutely false" press reports of a delay in the delivery of weapons systems to Greece from the United States.

"These reports have nothing to do with reality," he said.

Referring to weapons systems scheduled to be ordered, Mr. Reppas said a study of these systems is being completed but no contact has been made with anyone so far, either a government or agent. He added that very often certain reports on the issue reflect the aims of interested third parties.

Greece reacts to latest tension in Albania

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos has taken steps to aid in the defusing of tension created in Albania due to the voting of a controversial electoral law backed by embattled Albanian President Sali Berisha.

Opposition parties in Albania and several western countries have expressed objections to the new electoral law.

Mr. Pangalos last night spoke with Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) special envoy Franz Vranitzky, Italian Foreign Minsiter Lamberto Dini, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana and Mr. Berisha.

He called on all to undertake efforts in order for elections in the neighbouring country to be held as stated at the end of June.

According to reports, Mr. Pangalos asked the Albanian president not to lead his country into the elections under the law, which was passed on Tuesday, and to accept a compromise that would satisfy all sides.

Former ND premier praises Simitis' policies

The government yesterday welcomed comments from a former ND prime minister that Prime Minister Costas Simitis' policies would make the country prosperous.

"It is good that support is offered from rivals to the prime minister in his effort to further improve the country's position," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday when asked to comment on a statement by former New Democracy prime minist er George Rallis.

Mr. Rallis surprised those attending the official launching of the archives of former president Constantine Karamanlis on Wednesday night by saying that if "(late PASOK founder and former prime minister) Andreas Papandreou...had followed the policy that Costas Simitis is following today, then Greece would have been a prospering country".

The comments caused dissatisfaction and discontent in the main opposition New Democracy party.

Tobacco traders urged to honour contracts with producers

Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas yesterday appealed to wholesale tobacco traders and tobacco manufacturers to honour contracts they signed with producers last year and to receive tobacco shipments within the new deadline obtained from the European Union.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to the 14th DETROP exhibition in Thessaloniki, Mr. Tzoumakas reminded that contracts constitute an institutional element for the EU, adding that whoever violates them will face sanctions.

"Our position is clear. If they do not receive the tobacco by the last day of the deadline, which after the new extension comes to an end seven days from today, then there will be sanctions and even a black list for the next year," Mr. Tzoumakas warned,adding that "some will not be able to buy even a kilo."

In another development, an announcement by the General Confederation of Agricultural Unions of Greece called for government intervention to enable the sale of large quantities of tobacco, which have remained unsold since the deadline for trade deals end ed yesterday.

Europarliament's Fisheries Committee to visit Kos, Kalymnos

An eight-member delegation of the Europarliament's Fisheries Committee, adopting a proposal by Greek Eurodeputy Ioannis Roubatis, is to visit the Aegean islands of Kos and Kalymnos over the weekend in order to be briefed on the problems of coastal fishing , fish farming and of traditional sponge gathering.

The delegation is to meet with officials in the agriculture and merchant marine ministries, local self-administration officials in the Dodecanese and the representatives of the region's fishermen's trade unions.

Athens mayor to address Amsterdam meeting

Athens Mayor and president of the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities of Greece (KEDKE), Dimitris Avramopoulos, will leave for Amsterdam today at the head of a delegation of local administration officials to attend one of the more crucial meet ings focusing on policy of European local administration organisations after the Maastricht Treaty.

Mr. Avramopoulos will be one of three speakers on the issue of "Regions and Cities, a Key Role in Employment."

Ian Holm as King Lear in Thessaloniki theatre

Internationally-renowned British actor Ian Holm appears as King Lear in the British Royal National Theatre production in Thessaloniki, in the framework of the city's 1997 Cultural Capital of Europe events.

The performances, to be held on May 28, 29, 30 and 31, have been organised in cooperation with the British Council and the Cultural Capital Organisation.

Garbage strike continues

The mounds of garbage already piled up in street corners in Athens will probably grow higher in the coming days, as municipal workers last night decided to extend their strike indefinitely, while also keeping the Ano Liosia landfill closed.

The decision came after an amendment under which part-time municipal workers would have received full-time contracts was withdrawn in Parliament, following objections by ruling PASOK party deputies.

Workers at the landfill are scheduled to meet today in order to decide upon the further extention of strike action.

Gov't to support airline co. to be formed by tour operators

Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT) Secretary General Nikos Skoulas said yesterday that the government will fully support Greek tour operators if they go ahead with the appropriate establishment of a combined shareholding airline company, in order to reduce the dependence of Greek tourism on foreign tour operators.

Currently, 82 per cent of tourists arrive in Greece by plane, most of them using charter flights.

Mr. Skoulas made the statement during a meeting between the heads of all hoteliers' associations in the country, called by the Panhellenic Hoteliers Association.

During the meeting, the majority vote decision was confirmed to not submit to pressures from foreign tour operators calling for price reductions in Greek hotels by up to 10 per cent for 1998.

Hoteliers decided to increase their prices by a maximun of 5 per cent in relation to this year.

Ionian Bank `treasure` surfaces

A large cache of ancient coins have apparently surfaced in the vault of Ionian Bank headquarters in Athens.

The find was publicised by the Ionian Bank employees' trade union newsletter, which said a Greek national had deposited about 40 years ago a large box, roughly the size of a desk, full of ancient coins and had not returned since.

According to the publication, "during the current decade, the bank, while clearing pending issues in the central safety deposit boxes, through completely legal channels, appropriated the contents of safes which included the box in question, the contents of which are estimated to be worth more than 10 billion drachmas."

The bank refused to give any details of the coin collection, citing customer confidentiality. "According to Greek legislation, various articles periodically become the property or fall into the possession of the banks," it added.

Greece elected to vice-presidency of UNESCO committee

Greece was yesterday elected to the vice-presidency of the UNESCO inter- governmental committee responsible for the international campaign to establish a Museum of Nubian Civilisation in Aswan and a National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation in Cairo.

The committee, which convened yesterday in Aswan, was established by the UNESCO General Assembly to fulfil a consultative role in the planning, execution and operation of the two museums. Eleni Methodiou, consultant on cultural issues to the UNESCO permanent representation, and Niki Tselenti, an archaeologist at the culture ministry, will sit on the committee.

Special stamp series for IAAF championships in Athens

Designs for a special series of stamps commemorating the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Athens was presented yesterday during a meeting of the organising committee. The IAAF championships are to be held in Athens between Aug. 1-10. The stamps will all bear the logo of the championships as a background, and will present various scenes from ancient and modern track and field events. The design of the medals to be awarded to athletes and commemorative medals to be sold to the public has been assigned to artist Panayiotis Gravvalos.

WEATHER

Fine weather is forecast for most parts of Greece today, except in the south and north where there will be scattered clouds. Winds will be northerly, light to moderate, turning strong in the Aegean Sea. Athens will be sunny and hot with temperatures between 19-30C. Thessaloniki will also be sunny with some local clouds and temperatures from 15-29C.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Thursday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 267.900 Pound sterling 439.238 Cyprus pd 531.712 French franc 47.060 Swiss franc 187.751 German mark 158.462 Italian lira (100) 16.106 Yen (100) 231.910 Canadian dlr. 193.142 Australian dlr. 207.923 Irish Punt 410.589 Belgian franc 7.682 Finnish mark 52.467 Dutch guilder 141.062 Danish kr. 41.654 Swedish kr. 35.448 Norwegian kr. 38.152 Austrian sch. 22.536 Spanish peseta 1.878 Port. Escudo 1.573

(C.E.)


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