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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-04

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, 04/06/1997 (ANA)


MAIN HEADLINES

  • Pangalos tells Albanians: Cancelling elections spells 'collective
  • suicide'
  • Greece enjoys the cleanest beaches in Europe
  • ND leader to visit Brussels, Luxenbourg
  • Greek election observers leave for Algeria
  • China's interest on Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations noted
  • Gov't on centre-left, French elections
  • Another alleged transit fuel scam brought before justice
  • New telecommunications network launched
  • Athens bourse rebounds strongly
  • Initiative on farm exports in Nordic countries
  • Europarliament committee debates sponge fishing in Greece
  • New investment plans for eastern Macedonia, Thrace
  • Weather
  • Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Pangalos tells Albanians: Cancelling elections spells 'collective suicide'

A possible cancellation of Albania's national elections on June 29 would constitute an "act of collective suicide" and spell disaster for the neighbouring country, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos warned yesterday.

Speaking at a press conference at the end of his one-day visit to the Albanian capital, Mr. Pangalos said that "if elections were not held in the best possible way, we would have an act of collective suicide, we would have a general catastrophe of Albania for many years".

"All Albanian parties intend to participate in the elections," he explained, adding that elections were the only way out the country had from its current severe crisis.

Mr. Pangalos met separately with Albanian President Sali Berisha, Prime Minister Bashkim Fino, Foreign Minister Arian Starova, opposition Socialist Party leader Fatos Nano and other Albanian party leaders, including those of the predominately ethnic Greek party "Omonia".

Informed sources said Mr. Fino and Mr. Starova expressed concern about the recent flurry of bomb attacks in Albania. Both reportedly asked Mr. Pangalos for Greece's help in reorganising the police force and customs authorities.

Mr. Pangalos also held brief talks with the chief of multinational forces in Albania, Italian Admiral Forlani who assured him that security measures will be strengthened in the south of the country by detachments of the multinational force, in light of the upcoming general elections.

Mr. Pangalos called on Adm. Forlani to have patrols increased along the Kakavia-Gjirokaster-Sarande and Elbasan-Korce motorways, namely, the two motorways from which the main bulk of Albanians living in Greece are expected to pass to vote in their country.

He said Greece believed the number of election observers should be expanded, and would send the largest number.

"For Albanians wishing to travel to Albania to vote, we have decided to help and will supply them with some document, regardless of their legal status. This document will allow them to come to Albania to vote and return to Greece within a month," Mr. Pangalos said.

The Greek minister visited Greek troops stationed in Albania as part of the multinational protection force later in the day.

Greece enjoys the cleanest beaches in Europe

More than 90,000 tons of garbage were collected in 1996 from approximately 390 beaches in seven prefectures around Greece, while 900 hectares of coastline were cleaned up, according to Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis.

Speaking ahead of the World Environment Day tomorrow, which is dedicated to the marine environment, Mr. Laliotis said that Greece enjoys the cleanest waters in the European Union, although he noted that further improvements could be made.

For this purpose the ministry had earmarked 14 billion drachmas by the end of 1998 to clean up beaches and to purchase equipment.

Mr. Laliotis said that according to last year's figures, 98 per cent of the country's beaches met standards of a European Union directive, while Greece had received 311 "blue flags" designating safe and clean beaches.

ND leader to visit Brussels, Luxembourg

Main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis leaves today on a three-day visit to Brussels and Luxembourg to address the European People's Party (EPP) plenary session today. He is also expected to meet with European Commission President Jacques Santer and several EU commissioners while in Brussels.

On Friday he will visit Luxembourg, which assumes the European Union presidency on July 1. A visit with Luxembourg's prime minister has not been confirmed.

The ND leader is due to return to Athens on Saturday.

Greek election observers leave for Algeria

A Greek delegation of deputies and officials from the ministries of the interior and foreign affairs left for Algeria yesterday to observe the national elections in the North African country on Thursday.

The group is participating within the United Nations election monitoring group.

According to a foreign ministry statement, the 15 observers are being sent to Algeria following a request by that country's government.

"We believe that the Greek observers, along with their colleagues from other countries, will contribute decisively to the free expression of the will of the Algerian people and through this to the establishment of democracy in our friendly country," the statement read.

China's interest on Cyprus, Greek-Turkish relations noted

Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis was assured yesterday by his Chinese counterpart Li Zhiaoyang of Beijing's interest on the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish relations.

The Chinese official also reiterated Beijing's support for Greece's bid to become a member of the United Nations Security Council for the period 1999- 2000, a foreign ministry announcement said.

Mr. Li Zhiaoyang is accompanying the president of the People's Republic of China's Consultative Conference, Li Ruihuan, on an official visit to Greece. He discussed bilateral relations with Mr. Kranioditis and agreed that the two countries should establish regular meetings at a ministerial level.

Mr. Kranidiotis briefed his counterpart on Greece's objectives and aspirations in the European Union, the situation in the Balkans, recent developments in the Middle East.

He also set out Greek positions on the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations, requesting more active support from the People's Republic of China - a permanent Security Council member - in efforts being made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Gov't on centre-left, French elections

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that the policy followed by the government safeguards social cohesion and institutions of social solidarity in a modern society such as that of Greece.

He was replying to relevant questions also related to assessments being made on the results of the recent French general elections.

Mr. Reppas said this policy is the most suitable to pursue these targets at economic and social level, adding that Greece is probably the sole European Union country which has managed to improve economic indicators and at the same time secure a level of social prosperity and solidarity.

He expressed the assessment that more friendly conditions will exist in the international environment (following the victory of centre-left forces in France) for this policy to be exercised and that Athens has played a leading role in activities concern ing Europe's social image.

Another alleged transit fuel scam brought before justice

A representative of a Piraeus-based fuel supplier, Star Powell has been charged with allegedly smuggling transit fuel, with estimated tax and duty losses for the state totalling 387.9 million drachmas. Some 4.42 million litres of petroleum were reportedly sold illegally.

The new case of transit fuel smuggling employing the method of mock deliveries involves 353 fuel receipt vouchers from yachts anchored at the marinas of Floisvos, Zea and Glyfada over the 1994-1995 period, a scam in which nine customs officials from the 11th Customs Office have been implicated.

According to evidence collected to date from similar cases, state coffers have incurred losses resulting from unpaid dues exceeding 12 billion drachmas. Investigations are also continuing and targetting cruise ships. Star Powell representative Nikos Souliotis has been charged in the latest case.

New telecommunications network launched

A new undersea fibre optic cable was inaugurated in Corfu on Tuesday by Greek Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis, his Albanian counterpart Photos Duca and the chairman of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), Dimitris Papoulias. Mr. Kastanidis said the Adria 1 project was an example of international cooperation in peaceful sectors such as telecommunications. The network would provide new services at competitive prices to many users from the Middle East to central Europe. Mr. Kastanidis added that Greece was seeking new ventures with other Balkan countries and stressed the need for the development of a similar network in the Black Sea. Adria 1 is jointly owned by the Albanian Telecommunications Organisation, Croatia Telecom, Deutsche Telekom and OTE. Total investment in the project was 15 million dollars.

Athens Bourse rebounds strongly

Strong buying interest in industrial shares helped the Athens Stock Exchange stage a spectacular rebound on Tuesday, reversing the previous day's sharp drop in prices. The general index closed 1.90 percent higher at 1,684.38 points with all sector indice s scoring gains. Banking rose 1.28 percent, Leasing was 0.06 percent up, Insurance jumped 2.31 percent, Investment ended 0.89 percent higher, Industrials soared 2.93 percent, Construction rose 0.23 percent, Holding was 2.10 percent up and Miscellaneous increased 1.22 percent. The Parallel Market index rose 0.59 percent. Trading was heavy with turnover at 27.2 billion drachmas. Shares of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) again were the highlight of the session to close at 7,400 d rachmas in a very heavy volume of 440, 000 shares. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 124 to 91 with another 28 issues remaining unchanged. Goody's, Euromedica, Elve and Titan scored the biggest gains, while Emporikos Desmos, Sigalas, Alkar-Aemet and SATO suffered the heaviest losses. National Bank of Greece closed at 38,400 drachmas, Commercial Bank at 15,105, Ergobank at 19,040, Alpha Credit Bank at 20,400, Hellas Can at 10,710 and Intracom at 13,675.

Initiative on farm exports to Nordic countries

The development ministry, the Northern Greek Exporters Association (SEBE) and a Greek farmers' organisation (PASEGES) have formed a joint proposal for the creation of a processed foods promotion network in Nordic countries.

The network would be an extension of an existing programme for the promotion of processed farm produce in east European countries by SEBE and PASEGES. A joint company was established with the participation of farm cooperatives in northern Greece to implement the programme. The network w ill promote products such as olive oil, canned olives, processed tomatoes etc. Greek exports of processed agricultural produce to Nordic countries totalled 11 million Ecu in 1995.

Europarliament committee debates sponge fishing in Greece

The profession of sponge fishing is a declining activity now confined to the Greek island of Kalymnos, but in May a delegation of the European Parliament's fisheries committee, comprising Heinz Kindermann, Francesco Baldarelli, Doeke Eisma and Brigitte Langenhagen observed the Greek fisheries' problems first hand, according to a European Parliament press release dated May 30.

The MEPs were undertaking an on-the-spot investigation of the specific problems of small scale coastal fisheries regions in the Aegean Sea and heard calls for aid for sponge fishing under the Common Fisheries Policy.

The local fishermen also asked for EU assistance to help with obtaining access to more distant waters and were given a sympathetic hearing by the MEPs who promised to raise the matter in Parliament's fisheries committee.

Other requests made include closed seasons for fishing activities in order to safeguard the reproduction of fish stocks, the search for methods of decreasing competition from third country fleets fishing in international waters adjacent to Greek territorial waters, support for investments aimed at improving the safety standard of the ageing fleet and the relaxation of restrictions on motor capacity.

New investment plans for eastern Macedonia, Thrace

The advisory committee of the eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region has ratified 95 new investment plans whose total investments amount to 34.61 billion drachmas, as well as applications for subsidies totalling 20.499 billion drachmas for the first half of 1997.

The 95 new investments are expected to create 1,130 new jobs in the prefectures of Evros, Rodopi, Xanthi, Kavala and Drama. The advisory committee took the examination and ratification of investments and the viability of each plan and body into consideration as its main criteria.

Other criteria were the competitiveness of the investment, development repercussions in the region, as well as its economic, social and environmental cohesion in relation with balanced development.

WEATHER

Fine weather is forcast for most parts of Greece today except for some local cloudiness, scattered rain and rainstorms in the Thrace, Macedonia and the eastern Aegean Sea. Winds northwesterly, moderate to strong. Athens will be sunny with temperatures between 15-28C. Possibility of rain in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 14-24C.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Tuesday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 272.959 Pound sterling 445.904 Cyprus pd 531.514 French franc 46.902 Swiss franc 190.717 German mark 158.125 Italian lira (100) 16.066 Yen (100) 235.352 Canadian dlr. 198.400 Australian dlr. 206.445 Irish Punt 405.728 Belgian franc 7.660 Finnish mark 52.655 Dutch guilder 140.537 Danish kr. 41.549 Swedish kr. 34.992 Norwegian kr. 38.321 Austrian sch. 22.466 Spanish peseta 1.871 Port. Escudo 1.565

(C.E.)


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