Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-19

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, 19/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Economy headed towards rapid growth, lower inflation
• Greece supports Turkey's course towards Europe
• Events in memory of Andreas Papandreou
• Greek-FYROM name talks probably in early August
• Greek cultural foundation in Munich
• Black Sea Development Bank to open in July
• Pangalos meets with Egyptian defence minister
• IOC delegate from Ecuador visits
• Nokia to provide equipment to OTE's mobile telephony subsidiary
• Greece warns of unemployment threat to EU's merchant shipping
• Greece until 2001 to open telecoms market
• OA general assembly ratifies purchase of subsidiary, new planes
• Greek businessman abducted in Albania WEATHER

  FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEWS IN DETAIL

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou stressed yesterday that the economy was "moving steadily in the direction of more rapid development, lower inflation and reduced public deficits."

Mr. Papantoniou made the statements while unveiling the national economy ministry's five-month report on the economy in 1997.

He said "the rate of GDP growth will accelerate to 3.5 per cent during 1997. Investments in the broader public sector will increase by 18 per cent and in the private sector by 9.5 per cent."

He also noted that the government expects the trade balance to improve, with a 6.2 per cent increase in exports in 1997 compared to just 1 per cent last year, while the current accounts deficit is projected to remain at 1996 levels.

The projection concerning inflation's course at average levels corresponds with initial estimates, he said, adding that primary expenditures will remain within budget estimates, while allocations from the Public Investments Programme in the first five-month period reached 382.4 billion drachmas.

Total revenue in the first five months of 1997 increased by 11.8 per cent, due to corresponding increases in tax and non-tax income, according to the minister.

He also left open the possibility of index-linking income tax scales to inflation, which has been one of the primary demands of public sector employees.

Mr. Papantoniou added that any decisions would be taken at the end of the year, when the 1998 state budget was being prepared, indicating that decisions would be shaped on the basis of the government's ongoing "social dialogue" with employers and employ ees.

Meanwhile, the government reiterated yesterday that it was not considering any change in its economic policy.

"Our economic policy remains unchanged and there will no deviation from what has already been announced," acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou said in response to reporters' questions. the EU summit in Amsterdam on Monday and Tuesday.

Greece supports Turkey's course towards Europe

Greece is in favour of Turkey's course towards Europe and Ankara must realise that it is among those countries whose national interest is identified with that of Europe, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said.

"All the countries following this course must meet those criteria which are common for all member-states and which concern the economy, democracy, respect for human rights as well as for international treaties and the borders of other countries," Mr. Papandreou said, speaking at Munich's Press Club.

Stressing that Greece was not demanding anything from Turkey, Mr. Papandreou said "the only thing we are asking is for Ankara to respect our rights, the treaties which we have signed and the international treaties which stipulate that countries should s ettle their difference without resorting to force."

Unfortunately, he continued, in recent years there has been a resumption of Turkey's increased demands against Greece.

"Instead of resolving the problem of the (Aegean) continental shelf, we have had new demands from Turkey. Yesterday it was Imia. We told them that if they have a problem they should have recourse to the International Court at the Hague. They didn't accept this. Later, they said it wasn't just Imia, but other islands too, and then they started referring to so-called 'grey zones'. Subsequently they went even further and began talking about 'geographical zones'. After this, it was Gavdos and lastly, they threatened us with war if we extended our territorial waters to twelve miles, as we have every right to do," Mr. Papandreou said.

"We believe that Turkey is missing a great opportunity to have Greece as a companion and to approach the EU, rather than raising issues which challenge international treaties and creating instability in the region, which at the end of the day do not benefit Ankara," he said.

Events in memory of Andreas Papandreou

The ruling PASOK party is organising events in memory of Andreas Papandreou in Athens on Sunday, June 22, a year after the death of its founder.

A te deum service will be held at Agios Lazaros Cathedral at the Athens First Cemetery at noon on Sunday, while a political and music event will be organised at the Athens Music Hall in the afternoon.

According to an announcement by PASOK, the event will be addressed by Prime Minister Simitis and former French culture minister Jack Lang.

Greek-FYROM name talks probably in early August

The next round of talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the issue of the latter's name will probably be held in early August.

Greece's ambassador to the UN Christos Zaharakis met his FYROM counterpart Ivan Tosefski in New York yesterday under the auspices of UN mediator on the issue Cyrus Vance, before his departure for Bosnia.

Talks scheduled on the issue last month were postponed due to Mr. Tosefski's illness.

Greek cultural foundation in Munich

The Palladio, the first officially recognised foundation created by overseas Greek organisations in Germany and the world for the purpose of disseminating Greek culture and language was inaugurated in Munich yesterday. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said the foundation constitutes an important example of cultural and educational cooperation between Greece and Bavaria.

The Bavarian and Greek governments cooperated closely to establish the foundation. In 1994 the Bavarian government approved a request by Athens on the feasibility of the project and in early 1996 a draft budget was submitted by the Greek consulate. The Greek contribution for the creation of the Palladio amounts to 950 million drachmas, while Bavaria will participate with a share exceeding 80 per cent.

The presence of Hellenism in Bavaria is strong, both in universities and the Munich Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the academic sector in general. About 30,000 Greek expatriates live in the greater Munich area.

Black Sea Development Bank to open in July

The Thessaloniki-based Black Sea Trade and Development Bank will begin operating in July, it was decided yesterday during the opening session of the ninth plenary of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact's (BSEC) parliamentary assembly in Vouliagmeni.

The assembly adopted a committee report on improving customs regulations between member-states, aimed at creating a free trade zone in the region.

Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis, who chaired the parliamentary assembly over the six-month period being concluded at the end of the month, briefed the assembly on the recent meeting of Parliament presidents of European Union member-states held in Helsinki.

Mr. Kaklamanis said that during the four years BSEC has been functioning, careful but positive steps have been made, the basic organising structures have been initiated and a regular and productive dialogue has been inaugurated at all parliamentary levels.

Mr. Kaklamanis said the creation of a free trade zone in the region will lead to the liberalisation of trade and the strengthening of economic relations between BSEC member-states.

Meanwhile, the Georgian vice-president of the assembly asked Greece to undertake the necessary initiatives in order for the BSEC to acquire observer status at the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Pangalos meets with Egyptian defence minister

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos held 30-minute talks yesterday with visiting Egyptian Defence Minister Gen. Hussein Tantawi.

Gen. Tantawi will meet his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos today, who will later accompany him at talks with President Kostis Stephanopoulos.

After his meeting with the Egyptian official, Mr. Pangalos met the Parliament President of Georgia, Zourab Zhvania, who is in Greece within the framework of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Pact's parliamentary assembly.

IOC delegate from Ecuador visits

International Olympics Committee (IOC) member Agustin Carlos Arojo from Ecuador visited the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus, the Athens Olympic Stadium as well as the Panathenian Stadium and Zappeion Hall yesterday in the course of an "inspection" visit to Greece. Athens is one of the five candidate cities vying to host the Olympic Games in 2004, along with Buenos Aires, Stockholm, Rome and Cape Town. Mr. Arojo, who is the president of the World Judo Federation, expressed satisfaction over the Olympic installations in Maroussi. An olive tree bearing his name will also be planted at "The park of IOC members."

Nokia to provide equipment to OTE's mobile telephony subsidiary

The Finnish company Nokia Telecommunications will provide the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation`s (OTE) new mobile telephone subsidiary (COSMOTE) with necessary infrastructure equipment, mainly in the form of the DCS1800 system, it was announced ye sterday.

The two-year agreement envisages for the supply of equipment worth 34-35 billion drachmas.

COSMOTE has decided to renegotiate a remaining sum of 20 billion drachmas, while the Finnish company has undertaken to invest nine billion drachmas until the end of the year.

The final agreement provides for a 7 to 8 per cent discount on Nokia's original tender, selected among six companies.

COSMOTE says it will start commercial operations in December 1997.

Greece warns of unemployment threat to EU's merchant shipping

The EU's Maritime Transport Council, which met in Luxembourg yesterday, decided to amend a Directive concerning the minimum levels of training for seamen, and set criteria for the recognition of the certificates of seamen from third countries.

Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis focused particularly on the issue of unemployment in the Union, stressing that a possible disappearance of the vocation would cause serious effects on all services connected with merchant shipping, for which the re could be no future in the EU without European seamen.

"The high quality and security in the merchant marine, and the protection of the marine environment cannot be attained with the low cost of the crews from third countries, whose training cannot be compared with that of European seamen," he said.

EU Transport Commissioner Neil Kinnock promised that the Commission will submit until the end of the year a report on the training and employment of EU seamen.

Greece until 2001 to open telecoms market

Greece must open up its telecommunications market to full competition by January 2001, two years earlier than it requested, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

Greece joins four other countries - Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain - that have been given permission to miss the EU's January 1998 deadline for abolishing all state telecoms monopolies. But it will be the last to comply with the plan.

EU ministers agreed that those countries could request more time because they had small or less developed telecoms markets.

Greece asked to wait until January 2003 for full liberalisation, but the EU executive noted that a plan to modernise and digitalise the network of national phone company OTE should be completed at the end of 2000.

It said Greece should introduce competition in the market for telecoms infrastructure by October 1, 1997. The EU's general deadline for allowing "alternative networks" to carry some telecoms services was July 1996.

Greece had asked to wait until July 1, 2001, but the Commission said opening those networks was essential to promoting competition and improving the Greek economy.

OA general assembly ratifies purchase of subsidiary, new planes

An Olympic Airways extraordinary general assembly of shareholders convened at the state carrier's offices yesterday, ratifying the board's work concerning renewal of OA's fleet, the purchase of 49 per cent of the subsidiary Olympic Catering and a proposal to relocate Olympic at the new Athens international airport when it is built.

The general assembly also appointed Panayiotis Kornilakis, a professor of civil law at the Aristotelion University in Thessaloniki, and Demosthenis Paraskevas, an economist and president of the Halandri municipality's municipal council, to fill in two vacancies on the airline's board.

Greek businessman abducted in Albania

Greek businessman Andreas Radoyannis was abducted by an Albanian gang yesterday afternoon between the Albanian towns of Tepelene and Permet.

The abductors, who grabbed Radoyannis after a clash with men accompanying the businessman in a van loaded with coal, demanded a 20 million drachma ransom for his release, but were talked down to three million drachma by hostage negotiators.

Reliable sources said the identity of the abductors was known, as was the place Radoyannis was being held captive, and the Greek Consulate in Gjirokastr was "taking steps' for his release.

The same sources said the Romanian troops serving with the multinational protection force in Albania had promised to intervene for the release of the Greek hostage.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(L.G.)

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