Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-19
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
Economy headed towards rapid growth, lower inflation
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
Sunny and hot weather with a further increase in temperatures is forecast
throughout the country today. Local clouds in northern Greece with the
possibility of intermittent storms in the mountainous regions of Macedonia
and Thrace in the afternoon. Winds will be light. Temperatures in Athens
will range between 23-38C, while in Thessaloniki from 21-36C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Wednesday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 270.816
Pound sterling 443.543 Cyprus pd 530.026
French franc 46.529 Swiss franc 187.647
German mark 157.048 Italian lira (100) 16.027
Yen (100) 239.479 Canadian dlr. 195.563
Australian dlr. 203.702 Irish Punt 409.061
Belgian franc 7.613 Finnish mark 52.526
Dutch guilder 139.664 Danish kr. 41.271
Swedish kr. 35.101 Norwegian kr. 37.537
Austrian sch. 22.321 Spanish peseta 1.864
(L.G.)
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