Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-21

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, 21/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece to keep tight economic policy, PM says
• Greece accepts U.S. statement on Imia
• Elefsina Shipyards sold to Tavoularis group
• President opens treasures of Mt. Athos exhibition
• Ethnic Greeks to hold Albanian election rally in Athens
• Patriarch of Alexandria visits Greece next week
• Greek army gets new armoured vehicles for troops in Albania
• New Greek consul takes up Albania post
• Greek serial killer gets five life sentences
• New Greek judge appointed to European Court
• SE Europe social dialogue conference to be held in Thessaloniki
• Philippines' Ramos arrives in Athens on Sunday
• Marlon Brando to Athens to speak on environment
• Greek equities slump 2.78pct in brisk sell-off
• WEATHER
• FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece's participation as an equal partner in European unification will be a unique opportunity for the country, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told a development conference of the ruling PASOK party's central committee yesterday.

Simitis warned, however, that encouraging changes in Europe, which he called "a new socialist spring", should not create the illusion of a relaxation in economic policy. On the contrary, a new impetus was needed for attainment of Greece's national objectives.

"Greece will be judged on this count, and must achieve its aims on its own, " he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the issue was not of a narrow economic character, but also concerned the nation due to Turkey's aggressive policy.

Turning to European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the prime minister said it should not be viewed as a supreme and indisputable goal.

He said there was the cost of adjustment, but also that non-participation in EMU within a fixed deadline would mean monetary instability, higher interest rates, curbs on EU subsidies and, ultimately, a drop in living standards.

"Our efforts until 1999 must be expressed on two major policy fronts: first, on fiscal recovery, whose attainment necessitates an intensification of the fight against evasion of tax and social insurance contributions, as well as waste by the state; and secondly, on incomes and prices policies," Simitis said.

"The basic direction of this effort must be development at state level, but also at the level of investment and productive restructuring. The state must function as a headquarters and a mechanism which sets and controls arrangements, the social organisation of the economy, so the benefits of growth are not only distributed through the market," he added.

Simitis focused structural policy in three main directions. Firstly, restructuring in a broad field of services such as the financial and credit system, transport, energy, telecommunications and education.

Secondly, a re-organisation of the agricultural sector, and thirdly, the labour market and social insurance system. In all countries efforts had been made to set new rules in these sectors, he said. ANA

Greece accepts U.S. statement on Imia

Greece's government yesterday described as "quite significant" a statement by a US Pentagon spokesman that Washington considered the Imia islets as being within Greece's sovereignty.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas noted, however, that since 1996, when Turkey first began disputing the sovereignty of the islets, the US had issued maps designating Imia also by its Turkish name, "Kardak" although at one time Ankara had also proposed the name Ikince.

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon on Thursday verified the existence of an official nautical map issued by a US federal cartographical service showing the Imia islets as Greek territory.

"It's a fact that there was a new map issued at the end of 1996 clearly showing the island within Greece's sovereignty, as it always was. It's a nautical map for mariners and it's available to the public," Bacon said, stressing that anyone can check and ve rify that the islet is depicted as under Greek sovereignty.

A few hours later, however, Bacon seemed to retract his statements, reverting to a stance according to which the sovereignty of the Imia islets is supposedly "in dispute".

"During yesterday's briefing I mistakenly said that the Aegean islet of Imia is under Greek sovereignty," he Bacon said in a written statement.

"In reality, the sovereignty of the island is under dispute between Greece and Turkey. It is a standing position of the United States to take no position on conflicting claims of sovereignty or border disputes between other countries," Bacon added.

"If a problem was created," Reppas said, "it was certainly not created for the Greek government." He added that Athens had already proposed the utilisation of international procedures (i.e. International Court at The Hague), through which "anyone can put forward their arguments about whether Imia is Greek or not".

"But they will not achieve anything," the spokesman added.

Washington's position, he continued, appeared to be that when there was a dispute, the US government did not wish to make its position known, even if it had a position.

Reppas said that while Greece did not expect third parties to solve its problems, it did expect to receive from the US, other governments and international organisations assistance and support in making use of international procedures.

"To a great extent Greece does have this support, since many governments are pointing to the use of the International Court at The Hague, said. ANA

Elefsina Shipyards sold to Tavoularis group

After several months of negotiations a deal was signed at the development ministry yesterday for the transfer of the Elefsina Shipyards to the N. Tavoularis group.

The price of the sale was set at 30 billion drachmas to be paid over 15 years. Shareholders will receive no dividends during a three-month grace perios.

The discounted price, taking into account the present level of treasury bill rates, is estimated at 14.5 billion drachmas.

Shortly before the sale was finalised, an agreement was reached between the workers' union at the shipyard and the buyers on labour relations and staff levels.

Labour Undersecretary Christos Protopapas expressed satisfaction with the agreement, saying the sale represented a new start for the concern which has been troubled for years due to uncertainty over its ownership.

The Tavoularis group entered into a commitment to retain all 630 remaining employees, also pledging to increase the number of jobs to 750.

However, the group's seeming intention to sell land surrounding the shipyard may prove to be a source of friction in the future, as the employees' union warned that in such an event, the sale must be considered null.

The Communist Party of Greece was critical of the deal, saying that the "sell-out of the shipyard completes one more government crime against the working class".

The troubled Elefsina Shipyards have dominated the headlines on several occasions over the past few years, beginning with the purchase of the once state-owned yards by the Peratikos group in 1992, followed by their sudden closure in August 1995 by the same London-based Greek shipping family.

The Peratikos group cited crushing debts and unfair competition by state- run Skaramanga Shipyards as reasons for the closure.

Late in May the notorious "November 17" terrorist group assassinated 42- year-old Costas Peratikos, who managed the shipyards between 1992-95, in a downtown Piraeus street. ANA

President opens treasures of Mt. Athos exhibition

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos today opened the "Treasures of Mount Athos" exhibition at Thessaloniki's Byzantine Museum.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis and senior government officials attended the ceremony.

The exhibition, in which 16 of Mount Athos' 20 monasteries are taking part, features icons by famous hagiographers such as Panselinos and Theophanis, relics of everyday life and worship, and a video presentation of the Athos peninsula's natural beauty and architecture.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos has said it will take several decades before the exhibits will leave the monastic community again when asked if the exhibition would come to Athens. ANA

Ethnic Greeks to hold Albanian election rally in Athens

Omonia, an organisation which represents the ethnic Greek community in Albania, will hold a campaign rally in central Athens tomorrow ahead of general elections in the neighbouring country on June 29.

The rally will be addressed by Omonia President Grigoris Lambovitiadis and the organisation's candidates for Sarande, Delvine and Gjiokaster.

A statement issued by Omonia said it would be the first time ''the leadership of the political organisation of northern Epirotes (ethnic Greeks of southern Albania) will speak at an open rally on Greek territory''.

The rally will begin in Klafthmonos Square at 1900 hours local time. ANA

Patriarch of Alexandria visits Greece next week

Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Petros is to pay an unofficial visit to Athens on Tuesday.

During his stay in the Greek capital, Partiach Petros will meet officials including President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopooulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and Archibishop of Athens and All Greece Serapheim. ANA

Greek army gets new armoured vehicles for troops in Albania

The Greek army yesterday took delivery of six French technology amphibious armoured vehicles at a special ceremony at Aghioi Anargyroi attended by army chief Lieutenant-General Manoussos Paragioudakis.

The vehicles, each with a three-man crew, will be used by the Greek contingent serving with the multinational protection force in neighbouring Albania.

The "PAN HARD VBL" is a three-tonne 4 x 4 vehicle which can travel in water at 1.5 metres per second and reach speeds of up to 100 kph on land.

With a fuel tank enabling it to cover a distance of 600 kilometres on one fill-up, the vehicle is armed with "Milan" anti-tank missiles and a 7.62 mm machine gun.

Twelve volunteers on five-year contracts with the army have already been trained to operate the vehicles. ANA

New Greek consul takes up Albania post

Greece's new consul general at the Gjirokaster consulate in Albania yesterday took up his post.

Costas Kahiousis succeeds Nikos Kanellos.

He is a graduate of the Panteion School of Political Science and has been a diplomat since 1984. ANA

Greek serial killer gets five life sentences

A 24-year-old Thasos man was sentenced to five life sentences yesterday by a criminal court in Drama after being convicted of murdering five family members in May 1996.

"I am fully aware of all the charges against myself and I don't deny my acts," Theophilos Sehidis replied to the charges earlier in the day.

The court heard the testimonies of two psychiatrists who said Sehidis was fully aware of his actions when he committed the grisly murders, which included dismemberment and disposal of the bodies in trash bags.

He tried to justify his actions by saying: "I killed them before they killed me".

The two psychiatrists who examined Sehidis for three months said he was not insane but suffered from a schizoid disorder.

He was convicted of murdering his father, mother, sister, uncle and grandmother.

Sehidis appealed the verdict.

New Greek judge appointed to European Court

Krateros Ioannou, a distinguished Greek lawyer, will become a member of the bench of the European Court.

Ioannou is one of three new members on the bench and replaces Constantine Kakouris, who has been a European Court judge since 1983.

Ioannou was born in 1935 and became a member of the Thessaloniki Bar Association in 1963, obtaining a doctorate in international law in 1971.

He is a professor of international and Community law at the University of Thrace and has acted as a legal advisor at home and abroad. ANA

SE Europe social dialogue conference to be held in Thessaloniki

A two-day meeting on social dialogue in the countries of southeast Europe will be held in Thessaloniki on June 24-25.

Taking part in the meeting, organised by the Economic and Social Committee (ESC), will be 60 delegates representing 15 trade union organisations, eleven employers' associations and two farmers' unions from countries in the region.

The delegates also include representatives from the corresponding ESC of Croatia and FYROM.

Speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki yesterday, the President of the Greek ESC, Professor Ioannis Koukiadis, described the committee as an advisory body for bills which are to be tabled in Parliament.

He said the objective was for similar committees to be set up in other countries of southeast Europe, in order to promote the process of social dialogue.

Philippines' Ramos arrives in Athens on Sunday

The president of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos, is due in Athens tomorrow for a three-day visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The two presidents will meet on Monday morning after which Mr. Ramos will hold talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Mr. Ramos will meet with political party representatives and Greek businessmen on Monday afternoon.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is also due to meet his Filipino counterpart on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Ramos is currently on a nine-day tour of Britain, Greece and Oman in a bid to attract foreign investors.

Marlon Brando to Athens to speak on environment

Hollywood legend Marlon Brando is visiting Athens as guest of shpping magnate Yannis Latsis' daughter, Marianna.

The controversial Academy Award-winning actor is to speak Monday night on environmental issues at the Pallas Athena Hotel in the Athens suburb of Politeia.

Sources said that among those expected to attend are Environment Minister Costas Laliotis and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

The same sources said he expressed a desire to visit the Acropolis, probably on Sunday, after a cruise of several Aegean islands.

Greek equities slump 2.78pct in brisk sell-off

Greek stocks came under heavy selling pressure on Friday to finish 2.78 percent lower in moderate trade, only just holding the 1,500-point psychological level. The bourse lost 7.71 percent over the week.

The Athens general share index finished at 1,500.37 points with turnover at 20.6 billion drachmas, slightly up on the previous session. The parallel market for smaller cap stocks ended fractionally lower by 0.07 percent.

The insurance sector bucked the downward trend, ending 0.03 percent higher. Banks slid 3.48 percent, Leasing plunged 4.35 percent, Investments dropped 2.78 percent, Industrials slumped 3.19 percent, Construction fell 2.20 percent, Holding dropped 2.26 percent, and Miscellaneous slip 2.62 percent.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.S.)

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