Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-29
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 29/06/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Greek consulate in Albania attacked by gangs
- Athens expresses abhor over killing
- EU socialist finance ministers condlude Athens meeting
- Delors says european socialists should meet more often
- Economic policy shall be debated in the Autumn, says Papantoniou
- President Clerides to visit Athens
- Presidential decrees on illegal immigrants approved by Cabinet
- Tourism better, but work still to be done
- G. Papandreou meets with Australian FM Downer
- Patriarchate to abstain from Vatican throne celebration
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Greek consulate in Albania attacked by gangs
President Costis Stephanopoulos expressed grief on Sunday at the shooting
death of an employee at the Greek consulate in Gjirokaster, Albania after
an armed gang attacked the building.
Christos Kolas, 30, an ethnic Greek who lived in Dervine, was fatally
wounded on Saturday when he emerged from the building after hearing
gunshots. Colleagues who tried to pursue the attackers were met with a hail
of gunfire.
Stephanopoulos, who is visiting the town of Serres, declined further
comment on the incident.
Also on Saturday, a former official of the Omonia party, which represents
ethnic Greeks in Albania, was released by kidnappers.
Theodoros Bezianis, the ex-president of Omonia's Gjirokaster branch, was
abducted last week. No details of his release were available.
Athens expresses abhor over killing
Greece's Foreign Ministry on Sunday issued an announcement expressing abhor
at the "cowardly," killing of an employee at the Greek consulate in
Gjirokaster.
Christos Kolas was shoot to death by an armed gang who attacked the
building.
Following the incident, the Greek government strongly demanded more
effective protection for the General Consulate in order to ensure its
normal function and put an end to a series of assaults by armed gangs.
"The Greek government cannot but express its abhor over such acts, which
beyond their criminal nature, oppose efforts by the international community
in Albania, in which Greece plays a leading part," the ministry announcement
said.
According to the announcement, the Greek government has lodged a number of
demarches with authorities in the neighbouring country, over the past four
months, requesting effective protection measures for the General Consulate.
At least 1,500 people have been killed in four months of unrest after
hundreds of thousands of Albanians lost their life savings when five
pyramid investment funds collapsed.
The south remains largely outside government control as armed gangs and
youths roam the streets freely. A 7,000-strong international protection
force dispatched to help restore order across the country has made little
difference, residents say.
EU socialist finance ministers conclude Athens meeting
European Union socialist finance ministers, who gathered in Athens for a
two-day conference on economic and social developments, on Sunday announced
plans for an Economic Coordination Pact designed to coordinate efforts
related to EU economic policy and to counterbalance the German-inspired
Stability and Development Pact.
Greek National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, who had
taken the initiative for the meeting, told a press conference, today, that
the proposed Economic Coordination Pact was intended to cover the current
"democratic deficit," which is noted in the making of European Union
economic policy.
"It is aimed at abolishing the political vacuum in which the European
Central Bank will operate at the risk of following an 'autonomous monetary
policy," Papantoniou said.
The EU's socialist finance ministers want to upgrade the Council of
National Economy and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) so that the politicians,
and not the bankers and technocrats, will be making the end decisions
regarding the Union's economic policy.
Papantoniou said that the proposed Economic Coordination Pact was put
together with the decisive contribution of the former European Commission
President Jacques Delors who is currently the head of the research group
"Our Europe."
He said that Delors would be willing to "exercise his influence with German
Chancellor Helmut Kohl," in an effort to convince him to accept the
Pact.
Germany's Bundesbank and Kohl's Christian Democratic Union constitute the
strongest opposition to plans by the EU's socialist finance ministers to
place the European Central Bank under political control.
Papantoniou, however, expressed hope that Germany would finally accept the
Economic Coordination Pact.
According to the conference's communique, which was presented by Papantoniou
during the press conference, the socialist finance ministers agree to
finding more resources in order to finance major infrastructure projects as
well as the Union's small-to-middle-size businesses which employ two thirds
of Europe's labour force.
The communique also points to the need for "more active policies to boost
employment," and "fresh motives" to help the unemployed find new jobs.
The ministers also agreed to strenghtening the social state and creating a
"fresh Social Contract" based on economic adjustement and social protection.
Stressing that hopes should not fly high after the Athens conference,
Papantoniou went on to say that the fresh european social agenda was merely
the start of a difficult, political struggle towards the making of a
European Union on the basis of growth, stability and social cohesion.
Delors says european socialists should meet more often
Former European Commission President, Jacques Delors, who attended the
European socialist finance ministers' meeting in Athens, told reporters on
Saturday that European Union's socialist finance ministers should meet more
often in order to exchange views and plan future action.
"European public opinion expects a lot from the socialists, who are now the
majority in Europe," Delors said.
Delors, who is currently the president of the research group, "Our Europe,"
said that in conditions of a globalised economy to which the welfare state
needs to be adjusted, european socialists should constantly exchange views
and proposal on both national and european levels.
"We had a fruitful discussion but it needs to be followed up," Delors said
adding that "further analysis is necessary in order to make a correct
assessment of the situation."
"The great challenge for socialists," he said, "is to make the necessary
adjustments to the system, without losing the values of freedom, solidarity
and personal responsibility."
Economic policy shall be debated in the Autumn, says Papantoniou
Greek National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Sunday said that the
debate on the 1998 economic policy would begin in the Autumn, stressing his
role in the compilation of the 1998 budget as the man holding the top
economic policy making post.
The Minister was commenting on the proposals of an economic committee's
report released earlier this month, recommending wage increases of 4 per
cent in 1998 and 3.5 per cent in 1999 in order to bring inflation down to
2.5 and 2 per cent respectively.
The report, which was prepared by a committee headed by Professor Yiannis
Spraos and commissioned by Prime Minister Costas Simitis also calls for the
levying of a "one-off" 10 per cent tax on company incomes or, alternatively
a lump sum contribution, at the same rate, to a fund dealing with labour
issues.
The report has created sensation in the press, but Papantoniou said it was
nothing more than a "storm in a tea cup."
He said that "the relevant debate regarding the 1998 economic policy will
begin in the Autumn, in the framework of the compilation of the 1998 budget,
" adding that economic policy was formulated by the government and
especially the National Economy and Finance Minister.
"It is not rational to begin the debate on economic policy now," Papantoniou
said.
President Clerides to visit Athens
Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides is due to visit Athens on Monday for
talks with the Greek political leadership in view of the start of pending
UN-sponsored proximity talks between the Cyprus government and the Turkish
Cypriot leadership in New York.
On the first day of his stay, Clerides will meet with President Costis
Stephanopoulos, while on Tuesday he will have a meeting with Prime Minister
Costas Simitis.
He is also due to meet with main opposition New Democracy leader Costas
Karamanlis and former premier and honorary New Democracy President
Constantine Mitsotakis.
Presidential decrees on illegal immigrants approved by Cabinet
Foreigners and illegal immigrants living and working in Greece will be
registered as of September 1, according to two presidential bills approved
by the Cabinet on Friday.
The bills were drafted by the labour and social security ministry.
The registration of aliens will take place between September and December
of this year, while foreign labourers will be given a temporary residence
permit, valid as a work permit also, which will expire on Nov. 30,
1998.
At the same time, an extension period of two months, January to February
1998, will be given for those who need time to submit additional papers.
Following the expiration of the temporary permit and a recommendation by a
special prefectural committee, an immigrant will be granted a residence and
work permit lasting from one to three years, with the option of renewal
every two years.
In order to acquire this second, more lasting card, the decrees call for
the following papers: a temporary permit, a passport or other identification,
a copy of their work agreement or health insurance booklet, and in cases of
special jobs (such as cook ), a health certificate.
According to Labour Minister Miltiadis Papaioannou, there are approximately
450,000 illegal immigrants in Greece today. The measures concern about 200,
000 because labourers originating from countries sharing borders with
Greece do not fall under the dec ree. This means an exception for Albanians,
Bulgarians, Turks and those from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The Cabinet decided to except economic immigrants from neighbouring
countries only yesterday, in face of the danger of an influx of refugees.
The unstable state in Albania also contributed to this decision, especially
in view of the uncertainty in the c oming elections tomorrow.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Mr. Papaioannou said that "the measure's
success will depend on its social acceptance". He noted two points
especially, that illegal immigrants be convinced to come register and not
believe it is a trap, and convince those
Greeks likely to be influenced by xenophobia that these issues cannot be
oversimplified.
Tourism better, but work still to be done
Although the Greek National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) is anticipating a 5-
10 per cent increase in foreign tourist arrivals compared to last year,
there is no room for complacency due to the structural problems which
remain in Greek tourism, GNTO General Secretary Nikos Skoulas said on
Friday.
Skoulas was speaking to 300 British reporters, writers and businessmen
active in the tourism sector who are participating in a three-day annual
conference of the Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT) which opened on
Friday morning.
The GNTO chief assured the conference delegates that ''a new spirit of
professionalism'' was now prevailing in Greece, while ''a renewed standard
of tourism development'' had been adopted with emphasis on quality rather
than low prices.
Skoulas advised tour operators against pressing Greek hoteliers to lower
their rates, saying this would only result in a ''vicious circle'' of lower
prices-lower quality which in the end left customers unsatisfied.
He also expressed support for the establishment of one or more private
Greek airline companies to compete directly with the ''over-protected''
national carrier, Olympic Airways, and urged the speedy liberalisation of
airport services, including ground handling.
G. Papandreou meets with Australian FM Downer
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday met Australian
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, who is on an informal visit to
Athens.
The two officials discussed international and bilateral issues, including
human rights, EU representation at ceremonies to hand over Hong Kong to the
People's Republic of China, environmental protection, etc.
Discussion on bilateral issues also focused on the significant role played
by the large expatriate Greek community in Australia, especially in the
economic sector. An announcement by the foreign ministry said the two men
agreed on the need for a further strengthening of economic relations
between the two countries.
Mr. Papandreou also briefed the Australian foreign minister on Greek
positions regarding the FYROM name issue.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Downer was received by President of the Republic
Kostis Stephanopoulos.
Patriarchate to abstain from Vatican throne celebration
The Ecumenical Patriarchate will not participate this year in the Vatican's
celebration of the feast day of the Apostles Peter and Paul on Sunday.
The move underlines the dissatisfaction at the Patriarchate over the
Vatican's recent position, which led to the cancellation of the Ecumenical
Patriarch's participation in the second European Ecumenical Assembly in
Graz, Austria, and the subsequent can cellation of the Patriarch's official
visit to Austria.
The Phanar made no comment yesterday over the development which, however,
the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Synod had indirectly referred to when it
announced the cancellation of the Patriarch's visits to Graz and Vienna on
May 30.
The Vatican insisted on organising a meeting between Pope John Paul II and
the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexiy in Vienna, at the same time
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos was scheduled to be in Austria, a
departure in the protocol anticipate d in such cases.
The meeting between the pope and Alexiy was cancelled at the last moment,
while the Catholic press criticised Pope John Paul II over his handling of
the issue and the ensuing crisis.
The reasons for which they cancelled the meeting (between the pope and
Alexiy) "concern the way with which Roman popism understands its role",
according to the newspaper "Il Manifesto" (June 6, 1997), while "Republica"
(June 23, 1997) spoke of a "consid erable cooling in relations between Rome
and the other churches".
The exchange of visits on the throne celebrations of the two churches,
Peter and Paul for Rome and Andrew for Constantinople (Istanbul), were
among measures decided when the anathemas between the two churches were
lifted and dialogue began.
Weather
Temperatures will rise and the weather will remain fair through most of the
country today with light cloud forecast in the northern mainland. Winds
moderate to strong. Sunny weather is forecast for Athens with temperatures
around 34C. Light cloud is expected in Thessaloniki with temperatures also
around 34C.
Foreign exchange
Friday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 270.816
Pound sterling 452.094 Cyprus pd 529.728
French franc 46.439 Swiss franc 187.900
German mark 156.642 Italian lira (100) 16.005
Yen (100) 236.632 Canadian dlr. 196.277
Australian dlr. 202.988 Irish Punt 409.299
Belgian franc 7.593 Finnish mark 52.618
Dutch guilder 139.197 Danish kr. 41.122
Swedish kr. 35.295 Norwegian kr. 37.254
Austrian sch. 22.268 Spanish peseta 1.853
Port. Escudo 1.550
(M.S.)
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