Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-09-03

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, 03/09/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Turkish stance no surprise to Greece
• Helicopter crash injuries not serious
• Defence minister satisfied with talks in London
• Final decrees on legalising illegal immigrants expected
• Greek couple on old Silk Road
• Greek equities on upward trend
• EU Commissioner keynote speaker in Thessaloniki
• Industrial production rises 0.1 pct in June yr/yr
• US dlr gains 2.82 pct vs drachma in August
• Greece records 10.3 pct unemployment in 1996
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece today commented on recent statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem saying that the stance he had adopted came as no surprise to Athens.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas added that the European Union also should not be surprised, but that Cem's stance should make Greece's partners think seriously about the way in which Turkey views its relations with the EU.

"The neighbouring country's outlook is not the same as that of the EU," Reppas said, noting that if the Union was unable to exert pressure on Ankara, then it should at least make it clear to Turkey that its road to the EU would be a very long one.

Replying to reporters' questions, Reppas again called on Turkey to contribute to efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem "so that automatically all the problems related to the continuation of the outstanding issue can be tackled".

Commenting meanwhile on the checks being carried out by Turkey on vessels passing through the Dardanelles, Reppas said the Treaty of Montreux should be implemented, stressing that inspections were permitted only for sanitary reasons.

The spokesman clarified that the checks had not affected Greek-owned vessels and consequently Athens did not intend to raise the issue first.

The matter, he said, should be raised by countries or shipowners who believe that their interests have been prejudiced.

Helicopter crash injuries not serious

The two tank corps non-commissioned officers injured when the military helicopter in which they were travelling crashed in northern Greece are being treated in Thessaloniki for serious injuries which are however not life-threatening.

The helicopter crashed late last night near the community of Arseni, Imathia.

The third person in the helicopter, the pilot, was discharged from hospital last night after receiving first aid for minor injuries.

The two injured sergeant majors, Stratos Pipilios and Panagiotis Hatzaras, are being treated at the 424 General Military Hospital in Thessaloniki.

The Vice-President of the hospital, Major Zacharias Apolonatos, told the ANA that they would remain in hospital for at least 15 days.

Defence minister satisfied with talks in London

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday expressed his full satisfaction with the results of his talks with his British counterpart George Robertson.

He stressed they had the opportunity to reach certain important agreements regarding the two countries' cooperation on issues of security, armaments and training.

"Our two countries cover two opposite geopolitical areas...under different terms, of course, which creates the conditions for a substantial cooperation on issues of security, stability and policy. Our common findings in today's talks was that our views on these issues converge," he said.

Questioned whether his visit to British arms industries was related with a direct Greek interest for purchase of defence material, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos clarified that some weapon systems which are of interest to Greece are produced in Britain, and that this was related to his visit.

He also said there was a common assessment with Mr. Robertson for the creation of a new defence organisation which will emerge from NATO, covering the broader geopolitical area of Europe and including eastern Europe.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is also due to meet with the British chief of staff and visit defence industries. He will also meet with members of Britain's Greek community and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain.

Final decrees on legalising illegal immigrants expected

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is due to announce during Friday's Cabinet session the final drafts of presidential decrees that provide for the registration and legalisation of illegal immigrants.

Sources said the provision will not exempt nationals from neighbouring countries, particularly Albanians which form the largest group in the country.

Public order ministry data show that the problem of illegal immigration is serious and its effective handling particularly difficult. Between 1991 and 1996 more than 1.11 million foreign nationals permanently residing in Greece were located throughout the country, of which only 69,884 had residence permits.

Other data indicate the seriousness of imported crime. In 1994-95, 22,085 foreign nationals were arrested and imprisoned.

According to the same sources, the government appears determined to provide a permanent solution with the granting of a "green card" to illegal immigrants.

Greek couple on old Silk Road

A Greek couple have just concluded a journey on the old Silk Road travelled hundreds of years ago by Byzantine monks who went to China in order to smuggle silk out of the country and bring it back to Byzantium.

Costas Mitsakis and Olga Papadoyianni set off on their journey on 4 July from Beijing and returned to Greece on Monday having travelled 12,500 km. on their motorcycle through landscapes ranging from the deserts of western China to the steep mountains of Central Asia.

The couple, backed by the Thessaloniki '97 Cultural Capital Organisation, retraced the route followed by merchants hundreds of years ago through China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey.

In all the countries they visited, the two travellers conveyed messages from the Thessaloniki 97 Cultural City Organisation and the Thessaloniki Mayor.

The Greek couple, who got married just before they embarked on the journey, have made other such journeys in the past.

In 1993 and 1994 they retraced the road travelled by Alexander the Great and his Macedonian warriors, while two years ago they covered the Athens- Sydney route. Last year they went around the world in 80 days.

Greek equities on upward trend

Greek equities remained on an upward trend for the second consecutive session, led by bank and construction issues, reflecting the market's renewed optimism ahead of a crucial vote on the host of the 2004 Olympic Games on Friday.

The general index closed 1.38 percent higher at 1,565.14 points, with most sector indices scoring gains.

Banks rose 1.51 percent, Leasing was 0.75 percent up, Insurance increased 0.97 percent, Investment rose 2.17 percent, Industrials were 1.48 percent higher, Construction jumped 2.58 percent andHolding ended 0.82 percent up. Miscellaneous bucked the trend to end 0.07 percent down.

The parallel market index for small cap companies eased 0.83 percent.

Trading was moderate and turnover was 13.1 billion drachmas.

Broadly, advancing issues led declining ones by 147 to 63 with another 22 issues unchanged.

Atemke, Thessaliki, Babyland and Parnassos scored the biggest percentage gains, while Athinea, Kekrops, Ippotour and Ermis suffered the heaviest losses of the day.

National Bank of Greece ended at 34,400 drachmas, Ergobank at 17,200, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,090, Delta Dairy at 4,125, Titan Cement at 14,615, Intracom at 12,495 and OTE at 6,425.

In the domestic foreign exchange market the US dollar was fractionally higher against the drachma.

EU Commissioner keynote speaker in Thessaloniki

EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis will be the keynote speaker at a dinner hosted by the Federation of Industries of Northern Greece in Thessaloniki on Monday on the occasion of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Friday evening.

Mr. Papoutsis, responsible for energy, tourism, small and medium-sized enterprises will also chair a joint session of the federation and the board of managers of the Stock Exchange Centre in the city.

This year the European Union celebrates the 40th anniversary of its founding. It is also the 13th consecutive year of its presence at the fair. Mr. Papoutsis will attend events marking the anniversary at the Thessaloniki fair along with European Commission general director for information and telecommunications Spyros Pappas.

Industrial production rises 0.1 pct in June yr/yr

Greece's year-on-year industrial production rose fractionally in June, the National Statistics Service (NSS) said yesterday.

In its monthly release of the output index, NSS said that industrial production rose by 0.1 percent in June from the corresponding month last year.

Industrial production was 0.1 percent higher in the first six months of the year against the same period a year earlier.

US dlr gains 2.82 pct vs drachma in August

A sharp rise in the US dollar and a fall in most European currencies were the main features in the domestic foreign exchange market in August.

The greenback rose by 2.82 percent against the drachma on a monthly basis. The August fixing was 288.890 drachmas from 280.976 in July.

The US currency was 22.98 percent higher against the drachma compared to its level a year ago.

On an annual basis the DMark fell by 0.11 percent against the Greek currency while the French franc was stable. The British pound was 1.40 percent lower and the Italian lira fell by 0.44 percent against the drachma.

The European Currency Unit (Ecu) eased by 0.34 percent while the Japanese yen rose by 0.33 percent.

Greece records 10.3 pct unemployment in 1996

Greece reported an increase both in employment and unemployment rates in 1996, a survey by the National Statistics Service said yesterday.

The survey showed that the country's total workforce was 4,318,302 at the end of last year. The employed numbered 3,871,923, representing 89.7 percent of the workforce, and the jobless were 446,379, or 10.3 percent.

The total workforce was up 69,774 from 1995. The number of employed rose by 48,114 while the unemployed increased by 21,660.

Employment in agriculture, farming, fishing, forestry and mines fell to 20.3 percent in 1996 from 27 percent in 1987.

Employment also declined in industry and manufacturing, running at 22.9 percent from 23.2 percent in 1995.

However, employment in the public sector, banking, transport and communications rose steadily from 45 percent of the workforce in 1987 to 51 percent in 1992, 54.5 pct in 1993, 55.5 pct in 1994, 56.4 pct in 1995 and 56.8 percent in 1996.

The survey also showed that western Macedonia, Epirus and Attica marked the highest unemployment rates among the country's 13 regions at 17.2, 12.5 and 12.5 percent respectively.

The lowest rates were reported in the Ionian islands, south Aegean and Crete at 6.2, 5.4 and 3.8 percent respectively.

Unemployment among women rose to 62.6 percent of total unemployment in 1996 from 58.5 percent in 1995.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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