Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-11-07
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 07/11/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Inner cabinet gives 'austere but just' budget green light
- Parliament President to visit Germany
- Onassis Foundation comments on kidnap stories
- Foreign undersecretary to attend Socialist International
- Greek foreign policy initiatives bear fruit, Premier says
- Karamanlis fully disagrees with gov't's foreign policy
- Papandreou signs European Agreement on Citizenship
- Mantelis announces new measures for public transport
- Development minister opens 'Philoxenia '97' exhibition
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Inner cabinet gives 'austere but just' budget green light
Greece's budget for 1998 will be completely faithful to the goals of the
country's convergence programme with the rest of the European Union,
National Economy and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou said today.
Papantoniou was speaking after a meeting of the inner cabinet this morning,
which approved the final details of the budget. The meeting was chaired by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
The budget will be submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.
Papantoniou added that the new budget would contribute to efforts to cut
back on state spending.
Cabinet will meet on Wednesday morning, before the budget is tabled, to
rubber-stamp the 1998 budget.
"The inner cabinet was unanimous on the details of the budget," Papantoniou
said after presenting the budget at today's three-hour meeting.
Papantoniou refused to go into any details on the content of the budget,
but sources said the recent monetary crisis and pressures on the drachma
had limited the budget's margins for hand-outs.
Papantoniou said he was optimistic that the "ambitious" convergence targets
to drastically reduce the deficit and inflation next year would be met and
that the inner cabinet today had thrown its full support behind meeting
those targets.
"We must further strengthen our economy to be able to deal with the
pressures being exerted on it," Papantoniou said. He said the recent
turmoil on Greek and international money markets could continue into 1998,
"up to the establishment of the euro", which required Greece "to have a
strong economy".
Papantoniou said the motto for the government's taxation and spending
policy next year was "austerity and justice", reiterating past statements
that policies in these sectors would be "particularly contained" and that
the state had to lead by example in regard to self-restraint and containing
waste.
He said the budget was geared towards growth and predicted that the growth
rate for next year could reach 3.7 percent, compared to 3.5 percent this
year, and that the programme for public investments would make a strong
contribution to development.
Parliament President to visit Germany
Greece's President of Parliament Apostolos Kaklamanis leaves for Munich on
Sunday to begin a five-day official visit to Germany, at the invitation of
his federal German counterpart Rita Suessmuth and the presidents of local
parliaments.
Kaklamanis is scheduled to visit Munich, Bonn, Stuttgart and Berlin and
will meet with federal and local government level politicians to discuss
bilateral and regional issues.
Onassis Foundation comments on kidnap stories
The Alexander S. Onassis Foundation issued a statement yesterday in
response to statements by Thierry Roussel, whose daughter Athina Onassis-
Roussel is heir to the Onassis fortune, stating that it "does never
interfere and has nothing to do with any matter or affair relating to the
minor Athina".
International arrest warrants were issued in Geneva on Thursday for seven
Israelis in connection with an alleged plot to kidnap Athina, who has been
living with her father in Switzerland since her mother Christina's death in
1988.
Roussel has been involved in a legal battle with the four other trustees
who jointly manage Athina's fortune.
These four trustees, who are also members of the Onassis foundation, "are
entitled under the law... to look after the security of the minor and ...
consider that (her) security is jeopardised by the fact that her father
divulges to the mass media issues and matters relating to (her) security",
said the statement.
"The press campaign launched by (Roussel) forms part of his scheme to
isolate (Athina) from the control of the Board of Administration (of the
patrimony) even in respect of matters relating to her security. This is
unacceptable and dangerous," it concluded.
Foreign undersecretary to attend Socialist International
Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis will lead a delegation of
members ruling party PASOK to the Socialist International Council to be
held in New Delhi on November 9-11.
The New Delhi conference is expected to draw 139 representatives of
socialist and social-democratic parties from around the world and will
focus on issues affecting Asia and the Middle East.
Kranidiotis will be attending the SI meeting in his capacity as alternate
secretary of the movement's international relations department.
Greek foreign policy initiatives bear fruit, Premier says
Prime Minister Costas Simitis said last night his government's policy of
active initiatives in foreign relations was not only in tune with the
demands of the times, but was also bearing fruit.
"The new era demands overcoming the traumas of the past, it demands new
perceptions and ways of approaching the major political issues, adjustment
to the messages of the new international reality, and initiatives in order
to determine ourselves our new identity and developments in the area," he
said during parliament's special debate on foreign policy issues.
"The policy of active initiatives which we apply is already bearing fruit
in our relations with the European Union. It is bearing fruit in the
Balkans. And it will bear even more fruit in the sum total of the country's
international relations," he added .
Pre-empting critics who might wonder why tension with Turkey is still high,
the prime minister said the neighbouring country's reaction was the result
of Greece's pressure. "The reaction originates from our moves, which have
resulted in a freezing of issues related to the EU's protocol of financial
assistance to Turkey,the prospects for EU Cypriot membership negotiations
... EU's urging of Turkey to contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem,
the settlement of Greek-Turkish issues, the violation of human rights,
and a solution of the Kurdish issue," he said.
The prime minister described as necessary, useful and positive his meeting
with his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz on Crete, where he directly and
clearly set out the sum total of Greek positions.
The prime minister said he opposed Mr. Yilmaz's position for dialogue on
all issues, describing the step-by-step approach as the only realistic and
productive.
"The next step would be the drafting of a joint agreement to refer the
issue of the continental shelf to The Hague, while the two countries could
start cooperation in sectors of mutual benefit such as tourism and trade,"
he said.
He stressed that this proposal was beneficial for Greece, Turkey and the
whole region, and that Greece weakened Turkey's charges that it was
refusing rapprochement.
"The two countries could talk without the mediation of third parties, whose
good offices may prove useful, but we ought to render them unecessary. We
shall therefore pursue a continuation of contacts through the most
appropriate means.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, Mr. Simitis said the prospect for the island-
republic's EU membership could constitue a catalyst for finding a political
solution, and was an independent process without terms and pre-conditions.
"The defence of Cyprus is an inalienable right and duty. Greece will stand
by Cyprus in any aggressive move by Turkey...
He described the southeast European leaders' summit on Crete, last Monday
and Tuesday, as a paramount event in the development of relations between
Balkan countries in the last few decades.
"Greece is determined to play a prominent role in the efforts for the
creation of a cohesive area of political and economic cooperation, which
will have common political orientations, will seek development and
convergence of economies, and will increas ingly reduce the distance from
Western Europe," he said.
Karamanlis fully disagrees with gov't's foreign policy
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, who had
originally asked for last night's debate, expressed his full disagreement
with the government's handling of foreign policy issues.
He stressed the need for a national understanding on such issues, adding
that this required a briefing of political leaders which, however, had not
been forthcoming, and wondered why this was so, and whether the prime
minister was afraid to do so. Two other conditions, also lacking, were
dialogue in parliament and the setting up of a national council of foreign
and defence policy.
Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Karamanlis charged that Turkish
policy was hegemonic and expansionist, aiming to a revision of the status
quo, and particularly, a division of the Aegean.
"It is a policy of the gunboat," he said.
"With the government's ineffective and inadequate policy, the situation is
continuously deteriorating," he warned.
"A most clear-cut policy is needed and the clearest of messages must be
sent to Turkey. Greece is continuously sending the wrong messages to the
other side. This is proved by the fact that Turkish provocations and
infringments have multiplied in number and intensity. It is the first time
that we have references to 'grey areas' and claims on 131 rocky islets, the
first time that an issue of territorial integrity is raised," he said.
Papandreou signs European Agreement on Citizenship
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou signed the European Agreement
on Citizenship in Strasbourg yesterday on behalf of the Greek government.
The agreement was promoted by the members of the Council of Europe with the
purpose of developing legal principles concerning citizenship and their
adoption by international law.
The agreement also anticipates the avoidance of discriminations in issues
related to citizenship and the right to defend family life in accordance
with the human rights code.
Addressing the 101st Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe, in the
framework of which the agreement was signed, Mr. Papandreou stressed
Greece's support for the Council's institution, pointing out that its
signing and the implementation of treati es is one of the most effective
ways to strengthen its role.
Mantelis announces new measures for public transport
Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis yesterday announced a
series of measures to upgrade public transport in Athens and the wider
area.
Mr. Mantelis said he had ordered public transport bodies to make immediate
investments that would serve the needs of citizens, including the purchase
of 100 mini-buses, the upgrading of inter-municipal transport, lighting at
bus and trolley stops and t he creation of more routes, particularly
express routes.
Mr. Mantelis said the ministry was looking into finding a suitable location
for a KTEL terminal in western Athens, calling the present KTEL terminals
on Kifissos Avenue "unacceptable".
"Until we abolish them we will make the necessary interventions," he
said.
The operation of the new inter-city bus terminal, he said, would be self-
financed, and would include post offices, restaurants and banks.
Development minister opens 'Philoxenia '97' exhibition
Speaking at a press conference after inaugurating the exhibition "Philoxenia
'97" in Thessaloniki yesterday, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou
announced the creation of a committee to study the possibilities of the
country's tourist promotion on the o ccasion of the Athens 2004 Olympiad
and the hosting of other major sports events undertaken by Greece.
The committee will include personalities and representatives from agencies.
Ms. Papandreou pointed out that the target is not to promote Athens alone
but the entire country.
Referring to this year's tourist period, Ms. Papandreou said a small
increase occurred in all indicators and expressed "reserved optimism" for a
similar increase in 1998.
WEATHER
Mostly fine weather for western Greece, eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the
islands of the eastern Aegean. Local clouds for the rest of the country.
Fine weather in Athens with temperatures ranging from 9-20 C. Partly cloudy
for Thessaloniki, with temperatures from 9-15 C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thursday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 270.666
Pound sterling 453.136 Cyprus pd 533.794
French franc 46.967 Swiss franc 192.002
German mark 156.694 Italian lira (100) 15.998
Yen (100) 220.088 Canadian dlr. 193.398
Australian dlr. 189.121 Irish Punt 406.975
Belgian franc 7.595 Finnish mark 52.033
Dutch guilder 139.037 Danish kr. 41.174
Swedish kr. 35.868 Norwegian kr. 38.404
Austrian sch. 22.263 Spanish peseta 1.855
Port. Escudo 1.533
(M.P.)
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