Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-04-30
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 30/04/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Aftershock shakes Kalamata
- International law on Athens side
- FM says Olympic Airways should shut
- No Cyprus-EU accession 'a problem'
- Premier brushes off talk of new devaluation
- Simitis calls Turkish threat 'strong'
- Gov't backs Pangalos over recent Chirac criticism
- Athens condemns dismissals of two Turkish journalists
- Kozloduy issue raised during Simitis' recent Sofia visit
- Greece and Italy call for strong Albanian military
- Defence minister to visit Sweden
- Papoutsis voices concern over lifting of cabotage
- Ecumenical Patriarch on new Greek Prelate's election
- Cutbacks in expenditures envisioned
- Auction for state securities
- German tourist agents visit Crete
- State telecom share sale raises 126 bln for state coffer
- Gov't backs economic diplomacy
- Port of Piraeus definitely set for privatisation
- Panionios wins 1997-98 football Cup
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Aftershock shakes Kalamata
The Athens Geodynamic Institute reported today that it had recorded an
earthquake registering 5.0 on the Richter scale, an aftershock of the 5.9
quake yesterday which originated from the seabed 120 kms south of the
Peloponnese city of Kalamata. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The quake was registered at 1.59 p.m. local time. Seismologist Vassilis
Karakostas told the ANA that there was no cause for alarm as the epicenter
of the quake was situated a distance from any built-up area, off the coast
of the Peloponnese. He said that the area was prone to aftershocks in the
wake of yesterday's quake. The largest of these aftershocks yesterday
registered 4.2.
International law on Athens side
International law and the Treaty of Lausanne clearly define the Greek
sovereignty of islands and islets in the Aegean, Defence Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos said today. Speaking at a flag-raising ceremony on the MEKO-
200 frigate "Psarra", the second of three being constructed by the
Skaramanga Shipyards, Tsohatzopoulos said that if Turkey had any doubts
about the sovereignty of islands in the Aegean then it should refer to the
International Court of Justice at The Hague to get this clear answer.
FM says Olympic Airways should shut
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, in an interview published today in
Athens daily Eleftherotypia, proposes that Olympic Airways be shut down and
criticised workers for their stance on the latest developments at the
national carrier. Pangalos said the main responsibility for the problems
lies with governments but that workers were also responsible and that he
had told late prime minister Andreas Papandreou to close the carrier. "And
I think this is the only solution. There is no other solution," Pangalos
said.
No Cyprus-EU accession 'a problem'
Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos said today there would be no European
Union enlargement if anyone created a political problem over Cyprus'
accession. "If a political problem is created in Cyprus' accession course,
this would undermine the smooth function of the EU itself and consequently
there will be no enlargement," Pangalos said in an interview with the
Athens afternoon daily Eleftherotypia. Cyprus, he said, was part of package
with the other membership candidates. Negotiations would be held separately
with each candidate and each candidate would be judged on the basis of its
pros and cons, the minister added.
Premier brushes off talk of new devaluation
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday dismissed media reports that a
second devaluation of the drachma was pending.
Reports of a new devaluation have been fuelled by speculation that a
European Union summit over the weekend to launch the euro will readjust the
parities of currencies in the EU's Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). "(The
rumours) are absurdities coming from speculators who want to recoup the
money they lost in the March devaluation," Mr. Simitis told a meeting of
the ruling PASOK Parliamentary group.
Simitis calls Turkish threat 'strong'
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday said the Turkish threat was strong
and the government did not underestimate it. Addressing the ruling PASOK's
Parliamentary group, Mr. Simitis also warned that Greece should not be
dragged into a "mentality of rhetoric", which only benefitted Turkey. The
premier further said that Greece was not opposed to Turkey's European
orientation, adding however, that Athens' acceptance hinged on such
conditions as Ankara's acceptance of international treaties, its contribution
to a resolution of the Cyprus pro blem and improvement of its relations
with Greece.
Gov't backs Pangalos over recent Chirac criticism
The government fully shares Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos' concern
and interest in vigorously promoting Athens' positions and defending
national rights, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday in
reply to a question regarding the Greek FM's harsh criticism this week of
French President Jacques Chirac. Mr. Reppas said that it was not the French
president that provoked criticism by the Greek foreign minister, but Paris'
policy in terms of EU-Turkey and Greek-Turkish relations, saying France
finds it difficult to understand the reason why Athens was ins isting on
maintaining its veto of the EU financial protocol for Ankara. France
repeatedly has supported the unconditional withdrawal of the Greek veto for
EU aid to Ankara.
Athens condemns dismissals of two Turkish journalists
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday said that the firing from a
major Turkish daily of two Turkish columnists on Tuesday is a reaffirmation
that democracy does not function in that country and that human rights are
not respected. In a related development, Eurodeputy Yiannis Roumbatis
denounced the actions against "Sabah's" Mehmet Ali Birand and Cengiz Kandar
to the European Commission and the European Union Council of Ministers in
Brussels.
Kozloduy issue raised during Simitis' recent Sofia visit
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday said that during his recent
visit to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Costas Simitis emphatically raised the
issue of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant. He was responding to a question
concerning the construction of a nuclear power plant on the southwestern
coast of Turkey. Mr. Reppas said that according to Athens' information,
construction of the plant has not proceeded and that the entire process is
at a preliminary stage. He further said that Greece is following the issue
and its development.
Greece and Italy call for strong Albanian military
The defence ministers of Greece and Italy pledged on Wednesday to help
rebuild Albania's military so that it can effectively defend its borders in
view of the escalating crisis in neighbouring Kosovo. "Greece and Italy
have a joint responsibility to support the Albanian military so that it can
defend its borders on its own," Italian Defence Minister Beniamino
Andreatta told reporters after talks with his Greek counterpart Akis
Tsohatzopoulos. Both Greece and Italy sent troops to Albania last year as
part of a multinational force to restore order in the poor Balkan nation
after widespread disturbances.
Defence minister to visit Sweden
National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos will pay an official visit to
Sweden from May 17-19 at the invitation of his Swedish counterpart Bjorn
von Sydow. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will also meet with Swedish Foreign Minister
Lena Hjelm Wallen and visit the installations of electronics giant LM
Eriksson.
Papoutsis voices concern over lifting of cabotage
The likely adoption of a text on coastal shipping by the EU's ship-ping
ministers' council, containing a series of amendments of the EU Directive
on cabotage, will have adverse effects on Greek shipping, according to EU
Commissioner Christos Papoutsis. Athens' concerns are focused on the number
of crewmembers on passenger ships and their working hours.
Ecumenical Patriarch on new Greek Prelate's election
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos stated yesterday that he is looking
forward to a "close and friendly" cooperation with new Archbishop of Athens
and All Greece Christodoulos. "We are particularly close with the new
Archbishop, we are friends," he told ANA, stressing their "strong spiritual
link". "We are looking forward to receiving him at the Ecumenical
Patriarchate with particular joy," he said, adding that he hopes to visit
Athens soon after.
Cutbacks in expenditures envisioned
Expenditures contained in the 1999 budget will freeze in order to
facilitate a decrease in the deficit, according to a target set by the
Convergence Programme. Considerable cutbacks are anticipated in special
categories of expenditures, such as operational expenses (electricity,
water, telephone, etc), transport costs and civil servants' travel
expenses. Cutbacks in expenses are anticipated in a circular on the
preparation of the 1999 budget, expected to be sent to all ministries and
public agencies next week, to enable them to start processes for a new
budget. The main points in the circular were annou nced beforehand by
Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis.
Auction for state securities
An auction of state securities will be held on May 4, according to an
announcement by the finance ministry. The date of issue and settlement will
be May 6, 1998. The securities to be auctioned will be treasury bills of a
three-month duration amounting to 70 billion drachmas and six-month T-bills
amounting to 50 billion drachmas.
German tourist agents visit Crete
Some 800 tourist agents from Germany recently visited Crete for a
presentation of tourism-related programmes and their further acquaintance
with Crete. The seminar was also attended by the Greek National Tourist
Organisation's (EOT) director in Germany, Platon Davakis. The German
tourist agents were invited by the Codor, Air Marin, Fischer Reisen and
Kreutzer firms and were hosted by the Maris Hotels group.
State telecom share sale raises 126 bln for state coffer
The sale of 3.5 percent of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE)
to Greek and foreign institutional investors raised 126 billion drachmas,
Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis said yesterday. The private
placement carried out this week, brings the total of shares sold to private
investors to around 24 percent of the state telecom's share capital, Mr.
Christodoulakis said.
Gov't backs economic diplomacy
Economic diplomacy could play a key role in creating permanent cooperation
among Balkan states, Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told a
meeting of foreign diplomats yesterday. Mr. Pangalos underlined Greece's
strong presence in the European Union's financial aid programmes (PHARE,
TACIS) and in SECI, a US initiative to promote administration infrastructure
in the Balkans and adaptation to a free market economy. He stressed the
need for the creation of a communications network among Balkan states in
transport, telecommunications, energy and information.
Port of Piraeus definitely set for privatisation
Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis repeated that the port of Piraeus
would be modernised through privatisation, a move that has brought protests
from dockworkers unions. The transition, which would not be accomplished
hastily, was being studied, Mr. Soumakis told a news conference yesterday.
Panionios wins 1997-98 Football Cup
The underrated Panionios Nea Smyrni club beat cross-town power Panathinaikos
Athens 1-0 yesterday to win the 1997-98 Greek football Cup. The only goal
of the match was posted in the 53rd minute with a short header. The Nea
Smyrni team finished with nine players, following two players' exit with
red cards. President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos watched the game
and later awarded the Cup to the Panionios side.
WEATHER
Fair weather is forecast for most parts of Greece today with scattered
showers in eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the islands of the eastern Aegean,
and the Dodecanese. Athens will be sunny with temperatures between 10-22C.
Possibility of scattered showers in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 9-
21C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thursday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar 313.502 British pound 523.538
Japanese yen(100) 237.812 French franc 52.078
German mark 174.622 Italian lira (100) 17.674
Irish Punt 441.400 Belgian franc 8.460
Finnish mark 57.625 Dutch guilder 155.099
Danish kr. 45.801 Austrian sch. 24.822
Spanish peseta 2.058 Swedish kr. 40.519
Norwegian kr. 42.061 Swiss franc 209.753
Port. Escudo 1.708 Aus. dollar 204.347
Can. dollar 218.637 Cyprus pound 596.886
(M.P.)
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