Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-04-27

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 27/04/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Parliament to debate policy on Kosovo
• FM Papandreou in Moscow for talks
• Two left-wing groups form anti-NATO front
• SE Europe transport ministers meet in Athens
• Greek firms to discuss Balkans reconstruction
• Residents worry about Olympics building frenzy
• Hopes of diplomatic end to Kosovo push equities up
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Parliament will next Monday hold a debate on NATO and the government's policy on the Kosovo crisis, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas announced on Tuesday. "The government believes that the debate... will satisfy the briefing needs of opposition party leaders, both with regard to Greece's position in the new period which has opened up for the Alliance and the government's policy on the crisis in Yugoslavia," Reppas said. Reppas criticised opposition parties, charging that they were motivated by "an anti-government disposition" while the differences between the parties were great.

FM Papandreou in Moscow for talks

Foreign Minister George Papandreou will visit Russia on Wednesday for talks with his counterpart Igor Ivanov and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who will be in Moscow at the same time, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Tuesday. Reppas said the Greek government was keeping open a channel of communication with Moscow "in order to coordinate activities backing efforts aimed at finding a political solution to the Yugoslav crisis". He said Annan's presence in Moscow was a "fortunate coincidence" which would enable the Greek and Russian governments to make efforts jointly with the UN towards finding a political solution.

Two left-wing groups form anti-NATO front

The president of the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) Dimitris Tsovolas and the secretary-general of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Tuesday agreed on the need to form an "anti-NATO" front from social and political forces. Speaking to reporters after talks with Tsovolas, Papariga said the purpose of such a front would be "to prepare the Greek people for the difficult days which are coming". Papariga expressed what she said was the KKE's "great indignation" over the government's stance "which daily conjures up new tricks to dupe the people that it is not participating in this dirty war (in Yugoslavia), while very shortly we will need a passport to get into the port of Thessaloniki".

SE Europe transport ministers meet in Athens

Transport and communications ministers from southeast European countries opened a meeting in Athens today aimed at adoption of a multilateral accord on road transports that will be a key step forward in regional cooperation in the region. Greece's transport and communications minister Tasos Mantelis said the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) aimed at getting rid of obstacles and distortions in the market of international road transport of merchandise that had serious repercussions on Greece in particular due to its geograhpic position. The 11 ministers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey are expected to adopt a memorandum of understanding containing the principles for policy and action in facilitating transports, such as liberalisation of the road transport of goods, membership in international accords so that all the countries will follow the same rules of transport and transit, adoption of a SECI weighing standard, abolition of special fees, and the operation of an information system on pricing and taxation.

Greek firms to discuss Balkans reconstruction

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou invited representatives from the banking and business sectors to discuss plans for the development of the Balkans. The first meeting will be held on Monday, May 3 at the national economy ministry. In a letter sent to Greek businesses active in the Balkan region, Papantoniou stressed that "the military operations in Yugoslavia and in neighbouring countries have significant impact on economic and social level to the wider region and naturally to Greece. The government's initiatives for the economic restructuring of the region need timely preparations and discussing of a joint plan". Invitations were sent to National Bank of Greece, Commercial Bank, Alpha Credit Bank, Eurobank, Hellenic Telecoms, Bank of Piraeus, Thrace Paper, Delta Dairy, Asprofos, Medical Center, Intracom, the Union of Greek Industries and Greek chambers of commerce and industry.

Residents worry about Olympics building frenzy

Casinos, marinas, a man-made island, hotels, department stores, and nightclubs: residents and environmental organisations have seen the future of the greater Athens coastline and they are terrified. Athens' holding of the 2004 Olympic Games is about to open the gateways to an orgy of commercialisation and construction activity on the coast, the coordinating committee to "Save the Saronic Coastline" said on Tuesday. The group includes 20 environmental and ecological groups and representatives from nine municipalities that will be affected by what they say is intensive commercial development of the region foreseen under forthcoming Athens 2004 Games legislation. "The shaping of the coastline of the city is an issue for all of us and not just the residents. It is a leading town planning issue that has not been pursued or discussed," the committee said at a two- day conference on the issue at the Evgenidou Institute. Speakers at the conference said the draft law would introduce speedy procedures to cut through red tape and town planning regulations and place large tracts of valuable coastal land, including the Schinias wetlands, the foothills of Mt. Parnes and Markopoulo, in the hands of developers.

Hopes of diplomatic end to Kosovo push equities up

Hopes of a diplomatic solution to the Kosovo crisis combined with a steadier performance of the domestic bond and money markets created a very positive climate on the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday pushing equity prices sharply higher. The general index jumped 5.51 percent up to 3,431.31 points, off the day's highs, combined with a substantial recovery in turnover. A new round of diplomatic activity in Moscow and Yugoslav vice- president Draskovic's comments on the need for a compromise solution encouraged sentiment. Traders, however, said that the rebound was excessive reflecting the market's recent high volatility. Dealers also said that the previous days' sharp decline of prices provoked heavy bargain-hunting and other short-covering buying. The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 4.88 percent higher.

Weather

Scattered cloud and long spells of sunshine are forecast for most parts of Greece on today. Possibility of intermittent storms in the mountainous regions of Macedonia and Thrace. Winds variable, light to moderate. Overcast from the afternoon in Athens with temperatures between 10-22C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 8-20C.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Tuesday's rates (buying)
U.S. dollar          305.109
Pound sterling       492.607
Japanese yen (100)   256.333
French franc          49.371
German mark          165.581
Italian lira (100)    16.725
Irish Punt           411.203
Belgian franc          8.028
Luxembourg franc       8.028
Finnish mark          54.468
Dutch guilder        146.956
Danish kr.            43.592
Austrian sch.         23.535
Spanish peseta         1.946
Swedish kr.           36.396
Norwegian kr.         39.144
Swiss franc          202.130
Port. Escudo           1.615
Aus. dollar          198.822
Can. dollar          206.534
Cyprus pound         558.298
Euro                 323.848

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