Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-09-08

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

ATHENS, GREECE, 08/09/1999 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Athens quake death toll rises to 38 with more than 300 injured
• Simitis chairs emergency meetings
• Experts comment on quake
• Inflation drops to 2.0 pct, nears euro zone target
• Greece releases national plan for Balkan reconstruction
• Rampant stocks again post new high
• State telecom to build fibre optic cable
• Spending on advertising at Dr 277 bln in 1999
• Simitis visits damaged factories
• Culture minister visits museums after quake
• Turkey offers sympathy and help
• US coordinator for Cyprus talks with Kranidiotis
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

More than 600 aftershocks shook the Greek capital until dawn today following yesterday's killer earthquake which so far left 38 dead and more than 300 persons injured.

Thousands of Athenians spent the night in the open air, camping in parks, soccer fields, church yards and schools, fearful of returning to their homes after the violent first tremor that registerred 5.9 on the Richter scale.

The latest toll, according to the ministry of Public Order, was 38 dead, among them 14 children and infants, more than 300 injured, 39 of them in a serious condition. The ministry said 84 persons were still missing or trapped in the rubble.

The two latest aftershocks were recorded at 06.20 and 06.35 and were 4.2 on the Richter scale, the Athens sesismological service told the ANA.

Rescue teams pulled eight persons out of collapsed buildings, factories and schools over the past 16 hours, the fire-fighting departement said.

Five factories and more than 50 buildings in the northwestern Athens suburbs of Metamorphosis, Menidi, and Thracomekedones collapsed.

More than 1,500 firemen and 400 soldiers and 25 units from the Special Damage Prevention Squad (EMAK) accompanied by sniffer dogs, dug through the rubble of the collapsed buildings and factories throughout the night trying to extricate trapped persons, whose calls for help could be heard from the debris.

"There are 38 severely stricken points in the Athens basin," a fire department spokesman told the ANA.

Walking through the streets of Athens eyewitnesses could see families with their children and babies in their arms returning to their homes, their eyes red and swollen from lack of sleep.

Many carried blankets and plastic bags with water, milk sandwiches and other necessaries. Many rushed to churches to hear masses marking the feast of the Genessis of the Virgin Mary.

Schools in the capital remained closed and the Ministry of Education postponed today's second lyceum entry exams. The usually busy Athens Stock Exchange will also remain closed today, a spokesman said.

A 19-member strong Turkish rescue team which flew to Athens early Wednesday rushed to the devastated Ricomex textile factory, northwest of Athens and joined Greek teams digging through the rubble to extricate several persons still burried in the debris.

The Turkish Immediate Rescue Team, known in Turkish as "Agut", flew into Athens from Ankara on board a CN-235 military aircraft following permission granted by the Greek foreign ministry.

Eight persons have already been extricated from the collapsed factory, two of them dead and another six slightly injured.

Officials told ANA that another 29 persons were still trapped in the rubble, "but there are possibilities that there might be more since there were also some visitors in the factory at the time of the quake," an official said.

Ricomex was one of the five factories hardest hit in the suburb of Menidi.

Five hundred prefabricated houses are being dispatched by the environment ministry to the stricken areas, while the health and defence ministries sent 750 hundred tents and blankets.

Hospital staff are on alert while experts advised residents not to return to damaged buildings.

According to estimates from seismologists, the quake had an epicentre some 20 kilometres northeast of the Greek capital, in the Mount Parnitha region.

Weaker aftershocks from the quake continued to rattle the city centre. Experts said an encouraging sign was that the aftershocks were decreasing in magnitude and that if this trend continued for the next 24 hours then yesterday's 5.9 quake would have been the major one.

Frightened Athenians gathered in the streets and parks following the quake, which was felt throughout central Greece.

Thousands of city dwellers trying to return to their homes blocked streets and roads around the city and traffic lights knocked out by the quake led to traffic chaos in the city centre.

The mobile phone network also was knocked out by the quake or by overloaded lines as people tried to ring home. The lack of contact served to exacerbate people's anxiety.

Hospitals in the city area have evacuated their patients; some were still camped out on the streets opposite the hospitals as buildings continued to be shaken by weak aftershocks.

The environment, town planning and public works ministry issued an urgent announcement at 4.30 p.m. calling on all central services' engineers to report for duty to begin undertaking evaluation of damaged buildings.

France, Turkey, Russia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria are offering assistance by sending special rescue squads.

Simitis chairs emergency meetings

Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who was at his office when the quake struck, chaired two emergency meetings of ministers, in the afternoon and last night, and reviewed conditions and needs following the earthquake.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that efforts for the rescue of people trapped under the rubble continued.

He added that rescue efforts are expected to conclude by midday today, recovering all those trapped in the rubble.

The government will also take special measures for those rescued and the homeless, by providing immediate relief and providing medium and long term housing support, Mr. Reppas said.

He also noted that there will be increased policing in the areas worst hit, while special teams of engineers will visit buildings around the region to certify their stability.

Experts comment on quake

According to an announcement from the director of the Athens Observatory, George Stavrakakis, all the evidence so far pointed to yesterday's 5.9 quake being the major one.

The Observatory said that a strong aftershock ten minutes after the quake registered 4.4 on the Richter scale and that residents could expect some seismic activity for the next few hours.

It said there was no reason for residents to be concerned by the seismic activity and said the next 48 hours could see aftershocks of up to 4.4 Richter and possibly close to 5.0 Richter.

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos, in statements after visiting the Athens Observatory, counselled people to remain calm and said work was under way to determine the extent of damage to buildings.

Seismology professor Vassilis Papazahos told the ANA that yesterday's strong 5.9 quake was indirectly related to the devastating August 17 earthquake which killed thousands in neighbouring Turkey.

Mr. Papazahos said the earthquake was a surface movement and that it orginated from a fissure 20 kms in length and no more than 10 kms in depth.

It was the cause of two major quakes in the 18th century: the first, in 1705, registered an estimated 6.4 on the Richter scale and caused widespread damage in Athens; and the second, in 1785, registered an estimated 6.0 and caused damage in Halkida.

Agreeing with Mr. Papazahos was geophysics professor at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki Sissi Kyratzi.

"The Turkish quake has affected the fissures in the wider region: a fissure which was to break up after 20 years is breaking up earlier as the Turkish quake has sped up developments," Mrs Kyratzi told the ANA.

Inflation drops to 2.0 pct, nears euro zone target

The economy took another step towards the euro zone with inflation falling to 2.0 percent year on year in August from 2.1 percent in July, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday.

The year-on-year increase in the same month of 1998 was 5.0 percent, down from 5.6 percent in August 1997.

The consumer price index fell 0.1 percent month on month in August from July due mainly to price declines in foodstuffs and non-alcoholic beverages, despite minor rises in transport and housing.

Mr. Papantoniou said that it was the first time in several decades that inflation was running at such a low rate, also noting that the real figure for August was 1.98 percent, rounded off to 2.0 percent.

"This development is totally consistent with the government's targets and our prospects of EMU entry," he said.

The government has set January 1, 2001 as the target date for entry into economic and monetary union.

Mr. Papantoniou forecast that inflation would continue falling.

Commenting on interest rates, the minister said patience was needed in order to attain a decline, which, in turn, was dependent on inflation holding at low levels.

"By the end of 2000 domestic interest rates should approach those in the euro zone", he said.

The secretary general of the National Statistics Service, Nikos Karavitis, said August's rate was the lowest since February 1970.

He added that recent government measures to lower inflation would result in a 0.6 percent drop in year-on-year inflation.

Greece releases national plan for Balkan reconstruction

Greece yesterday announced a five-year national plan to aid economic reconstruction in the Balkans worth 100 billion drachmas, rising to 180 billion drachmas if an international embargo against Yugoslavia is lifted. National Economy and Finance Minister

Yiannos Papantoniou told a news conference that the plan, which is part of an international reconstruction effort, would span infrastructure, services and trade.

He said that money to fund the scheme would be raised from the budget and from private sector sources. The beneficiaries of the plan would be Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia and Kosovo, Mr. Papantoniou said.

The plan will base the allocation of funds on the conditions prevailing in each country, damage assessment, the level of economic and social growth, and ability to absorb funds, he added.

Set for aid are sectors including social infrastructure (health centres, schools), financial infrastructure (transport, telecoms, energy) and production.

Mr. Papantoniou said he would meet his Balkan counterparts in Thessaloniki on November 2-3 to discuss the plan.

Rampant stocks again post new high

Equities hit yet another all-time high yesterday, their 47th this year, breaking through resistance at 5,700 points buoyed by the government's economic policy, corporate profits, and high liquidity in the market.

The general share index ended 1.48 percent up at 5,705.10 points from 5, 621.67 in the previous session.

Turnover again was above 400 billion drachmas from 424.324 billion a day earlier.

The index has recorded gains of 108.4 percent since the first session of the year.

As an aftershock of yesterday's earthquake in Athens, the bourse will be closed for transactions today as settlement did not take place.

The first delay was caused by a power cut after trade, and the second by brokerage personnel evacuating their offices after the temblor.

Trade will resume normally tomorrow. No closing figures were available for the Athens Derivatives Market, again due to technical problems.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (-0.57 pct), Insurance (+0.78 pct), Construction (+3.95 pct), Miscellaneous (+2.79 pct), Leasing (+3.23 pct), Investment (+2.51 pct), Industrials (+2.40 pct) and Holding (+6.71 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks rose 5.0 percent while the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chips and heavily traded stocks ended 0.53 percent higher.

National Bank of Greece ended at 25,095 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 24, 900, Bank of Piraeus at 9,530, Commercial Bank of Greece at 31,840, Titan Cem ent (common) at 34,970, Hellenic Petroleum at 4,150, Intracom (common) at 29,000, Minoan Lines at 8,650, Panafon at 9,900 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 7,040.

State telecom to build fibre optic cable

Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) announced yesterday that it had signed a contract to build, operate and maintain a land-based fibre optic cable between Greece and Bulgaria.

Most domestic telecoms traffic to the eastern Balkans and the Black Sea countries takes place via Bulgaria, OTE said in a statement.

The new link is expected to begin operations at the beginning of October this year, the statement said.

Spending on advertising at Dr 277 bln in 1999

Spending on advertising in domestic media rose to 277 billion drachmas in January to August, up 26.82 percent from the same period of last year. Again receiving the lion's share of spending was television at 128 billion drachmas, representing a 46.42 perc ent share of the market. Next came magazines, newspapers and radio stations.

Spending on advertising in the month of August was 15.7 billion drachmas from 13.2 billion drachmas a year earlier, marking an 18 percent rise.

The data was given in a monthly report by Media Services SA. released yesterday.

Simitis visits damaged factories

Prime Minister Costas Simitis visited the Fourlis and Rikomex factories at 11.25 last night and was briefed by the fire brigade's chief and deputy chief on efforts being made to rescue people continuing to be trapped under the rubble. The visit took place after a second meeting was held at the Maximos Mansion on the consequences of the earthquake.

In a statement, Mr. Simitis expressed sadness for the earthquake victims and damage caused by the earthquake. He also extended his condolences to the families of fatalities and promised that the state will take care of all those who have suffered the consequences of the earthquake.

According to Mr. Simitis, rescue teams which have been trying since noon to save people trapped under rubble will continue to work incessantly.

He said an extensive operation is already underway and rescue teams will work for as much as is necessary until they rescue all who have been trapped and find all who are dead.

Mr. Simitis said an assessment of damage caused will start today and the relevant government agency will convene again to decide what aid will be provided and how those who have suffered damage from the earthquake will be helped.

"The country has experienced many other earthquakes in the past as well. We have quite a bit of experience and the state mechanism's action today shows that we can overcome difficulties. We will work continuously and I am certain that, just as in the past, we will tackle the consequences of the earthquake even better today," he said.

Mr. Simitis was accompanied on his visit by Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou, Press Minister Dimitris Reppas and Deputy Public Works Minister Christos Verelis.

President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos last night expressed his sorrow and that of the nation for the victims of the earthquake.

"The sorrow of us all is great for the victims of the earthquake. I hope that the number of the dead will not increase. We observe with anxiety the efforts to free those trapped under the rubble.

"The material damages will be repaired. The state will help effectively.

Culture minister visits museums after quake

Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi and her ministry's Secretary General Lina Mendoni visited museums and archaeological sites in the Attica basin immediately after the earthquake which struck Athens at noon yesterday.

They ascertained that problems appeared at the National Archaeological Museum, the building housing it has developed cracks, in collecting urns kept on the first floor. Some urns of a medium and small size rolled over and broke. Ms. Papazoi decided to keep the museum closed for three days to enable a full report to be drawn up on the situation.

No problems were ascertained at the Acropolis and the museum. The sole thing ascertained was that small pieces fell from one of the Parthenon's pillars, while the same was also the case at the Propylae.

Small-scale problems appeared at the Ancient Market museum, which are being addressed. The museum will open at 10 a.m. this morning after Archaeological Service employees have previously repaired damage.

The Tzistaraki mosque in Monastiraki Square was also damaged.

No problems were faced at the Kerameikos, Elefsina and Kanellopoulos museums and at the archaeological sites at the Ancient Market, Kerameikos, Elefsina, Olympeio Adrian's Arch and Kapnikarea.

Turkey offers sympathy and help

Turkey sent its condolences yesterday to Greece and said it was ready to provide assistance after yesterday's earthquake in Athens.

Turkey itself is just recovering from a major earthquake that killed at least 15,000 people last month. Greek relief aid during that disaster helped ease some of the tension between the two countries.

"I wish to express the deep sorrow the Turkish people feel at the earthquake that took place today in Greece," President Suleyman Demirel said in a statement.

"We profoundly feel and share the pain you have from the loss of life and property in today's earthquake because of the earthquake disaster we recently experienced," he said.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had also sent a message of condolences to Greek counterpart Costas Simitis.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem offered to give any help that was needed to deal with the impact of the quake, the official said.

US coordinator for Cyprus talks with Kranidiotis

Thomas G. Weston, U.S. newly-appointed State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus yesterday held talks with Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis on how to promote a settlement to the thorny Cyprus problem.

Speaking to reporters after the talks, Mr. Kranidiotis said: "We have seen several of his (Weston's) colleagues in the past who have tried to assist in the (Cyprus) problem and we hope that this time prospects will prove better and (Mr. Weston) will be the last envoy in this effort."

To this remark, Mr. Weston quickly replied: "I very much endorse your wish to be the last special coordinator for Cyprus and will continue to address this problem in a somewhat new fashion with the new team working in Cyprus which is myself, the new special US emissary Moses and the new ambassador in Nicosia."

Mr. Kranidiotis said that the Cyprus problem "cannot remain an open wound because it undermines stability in the region and we look forward to the U.N. Secretary General's initiatives."

Possibilities for a "serious initiative" exist, he added.

"The Cyprus issue should be resolved on the basis of U.N. resolutions and within the framework of EU principles," Mr. Kranidiotis said, expressing the hope that the American side, the U.N. and the E.U. would impress on Turkey "to cooperate with the inte rnational community for a settlement of the problem."

Mr. Weston said that there were "positive elements in the international environment", to address the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Weston, a career diplomat, who was named Special Coordinator for Cyprus by President Bill Clinton last July, arrived from Cyprus Monday and he is due to travel to Ankara.

He will also conduct consultations on Cyprus with allies in European capitals.

WEATHER

Foreign exchange

Monday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 305.288 Pound sterling 490.167 Japanese yen (100) 278.177 French franc 49.440 German mark 165.815 Italian lira (100) 16.749 Irish Punt 411.782 Belgian franc 8.039 Finnish mark 54.544 Dutch guilder 147.163 Danish kr. 43.598 Austrian sch. 23.568 Spanish peseta 1.949 Swedish kr. 37.541 Norwegian kr. 39.103 Swiss franc 202.839 Port. Escudo 1.618 Can. dollar 204.749 Aus. dollar 197.031 Cyprus pound 560.480 Euro 324.305

(C.E.)

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