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Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 99-09-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHATHENS, GREECE, 27/09/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILKaramanlis criticises gov't over quake aftermath, bourseMain opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Saturday severely criticised the government on several fronts, including its handling of problems following the devastating Sept. 7 earthquake which struck Athens and the air accident which claimed the life of Alternate FM Yannos Kranidiotis and six other people. Mr. Karamanlis, who was addressing local business, labour and political officials in Thessaloniki, set out his own proposal over the "opportunities and needs of the 21st century and the possibilities and problems of the post-Economic Monetary Union (EMU ) era." Mr. Karamanlis said ND's proposal is based on 10 axes, including: Fiscal restructuring with a decrease in expenditures for interest, which will result from the decline in interest rates and will yield about 350 billion drachmas annually, as well as the restriction of first stage expenditures to the level of annual inflation. Tax system reform, whose main elements will be the restriction of the public sector and the imposition of fewer taxes. In addition, measures aimed at strengthening small and medium-size enterprises, measures to improve the absorption of the 3rd Community Support Framework and deregulation of the economy with the denationalisation of Olympic Airways, Commercial Bank, National Bank and urban transports in Athens, as well as deregulation of markets, and of the energy market, in particular. The remaining axes are measures for tourism and for the development of shipping, an integrated intervention in the farming sector, a package of measures for the stock exchange and the reform of public administration. Referring to the Athens Stock Exchange, Mr. Karamanlis said ND has a specific package of measures aimed at strengthening it and for the protection of investors. Mr. Karamanlis accused the government of an unprecedented effort to manipulate the Athens bourse, saying interventions do not only show irresponsibility but are also unacceptable actions and adding that statements, leaks and anonymous press reports have created intense insecurity among investors and great losses for the investing public. Replying to Mr. Karamanlis' speech later, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said it was another step towards returning to the past. He said the 10 axes presented by Mr. Karamanlis were, in essence, 10 "small titles" with which an "effort is being made to cover up one major truth, the non-existence of ND's programme." Tsohatzopoulos: Prospects positive now for Cyprus problem National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said now is a good moment to try for a positive development over the prospect of the Cyprus issue and called on Turkey to realise that the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the European Union is the sole path for a new possibility to open for the issue. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos wrapped up his visit to the United States and visited Los Angeles on Saturday, where he met with the California Gov G. Davis, and Sacramento afterwards where, among others, he addressed a conference organised by ethnic Greeks living in the area. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos expressed a view that now we are at "a good moment to try for a positive development over the prospect of the Cyprus issue" and called on Turkey to realise that the prospect of Cyprus' accession to the European Union is the sole path for a new possibility to open for a solution to our national issue. He said that the possibility of its own path opening for closer association with the EU in the future will depend on its position on the specific issue. Karamanlils: ND decision on President in January New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said yesterday that his party would announce at the end of January 2000 which candidate it will back for president of the republic. Mr. Karamanlis brushed off numerous questions on the presidential question, saying the matter was untimely. He also declined to say whether he would use the presidential elections in order to provoke the dissolution of Parliament - something that will lead to general elections - by declining to back incumbent President Kostis Stephanopoulos, who has the support of the ruling PASOK party. Mr. Karamanlis countered by saying that only Prime Minister Costas Simitis had the right to call early elections. He added that his party would welcome elections, regardless of when they occurred, saying his party would win them. Later, Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas charged the main opposition leader with trying to cover up his party's lack of respect for the country's institutions and for the person of the president of the republic. Turkey hints it will decrease military exercises in Aegean Turkish Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglou hinted this week that Turkey will decrease the number of its military exercises in the Aegean, following the warming of its relations with Greece. "If there are exercises which we conduct for political reasons which are linked to our neighbours, we can change position in the framework of a process of a more favourable change in our policy," Mr. Cakmakoglou said in a press statement. "Repeated exercises constitute an additional cost for the economy," he said. Mr. Cakmakoglou clarified that he discussed the issue of exercises in the Aegean with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos at NATO's ministerial meeting in Toronto last week. "Mr. Tsohatzopoulos told me that we should not conduct an excessive number of military exercises," Mr. Cakmakoglou said. Apostolakis on Turkey-Israel military cooperation Deputy National Defence Minister Dimitris Apostolakis said yesterday that Athens saw no threat in military cooperation between Turkey and Israel. "Assurances exist that there is no intention of creating an axis that could threaten another country in any way whatsoever," Mr. Apostolakis told Cyprus' 'Alithia'. "I hope that nothing like this will cross anyone's mind. It would also be unjust. Chiefly, how ever, I believe that Israel would not want anything like this," he added. Reppas: Turkey's EU access through Cyprus Press and Media Minister Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that Turkey's access to the European Union passed through Cyprus. In an interview to the Cyprus daily 'Phileleftheros', Mr. Mr. Reppas said Turkey had to change in order to win eligibility for EU membership. "We believe that the normalisation of relations between Greece and Turkey will create a new climate in the wider region. This is in the interests of all, including Cyprus," he said. "We wish for a Turkey that will be committed to the EU's rules and function on that basis," the government spokesman said. He added that Athens had told countries in the first wave of states being considered for EU enlargement at the same time as Cyprus that their entry was fully linked to that of the island republic. Memorial held for Pavlos Bakoyiannis Events marking the memory of New Democracy deputy Pavlos Bakoyannis - assassinated 10 years ago by the notorious 'November 17' terrorist group - were concluded in the central town of Karpenisi yesterday with a memorial service. The religious service was held at the church in the village of Velota, Evrytania prefecture, where Bakoyiannis hailed from - while associates, friends and relatives spoke of the man and the politician at a solemn ceremony. Several ND deputies were present as well as Bakoyiannis' mother Irene, his children Pavlos and Alexia, his widow Dora Bakoyianni, his father-in-law Constantine Mitsotakis and former ministers. A bust dedicated to Bakoyiannis was also unveiled. Ecumenical Patriarchate aid to quake victims Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos, visiting the Aegean island of Leros yesterday, officiated at a te deum service on the isle. At the service, the Patriarch said the Fanar, assisted by Greeks living abroad, will offer $100,000 for the earthquake stricken of the Sept. 7 Athens tremor. "In the face of pain there are no religions, races and nations. There is only love for man. For this reason all of us should aim at the globalisation of love and not mistakenly of the economy which we have at present," he said. At 1 p.m. the Ecumenical Patriarch went to the English cemetery of Alinda to honour the British forces killed on Leros during the war. Komotini mufti terms Christodoulos' visit 'historic' Komotini mufti Mezzo Jemali termed as "historic" the visit Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos paid to his office in the town on Saturday afternoon. Christodoulos stressed, among others, that the efforts of all should aim at the harmonious cohabitation of the Christian and Moslem residents of the region, which the Church believes in, since "the Christian religion teaches that all people are the children of the same God." We should isolate the fanatical elements and the elements of the extremes which drag or try to drag people into confrontations which are sterile and serve no purpose so as to reduce the effects and results of a bad policy which aims at creating problems between the two communities, both the Christian and the moslem, for the benefit and promotion of other kinds of interests which are alien both to our religions and the motherland of which we are all citizens," Christodoulos said. Third SAE conference in Thessaloniki The World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) will hold its 3rd conference in Thessaloniki between Dec. 5-9, and will be attended by 360 delegates from various Greek communities around the world. President Kostis Stephanopoulos, Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and several party representatives will attend the conference. The world conference of Greek youth abroad will also be held in Thessaloniki on Dec. 1-2, while regional SAE will be taking place between Dec. 3- 5. An 11-member presidium is expected to be elected by the 3rd council while, according to press reports, Andrew Athens will seek his re-election as president for the third time. Dutch director wins Short Film Festival The 22nd Drama Short Film Festival ended over the weekend in the northern Greece town. The Grand Prix award for best foreign entry went to the film "The Zone", by Dutch director Ben Van Lieshout, along with a prize of one million drachmas. Second place went to the film "To Speak", by Belgian Erik Lamens. Best Balkan Film Award was won by Achilleas Kyriakidis' "Continuity fo Parks", along with a prize of 800,000 drachmas. The first place non-documentary prize, worth a million drachmas, went to director Stratis Vougioukas' "An Additional Step". Second place went to 30- year-old Christos Dimas' "The American". The Greek-language film "Exodus" won a few kudos from critics, although most local productions utterly failed to meet expectations this year, according to most film aficionados at the festival. Germany's Lukas wins 246-km Spartathlon Exhausted but equally elated, Germany's Jens Lukas won this year's Spartathlon, a gruelling 246-km foot race from Athens to the ancient Peloponnese town of Sparta on Saturday morning. "I dare not believe I have won the race. When I started from Athens my only aim was to finish. It is a very difficult race, an overwhelming experience, " he said. "Several times I felt aching all over and believed I would abandon. But people encouraged me and I lasted until the end," he added. Mr. Lukas, who covered the distance in 25 hours, 38 minutes and three seconds, took the lead at the 172nd kilometre and a rrived in Sparta at 8:30 a.m. France's Jean Pierre Guillomars came second with 27:8:27, and Yun Onoki of Japan third with 27:16:36. Participants in this year's Spartathlon, which has been held for 17 consecutive years, were adversely affected by relatively high temperatures and humidity. Blind French runner Jean Claude Peronet abandoned the race at the 192nd kilometre. Greek First Division soccer results AEK Athens-Panathinaikos 1-2 PAOK Thessaloniki-Kalamata 4-2 Apollon Athens- Paniliakos Pyrgos 0-0 OFI Iraklion-Xathi 2-1 Aris Thessaloniki-Panahaiki Patras 2-0 Trikala-Ethnikos Astir 1-2 Ionikos-Proodeftiki 2-0 Olympiakos Piraeus-Panionios Athens 5-0 Kavala-Iraklis Thessaloniki play today. Points: Olympiakos 6, Panathinaikos 6, Ethnikos Astir 6, PAOK, Ionikos, Aris Thessaloniki, OFI, and Paniliakos 4. WEATHERSunny weather throughout Greece today, turning cloudy later in the day in the north and west of the country. Winds light to moderate. Athens will be sunny with temperatures ranging from 21- 34C. Thessaloniki will start sunny, later becoming overcast with temperatures from 17-31C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEMonday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 309.851 Pound sterling 509.293 Japanese yen (100) 296.479 French franc 49.542 German mark 166.159 Italian lira (100) 16.784 Irish Punt 412.638 Belgian franc 8.056 Finnish mark 54.657 Dutch guilder 147.469 Danish kr. 43.727 Austrian sch. 23.618 Spanish peseta 1.953 Swedish kr. 37.730 Norwegian kr. 39.680 Swiss franc 202.993 Port. Escudo 1.621 Can. dollar 210.304 Aus. dollar 201.054 Cyprus pound 563.218 Euro 324.979(C.E.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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