Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology Kostas Simitis resigned today from his post as a cabinet minister and as a member of the ruling PASOK party Executive Bureau.
Mr.Simitis with a letter to Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou expressed his bitterness because the Prime Minister did not back him on the issue of his handling of the Skaramangas Shipyards issue. He also said that he will continue to work as a member of the party's Central Committee and as a Parliament deputy for a different function of society in accordance with the aspirations and principles of PASOK.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Thessaloniki Prime Minister Papandreou expressed his dissatisfaction over the strategy followed in the attempted privatization of the greek shipyards.
Referring to the shipyards issue mr.Simitis noted in his resignation letter that the decisions were collective and that the government's policy on the shipbuilding and repair units were examined at a governmental meeting. Mr.Simitis also stated that the policy concerning the country's industry sector had been announced in mid-1994 and that till now he had not been informed on any disagreement from the part of the Prime Minister concerning the Ministry's policy.
According to reliable sources greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias, accompanied by Greece's permanent representative in the United Nations, Christos Zaharakis met yesterday afternoon in New York with UN mediator in the skopjan issue, Cyrus Vance. Sources characterized the meeting as ceremonial.
The discussion in the European Parliament of Turkey's customs union with the European Union was characterized as premature during the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers that was held in Spain in which Greece was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Georgios-Alexandros Mangakis.
The view that prevailed was that discussion on the issue can not start before December because Ankara's steps toward democratization are insufficient mainly concerning Article 8 of the turkish anti-terrorist law which limits the freedom of expression.
Deputy Foreign Minister mr.Mangakis stated that the road to the consolidation of human rights and democratization in the neighbouring country is long and laborious and that Turkey must realize that democratization is the only road that leads to the European Union.
Greek government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos stated on the continuing NATO air-strikes in Bosnia that Greece repeatedly has expressed and stated its opposition to the military operations which in an unprecedented way continue parallel to the peace process which gave positive results during the last meeting of the involved sides in Geneva.
Mr.Venizelos reiterated that Greece continues to make every possible effort in order to help in reaching a peaceful settlement which as he stressed must be viable from every viewpoint, operational, territorial and constitutional.
The greek government spokesman refused to comment on the discontent expressed by the Russian Parliament concerning the West's position on the Bosnian crisis and on the handling of the issue by the Russian government calling for the removal of Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev. Mr.Venizelos stated that governments do not comment on other countries' internal political developments and mainly on the functioning of other countries' government institutions.
Documentary with favourable comments on Thessaloniki was shown yesterday in Channel 3 of the german television on the city's preparations which in 1997 will be the Cultural Capital of Europe.
It is the third time that the same channel promotes the Cultural Capital '97 but it was the first time that reality and the historical past of the city were stressed. This is rare for the german television which very often launches defamation campaigns against Greece either by promoting a picture of Greece as a totally underdeveloped country or by distorting historical truths on Macedonia, Epirus, Cyprus and other issues of greek national interest.
The 20 minute documentary presented some of the most beautiful sites and aspects of life in Thessaloniki and an interview of the city's mayor mr.Kosmopoulos. The narrator stressed that the institution of the Cultural Capitals began after an initiative by the late greek Culture Minister Melina Merkuri and said that it is the first time that two big cities of the same country became Cultural Capitals namely Athens and Thessaloniki.
In the documentary appeared and the leader of the Jewish Community in Thessaloniki mr.Andreas Sefiha who referred to the course of the jewish population in the city and used very flattering comments in mentioning the support of the christian population to the jewish community during the nazi occupation in the Second World War.
The European Union Monetary Committee meets tomorrow in Brussels and among the issues for discussion will be the situation and the prospects of the greek economy.
The conclusions reached by the Monetary Committee will be examined either in next Monday's meeting of the Council of National Economy and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) or in the informal ECOFIN Council that will be held on September 29-30.
Tomorrow's discussion in the Monetary Committee will be made based on the report submitted by the European Commission's representative mr.O'Laflin who visited Greece last Spring in order to gather facts on the situation and the prospects of the greek economy.
Also, the Monetary Committee will deal with the preparation of the third phase of the Economic and Monetary Union (ONE) and the adoption of a single currency (ECU).
Ten greeks who belonged to the soviet Red Army and fought from its lines against the nazi germans were decorated in Thessaloniki today by russian Ambassador in Athens, Valeri Nikolayenko.
The russian Ambassador praised the contribution of the thousands of greeks who then lived in Soviet Union and fought against the nazis while many of them were killed.
The decorated greeks from the region of Pontos, who recently returned to Greece, stressed the friendship ties between the greek and the russian people and called Russia to contribute in safeguarding peace in the world.
Trade Forum during which will be discussed the greek russian economic relations will be organized on March 1996 in Athens by the Greek-Russian Chamber, according to an announcement made today in Thessaloniki by russian Ambassador in Athens Valeri Nikolayenko speaking in a business meeting that was held in the city's Commerce and Industry Chamber.
From the russian side will participate in the Forum representatives and executives of russian businesses from St.Petersburg and from the regions around the Volga River and Siberia which according to the russian Ambassador need economic support.
Those regions said mr.Nikolayenko constitute fertile soil for the greek businesses and especially for those from northern Greece which have all the necessary pre- conditions to enter the russian market.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Greek-Russian Commerce and Industry Chamber and deputy General Director of the Bank of Commerce, mr.Konstantinos Kanonis announced the Bank's participation to the International Bank of Kuban that will be founded next year in the region of Krasnodar in Russia. Main shareholders in the new Bank will be besides the Bank of Commerce, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development and two russian Banks. Mr.Kanonis stated that the importance of the greek participation lies in the fact that the region of Krasnodar has already developed significant trade and industry relations with Greece.
Canadian Ambassador in Athens Derek Freizer announced during his meeting with Thessaloniki's mayor mr.Kosmopoulos that a Canadian Consulate will soon start operating in Thessaloniki.
In the meeting was present and the Canadian Embassy's commercial attache, David Coen.
Macedonia is as greek as the Acropolis, stated today at a press conference the leader of the main opposition party in South Australia, Mike Rann who is visiting Thessaloniki on the occassion of his country's participation in the 60th International Trade Fair held in the city. Mr.Rann added that Australia is always next to Greece on issues concerning Macedonia.
Australian Senator mr.Stefani who is also in Thessaloniki referred to the strong ties between Thessaloniki and South Australia which are obvious from the fact that his country participates in Thessaloniki's International Trade Fair for the third consecutive year.
He also pointed out that the sum of 4,3 million drachmas has been raised for the financial support of the Museum in Vergina which he called "Mecca of the greek civilization".
The Greek Sugar Industry is a profit-making industry and its earnings are increasing every year while at the same time is helping in the development of the country's farm economy.
The company's Board of Directors headed by its President mr.Papadakis stressed today at a press conference in Thessaloniki that the company's sales for the year 1995 reached 80 billion drachmas and its profits 11,5 billion drachmas showing an increase of 700 million drachmas compared to last year while this year's sugar production is expected to be 300 thousand tons.
Referring to the company's policy in the Balkan region, mr.Papadakis stated that its intension is to establish the appropriate legal framework for the creation and operation of an autonomous sugar production unit in Albania that will offer significant solutions to the neighbouring country's economic problems while at the same time will give a big push to the developing course of the Greek Sugar Industry which will be the main linchpin for the operation of the unit.