MPA NEWS IN BRIEF (30/05/1996)

From: Macedonian Press Agency <mpa@philippos.mpa.gr>

Macedonian Press Agency Brief News in English Directory

BRIEF GREEK NEWS BULLETIN BY MACEDONIAN PRESS AGENCY

Thessaloniki, May 30, 1996

TITLES

NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] US MILITARY AID TO GREECE AND TURKEY TO BE MAINTAINED AT 7:10 RATIO

The United States will maintain the seven to ten ratio of military aid allocation to Greece and Turkey for 1997, according to a decision drawn by the US Allocations Sub-Committee.

The House of Representatives Sub-Committee's proposal curtails by 50 per cent the military aid provided to Turkey, in relation to 1996, allocating $103.77 million in military aid to Greece and $147.82 million to Turkey.

According to the Sub-Committee's report, these figures are limited to the maintenance of the already existing programs and cannot be used for purchases of new military arms.

Moreover, the Sub-Committee upkeeps its decision for $15 million to be granted in economic aid to Cyprus.

In the beginning of the session, Illinois Senator John Porter (Rep) submitted his proposal asking for the withdrawal of funding to Ankara. Mr. Porter had submitted a similar proposal to the Senate last year, which resulted in a $25 million reduction of economic aid to Turkey.

Referring to the Sub-Committee's decision, President of the Council of Greeks Abroad Andrew Athens stated that it is a result of the reactions caused by the recent turkish threats to Greece and the continuing occupation of Cyprus by Turkey.

[02] GREEK TRANSPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER MEETS HUNGARIAN COUNTERPART IN BUDAPEST

The Budapest-held 80th European Conference of Transportation Ministers, where 43 European-region countries are represented, is wrapping up its last session today.

In his speech, Greek Transportations and Communications Minister Haris Kastanides focused on the importance of a gradual approach to the overall issue of transportation in the European continent, pointing out the differences noted in the traffic conditions between Western and Eastern Europe.

On one hand, Mr. Kastanides stated, there is the problem of traffic congestion and the serious environmental impacts in western european countries, mostly those within the alpine arrow range. On the other hand, there is the problem of the inefficient structure and the pollution created by vehicles of outdated technology in countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Mr. Kastanides pointed out that today there are acceptable solutions to these problems, such as management measures, the development of an environmental transportation policy which will be based on the user being able to choose his transportation methods, the coordination of structures so that the legally-bound European axes be linked with the politically significant axes of Crete and thereby form a modern and productive network.

Moreover, the Greek Transportations Minister met with his Hungarian counterpart Karoli Lotch, with whom he discussed european and bilateral issues of common interest.

During the talks, which were held in a friendly atmosphere, an agreement was reached on the regulations and improvements of the conditions of road transports through Hungary. Specifically, two issues of utmost greek interest were discussed, which are related to the increase in the number of transit permits and to the linking of the two transit categories through taxes. These issues will be further discussed during the permanent joint committee which is scheduled to regulate the technical details.

Mr. Kastanides conveyed to his Hungarian counterpart Greece's support regarding Hungary's future accession to the European Union.

[03] "FINANCIAL TIMES" SUSPECT GREEK ECONOMY IS IN BETTER SHAPE THAN SAID

London's daily "Financial Times" supports the theory that the greek economy might be in better shape than the picture presented by official data.

The article refers to data presented by the European Commission's Statistical Agency, according to which, the size of the economies of Belgium, Portugal and Greece could be even 20 per cent higher than that presented by official data. The difference is partly due to black economy, tax evasion, and the manner in which these countries produce data in order to lessen the deficit and debt rates.

Since the assessment of each country's input to the Commission's budget is based on the size of its economy, now that this data has surfaced these countries may be called upon to dig deeper into their pockets.

This data is not expected to be published within the next two years and, therefore, cannot become a criterion for determining which countries will participate at the monetary union's first phase, since the relevant decision will be drawn at the beginning of 1998.

[04] GREEK COMPANIES PARTICIPATE IN BULGARIA'S PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM

Greek companies will have the opportunity to participate in Bulgaria's privatization programs, stated the President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Industry and Trade, Bozidar Bozinof in an article published in Sofia's "Trud" newspaper.

Meanwhile, within the parameters of the Joint Inter-governmental Committee Meeting, held today at the Ministry of Trade, a joint agreement between Bulgaria and Greece is expected to be signed concerning the avoidance of double taxation, the use of the Nestos River waters, and the ratification of the agreement regarding the establishment of the Black Sea Bank.

[05] MUSIC CONCERT FOR CYPRUS WILL BE HELD IN PARIS

An array of some of Greece's most renowed musicians will perform tomorrow at the Palais des Congres in Paris, in the "Chypre Parmi Nous" concert honoring Cyprus.

Sponsoring the event are the Cypriot government, the Greek Ministry of Press and Mass Media, the Foundation for Hellenic Culture, the Greek state television ET, the Cypriot Airlines, Olympic Airways, and others.

Among the performers participating will be George Dalaras, Elli Paspala, Georges Moustaki, Eleni Tsaligopoulou, Manolis Christodoulides and the "Diastasis" band.

Yesterday, the concert's central organizing committee gave a press conference in Paris where the members, (director Kostas Gavras, Cypriot Ambassador in Paris Andreas Pirisis and the singers George Dalaras and Georges Moustaki) spoke of the cypriot people's right to remind the free world of the tragedy they suffered by the turkish invasion and the continuous occupation of the island's northern part.

Ambassador Pirisis, speaking on behalf of the cypriot government, stated that "the silencing of the cypriot problem and the turkish provocation constitute a sense of guilt and shame for today's world."

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