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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-11-03

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

  • [01] Greek equities jump on flood of encouraging news
  • [02] Secondary debt market shows upturn
  • [03] Gov't pledges to lift tax assessment criteria from 2000
  • [04] Gov't denies existence of fresh IMF report on Greek EMU entry
  • [05] Share capital increase for Bank of Central Greece
  • [06] Papantoniou promises more support for SMEs
  • [07] Greece, Crimea agree on tourism cooperation
  • [08] Counter-incentives for pensioners' employment in draft bill
  • [09] Papoutsis in western Macedonia
  • [10] New NATO sub-headquarters in Tyrnavos soon to become operational
  • [11] Tsohatzopoulos, Papandreou attend Greek-Jewish event in London
  • [12] EuroMP Svoboda in Athens to confer on report regarding EU-Turkey relations
  • [13] EU's defence ministers to meet in Austria
  • [14] EU-SADC meeting in Vienna
  • [15] Parliament debate continues,confidence vote scheduled for today
  • [16] Togo FM in Athens
  • [17] Thai foreign undersecretary in Greece
  • [18] Turkish embassy soiree
  • [19] FM secretary-general resigns over translation dept. problems
  • [20] Papoutsis: PASOK's unity necessary for Greece's EMU accession
  • [21] OTE shares begin trading at NY Stock Exchange
  • [22] Authorities cite health risks from multitudes of foreign women working in sex industry
  • [23] Probe into Matei death concluded
  • [24] 'Greek Days' in Chile
  • [25] Roussel trial continues
  • [26] Simitis-Stephanopoulos meeting postponed
  • [27] Police search for escaped Iraqi illegals
  • [28] Teenager implicated in Albanian burglars' shooting released on bail

  • [01] Greek equities jump on flood of encouraging news

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Greek stocks finished sharply higher yesterday, surging through the 2,200- point barrier for the first time in around 30 sessions following a barrage of promising news to fuel sentiment.

    The Athens general share index ended 5.86 percent higher at 2,289.60 points. Turnover was 376.6 billion drachmas on 63,982,00 stocks traded.

    Of the total, 69.1 billion drachmas accounted for normal trade - sharply up on recent sessions - and the remainder block trades.

    Injecting 307.5 billion drachmas of capital into the market was the transfer of 50.4 million shares in Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) from the Greek state to underwriters in the state firm's third float.

    The stock will then be distributed to new shareholders.

    OTE's share closed at 6,775 drachmas, up 375 drachmas.

    Boosting the market was the success of OTE's third float and a sharp decline in bank rates that is likely to bring down rates on state securities.

    In addition, a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development revised its forecasts upwards for the domestic economy, and investment houses abroad said the prospects were sound for Greece to enter European economic and monetary union by the government's target date of January 1, 2001.

    Sectors posted gains across the board.

    The heavily weighted banking index soared 7.92 percent, near the 8.0 percent upper daily volatility limit for individual stocks.

    Insurance jumped 4.08 percent, Investment leapt 6.88 percent, Leasing gained 1.14 percent, Industrials rose 4.34 percent, Construction increased 4.21 percent, Miscellaneous went up 3.67 percent and Holding gained 2.98 percent.

    The parallel index for smaller cap stocks gained 0.86 percent.

    Of 256 shares traded advances led declines at 215 to 33 with eight shares remaining unchanged.

    Beyond OTE, the most actively traded stocks were Strintzis Lines, Mytilineos and Hellenic Petroleum.

    Among the day's biggest percentage gains at the 8.0 percent limit up were National Portfolio, Bank of Greece and Intracom (common).

    The day's biggest percentage losers were Viosol, Lanakam and Parnassos Enterprises.

    National Bank of Greece ended at 43,200 drachmas, Commercial Bank of Greece at 25,758, Alpha Credit Bank at 24,294 drachmas, Intracom common) at 12,679 and Titan Cement Company (common) at 18,340 drachmas.

    State telecom gets bigger weighting in FTSE/ASE index : Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) yesterday acquired a 35 percent weighting on the Financial Times/Athens Stock Exchange (FTSE/ASE-20) blue chip index, up from 25 percent, the bourse said in a statement.

    The change, effective after yesterday's session, resulted from the transfer of 50,405,420 OTE shares from the state to underwriters, who will then distribute the stock among shareholders, completing the state telecom's third float.

    Athens News Agency

    [02] Secondary debt market shows upturn

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Bond prices in the domestic secondary market rallied yesterday, approaching levels seen before Russia's financial crisis dragged down markets in the summer.

    Turnover through the interbank electronic securities market totalled 21 billion drachmas.

    Market players are waiting to see if the central bank will act following a rate cut announced on Friday by Alpha Credit Bank and Bank of Piraeus.

    If the Bank of Greece cuts its key intervention rate tomorrow, currently at 12.75 percent, a new round of declines is expected, both in the interbank and bank-to-customer markets.

    Interbank rates fell sharply against the previous week with one-month terms at 11.20-12.05 percent, down from around 12.3 percent.

    Rates on swaps by players abroad also dropped with one-year deals ranging from 10.37 percent to 10.56 percent.

    The decline in rates is expected to have a favourable impact on an auction of five-year paper today by the finance ministry, with rates seen falling.

    In the foreign currency market, demand was seen in the drachma, which gained strength.

    At the central bank's daily fix, the mark was at 169.3 drachmas from 171.035 in the previous session.

    The dollar ended at 279.5 drachmas from 281.01, and the Ecu at 332.3 from 336.160 drachmas.

    Athens News Agency

    [03] Gov't pledges to lift tax assessment criteria from 2000

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday promised that unpopular tax assessment criteria applying to many small and medium sized firms would be lifted from 2000.

    Mr. Papantoniou was speaking to representatives of the General Confederation of Light Industries and Traders.

    The representatives had complained during a meeting with the minister about higher taxes they would pay in 1998 due to the current system, and also about a rise in tax assessment rates on property.

    Mr. Papantoniou pledged that the government would boost funding to small and medium sized enterprises from the European Union's Third Community Support Framework.

    Athens News Agency

    [04] Gov't denies existence of fresh IMF report on Greek EMU entry

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday denied the existence of a new report on the domestic economy by the International Monetary Fund concerning the entry by Greece into European economic and monetary union.

    He said the only report in existence was the one released on July 20, countering the daily Athinaiki newspaper that claimed to have published a second report.

    Mr. Reppas said the newspaper article had carried excerpts of documentation accompanying the conclusions of IMF directors for the first report.

    Reports on the domestic economy by the European Union's Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development were favourable, he said

    The OECD report is due to be formally released at the end of the year.

    The reports indicated that the country would be ready for EMU entry on target by January 1, 2001, he said.

    New Democracy calls for new measures to achieve EMU entry : New measures are needed to secure Greece's entry into European economic and monetary union but the prime minister's position is too weak to allow him to take them, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party claimed yesterday.

    Responding to Mr. Reppas' statements, ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said that reports on the domestic economy by the International Monetary Fund and European Union had expressed doubts about Greece's readiness to join EMU.

    "The reports indicate exactly what Prime Minister Costas Simitis is unable to do, which is to carry out bold cuts and structural changes, in other words, a major intervention by the state," Mr. Spiliotopoulos said in a statement.

    He claimed that Mr. Simitis was hostage to the ruling PASOK party's establishment, and was therefore unable to act.

    Athens News Agency

    [05] Share capital increase for Bank of Central Greece

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    A Bank of Central Greece general assembly of holders of ordinary shares decided yesterday to increase the bank's share capital by 5.5 billion drachmas with the privileged sale price of 2,000 drachmas per share.

    Each holder of old shares is entitled to one new share for every four old ones. In parallel, the general assembly ratified the sale of 70,000 shares to the bank's staff at the privileged price of 2,000 drachmas each.

    The formal ratification of the decision to increase the bank's share capital will be carried out by the general assembly of holders of privileged shares which will convene on Nov. 16.

    Athens News Agency

    [06] Papantoniou promises more support for SMEs

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday told the General Confederation of Small Manufacturers and Professionals (GSEBEE) that a greater share from the expected Santer package will go towards small enterprises.

    GSEBEE's leadership outlined the problems that small businesses are facing, requesting that the government provide appropriate solutions to modernise them and enable them to face new competition.

    The national economy minister said that he was open to discussions on tax issues and the development programme.

    Athens News Agency

    [07] Greece, Crimea agree on tourism cooperation

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    A high-ranking delegation from Ukraine's autonomous Crimean region had talks in Athens on Monday with Greek National Tourist Organisation (GNTO) president Yiannis Stefanidis on bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.

    The delegation was headed by Crimean Premier S. Kunitsyn and included Tourism Minister A. Taryanik and the Mayor of Yalta, V. Marchenko.

    The meeting took place on the occasion of the twinning of the cities of Yalta and Rhodes.

    During the meeting, a memorandum was signed within the framework of a bilateral agreement providing for tourism cooperation between Greece and Ukraine.

    The memorandum foresees an exchange of information on tourism matters, cooperation in tourism industry training and the fostering of contacts between travel agencies aimed at increasing the movement of tourists between Greece and Crimea.

    The two sides also agreed to examine possibilities for cooperation in religious, cultural, eco- and sports tourism.

    Athens News Agency

    [08] Counter-incentives for pensioners' employment in draft bill

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The initiation of counter-incentives for work done by pensioners will apparently be one of the most thorny issues in the new insurance bill, the so-called "small package" on insurance, which will be tabled on Thursday and is expected to reach Parliament in about mid-December.

    The counter-incentives will be finally included in the bill and will concern all pensioners who are working, except for those who are self- employed. The main idea will be to curb the pensions of all who continue to work after their pensioning off.

    The cutback will be estimated in excess of a certain amount which, according to reports, will be 200,000 or 250,000 drachmas and will even be able to reach 70 per cent of the excess amount of the ceiling. The bill will also anticipate the suspension of the pensions of pensioners continuing to work and who are below 55 years of age.

    The bill will anticipate a transitional two-year period concerning pensioners who are working at present to enable necessary changes in their family planning to take place in a more moderate manner. On the other hand, its clauses will be applied immedia tely for all being pensioned off after the date the new law will take effect.

    Athens News Agency

    [09] Papoutsis in western Macedonia

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis yesterday resumed a three-day tour of western Macedonia, visiting the northern Greek prefectures of Kozani, Grevena, Imathia and Pella. Mr. Papoutsis had the opportunity to meet with local officials, who briefed him on regional problems and development projects in progress. According to reports, he expressed satisfaction at the appropriate use of EU resources invested in several large western Macedonia projects.

    Athens News Agency Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Olympic Airways (OA) last Sunday inaugurated flights to Lisbon via Rome, in collaboration with the Portuguese carrier TAP-AIR. Three flights are scheduled to Lisbon weekly on Monday, Friday and Sunday.

    Athens News Agency

    [10] New NATO sub-headquarters in Tyrnavos soon to become operational

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The formal beginning of operations at a new NATO sub-headquarters in Tyrnavos, central Greece, was signalled yesterday with a ceremony held at installations of the former Schinas army camp.

    A nucleus of about 60 Greek officers from the NATO LSC staff have been restationed from the First Army Corps.

    The sanctification ceremony was held in the presence of the First Army's commander, Lt.-Gen. Constantinos Panayiotakis and LSC commander Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Mantzanas, as well as the mayor of Tyrnavos Stavros Dovas.

    National Defence General Staff Chief Athanassios Tzoganis will visit the area today and will visit both the headquarters and the First Army.

    The restationing of the approximately 60 Greek officers at the NATO LSC Staff commenced from the end of September, and to date, 135 army, air force and navy officers arrived at the facility.

    Athens News Agency

    [11] Tsohatzopoulos, Papandreou attend Greek-Jewish event in London

    LONDON 03/11/1998 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

    National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou Sunday evening attended a dinner here marking the end of a Greek-Jewish week of events.

    Mr. Papandreou, who was the main speaker at the dinner, said that the foreign ministry has decided to donate to the Jewish Museum in Thessaloniki some 2,000 official documents referring to Jews in Greece before and after WWII, showcasing the excellent relations between the Greek-Jewish communities and the state.

    "Other countries hide their archives because they prove embarrassing for them today," Mr. Papandreou said, adding:

    "I am proud of the fact that Greece, faithful to its democratic principles, did not stumble during World War II. We jointly fought and resisted fascism, racism and NazismIas one nation, Christians and Jews alike".

    Athens News Agency

    [12] EuroMP Svoboda in Athens to confer on report regarding EU-Turkey relations

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Austrian Eurodeputy Hannes Svoboda paid a short working visit to Greece yesterday for a briefing on Greek-Turkish relations by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis.

    Mr. Svoboda, who is vice-president of the Europarliament's Socialist Group, has prepared a report for the Europarliament on the progress to date in relations between the Union and Turkey.

    Earlier this year, Mr. Svoboda visited Ankara, where he had talks with high- ranking Turkish government officials.

    According to sources, both Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Kranidiotis expressed support for facilitating Turkey's European vocation, but on the condition that Ankara complies with international rules and accepts the jurisdiction of the International Court at The Hague, which is a basic precondition for the accession to the EU of 11 candidate-countries.

    Mr. Svoboda's report will be discussed by the Europarliament's Foreign Affairs Committee later this month and presented to the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg in mid-December.

    Athens News Agency

    [13] EU's defence ministers to meet in Austria

    VIENNA 03/11/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

    National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow morning to participate in the first-ever European Union defence ministers' conference.

    The initiative for organising the conference belongs to Austrian Defence Minister Werner Fasslabend, outside the framework of the Austrian EU presidency.

    According to Mr. Fasslabend, the central issue of the conference will be the strengthening of Europe's defence identity and the confrontation of crises, while the primary addresses will be delivered by the defence ministers of France, Britain, Italy and Finland.

    The conference is set to begin tonight, although actual talks will not begin until tomorrow.

    The Amsterdam Treaty cites the ability of incorporating the Western European Union (WEU) into the EU, an issue supported by British PM Tony Blair during the recent informal EU summit in Austria.

    Athens News Agency

    [14] EU-SADC meeting in Vienna

    VIENNA 03/11/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

    European Union member-states' foreign ministers and their counterparts from the South African Development Community (SADC) will participate at a two- day conference to begin here today, as part of efforts to broaden cooper ation between the two sides.

    The agenda of the conference includes issues on democracy, human rights, prevention and resolution of conflicts, combatting the drug trade, minefield deactivation, AIDS issues, the reintroduction of soldiers in society and the concluding of new Lome Treaty talks.

    This is the third conference of its kind, as the second took place in Namibia in October 1996, while the first was held in Berlin in 1994.

    SADC was established in 1980 as a front against the apartheid policies of the South African regime at the time -that region's economic superpower.

    Today, Angola, Congo, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, the Seychelles, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland are members of SADC.

    Greek Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will represent Greece.

    Athens News Agency

    [15] Parliament debate continues,confidence vote scheduled for today

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that tonight's confidence vote in Parliament would reflect acceptance of the government's work by a majority of the 300-member House.

    He added that the confidence vote could not be seen in any other light "such as a vote of tolerance".

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis asked for a confidence vote last Thursday after carrying out a minor cabinet reshuffle following a setback for the ruling PASOK party in local elections last month.

    With their vote, the spokesman said, PASOK deputies will confirm their confidence in the government while at the same time giving a mandate for the continuation of "the great task" which it has undertaken.

    Asked to comment on the fact that while addressing parliament Sunday night on the first day of the three-day debate leading up to the vote, Mr. Simitis was applauded by PASOK deputies only once, Mr. Reppas replied that the debate was not being held in order to create an impression.

    "Our efforts are focused on being useful and substantial, not pleasant," Mr. Reppas said.

    ND : In response, main opposition New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said that "Simitis and Reppas will be left alone with their problems, which cannot be handled with recipes of the '80s..."

    Mr. Spiliotopoulos added that ND leader Costas Karamanlis ignored the premier's outburst in Parliament saying that Mr. Simitis "showed, among others, that he does not know what an insult means".

    Debate : Debate continued for the second day yesterday with National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou refuting the main objections against the government's economic and social policies.

    In terms of delay in EMU accession, Mr. Papantoniou argued that no other country among those that already joined EMU had such a "low starting point", such as Greece, adding that in 1993 the deficit was at 14 per cent of the national product, inflation was at 14 per cent and interest rates at 28 per cent, while the drachma was in a "free fall" and the public debt was "galloping".

    Refuting an argument by Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, namely, that "the government took care of economy indicators, overlooking its real condition," the minister said that the country's entire production infrastructure was in the process of being modernised, while the current growth rate was three-times that of the '80s and six- times that of the early '90s.

    ND deputy Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the fact that the prime minister places even an insignificant reshuffle before the Parliamentary group for judgement was "tangible proof of a policy of weakness".

    Mr. Pavlopoulos also criticised the government over its policy, over the "disorganisation" of the state mechanism, corruption in the wider public sector, the increase in crime, the functioning of justice "with party criteria" and the inadequacy of the penitentiary system.

    Vassilis Kedikoglou, a deputy expelled from the ruling PASOK party, also sharply criticised the government, saying that the govern-ment's course ranged from inade-quate to negative, while it lacked social sensitivity and had failed to improve economic indicators.

    Mr. Kedikoglou said that the premier has no right to expel PASOK deputies and that his expelling was contrary to PASOK's charter.

    ND Deputy Dora Bakoyianni said in her address that the government's policy was "blurred, lacking in boldness and counter-produ-ctive."

    Ms Bakoyianni also criticised the absence of Mr. Simitis and ministers from the debate, saying that "when you ask for a vote of confidence you make the effort to be present in Parliament."

    On the part of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Kostopoulos said the government neither heeds messages nor anything, adding that "what they fear are struggles because rightists and leftists will not put up with their fairy tales."

    Mr. Kostopoulos termed the government's policy "anti-popular" and "Thatcherite". He also spoke of the blackmailing of PASOK's Parliamentary group.

    Fotis Kouvelis of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) claimed that "internal processes" in the PASOK party led the premier to asking for a vote of confidence for his government and, addressing the ruling party's deputies, said that Mr. Simitis wants to "coerce you with dilemmas."

    Athens News Agency

    [16] Togo FM in Athens

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos held talks with his counterpart from Togo, Cocu Josef Kofingo, at the foreign ministry yesterday.

    It is the first time that he met with a counterpart from this west African country.

    Mr. Kofingo said that Greece and Togo have already had cooperation through the framework of multipartite relations, via the LOME contacts, which are also the base for relations between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries.

    Athens News Agency

    [17] Thai foreign undersecretary in Greece

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday had a meeting with his Thai counterpart, Paribatra Sukhumband, who is currently visiting Greece.

    During the meeting, the two officials discussed the relations between the two countries, the economic crisis in southeast Asian countries as well as their relations with the European Union, while Mr. Kranidiotis briefed Mr. Sukhumband on the situation in the Balkans, the Greek-Turkish relations, as well as developments on the Cyprus problem.

    Athens News Agency

    [18] Turkish embassy soiree

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The Turkish embassy in Athens yesterday hosted its annual reception at a downtown Athens hotel to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish republic.

    The government was represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, who stated that his presence at the reception was an act of political courtesyIan opportunity for the celebration of the establishment of the republic after painful processes , shared also among the people in the Turkish state's region.

    The reception was also attended by former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis and by several deputies.

    Athens News Agency

    [19] FM secretary-general resigns over translation dept. problems

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The secretary-general for administration and organisation at the foreign ministry resigned yesterday after Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos dema nded his resignation.

    According to foreign ministry officials, Mr. Pangalos held Constantinos Zaras responsible for the serious problems and delays at the ministry's translation department.

    Mr. Pangalos yesterday morning visited the department and reportedly observed that certain staff members, who had not accepted a recent change to their terms of employment, were preventing colleagues from working.

    The same sources said Mr. Pangalos requested police intervention to force the dissenting employees - eight in total - to leave the building.

    Three of the eight staff members later told reporters that Mr. Pangalos had pushed them and swore at them, while all three consulted an attorney.

    The minister also apologised to the public in the building for what he described as "an unacceptable situation" in the department.

    The dispute at the translation department centres on the refusal of the eight employees to sign new contracts of employment of a definite duration. Although they continued to go to the office, sources at the foreign ministry claimed they hindered the work of colleagues who had accepted the change in employment status.

    Athens News Agency

    [20] Papoutsis: PASOK's unity necessary for Greece's EMU accession

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said in Thessaloniki yesterday that political stability and unity within the ruling PASOK party are basic requirements for Greece to achieve Economic Monetary Union (EMU) accession.

    Mr. Papoutsis said "the country is on a crucial and...hopeful course in view of EMU accession," adding that "in order for that target to be achieved, PASOK's unity was one of the basic requirements".

    The EU Commissioner, addressing the general assembly of the Union of Knitware and Clothing Businesses of Northern Greece, said that businesses in Europe were facing new challenges linked to the globalisation and the opening of new markets, with rapid technological changes, restructure of the production process and the increasing importance in the role of services.

    Athens News Agency

    [21] OTE shares begin trading at NY Stock Exchange

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    State-run Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) yesterday became the first Greece-based utility or company to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

    At press time, OTE's stock price rose by 4 per cent in the first two hours of trading, with a volume of 3,110,000 shares.

    OTE Managing Director Georgios Chrysolouris declared open Monday's NYSE session at the world's foremost bourse. NYSE's leadership also gave to Mr. Chrysolouris a certificate of OTE's inclusion on the floor.

    Along with Mr. Chrysolouris, OTE sent to New York its band folk dancing groups.

    Athens News Agency

    [22] Authorities cite health risks from multitudes of foreign women working in sex industry

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Thousands of eastern European women now working in Greece's burgeoning sex industry may drastically increase the incidence of AIDS in Greece, experts told a news conference yesterday.

    A recent study in Thessaloniki has shown that the majority of these women, most hailing from Albania and Bulgaria, forsake the use of condoms for more money in their transactions with clients, increasing the risk of contracting and spreading AIDS.

    Sociologists at the news conference said these women often had fake certificates from their own countries showing a clean bill of health.

    A number of recent raids on bars and nightclubs in Thessaloniki and provincial towns highlighted the prevalence of these women being used in the Greek sex industry.

    Usually in the country without legal papers, or with their papers held by the owners of the establishments employing them, these women rarely come into contact with state health services.

    Deputy Health Minister Theodoros Kotsonis said the ministry was concerned about the hidden numbers of AIDS sufferers and HIV+ infected persons in Greece.

    "Despite recording only 24 incidences of AIDS between July and September, this downward trend does little to allay fears. The present survey does not reflect the real picture. We have to make an issue out of AIDS...it is important," Mr. Kotsonis said.

    The latest figures show 1,835 AIDS cases in Greece to the end of September: Cumulative figures show a 30 per cent drop over the last few years.

    Mr. Kotsonis also harshly criticised a move by the Ambelokipi municipality's mayor near Thessaloniki to prevent the operation of an AIDS information and support centre recently in the district, saying he had given the Centre for Communicable Diseases the go ahead to file a lawsuit against the continued closure of the centre.

    Athens News Agency

    [23] Probe into Matei death concluded

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    An Athens prosecutor yesterday concluded an investigation into the mysterious death of Greek-Romanian outlaw Sorin Matei, who died in the Korydallos prison infirmary.

    A case file was forwarded to the office of the Piraeus appeals court prosecutor.

    According to press reports, the report contains depositions from about 30 persons, including doctors, prisoners, prison guards, coroners and police officers.

    None of the persons interviewed reportedly face charges of intentional homicide.

    According to reports, the investigation revealed that a prisoner who claimed to have seen the "murder" of Matei was in fact lying, attempting to use the case to get out of prison.

    Athens News Agency

    [24] 'Greek Days' in Chile

    SANTIAGO 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The "Greek Days" series of cultural events,organised by the culture ministry, the embassy of Greece here and the Greek-Chilean Institute, concluded yesterday.

    The 20-day-long series of events included a presentation of Constantine Cavafys' works and Euripides' tragedy "Trojan Woman".

    Athens News Agency

    [25] Roussel trial continues

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    The civil trial of Thierry Roussel, the father of 14-year-old Athina Onassis Roussel P heir to the vast fortune of late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis P continued at in Athens court yesterday.

    Mr. Roussel has been sued for perjury, false accusations and slander against the president and three members of the Onassis Foundation, following his charges of mismanagement by the Onassis Foundation's board.

    The three members of the board were acquitted through a relative court ruling, while the president of the Onassis Foundation, Stelio Papadimitriou, yesterday continued his testimony before the court.

    Mr. Papadimitriou testified that "...Thierry Roussel is trying to enforce his suzerainty on the Foundation. He has sent letters in the past accusing us of mismanagement, among other things. I did not reply to him, I simply forwarded the letter to the min isters of justice and finance. Mr. Roussel is trying to get what he wants through violence and threats..."

    The trial will be continued.

    Athens News Agency

    [26] Simitis-Stephanopoulos meeting postponed

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis's meeting with President of the Republic Costis Stephanopoulos, scheduled for Monday, has been postponed until after Parliament takes a vote of confidence on Tuesday night.

    According to press reports, the meeting has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

    Parliament holds the vote of confidence in the government at Tuesday midnight.

    Athens News Agency Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis will pay an official visit to Albania today and tomorrow.

    During his visit, Mr. Arsenis will meet with deputies and government officials affiliated with the Human Rights Party. He will also sign an educational agreement, visit the Arsakeio Greek-Albanian College and meet with representatives of Greek and minority students, as well as with Albania's president, parliament president and the Archbishop of Tirana and All Albania Anastasios.

    Athens News Agency

    [27] Police search for escaped Iraqi illegals

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    An unknown number of Iraqi illegal immigrants were still at large yesterday after escaping from police custody on Sunday night near Kavala.

    The illegals jumped off a moving truck driven by Dimitris Georgis, 45, after cutting holes into the truck's cover, and while police patrol cars were escorting the vehicle to Kavala.

    Police recaptured 39 of the Iraqis, mostly Kurds,although an undetermined number are still at large. Georgis claimed not to know the exact number of illegals he was transporting.

    Authorities transported 10 illegals to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries caused in their attempted escape.

    Athens News Agency

    [28] Teenager implicated in Albanian burglars' shooting released on bail

    Athens 03/11/1998 (ANA)

    A 17-year-old teenager charged with killing two Albanian burglars was released from custody yesterday, following a joint decision by a prosecutor and magistrate.

    The teenager shot the two Albanians with a shotgun early Saturday morning in the village of Asprokampos, Corinth prefecture. Both victims were seating in a stolen vehicle - loaded with items from the teen's residence and outside his home. In his initial statement to authorities, he said the shotgun discharged accidentally and while he was carrying the weapon in self defence. Police discovered that the Albanians were also armed.

    A Corinth prosecutor initially charged the youth with intentional homicide. Complicity charges were also filed against the teen's 28-year-old uncle, Panayiotis Haralambopoulos.

    The teen was released on one million drachmas bail, while his uncle was released on a 500,000-drachma bail.

    Most Asprokampos villagers sided openly with the teen during court proceedings.

    Athens News Agency

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