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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-07Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Wide-ranging Simitis-Schroeder talks in Bonn todayBONN 07/12/1998 (ANA - P. Stangos)Prime Minister Costas Simitis arrived here last night in order to hold scheduled talks today with new German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and German Social Democrat Party (SPD) President Oskar Lafontaine.Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos also arrived in Bonn from Brussels last night to attend today's meeting between Mr. Simitis and Mr. Schroeder. Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis will attend the meeting between Mr. Simitis and Mr. Lafontaine . Mr. Simitis landed in Frankfurt on Friday night where he held a private meeting with new German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Talks between Mr. Simitis and Mr. Schroeder are expected to focus primarily on European issues, in light of the Vienna summit on Dec. 11-12 and Germany's assumption of the EU's rotating six-month presidency as of Jan. 1 - expected to focus on crucial issues, such as "Agenda 2000", Union resources and the future of funds (cohesion and structural funds, and Common Agricultural Policy), all of direct concern for Athens. The aforementioned issues and Bonn's determination to decrease its contributions to the overall EU budget will constitute a special topic of discussion at a scheduled meeting between Mr. Simitis and Mr. Lafontaine, as the latter is also the new German finance minister. According to reports from the Greek delegation, Mr. Simitis will initially place emphasis on the EU's future, such as the issue of maintaining the target of economic and social convergence between EU member-states after the introduction of the single 'euro' currency, as well as the importance of continuing Europe's political unification. According to the same reports, the assumption by the EU of an "integrated policy in the Balkans" will be among the issues the Greek premier also intends to raise in his talks with Mr. Schroeder. On matters of particular Greek concern, such as progress in accession negotiations between Cyprus and the EU and EU-Turkey relations, Mr. Simitis is expected to request from the new German leadership a disassociation of successful EU-Cyprus accession talks from the thorny issue of resolving the island republic's political problem, as Nicosia is blameless for the existing impasse and in light of its 'positive contribution' on the Cyprus issue. Apart from this, Mr. Simitis is also expected to insist on the need for pressuring Ankara to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice at The Hague as a framework for resolving its whatever differences with Athens. According to the same sources, Mr. Simitis will reiterate that Greece, "despite the fact it desires the stabilisation of Turkey's European prospects, cannot accept the upgrading of its relations with the EU, namely, that it (Turkey) becomes an equal can didate-country just like the other 11 candidate-countries, unless there are necessary concessions that emanate from the preconditions set in Luxembourg (summit)." Finally, another 'sensitive' topic includes the issue of a compulsory Nazi occupation loan and compensation for victims of the World War II occupation of Greece. Athens News Agency Athens adamant on 'Agenda 2000',CAP issues at latest Conclave session BRUSSELS 07/12/1998 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis) The issue of "Agenda 2000" and the European Union's fiscal prospects in light of EU enlargement, in particular, constitute the focal point of discussions held at the EU's Council of Foreign Ministers (Conclave) yesterday. Greece was represented by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou. Mr. Papandreou said that yesterday's negotiating was substantive which, however, did not reach any specific conclusions since Greece, Spain and Portugal made it clear that they will not accept whatever idea, either of stabilising EU expenditures over the next five years or a partial renationalisation of the EU's common agricultural policy. He said that the sole official proposal on the negotiating table is the "Agenda 2000" and that all the other proposals which have been publicised at times cannot constitute a basis for negotiations. The Greek side supports the Commission's proposals and will not accept any decrease in funds anticipated by the "Agenda 2000." On the question of the Cohesion Fund, Mr. Papandreou said that Greece, as is also the case with the other countries benefitting from the Cohesion Fund, rejects any idea of abolishing the possibility of funding in the event that a country becomes a member of the euro zone. Mr. Papandreou said that the issue of enlargement will be discussed today and added that, on the issue of Turkey in particular, believes that Turkey's position and status must be clarified in the process of EU enlargement to avoid misunderstandings which would create the image that Turkey is a candidate country on equal terms with the other candidate countries of eastern Europe and Cyprus. According to certain reports, Italy might also raise the Ocalan case for discussion today. Replying to a question by the press on Mr. Santer's letter on the issue of EU funding to Turkey, Mr. Papandreou said that this letter came as a reply to a letter by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, there is no new element and Greece has repeatedly set out its positions on the issue of Turkey's financing by EU funds. Athens News Agency[02] Culture ministry buys book on AlexanderAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)The culture ministry has purchased a rare book on Alexander the Great at an Athens auction for 8.8 million drachmas.The ministry bought a first or second edition of Curtius Rufus' (Quintus) "Historia Alexandri Magni", published in Rome in 1471. To date, there was no copy of Curtius' 150-page "Historia Alexandri Magni" in Greek libraries, nor any other early Curtius publication. The book was written in the 1st century AD in 10 tomes, the first two of which have been completely lost, as have sections from the remaining tomes. The previous owner of the "Historia" had bought it at a 1994 Christie's auction in London. Athens News Agency[03] Santer,Simitis letters focus on differences over EU funding of TurkeyAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)European Commission President Jacques Santer's clear intention (apparently expressing positions by other EU member-states) to aid Turkey within the framework ofUnion strategy decided at the Luxembourg and Cardiff summits is revealed in a letter sent to PM Costas Simitis, dated Nov. 26. In an earlier address, dated Oct. 20, Mr. Simitis sets out his strong reservations concerning the legality of the Commission's proposals regarding Turkey's funding, while he warned that in the event that these proposals are ratified they will create a very serious precedent and could be contested at the European Court. Both letters were published yesterday in the Sunday newspaper "To Vima". On his part, Mr. Santer defends the European Commission's proposals and claims that "the option of legal bases has been planned to reflect, accurately and specially, the situations which exist." The issue of Turkey's funding, as well as the future of its relations with the EU, will be raised both at the General Affairs Council, to be held in Brussels today, and tomorrow, and at the Vienna EU summit on Dec. 11-12. What the Union's major powers will pursue at the summit is to "transform" Turkey into a candidate-country for EU accession. Conversely, Athens will pursue a reformulation of conditions put to Turkey at the Luxembourg summit, which many of Greece's EU partners are not viewing positively at present. Athens News Agency[04] Reppas heads gov't delegation to CyprusNICOSIA 07/12/1998 (ANA)Press & Mass Media Minister and Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas arrived in Cyprus last night for a one-day visit, heading a delegation of a "Coordinating Committee to Promote National Issues."Upon arrival, Mr. Reppas said nothing has changed regarding the issue of the S-300 missiles' deployment on the island republic. He added that there is an on-going debate that is necessary "to re-adapt our tactics", as he said. Reiterating that Athens' position is identical to Nicosia's decisions, he said the Cyprus issue should not be limited to the missiles issue. The committee comprises officials and high-ranking members of the mass media ministry, the press and information office and representatives of the foreign ministries of Greece and Cyprus. Delegations from both sides will hold talks today to coordinate cooperation in the field of informing public opinion on national issues. The talks will be chaired by Mr. Reppas and Cyprus government spokesman Christos Stylianides. Mr. Reppas will be received by Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides this morning. He will also meet the President of the House of Representatives, Spyros Kyprianou. Athens News Agency Athens 07/12/1998 (ANA) Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Saturday that an international committee being set up for a "Cultural Olympiad" to be hosted by Greece between 2000-2004 will include Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, veteran film director Jules Dassin and well-known composer Mikis Theodorakis. Other members would be announced later, he told a meeting of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), held in Thessaloniki. Athens News Agency[05] Tsohatzopoulos talks with Indian leadershipNEW DELHI 07/12/1998 (ANA)India's interest in Cyprus developments and New Delhi's position regarding a political solution for the island republic was expressed on Saturday by Indian PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and opposition leaders, during National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' official visit here.Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also met one-time Indian leader Rajiv Gandhi's widow, Sonia, who along with Mr. Vajpayee stressed New Delhi's lengthy relations with Cyprus within the non-aligned movement, calling for a "united future for the island republic." Mr. Vajpayee said his country, although a nuclear power, is willing to contribute to stability and world peace by signing the treaty for a comprehensive ban of nuclear tests. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need for collective assessments about the power and the time to use such weapons. Athens News Agency[06] Draft bill on NGOsAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)The Greek government is promoting a draft bill on the initiation of the role of non-governmental organisations, an important step in promoting the concept of voluntary social contribution.This was stressed in a message by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Saturday on the occasion of "World Volunteers Day". The active participation of citizens, as volunteers, will allow new opportunities for peace to be promoted in regions in which outbreaks of violence are commonplace, a message by Mr. Papandreou read. Athens News Agency[07] Australian deputy presses Greek probe into death of 2 Greek-AustraliansMELBOURNE 07/12/1998 (ANA)An Australian deputy has announced that he will ask Canberra to pressure Athens into speeding up a probe into the mysterious death of two Greek- Australians, whose bodies were found in an inflatable craft off the port of Rafina last June.Labor Party deputy Bob Surcomb said he would table a parliamentary question next week, asking the government to exert pressure through its foreign ministry to seek a rapid completion of enquiries. "I realise that Greece has its own judicial system but police investigations have been unjustifiably slow, despite the fact that there is a request by an Australian court to receive the Greek police findings," the deputy said. The "Sunday Herald Sun" newspspaper alleged the existence of a fresh judicial enquiry revealing that cousins George Karalis and George Loizos were murdered but the findings of the investigation were not released. The families of the two men have rejected the findings of an earlier enquiry that claimed Karalis had murdered Loizos and then committed suicide. Australian media have for some time alleged that a cover-up by authorities is involved in the case. Athens News Agency[08] Three arrested on antiquities smuggling chargesAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)Three people were arrested on Saturday in Athens for possession and smuggling of antiquities.According to reports, police followed taxi driver Nikolaos Nanos and butcher Emmanouil Petsagourakis to a meeting in the Nea Philadelplia district where they intended to sell a marble sculpture head, dated between 500 AD and the 1500s. A third suspect, surveyor Georgios Panakis, was arrested later in a Vathis square coffee shop. Police reportedly received information about the trio's alleged activities three months ago. Nanos is wanted for illegal gambling and health insurance fraud. His taxi was a stolen car with an altered chassis number, while its documents were issued under a false name. Athens News Agency[09] Gov't: Crop damage compensation checks by Dec. 18Athens 07/12/1998 (ANA)New Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis said on Saturday that compensation checks to farmers whose crops were damaged by recent bad weather will have been sent to Agricultural Bank (ATE) by Dec. 18.The farm minister was speaking to the agricultural organisation representatives from central Macedonia in Thessaloniki. Mr. Anomeritis said that total compensation will total around 340 billion drachmas, with the first 100 billion drachmas already sent to cotton growers. In an apparent effort to stem farmers' mobilisations and roadblocks, which over the past two years created numerous transportation problems, especially in central Greece, Mr. Anomeritis called on farmers' representatives to engage in a "realistic dialog ue to handle structural issues". On their part, several farmers requested, among others, that a state compensation agency for farmers be created, a farmers' register be fully applied, cooperatives' restructuring; for projects to go ahead in the farm sector and for agricultural organisa tions' to participate in the shaping of the 3rd Community Support Framework. They warned that unless their problems are tackled immediately, they are determined to proceed with dynamic mobilisations again. In contacts with local business, labour and farm leaders in Larissa, Mr. Anomeritis did not exchange views at length on major issues, such as the "Agenda 2000", reformation of Common Agricultural Policy, the Santer package and other major issues concern ing Greek agriculture, but received dozens of memos on various issues. Referring to farmers' trials, he reiterated that a justice ministry bill to be tabled in Parliament will write-off farmers' offences. Mr. Anomeritis did not meet with the members of protesting farmers' "Panthessaly Coordinating Committee", despite the fact that representatives of the PASE union, as they had said, had requested a meeting, He said that no one from the group had requested a meeting with him, something denied by the members of the committee, who said that a phone request for a meeting with him had been made last Thursday. Athens News Agency[10] Gas shortages evaporate as customs officers return to workAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)Fuel has become available again in petrol stations around the country and border checks have resumed, as customs officers returned to work over the weekend after a five-day strike, which caused severe fuel shortages and long queues at border crossings.Customs officers were forced back to work after the government on Friday enacted special labour law provisions banning industrial action by state employees during national emergencies. The decision was announced by National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, saying the government had exhausted all margins of dialogue. Customs officers were protesting against a plan to merge their financially robust pension fund with other, weaker funds. Mr. Papantoniou said this week's rolling 24-hour strikes had considerably damaged the national economy and that the government had taken into consideration all parameters before enacting "civil mobilisation" provisions. The enactment is effectively an order to striking public servants to return to work or face dismissal. Athens News Agency[11] Last-ditch attempt to keep Prinos site operatingAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)The government has made a last-ditch attempt to save the Prinos off-shore oilfield from closure by offering to subsidise early retirement for workers of North Aegean Petroleum Co. (NAPC) who refuse to accept redundancies in a cost-cutting plan.Citing financial woes, NAPC has said it will close its installations, located off the northern Aegean island of Thassos and southeast of the town of Kavala, if workers persist in rejecting the plan to lower operating costs by 30 per cent. NAPC's latest deadline for closure is today after attempts by the labour ministry to mediate between management and workers. Labour Minister Miltiades Papaioannou said on Friday afternoon that the government was willing to contribute 700 million drachmas to help fund voluntary retirement for around 70 workers. Any staff who opted for retirement would be eligible for three-year labour ministry retraining schemes, also receiving a monthly payment of 150,000 drachmas and social insurance stamps until normal retirement age. Staff unwilling to accept voluntary retirement would be offered 2.5 million drachmas in order to start their own businesses. Putting the government proposals to NAPC's management and union was Deputy Labour Minister Christos Protopapas, who held talks with both sides in Athens on Friday. Workers are due to meet in Kavala on Monday to debate the ministry's proposals. The government has asked NAPC, which employs 400 workers, to refrain from action until Thursday to allow time for discussion of the offer. Athens News Agency[12] Soccer violenceAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)Soccer-related violence flared up in various parts of Athens both before and after the Panathinaikos-Olympiakos first division football match at the Athens Olympic Stadium on Saturday afternoon.Specifically, one police motorcycle was firebombed and its rider slighty injured, while several coaches and cars were stoned and three electric train wagons damaged by hooligans, police said. A group of about 20 motorcyclists threw stones at a coach carrying Panathinaikos fans from Volos, slightly injuring the driver and a fan. Other hooligans damaged a vehicle belonging to a private television station in a parking lot outside the stadium. In another incident, a 20-year-old Panathinaikos fan was attacked and slightly injured outside a maternity clinic near the stadium. Hooligans also tore up hundreds of plastic seats in the stadium and hurled them at riot police attempting to restore order. The fire brigade also extinguished numerous small fires which broke out in the stands. Olympiakos won the match 4-2. Athens News Agency[13] Abducted businessman found alive in car trunkAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)An abducted Athens businessman was found in the boot of a car alive yesterday morning, capping off a mysterious kidnapping which has not yet been fully unravelled.The car was parked outside the Leventis motel just north of the seaside town of Agios Constantinos, central Greece, during the night. Police said businessman Georgios Leonidopoulos was taken to police headquarters in Athens following his release from the vehicle's trunk. According to reports, he told police that he had been kidnapped by three Albanians and a Greek. Athens News Agency[14] WWII-era anti-tank mines discovered, removedAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)Four World War II-era anti-tank mines were found during excavations at a building site in Depos community, Kavala prefecture on Saturday.The mines were removed by military bomb disposal experts, while work at the site stopped to allow bomb disposal experts to ascertain whether a minefield existed in the area during WWII. Before being turned into lots, the mountainous Depos area was mostly inaccessible. Athens News Agency[15] Athens Foreign ExchangeAthens 07/12/1998 (ANA)Bank of Greecce closing rates of: December 4, 1998Parities in Drachmas Banknotes Buying Selling US Dollar 279.407 285.885 Can.Dollar 181.496 185.704 Australian Dlr 173.292 177.310 Pound Sterling 465.486 476.279 Irish Punt 414.656 424.270 Pound Cyprus 561.968 574.997 Pound Malta 692.827 721.695 Turkish pound (100) 0.081 0.084 French franc 49.767 50.921 Swiss franc 204.183 208.917 Belgian franc 8.091 8.278 German Mark 166.859 170.728 Finnish Mark 54.895 56.168 Dutch Guilder 148.071 151.504 Danish Kr. 43.894 44.912 Swedish Kr. 34.849 35.657 Norwegian Kr. 37.654 38.527 Austrian Sh. 23.719 24.269 Italian lira (100) 16.859 17.250 Yen (100) 235.154 240.606 Spanish Peseta 1.961 2.007 Port. Escudo 1.622 1.660 Foreign Exchange Buying Selling New York 279.407 285.885 Montreal 181.496 185.704 Sydney 173.292 177.310 London 465.486 476.279 Dublin 414.656 424.270 Nicosia 561.968 574.997 Paris 49.767 50.921 Zurich 204.183 208.917 Brussels 8.091 8.278 Frankfurt 166.859 170.728 Helsinki 54.895 56.168 Amsterdam 148.071 151.504 Copenhagen 43.894 44.912 Stockholm 34.849 35.657 Oslo 37.654 38.527 Vienna 23.719 24.269 Milan 16.859 17.250 Tokyo 235.154 240.606 Madrid 1.961 2.007 Lisbon 1.622 1.660 Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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