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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-09-09

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] Death toll from Athens quake reaches 65, premier announces relief measures
  • [02] Greece, Armenia and Iran sign cooperation memorandum
  • [03] Gov't to give quake rebuilding cash from budget
  • [04] EU raps Greece over unemployment
  • [05] No bourse, derivatives today in quake aftermath
  • [06] Minor speculation in forex, bond market shut
  • [07] Mega Channel goes to Cyprus
  • [08] Prospects of Georgia's economy presented
  • [09] Athens Foreign Exchange
  • [10] No change in location of Olympic Village
  • [11] European soccer match postponed
  • [12] PM Simitis expresses thanks for messages of sympathy, aid
  • [13] Message by US President Clinton
  • [14] Tribute to dedicated rescue workers
  • [15] PM Simitis calls off reception for media
  • [16] Greece supports international peacekeeping presence in East Timor
  • [17] Ecevit reserved but optimistic on Greek-Turkish relations

  • [01] Death toll from Athens quake reaches 65, premier announces relief measures

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    The death toll from Tuesday's powerful earthquake that hit Athens rose to 65 at press time last night, as heroic efforts by the 150 rescue teams managed to pull out of the rubble more than 80 people alive.

    Rescuers were still continuing operations to locate around 30 people missing. The number of injured are in their hundreds.

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis announced a series of measures to provide support and restitution to those left homeless. He outlined a five-point plan including rental subsidies and subsidised loans for businesses to get back on their feet.

    More than 700 aftershocks shook the Greek capital since the major quake which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale occurred on Tuesday.

    Greek seismologists meeting last night at the environment ministry, attended by Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, unanimously concluded that Tuesday's quake was the major one and no greater jolt was expected.

    Seismologists also assessed that the critical factor Zen measuring the ground speed produced by Tuesday's earthquake stood at 0.50, greater than that of the quakes in Aegion, in the Peloponnese in 1995 or that in Turkey last month.

    President of the seismologists committee Dimitris Papanikolaou said after the meeting that the aftershock activity has been developing normally.

    He stressed that buildings should not be used before they are checked by state engineers, while he reiterated that Greece is an earthquake-prone country , thus continual readiness of agencies was necessary.

    The environment, town planning and public works ministry announced that 250 teams of engineers checked 3,009 buildings of which 1352 were found undamaged, 1,239 in need of repairs and 418 damaged beyond repair.

    Thousands of Athenians spent Tuesday and yesterday in open spaces, camping in parks, soccer fields, church yards and schools, fearful of returning to their homes.

    Schools in the capital remained closed and the ministry of education postponed yesterday's second lyceum entry exams. The usually busy Athens Stock Exchange remained closed yesterday. It will resume transactions tomorrow.

    Simitis : Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday announced a series of measures to provide support and restitution to those left homeless by Tuesday's devastating 5.9 magnitude Richter earthquake.

    Mr. Simitis, speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting of his ministers, outlined a five-point plan including rental subsidies and subsidised loans for businesses to get back on their feet.

    The prime minister said each family left homeless by the quake will receive an immediate lump sum payment of 200,000 drachmas.

    Local government authorities will be charged with setting up camping sites for the establishment of tent cities for the temporarily homeless, Mr. Simitis said. This would provide the necessary health and sanitary services.

    The State will undertake to cover a third of the cost of the rebuilding or repair of damaged homes and would also provide interest-free 15-year loans, Mr. Simitis said.

    Also available will be subsidised loans for those self-employed professionals and commercial enterprises hurt by the quake.

    The prime minister said he did not believe the quake damage would derail Greece's attempts to become the 13th member of economic and monetary union and join the euro zone.

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou agreed:

    "The cost (of the quake) in human terms is extremely heavy, unbearably so. The material damage is, unfortunately, significant. On the other hand, however, the economy is strong and the budget is strong," Mr. Papantoniou said.

    "There is no cause for concern. The initial estimates of the cost are of course higher than what initially appeared. But the state budget ... is able to shoulder this cost, without any other effect on the economy," he said.

    Spokesman : Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas called on Greeks not to fall prey to rumour-mongering, following intense rumours of an imminent major earthquake yesterday.

    Speaking to reporters, Mr. Reppas said a seismology professor had denied that he predicted such an earthquake, as claimed by an Athens radio station earlier in the day.

    "The best defence against any such natural phenomenon is calm and self- restraint," he said. "I ask citizens to show calm, it is the best aid that they could offer."

    Mr. Reppas said 3,000 tents and makeshift shelters had been distributed, and that 2,000 firemen and 1,000 soldiers were involved in rescue work, along with army engineers.

    The environment, town planning and public works ministry had received 2,500 calls to date from those seeking inspections of their damaged buildings.

    Mr. Reppas said the government was fully behind the judicial inquiry under way into whether negligence or faulty workmanship contributed to the collapse of buildings.

    Athens public prosecutor George Koliokostas ordered an "urgent inquiry" regarding the collapsed buildings, to establish whether their was any responsibility by engineers for poor construction.

    The European commission's council of permanent representatives COREPER will meet soon to approve financial aid for Greece, following a request for the meeting submitted by Alternate Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis, the spokesman said.

    He thanked the countries and various organisations, including citizen's groups who had offered help to Greece, mentioning that a 20-member Turkish rescue team, 40-member French team and seven-member Swiss team were already in Greece.

    A rescue team from the Czech Republic is taking part in operations.

    "We have done everything possible to bring this adventure to an end with the least consequences possible," Mr. Reppas said.

    Mr. Reppas welcomed the "helpful stance" of the opposition at this time of emergency, saying that it was "a good example of healthy politics that, in such crucial moments, what prevails are the elements which unite and, not divide, us", adding that the opposition's stance had also contributed to a feeling of safety and security."

    Athens News Agency

    [02] Greece, Armenia and Iran sign cooperation memorandum

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    The foreign ministers of Greece, Armenia and Iran yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in energy, transport and tourism.

    The three ministers, who met in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, also discussed the participation of third countries in a natural gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia.

    The issue is to be discussed in more depth in November when the three countries' energy committee meets in Athens.

    Signing for Greece was George Papandreou; for Iran, Kamal Kharrazi; and for Armenia, Vartan Oskanyan. The three also confirmed their interest in the use of renewable energy, and agreed to establish an energy data base in their countries.

    They also said they would set up a new regional design and construction committee.

    Welcomed at the meeting were initiatives by Greece to organise training seminars on tourism, transport, industry, technology and the economy.

    The three foreign ministers will meet again in Athens in 2000 after a session of their coordinating committee in April of the same year.

    Athens News Agency

    [03] Gov't to give quake rebuilding cash from budget

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    The state budget will help to fund reconstruction after a strong earthquake that hit Athens on Tuesday, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday.

    Speaking to reporters after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Mr. Papantoniou said that the government would also seek funds from the European Union to back spending from the budget.

    The earthquake would not negatively affect the stock market's performance, and the bourse would continue to reflect the economy's health, the minister said in reply to a question.

    Klonatex, Agricultural Bank join relief effort : The Klonatex Group, a textiles manufacturer listed on the Athens bourse, yesterday announced that it would place 100 million drachmas at the disposal of the government in solidarity with the relatives of Tuesday's earthquake and their families.

    In addition, state-owned Agricultural Bank of Greece said it would offer a series of loans on favourable terms to individuals and businesses that have suffered in the earthquake.

    Athens News Agency

    [04] EU raps Greece over unemployment

    BRUSSELS, 09/09/1999 (ANA/M.Spinthourakis)

    The European Union's outgoing Commission yesterday urged Greece to lower domestic unemployment, especially for the young, long-term jobless and women.

    EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn told a news conference that Greece's healthy economic growth over the last two years was not matched by a decline in unemployment, which meant a need for major structural changes.

    Mr. Flynn, who is responsible for employment, said that in 1998 the jobless rate was 10.7 percent in Greece, up from 9.8 percent in 1997.

    The 1998 rate was also higher than the EU average of 9.9 percent for the same year.

    The Commission said in a report on joblessness in each member state that it was especially concerned at Greece's youth unemployment rate of 12 percent against the EU's 9.3 percent average.

    Also of major concern were long-term joblessness, and the differential between women and men.

    Among member states, Greece spent the lowest percentage of gross domestic product on measures for the labour market, and major weaknesses were apparent in permanent vocational training.

    The report added that in the business sector, both taxation policy and state red tape acted as a disincentive to new initiatives, and therefore job creation. The situation was especially acute in the services sector, it said.

    Both the tax burden in the labour market and non-wage cost of labour had to be reduced.

    Finally, more flexibility should be introduced into the labour market, the report said.

    From information in the Commission's report, member states fall into four categories according to their performance in adopting recommendations set by the EU two years ago on how to combat unemployment.

    Greece appears in the fourth and final category of countries that have shown a negative record of adaptation to the recommendations. Along with Greece are Italy and Belgium.

    Athens News Agency

    [05] No bourse, derivatives today in quake aftermath

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    The Athens Stock Exchange decided to suspend trading for another 24 hours and to resume tomorrow in order to deal with technical problems caused by a strong earthquake which hit Athens on Tuesday.

    The stock market remained closed yesterday to finish settlement left over from Tuesday. However, technical problems appeared in brokerages and the share depository, again hindering the clearing system.

    The decision to suspend trading also includes the Athens Derivatives Exchange, whose futures trades are based on the FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chips and heavily traded stocks.

    Athens News Agency

    [06] Minor speculation in forex, bond market shut

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Minor bouts of speculation in the foreign exchange market broke out yesterday with players counting on central bank intervention to prop up the drachma.

    The Bank of Greece stepped in after the euro rose above 326.950 drachmas, selling around 50 million euros to bring the national currency higher.

    After the intervention, the market stabilised in lighter trade. At the central bank's daily fix, the euro nosed up versus the drachma.

    It ended at 326.950 drachmas from 326.800 drachmas a day earlier and 326.920 drachmas on Monday.

    Also at the fix, the dollar dropped against the drachma in line with its descent in international markets. The greenback was set at 308.730 drachmas from 309.870 drachmas in the previous session and 307.750 drachmas on Monday.

    Monetary authorities decided to call off secondary market bond trading for precautionary reasons linked to Tuesday's major earthquake and continuing aftershocks.

    Money market trade was lacklustre, and the central bank conducted its regular Wednesday intervention unchanged at 12 percent.

    Economy, drachma intact after quake, gov't says : The economy and the drachma are unscathed by the repercussions of Tuesday's earthquake and aftershocks, a senior government adviser said yesterday.

    "The economic impact of the earthquakes is not particularly significant and in any case is not expected to affect the drachma's parity adversely, or the Greek economy overall," said Yannis Stournaras, president of the national economy ministry's Council of Economic Advisers.

    Athens News Agency

    [07] Mega Channel goes to Cyprus

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Mega Channel (Teletypos SA) is to launch operations in Cyprus as part of its strategy of expanding into markets covering ethnic Greeks.

    Teletypos, which is listed on the Athens bourse, has secured the long-term operation of a TV network and installations currently used by the Logos channel, the Greek firm said in a statement yesterday.

    Programming in Cyprus, which is to begin immediately, will include news and entertainment, the statement said.

    Athens News Agency

    [08] Prospects of Georgia's economy presented

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prospects of Georgia's economy and investment opportunities it offers, and to Greek businessmen in particular, were presented at an event organised at the Nikolaos Germanos convention centre at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) yesterday afternoon by the Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Centre (DIPEK).

    The director of Georgia's Investment Centre Mr. Sarishvilli was the main speaker at the event, while addresses were also made by Minister of Macedonia and Thrace Yiannis Mangriotis and DIPEK President Dimitris Bakatselos.

    Mr. Mangriotis said the common traditions linking Greece and Georgia and its economy's dynamic prospects are excellent preconditions for the start to a productive economic, commercial and business cooperation between the two countries. Georgia has signed a series of agreements with Greece concerning, among others, economic, industrial, technical and scientific cooperation.

    Athens News Agency

    [09] Athens Foreign Exchange

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Bank of Greece closing rates of: Septemper 8, 1999

    Parities in Drachmas

    Banknotes             Buying  Selling
    US Dollar             306.260 313.361
    Can.Dollar            205.642 210.410
    Australian Dlr        198.896 203.507
    Pound Sterling        492.012 503.420
    Irish Punt            411.820 421.368
    Pound Cyprus          561.472 574.490
    Pound Malta           715.091 744.886
    Turkish pound (100)     0.063   0.066
    French franc           49.444  50.591
    Swiss franc           202.938 207.644
    Belgian franc           8.040   8.226
    German Mark           165.830 169.675
    Finnish Mark           54.549 55.814
    Dutch Guilder         147.176 150.588
    Danish Kr.             43.598  44.609
    Swedish Kr.            37.617  38.489
    Norwegian Kr.          39.412  40.326
    Austrian Sh.           23.570  24.116
    Italian lira (100)     16.751  17.139
    Yen (100)             276.371 282.779
    Spanish Peseta          1.949   1.994
    Port. Escudo            1.618   1.655
    
    Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
    US Dollar             306.260 313.361
    Can.Dollar            205.642 210.410
    Australian Dlr        198.896 203.507
    Pound Sterling        492.012 503.420
    Irish Punt            411.820 421.368
    Pound Cyprus          561.472 574.490
    Pound Malta           715.091 744.886
    Turkish pound (100)     0.063   0.066
    French franc           49.444  50.591
    Swiss franc           202.938 207.644
    Belgian franc           8.040   8.226
    German Mark           165.830 169.675
    Finnish Mark           54.549  55.814
    Dutch Guilder         147.176 150.588
    Danish Kr.             43.598  44.609
    Swedish Kr.            37.617  38.489
    Norwegian Kr.          39.412  40.326
    Austrian Sh.           23.570  24.116
    Italian lira (100)     16.751  17.139
    Yen (100)             276.371 282.779
    Spanish Peseta          1.949   1.994
    Port. Escudo            1.618   1.655
    
    Athens News Agency

    [10] No change in location of Olympic Village

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Olympic Games "Athens 2004" Committee Managing Director Costas Bakouris yesterday denied reports that there will be changes in the location of the planned Olympic Village site, following Tuesday's earthquake.

    "The Olympic Village will be constructed in the Acharnes Basin, with special features able to withstand earthquakes, so as not to have any problems in case of an earthquake. No changes in location are planned," Mr. Bakouris stressed, in statements to the Athens News Agency.

    "No damages were listed in the existing facilities, which will be used either for the athletic events or training. No important damages were registered, however, special teams of experts will examine them in detail, so as to have a complete picture of the situation. The organising of the Olympic Games is not influenced in essence by the hit of the earthquake, as data up to this point show," he added.

    Athens News Agency

    [11] European soccer match postponed

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    A European championship soccer qualifier between Greece and Albania scheduled for yesterday was postponed, following Tuesday's powerful earthquake in Athens.

    Deputy Minister for Sports Andreas Fouras said all forms of competitive team sports had been postponed in the Attica region until today pending checks on sporting facilities in the wake of the quake.

    "All matches scheduled for the Attica prefecture today Wednesday 8 and tomorrow Thursday 9 September have been postponed to allow inspections of sporting facilities in the areas affected by the recent seismic activiy and for the safety of athletes and fans," Mr. Fouras said in a statement.

    He had earlier spoken with his Albanian counterpart, who had agreed to a postponement. A later announcement from the federation said that the game would be played on October 6.

    Athens News Agency

    [12] PM Simitis expresses thanks for messages of sympathy, aid

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday expressed his thanks for the messages of sympathy and condolences sent to Greece from countries around the world.

    Responding to a question about the message sent by Turkish President Bulent Ecevit and the help offered by Turkish rescue teams, Mr. Simitis said:

    "I am expressing thanks for the message from the Turkish prime minister, as well as for all the others who showed their support, such as (Cypriot) President Clerides, who offered on behalf of Cyprus to extend financial aid of one million dollars."

    Mr. Simitis called the presence of Turkish rescue teams in Greece "a sign of solidarity and friendship between the peoples of the region."

    Meanwhile, a U.S. Embassy statement said President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright and Secretary of Defence Cohen were sending messages of support to Mr. Simitis and his foreign and defence ministers.

    The embassy has expressed its profound sympathy and condolences to the Greek people for the earthquake and has offered Greece any assistance that may be required to cope with the aftermath of the quake.

    Israel has offered to provide Greece with rescue teams to free the dozens of people trapped under tonnes of rubble.

    Israeli ambassador to Greece Ran Curiel spoke with Alternate Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis on Tuesday evening, telling him of Israel's readiness to extend all help needed.

    An Israeli embassy statement yesterday said an Israeli special rescue team - which worked in Kenya after the U.S. embassy bombing and in Turkey during last month's earthquake - was ready to travel to Athens.

    Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Nawaf Massalha, in Athens last week for the Athens-sponsored Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, spoke with Mr. Kranidiotis to express his regret at the loss of life and reiterated Israel's willingness to help.

    The Turkish Embassy in Athens in a press release yesterday expressed its "deepest sympathy and condolences" for the victims of the earthquake.

    "The fact that this earthquake occurred at a time when the government and the people of Greece were generously helping the victims of another tragedy in Turkey, makes our sorrow even more profound," the statement said.

    Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien yesterday expressed the condolences and solidarity of the Canadian people to the people of Greece, hit by the earthquake.

    Mr. Chretien expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the dead.

    Meanwhile, the Canadian branch of the Red Cross has began efforts to locate Canadian citizens residing in Athens.

    Countries already having provided assistance are the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Bulgaria, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Albania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Slovenia, Austria, Moldova and Cyprus.

    Aid offers have also been made by the European Union, NATO and other international organisations, while rescue teams from Cyprus, Turkey, Switzerland, France and Germany have arrived in Athens so far. A rescue team from Israel was also expected in a few hours' time.

    One of the first messages of condolences to reach Prime Minister Costas Simitis was by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, while German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer addressed a letter to his Greek counterpart George Papandreou, expressing his country's readiness to provide aid of all kinds.

    Apart from solidarity and sympathy messages sent by almost all European governments, Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Massimo Ranieri expressed his government's availability for further aid to be provided. Luxembourg Foreign Minister Lidi Polfer addresse da letter to her Greek counterpart expressing her government's condolences.

    Immediate response by the Czech Republic's government was moving which informed the Greek Foreign Ministry that two aircraft were on standby to take a 20-member rescue team to Athens together with sniffer dogs.

    Hungarian President Arbad Gontz stressed in a letter to President Kostis Stephanopoulos "the Greek people, known all over the world for their spiritual strength and indomitable nature, will overcome this difficult moment thanks to the country's good pre paration and the assistance of friendly countries, including Hungary."

    Greek-American organisations, specialised search and rescue teams from the United States, and the Los Angeles Fire Brigade communicated with the Greek Embassy in Washington and offered to provide their services in the event it was requested by the Greek authorities.

  • Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic expressed his condolences over the news of the destructive earthquake, which hit the Greek capital.

    In telegrammes to Greek President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Mr. Milosevic expressed his and the people of Yugoslavia's sorrow over the destructive earthquake hitting a "friendly country".

  • Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadezda Mihailova yesterday said that Bulgaria is ready to provide in any way it can earthquake-hit Greece.

    She called the earthquake a "great tragedy in a neighbouring country", adding that the Bulgarian government offered to help with search and rescue teams and in any other way possible.

    Meanwhile, the Bulgarian branch of the Red Cross offered to aid its Greek counterpart in search and rescue operations.

  • Irna news agency dispatched a message by Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi, expressing his deepest regret over the quake that hit Greece.
    Athens News Agency

    [13] Message by US President Clinton

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    US President Bill Clinton conveyed the following message yesterday:

    "On behalf of all Americans, Hillary and I extend our profound sympathy to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives and to those injured in yesterday's earthquake in Greece.

    Last month, people around the world were moved by Greece's generous assistance to Turkey in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck near Istanbul.

    Now we have seen the same spirit of cooperation in President Demirel's pledge of support for the Greek people in their hour of need. We, too, are prepared to help the Greek government respond to the disaster."

    Athens News Agency

    [14] Tribute to dedicated rescue workers

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Maria Atia had seen cracks in the walls of her Metapmorphossi home before but she never believed that it would collapse like a house of cards.

    But that is what her house did on Tuesday, when the surface tremor of magnitude 5.9 swept through Athens. Atia was trapped for four hours in the ruins of the four-storey building before she was dragged out alive.

    "I was in the kitchen with my mother. And then, without realising how exactly, we were underneath tonnes of cement. We both encouraged each other. At first, neighbours tried to get us out. Luckily we were on the fourth floor. Later the rescue workers got us out.

    "We could hear the family on the third floor shouting for hours. The children were calling for their mother but nobody could help them. They were much further down than us," she said.

    Eleni Hatzopoulou, one of the women pulled alive from the rubble of the collapsed Fourlis factory, says she did not even have time to be scared.

    "It was a nightmare. If I hadn't got underneath a door in time, I would be dead now," she says from the KAT Hospital where she is being treated for serious injuries, along with three other women pulled from the wreckage of the factory.

    Ioanna Ragazou's mother could not stop thanking the rescue workers when she saw her daughter pulled out of the rubble alive.

    "I felt like I had been reborn. There are no words. I thank God that he brought back my daughter from death," she says.

    More than 530 people sought treatment after the earthquake at KAT Casualty Hospital, most of them hurt by flying glass or marble or by jumping from windows or balconies in their panic to get out of buildings.

    About 85 people were admitted to hospital, with 20 receiving surgery. Many are listed as being in a serious condition.

    Most of those pulled from collapsed homes and buildings are suffering from shock and appear to want to avoid talking about anything that reminds them of the earthquake.

    The quake struck shortly before 3 p.m. and during the traditional Greek nap time, which may account for the relatively high number of children dragged lifeless from the rubble of collapsed buildings.

    "I kept talking to my children to keep their spirits up," one survivor said, after she found herself trapped in her collapsed home with her children. Her children were pulled out two hours before rescue workers could get to her.

    "When I could no longer talk, I used my nails to dig to get air. Dirt had blocked one of my nostrils and breathing was difficult. When they finally got me out, the first thing I asked was if my children were alive," she said.

    Some stories, such as those of Thomas Spyrakos, will not be told. One of the victims of Tuesday's deadly quake, Spyrakos was a promising 16-year-old wrestler, twice national schools and juniors champion and considered one of the great hopes for the Greek team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. His body was pulled from the rubble of his home by his uncle and coach. Earlier, rescue workers had saved his mother and brother.

    Athens News Agency

    [15] PM Simitis calls off reception for media

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis has called off a reception for the press and media scheduled for this evening and donated the food to those affected by the killer quake that struck Athens on Tuesday.

    The food will be distributed by the Greek Red Cross.

    Meanwhile, the transport and communications ministry said phone calls from phone booths in the areas hardest hit by the quake would not be charged and extra booths will be provided.

    The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation also said it would donate 100 tents and four generators to those affected by the quake, while the Post Office Savings Bank said loan repayments by residents in these areas would be suspended. Gree k public transport EAS meanwhile donated 14 mini-buses for the use of rescue teams and Olympic Catering is providing food and water for residents and rescue workers.

    Papandreou returns : Foreign Minister George Papandreou has postponed his scheduled visits to Hungary and Malta and returned to Athens from Armenia, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

    Mr. Papandreou was in Yerevan to attend a meeting with his Armenian and Iranian counterparts.

    Yesterday morning, Alternate Foreign Minister Yannos Kranidiotis had talks with his EU counterparts on clinching EU aid for Greece in the wake of the earthquake.

    The issue will be discussed at the meeting of the European Commission's council of permanent representatives by ambassador Lucas Tsilas.

    Meanwhile, scheduled meetings between Greek and Turkish foreign ministry officials will continue as normal in Athens today and tomorrow and in Ankara on September 15-16.

    Athens News Agency

    [16] Greece supports international peacekeeping presence in East Timor

    Athens, 09/09/1999 (ANA)

    The Greek government is deeply worried of the developments in East Timor as the escalation of violence, which borders anarchy, is committed against innocent civilians, the foreign ministry stated in a press release yesterday.

    "The violence creates a new refugee wave and aims at overturning the decision of the overwhelming majority of the East Timor people, based on the Popular Referendum of August 30," the press release stated.

    "The Greek government supports a strong peacekeeping presence of the international community in the region, in the framework of the United Nations, since the forced end to violence was not possible by the Indonesian police force, to date," the press rel ease added.

    "Such a peacekeeping force could contribute to the efforts for an end to the violence and the establishment of order, security in the region and respect for the decision of the East Timor people's decision".

    "The Greek government also believes that the European Union, which has always supported efforts toward peace at East Timor, should once again show its decisiveness and should contribute financially to the efforts for the application of the popular decis ion and prosperity of the people of East Timor," the press release concluded.

    Athens News Agency

    [17] Ecevit reserved but optimistic on Greek-Turkish relations

    ISTANBUL, 09/09/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

    Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit appeared reserved but optimistic over prospects of Greek-Turkish relations in a statement to a Turkish newspaper.

    "Basic problems exist between the two countries but the start to dialogue is very important," Mr. Ecevit reportedly told the newspaper Radikal and expressed the wish "let us see the result of dialogue between the foreign ministers first." Minister : ISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas) - In a statement to the newspaper Zaman, Turkish Minister of State on relations with the European Union Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik said "Greece is an intersection in Turkey's relations with the EU."

    He said Greek policy will have a special influence on the outcome of the Helsinki summit.

    "Greece will have an important role which it will play in Helsinki. We hope it will follow a policy which will not set preconditions" - for the recognition of Turkey's candidacy - Mr. Irtemcelik said.

    "Our relations will develop with such a Greece and will reach a point where they will be able to handle and resolve existing problems," he said.

    Athens News Agency

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