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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-15Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou satisfied with EU decision to lift Yugoslavia flights banBrussels 15/02/200 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)Foreign Minister George Papandreou expressed his full satisfaction here on Monday over the European Union's decision to suspend the ban on flights to and from Yugoslavia. Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos represented Greece at the EU's Council of General Affairs."Today's development constitutes a vindication of Greece's foreign policy to the degree that its steadfast position was and is that sanctions against Yugoslavia should not be sanctions against the Serb people," he said. Papandreou said the decision is important and that Greece's contribution was decisive. He said that before the decision was taken he had a series of contacts with counterparts of his, such as with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Sunday night and with the foreign ministers of Britain, the Netherlands and Italy on Monday morning. He added that during the contacts, he outlined the main decisions taken at the recent Balkan summit in Bucharest. Commenting on developments in Yugoslavia, and on the recent bloody incidents in particular, Papandreou said that an intensification of the region's policing is necessary, adding that UN resolution 1244 on Kosovo should be applied to the letter. Papandreou said the 15 decided to call on the European Commission to prepare a report on maximizing the effectiveness of sanctions taken against Serbia, while minimizing repercussions for the population. He reiterated Greece's position favoring the easing of the oil embargo imposed on Yugoslavia by the EU. Papandreou further said that the solution to the problem does not rest with demonizing all of Yugoslavia. Earlier on Monday, Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas defended Greece's decision to ask for a lifting of sanctions on Yugoslavia, saying that the Yugoslav population was carrying the burden. "The situation has come to an impasse with the policy being followed to date... Greece proposes the gradual lifting of the embargo," Reppas told reporters. He was speaking after Greece broached the issue of Yugoslavia's non-participation at the weekend's Bucharest Balkans summit. "The main issue at the Balkans summit in Bucharest was the salvation of the institution," Reppas said when asked about Yugoslavia's absence. Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed at the summit that a policy of isolating Yugoslavia would bear little and that the embargo should be re-considered. He proposed this begin with the lifting of the embargo on international flights into Belgrade, which mainly afflict the people of the country. At present, flights from EU member-states to Yugoslavia are banned. Foreign Minister George Papandreou was expected on Monday to place the issue before the Union's General Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday. Reppas said that the government was also requesting the international community take action to avert a further escalation of tension in Kosovo. [02] Simitis, Manos discuss election law during half-hour meetingAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis received Liberals Party founder and independent deputy Stephanos Manos on Monday for a half-hour meeting that mostly centered on electoral laws.The Greek prime minister emphasised afterwards that if elected his new government will begin a dialogue with other parties over the current election law and system in order "to find the best possible solution." In their talks, Manos called for a change in Greece's election law, and specifically the ban on political party coalitions entering the third allocation of Parliament seats. On his part, Simitis told Manos -- a one-time New Democracy minister, top cadre as well as a high-profile proponent of neo-liberalism economic policies -- that the goal of stable governments must be maintained along with the representation of multiple political viewpoints in Parliament. After exiting the premier's office, Manos referred only to their discussions and declined comment on other topics, while Simitis noted that the Liberals Party leader's approaches to solving Greece's major problems differed from those of ruling PASOK. Greek voters go to the polls on April 9. PASOK considers criteria for election candidates The ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau convened late into the night on Monday to consider criteria for selecting candidates in light of the April 9 elections in the country. PASOK's Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis said qualifying elections will not be held in the Athens and Thessaloniki urban constituencies, the largest in the country, as well as in constituencies electing only one candidate. Skandalidis said that members of the Executive Bureau and the Central Committee desiring to be included in party tickets will not have to participate in qualifying elections and will be included automatically. [03] Karamanlis says his government will create National Foreign Policy CouncilAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis said on Monday his government will create a National Foreign Policy Council, as well as a council of party leaders under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic because, as he said, all Greeks have the same goals and values and the right to shaping the country's future.Referring to Greek-Turkish relations, Karamanlis clarified that the country concedes nothing and demands the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops from Cyprus in accordance with international law and international treaties. "We want to come close to enable the development of our countries ... but one-sided agreements and unilateral concessions only lead to deadlocks and intensify intransigence," he said. [04] NATO commander meets TsohatzopoulosAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The Commander of NATO's Southern Flank, Admiral Joseph O. Ellis on Monday started a 48-hour official visit to Greece, at the invitation of Greek General Staff Chief Gen. Manousos Parayioudakis.The allied official paid a courtesy call to Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and is due on Tuesday to visit NATO regional headquarters in Larissa, central Greece, inaugurated in October. [05] Mitsotakis blasts government policy, criticises ND handlingAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, the honorary leader of the main opposition New Democracy party (ND), on Monday was critical of both ruling PASOK party policy and ND on its handling of recent issues. In an interview appearing in Monday's edition of TA NEA newspaper, Mitsotakis said the absence of former ND cadres George Souflias, Stephanos Manos, Andreas Andrianopoulos and Vassilis Kontoyannopoulos was a loss for the party."I do not wish to engage in criticism of the past, but they should have returned (to ND), and naturally the fault lies not only on the one side," Mitsotakis said. He said that "at this time of struggle" ahead of the April 9 early general elections, the ND rank and file demanded that bygones should be bygones. "Couldn't I also have complaints? Perhaps more so than anyone else, but I passed them on, I have no problem and am waging the battle, because that is what the ND rank and file demands," he said. Particularly with respect to Stephanos Manos, a former ND minister who recently set up his own Liberals Party, Mitsotakis said that "his place is in ND". He also said it was Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos' prerogative to decide to remain mayor, but "his mistake was that he delayed in saying so", adding that since Avramopulos had in the past said he would serve out his term as mayor, he should have put an end to all the speculation that he might run for parliament on the ND ticket. Mitsotakis further said that he was dissatisfied with ND's communication tactics, noting that "we must see to correcting it and wage the battle as best we can from here on". He also criticised ND's decision to reverse an earlier decision and finally back President Kostis Stephanopoulos' re-election as a "political mistake". He said that there was no personal issue involved and he himself had not aspired to the Presidency, as he advocated the election of the President directly by the people. Mitsotakis said the election of a President of the Republic today was the product of behind-the-scenes negotiations and party expediencies, adding that the least controversial candidate was usually elected. He said he preferred active politics, and intended to help out the party with his campaign tours, adding that his opinion could be useful to the party but also "to the government, to any government". The former premier said that open rallies were no longer beneficial, and what mattered was substantive dialogue. He said ND had been mistaken in, unlike himself, voting against a proposal for revision of the article in the Constitution on the process of electing a President of the Republic and the President's authorities, which he believes should be expanded. Mitsotakis did, however, express pleasure with the positions set out by ND leader Costas Karamanlis at a recent party pre-Congress session concerning increased authorities for the President of the Republic and his direct election by the people. He also said that while his supporters were disappointed that he had not been named a candidate for the Presidency, he did not think they would vote against ND because of that. Turning to the government, Mitsotakis said Prime Minister Costas Simitis lacked credibility because he had stated that he would not call early general elections, and then went ahead and called early polls for April. On Greek-Turkish issues, Mitsotakis conceded that the atmosphere in relations between the two countries had improved, but expressed reservations that the government, and Foreign Minister George Papandreou, were ready to proceed with the next steps. Regarding the Cyprus issue, he anticipated that the two countries would enter a "period of stanstanial discussions and real progress" after the general elections in Greece and Presidential elections in Turkey. Mitsotakis stressed the need to make politics attractive for the younger generation, adding that they "fear, and possibly disdain" politics, and "it is up to the political parties and leaderships to attract new people". He said PASOK should lose the elections because it had no arguments in its favour to seek a new term, mainly because "PASOK borrowed New Democracy's policy, which it is unsuccessfully implementing". He conceded that, under party leader Costas Simitis, PASOK had "moved in the right direction", albeit "with insufficient and timid steps", and had failed to make structural changes in the economy or improve the social security system. Mitsotakis further said that floating packages of shares of public utilities and organisations on the stockmarket did not constitute denationalisation. "To sell stock on a bourse that is operating not very smoothly and defraud the Greek citizens who purchase the shares is not the best policy," he warned. He said the government's stance in favour of banks on the issue of penalty interest rates, which was a huge injustice against the citizens, was alone sufficient to warrant the government's condemnation by the people. [06] German war reparations issue "politically open" - governmentAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The payment of war reparations from Germany to Greece remains "politically open" Deputy Foreign Minister Grigoris Niotis said in Parliament on Monday.Responding to a question by Communist Party of Greece deputy Mitsos Kostopoulos, Niotis said that Greek government efforts continue along with Germany, a "friendly" country, to resolve the issue. He said that Greece and Germany did not strike any special "under the table" deals, adding that during this stage it is important for Greece to solidify the legal base of its demands. In a related development, a delegation of the "National Council for Claims of reparations from Germany" delivered a resolution, to ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, noting the "lack of action" by the Greek state on the issue. The resolution "requested" that the political leaders act for a resolution to the issue. Skandalidis said that he would propose to Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis the establishment of an intra-party committee to undertake the resolution of the issue. On his part, Tsovolas said that he would table the issue in the Greek Parliament, while DHKKI Eurodeputies will table the issue in Europarliament and the relevant committees of the European Union. [07] Simitis lends full support to labour inspectorateAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday urged both employers and employees to support the work of the Labour Inspectorate (SEPE), saying it was a body that would boost jobs by stamping out illegal and exploitative labour."This is one of the government's election commitments that has become a reality," Simitis said after a meeting with represen-tatives of social partners on the role of SEPE. "SEPE is a mechanism of the highest standards, a contemporary institution monitoring labour relations and working conditions, and an important tool for the exercise of social policy," Simitis said. At the meeting were Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou, Deputy Labour Minister Christos Protopappas, president of the Federation of Greek Industries Jason Stratos, president of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece Christos Polyzogopoulos, and SEPE's special secretary Areti Kafetzopoulou. The prime minister called on the representatives of social partners to keep open the avenues for dialogue and help SEPE. He said SEPE's goals were: to guarantee labour relations, safety for the worker, respect from all sides for changes brought about by legislation and collective bargaining agreements; to ensure healthy and safety for workers; to create new jobs through a reduction in illegal labour and exploitation of workers; and to restore conditions of healthy and fair competition between companies. [08] Turkish demands for 'guarantees' over weapons sale reportedly abandonedISTANBUL (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)Restrictions on the sale of hi-tech weapons systems to Turkey due to the human rights situation in that country are reportedly high among Ankara's -- and the Turkish military establishment's -- concerns, according to sources here. Along those lines, the Turkish military leadership had reportedly requested an advance 'guarantee of sale' from contractors interested in participating in two 'big-ticket-item' tenders: one for attack helicopters and the other for main battle tanks. However, intervention by the Turkish foreign ministry apparently resulted in a change of stance by the armed forces' leadership, the same sources claimed. Citing a letter sent by the Turkish embassy in Washington, the foreign ministry termed the provision demanding that the "US government guarantee the sale of attack helicopters" before the completion of a relevant tender as "unrealistic." In addition, Berlin is also reportedly unwilling to guarantee any such deal for new tanks before the completion of the tender, the same sources said. Reference was made on this issue to repeated statements by the Greens Party - part of the German government coalition - which stressed that such a guarantee to Ankara is impossible, "because of Turkey's degree of progress in the field of human rights is still not satisfactory." [09] Greek-Turkish relations under spotlight at Athens conferenceAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) will hold a conference on the recent improvement in Greek and Turkish relations later this week, according to a statement."Greek-Turkish relations: A New Era" is the title of the 11th annual conference on foreign policy organised by ELIAMEP and the Athens University's Political Science and Public Administration Department. The conference will be held February 17-18, at the Zappeion Hall. It will be opened by Athens University Rector Professor Constantine Dimopoulos, with Foreign Minister George Papandreou as keynote speaker. Among those confirmed to speak are Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos, PASOK Eurodeputy Petros Efthymiou, The Liberals leader Stephanos Manos, New Democracy deputy Dora Bakoyianni, Dr. Shireen Hunter, director of the Islamic Studies Centre at the Washington Centre for International and Strategic Studies, president of the Greek-Turkish Business Cooperation Council Panayiotis Koutsikos, Professor Lucas Tsoucalis of the London School of Economics and Professor Ahmet Evin, of Istanbul's Sabanci University. [10] Papandoniou hopeful oil prices will stabiliseAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)International pressure on oil producing countries would finally lead crude oil prices to more stable levels, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papandoniou said on Monday.He said that rising oil prices was a very unpleasant development for all oil consumer countries. "Oil consumer countries were losing income to the benefit of oil producers. This development, although unpleasant, does not affect the country's course towards EMU participation," Papan-doniou said. He noted, however, that although the impact of higher oil prices on western economies was not as acute as during the oil crises of past decades, economies were affected. "Maintaining oil prices at their current high levels will have a negative impact but not as big as during the oil crises of the past," he said. "It was this worry that led the US and Europe to express their disatisfaction with oil producers' policy to keep crude prices at high levels. I expect that international pressures on oil producing states will continue and with the winter coming to an end oil prices could gradually fall to find a better balancing level," Papandoniou said. He also said that rising foreign capital inflows on the Greek stock market was evidence of foreign institutional investors' optimism over its course and final inclusion among international developed markets. "I am happy to see that foreign capital inflows have begun along with a fundamental flow of big institutional investors who are predicting a positive trend for the Greek market and look forward to its upgrading," Papantoniou said. "I don't know when this will happen, but I expect it won't be long ahead of the country's participation in EMU," he added. [11] Greece a powerhouse if growth rates maintained - ministerAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Greece could be one of the European Union's most developed economies in four to five years' time if it manages to maintain present high growth rates, Deputy Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said on Monday.Christodoulakis told a conference held by magazine The Economist that he was very pleased with the results of the government's economic policy for the country's inclusion in economic and monetary union. The success of the government's policy in monetary reform could be seen in the reduction of heavy public deficits, he said. In 1999, the public deficit was running at 1.4 percent of GDP, with the government aiming at reducing it further to EU averages. He said the introduction of new products to the Greek market, such as a 20-year bond at fixed interest rates, were some of the reforms attempted. What was still to be done, he said, was to list leading state-run companies on the Athens bourse. He said that ETVA Bank was shortly to be listed, and that this would be followed by Agricultural Bank of Greece, the Public Power Corporation and that these moves would further boost the Greek capital market. New Democracy deputy George Alogoskoufis told the same conference that Greece's convergence with the EU was considered a certainty but that this would not guarantee growth. He said that "major and bold" reforms in market operations and the way the state operated were needed to keep growth rates high. The state had to play a role similar to that of one who "fine-tunes", ensures law and order, supports competitiveness, improves the distribution of income and wealth and protects consumers, he said. These require a streamlined and effective administrative mechanism which could act with flexibility, respond to given conditions, and ensure quality of state function at all stages. Also needed was further deregulation of the economy, a policy of "real" privatisation, with support for competitiveness, as well as "serious" reforms to the tax regime, management of EU resources, health funds and social security, he said. [12] 2004 managing director dismisses criticism over new Olympic Village tenderAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The head of the Athens 2004 organising committee on Monday responded to recent criticism by the leadership of an association of Greek engineering and architectural consultants over provisions of a new Olympic Village tender.In a written reply, Athens 2004 managing director Costas Bakouris charged that the association's letter, publicised on Feb. 2, stems from a lack of knowledge of the procedures and provisions governing the new tender's proclamation. He also charged that the association's leadership should have "been briefed better" before cautioning its members about bidding for such a crucial project. Association president P. Panagopoulos' criticism of the 2004 organising committee centered on two issues. First, the association claimed that any decision by a bids evaluation committee could be overturned by the Athens 2004's administrative heads, as approval isn't binding for the assigning party (the 2004 organising committee, in this case). Additionally, the Athens-based association cautioned that the assigning body retains the liberty to exploit ideas and proposals found in submitted tenders without any further obligation to participating firms. In his response, Bakouris countered that the proclamation clearly states that the issuing body cannot reverse the evaluation committee's decision, except if the procedures resulting in a decision aren't in line with the provisions of the proclamation. In terms of the second objection, the Athens 2004 top official said the "essence governing the tender is for the issuer to obtain certain reliable and constructive ideas in order to solve the very urgent and most important Olympic Village issue: the master zoning plan". "Those offering their ideas aren't necessarily the most competent to compose the detailed technical and architectural studies for this project," Bakouris added. Finally, he noted that, as stated in the proclamation, any firms taking part in the selection process as well as one or more individual professionals whose study is cited can be employed in the following stages of the project. The Olympic Village, the most important project for the 2004 Games whose construction has yet to begin, is to be built in the Acharnes district, northwest of central Athens and near Mount Parnitha. In January, Bakouris announced that the 2004 organising committee had signed a framework agreement with the state-run Workers' Housing Organisation (OEK) for the construction of the project, with an eminent domain framework for the purchase of land having been publicised as well." On her part, Culture Minister Elizabeth Papazoi said at the time that there would be no changes regarding the Olympic Village's location, as relevant lawsuits against the choice of the location would not impede the project. [13] Greek stocks end Monday's session lowerAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Equity prices ended Monday's session lower in subdued trade on the Athens Stock Exchange.Traders said the market was nervous following a sharp fall on Wall Street on Friday. The general index ended at 5,640.44 points, off 0.75 percent. Smaller capitalisation stocks suffered the heaviest losses while Banks ended slightly higher. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.44 percent to 2,918.52 points, while the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.62 percent lower at 922.95. Trading was a low 188.10 billion drachmas, partly due to technical problems that hit the market's main electronic board. Macedonian Plastics shares resumed trading after a two-week suspension from the board to end at the day's 10 percent limit down. The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks plunged 3.36 percent to end at 1,571.31 points. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 267 to 62 with another five issues unchanged. Germanos saw its shares soar 41 percent on the first trading day in the market. Maxim, Gener and Electra followed with big percentage gains. Technical Publications, Intersat and Mouriadis suffered the heaviest losses. [14] Equity futures drop in derivatives tradeAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Monday in line with the indices on which they are based.On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.44 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalisation stocks closed 1.62 percent down. Turnover from equity futures fell to 4.8 billion drachmas from 6.6 billion drachmas a session earlier and 7.1 billion drachmas on Thursday. A total of 583 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20, showing turnover of 3.4 billion drachmas. The contracts ended as follows: expiring February at 2,922.30; expiring March at 2,957.50; expiring April at 2,970; and expiring June at 2,980. Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 numbered 375, posting turnover of 1.4 billion drachmas. Contracts closed as follows: expiring February at 939; expiring March at 956.79; and expiring April at 971.75. [15] Bonds flaccid in scant tradeAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Bonds on Monday again showed fatigue in the domestic secondary market, in line with European trade, and most paper ended flat in slim turnover.The benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.51-6.53 percent from 6.55-6.57 percent in the previous session and 6.58 percent in the two trading days before that. The paper's yield spread over German bunds was 98 basis points for the second straight session from 98-100 basis points on Friday and 98 basis points in the previous two sessions. Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 18 billion drachmas against 68 billion drachmas a trading day earlier and 64 billion drachmas on Thursday. In Monday's trade, buy and sell orders were roughly equal. Analysts said there was little room for the yield spread over bunds to drop lower than 98 basis points, and that even a central bank rate cut of 75-100 basis points would have little impact on the market. The only factor that the market had yet to discount was the extent of the rate cut, expected in March, which was a reason for the market's fatigue, the analysts said. [16] Drachma slips vs euro, rises vs dollarAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The drachma on Monday again nosed down against the euro but rose versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 333.070 drachmas from 332.930 drachmas a session earlier and 332.880 drachmas on Thursday. Also at the fixing, the dollar was set at 336.890 drachmas from 338.390 drachmas on Friday and 336.180 drachmas on Thursday. [17] Spectacular growth for Athens bourse over past two yearsAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The booming Athens Stock Exchange is expected to add another 100 companies to its list by the end of this year, in addition to the companies which will list themselves on the NEXA exchange for small and medium-size businesses, Athens bourse president Spyros Kouniakis said on Monday.Speaking to a conference organised by The Economist magazine, Kouniakis outlined the rapid growth of the Athens bourse over the past two years, saying that the bourse had raised capital of 4.3 trillion drachmas in 1999, companred to a measly 550 billion in 1997. Market capitalisation at the end of 1999 totalled 65 trillion drachmas, compared to 9.8 trillion drachmas at the end of 1997. He said that attempts to modernise the market - new transparency regulations, a new transactions system, paperless trading, new products and the NEXA exchange - would lead the Athens bourse into the ranks of developed markets. Athens Derivatives Exchange president Panayotis Alexakis told the conference that by the end of June, three new derivatives products would be available - including FTSE/ASE 20 and FTSE/ASE 40 options - which would increase the range of investment choices available. The derivatives exchange, he noted, played a complementary role to the bourse and provided a balance to investment risk. Meanwhile, president of the Capital Market Commission Stavros Thomadakis said that the body had emphasised the need to implement the law over the past year and had increased the number of checks carried out from 73 in 1998 to 145 in 1999. Fines totalling one billion drachmas were imposed in 1999, compared to 350 million drachmas the previous year. He said that a new code for public offerings and buyouts was being finalised while the Committee was still working on a binding set of regulations for listed companies, arising from the code on company management drafted by the Capital Market Commission, the Union of Greek banks, the Federation of Greek Industries and institutional investors. Thomadakis also announced that a foreign company, listed on a foreign bourse, had submitted an application for listing on the Athens bourse, a first for the Athens Stock Exchange. [18] GSEE, SEB begin wage negotiation roundAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)A new collective labour deal will reflect the country's economic climate, Stability Pact's criteria and long-term participation in EMU, Jason Stratos, Confederation of Greek Industries' (SEB)chairman, said on Monday.He was presenting employers' proposals during the first formal meeting with workers' unions to discuss a new wage settlement deal. Christos Polyzogopoulos, Greece's largest umbrella workers union's (GSEE) chairman, after presenting workers' demands said that there was scope for cooperation and announced a new meeting on March 10. The two parties confirmed a deal to cover social insurance contributions of unemployed workers over 55 years old, in an early retirement scheme. The plan covers 12,000 unemployed people and the cost, estimated at 22 billion drachmas, will be covered by a joint fund. GSEE was seeking a 12-month deal, while employers preferred a two-year labour deal. [19] OA to break even in 2001, Lynch saysAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Ailing Olympic Airways is to break even for the first time in 2001 and is likely to show a profit by 2003, the airline's managing director, Rod Lynch, said on Monday.The deficit for 2000 is estimated at 20 billion drachmas, Lynch told a news conference. Replying to a question on the release of around 7.8 billion drachmas of European Union funds to help revitalise the airline, he said that British Airways, whose subsidiary Speedwing is managing OA, first had to state whether it wanted to acquire up to 20 percent of the Greek airline. Lynch added that management has reduced flight delays by 81 percent. In the next three years, 1,000 permanent staff would be recruited. In addition, 15 new aircraft would be purchased and 11 sold. Finally, Lynch said that a new route from Athens to Manchester in the United Kingdom would also serve as a link to New York and Boston. And Olympic Airways would be the first European airline to fly to Belgrade as soon as sanctions against Yugoslavia were lifted. [20] Alico-Eurobank presents new mutual fundAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Alico-Eurobank Mutual Fund Management on Monday unveiled a new foreing markets equity mutual fund with an initial capital of 400 million drachmas and an offer price of 2,000 drachmas.The new fund is using Morgan Stanley Capital International's index as a benchmark. The index includes selected blue chips from international developed stock markets. US stocks account for 51 percent of the fund's portfolio composition, followed by eurozone stocks with 15 pct, other European 15 pct, Japan 11 pct, emerging markets 5.0 pct, other Asian states and Australia-New Zealand 3.0 pct. AIG Private Bank, a Swiss investment bank subsidiary of American International Group, is acting as investment consultant to the new mutual fund. [21] Posidonia 2000 to celebrate 5th millennium of Hellenic shippingAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)One of the largest shipping congresses ever will launch Posidonia 2000, the international shipping exhibition celebrating the 5th millennium of Hellenic shipping, organisers said Monday.The congress, to be held in the palatial Megaron-Athens Concert Hall on June 2, the day-long event will focus on the issues affecting Greek and international shipping and will provide attendees with the opportunity to mix, meet and discuss the Posidonia week ahead. Posidionia, one of the largest and most important gatherings in the world shipping calendar, will open Monday, June 5, 2000 in the refurbished Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) Exchibition Centre in the heart of Greek shipping's home port. Posidonia 2000, the 17th in the series, will feature exhibits and events celebrating the shipping industry's passage into the new millennium. With five months still ahead to the opening, the number of countries to be represented exceeds the record-breaking 73 of the Posidonia '98. More than 1,500 delegates are expected to attend the congress, which will be addressed by such shipping authorities as International Maritime Organisation (IMO) secretary general William O'Neil, Intercargo president Frederick Chavalit Tsao, EU Commission for Transport vice-president Loyola de Palacio, US Federal Maritime Commission president Harold J. Creel Jr., and Austalian Maritime Safety Authority general director Clive Davidson, among others. In June 2000 Posidonia celebrates the achievements of world shipping and the role of the Greeks, the organisers said. [22] Credit Bank acquires share in Space HellasAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Alpha Credit Bank has acquired a 5.4 percent stake in the share capital of telecoms solutions provider Space Hellas, it was announced Monday.A bank announcement also said that the Alpha Credit Bank Group, via its subsidiary Delta Informatics -- which is currently in the process of merging with Singular Informatics -- acquired an additional 17.3 percent stake in the provider. The announcement said that the above collaboration would result in the creation of the biggest informatics and integrated telecom solutions group in Greece, and marked the Alpha Credit Bank Group's "dynamic and multi-facted entry into the field of high technology". The Delta Informatics-Singular-Space Hellas collaboration aimed at developing a new generation of products and services, and was expected to substantially increase the companies' share of the market, the announcement said. More particularly for Space Hellas, the cooperation would boost its strategic position, and the company looked forward to incoroporating informatics products in its telecoms solutions and reinforcing its plans for expanding its activities outside the Greek borders. The company's new products and services would be financed by the capital to be generated from its imminent listing on the Athens Stock Exchange, the announcement added. [23] OTE delegation visits SerbiaAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)A Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) delegation expressed interest in further developing Serbia's telecommunication network, during a visit in Belgrade, on Monday.The Greek delegation headed by OTE president Vassilis Rapanos met with Yugoslav Telecommunications Minister Ivan Marcovic, officials of Serbia's telecom firm PTT and Telecom Srbija. Rapanos noted that OTE is interested in developing the telecommunication network in Serbia, as such investment will aid the development of the country's economy and society, adding that the Greek utility's motives are not focused on profit alone, but in aiding the country's reconstruction. Discussions with PTT Managing Director Radmila Anjelcovic and Telecom Srbija General Manager Milos Nesovic centered on problems created by NATO bombings and measures to overcome them. Imports of telecommunications equipment from Greece have already begun as the Greek private firm INTRACOM has installed 35 payphones and will install another 4,000 around Serbia, Nesovic said. OTE invested a total of DM675 million in June 1997 and acquired a 20 per cent stake in Telecom Srbija, while Italian STET holds another 29 per cent and the remaining 51 per cent belongs to the Yugoslav state. [24] Greek and Turkish tourism businessmen to meet in AthensAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Greek and Turkish tourism businessmen will examine possible cooperation at a meeting to be organised in Athens on February 18 by the SKAL Athens club for tourism professionals.The meeting will be attended by 35 Turkish members of the corresponding Turkish SKAL club, who are from various cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. The members of the two clubs will visit the island of Syros on Saturday, while the Greek Tourism Organisation (EOT) will give them an official dinner in Athens in the evening. On Sunday, they will visit the Concert Hall and in the afternoon the Turkish businessmen will return home. [25] Ticket revenues drop at Greek museums, archaeological sites in first 10 months of '99Athens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Ticket revenues from visitors to Greek museums and archaeological sites during the first 10 months of 1999 fell more than 14.5 percent in comparison with the same period in '98, a Greek national statistical service (ESYE) study revealed recently.According to figures published in the Monday edition of the Athens PM daily "Eleftherotypia", revenues from museums and archaeological sites throughout the country between January and October 1999 totaled some 8.96 billion drachmas, down from 10.52 billion in the corresponding period of 1998, or 14.82 percent. (One US dollar equals about 335 drachmas) October 1999 figures were particularly telling, with a decrease of 18.69 percent recorded in museums' ticket revenues, along with a 10.45-percent slide for archaeological sites. Historic Delphi, in south-central Greece, recorded the largest decrease -- posting a 67.43-percent drop in October 1999 revenues from the same month in '98. Conversely, the late-Byzantine era archaeological site of Mystras, in the southern Peloponnese, recorded the largest October 1999 increase, 51.47 percent. According to ESYE, the Kosovo crisis is blamed for much of the slump. No figures were released regarding the actual number of tickets and passes sold within the aforementioned period. [26] Papantoniou announces incentives for parking areasAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)The national economy and finance ministry on Monday announced it would significantly increase the subsidies available for the construction of parking spaces. Minister Yiannos Papandoniou said that the ministry would also halve - from 80 to 40 - the minimum number of parking spaces needed for contractors to receive subsidies. The measures were announced after a meeting on how to boost the number of parking spaces available in the Athens area and which incentives to provide. The incentives will apply throughout Greece.[27] Forum to be held on Internet bankingAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)A forum is to be held in Athens on February 24-25 on major growth in the Internet banking sector in Greece and abroad.Speakers at the annual forum, organised by the Greek Information Technology Institute and Greek Management Association, will also debate banking investments in informatics. Among the speakers are Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos. Further information is available at the Greek Management Association on 211-2000. [28] State land to be used for parks, garagesAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papandoniou on Monday announced that the State Property Management Council (KED) would hand over to local municipalities state land worth an estimated 17 billion drachmas to create parks, parking areas and generally improve the quality of life of Athenians.Papandoniou, speaking after meeting with KED representatives, said the measures were needed to "turn around the image of desertion, to overturn the perception that nothing can be done". One of the decisions involves transforming some ten dilapidated refugee housing complexes dating back to 1936 into a park for leisure and cultural activities. KED will reimburse owners of the 14 stremma lot on Alexandras Avenue at a cost of some three billion drachmas. The Athens Municipality is to take ownership of a state-owned 10-stremma lot to convert the area into an underground garage and square for the residents of Ambelokipi. The municipality will also receive a six-stremma lot in Neos Kosmos to convert into a leisure area and park. The three lots have an estimated combined commercial valued of 17 billion drachmas, but Papandoniou said that the "social gain from the upgrading of the environment and the improvement in the quality of life of the residents" was much greater. The minister said that these decisions were part of a wider programme to reform the urban environment. Over the 1996-1999 period, KED has donated to various municipalities some 144,000m2 in land and 2,300m2 in buildings. This property was used in the main to create squares, childrens' play areas, and parks. KED has also handed over to the Sports General Secretariat some five urban lots totalling 73 stremmata and worth 11.5 billion drachmas. [29] EU decides to ban use of name of ouzo by South AfricaBRUSSELS 15/02/200 (ANA - V. Demiris)European Union foreign ministers decided here on Monday to impose a gradual ban on the use of the name of locally produced ouzo and grappa by South Africa over the next five years.Implementation of the trade agreement between the EU and South Africa had been suspended due to Greek and Italian objections to enable the consolidation of protection for ouzo and grappa as traditional products of specific origin. Alternate Foreign Minister Christos Rokofyllos said "the effort of the Greek side has been vindicated, as well as the position of our country and our traditional products in future negotiations with third countries." [30] Cannabis found hidden in bushes in IoanninaAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Officers of the Igoumenitsa drug squad found more than 30 kilograms of cannabis hidden in bushes near the Greek-Albanian border, police said Monday.They said officers had found 24 packets of unprocessed cannabis, weighing a total 24 kilos, and 34 slabs of processed cannabis weighing a total 9.4 kilos hidden in bushes in the Sagiada region of Thesprotia prefecture. Police sources said it was believed that the drugs were hidden in the bushes by Albanians for pick-up by collaborators in Greece. [31] Bulgarian narcotics smuggler shot dead on Greek-FYROM borderTHESSALONIKI 15/02/2000 (ANA - S. Theologidis)Thessaloniki Drugs Squad police clashed with three narcotics smugglers on the Greek-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) border on Monday afternoon, resulting in the death of one Bulgarian drug merchant and the injury of a fellow countryman.The clash occurred when police tried to arrest the three smugglers. One of the Bulgarians, realising that a man who posed as a buyer was in fact an undercover policeman, tried to attack him with a knife but was shot dead by the policeman. The other injured Bulgarian was taken to Edessa hospital. The third member of the smugglers, a citizen of FYROM, was arrested. The incident occurred near the village of Notia in the Pella prefecture in northern Greece. Police confiscated an unspecified amount of cocaine. [32] Exhibition in Thessaloniki of murals from Kosovo monasteriesAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)An exhibition of murals from the hundreds of monasteries in Kosovo, the cradle of the region's Orthodox civilisation for centuries, will be inaugurated in Thessaloniki on Wednesday and the proceeds will be used to strengthen and preserve Serb civilisation.The exhibits were provided by the National Museum in Belgrade, which is one of few in the world having a special sector containing accurate copies of murals from 1,300 monasteries in Kosovo. The biggest exhibit is four metres high and 3.2 metres long. The public will be able to visit the exhibition daily from February 17 until March 1, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for an admission fee of 1,500 drachmas. The exhibition will be sponsored by Serb President Milan Milutinovic and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos. [33] Twenty-three deaths in weekend traffic accidentsAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Twenty-three people were killded and 200 were injured in 156 road accidents throughout the country over the weekend, the public order ministry said Monday. It said the accidents occurred between Friday noon and early Monday.[34] Italian authorities say Pierias mussels contaminatedAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)A ban has been placed on the cultivation of the Pierias mussel harvest after Italian import authorities impounded 3.5 tonnes of Pierias mussels with traces of biotoxins.Pieria Prefect Giorgos Papastergiou told the ANA that the prefectural authority had banned cultivation and distribution of the mussels as of February 10, after receiving written notification from the health ministry of the Italian action. The mussels impounded by the Italians had been cultivated on February 3. The prefect said however that he was "surprised" at the findings of the Italian authorities as continued checks of the mussel harvesting area by the Thessaloniki Veterinary Institute had failed to show any trace of contamination. Lifting the ban, however, will require more testing from labs other than the Thessaloniki centre, which does not have international certification. Samples are being sent to Spanish and Italian centres. Papastergios hinted that commercial interests might be behind the ban but he also underlined the need to upgrade the Thessaloniki lab to international standards. The development of the microorganisms has been tentatively attributed by specialists to the development of toxic phyto-plankton in the water, known as the "red tide phenomenon", which is caused by natural factors such as temperature flu-ctuations, lack of breeze, fluctuations in quantity of sunlight, etc. The phenomenon subsides when normal weather conditions return, specialists said. In mid January this year, more than 300 people deluged the hospitals of the northern Greek capital Thessaloniki with symptoms of food poisoning and severe gastrointestinal problems after consuming mussels and other shellfish cultivated in the Thermaic Gulf. A ban on harvesting and selling mussels from the Halastras, Thessaloniki area, in force since January 17, continues to hold. The ban was placed after checks found increased levels of phytoplanktons in the waters and biotoxins in the mussels. Samples are taken on a daily basis, but results to date have not shown levels falling below the required levels. [35] Showers and snow in most parts of the countryAthens 15/02/2000 (ANA)Showers and snow on high ground are forecast in most parts of the country on Tuesday, easing off later in the day. Western Greece will be sunny, but storms are expected in the Aegean. Winds northerly, moderate to strong, turning very strong in the Aegean. Temperatures in the north will range from 0C to 9C; in the west from 3C to 16C; and in the rest of the country from 4C to 15C. Overcast and showery in Athens, with temperatures ranging from 7C to 13C. Cloudy in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 4C and 7C.[36] Greek and Turkish Cypriot party officials discuss latest developments in Cyprus problermNICOSIA 15/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)Leaders or representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties met on Monday at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia.A joint communique issued afterwards says "participants expressed views on the course of developments in the Cyprus problem". The leaders or representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot political parties "welcomed the resumption of the meeting and expressed their readiness for the continuation of these meetings". The communique adds that the next meeting will be held on May 8, 2000. The Greek Cypriot parties were represented by Kate Cleridou from the Democratic Rally, Dimitris Christofias from AKEL, Stathis Kittis from the Democratic Party, Vassos Lyssarides and Doros Theodorou from EDEK, George Vassiliou and Andreas Ladas from the United Democrats. The Turkish Cypriot parties were represented by Serdar Denktash from the Democratic Party, Mehmet Ali Talat from the Republican Turkish Party, Mustafa Akinci from the Communal Liberation Party and Albay Durduran from the Patriotic Unity Movement. The meeting was organised of the Slovak Embassy in Nicosia. Slovak Ambassador Dusan Rozbora acted as the coordinator of the meeting. [37] Government says willing to discuss confidence building measures on Cyprus conditionallyNICOSIA 15/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)The Cyprus government has said it would be willing to discuss confidence building measures on the island as long as they did not constitute in any way recognition of the illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied areas and are not a substitute for negotiations leading to an overall settlement.Replying to questions during his daily briefing on Monday, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said no concrete measures have been proposed to the government. "Nothing has been brought before the government in a concrete and official way," he said. Papapetrou added that such measures "could be discussed only if they do not lead to recognition of the illegal regime in the Turkish occupied areas and as a process that would back efforts for a settlement". He said any discussions on confidence building measures "cannot be a substitute" to efforts for reaching a solution in Cyprus, divided since Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of its territory in 1974. The regime in the occupied areas is recognised only by Turkey while numerous UN resolutions call on all states not to recognise or facilitate the regime in any way. "Confidence building measures should not come up in the efforts and negotiations taking place for settling the Cyprus question," Papapetrou said. Two rounds of UN-led proximity talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides were held in the past couple of months, aiming at paving the way for substantial negotiations. A third round is scheduled to begin in New York on May 23. Last month the UN announced an agreement on the restoration of two important religious sites, the Hala Sultan mosque in the government-controlled areas and the Saint Andreas monastery in the occupied north.The agreement was welcomed as a step in efforts to restore trust between the two sides. [38] The Athens dailies at a glanceADESMEFTOS TYPOS (Rizos): "One billion drachma for an electoral district".ADESMEFTOS TYPOS (Mitsis): "PASOK's pre-electoral misleading adverts: Rio-Antirrio bridge crossing in 3 minutes". APOGEVMATINI: "A New Democracy revolutionary programme announced by Karamanlis in Patras: houses with cheaper loans". ATHINAIKI: "Karamanlis is threatened with ... a pro-royalist party". AVRIANI: "Green light from the ex-king for the formation of a royalist party after the elections, with the participation of New Democracy and ultra-right deputies". ELEFTHEROS: "They're secretly conceding sovereign rights in the Aegean". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Income tax: a double trap in the tex returns". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Blue (ND) flirt with 'bluebloods' (royalists)". ELEFTHERI ORA: "A historic initiative by a leading junta member: an 'apology' by Stylianos Pattakos to the pro-royalists". ESTIA: "Weaknesses in opinion polls; they record tendencies but not results". ETHNOS carried an exclusive interview with New Democracy honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis under the front-page headline: "New Democracy's four mistakes". EXOUSIA: "36 billion drachmas are the expenditures of New Democracy and PASOK in Athens and Thessaloniki -- over 150 billion drachmas the cost of the electoral showdown". STO KARFI: "Blackmail for Karamanlis; a nightmare crown..", while elsewhere it carried an exclusive under the title: 'What the farmers will gain -- Simitis announcements within the next few days". TA NEA: "Television limits for political party advertisements, and disagreements in PASOK". TO VIMA: "Sweeping bill on education to be tabled by the government in parliament before the elections". VRADYNI: "PASOK uses euros against New Democracy -- unholy wasteful spending of E.U. funds". Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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