Possible economic and trade cooperation with Cuba
NEWS IN DETAIL
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday said Greece should remain calm but
ready to deal with Turkish threats on Cyprus as shrugging off American,
British and German criticism of Nicosia's decision to purchase Russian-made
S300 missiles.
"Our strength lies in our remaining calm, our insistence on international
law and international treaties and the strengthening of our armed forces,
which is continuing so that they constitute a strong deterrent force
against any threat," Mr. Simitis said shortly after a government meeting on
foreign policy.
"If we blow (Turkish threats) out of proportion, we shall be dragged into
an atmosphere of crisis," Mr. Simitis said.
Comment on Nicosia's decision to buy the advanced Russian anti-aircraft
missiles, Mr. Simitis said the Cyprus government not only had the right but
also the obligation to take the measures it considers necessary for its
defence.
He noted that by taking such measures, Nicosia was strengthening its
negotiating position, adding that Greece fully supported Cyprus in these
efforts.
US warns Turkey against attacking Cyprus
Washington yesterday sternly warned Ankara against using force on Cyprus,
after reports surfaced that Turkey was seriously considering a military
strike.
"This is no time for the Turkish government to be making wild and dramatic
statements which will not be supported by any sensible member of the
international community. It would be completely out of bounds for Turkey to
take this action," US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns told
reporters.
The semi-official Turkish news agency Anadolu reported yesterday that
Ankara was seriously pondering a military strike if Cyprus went ahead with
plans to deploy advanced Russian-made anti-aircraft missiles. Mr. Burns was
commenting on published remarks on Wednesday by Turkish Defence Minister
Turhan Tayan that Turkey "would use all possible means to halt the missile
deployment."
"We hope very much that this report...is incorrect. We hope it does not
reflect in any way, shape or form the views of the Turkish government," Mr.
Burns told reporters.
"There can be no question that Turkey must respect the rules of the road
here, which are no country, and specifically in this case Turkey, should
threaten the use of military force against Cyprus; no country, specifically
here Turkey, should undertake military force against Cyprus," he added.
Britain urging caution to Turkey
A Foreign Office source yesterday said Britain has called on Turkey to
avoid rhetoric or actions escalating tension in the eastern Mediterranean.
"The British government, through its diplomatic services, has called on
Turkey to avoid rhetoric or acts and activities capable of strengthening
tension in the region of the eastern Mediterranean," sources said.
The same source confirmed that the British government was in close contact
and cooperation with Washington concerning the Cyprus issue and Greek-
Turkish relations. "We believe that only if the environment is rid of
tension and crisis will a positive development be possible in diplomatic
efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem," according to the source.
Pangalos to be in Belgrade Sunday
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will visit Belgrade on Sunday to have
talks with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic on the current Yugoslav
crisis, informed diplomatic sources said yesterday.
According to the sources, there is a possibility that Mr. Pangalos may meet
with representatives of Serbian opposition parties.
Cyprus developments discussed by EDEK leader in Athens
The Cyprus issue in light of recent developments dominated talks yesterday
between National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and the president of
Cyprus' EDEK socialist party, Vassos Lyssarides.
The EDEK president later met with President of the Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos and discussed the recent developments.
In his meeting with the defence minister, Mr. Lyssarides noted that both
Greece and Cyprus want peace and normality, which should be based on
respect for the human rights of all peoples of the region.
Commenting on reactions over Cyprus' purchase of the advanced Russian-made
S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, Mr. Lyssarides stressed that statements must
not turn against a country which wants to fundamentally upgrade its defence
and which is under occupati on, but against the source of the problem.
The EDEK leader repeated that the missiles would only be used in case of
Cyprus being attacked.
"Those who are truly interested in negotiations should be celebrating the
purchase, because the upgrading of defence creates better conditions for
them, unless they want us to go to negotiations naked, so that they can
impose their views under the threat of the expansion of Turkish political
and military presence," Mr. Lyssarides said.
Greek MPs in Cyprus
A parliamentary delegation left for Cyprus yesterday to take part in the
joint Greek-Cyprus parliamentary coordinating committee meeting.
The two delegations will examine issues of coordination and representation
of the two states at international organisations, both on the Cyprus issue
and other international issues.
The Greek mission is made up of deputies Eleftherios Veryvakis, Vassilis
Manginas, Orestis Kolozof, Spyros Danellis and George Rokos. The mission
will also meet with the political leadership of Cyprus, Speaker of the
House of Representatives Spyros Kypr ianou, Archbishop Chrysostomos and
Nicosia Mayor Lellos Dimitriades and will also attend a session of the
Cyprus House of Representatives.
Greece's CoE rep ratifies 11th Protocal
Greece's Permanent Representative at the CoE, ambassador Antonis Exarchos,
yesterday ratified the organisation's 11th Protocol of the European Human
Rights Convention.
According to the Protocol, a single European Human Rights Court will be
established and operate on a permanent basis, replacing the present
judicial bodies proposed by the EU Commission and the Court.
Citizens will have direct access to the new court. In the majority of cases,
it will convene with 78 judges and will have jurisdiction over individual
and inter-state cases.
Fouras discusses meeting with IOC head Samaranch,Athens' Olympic bid
Sports Undersecretary Andreas Fouras expressed his optimism yesterday over
the chances of Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games.
"The Greek candidacy is on a very good course and the general belief is
that it will be shortlisted among the five who will pass into the next
phase of the contention," he told a press conference.
Mr. Fouras' optimism apparently stemmed from a meeting with International
Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch in Lausanne on
Wednesday.
Speaking during that meeting, Mr. Samaranch had told the Greek delegation
that "your candidacy was weak at first. Gradually, however, it became
stronger. The unity of Greece is a good element for the contention of the
Olympic Games. You must know that t he organisation of the World Athletics
Championships 'Athens '97' will also play a role."
The World Athletics Championships are to be held in Athens from Aug. 1-
10.
Mr. Fouras assured the IOC president that both the Spata airport and the
proposed Olympic village will have been completed on time.
Mr. Samaranch invited the sports undersecretary to visit Lausanne once
again on March 17-23, when the World Figure Skating Championships will be
held.
Strike leaves garbage spewed around nation's streets
Garbage is beginning to pile up on the nation's streets after a strike
called by workers on contracts with municipalities and communities around
the country entered its third day yesterday.
The Panhellenic Federation of Local Administration Organisation Staff (POP-
OTA) has decided to call 48-hour rolling strikes to demand that seasonal
staff be hired permanently, a doubling of a lumpsum allowance from 1.3
million drachmas to 2.6 million drachmas, reduction in the pension age from
58 to 55 and the hiring of 5,000 new employees.
The greatest problem has been posed by heaps of garbage is in downtown
Athens.
Alpha Credit Bank opens Tirana branch
Alpha Credit Bank, the largest private Greek-based bank, has opened a
branch in the Albanian capital, a Tirana radio station reported yesterday.
The Alpha branch marks the third Greek bank to open in Tirana, following
the National Bank of Greece and the Bank of Piraeus last year.
Roughly 400,000 Albanian nationals are currently in Greece, Albania's
largest trade partner after Italy.
Another two foreign banks are operating in the Balkan country, the Bank of
Rome and Islamic Bank.
Commercial Bank cuts lending rates
The Commercial Bank yesterday announced significant reductions in interest
rates, including a 2.0 percent cut in its base interest rate for medium-
and long-term investments, bringing it to 16.5 percent.
The interest rates on financing and mortgage loans have also been cut by
1.75 percent and 1.0 percent respectively to stand at 16.5 and 15.0 percent
while the consumer lending rate has been cut by 0.5 percent to stand at
22.5 percent.
Interest rates on deposit accounts range between 11.75 percent (for
balances of over 30 million drachmas) and 10.25 percent.
The new interest rates will be effective as of January 10.
Greece's Intrasoft scores European Commission contract
Greek telecommunications firm Intrasoft has beaten out major players such
as Siemens, Bull, Digital and Telindus to win a 3.4 billion drachma
contract to maintain and support the European Commission's LAN and WAN
databases.
The four-year contract, with an option of another year, was signed with the
Commission's Informatics Directorate, based in Brussels, and will involve
work with the Commission's computer networks in Brussels, Luxembourg and
Strasbourg.
Intrasoft - a subsidiary of Intracom - will offer services to the 20,000
users of the Commission's database on a 24-hour, year-round basis.
Greek products to be displayed in China
The Hellenic Organisation for Overseas Trade will organise a sampling of
Greek products in three Chinese cities in May this year, the organisation
announced yesterday.
The sampling will take place between May 11-23 in Beijing, Shaghai and
Canton with the aim of further developing commercial ties between Greek and
Chinese undertakings and facilitating the establishment of "strategic
economic alliances".
Interest in the Chinese market is focused on seven main categories of Greek
products: agricultural, foodstuffs, metal products, chemicals, plastics,
telecommunications materials and medical equipment.
Possible economic and trade cooperation with Cuba
The Hellenic Organisation for Overseas Trade will organise a conference on
the possibilities of economic and trade cooperation with Cuba on January
23. Participants in the conference, to be held at the Organisation's
offices, will be briefed on exporting and investing activities in Cuba, the
legal status governing imports and the country's economic state.
In another development, the Greek Overseas Trade Organisation and the
Hellenic-Canadian Chamber of Commerce will organise a conference on
"Creating international trade companies. Prospects for Hellenic-Canadian
economic cooperation and development incentives." The conference will be
held on January 29.
WEATHER
Cloudy with scattered rain and strong southgerly winds in most parts of
Greece, including the mainland, the northern Aegean and Ionian seas. Some
storms forecast for western Greece. Athens will be overcast with sunny
spells and occasional rain. Temperatures will range from 9-16C. Same for
Thessaloniki with temperatures between 4-11C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
(closing rates - buying) US dlr. 245.312
Pound sterling 414.835 Cyprus pd 517.725
French franc 46.005 Swiss franc 179.011
German mark 155.332 Italian lira (100) 15.873
Yen (100) 210.760 Canadian dlr. 180.564
Australian dlr. 190.494 Irish Punt 406.918
Belgian franc 7.537 Finnish mark 52.030
Dutch guilder 138.379 Danish Kr. 40.753
Swedishkr. 35.385 Norwegian kr. 37.934
Austrian sh. 22.077 Spanish peseta 1.848
Portuguese escudo 1.552
(C.E.)
