Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-05

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

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 05/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Views of Greek and Turkish experts differ
• IGC text shows EU weakness to determine borders
• Holbrooke's appointment viewed in positive light
• Greece laudes Europarliament resolution
• Inflation drops to 5.4 per cent
• Greece bans sales of special dietary supplements
• November 17 murder eye witness finds car bullet sprayed
• Greece joins WEU multinational land, sea forces
• China thanked for support of Greece's Security Council bid
• Ceilings for marine pollution fines increased
• National Bank of Greece in 200 million dollar loan
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The government said today that the texts prepared by the Greek and the Turkish committees of experts, set up to examine procedural matters relating to differences between the two countries, reflected a "divergence of views and positions."

The texts of the two committees were forwarded to the Dutch presidency of the European Union.

"The texts are of the nature of general frameworks, with the Greek (text) referring to the use of the International Court at the Hague and respect for international law and international treaties, while the Turkish (text) refers to direct dialogue on the substance (of differences)," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Reppas added that there was no movement regarding the matter at the present time and consequently there was no issue of arranging some meeting or preparing some agenda which could serve as "a list of issues."

The spokesman said that the two members of the Greek committee were studying the Turkish text and in the next few days would be consulting with the political leadership of the foreign ministry.

IGC text shows EU weakness to determine borders

Athens said today that a reference to the difference between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar, inserted in the IGC text by the Dutch presidency, was indicative of the European Union's non-competence to determine the borders between EU member-states or a member-state and a non EU country. Borders are determined by international treaties, Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

The protocol attached by the Dutch EU presidency to the text on the intergovernmental conference (IGC) refers specifically to the difference between Britain and Spain over Gibraltar, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said today.

"The protocol reiterates something which is self-evident," he added, "namely, that the EU was never nor will be competent for determining the borders between member-states or between a member-state and a non-EU country," Reppas said.

The spokesman underlined that countries' borders are determined by international treaties.

"Greece views the position of the Dutch presidency as positive and expresses its full agreement," he added.

Reppas noted that the protocol in no way affected the position expressed in the text of the treaty concerning the EU's external borders, regarding which Greece has expressed its satisfaction.

Holbrooke's appointment viewed in positive light

"The Cyprus problem is not being discussed as a package together with Greek- Turkish relations and the Aegean," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas underlined today.

The spokesman was replying to reporters' questions on the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as Washington's special envoy on the long-standing problem and reports that the US wants a package solution.

"Mr. Holbrooke is an envoy for the Cyprus problem and has nothing to do with Greek-Turkish issues and the Aegean," Reppas said.

Reppas however indicated that the Greek government welcomed Holbrooke's appointment, saying that the US official had "greater political weight" than any other envoy who had been involved with the Cyprus problem.

The appointment of Holbrooke, who mediated the Bosnian peace deal, has already been welcomed by the Cyprus government and the Turkish Cypriots.

"Mr. Holbrooke's appointment clearly indicates the strong interest of the United States in undertaking an initiative on the Cyprus problem, which the former secretary of state can discuss in an effective manner," Reppas said.

The spokesman reiterated Greece's position that any Cyprus solution would have to be based on United Nations resolutions, the EU summit agreements of 1977 and 1979 and the conclusions from various talks on the issue.

Commenting on forthcoming direct UN-sponsored talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Reppas said the US and other permanent UN Security Council members had already expressed interest.

"The Cyprus government will be going to the talks in a spirit of good faith and willingness," Reppas added.

Greece laudes Europarliament resolution

"The resolution of the European Parliament condemning the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot side for its violation of the rights of Greek Cypriots trapped in enclaves in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus shows that there are international bodies which are vigilant and render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said today.

The spokesman added that the positions adopted unanimously by the European Parliament showed that it was a Community body which respected individual rights and freedoms and attributed responsibility to those who violated them.

"For this and other reasons, the Greek government would like to see the stronger intervention of the European Parliament in the operation of EU bodies," Reppas said.

Inflation drops to 5.4 per cent

Greek inflation fell to 5.4 percent in May from 5.9 percent the previous month, according to a National Statistics Service announcement today.

The consumer price index rose by 0.4 percent in May compared to a 0.8 percent increase in the corresponding month last year.

The statistics service attributed the fall in the inflation rate to seasonal factors and particularly the withdrawal of heating oil from the index due to the onset of summer and also the price increases of seasonal fruits.

Greece bans sales of special dietary supplements

The National Pharmaceuticals Organisation (EOF) today banned the sale of products sold as food supplements and special dietary preparations used mainly by athletes and body-builders.

Following checks carried out over the past two weeks at fitness centres, health food stores and import companies, EOF revealed that 31 such products were on sale illegally.

The organisation said the products contained substances such as ephedrine, caffein, anabolic steroids and creatine.

In most cases, the products were imported and according to EOF President Gerasimos Kavvadias, none had received the approval required from the organisation in order to be put on sale.

Kavvadias said use of the products could cause serious health damage.

November 17 murder eye witness finds car bullet sprayed

An eye-witness to the murder of shipowner Costas Peratikos by the November 17 terrorist group this morning found his car sprayed with bullets.

Vassilis Kyriakou immediately reported the incident to the police who collected cartridge shells from the scene and took the vehicle away for fingerprinting.

Peratikos, 42, was shot four times at close range outside his office last week.

November 17 claimed responsibility for the murder in an eight-page letter, accusing him of mismanagement at the Elefsina Shipyards which the Peratikos family took over in 1992 and closed down in 1995 after running up an estimated 17 billion drachma debt.

Greece joins WEU multinational land, sea forces

The Western European Union (WEU) yesterday approved Greece's participation in the multinational land (Eurofor) and naval forces (Euromafor), set up by southern European countries in the European Union. The WEU plenary session passed an amendment allowing Greece's participation along with France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

The WEU aims at creating an emergency task force of EU member-states and anticipates crisis situations outside NATO responsibility. Membership is separate from NATO.

China thanked for support of Greece's Security Council bid

In a message to his Chinese counterpart Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos expressed Athens' appeciation for Beijing's decision to support Greece's candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the Security Council during the 1999-2000 period.

"This decision constitutes yet another token of the friendly relations linking our peoples and is the result of our mutual understanding and cooperation," he said.

In his message to Mr. Qichen on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations being established between Greece and China, Mr. Pangalos said that "during this period we witnessed a noteworthy development in our bilateral relations, which strengthened the traditional ties of friendship linking our peoples.

Ceilings for marine pollution fines increased

Ceilings imposed on fines for perpetrators found guilty of violating marine environment protection legislation will increase.

Specifically, fines by port authorities will increase from two million to five million drachmas, while fines imposed for every day in excess of the time limit set by port authorities for the restoration of damage increase from one million to two million drachmas and the ceiling for fines imposed by decision of the merchant marine ministry in the event of serious pollution increases from 150 million to 250 million drachmas.

In addition, fines imposed by decision of the relevant prefect increase from between five million and 10 million drachmas. Fines imposed by joint decision of the merchant marine minister and the environment, town planning and public works minister incre ase from between 10 million and 100 million drachmas.

National Bank of Greece in 200 million dollar loan

National Bank of Greece issued a limited coverage 10-year, 200 million dollar subordinated Floating Rate Note (FRN) on international capital markets. Interest was set at three-month dollar Libor plus a margin of 60 basis points. The issuer has the right to withdraw the FRN after a five- year period at its nominal value. Final settlement has been set for June 2007. The loan was fully covered after a series of presentations to foreign institutional investors. It was given a Baa2 credit rating by Moody's Investor Services. National Bank of Greece's rating is Baa1. Salomon Brothers and Chase Manhattan acted as underwriters for the issue, while Morgan Stanley, BZW Smith Barney, HSBC, Bear Sterns and the National Bank's London branch managed the issue.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.S.)

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