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Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-07

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, 07/06/1997 (ANA)


MAIN HEADLINES

  • Simitis stresses need to consolidate peace in Europe
  • Meeting with Blair, Jospin
  • Russian delegation to arrive for CFE inspections
  • Dutch PM, FM in Athens on Monday
  • Air force exercise
  • Athens guarantees return to Greece of Albanians leaving to vote
  • Meeting of regional FMs to focus on political, economic cooperation
  • Proposal for Constitutional revision to be discussed next week
  • Gorbachev arrives in Greece
  • Four IOC members in Athens, Coe supports Athens' bid
  • Balkan businesses to discuss privatisation
  • Helexpo to build Athens trade fair centre
  • Four bids for Bank of Crete
  • Conscientious objectors unhappy with bill on alternative service
  • Weather
  • Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Simitis stresses need to consolidate peace in Europe

Consolidation of peace in Europe requires long-term and viable solutions, and Greece's policy in the Balkans heads in this direction, Prime Minister Costas Simitis emphasised in his speech in MALMO, Sweden, yesterday at the European Socialist leaders' summit.

"International mobilisation for peace must not be limited, as hitherto, to the cure of symptoms and problems when they arise, or to short-term solutions which only result in a temporary suspension of conflicts, or the threat of conflict," he said.

"Greeks have a full knowledge of this problem, given that we are in the centre of a region where such situations arise with particular intensity...Greece is among the countries which have felt the consequences of a fragile peace on our northern and easter n borders, but even to the south, where we only border on the sea," he stressed.

"We participate in peace missions in Albania and Bosnia, offer economic aid, and ascribe particular significance to the strengthening of infrastructure and institutions in the Balkans," he said, calling for the formulation of policies which will enable peace to acquire roots.

In an indirect reference to Greek-Turkish disputes, the prime minister said that "in certain cases, the seriousness of these localised problems leads to aggressiveness on the part of official state authorities against neighbours, and to the overthrow of the international status quo. Also indirectly referring to the Albanian problem, he said "in other cases, it leads to extensive immigration, of the type affecting our country at present".

He warned that the collapse of the socialist regimes of eastern Europe has brought about a situation where "behind an excessive nationalist rhetoric, amounting only to an ideological pretext, they hide many real political, social and economic problems, which some hope will find their solution through a desparate operation of national isolation".

Meeting with Blair, Jospin

Speaking to reporters after yesterday's session, Mr. Simitis said one can infer from the discussions held that "Socialist parties are in a position to meet the challenges of the new era for the creation of a more modern and efficient Europe".

On the sidelines of the summit, the Greek premier discussed with his British counterpart, Tony Blair, and newly elected French counterpart Lionel Jospin issues concerning the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) and Europe's social dimension, particularly employment.

Mr. Simitis said a broad convergence of views was established with both leaders, adding that he was in agreement with the new French government's positions on European unification, the IGC, EMU as well as EU and NATO enlargement. He also had a lengthy m eeting with former EU Commission president Jacques Delors.

In statements to ANA later, a high-ranking Greek official cautioned that "if there are going to be changes expressing the new centre-left coalition in Europe, preparation time is needed".

"What is of priority is the stabilisation and competitiveness of the Greek economy. Greek citizens must see what is to the interest of our country. When the Greek economy acquires the characteristics of steady prosperity, then 'the fan will open'," he s aid.

Summing up the results of the summit, National Defence Minister and vice- president of the ESP, Akis Tsohatzopoulos, stressed the need for socialist parties to formulate a new economic policy on the basis of "a different development logic", compatible wi th the terms of the treaty of Maastricht, but taking into account the peculiarities of each country.

"Beyond the need for reaffirmation of security and stability, it is necessary to find answers for a different economic policy, which will expand GDP, fight unemployment, and consolidate the credibility of the EU," he said.

At a special meeting parallel to the summit, Socialist EU finance and economy ministers discussed details of the ECOFIN meeeting on Monday.

Russian delegation to arrive for CFE inspections

A nine-member group of Russian inspectors will visit Greece between June 9- 13 to inspect military units within the framework of the treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

According to reports, a Bulgarian delegation will pay a similar visit.

Dutch PM, FM in Athens on Monday

Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo will visit Paris and Athens next week as part of a tour of European capitals before a European Union summit in Amsterdam on June 16-17.

The Dutch government said yesterday that the Dutch officials will travel to Athens on Monday for talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

They will travel to Paris on Tuesday to meet French President Jacques Chirac and new Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, before holding separate talks with new Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Air force exercise

The Hellenic Air Force exercise "Olympia 97" will be held at the 117th Fighter Squadron in Andravida Airbase next week within the framework of military exercises with the framework of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.

The exercise anticipates operations with transport aircraft and helicopters, the dropping of paratroopers as well as search and rescue on land and sea.

The exercise will include the participation of forces from the Netherlands, Italy and Bulgaria, while Romania and Georgia, which belong to the PfP programme, will only participate with staff.

Athens guarantees return to Greece of Albanians leaving to vote

Athens has pledged to allow the safe return to Greece of Albanian nationals temporarily returning to Albania for the upcoming elections.

Greece's permanent representative to the Council of Europe, Dimitris Konstas, conveyed Athens' official assurances to the Council of Europe's permanent representatives committee. Mr. Konstas, who told the committee he was conveying the assurances of For eign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, said that Athens quaranteed the safe return to Greece of both legal and illegal Albanian immigrants.

The statement was received in positive light by many Committee members, including Albania's permanent representative, who expressed his country's satisfaction.

Meeting of regional FMs to focus on political, economic cooperation

Promoting cooperation at the political, economic and social levels between Balkan and southeastern European countries in order to consolidate stability and peace is the focal point of a foreign ministers' conference due to be held in Thessaloniki next week.

According to the foreign ministry, issues to be examined during the conference include encouraging political cooperation, building security and confidence-building measures in the region, developing economic cooperation and coordinated action for enviro nmental protection, as well as promoting humanitarian, social and cultural cooperation.

Moreover, development of cooperation will be sought in the judicial sector to combat organised crime, terrorism and the trafficking of weapons and drugs. Countries participating in the conference are expected to discuss specific action in implementing goals.

Proposal for Constitutional revision to be discussed next week

Parliament next Wednesday will debate a proposal on the revision of the Constitution, after the motion was tabled by 96 ruling PASOK deputies, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday. The 300-member legislature will decide which articles of the Constitution will be amended by the next Parliament, Mr. Reppas said, adding that the government considered i t unacceptable for Parliament to be dissolved as a result of its inability to elect a president of the republic, something that is mandatory with the present Constitution. The election of the president of the republic by Parliament is considered t o be the most important of the issues pertaining to the revision of the Constitution.

The issue centres on the number of deputies required for election.

Mr. Reppas said PASOK's proposal, tabled on Thursday night, took into consideration "the experience of history" and was aimed at ensuring political stability and normality.

He stressed, however, that the government would seek the consent of all political parties in the proposed revision, noting a "coincidence of views" on a number of issues.

PASOK's proposal seeks the revision of articles on the appointment of top judges and proposes the establishment of a National Council for Foreign Policy with an all-party composition and the participation of experts.

It also provides for the consolidation of constitutional rights, such as the abolition of the death penalty and protection of citizens from the recording of information on computers.

Meanwhile, the main opposition New Democracy party yesterday tabled its own proposal on the revision of the Constitution.

The proposal, along with the one tabled by the PASOK deputies, will be debated in Parliament on Wednesday.

Gorbachev arrives in Greece

The last general secretary of the former Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, arrived in Athens today on a private visit.

Mr. Gorbachev will remain in Greece for 10 days at the invitation of the Apostolopoulos group of companies.

The former Soviet leader and George Apostolopoulos have been friends for several years, according to reports. The Apostolopoulos group owns and operates the Athens Medical Centre, while a Thessaloniki medical centre is under construction. The group is a lso active in the Balkans and Russia. It has yet to be clarified if Mr. Gorbachev will have any official contacts.

Four IOC members in Athens, Coe supports Athens' bid

Another four permanent members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are due to arrive in Greece today to be briefed on the matters relating to Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games.

The Danish, Mongolian, Mauritius, and Slovakian IOC representatives will be briefed by members of the "Athens 2004" bid committee.

The IOC officials will also visit sports facilities in Athens and each will plant an olive-tree bearing their name at the "IOC Members' Park."

During their five-day stay, the officials will also be taken on a tour of archaeological sites and watch the end of the Acropolis Rally '97 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Olympic middle-distance gold medallist Sebastian Coe, who held the post of junior environment minister in the Tory government of John Major, expressed his full support for Athens' bid to host the 2004 Games.

"The Greeks always had strong arguments for holding the Olympic Games. Particularly in the case of the 1996 Games, when the historical and cultural arguments were on their side. I am among those who believe in tradition, which is why I don't want to see the Olympic Games become just another commercial world champhionship," Mr. Coe said in statements to the state-run television channel ET-1.

He also referred to a second resolution by British MPs calling on the new British parliament to openly support Athens' bid to host the 2004 Games.

Balkan businesses to discuss privatisation

The privatisation of state assets in the Balkans will be the main topic of discussion among businessmen to meet on the sidelines of a Balkan foreign ministers' meeting in Thessaloniki on Monday and Tuesday.

The business meeting, to be held on the initiative of the Greek foreign ministry and supported by the Northern Greek Exporters' Association, will be attended by privatisation ministers and officials from Balkan states.

They are expected to refer to specific companies, by sector, being offered for privatisation and to the legal framework of each country and prospects for their markets' growth.

Representatives of the fifteen largest companies in energy, transportation, telecommunications, industry, construction and banking from each country are also expected to attend the meeting, among them more than 50 Greek businessmen, bank governors and u tility chairmen.

Helexpo to build Athens trade fair centre

Greece's Thessaloniki-based Helexpo signed a contract with Vioter SA for construction of a 4.5 billion drachma trade fair centre in Athens, due for completion in May 1999.

The European Union will fund 50 percent of the project through an industry programme with state-run Helexpo, which holds trade fairs on its Thessaloniki premises throughout the year, providing 25 percent, and the government the remaining 25 percent from the public investments programme.

"This (project) is very important for the national economy as there is no trade fair centre of such a scale in (the prefecture) of Attica," Helexpo's managing director Andonis Kourtis told the signing ceremony.

The two-storey Athens centre will be housed on 11,250 square metres of land offered by the state in the northern suburb of Maroussi.

Four bids for Bank of Crete

A total of four tenders have been submitted for the purchase of the Bank of Crete, according to an announcement issued by the bank yesterday.

The tenders were tabled by the Nanjing Star Co. Ltd and the An Ran Industrial Group Ltd, which are headquartered in the People's Republic of China, the Consolidated Eurofinance Holfing S.A. and the Bank of Piraeus.

An evaluation committee for the purchase of the Bank of Crete will convene on Tuesday to examine tenders.

Conscientious objectors unhappy with bill on alternative service

An association of conscientious objectors yesterday expressed opposition to what they called the philosophy underlying a new law passed by Parliament which for the first time provides for an alternative form of mandatory military service.

Parliament on Thursday night passed the law by a majority vote, enabling conscientious objectors to work in state hospitals or municipal services for 36 months, double the normal 18 months of military service.

Representatives of the Association of Conscientious Objectors told a press conference yesterday that although the introduction of an alternative to military service was a positive step, "albeit with a delay of 11 years compared to other European countri es," the new law contained a number of serious weaknesses.

Association spokesmen Yiannis Chrysovergis and Dimitris Sotiropoulos said the law's weaknesses constituted violations of "respect for free conscience and the equality of citizens before the law."

Weather

Unstable weather in most parts of Greece today with rain and scattered thunderstorms. Winds north-northwesterly, light to moderate. Temperatures 13-26C in the north, 15-28C in the rest of mainland Greece and 17-27C on the islands.

Foreign Exchange

Friday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 273.356 Pound sterling 444.694 Cyprus pd 530.522 French franc 46.695 Swiss franc 187.647 German mark 157.515 Italian lira (100) 16.037 Yen (100) 236.215 Canadian dlr. 198.102 Australian dlr. 208.072 Irish Punt 404.934 Belgian franc 7.634 Finnish mark 52.461 Dutch guilder 140.021 Danish kr. 41.374 Swedish kr. 35.154 Norwegian kr. 38.049 Austrian sch. 22.381 Spanish peseta 1.866 Port. Escudo 1.562

(M.S.)


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