Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-09
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 09/06/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- FM Pangalos calls for cooperation for regional stability
- Balkans conference a decisive step - PM
- OTE purchases 20% of Serbian PTT's shares
- Balkan mayors discuss peace and cooperation
- Kok, van den Broek in Athens today
- European talks need "patience and persistence", Papandreou says
- Injunction against Olympic Metro over subway construction
- First thalassotherapy centre opens in Crete
- Parliamentary debate on social dialogue tomorrow
- Garbage collectors begin clean-up
- Acropolis rally positions at end of first day
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
FM Pangalos calls for cooperation for regional stability
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos today invited his Balkan counterparts
to work towards the establishment of broad cooperation aimed at consolidating
political stability and economic development in the region.
Speaking at the opening session of a two-day conference of Balkan foreign
ministers in Thessaloniki, Pangalos said the progress achieved since a
similar meeting in Sofia last year was ''significant'' but ''below our true
capabilities''
The opportunities lost must be made up for at the Thessaloniki meeting, he
added.
Taking part in the conference are foreign ministers from the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bulgaria, Federal Yugoslavia and
Romania, the foreign undersecretary of Albania and the assistant undersecretary
of Turkey.
The Greek side is being represented by Pangalos, Alternate Foreign Minister
George Papandreou and Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis.
Many governments have expressed interest in the conference, with the United
States, Germany, France and Britain sending representatives.
In all, 17 countries have sent observers, among them Russia's Foreign
Undersecretary Nikolae Avanasievski.
During the conference, the ministers will examine issues concerning broader
political cooperation in sectors such as the protection of the environment,
the promotion of humanitarian, social and cultural cooperation and common
action to fight organised crime.
They will also be discussing the development of economic cooperation
between the Balkan countries and initiatives aimed at regional cooperation
in southeast Europe.
Noting that the countries represented by ministers at the conference shared
the same ideals on which the European Union was founded, Pangalos intimated
that they should work towards the construction of a similar union of their
own.
Pangalos also underlined the region's importance for peace and development
in Europe as a whole, expressing the view that European integration could
never be complete without the participation of the countries of southeast
Europe.
Referring to the axes around which cooperation should be developed,
Pangalos said they could be none other than the principles of international
conduct, namely equality between states, the inviolability of borders,
respect for the territorial integrity of states, the peaceful settlement of
disputes and respect for human rights.
''That is, all the elements which govern our own national foreign policy,''
Pangalos said.
Pangalos also stressed the need for strengthening economic ties between the
countries of the region at a bilateral, multilateral and regional level, as
well as the implementation of specific programmes for the development of
the region's infrastructure.
At this point, he reminded the conference of the opportunities for cross-
border cooperation afforded by EU programmes.
Lastly, Pangalos recalled the proposal submitted by Greece in February at
the Council of Ministers, calling for the long-term solution of problems
arising for countries in the region in the present phase of their
transition to a market economy.
Analysts meanwhile attached particular importance to the meeting of 130
businessmen from Balkan countries which is being held parallel to the
ministers' conference.
One of the main issues on the businessmen's agenda is the course or
privatisation in the Balkan states.
The conclusions and decisions of the Balkan foreign ministers will be
announced in a joint statement tomorrow, which is expected to be referred
to as the ''Thessaloniki Statement''.
Balkans conference a decisive step - PM
Prime Minister Costas Simitis described the conference as ''a decisive step
towards further progress in cooperation between the countries of the
region''.
In a message to the ministers participating, Simitis said ''the conference
illustrates our intention to inaugurate a new era in our cooperation and to
work together for a better future for our peoples and for the region as a
whole''.
''Following the changes which have taken place in the region, our countries
must seek new challenges and take advantage of new opportunities, within
the framework of a new European area,'' the premier said.
Simitis assured that Greece would continue to actively cooperate in joint
efforts and, as an EU member, promote initiatives for the benefit of the
region.
''I am convinced that the successful outcome of your meeting will be a
milestone in the development of the Conference for Stability, Security and
Cooperation in Southeast Europe,'' Simitis said.
OTE purchases 20% of Serbian PTT's shares
The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) signed a deal to buy a
20 percent stake in Serbian Telecommunications Organisation (PTT) in a part-
privatisation of the state utility.
Italian telecoms company Stet will acquire the remaining 29 percent of
PTT's privatised equity, worth 1.56 billion DM.
The agreement was signed at the Serbian government building by the general
directors of the three companies involved in the deal in a ceremony
attended by Serbia's Prime Minister Mirko Marianovic and other government
officials.
OTE's chairman Dimitris Papoulias said that the agreement would improve
Serbian telecommunications and strengthen Serbian-Greek relations.
The deal is one of the biggest investments ever for OTE and paves the way
for the Greek company's plans to expand into the Balkans and the former
communist countries of Europe.
PTT's general director Alexa Jokic said that the agreement would help
improve telecom services in Serbia.
Marianovic said the strategic investment in the state telecom was one of
the biggest ever made in the Balkans and stressed that it would contribute
to the economic growth of Serbia, raising output and strengthening
industry.
After the signing ceremony, the three delegations visited Serbian President
Slobodan Milosevic.
Balkan mayors discuss peace and cooperation
A one-day meeting of mayors from Balkan cities was held in Thessaloniki on
Saturday, on the topic: "Local government as a factor of peace and
cooperation towards development in the agitated Balkans".
The mayors discussed means of cooperating on cultural and economic sectors
through the application of joint European Union programmes for the
area.
Discussions also included strengthening initiatives to exchange technical
know-how and experience in sectors related to local government.
The meeting was attended by mayors from Bulgaria, Romania, Federal
Yugoslavia, Bosnia, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM) and representatives from Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Thrace and the
European Union.
Kok, van den Broek in Athens today
The president of the European Council, Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and
president of the EU council of foreign ministers Dutch Foreign Minister
Hans van den Broek arrive in Athens today for talks with the Greek
government in light of the Amsterdam EU summ it on June 16-17.
European talks need "patience and persintence", Papandreou says
Talks at the Inter-governmental Conference (IGC) to prepare the revision of
the Maastricht Treaty are in their final stage, which needs calmness,
patience and persistence, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said
yesterday.
In a statement, Mr. Papandreou said that "negotiations are in their last
and most critical phase. All sides want the process of forming a new treaty
for the European Union (EU) to finish" but at the same time tried to pass
as many amendments as possible .
Mr. Papandreou pointed out that the revised treaty would "determine to a
large extent the future of Europe and affect directly the future of great
negotiations on public finances and the European Union budget", among other
things.
Referring to Greece's part in the IGC talks, Mr. Papandreou said that "it
was the first time Greece entered such a round of negotiations with such
adequate and long preparation, by supporting its stance with scholarly data
and through alliances."
What was very pleasing to note, he said, was that "it was possible for
Greece to contribute in the creation of a climate of cooperation among the
smaller states of the Union".
Injunction against Olympic Metro over subway construction
The government will file an injunction against the Olympic Metro consortium
because it refuses to leave the worksite of Kerameikos, Environment, Town
Planning and Public Works Undersecretary Christos Verelis said yesterday.
Mr. Verelis said Olympic Metro had forfeited its right to work at that
particular section of the subway project, and the government was holding
another auction for the construction of a test tunnel between Syntagma and
Kerameikos.
The government planned to give the assignment to the winning bidder, but
the joint venture was obstructing the procedure by refusing to vacate the
premises. Mr. Verelis denied press reports that the company had agreed anew
with the government to deliver the disputed section in 2001 instead of 1999,
at an added cost of 31 billion drachmas.
First thalassotherapy centre opens in Crete
Greece's first thalassotherapy centre, the Royal Mare Village Thalasso, was
inaugurated late on Saturday by Development Minister Vasso Papandreou at
Anisara, near Iraklion.
Ms Papandreou said that the centre fell within the government's policy to
upgrade tourism services and expressed the hope that others would follow
the example. The centre's director, Nikos Angelopoulos said that investment
had cost eight billion drachmas.
The inauguration was also attended by National Defence Undersecretary
Dimitris Apostolakis, Greek National Tourist Organisation (EOT) Secretary
General Nikos Skoulas, government officials, deputies and local officials.
Parliamentary debate on social dialogue tomorrow
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and main opposition New Democracy party
president Costas Karamanlis will lock horns in a Parliamentary debate on
Tuesday on the issue of 'social dialogue' between government, unions and
employers to discuss proposed changes to the job market.
Sources said the prime minister will stress the role of 'social dialogue'
as a permanent choice of ruling PASOK under present conditions which demand
significant changes. He is also expected to challenge the positions
expressed to date by the opposition parties and call on them to support the
effort.
Mr. Karamanlis is expected to accuse the government of using the social
dialogue to avoid paying the costs of decisions and pushing the cost onto
social partners to avoid internal party conflict.
Garbage collectors begin clean-up
Garbage collectors on Saturday began the immense task of clearing tonnes of
refuse from the streets of Athens and Piraeus after calling off a week-long
strike.
The decision to go back to work was taken late Friday night after agreement
was reached during talks between local government organisation workers'
representatives and Interior Undersecretary Lambros Papadimas.
It was estimated three days would be needed for the collection of the 10,
000 tonnes of garbage which accumulated on streets during last week.
Acropolis Rally positions at end of first day
After Britain's Colin McRae, another top driver - Kenneth Eriksson of
Sweden - was forced to abandon the Acropolis Rally after his car developed
engine problems in the first special section of the second leg today.
Finland's Juha Kankunnen driving a Ford Escort continued to lead the race
after completing the first three special sections of today's second leg,
while his compatriot, Tommi Makinen, dropped to fourth after being equal
second with Britain's Richard Burns at the end of the first day yesterday.
Burns is now in second place, just ahead of Spain's Carlos Sainz.
McRae, Kankunnen's main championship rival, had led the rally after the
first stage yesterday but he hit a bank on the second and was forced out of
the race.
Leading positions at the end of the first day of the Acropolis Rally on
Sunday: 1. Juha Kankunnen (Finland) Ford 1:43:25
2 equal. Tommi Makinen (Finland) Mitsubishi 1:43:52 2 equal. Richard Burns
(Britain) Mitsubishi 1:43:52 4. Carlos Sainz (Spain) Ford
1:44:47 5. Thomas Radstrom (Sweden) Toyota 1:46:01
6. Aris Vovos (Greece) Subaru 1:48:27 7. Uwe Nittel (Germany) Mitsubishi
1:49:27 8. Masao Kamioka (Japan) Subaru 1:49:47
9. Yukihiko Sakurai (Japan) Subaru 1:50:12 10. Leonidas Kirkos (Greece)
Ford 1:51:07
WEATHER
Almost fair weather is forecast for most parts of Greece today with
possible brief showers and rainstorms in central and northern Greece in the
afternoon. Winds northerly, moderate, turning strong in the Aegean Sea.
Fine weather with some clouds in Athens and temperatures between 16-29C.
Thessaloniki will be partly cloudy with temperatures between 15-28C.
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.P.)
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