Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-10

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 10/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Balkan FMs stress regional stability, peace and cooperation
• Greece, Russia announce initiative on regional stability
• Meeting of Balkan entrepreneurs focusses on privatisations
• Athens comments on Holbrooke statements
• National Bank to lure foreign institutionals
• President, Prime Minister to meet
• Cypriot President Clerides in Athens
• NATO commander visits Greece
• 300 kgs of hashish found on Albanian boat
• Ford leads Acropolis Rally
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Balkan foreign ministers concluded a two-day conference in Thessaloniki today by issuing a joint communique stressing that the future of the Balkan peoples belongs to peace, political stability and economic cooperation.

Taking part in the conference were foreign ministers from Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Romania, as well as the foreign undersecretary of Albania and the assistant foreign undersecretary of Turkey.

In all, 17 countries including the United States, Germany, Britain, France and Russia have sent representatives to the conference.

In the joint communique, labelled "The Thessaloniki Declaration", the foreign ministers underline their decision to actively promote relations of good neighbouliness, stability and cooperation in the region.

They also stresss their commitment to work together for the rapid development of the region, placing particular emphasis on the liberalisation of trade and structural programmes "which will safeguard the future of the peoples of the region".

The communique conveys the ministers' belief that ''the creation of institutes for the consolidation of democracy, respect for human rights, accompanied by the prevailing of the free market economy will lead to the firm establishment of democracy in the region".

The ministers further state that "the European orientation of the countries of the region constitutes a primary element of political, economic and social development" and declare their intention to actively contribute to European integration.

They also agreed to examine a proposal for the creation of an International Forum made up of leading figures from the countries of the region with the aim of promoting good neighbourly relations.

According to the communique, the ministers shared the view that confidence- building measures were particularly important for promoting peace and security in southeast Europe.

The communique contains a proposal for the setting up of a ''council'' and the exchange of views between experts concerning the progress made in agreements reached to date.

Stressing the important role of NATO for peace and stability in Europe, the ministers assess that the participation in the Alliance of applicant countries will contribute towards strengthening its role.

Regarding the two flashpoints in the Balkans -- Albania and Bosnia -- the foreign ministers expressed their support for Tirana's efforts to re- establish political stability, while underlining the need for the country to regain domestic peace through the free will of its people.

Greece, Russia announce initiative on regional stability

Greece and Russia today announced a joint initiative to strengthen peace and stability cooperation in southeastern Europe.

The agreement, announced by Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Russian Foreign Undersecretary Nicolai Afanasievski, calls for a meeting late next year by representatives of southeast European countries with the participation of the United Nations, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the European Union, and international organisations.

In a joint communique, Pangalos and Afanasievski called on the Balkan Foreign Ministers winding up a two-day meeting in Thessaloniki to support the initiative.

The communique said a working meeting of senior officials this autumn would be the first step in preparing the 1998 meeting, to be followed by meetings in the first half of 1998 of the ministers of foreign affairs, energy and transports, and commerce.

''It is an initiative that will give a broader perspective to closer Balkan cooperation,'' Pangalos said.

Afanasievski described the Thessaloniki meeting as a ''great success'', adding that the Greek-Russian initiative was an ''old thought of the two sides'' that was now ''becoming a reality''.

Meeting of Balkan entrepreneurs focusses on privatisations

Greek businesses will be offered significant opportunities for investment in the Balkans as denationalisation programmes get under way by countries in the region, a senior Greek national economy ministry official said yesterday.

Ministry secretary-general Nikos Zahariadis, who chaired a morning meeting of businessmen from Balkan states on the sidelines of the Balkan foreign ministers' meeting in Thessaloniki, said that if entrepreneurs were cautious they could make profitable investments in neighbouring states.

Greece had a number of agencies and organisations - such as the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board (HEPO) - that could alleviate the risks of investing in these countries, he added.

Greek entrepreneurs wanted "a clear and simple statement of the privatisation situation", he said, as well as information on guarantees, particularly from the European Union and the avoidance of double taxation.

Athens comments on Holbrooke statements

Statements by US special presidential envoy for Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke, concerning the possibility of conflict between Greece and Turkey, do not constitute ''dangermongering'', government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said today.

Holbrooke was quoted as telling the "Financial Times" that the situation in Cyprus could "explode at any moment, bringing into direct conflict two eastern allies, Greece and Turkey".

He added that a solution of the Cyprus problem could open the way for "a greater historical rapprochement between Athens and Ankara".

Replying to press questions, Reppas described the Cyprus issue as the "touchstone" for the improvement of Greek-Turkish relations, adding that all sides must approach the problem with responsibility and show "real interest" in finding a solution.

Reppas said Holbrooke should exercise all his influence to ensure that talks on the Cyprus problem are not used as a pretext for "obstructionism".

National Bank to lure foreign institutionals

National Bank of Greece will launch an advertising campaign abroad to lure foreign institutional investors into the domestic market following an upgrade for its custodian services unit, senior bank officials said.

Inaugurating new premises for the unit, the officials said the bank already managed shares and debt paper for 1,600 Greek and foreign funds, representing capital of 1.5 trillion drachmas. Consultancy is part of the package.

Part of the upgrade for the unit, opened by Governor Theodoros Karadzas, is an advanced technology computer system.

National Bank's competitors for Athens-based custodian services are Citibank and Barclays.

President, Prime Minister to meet

President Kostis Stephanopoulos will receive Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Wednesday, reportedly to discuss developments in national issues and the revision of the Constitution, it was announced today.

The meeting was announced by both the president's office and government spokesman Dimitris Reppas.

There have been a number of important developments since the last meeting of the two men, including matters related to Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem, particularly following the appointment of US special presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke.

Other developments include issues concerning the European Union, particularly against the background of the intergovernmental conference (IGC) and the Amsterdam summit early next week.

On the domestic front, Stephanopoulos has not yet expressed his views on the proposed revision of the Constitution, the most important aspect of which concerns the voting requirements for the election of the head of state by Parliament.

Speaking to reporters, Reppas said the premier believed it would be useful to brief Stephanopoulos on his talks in Athens yesterday with his Dutch counterpart and European Council President Wim Kok and Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo.

The spokesman said Simitis would also brief the president on his participation in the sessions of the European Socialist Party conference in Sweden last week, in view of developments in the EU.

Cypriot President Clerides in Athens

Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides will visit Athens for talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis on July 1, according to an ANA despatch from Nicosia.

Citing statements made by Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides to Cyprus Radio, the despatch said the private talks at 11.30 local time would be followed by a working luncheon.

The talks will be held in view of UN-sponsored direct talks between Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in New York later the same month and within the framework of Greek and Cypriot coordinated efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

NATO commander visits Greece

The outgoing Commander of NATO naval forces southern Europe, Admiral Mario Angeli, paid a courtesy call at the National Defence Ministry today.

Angeli was received by National Defence Undersecretary Dimitris Apostolakis and the Chief of the National Defence General Staff Lieutenant General Athanasios Tzoganis.

He also met with the Chief of the Navy General Staff, Vice Admiral Leonidas Paleogiorgos.

Angeli will be replaced on July 17 by his compatriot, Admiral Spinotti.

300 kgs of hashish found on Albanian boat

An Albanian speedboat, carrying drugs and arms, was arrested at dawn Tuesday by the Greek coastguard near the northwestern port of Igoumenitsa.

The speedboat was arrested after being chased by the coastguard patrol boat and an exchange of fire. Coastguard officials said it carried 300 kilograms of hashish, two kalashnikov rifles and ammunition, and a hand grenade.

The chase began as the 6-metre outboard motor speedboat opened fire on the patrol boat and tried to head back to the Albanian coast after the patrol boat called for it to stop and be searched.

The patrol boat returned the fire, obliging the speedboat to stop, while its passengers jumped ship and swam to nearby rocks.

Ford leads Acropolis Rally

Finland's Juha Kankunnen, driving a Ford Escort, contined to lead the 44th Acropolis Rally at the end of four of the last leg's six special sections today.

Carlos Sainz of Spain, also in a Ford Escort, was 16 seconds behind Kankunnen in second place.

Kankunnen's compatriot, Tommi Makinen, won two of the four special sections today but remains in fourth place behind Britain's Richard Burns. Both are driving Mitsubishis.

Of the 101 cars which started the race at the foot of the Acropolis on Sunday, 64 are continuing.

The first car is expected to cross the finish line in Athens at about 19.30 local time.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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