Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-06-22

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 22/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Papandreou memorial service held
• PASOK meeting on development concludes
• Greek Defence Minister in US as WEU rep
• Youth Parliament sessions continue
• Greek Albanians hold election rally
• Philippines' Ramos in Athens talks
• Europartenariat opens in Piraeus
• SE Europe social dialogue opens Tuesday
• Upswing in tourist arrivals on Rhodes
• WEATHER
• FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEWS IN DETAIL

A memorial service for the late prime minister Andreas Papandreou was held at midday at the First Cemetary of Athens, marking a year since the founder of the ruling Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) passed away.

Relatives of the late PM, the entire government and many people paid respect to the memory of Papandreou, which will be further honoured tonight at a special event to be addressed by Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the former French Culture Minister Jacques Lang. The event will conclude with music performances by popular local artist.

Similar memorial services were held throughout the country, organised by PASOK local organisations, as well as in Cyprus.

PASOK meeting on development concludes

A PASOK central Committee meeting on development concluded today with the chairing Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressing the need for a critical approach to attitudes and practises.

The PM underlined the importance of development in the fight against unemployment, using the example of the Netherlands to make his point.

National Economy and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou, replying to criticism from Committee members over his policies, citest the latest figures on the country's growth, which he said was currently at 3.5%, and predicted that the economy could be growing by as much as 5 per cent in the year 2000.

Greek Defence Minister in US as WEU rep

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos leaves Monday morning for a six-day visit to the U.S. in the context of the Greek chairmanship of the Western European Union's (WEU) cross-Atlantic activities.

During his stay, Tsohatzopoulos will address a meeting of WEU and NATO defence ministers on WEU cross-Atlantic activities, while he will also meet with U.S. Defence Secretary William Cohen, Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, Congresswoman Olympia Snowe and Congressman Paul Sarbanes.

Tsohatzopoulos will also address a U.S. Senate Committee and hold talks with American businessmen on matters concerning defence and the economy respectively.

Youth Parliament sessions continue

Greece's national issues and economic and social affairs were debated by 350 students from Greece, Cyprus and overseas Greek communities today as they continued their sessions in the second annual Youth Parliament in Athens.

The students, who formed six parliamentry committees to debate national issues as well as social and economic policy, will present their conclusions on Tuesday at a plenary session of Parliament proper, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and party leaders.

Greek Albanians hold election rally

The ''Omonoia'' organisation, which represents the ethnic Greek community in Albania, will hold a campaign rally in central Athens this evening in view of the June 29 general elections in the neighbouring country.

The rally will be addressed by Omonoia president Grigoris Lambovitiadis and Omonia MP candidates from Sarande, Delvine and Gjirokaster.

Philippines' Ramos in Athens talks

The president of the Philippines, Ridel Ramos, meets Monday morning with Greek counterpart Costis Stephanopoulos, which will be followed by talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Ramos, who was due in Athens late Sunday for a three-day visit at Stephanopoulos' invitation, is also due to meet with political party representatives and Greek businessmen Monday afternoon.

Ramos is currently on a nine-day tour of Britain, Greece and Oman in a bid to attract foreign investments.

Europartenariat opens in Piraeus

Representatives from more than 2,000 small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) from all over the world will take part in the Europartenariat-Hellas '97 in Piraeus Monday and Tuesday to investigate business collaborations.

The 16th Europartenariat will be opened Monday by Greece's member of the European Commission, Christos Papoutsis, who holds the energy and SME portfolios.

The Europartenariat institution was set up by the Commission in 1988 as a forum to promote business cooperation. Representatives from 400 Greek firms will meet officials of SMEs from EU member states, countries of central and eastern Europe, southeast Asia, Latin America and the United States to encourage cooperation between SMEs of the host country with corresponding companies inside and outside the EU.

SE Europe social dialogue opens Tuesday

A two-day meeting on social dialogue in the countrues of southeast Europe opens Tuesday in Thessaloniki.

The meeting, organised by the Economic and Social Committee (ESC), will bring together 60 delegates representing 15 trade union organisations, 11 employer associations and two farmers' unions from countries in the region, including delegates from the corresponding ESC of Croatia and FYROM.

The committee is an advisory body for bills which are to be tabled in Parliament, according to Greek ESC president Professor Ioannis Koukiadis, and the objective was for similar committees to be set up in other SE European countries for the purpose of promoting the process of social dialogue.

Upswing in tourist arrivals on Rhodes

Tourist arrivals on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes are on the rise, and are currently matching the levels of 1995, which was considered a good tourist year for the island.

A total of 49,423 tourists are presently staying at trhe island's hotels. of which 48,058 are foreign visitors, representing a 19% increase over 41, 735 registered guests last year (of which 40,685 were foreign visitors).

The corresponding figure for 1995 was 49,134 tourists, of which 48,399 were foreign guests.

The figures cover only guests registered at the island's hotels, and do not include visitors staying at other tourist facilities (hostels, rented rooms, etc.).

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(L.G.)

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