Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 97-07-16

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 16/07/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Papantoniou predicts a tough fiscal 1998
• Kranidiotis kicks off Middle East tour with Cairo visit
• Czech PM in Athens tomorrow for official visit
• New airport opens in Crete
• Greek assistance offered in Turkish helicopter crash
• Air space violations by Turkish planes
• Commissioner says EU won`t succumb to Turkish threats
• Defence Minister begins Caucasus tour with talks in Yerevan
• Athens press union takes stance on Turkish journalists' persecution
• Trucks banned from highways on weekends
• New port terminal, motorway credits approved
• Strong corporate profits seen driving up Greek bourse
• Cyprus in first group for European Union expansion
• Earthquake in Aegean
• WEATHER
• FOREIGN EXCHANGE

NEWS IN DETAIL

The Greek government will implement an austere fiscal policy in 1998 in order to prepare the country for participation in Economic and Monetary Union, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said today.

Speaking to reporters, Papantoniou said that 1998 will be a tough year for the Greek economy as participation in the single European currency would depend on achieving targets set in the government's programme to converge with other EU countries.

He said the government's efforts would aim at reducing inflation to below 3.0 percent from the current 5.5 percent and adjusting fiscal policy to strict provisions contained in the convergence programme.

"1998's budget will be crucial," Papantoniou said.

He predicted that the budget deficit would shrink to 4.2 percent of GDP this year and that economic growth would accelerate to 3.5 percent.

Inflation would be contained within official targets by the end of the year, he added.

Papantoniou stressed that final decisions on drafting 1998's budget would be agreed in the autumn after the prime minister's traditional speech on the economy held in September each year at the Thessaloniki International Fair.

Kranidiotis kicks off Middle East tour with Cairo visit

Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis kicked off a six-day Mideast tour yesterday with a visit to the Egyptian capital.

His tour of the area will focus on improving relations with Mideast countries as well as promoting Greece's role in assisting with the region's peace problem.

Following separate meetings with Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Mousa and Foreign Undersecretary El Safty, Mr. Kranidiotis said the atmosphere was positive for improving bilateral relations.

Mr. Kranidiotis said he discussed the entire range of bilateral relations with his Egyptian counterpart, adding that both sides expressed desire for further deve-lopment of relations, and noting that Egypt recognised Greece could play a positive role in the region, especially in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Self-Rule Regions.

The two sides also discussed implementation of the bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed on June 19, while the Egyptian officials expressed concern regarding the similar agreement signed between Israel and Turkey.

Mr. Kranidiotis said he obtained a promise from the Egyptian side to support Greece's candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The Egyptians, for their part, asked for Greece's support in their country's relations with the Europea n Union.

Discussions included economic cooperation, and the Egyptian side showed particular interest in Greek investment for the sectors of new technology, telecommunications, industry and construction.

Finally, Mr. Kranidiotis handed Mr. Mousa an invitation by President Kostis Stephanopoulos for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to visit Athens.

Mr. Kranidiotis will also visit Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.

Czech PM in Athens tomorrow for official visit

Czech Premier Vaclav Klaus will visit Greece tomorrow for talks with his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis on bilateral relations, particularly on the possibilities for upgrading political dialogue.

According to a Czech embassy announcement, the aim of the visit is to further develop "the already excellent and friendly relations" between the Czech Republic and Greece in all sectors, especially economic issues. During his stay, Mr. Klaus will also have talks with Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos.

After his talks in Athens, Mr. Klaus, who will be accompanied by his wife, will fly to Crete to participate in an international seminar organised by the Group for International Study and Evaluation A.G. (GISE) and Alpha Credit Bank.

The seminar will focus on issues pertaining to foreign policy, security and international economic relations.

New airport opens in Crete

Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis today inaugurated the new installations of the ''Nikos Kazantzakis'' airport at Heraklion, Crete.

The inauguration is within the framework of an ongoing programme to modernise and develop all the airports of the country at a total cost of 30 billion drachmas.

The works under the programme include the landscaping of surrounding areas, the extension of runways and the construction of new parking areas.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Kastanidis reaffirmed the government's commitment regarding the construction of a further runway at Heraklion airport, the study for which has been delayed due to a fault which appeared in the subsoil.

He said the final study would be given to him a month from today, containing solutions to the problem which arose.

Following the recent improvements, the airport area reserved for passenger use now covers 23,000 square metres.

Some 3.5 million passengers use Heraklion airport annually.

Greek assistance offered in Turkish helicopter crash

The government said today that it had informed the Turkish authorities of Greece's willingness to provide any kind of assistance necessary following the crash of a Turkish military helicopter east of Samos.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that according to available information, the helicopter crashed into the sea this morning inside Turkish territorial waters, perhaps just off the Turkish coast.

Air space violations by Turkish planes

A group of 10 Turkish F16 and F4 warplanes today infringed the Athens FIR and violated Greek airspace over the Aegean between the islands of Limnos and Lesbos, informed sources said.

In each case, the Turkish warplanes were identified and intercepted by Greek fighter planes.

Commissioner says EU won`t succumb to Turkish threats

European Commissioner Christos Papoutsis yesterday responded to statements by Turkish officials regarding EU enlargement, stressing that European political culture does not bow to threats or blackmail.

Mr. Papoutsis, who is responsible for energy, SMEs and tourism, was commenting on threatened "counter-measures" by Turkey in the event that the European Commission's recommendation on enlargement does not satisfy Ankara's expectations.

The Commission yesterday announced its formal decision to recommend Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus in the first round of the Union's enlargement.

"European political culture does not succumb to threats and blackmail. Particularly with respect to the Cyprus Republic's European prospect, an independent UN member-state whose northern part has been under Turkish military occupation for the last 23 ye ars," Mr. Papoutsis said.

The Greek Commissioner added that Turkey's road to Europe presupposed respect for international law and human rights.

"Specifically, it presupposes implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and decisions. It presupposes the active contribution of Turkey (in finding) a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of UN resolutions," he added.

Mr. Papoutsis said the Commission recommended that accession negotiations should begin with Cyprus in 1998 as planned.

Defence Minister begins Caucasus tour with talks in Yerevan

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday briefed his Armenian counterpart Vasger Sarxien on the situation in the Balkans, including problems created by what he called "Turkey`s expansionist and destabilising policy".

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is on a tour of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Discussions in Yerevan centred on cooperation in the bilateral defence sector.

In statements afterwards, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos placed particular emphasis on priority for dealing with problems of security, stability and cooperation in the new international environment, particularly in eastern Europe.

Athens press union takes stance on Turkish journalists' persecution

The Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) will join the protest of several international press organisations over violations of democratic traditions in Turkey, it announced yesterday.

ESHEA will send a letter of protest to the international federation of journalists to protest a recent sentence against a Turkish journalist.

During the latest general assembly meeting of the European Federation of Journalists-International Federation of Journalists in Brussels last month, New Democracy deputy and ESHEA board member Fani Palli-Petralia tabled a question on the persecution of journalists in Turkey and the federations' lack of serious reaction.

Following a lengthy discussion, the secretary-general decided to set up an investigative committee on the issue.

Trucks banned from highways on weekends

The government yesterday announced a ban on the circulation of trucks over 1.5 tonnes on sections of the country's motorways when traffic is at a peak, in an effort to reduce congestion and cut the number of accidents.

The ban, effective from July 18 to September 14, basically means that trucks will not be able to use motorway sections which generally become congested when city dwellers leave for and return from the provinces at weekends.

For instance, trucks will not be able to use either the old or new national road leading out of Athens for Corinth on Fridays beween 14.00 and 21.00. A similar restriction will apply with respect to the motorway lanes leading in to Athens on Sunday afternoon between 17.00 and 22.00.

Road assistance trucks and vehicles carrying pasteurised milk and fresh fish will be exempt from the ban.

New port terminal, motorway credits approved

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis has approved credits amounting to 10.1 billion drachmas for the construction of a passenger terminal at the port of Irakleio, as well as for improvements on Kifissos avenue between Iera Odos Avenue and Athinon Avenue.

The amount of 1.15 billion drachmas will be provided for the passenger terminal and nine billion drachmas for Kifissos Avenue.

In parallel, the joint venture "SARANTOPOULOS-MENTON" was assigned yesterday with building the motorway between Almyros and Aerinos, budgeted at 19 billion drachmas. The project is part of the Patra-Thessaloniki- Evzonoi motorway.

Strong corporate profits seen driving up Greek bourse

A long hot summer lies ahead for the Athens Stock Exchange after the market breached resistance at 1,600 points following a month of consolidation, analysts said.

Despite slipping below the key level on Tuesday, factors expected to have a positive impact on the market are anticipated high corporate profits in the first half of the year, particularly for industrial and banking blue chips.

Other factors expected to push the market up are a rebound in the share price of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) as soon as its share capital increase is completed, and an equity increase by National Bank of Greece, due in autumn.

HSBC James Capel, an international investment firm, said in a survey of the Greek capital market that the Athens bourse would see an average 13 percent increase in net profits of listed companies this year, up from an earlier forecast of 10.4 percent.

Cyprus in first group for European Union expansion

The European Commission proposed yesterday that accession talks for an expanded European Union should start with Cyprus and five other nations.

The Commission's "Agenda 2000" document recommends that Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Estonia join Cyprus in the accession talks next year.

The document was formally agreed on yesterday without much discussion during a meeting of EU Commissioners in Strasbourg.

The adopted proposal will be made official this morning when European Commission President Jacques Santer formally presents the decision to the European Parliament.

The decision means that Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania will have to wait for EU membership, although they will each have contractual accession partnerships allowing them to prepare at their own speed for joining the Union.

Cyprus was scheduled to start membership negotiations six months after the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), in accordance to an EU decision in March 1995.

Last June's Amsterdam European Council had reiterated that accession talks with Cyprus should start as scheduled, that is in early 1998.

Cyprus applied for EU membership in 1990. It signed an association agreement with the European Community in 1972 and a customs union agreement in 1987.

Earthquake in Aegean

A strong earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale was recorded shortly after 13:00 local time, its epicentre being 180 kilometres northeast of Athens in the sea between the islands of Skyros and Lesbos.

So far, there have been no reports of damage or injuries.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.S.)

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