Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-11-20

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, 20/11/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Massive armaments procurement programme endorsed
• Gov't to implement measures for improved anti-seismic policy
• Athens to unveil proposals at EU employment conference
• Miller: Turkey must make moves on Aegean, Cyprus, if it values EU
• Universal conscription of women not a gov't goal
• SAE to meet in Thessaloniki next month
• Ecumenical Patriarch returns from US tour
• Philhellene Austrian professor honoured at Vienna event
• Initial UN support for regional informatics centre in Thessaloniki
• Two more banks raise interest rates
• Greek stocks edge up in moderate trade
• Gov't rejects pessimism by EIB official over monetary crisis
• ETVA bank hikes drachma loan rates by 1.5 pts
• GSEE criticises Pechiney management tactics
• Crete kidnappers sentenced
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The Government Council for Foreign Policy and Defence (KYSEA) yesterday endorsed proposals by National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos setting out a five-point plan on priorities of the armaments procurement programme.

Recommendations included strengthening the existing air force fleet with third-generation aircraft, for which a final decision would be made in the first half of 1998. According to informed sources, the government is considering choosing between the Mirage 2000-5, Russian Sukhoi, EF-2000 and F-16 (Block 50), F-15E, F-18 and F-22.

The same sources say that there has also been discussion of purchasing another 10 to 20 Mirage 2000s and F-16s (Block 50). In addition, the purchase of airborne refuelling aircraft and AWACS early warning aircraft was also going ahead.

The US-made Patriot system and the Russian-made S-300 system are up for consideration.

The third point of the plan regarded a final decision, to be taken next year, regarding newtanks for the army.

Exactly 170 Leopard 1 A5 are to be bought from Germany, a purchase which Mr. Tsohatzopoulos says was decided upon earlier and is not part of the current programme. or Britain.

The first phase of the armed forces' procurements programme is to be completed during the first half of 1999.

He said that 350 billion drachmas had already been spent on the programme so far, while another 100 billion will be spent by the end of the year. Some 800 billion drachmas are projected for 1998, while funds totalling 1.1 trillion drachmas are to be made available as soon as the relevant studies, which are in their final phase, have been completed.

Gov't to implement measures for improved anti-seismic policy

The environment, town planning and public works ministry, through the Anti- Seismic Planning and Protection Organisation (OASP), is proceeding with implementation of measures to upgrade anti-seismic policy, following an OASP meeting yesterday to examine th e latest string of earthquakes in western Greece.

Measures include coordinated seismological monitoring of Greece with the creation of a National Seismograph Network with the participation of all scientific bodies possessing suitable infrastructure. Funding for OASP worth 1.5 billion drachmas has been requested from the government to support this effort.

Other measures include:

Mapping of regions presenting greater seismic danger and the preparation of national specifications for the elaboration of micro-zonal studies.

- Control of the anti-seismic adequacy of buildings following the registration of town planning priorities by specialist seismologists. OASP has already been instructed to issue technical instructions to control anti- seismic adequacy and to inform public services and bodies to control buildings they own.

- Control of the implementation of building regulations (new anti-seismic regulation, etc) and their continuous monitoring by OASP's special scientific committees.

- A nationwide training programme for teachers and professors on issues of anti-seismic protection at schools with the cooperation of the education ministry, as well as seminars for the utilisation of the entire scientific potential possessed by the cou ntry.

Athens to unveil proposals at EU employment conference

Greece will present proposals at a European Union employment conference this week that would focus on jobless youth and the long-term unemployed, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou announced yesterday, ahead of a two-day meeting on employment in Luxembourg today and tomorrow to be attended by Prime Minister Costas Simitis who will convey the proposals to his European partners.

Greece backs better training for the unemployed, and state subsidised recruitment.

Mr. Simitis will underline that the number of long-term unemployed is steadily increasing and ask for specific measures to create new jobs.

Mr. Simitis will start a mini-European tour after the conference. His first stop will be London to meet British Prime Minister Tony Blair, followed by a trip to Paris.

Miller: Turkey must make moves on Aegean, Cyprus, if it values EU

In a statement published in the Turkish daily "Sabah" yesterday, US State Department special coordinator on the Cyprus issue Thomas Miller said that "if Turkey really attributes importance to the EU it must do something in the sectors of human rights, the Aegean and Cyprus."

Mr. Miller said the US is making every possible effort so that a good position is given to Turkey in the process of EU enlargement.

"If Turkey desires to support the US in this effort it must be in a position to do certain things in the Aegean and in Cyprus," he said.

Universal conscription of women not a gov't goal

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday told representatives of womens' organisations that a draft law providing for womens' inclusion in civil defence units along border areas was in no way a first step towards a general conscription and militarisation of public life.

The minister expressed hope to see the buttressing of the country's defence on the basis of collective responsibility and the readiness of citizens not only in time of war, but also for the danger of natural disasters.

The representatives stressed their groups' permanent position on the principles and values of life, and called for the stipulation of a voluntary nature for their participation in the scheme.

SAE to meet in Thessaloniki next month

The World Council of Hellenes Abroad will hold a three-day conference in Thessaloniki starting on Dec. 3.

The session, to be attended by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou will discuss issues of concern to expatriate Greeks.

Ecumenical Patriarch returns from US tour

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has returned to his See in Constantinople after a month-long tour of Eastern Orthodox communities in the United States.

While in the United States, the Patriarch met, among others, with US President Bill Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore, while he received the Golden Medal of Congress, a rarely bestowed distinction. He also attended an official reception hosted by US First Lady Hillary Clinton at the White House.

The Patriarch has received honorary Ph.Ds from Boston's Theological School of the Sacred Cross, the Russian Theological School of St. Vladimir and the University of Georgetown.

In another event, the Patriarch addressed the Council for World Issues in Chicago.

Philhellene Austrian professor honoured at Vienna event

"Europe cannot be built without Greece, Greece is Europe's foundation", noted Austrian professor Hans Swable told a crowd attending an event in his honour at the University of Vienna on Monday night.

The event was organisd on the occassion of the recent awarding of the Aristotle Prize to Professor Swable by the Macedonia-Thrace ministry.

The Austrian academic praised the multiformity of the ancient, Byzantine and modern Greek civilisation, underlining that European culture needed the Greek language.

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos attended the event.

Initial UN support for regional informatics centre in Thessaloniki

UN Deputy Secretary General Vladimir Petrovski expressed support for the Greek proposal for the UN regional informatics centre being established in Thessaloniki.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the conference on public administration, coming to a close today, Mr. Petrovski said the proposal made by Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the conference was "very good", adding that for the time being relevant interest has not been shown by any other country and that what remains to be done is to find a way to join the centre to the UN's mechanism.

Referring to the conference, Mr. Petrovski expressed satisfaction and said reforms implemented by the Greek government are positive, underlining that they can constitute a very good example for countries in central and eastern Europe which are in the process of transition.

Two more banks raise interest rates

The Agricultural Bank of Greece will increase deposit and lending rates as of today.

Ordinary savings accounts will yield a 9.50-10 per cent interest depending on the amount, while the basic rate for working capital rises by up to 4 per cent to reach 17.50 per cent.

The Bank of Central Greece will also increase its deposits interest rates by 1 to 1.25 per cent and its loan interest rates by 1.5 per cent as of today.

Specifically, savings interest rates for small deposits of up to one milion drachmas will be set at 10 per cent and for bigger deposits up to 12 per cent and current account deposits at 10.5 per cent.

The main interest rate for short-term loans was set at 18 per cent, the main interest rate for medium-term and long-term loans 16 per cent, the main interest rate for housing loans 15.5 per cent and the interest rate for consumer loans 24 per cent.

Greek stocks edge up in moderate trade

Greek equities remained on an upward course for the second consecutive session on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday although they ended off their day's highs.

Trading was moderate with turnover at 15.7 billion drachmas.

The general index closed 0.23 percent higher at 1,395 points after showing gains of up to 1.20 percent earlier in the session.

The FTSE/ASE index fell 0.01 percent to 809.03 points.

Sector indices were mixed. Banks fell 0.17 percent, Insurance eased 0.46 percent, Leasing rose 0.50 percent, Investment increased 0.16 percent, Construction dropped 2.02 percent, Industrials rose 0.97 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.17 percent up and Hol ding fell 0.24 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies was 0.54 percent higher.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 114 to 101 with another 22 issues unchanged.

Cambas, Heliofin, Lambropoulos, Ideal and Macedonian Plastics scored the higgest percentage gains, while Ermis, Mouzakis, Elmec Sport and Intertyp suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 26,480 drachmas, Ergobank at 15,000, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,395, Delta Dairy at 3,355, Titan Cement at 11,440, Intracom at 11,880 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 5, 200.

Gov't rejects pessimism by EIB official over monetary crisis

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday the government was surprised and disappointed over comments on the country's economy by the European Investment Bank's vice-chairman, Panayiotis Yennimatas.

Mr. Yennimatas said in Thessaloniki on Tuesday that the economy had yet to recover from a monetary crisis that hit the drachma and stocks.

He expressed fears that rising interest rates would burden the public debt and undermine the government's plan to align with other European Union countries.

Mr. Reppas said Mr. Yennimatas' views did not correspond with reality.

ETVA bank hikes drachma loan rates by 1.5 pts

Hellenic Industrial Development Bank (ETVA), which is listed on the Greek bourse, said yesterday it would raise its drachma loan rates by 1.5 percentage points starting on Thursday, joining a fresh round of rate increases.

The state-owned bank will raise its base rate to 17 percent.

Interest on loans for fixed assets with an investment total of at least 100 million drachmas will rise to 14 percent.

GSEE criticises Pechiney management tactics

The attitude of aluminum producer Pechiney's management towards workers is a provocation not only to them but also to the whole of the trade union movement, General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) Christos Polyzogopoulos charged during a press confe rence yesterday.

He also claimed that the company wants to establish flexible work hours by increasing part-time employment, wants to reduce jobs and to hire younger employees with lower wages to replace older ones. He also said the company wants to transform the Aspra Spitia housing complex from workers' residences into a tourism enterprise.

Referring to the company's tactics of filing suits against the workers' union at the plant as war against the GSEE itself, and said the organisation would fight against any shrinking of the plant and an overthrow of the regime of industrial relations in such an important company.

Pechiney's plant in Greece is particularly profitable, recording profits of $41.2, $18.6, and $19 million in 1995, 1996, and in the first half of 1997 respectively.

Workers charge the French multinational company with financing its loss- making units in France with the profits of the Greek plant. The problems of the French plants began when the company was privatised during the tenure of the Chirac government, and with the subsequent sale of 40 per cent of its shares to US interests, which aim to reduce costs by 20 per cent on a world basis.

In order to prevent a reduction of jobs from 1,500 to 1,200, the workforce has resorted to repeated strike actions since June, while the company has responded by filing lawsuits, succeeding in having the strikes declared illegal and abusive.

Crete Kidnappers sentenced

Four of the six people on trial for the kidnapping of six-year-old Eleni Loulaki in Crete earlier this year were sentenced by an Iraklion court late Tuesday night. Kalliope Kyriakaki and Dimitra Kamba were sentenced to 11 and 18 years imprisonment respect ively, while Vardis Sartzegakis and Constantine Kambas received sentences of seven years and seven and a half years respectively. Two other accused were found not guilty. The four sentenced were also fined 30 million drachmas to be paid as compensation to the Loulaki family.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article