Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-12-02

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 02/12/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Simitis talks in Paris focus on EU-Turkish relations, Cyprus
• Last-minute Greek-Turkish agreement at NATO meeting reported
• German deputies in Athens to work on 'tripartite rapprochement'
• SAE conference begins in Thessaloniki today
• ERT to beam satellite broadcasts to Australia
• 'Greece in Britain' cultural events to begin next year
• New laws on legalising foreign workers to be revealed today
• Surprise winners at Thessaloniki Film Festival
• Tzoumakas: agriculture policy to be fully implemented
• Greek stocks jump on economy, break 1,500 pt barrier
• EKO posts nine billion drs in pre-tax profits
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Members of the Greek delegation visiting the French capital yesterday expressed satisfaction following talks between Prime Minister Costas Simitis with French President Jacques Chirac and Premier Lionel Jospin .

The talks mostly focused on Turkey's participation in the French-proposed European Conference for countries wishing to join the European Union.

Greek sources stressed that the French side insisted on its positions, but in milder tones than expected. In addition, they said that two conditions set by Greece, namely, acceptance of UN resolutions on Cyprus and prohibiting Turkey from blocking Cyprus' accession procedure, were described as completely self-evident, while a third condition - acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice at The Hague - was described as reasonable.

The French side made it clear that the procedure for the Conference had to begin because it would help in Turkey's course towards the EU, stating they would make every effort to find a solution.

Speaking at a press conference later, Mr. Simitis reiterated that Greece could not consent to Turkish participation in the Conference as long as Ankara refused to fulfill preconditions which govern relations of all civilised countries.

He pointed out that firstly, there was no unanimity among the "15" on the content of the Conference; secondly, that in the text of the "Agenda 2000" it was clearly stated that all countries had to accept in advance the jurisdiction of the International Court as it was not possible that any dispute could be brought into the EU; thirdly, that it was inconceivable for a third country to accept or not accept EU negotiations with another country and finally, that Turkey, through official statements threatening partition or annexation of the island republic, had made it clear that it did not accept the relevant UN resolution referring to a single state on Cyprus.

Mr. Simitis also expressed satisfaction regarding the French president's announcement during the talks that France would support Athens' candidacy for membership with the UN Security Council during the period 1999- 2000.

Meanwhile, French presidency sources said that Paris supported the Luxembourg presidency's proposal that Cyprus and the other 10 candidate countries should have "a common starting point" but "a different pace" in negotiations.

Mr. Chirac and Mr. Simitis also discussed Balkan issues.

Last-minute Greek-Turkish agreement at NATO meeting reported

Greece and Turkey yesterday reached an agreement on a decades-old dispute concerning the use of air space over the Aegean, German General Klaus Naumann, the head of NATO's military committee, said.

"I can confirm that the Greek-Turkish problem has been solved," he said, adding: "It's a problem that has been haunting this alliance for over 20 years."

He also stressed that the agreement included all military aspects of NATO's new command structure.

At the military committee session, where the agreement was reached, Hellenic armed forces National Defence General Staff Chief, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis, reiterated Athens' proposal regarding the "Combined Air Operations Centre", which envisages that there will be no delineation of the areas of responsibilities in the Aegean, and that therefore, the centre will not be linked with the Athens FIR overseeing air space in the Aegean.

A senior NATO official also said the agreement was "an enormous breakthrough for the alliance."

In addition to agreeing that both Greek and Turkish officers will share the command headquarters at Larisa and Izmir, the two countries also agreed to nullify what Gen. Naumann called "stacks of documents" on the dispute going back years.

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that the formula found was favourable for Greece, and expressed optimism regarding today's NATO defence ministers' session, which will discuss and decide on the new command structure.

"We received satisfactory answers on a series of issues which we had raised. They provide for satisfactory terms in the operation of NATO," he said. He expressed, however, reserved optimism on "Turkey's retreat" and referred to efforts by Ankara to raise obstacles until the very last minute.

German deputies in Athens to work on `tripartite rapprochement`

German SPD Eurodeputy Yiannis Sakellariou, who is of Greek descent, and Greens deputy Cem Oezdemir, of Turkish descent, arrived in Greece yesterday to sound out support for a "tripartite rapprochement" between Germany, Greece and Turkey, beginning with youth programmes held in Germany.

They had meetings with Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, Left Coalition leader Nikos Constantopoulos, Moslem deputies, representatives of the Helsinki monitors and conscientious ob jectors.

"We are not trying to create problems," Mr. Sakellariou told the ANA. "Nor are we trying to divert attention from other efforts. We said from the outset that we are not acting on behalf of our governments but we want to help and therefore are at the disposal of our governments."

In January, the two are to visit Turkey, where interest in the initiative has already been expressed by Turkish business circles.

Their goal is to "bring together" more than two million Turks and 400,000 Greeks living in Germany, as a contribution to "breaking down the stereotyped view that Greeks and Turks are eternal enemies" and to efforts towards dialogue and understanding.

Funds for programmes such as educational seminars, are to be sought from the European Union and the German government, although Greece and Turkey are also to be approached.

SAE conference begins in Thessaloniki today

The World Council for Hellenes Abroad (SAE) begins its first ordinary meeting in Thessaloniki today, with the participation of 340 elected representatives of Greek communities around the world.

This morning there will be meetings of regional SAE groups and procedural issues will be discussed. One of the issues on tomorrow's agenda is a discussion of foreign policy of countries with Greek immigrant groups with regard to Greece's "national issues".

The official opening is to be held on Thursday, to be attended by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and other officials.

The SAE's new president is to be elected on Sunday, the last day of the meeting.

ERT to beam satellite broadcasts to Australia

The Greek state television network (ERT) is soon to begin experimental satellite broadcasts for the Greek community in the US, to be extended to Australia during 1998, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.

ERT is also holding talks with European cable channels.

Mr. Reppas also drew attention to Turkish language broadcasts by the Greek Radio and Television (ERA) in Komotini.

Meanwhile, in response to a question, he said the government was not planning to establish a ministry for Greeks abroad.

'Greece in Britain' cultural events to begin next year

The Greek embassy in London will hold a series of events under the general title "Greece in Britain" during the six-month British presidency of the European Union which begins on January, 1, 1998.

Prime Minister Costas Simitis referred to the programme on Friday during a press conference in London during his visit.

The aim of the events is to throw the spotlight on modern Greece and will include cultural and other events such as concerts, exhibitions, dance performances, film screenings and conferences.

The official start to the programme will be on January 21, 1998 at the House of Commons at which political figures from both countries will be present.

New laws on legalising foreign workers to be revealed today

Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou is expected to announce the details of a presidential decree providing foreigners in Greece with legal residency and work permits at a press conference today.

Mr. Papaioannou is also expected to announce the procedures and prerequisites for receiving a temporary residency permit for foreigners.

The new requirements and guidelines are expected to be defined by the end of the year with a series of presidential decrees.

According to the head of the political asylum department at the public order ministry, a presidential decree on monitoring illegal immigration to Greece would also be ready by the end of the year.

The series of measures, it is hoped, will bring an end to the uncertain status facing some 400,000 immigrants residing and working illegally in Greece and who have no personal or workers' rights.

The number of illegal immigrants, according to state services, now constitute almost 10 percent of the working population and is expected to increase in the face of economic crises hitting Greece's Balkan neighbours.

A government advisory committee on economic and social committee (OKE) found that apart from immigrants from neighbouring countries, Greece was also a destination for economic migrants from Asia and Africa, resulting in large communities of Egyptians, Filipinos, Iraqis and Pakistanis all working illegally and without social security.

Surprise winners at Thessaloniki Film Festival

There were a number of surprises among the prizewinners at the 38th Thessaloniki Film Festival which ended Sunday night in a ceremony that was marred when photographers, who had been banned from mounting the stage, refused to take photographs.

The prize for the best Greek film was shared by "Lost Nights" whose director Angeliki Antoniou was also awarded the prize for best director, and "Miroupafsin" by George Kouras and Christos Voupouras.

Prize for best scenario also went to "Lost Nights", written by the director and Kriton Kalaitzidis.

Lazaros Andreou was voted best actor for his performance in "The Golden Apples of Evening", while Irini Inglesi and Yasmin Tabatabai shared the best actress award.

Aris Stavrou won the photography prize for his work in "Tomorrow we'll know", while George Tsagaris won the music prize for his score for "Vasiliki".

In the International Competition, Australia's Sue Brooks took the Golden Alexander Award for the best film with her "Road to Neil".

The Silver Alexander, awarded by the critics' committee was awarded to the Turk Dervish Zaim for "Somersaults in a Coffin".

Paddy Breathnach won the prize for best director, while Shane Meadows was awarded the prize for best scenario for "Tangible 24".

Tzoumakas: agriculture policy to be fully implemented

Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas said yesterday that he was determined to fully implement announced government policy in the agricultural sector.

A series of development measures is already underway, such as the establishment of a foodstuffs organisation, a change in the institutional framework governing cooperatives, a change in the agricultural insurance policy, as well as the creation of a soc iete anonyme company to promote exports.

In an interview with the ANA, Mr. Tzoumakas spoke on the course of development interventions he's carrying out at the agriculture ministry, the EU's "Agenda 2000" programme, the new '98 budget, debts owed by cooperatives and private persons, as well as mobilisations and the tackling of forest fires.

Mr. Tzoumakas said farmers can expect better incomes now that equal treatment has been secured between southern and northern products in the framework of "Agenda 2000." He said this was the result of initiatives and movements developed by Greece.

The remaining debts owed by cooperatives and private persons, amounting to 300 billion drachmas, will be handled with bank criteria, he said.

Mr. Tzoumakas went on to say that interest rates must drop in the agricultural sector, and he intends to have an S.A. company created on French models to undertake to promote exports.

He said the coordination for combatting forest fires will leave the agriculture ministry and be given to the fire brigade.

Greek stocks jump on economy, break 1,500 pt barrier

Greek stocks soared for the fifth straight session yesterday to retake the psychological 1,500-point barrier, buoyed by downward pressure on interest rates in a T-bill tender on Friday.

Also fuelling optimism were hopes that November's consumer price inflation will hold steady around five percent.

The general index closed 2.35 percent higher at 1,508.67 points led by a wave of buying in interest in banks and industrials. The index breached 1, 500 points for the first time after 15 sessions.

Trading was moderate with turnover slightly higher at 24.3 billion drachmas from 21.1 billion drachmas on Friday. Turnover last week was an average 19.2 billion.

Sector indices mostly scored gains. Banks rose 2.11 percent, Insurance soared 3.08 percent, Investment jumped 2.90 percent up, Construction edged up 0.46 percent, Industrials increased 1.06 percent, Miscellaneous edged down 0.01 percent and Holding gain ed 3.40 percent. Bucking the trend was Leasing, which slipped 0.28 percent.

Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) finished at the eight percent upper volatility limit at 5,886 drachmas on 581,000 shares traded.

Of 247 shares traded advancers led decliners by 166 to 54 with 27 issues remaining unchanged.

OTE, Folli-Follie, Macedonia-Thrace Bank and Mouriadis scored the biggest percentage gains at limit up. Hellenic Sugar, Lambropouli (preferred), Macedonia Textile Mills (common) and Corinth Textile Mills (common) ended at or near the eight percent lower volatility limit.

Among blue chips National Bank of Greece ended at 26,290 drachmas, Ergobank at 15,350, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,745, Delta Dairy (common) at 3,495, Titan Cement (common) at 13,315 and Intracom (common) at 14,000.

EKO posts nine billion drs in pre-tax profits

Pre-tax profits for the Hellenic Fuel and Mineral Oils group EKO amounted to nine billion drachmas over the January-September 1997 period, registering an increase of 2.3 billion drachmas compared to the corresponding period in 1996.

EKO increased profits over this period by 1.3 billion drachmas compared to 1996, amounting to 6.2 billion drachmas, an amount slightly higher than the prediction.

The refinery's pre-tax profits amounted to 3.3 billion drachmas over the January-September 1997 period and are expected to total 4.8 billion drachmas by the end of the year, while chemicals decreased losses by 1.9 billion drachmas compared to 1996.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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