Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-03-31

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 31/03/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece says commencement of Cyprus' EU accession talks 'historic'
• Greece calls for development in SE Europe
• KYSEA considers new five-year armaments programme
• AHEPA officials in Turkey
• Tsohatzopoulos visit to Russia
• Romeos on crime rate in Greece
• Royaumont Initiative meeting for SE European journalists
• Greek-Bulgarian health and social services accord approved
• OA draft bill tabled, national carrier's president resigns
• Greek stocks stay perky, post new high
• Rates slip in T-bill, bond tenders
• Greek-French consortium presents Rio-Andirrio bridge project
• Gov't to carry out quality control chacks in public works
• Bank of Piraeus buys information group
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis has described yesterday's commencement of negotiations for Cyprus' EU accession as the most important development in the island republic's history after independence in 1960.

Speaking after yesterday's session of the foreign ministers of the '15' with their counterparts of 11 applicant nations, including Cyprus, Mr. Kranidiotis stressed that in no official EU document was there any linking of the island's membership prospects with a solution of its political problem, and that Greece would resist any attempt to that effect.

"If certain countries attempt to obstruct the accession of the island in case the Cyprus problem is not solved due to Turkey's intrasigence, Greece will impede the European Union enlargement with the remaining countries," he said.

Mr. Kranidiotis emphasised that Cypriot membership would benefit the Turkish Cypriots as well, while the door should be left open for their cooperation with the official Cypriot delegation in negotiations.

Referring to the Cyprus problem itself, he said that a moratorium of military flights over the island was not sufficient to cancel an order for the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, adding that for something of this sort to happen there should be either progress on the Cyprus issue, or the process of demilitarisation of the island should begin.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos stated after the EU foreign ministers' session that the views of both the Greek and the Cypriot governments, regarding installation of the missiles, were common.

Responding to questions, he said that the recent discussions he held in the US were known to the Cypriot government, and that the views he expressed to US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright regarding the island's demilitarisation were fully in accordance with the framework of Cypriot positions.

In Athens, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas also described commencement of negotiations for Cyprus' EU entry as "an historic development", expressing confidence that they would be brought to a successful end.

Greece calls for development in SE Europe

Greece yesterday called for development initiatives in southeastern Europe to support the region's transition to a market economy and back social and economic reforms.

Addressing a business forum in Thessaloniki on Greece and the Balkans as the emerging market of southeast Europe, Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos said that Greece, a member of the European Union and international organisations, was promo ting a climate of security, economic adjustment and respect for human rights.

The forum is organised by the Federation of Greek Industries of Northern Greece (SEBBE), Macedonia-Thrace Bank and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

"These are necessary conditions for social cohesion, cooperation and co- existence among nations in the region", Mr. Petsalnikos said.

Nikos Efthimiadis, the honorary chairman of SEBBE, which organised the forum, said that last year's forum had led to agreements, and helped to closen political contacts in the Balkans.

"Drastic developments in the region have necessitated a regrouping and readjustment of strategies both by the business world and the state," Mr. Efthimiadis said.

Attending the forum were government officials, enterpreneurs and business representatives from the Balkans.

Rahmi Koc, one of Turkey's most active business leaders, called for an extension of the Egnatia motorway - linking Greece's northeast and northwest - to Turkey and further east.

He defended Greek-Turkish friendship and business cooperation and mentioned golden opportunities in ties between the two countries that he said would be sad to lose because of political differences.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Deputy Prime Minister Danko Junic told the forum that economic sanctions imposed by the international community on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia had cost the economy some 100 billion dollars.

He said the sanctions had also affected education and health, and the general economic climate had led to an increase in crime.

Romanian Deputy Privatisation Minister Victor Eros said that his country was determined to proceed with its privatisation programme as part of efforts for more transparency and decentralisation. The plan would also help to curb bribery and organised crime.

Development Undersecretary Anna Diamantopoulos said that in the wake of the collapse of the closed market system, Balkan countries had to make institutional, political and social changes.

KYSEA considers new five-year armaments programme

The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) yesterday discussed a new five-year armaments programme, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said, adding that evaluation of new fighters for the Hellenic Air Force would be completed by the end of April.

Mr. Reppas said all proposals presented by the chiefs of the three military branches had been examined, while by the end of the year preparations will have been completed for the taking of decisions and the signing of agreements for the purchase or mode rnisation of weapons systems.

The first specific decisions will most probably be taken at the next KYSEA meeting, Mr. Reppas said, adding that yesterday's meeting focused largely on general policy guidelines for the country's air defence system.

KYSEA yesterday also approved the framework of a bill on the proposed formation of a civil defence force.

Referring to the armaments programme, Mr. Reppas said it would remain in its original form, without any spending cuts, and that it was proceeding in accordance with the initial time framework. Tsohatzopoulos After the end of the KYSEA meeting, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the committee endorsed the main features of the country's air defence, so as to facilitate the completion of the weapon systems' assessment by autumn.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said air defences will be equipped with new fighters, as well as various anti-aircraft systems and "early warning" aircraft covering the entire country.

The assessment of proposals relating to the type of weapons and aircraft will have been concluded by autumn, according to the defence minister.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos further said that the government's air defence policy was aimed at consolidating Greece's role as a power of peace, security and cooperation in the region. KYSEA also approved a draftbill on civil defence, which provides for an overall mobilisation both by state bodies and citizens to cope with cases of emergency or crises. The defence minister made it clear that women will also participate in civil defence, as stipulated in the country's Constitution, with minor exclusions.

AHEPA officials in Turkey

The leadership of the Greek-American organization AHEPA is visiting Ankara in an attempt to promote better relations between Greece and Turkey.

The U.S. embassy in Ankara was instrumental in bringing the meeting about, as AHEPA is expected to contribute to a better climate between the two countries.

The AHEPA delegation, headed by its president Steve Mandes, will meet with Turkish government officials on the issue of Cyprus and will also meet with the Ecumenical Patriarch today before visiting Athens on Wednesday.

Tsohatzopoulos visit to Russia

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos begins a three-day visit to Russia today, with scheduled meetings with Russian President Boris Yeltsin at noon and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexiy II.

On Wednesday, after laying a wreath at the Kremlin, the minister will visit the Russian Parliament (Duma) and meet with its president, G. Selesniov, among others.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will also visit the MIG aircraft factory.

On Thursday, he will meet the secretary of the Russian Security Council Kokoshin.

Romeos on crime rate in Greece

Public Order Minister George Romeos yesterday said that exaggerations over the rising crime rate in Greece have created a climate of hysteria.

While in Parliament and in answer to a main opposition New Democracy (ND) question on the crime rate and the Greek Police's (EL.AS) increased use of firearms, he said it was related to the increased presence of illegal immigrants in Greece.

Mr. Romeos admitted that the percentage of crime cases resolved is low, as many of the assailants are young and do not have police records, while it is believed that a significant number of perpetrators are foreign nationals.

Royaumont Initiative meeting for SE European journalists

A two-day meeting of reporters from southeastern European countries, organised by the Athens Journalists Union (ESHEA), opened yesterday in Athens as part of the EU's Royaumont Initiative.

The meeting is being held at the Zappeion Hall with support by the Greece's press and media ministry.

In his opening address, Press Minister Dimitris Reppas told participants that "Balkan states produced more culture than they could consume".

During the meeting's first day, participating journalists focused on everyday issues they must deal while performing their job, such as racism, xenophobia, the usefulness of a code of ethics, censorship, etc.

The meeting aims at the signing of a joint declaration of principles regarding freedom of expression and communication of information, as well as activities to organise a network of interactive information.

During a morning session, Royaumont Initiative coordinator and former minister Panayiotis Roumeliotis spoke on the objectives for safeguarding stability and good-neighbourly relations in southeastern Europe.

The meeting continues today.

Greek-Bulgarian health and social services accord approved

The Bulgarian government yesterday approved a cooperation programme extending to the year 2000 between the Greek and Bulgarian health and social services.

The agreement is expected to be signed during a visit of the Bulgarian health and social services minister to Athens next month.

According to the plan, authorities of the two countries will work together in attempting to curb illegal narcotics traffic, as well as trade in other initiatives.

OA draft bill tabled, national carrier's president resigns

Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis yesterday tabled a draftbill in Parliament for Olympic Airways' (OA) restructuring and future development.

In a related development, it was announced at press time that Theodoros Tsakiridis, OA's president and managing director, submitted his resignation, citing his disagreement with the tabled draftbill.

According to Mr. Mantelis, special arrangements and final decisions to be included in the overall new OA regulation, which will be up for approval to a Parliament plemun on Thursday, could be negotiated between the national air carrier's board and the various OA employee unions.

The new draftbill provides for a freezing of salaries at 1997 levels until 2000, as well as the abolition of a lodging allowance of 70,000 drachmas to ground staff.

Further, it stipulates that working hours be retained at 40 per week, with the provision for fluctuation of up to eight hours per week, provided that the yearly average of 40 hours per week is not exceeded.

The drafbill further provides for hirings to replace resigned personnel from Jan. 1, 1998, and those who will leave owing to rejection of the new terms.

Finally, from June 1, 1998, reduced fares offered to the press and for cargo will be abolished, while the bill provides also for the settlement of debts by political parties and subsidiaries by Dec. 31, 1999.

Greek stocks stay perky, post new high

A price rally continued on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday in the first trading session of the week pushing Greek equities into new record territory.

The general index rose 1.0 percent to end at 2,083.89 points, while trading remained buoyant with turnover at 84.2 billion drachmas.

Sector indices were mixed. Banks fell 0.17 percent, Insurance rose 1.22 percent, Investment was 1.92 percent higher, Leasing increased 1.28 percent, Industrials jumped 2.28 percent, Construction fell 0.96 percent, Miscellaneous soared 3.57 percent and H olding rose 3.96 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies dropped 0.68 percent. The FTSE/ASE blue chip index rose 0.8 percent to 1,225.25 points.

Hellenic Duty Free Shops rose 130 drachmas to 3,330 in their first trading day on the market in a heavy volume of 893,000 issues.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 162 to 80 with another 24 issues unchanged.

Titan Cement, Sato, Athinea, Xiosbank, Nirefs, Mytilineos, Thrace Plastics, Goody's and Varytine scored the biggest percentage gains at the day's 8.0 percent limit up, while Xylemporia, Endysi, Epilektos and Mouzakis suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 35,700 drachmas, Ergobank at 23,050, Alpha Credit Bank at 23,990, Delta Dairy at 3,900, Titan Cement at 25,077, Intracom at 19,520 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8, 125.

Rates slip in T-bill, bond tenders

Rates edged down in auctions held yesterday for treasury bills and state bonds that brought the state 616 billion drachmas.

The results were as follows:

Greek-French consortium presents Rio-Andirrio bridge project

A Greek-French consortium, which won an international tender to build a bridge link in western Greece, said yesterday the project would be open to traffic in 2004.

Presenting the project, officials of the Yefyra SA consortium said the bridge between Rio and Andirrio was incorporated into the trans-European transport network in 1994, and later included among the EU's 14 top priority projects.

"The project's builder will operate the bridge for 42 years. Total funding of 750 million ECU will come from the firm's equity capital, the Greek state and a loan from the European Investments Bank," JP Teyssandier, Yefyra's vice-president and managing director, told the presentation.

Attending were Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis and officials from western Greek local authorities. "Some of the positive repercussions on the region's development are the creation of permanent jobs, training, an improvement in competitiveness a nd productivity, opening of the Patras hinterland towards the north and incorporation of the north into Patras, which is growing into a metropolis for the west," Mr. Laliotis said.

Gov't to carry out quality control checks on public works

The government has ordered quality control checks on more than 500 infrastructure works nationwide in the second quarter, beginning tomorrow.

The scheme, which is to be carried out by the Consultant for Quality Control Sampling of Public Works, was endorsed by National Economy Undersecretary Christos Pachtas and Public Works Undersecretary Christos Verelis.

The full range of projects will be sampled, including road building, ports and buildings equally divided among the country's 13 regions.

Bank of Piraeus buys information group

Bank of Piraeus took a big step into the information technology market yesterday after acquiring the ABC information group, owned by Pouliades, Krassopoulos and Hoehner.

The private bank bought a 60 percent stake in the group to promote modernisation of the bank's information systems and the group's marketing strategy.

ABC has developed software and fully integrated systems for banks, corporations and electronic services. Bank of Piraeus also announced a cut by half a percentage point in all its deposit rates, and by one point in its loan rates, effective tomorrow.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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