Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-05-13
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 13/05/1998 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Pangalos: WEU has basis for creation of European defence identity
- WEU declaration dominated by Kosovo crisis
- Premier, new Archbishop hold first meeting
- Government unveils conservation plan for Mount Athos
- Main opposition leader, US ambassador hold talks
- Civil servants strike on May 27
- Europarliament pays tribute to late statesman Karamanlis
- 25 companies interested in oil pipeline feasibility study
- Minister says safeguarding of jobs a condition for privatisations
- Greece to hold trade fair in Ukraine
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Pangalos: WEU has basis for creation of European defence identity
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday that he was "reservedly
optimistic" about efforts to forge a European-wide defence structure, at
the end of the two-day meeting of Western European foreign and defence
ministers on the island of Rhodes.
"We have the political basis for the creation of a European defence
identity, as this is laid out in the Amsterdam Treaty," Mr. Pangalos told
reporters at a joint press conference attended by National Defence Minister
Akis Tsohatzopoulos and WEU Secretary General Jose Cutilheiro.
Saying that results of the meeting were positive, Mr. Pangalos stressed
that the prospect of single European currency, combined with the prospect
of a common defence policy were the foundation stones which would realise
the vision of a federal Europe.
Fifty-six foreign and defence ministers from 28 European countries on
Monday began the two-day WEU summit, with the participation also of NATO
Secretary General Javier Solana, on the island of Rhodes.
The Rhodes Declaration adopted at the meeting, Mr. Pangalos added, paves
the way for the WEU to take command of crisis management on the orders of
the European Union and in close cooperation with NATO.
Mr. Pangalos underlined the significance of the creation of the WEU
military committee, during the Greek presidency of the WEU, which will
examine how to develop operational activities.
He said there was agreement from all the ministers attending the summit on
the need to add to the present institutional framework of the WEU so as to
facilitate the organisation in dealing with crises. The WEU ministers
expressed their concern over the increase of violence in Kosovo, Mr.
Pangalos said, and of the dangers the crisis held for wider regional
stability.
He underlined that a solution to the crisis should be found with participation
of all interested parties through unconditional dialogue between Belgrade
and Albanians in Kosovo.
He welcomed the contribution of a number of groups and organisations
working to de-escalate tension in Kosovo, singling out the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Contact Group and the foreign
ministries of neighbouring countries.
The WEU, he added, has already extended assistance to the Albanian police
force and to the armed forces stationed on the Yugoslav border.
WEU declaration dominated by Kosovo crisis
In the declaration issued at the end of the WEU's two-day meeting of
foreign and defence ministers from 28 countries, the organisation expresses
its "strong concern about the increasing violence and growing polarisation"
in the troubled Yugoslav province of Kosovo.
It condemned "the excessive use of force" by Yugoslav and Serb security
forces against separatists in the province but also "all terrorist
acts".
At the same time, the WEU reconfirmed its support for the territorial
integrity of Federal Yugoslavia, while underlining that "the status quo in
Kosovo is unacceptable".
The WEU ministers declared their readiness to promote a "clear and
achievable path" towards Belgrade's full integration in the international
community, provided Serbia takes the necessary steps to launch "substantive"
talks on Kosovo's political status.
The union welcomed the efforts of the international community and of the
countries of the region for a solution to the Kosovo problem while
chastising Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic for not creating "the
conditions for a meaningful dialogue witho ut preconditions".
"Insufficient action by Belgrade could only lead to the deepening isolation
of Federal Yugoslavia," the declaration said.
The WEU noted that its Multinational Advisory Police Element (MAPE) in
Albania was contributing to stability in the region and said it had
instructed the Permanent Council to consider further possible areas for
cooperation with the Albanian authorities .
The ministers expressed their support for the efforts under way in NATO to
seek military advice on possible further contributions to security in
Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and said they
would propose the involvement of WEU military staff in the NATO "assessment
machinery".
In this context, the statement said, the WEU would be ready to examine
whether any further contributions were appropriate "for example in the
field of military training and restructuring of the Albanian armed
forces".
On the general situation in Albania, the WEU said although significant
progress had been achieved in recent months, much still remained to be
done. The ministers also recognised the readiness of the Albanian
government "to promote national reconciliatio n and strengthen democratic
institutions so as to ensure full respect for human rights and other
international norms".
They also welcomed the "timely" initiative of the Greek presidency to
propose and organise a working visit of the members of the Council to the
MAPE mission in Tirana in late February.
The WEU ministers reiterated their conviction that NATO continued to be the
basis for collective defence and remained the essential forum for
consultation among allies. The statement said the WEU was an essential
element for developing a single Europe an defence identity within the
Alliance and ministers reiterated their commitment "to continue efforts to
enhance institutional and practical cooperation with NATO".
In this regard, they welcomed the "substantial progress" achieved during
the Greek presidency, citing in particular WEU-NATO consultation arrangements,
the organization in the coming months of a NATO-WEU workshop and seminar to
further develop procedure s for consultation and the decision to hold a
joint Crisis Management Exercise with NATO in the year 2000.
In addition, the ministers underlined the significant progress achieved in
further reinforcing the WEU through the development of its operational
role.
Premier, new Archbishop hold first meeting
Prime Minister Costas Simitis discussed problems concerning the state and
Church with the new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos at
the Maximos Mansion yesterday.
The meeting was also attended by Education and Religious Affairs Minister
Gerasimos Arsenis, Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Office George
Paschalidis, the Metropolitan of Patra Nikodimos and the Metropolitan of
Serres Maximos.
"The way of our cooperation was discussed, the effort we must make to be
able to give directions to Greek society and Greece which will make our
country more effective in the new world which is being created," Mr.
Simitis said afterwards.
"In past decades, a framework has been created on the role of the state and
the Church and on the way of their cooperation. This framework has proved
to be effective. I am certain that we will also cooperate within it very
well in the future and we will jointly resolve problems faced by our
country," he added.
On his part, the new Archbishop said that "we had the occasion and the
opportunity, apart from the courtesy aspect of the visit, to touch on
substantive issues concerning the role of the Church and of Orthodoxy in
our state and in our nation, in general ."
"I am in the pleasant position to confirm myself as well that in the person
of the prime minister we found, we met the man who assures us on the
institutional role of the Church in the nation and the Greek state, on the
disposition of solidarity to the Church to enable it to exercise this
beneficial role for the progress of our people and for Greece's vindication
in European affairs," he added.
Archbishop Christodoulos assured Mr. Simitis that "there is the disposition,
not to say the decision, for us to contribute decisively in this direction.
Because it is self-evident and natural that our Church is also interested
in the progress and modern isation of our people. When the motherland
progresses and when the motherland has a say in, primarily European affairs,
then all the people prosper."
Government unveils conservation plan for Mount Athos
Environment and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis yesterday presented
details of a comprehensive 20-billion-drachma plan, already underway, for
rescuing, restoring, maintaining and protecting the all-male monastic
community of Mount Athos and its trea sures.
The "Athos" Plan, presented at a press conference in Athens, will run up to
the year 2000, and also includes projects for accommodation of some of the
350,000 visitors annually, as well as fire protection, road infrastructure
and the upgrading of natural sites.
After a lengthy period of dwindling numbers of monks, there are now 2,000
monks in 20 monasteries, while 1,500 people work on the projects.
The peninsula also boasts a mosaic of natural habitats and biodiversity,
with 1,450 rare plants, 350 species of mushrooms and 150 species of rare
birds.
Main opposition leader, US ambassador hold talks
Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis and US
Ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns yesterday discussed Greek-Turkish
relations, developments over the Cyprus issue and bilateral relations
between Greece and the United States.
Mr. Karamanlis initially had a private meeting with Mr. Burns and
afterwards talks included Marietta Yiannakou, Vassilis Manginas and Petros
Molyviatis.
According to reports, the US appears to be realising that the Turkish side
is responsible for the lack of progress on the Cyprus issue.
Among others, talks included next month's visit by US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright and Mr. Karamanlis' visit to the US, probably scheduled
for autumn. No statements were made afterwards.
Civil servants strike on May 27
The Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) has announced a
24-hour strike for May 27, participating in the nationwide strike called on
the same day by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE).
ADEDY opposes privatisation of public services and state-run agencies,
while it wants protection of incomes with real increases for 1998,
safeguarding of labour relations and the tackling of social insurance
problems.
Europarliament pays tribute to late statesman Karamanlis
Representatives of all the political groups in the European Parliament
yesterday paid tribute in Strasbourg to the late Greek president and prime
minister Constantine Karamanlis, at a special memorial service held at the
Parliament building.
Constantine Karamanlis died April 23 at the age of 91. Greek Eurodeputies
from opposition New Democracy and other parties attended the service as did
the president of the European Peoples' Party Wilfred Martens, and a number
of other dignitaries from the Parliament.
25 companies interested in oil pipeline feasibility study
Twenty-five engineering companies have requested applications for the
tender for the study and design of the Bourgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline,
according to a Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) dispatch from Athens. The
dispatch, citing a meeting of the tripartite engineering committee
supervising the project in Athens last week, said companies from the U.S.,
Canada, Japan, Russia, Britain, Italy and Germany were among those
interested in the project.
The talks clarified Bulgaria's and Greece's procedural requirements on the
issue which will facilitate the work of the expert evaluating committee in
choosing the engineering company to conduct the feasibility study.
The experts of the three countries discussed the draft statutes for the
establishment of a Transbalkan oil company. The Russian delegation was led
by an expert from the foreign ministry and included experts from the energy
ministry and of Gazprom.
The representatives of the three countries decided more talks will be held
on some key issues related to the founders' interest, the way of taking
decisions on the amount of the capital and on the company management once
after the three governments have expressed their official stands.
Minister says safeguarding of jobs a condition for privatisations
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday that the
safeguarding of existing jobs was a basic and fundamental condition of the
government's policy in all potential privatisations.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Institute for Economic and
Industrial Research (IOBE) on the subject, the minister stressed the
government's resolve to proceed with the privatisation of a majority stake
of Ionian Bank, a Commercal Bank subsidi ary, despite reactions from
employees, who are out on an indefinite strike in protest of the plan.
He said the merging of Ionian with its parent company would have resulted
in the loss of 3,000 jobs and the closure of about 150 branches.
Mr. Papantoniou said the privatisation programme had two basic aims: The
drawing of capital through the stock market, with a view to modernising
them in order to compete effectively in the new international economic
environment, and the upgrading of the ir management. As an example, he
cited the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE), which has drawn
400 billion drachmas from two small flotations of its stock, and will now
complete the digitalisation of its network.
He set three basic preconditions for a successful privatisation: The
streamlining of their activities, their conversion into societes anonymes,
and the safeguarding of conditions of full transparency in the procedures
of the sale.
Mr. Papantoniou today will announce a timetable for the privatisation of 11
public utilities and organisations after a ministerial meeting.
Greece to hold trade fair in Ukraine
Greece will organise a trade fair in Kiev on June 8-11 for the third year
running in order to promote its products in Ukraine.
The two previous trade fairs were hosted in Odessa, a Black Sea port.
Greece is seeking a long-term stake in the Ukrainian market of 54 million
consumers and has already signed a bilateral agreement covering mutual
support for business activities.
The trade fair for Greek products will focus on food processing, beverages,
building materials and household items.
Filkeram Johnson SA, SEKAP tobacco industry and Thrace Paper Mills are
among major Greek exporters to participate in this year's fair.
WEATHER
Overcast weather with the possibility of scattered showers is forecast in
most parts of Greece today. Winds will be northerly, moderate, turning
strong in the Aegean Sea. Locally overcast in Athens with chance of light
showers, and temperatures ranging between 13-25C. Same in Thessaloniki,
with temperatures between 14-24C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Tuesday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 305.199
British pound 497.686 Japanese yen(100) 229.142
French franc 51.344 German mark 172.157
Italian lira (100) 17.455 Irish Punt 433.504
Belgian franc 8.346 Finnish mark 56.643
Dutch guilder 152.783 Danish kr. 45.196
Austrian sch. 24.496 Spanish peseta 2.028
Swedish kr. 40.124 Norwegian kr. 41.180
Swiss franc 206.108 Port. Escudo 1.684
Aus. dollar 194.630 Can. dollar 213.201
Cyprus pound 581.431
(L.G.)
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