Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-05-13

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 13/05/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Gov't sets timetable for privatisations
• Stocks recover from correction
• Gov't disappointed at Ionian strike
• Greece condemns attempt on Birdal
• Athens objects to India's nuclear testing
• Pangalos: WEU basis for European defence identity
• WEU meeting dominated by Kosovo crisis
• Premier, new Archbishop hold first meeting
• Government unveils conservation plan for Mount Athos
• Civil servants strike on May 27
• Minister says jobs a precondition for privatisations
• Greece to hold trade fair in Ukraine
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece's socialist government has set a timescale for its wide-ranging privatisation plan despite strikes and protests by unions, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said. Speaking after a government meeting, Papantoniou said the government had set a timescale for the sale of 12 enterprises beginning in July and ending in September 1999.

Stocks recover from correction

Greek equities gained more substantial ground on the Athens Stock Exchange as investors returned into the market following a short-term correction the previous week. The general index ended 2.31 percent higher at 2,494.66 points. Turnover was also higher compared with its levels in the previous two sessions. Traders said the market welcomed a government's plan for the flotation of 12 state enterprises. Ionian Bank's share price fell 290 drachmas to 11,400.

Gov't disappointed at Ionian strike

The government was disappointed and sceptical by the reaction of Ionian Bank employees, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. He stressed that employees did not seem to realise that government efforts to privatise Ionian Bank were ensuring workers interests as well. Reppas underlined that under a plan to merge Ionian with its parent Commercial Bank the new bank would have to lay-off 3,500 employees, a prospect that was avoided by a government's choice to sell Ionian Bank to a private investor.

Greece condemns attempt on Birdal

The Greek government said today that attempted assassination of Turkey's leading human rights campaigner, Akin Birdal, was "a blemish on the present era". "The murder attempt shows that mechanisms operate in Turkey which keep it captive, illiberal and undemocratic," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. Birdal was critically wounded in a gun attack yesterday attributed by his colleagues to ultra-rightist groups. Although he regained consciousness today, he remains in critical condition.

Athens objects to India's nuclear testing

The Greek government today expressed its complete disagreement with the resumption of nuclear testing by India. India carried out five underground nuclear tests in the western state of Rajasthan earlier this week, the first time India has carried out nuclear tests since the first one conducted by New Delhi in 1974. "The United Nations treaty on the banning and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons must at all costs be adhered to," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

Pangalos: WEU basis for 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.

WEU meeting 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".

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.

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.

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.

Minister says jobs a precondition 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.

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.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(M.P.)

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