Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-05-18

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 18/05/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• PASOK: 'Third road' between unrestrained market, stifling state
• Tsohatzopoulos support for 35-hour work week
• Tsohatzopoulos calls for complete demilitarisation of Cyprus
• Turkish patrol boat harasses Greek fishing vessel
• Turkish memo reiterates Ankara's policy of 'grey areas'
• Tsohatzopoulos in Sweden
• Health ministry assures ambulance crews of overtime payments
• Employees at state-run banks continue rolling strikes
• V. Papandreou inaugurates wind parks on Crete
• Bomb attacks at OA, Ionian Bank offices on Syngrou avenue
• Kosmopoulos resigns as Thessaloniki mayor after ND backs other
• ANEK hopes for bourse listing
• Surgical gauze, 2 metallic files found in British tourist's body
• Greek soccer championships
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Ruling PASOK's central committee on Saturday concluded its two-day session by adopting a resolution stressing that the "third road between unrestrained market forces and asphyxiating state planning constitutes the great challenge to the modern socialist platform".

The session ended amid strong protests by striking employees outside the event at a downtown Athens hotel.

Addressing the session, PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis said the government's basic orientations were the country's participation in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), regional development and productive restructuring, accelerated growth, decentralis ation and administrative and educational reform.

The resolution approved refers to fiscal readjustment, increasing production and productivity, restructuring the public sector and rehabilitation of public utilities, and a reform of the social insurance system and the labour market.

Earlier, in his summing up address, Prime Minister and PASOK leader Costas Simitis stressed that radical reforms were the hallmark of socialist policy.

"Our targets are the equal participation in European developments, without solely focusing on nominal convergence, but rather on enabling the economy acquire internal strength, which must be attained through consensus involving broader sections of society," he added.

Tsohatzopoulos support for 35-hour work week

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that working people should be rewarded for their sacrifices with the introduction of a 35-hour work week, and that the way to deal with unemployment was through development policies and not piecemeal jobs boosting measures.

He added that PASOK should not give out the impression that it was promoting a shrinking of the state and retaining only the ailing sectors of the economy, and that particular attention should be given to the potential for exercising a national fiscal policy after joining EMU.

Tsohatzopoulos calls for complete demilitarisation of Cyprus

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday called for a complete demilitarisation of Cyprus, after talks he held with his Cypriot counterpart Yiannakis Omirou in Thessaloniki.

"A new Turkish attack against Cyprus would constitute a casus belli for Greece," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also stressed, while he reiterated that Cyprus' defence is part of a joint defence doctrine agreed to between Nicosia and Athens in 1993.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos exchanged views on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and bilateral cooperation, especially in the defence field, with Mr. Omirou.

Speaking after the 90-minute meeting, Mr. Omirou said "our defence cooperation is moving forward and developing in order to back political efforts to settle the Cyprus problem."

The Cyprus defence minister also said "threats and provocations expressed lately are aimed at misleading efforts to tackle the substance of the Cyprus question."

Commenting on threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash that deployment of the S-300 anti-aircraft missile system would have consequences both in Cyprus and the Aegean, Mr. Omirou reiterated the government's right to build its defences.

"Mr. Denktash must understand that he cannot ignore international law and create problems," Mr. Omirou said.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also said threats regarding the S-300 missiles' deployment are nothing but an effort to further upgrade the Turkish military presence in the occupied part of Cyprus, estimated at 40,000 troops armed with modern tanks and firepower.

Turkish patrol boat harasses Greek fishing vessel

A Turkish coastguard vessel yesterday harassed a Greek fishing boat some 9.5 and 6.3 nautical miles from the port of Alexandroupoli and the Turkish coast, respectively, according to reports.

According to reports, Turkish crewmen called on the Greek fishing boats to stop for inspection and used their high-pressure water hoses on the boat before attempting to board it. However, the Turkish vessel fled when other Greek vessels appeared in the area, after being notified by the Greek fishing boat's skipper.

Turkish memo reiterates Ankara's policy of 'grey areas'

Turkey has sent a memorandum to all EU countries except Greece claiming that Greek sovereignty of many islands and rocky islets in the Aegean not specifically mentioned in international treaties must be confirmed by other provisions of international law.

In the text,entitled "Turkish-Greek Relations, The Problems In The Aegean," Turkey accuses Greece of aiming to create faits accomplis and to turn the Aegean into "a Greek lake by populating such small uninhabited isla nds". The memo does not, however, contain specific reference to particular islands.

"There are many small islands, islets and rocks in the Aegean which have not been ceded to Greece through international treaties...Greece has attempted to change their status quo, allowing artificial (human) settlement on some of these geographical form ationsITurkey sees this new policy of Greece as a new attempt to create faits accomplis, with the aim of closing the Aegean and turning it into a Greek lake," the memorandum states.

"Turkey has no objections to the sovereignty of these islands, islets and rocks ceded to Greece in clear statements of relevant provisions of international treaties. However, the ownership deeds of other geographical formations must be confirmed by the provisions of authoritative international treaties," the memo reads.

The EU Council of Ministers, in response to a question by Greek Euro-MP Michalis Papagiannakis earlier this week, categorically reiterated that Turkey can resort to the International Court at The Hague for any differences it believes it has with Greece.

Tsohatzopoulos in Sweden

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos arrived in Sweden late last night for a two-day official visit and talks with Swedish counterpart Bjorn von Sydow and Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen.

The two defence ministers will discuss matters related to European defence and security policy, the internationalisation of the defence industry and bilateral relations.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos is also due to visit the Berga naval base and the installations of hi-tech equipment manufacturers, during which he will attend a display of the "ERIEYE" airborne radar.

This evening he will address members of the local ethnic Greek community on Greece's defence policy.

Health ministry assures ambulance crews of overtime payments

Ambulance service (EKAB) employees on Saturday decided to return to work after receiving assurances from Health Minister Costas Geitonas that they would be paid for overtime accumulated since the beginning of the year.

EKAB employees' representatives said they had been assured that overtime would begin to be paid as of today.

Ambulance services were seriously disrupted on Friday with only one in five employees working normally and fewer than 30 of EKAB's 70 ambulances on call. Protesting employees were at their place of work but withholding services.

Employees at state-run banks continue rolling strikes

Employees at Agricultural Bank (ATE) will strike today, with their colleagues at the Commercial and Attica striking on Tuesday as part of ongoing protests against the government's recent decision to sell state-run Ionian Bank.

Ionian Bank employees have been on an indefinite strike for a week now, paralysing the bank's operation in all sectors.

Rolling strikes by bank staff are scheduled to continue until June 12 when Commercial Bank shareholders vote on whether the approve the sale of subsidiary Ionian.

On Saturday, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou told reporters that the government's decision was "without doubt or reservation" the only solution that would support the interests of the staff of Ionian.

He said a "small minority" of unionists were calling for Ionian to be merged with parent firm Commercial, which he added would lead to "mass lay- offs, more than 3,000 firings and the closure of 153 branches, in effect, the dissolution of the bank".

V. Papandreou inaugurates wind parks on Crete

Development minister Vasso Papandreou yesterday inaugurated two wind parks in Siteia, Crete, one belonging to the Public Power Corp. (DEH) with a 6MW capacity and the other to Rokas Aeoliki with a 10MW capacity.

She stressed the importance of wind parks and renewable energy sources, as well as DEH's need for moderisation.

The DEH wind park is situated in the Toplou region, while the Rokas park is in the Xirolimni region near Mytatos village.

Ms Papandreou said that while Greece was one of the top energy consumers in the world, it was among the last with respect to energy conservation.

The minister warned that DEH would have problems with the deregulation of energy as of 2001 if it did not modernise, as it would not be able to maintain its present role in the production and distribution of electrical energy.

The DEH park comprises three 500KW wind generators and seventeen 300KW generators, while the Rokas park, a 4.5 billion drachmas investment the construction of which began last year, has a capacity of 10MW.

Bomb attacks at OA, Ionian Bank offices on Syngrou Avenue

Two makeshift bombs went off within minutes of each other yesterday evening, the first at Olympic Airways' offices on Syngrou Avenue and the second a few blocks away outside an Ionian Bank branch.

Police said an unidentified caller had phoned a private Athens television station before the twin explosions, warning of the bombs. The call led to the area being cordoned-off and traffic diverted, although police went to the wrong Ionian Bank branch, as the caller reportedly didn't specify which branch on Syngrou was targetted, reports state.

The shadowy terrorist group "fighting guerrilla formation" later claimed responsibility.

According to initial reports, the first bomb blast occurred at around 8:20 p.m. at the Olympic office (Syngrou 100), followed by the second at the Ionian branch (Syngrou 137)approximately eight minutes later. No injuries were reported.

The main opposition New Democracy party and the Coalition of the Left and Progress party issued statements afterwards condemning the attacks.

Kosmopoulos resings as Thessaloniki mayor after ND backs other

Thessaloniki Mayor Dinos Kosmopoulos on Saturday announced that he was resigning and would not stand for re-election in this October's municipal elections.

Mr. Kosmospoulos told reporters that his decision to quit was linked to what he called "a recital of hypocrisy" from the main opposition New Democracy party and at plans to undermine his candidacy.

The Thessaloniki mayor claimed that ND leader Costas Karamanlis had publicly said he supported his candidacy for the past four months

On Friday, New Democracy said it would support ND deputy Vassilis Papageorgopoulos in his run for the position. Mr. Papageorgopoulos hinted at a press conference that ND-affiliated Mr. Kosmopoulos would drop out of the race.

ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos on Saturday said the party and Mr. Karamanlis had been informed of Mr. Kosmopoulos' charges with "surprise and regret".

"Mr. Kosmopoulos, twice elected mayor of Thessaloniki, has offered much in this position over the past 10 years.

ANEK hopes for bourse listing

Shareholders of ANEK, the Cretan shipping company,will vote on August 2 on whether to approve the board of director's proposal to list the company on the Athens Stock Exchange.

The company's general director, Pavlos Frangoyiannis, said on Saturday that he expected a positive response from the general assembly meeting and that shares would be listed by the end of 1998.

Surgical gauze, 2 metallic files found in British tourist's body

The autopsy on a 19-year-old British woman vacationing on Corfu uncovered a knot of surgical gauze and two round-shaped metallic files located behind her large intenstine.

According to reports, the young tourist died from an apparent heart attack late Friday evening, shortly after arriving on the Ionian holiday island with her boyfriend. She was rushed to a nearby hospital the same day suffering from stomach pains and vomiting, before expiring in an ambulance while being transported to another facility.

The woman's boyfriend, identified as Martin Holloway, told authorities his girlfriend had been severely injured in a traffic accident in England about two and a half months ago and had undergone surgery in Liverpool.

Police said the Corfu coroner requested the presence of a prosecutor before removing the surgical gauze and files. A local police offical was also summoned by the prosecutor to witness the procedure.

Corfu coroner Stephanos Gasteratos later told reporters that medical negligence was the cause of the girl's death.

Greek soccer championships

OFI-KALAMATA 1-0 PANATHINAIKOS-PANILIAKOS 7-0 AEK-XANTHI 2-0 IONIKOS-PANIONIOS 2-2 ATHINAIKOS-PAOK 0-5 IRAKLIS-APOLLON 4-2 ETHNIKOS-PROODEFTIKI 1-0 KAVALA-PANACHAIKI 4-0 Monday: Veria-Olympiakos Standings, points after 34 rounds: Olympiakos (33) 88, Panathinaikos 85, AEK 74, PAOK 70, Ionikos 62, Iraklis 51, OFI 49, Xanthi 45. Panachaiki, Kalamata and Athinaikos are relegated.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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