Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-06-10

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 10/06/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Greece to demand inspection of Parthenon Marbles kept in London
• Exhibition to showcase Ukrainian city's Greek heritage
• Greece in Black Sea NATO military exercise
• Polish military chief to visit Greece
• Pangalos tells Turkish TV CBMs will decrease tension
• Turkey employs US-based PR firms on Kurdish issue
• European Left parties meet on Corfu
• Int'l recognition of Pontians' genocide by Turks urged
• Simitis stresses that privatisations policy will not be altered
• Gov't proposes extension of deadline for foreigners' legalisation
• Current account surplus grows again in January
• Greece offers Albania technological aid
• Ionian Bank employees vote to continue strike
• Greek stocks edge up, await news of Ionian Bank privatisation
• Greek business needs to improve quality assurance
• ETBA figures released
• Korasidis share capital increase
• British driver wins the 45th Acropolis Rally
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

Greece will demand an immediate inspection of the Parthenon marbles in London following the disclosure by a British historian that the 5th century BC artworks were damaged during restoration at the British Museum, where they are housed.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos told a news conference yesterday that Greece would ask UNESCO, or UNESCO's International Council of Museums (ICOM), to set up a committee to inspect the condition of the marbles.

British historian William St. Clair said in a book released on Sunday that the marbles had suffered major and irrevocable damage in the 1930s when British Museum staff had tried to whiten the friezes to what was mistakenly thought to be their original colour. Copper scrapers and harsh cleaning agents were reportedly used.

The museum has acknowleded that some of the friezes were cleaned too zealously but denied it had covered up the incident.

Mr. Venizelos said the campaign for the return of the marbles was the duty of the country, as their rightful owner.

He said he would send a letter to British counterpart Chris Smith renewing Greece's call for the return of the marbles.

Mr. St. Clair is expected to visit Greece shortly to meet with Greek experts and brief them on the situation.

Exhibition to showcase Ukrainian city's Greek heritage

The Greek cultural institute in Odessa will organise an exhibition on the 2, 500-history of the Ukrainian city of Belgorod from June 11 to July 31, according to a presidential decree.

Exhibits from the Odessa Museum scheduled for display include gold and silver coins, clay stamp rings, pottery, marble inscriptures and statues of the ancient goddess Athena.

Belgorod was built on the remains of the ancient Greek colony of Tyros, founded by Greek settlers during the second colonisation period around 600 BC. The colony later developed on the city-state model, complete with democratic institutions and its own minted gold coin.

Greece in Black Sea NATO military exercise

A multinational military exercise codenamed "Cooperative Partners '98" will take place in the Black Sea region off Romania from June 12-26, within the framework of the Partnership for Peace programme. Taking part in the exercise will be planes, ships and troops from Greece, France, Italy, Turkey, the US, Bulgaria, Georgia, Ukraine and Romania.

Greece will participate with the tank carrier "Samos", the frigate "Macedonia", the minesweeper "Evniki", four F-16s and one C-130 transport plane.

Polish military chief to visit Greece

Polish military chief Gen. Henryk Szumski will arrive in Athens on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart, Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis.

The two military chiefs will discuss military issues of common interest, while Gen. Szumski will also meet Defence Undersecretary Dimitrios Apostolakis as well as visit the Armour Training Centre at Avlona, Attica.

Pangalos tells Turkish TV CBMs will decrease tension

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said yesterday that confidence-building measures (CBMs) in the Aegean were extremely necessary to decrease and eliminate useless displays of military force.

In an interview in Istanbul with the private Turkish television channel "NTV", the Greek minister said the measures "will not resolve problems, they can simply secure us co-existing with the problems."

Replying to a question on Ankara's position of "the Madrid communique being transformed into a legal document", he said that the "Madrid communique contains certain general principles", adding that he does not see the reason why this should happen and raised the question. "why should we feel the need for a certain legal document apart from international law itself?"

Replying to another question, he said the proposal by his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem for "a special meeting on the issue of Greek-Turkish relations" was useless.

He said that Mr. Cem "wants negotiations without previously defining the legal framework", adding that such negotiations cannot take place "if we do not define beforehand where we will take recourse to in the event of disagreement."

Turkey employs US-based PR firms on Kurdish issue

Turkey has been employing several US-based public relations firms in a campaign to link the activities of the separatist Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) with Greece, the mass circulation Athens daily "TA NEA" reported yesterday.

Citing US Justice Department figures, the paper estimates that Turkey paid six firms (with Arnold & Porter and Fleishman- Hillard Inc. figuring prominently among them). In particular, "TA NEA" reproduced a document showing a payment of $425,000 to Fleishman-Hillard for the provision of services which included "the formulation and distribution of press releases, fact sheets, media advisories and statements dealing with issues such as PKK "terrorism", human rights in Turkey and events invloving US-Turkey relations".

European Left parties meet on Corfu

Deputies belonging to the European Unified Left and the Green Left of northern European countries began their conference in Corfu yesterday.

Greece is represented by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos).

Synaspismos leader Nikos Constantopoulos spoke during the opening of sessions. Issues to be discussed include the role of agriculture in Europe's south, the environment and island development, as well as the situation in the Balkans.

Mr. Constantopoulos proposed that the group undertake an initiative for the launching of a forum between Greece, Turkey and Cyprus for rapprochement and a resolution of issues of regional concern.

Int'l recognition of Pontians' genocide by Turks urged

The World Council of Hellenes Abroad's (SAE) North and South America branches yesterday handed to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights a resolution and a memorandum regarding the genocide of the Black Sea Greeks (Pontians) by Young Turk forces and Turkish irregulars after World War I.

The resolution and memorandum were produced at a conference which took place in New York last week.

The documents contain official proof of the genocide, while efforts for the international recognition of the mass killings and deportations by the Geneva-based Permanent Committee on Human Rights will continue.

Finally, expatriate Greek leaders announced the creation of a permanent committee for the international recognition of the genocide, based in New York, while a separate resolution requests of Greece and Cyprus to introduce the subject in the teaching ma terial of their schools.

Simitis stresses that privatisations policy will not be altered

Minister Costas Simitis last night reiterated the government's determination to proceed with its privatisations programme without making any amendments to announced policy.

Mr. Simitis was speaking during a break of a ruling PASOK executive bureau meeting.

The premier noted that the issue over privatisations has worried public opinion lately, and that it was the government's choice to remove entrepreneurial responsibilities burdening the role of the state, especially when such enterprises operate more ef fectively in private hands.

He further referred to Ionian Bank as not being an essential bank for the operation of the state's strategy, as the bank retains only 5 per cent of the domestic banking market.

Gov't proposes extension of deadline for foreigners' legalisation

The deadline for work-permit applications legalising undocumented foreign workers has been extended to Dec. 31, according to two draft presidential decrees tabled at the Council of State (CoS).

Meanwhile, according to the draft decrees, undocumented foreign workers with short-term work-permits and their employers will not be prosecuted, while all related court cases will be suspended.

The draft amendments include a proposal that underaged children and the spouse of the permit-hol-der not be deported for the duration of the permit's validity.

Furthermore, no permits will issued to individuals convicted and sentenced to prison terms in Greece on criminal or misdemeanor charges, excluding those convicted of illegal entry and work in Greece.

Current account surplus grows again in January

The current account surplus grew in January this year, rising for the fourth consecutive month, the Bank of Greece said yesterday.

The central bank said that the current account showed a surplus of 158 million dollars compared with a surplus of 19.3 million dollars in the same month of 1997.

It said January's surplus derived from a drop in the trade deficit by 64.2 million dollars combined with an increase in the invisibles surplus by 74.5 million dollars in the same month of last year.

The country's foreign exchange reserves at the end of January stood at 13.9 billion dollars.

Greece offers Albania technological aid

Greece has offered technological aid to Albania, a move Athens says will strengthen its position in the Balkans.

"The Greek government is willing to offer Albania technological assistance, knowhow and participation in joint ventures," Greek Transport and Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis said in Tirana on Monday.

"Any aid to Albania reinforces Greece's geo-economic position in the Balkans, and the position of Greeks in Albania," Mr. Mantelis said.

He was speaking after a meeting with officials of the Human Rights Party (KAD), whose members are Greeks in Albania, on the first day of a visit to the neighbouring country.

KAD asked Mr. Mantelis to help Albania develop its road and rail infrastructure.

Ionian Bank Employees vote to continue strike

Ionian Bank employees decided during a general assembly last nightto continue their strike until Friday, placing new demands on the table.

The general assembly also authorised the employees' representatives to assess developments and decide on new forms of action by June 19, leaving open the possibility - for the first time - to end the indefinite strike and resort to other forms of action and pressure.

Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Greek Workers' (GSEE) executive committee, which held a meeting yesterday, lodged a strong complaint over legal persecutions of striking Ionian employees, calling a rally for tomorrow afternoon.

Greek stocks edge up, await news on Ionian bank privatisation

Greek equities ended moderately higher yesterday on the Athens Stock Exchange after a long holiday weekend.

The general index closed 0.69 percent higher off the day's highs at 2, 580.55 points after posting gains of 1.70 percent early in the session. The market was closed for a public holiday on Monday.

Traders said investors were on the sidelines awaiting a final settlement in a month-old labour dispute in Ionian Bank and details of the bank's impending privatisation.

Shareholders of Commercial Bank of Greece, Ionian's parent, will be asked to approve sale of the subsidiary at a meeting on June 19.

Sector indices were mixed. Banks rose 1.49 percent, Insurance increased 2.03 percent, Investment ended 1.12 percent up, Leasing fell 1.41 percent, Industrials rose 0.31 percent, Construction plunged 2.50 percent, Miscellaneous ended 1.73 percent up and Holding rose 0.04 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies rose 0.96 percent.

Trading was moderate with turnover at 50.3 billion drachmas.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 128 to 116 with another 22 issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 41,305 drachmas, Ergobank at 27,725, Alpha Credit Bank at 32,180, Delta Dairy at 4,370, Titan Cement at 22,000, Intracom at 25,596 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8, 600.

Greek business needs to improve quality assurance

Greek businesses must adjust to new standards of quality in products and services deriving from international markets, Development Undersecretary Anna Diamantopoulou told an industry conference in Thessaloniki yesterday.

She said that 500 Greek businesses received an ISO 9000 quality assurance certificate in 1997 from only 30 in 1993.

However, the figure was relatively low compared with other European Union member-states.

In 1995, quality assurance certificates issued in Greece totalled 222 compared with 1,617 in Ireland, 1,314 in Denmark, 389 in Portugal, 4,814 in Italy and 1,492 in Spain.

She said that the process had started after long delays and it was proceeding fast helped by funds provided by the development ministry.

Ms Diamantopoulou said that the ministry had earmarked 2.5 billion drachmas to finance a project expanding quality assurance mechanisms in Greece.

ETBA figures released

The Hellenic Industrial Development Bank's (ETBA) operational profits totalled 4.3 billion drachmas in 1997. The bank assesses that in 1998 overall profits will exceed six billion drachmas.

An announcement by the bank stated that its five-year restructuring programme is proceeding satisfactorily and quicker than initial predictions.

Among others, it said that achievements included the restructuring of the bank's balance sheet through writeoffs made in 1995 (18 billion drachmas), 1996 (90 billion drachmas), 1997 (59 billion drachmas) as well as predictions for 1998, which from now on cover all of the bank's bad debts.

Korasidis share capital increase

An 8.09 per cent increase in the Korasidis appliance retailer's share capital was decided yesterday by its shareholders' general assembly.

According to reports, 550,000 new nominal shares will be issued for the investing public through public registration at a price set before the start to the process.

It was also decided that dividends amounting to 100 drachmas per share will be distributed. Lastly, the company's administration announced an agreement in principle for the purchase of 50 per cent of Micromedia's shares, the firm that represents Sharp products in Greece.

British driver wins the 45th Acropolis Rally

British driver Colin McRae, driving a Subaru, won the 45th Acropolis Rally yesterday, the second checkered flag at the international competition for the Scottish driver.

McRae had won the 43rd Acropolis Rally in 1996. France's Didier Auriol (in a Toyota) was second, clocking in 20 seconds behind the Scotsman. Finnish driver Juha Kankkunen, in a Ford, came in third while the leading Greek driver was Leonidas Kyrkos (Ford) in eighth place.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.E.)

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