Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 98-12-13

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 13/12/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• EU summit reiterates position on Turkey
• Athens to see public transport strikes Tuesday
• Gov't to debate defence programme Tuesday
• Arson suspected in school fire
• Opposition ahead in opinion poll
• Holbrooke, Miller in Athens talks Monday
• NATO force disembarks in Thessaloniki
• ANA goes 'Windows', expands on-line services
• Stocks slump in thin trade, drop below 2,500-pt barrier
• Athens Bourse driven by rate cuts last week
• Consumers' confidence falls
• Thessaloniki bourse centre ready to expand operations
• Gov't urges private sector investment in telecoms
• Weather
• Foreign Exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The EU summit has fully re-endorsed the decisions of the June summit in Cardiff regarding Turkey's status in relation to enlargement, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told reporters Saturday.

The final communique includes the exact wording of the previous summit referring to the implementation of the European strategy for Turkey's preparation for accession, which remains separate from that for other candidate countries, he said.

Simitis reiterated that Greece favours Turkey's accession, as this is conducive to the development of all countries in the area, but this position is conditional on Ankara's observance of international treaties and respect for international law.

"The decisions reached serve these aims," he said, also stressing that "absolutely nothing has changed" with regard to the prospect of EU financing of Turkey.

"We are at the same point we were the day before yesterday," he said.

The prime minister clarified that the re-adoption of the exact wording of the conclusions of the Cardiff summit regarding Turkeuy was the result of a relevant request by his British counterpart Tony Blair.

Athens to see public transport strikes Tuesday

Athens will be without trolley buses on Tuesday, when workers stage a 24- hour strike in the framework of the general strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Labour (GSEE) to protest the government's 1999 budget.

Green and blue buses and the railways will run from 9 a.m. on Tuesday and stop running at 9 p.m.

Hospital doctors meanwhile stage walkouts between 8-2 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.

GSEE and the civil servants union ADEDY are demanding an increase in the tax-free threshold for wage earners and pensioners, higher wage and pension increases than those foreseen in the budget and an inflation-linked tax scale.

Gov't to debate defence programme Tuesday

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will on Tuesday chair a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) to discuss issues related to the multi-million dollar armaments programme currently in progress aimed at strengthening the capability of all three services of the armed forces.

At Tuesday's meeting, the focus will be on procurements for the Hellenic Air Force, primarily the purchase of 4th generation combat aircraft and airborne radar.

The main contenders for the lucrative fighter jet contract are the French Mirage-2000-5, the Eurofighter-2000, the US F-15 and F-16 Block 50 Plus and Russia's Soukhoi-27.

In recent statements, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos hinted at Greece's possible participation in the manufacture of the Eurofighter.

The airborne radar "battle" is being waged by two US and one Swedish manufacturer.

Arson suspected in school fire

Two fire engines and seven firemen were called in to put out a fire that broke out early on Sunday at a junior high school under occupation by students in the Athens suburb of Kallithea.

Police said the fire was deliberately lit, probably by intruders who got into the premises through a ground-floor window.

Damage to school property was estimated at some 1.5 million drachmas. There were no injuries.

The number of schools around the country presently occupied by students protesting planned reforms to the education system is thought to number in the hundreds.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting a number of issues, including teacher shortages, education ministry changes to grading and examinations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, the introduction of open university type programmes, and changes to procedures for appointing new teachers.

Also sparking discontent are budget allocations for education, private schooling, and the prosecution of those occupying or vandalising school property.

Opposition ahead in opinion poll

Conservative opposition New Democracy is leading the ruling socialists 7.1 points in voters' preferences, according to a new opinion poll published in Sunday's "Eleftheros Typos".

The ALCO poll showed that 32 percent of those questioned would vote for New Democracy, compared to 24.9 percent of those supporting ruling PASOK.

It is the second opinion poll in a week to show New Democracy leading PASOK by a wide margin. A survey by MRB last week gave ND a 6.5 percent lead over PASOK.

In the ALCO poll, Democratic Socialist Movement had 5.3 percent support, compared to 5.2 percent for Communist Party of Greece and Left Coalition. Political Spring, which has no seats in the Greek Parliament, received 1.5 percent.

Some 25.9 percent of those polled said they did not know which party to vote for or would vote for none.

Holbrooke, Miller in Athens talks Monday

US presidential emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke and special State Department coordinator Thomas Miller are to hold extensive discussions on the issue with the Greek government in Athens on Monday.

Although both sides are maintaining complete secrecy on the agenda of the talks, observers consider certain they will involve all aspects of the protracted problem, including the planned installation of Russian-made S- 300 missiles on the island, something vehemently opposed Turkey.

According to sources, the US intends to undertake a new initative with a view to reducing tension on the island and to a resumption of intercommunal talks.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis, who is to participate in the talks with the US officials, along with FM Theodoros Pangalos and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, confirmed Friday night that Athens had already asked for the assumption of such an international initiative.

"We are taking action towards the assumption of an international initiative in a United Nations, or other, framework, with a view to the island's demilitarisation and aga-inst the excessive presence of military forces," he said.

NATO force disembarks in Thessaloniki

A French navy vessel on Friday began unloading vehicles of a NATO force destined for deployment in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

According to NATO planners, the multinational force will supposedly provide protection, if necessary, to international observers monitoring the peace accord in the neighbouring Serbian province of Kosovo.

The vehicles, numbering several dozen, are to reach the NATO-designated base at Koumanovo, near FYROM's border with Yugoslavia, by road.

Sources said more NATO ships with armoured vehicles and other military equipment are expected to reach the port of Thessaloniki on Saturday.

The allied force consists of about 1,600 men, of whom 750 are French, 250 German, and the rest Italian and Dutch.

ANA goes 'Windows', expands on-line services

The Athens News Agency inaugurated a new data processing hub in Irakleio able to provide subscribers with computerised news text, photographs and other services.

ANA has already integrated most computer applications within a Windows' environment, thereby upgrading both the speed and quality of on-line services, especially to mass media outlets in Greece's provinces.

The upgrading took place in the framework of the Interreg II programme, while the ANA is now linked with Nicosia and Beirut through Irakleio.

"The ANA's target is to have the new system gradually expanded to the rest of the country as well in the framework of the agency's continuous upgrading of services," ANA General Director Andreas Christodoulides said.

ANA's news roster is now renewed every 40 seconds, while users have the possibility of choosing news classified into political, economic, judicial, crime, agricultural and items concerning health, education, the armed forces, European Union, technology, labour, natural disasters and other issues.

International, Cyprus and sports news are available separately.

Services provided by the ANA are enriched with photo coverage, photographic archives, press releases, an on-line economic bulletin, the English and French bulletins, data banks and graphics.

The new system was planned and implemented by the agency's informatics department.

Satellite transmission of the agency's services to its subscribers is also being planned for the end of 1999.

Stocks slump in thin trade, drop below 2,500-pt barrier

Equities finished sharply lower on the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, failing to hold above stubborn resistance at 2,500 points despite signs of consolidation in previous sessions.

The general index ended 3.00 percent lower at 2,460.72 points. Trade was light with turnover falling to 56.2 billion drachmas from 66.5 billion drachmas a day earlier. Volume was 15,430,000 shares.

The FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index slumped 3.09 percent to finish at 1,523.32 points.

The parallel market for smaller cap stocks closed 3.03 percent lower.

The most heavily traded stocks were Panafon, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation, Viosol and Eskimo.

Athens Bourse driven by rate cuts last week

The Athens Stock Exchange was driven this week by expectations of central and commercial bank rate cuts, which drove up share prices for one session when players discounted the move, only to drop when the reductions materialised, traders said yesterday.

The general index slipped 0.34 percent, or 8.35 points on the week to end at 2,460.72 points against 2,469.07 points a week earlier.

The week's turnover was 381.191 billion drachmas to post a daily average of 76.2 billion drachmas, down from 89.6 billion drachmas a week earlier.

The bourse's investment sector posted the highest gains at 3.27 percent, and Leasing the highest losses, shedding 5.38 percent.

On Monday, the index gained 4.12 percent anticipating rate cuts that were announced on Wednesday, when profit-takers muscled in to scoop up their short-term gains.

Despite a healthy economic climate at home with consumer price inflation and interest rates falling, the climate abroad is less robust, to some extent holding back the Greek market.

Consumers' confidence falls

Greece is the exception to an increase in consumers' confidence in European Union member-states in October, on the basis of figures in a survey conducted by the Commission among business people and consumers.

The confidence index in Greek industry also took a turn for the worse in October in relation to September (from +5 to -2), along with the confidence index in the building sector (from +4 to +2).

The index of confidence among consumers fell from -27 in September to -30 in October, while the index for the general economic climate also fell from 100.1 to 99.5.

The competitiveness of Greek industrial products in the domestic market also appeared lower in October (down to +9 from +18), but also in other EU markets (+5 from +7), and even more in third countries (+3 from +8).

Thessaloniki bourse centre ready to expand operations

Thessaloniki Stock Exchange Centre could aid privatisation in southeastern Europe by bringing firms from neighbouring countries into the Greek bourse, Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yannis Magriotis said on Sunday.

"The Centre could be a vehicle for privatisation in southeastern Europe and a channel for Greek, European and US capital into those countries," said Magriotis, addressing a Money Show conference being held in the northern port city.

The Centre's performance so far showed it was ready to launch new activities and Balkan economies were stabilising, which meant that firms in the region should be allowed to use the Greek capital market, he said.

As part of its original design, the Centre is to negotiate Elpis depository certificates and other paper for firms in the region.

Despite disincentives, the Centre was also ready to handle other autonomous activities, and now was the time for bold decisions, Magriotis said.

In addition, the Centre should receive the backing of brokerages, trade bodies and enterprises as well as assistance from the state.

Athens Stock Exchange President Spyros Kouniakis told the same session that the Centre had the bourse's support and plans existed to complete its operation through Balkan listings.

Gov't urges private sector investment in telecoms

Transport and Telecommunications minister Tasos Mantelis Saturday said investment by the private sector in telecoms infrastructure was necessary to ensure access of all citizens to information and communications networks in the framework of the planned deregulation of the market by 2001.

"Telecommunications today are a tool for attracting foreign investment to our country. Investment in the sector to date has only been undertaken by OTE (the state-controlled Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation), but for all citizens to have access to the information and communications networks, investment by the private sector is necessary, particularly in view of the deregulation of the market," he told the two-day Moneyshow conference which started today.

Mantelis stressed that significant sums would be devoted to the sector through the third Community (EU) Support Framework, and that deregulation could come earlier than January 1, 2001, provided there was adequate planning and organisation in order to avoid phenomena of "piracy" such as in radio and television frequencies.

The minister said that subscribers to mobile telephone services today numbered 1.8 million, and given the current 80 percent growth rate of this particular market segment, they were expected to reach 3 million by 2001. The growth in the number of Internet users was projected to rise similarly.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(C.S.)

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