Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-06-24
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1219), June 24, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Europartenariat '97 opens in Piraeus
[02] Holbrooke says Cyprus unrelated to Aegean, backs bi-zonal
federation
[03] Philippines' Ramos holds talks with Greece's leadership
[04] Trade agreement
[05] Fino confident of broad coalition Gov't from Albanian elections
[06] Greek delegation at Earth Summit
[07] German state parliament delegation in Athens
[08] Major ecclesiastical conference begins in Austria
[09] British sports minister: Athens has strong arguments for 2004
Games
[10] Greek army chief on official visit to Spain
[11] Reppas: Ciller playing to domestic audience
[12] Greece stresses need for Balkan countries' NATO inclusion
[13] Greek military chief winds up visit to Armenia
[14] Ankara's response
[15] Gligorov confirms FYROM proposal on name
[16] FYROM wants Greek help in association agreement with EU
[17] Romanian military unit begins CFE inspections
[18] Dismissals will begin if Olympic strike continues, Gov't warns
[19] Venizelos, Lang meet
[20] Korean War commemorated this week
[21] Bregovic, Dalaras concert to kick off Cultural Olympiad
[22] Parliamentary delegation visits Cuba
[23] Institutional selling undermines stock market confidence
[24] Euro-conference okays transport links between Greece, Austria
[25] Greece changes penalties for tax evaders
[26] EU debate on social dialogue in southeast Europe starts Tuesday
[27] Seminar on Euro's impact
[28] Xiosbank slightly raises interest rate on deposits
[29] Pension issue, family benefits discussed by ADEDY, Gov't
[30] Consulate security breached
[01] Europartenariat '97 opens in Piraeus
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The 16th Europartenariat opened at the Peace and Friendship
Stadium in Piraeus yesterday, bringing together representatives
from small- and medium-sized enterprises of Europe, the Americas
and Asia.
European Commissioner for Energy, SMEs and Tourism Christos
Papoutsis opened the two-day meeting which aims at improving
relations and furthering trade between European Union
businessmen and those of other countries.
In her brief address, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said
that it is an indisputable fact that small- and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) receive the strongest impact from the
abolition of economic boundaries and that the government
maintains a high degree of interest in promoting and supporting
all initiatives leading to their survival and adjustment.
In this framework, she added, the Europartenariat meeting can
and must:
- bring into direct contact as many as possible of the
participating enterprises, with the purpose of widening the
development of co-operation and
- create new ideas, new trends for the competitiveness of
enterprises with the purpose of their peaceful co-existence in
the new economic environment.
On his part, Mr. Papoutsis underlined that only 550 days are
left until the start of the third and last stage of Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU).
The strengthening of the competitiveness of European
enterprises, economic development and the creation of employment
constitute major priorities, he said, adding that to this
effort, the European Commission also organizes these meetings in
the framework of Europartenariat.
On his part, National Economy Under-secretary Alekos Baltas said
that shakeups brought about on the international scene and
particularly in the region of Europe, with the opening of
markets, have now created new factors, namely, strong
competition between enterprises and an increase in their
interdependence.
In this framework, it is shown how important meetings such as
Europartenariat are for countries such as Greece. The trend of
companies to improve the quality of their products and expand
into the international market is of vital significance both for
the region in which each company is active and the national
economy. This is so because the degree of internationalization
of enterprises in the region directly affects their viability
and at a national level constitutes a measure of the country's
capacity to safeguard the cohesion and dynamism of its economic
system.
Moreover, the President of the Federation of Northern Greece
Exporters and the head of the organizing committee of
Europartenariat, A. Genitsaris, said that Greece aspires to
constitute once again, at least over these two days, the center
of the world business activity.
This dynamic meeting, he said, has no precedent as far as Greece
is concerned. It constitutes the conclusion of a huge organizing
effort which includes the choosing of 400 dynamic SMEs from all
branches and from all over Greece; the creation and printing of
the official catalogue in six languages and 60,000 copies; its
promotion all over the universe and close co-operation with
National Advisers, namely, the organizations which have
undertaken to coordinate foreign trade missions.
The Europartenariat has been held since 1987 under the
sponsorship of the European Commission. It is held at a
different country annually, and this year's, the second for
Greece, has been organized by the Federation of Northern Greece
Exporters.
The next Europartenariat '97 meeting will be held in the French
city of Clermont-Ferrand in October.
Finally, 1,100 entrepreneurial meetings had taken place by noon
on the first day .
Over the two-day period, 10,500 meetings are expected in all.
[02] Holbrooke says Cyprus unrelated to Aegean, backs bi-zonal
federation
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The Cyprus issue should be solved within the framework of a
single sovereign state, special US presidential envoy on the
Cyprus issue Richard Holbrooke said in a televised interview
yesterday.
In an interview held jointly by Greek television reporter Alexis
Papahelas and Turkish reporter Mehmet Ali Birant for the Greek
television station "Mega", Mr. Holbrooke said that the solution
of a single sovereignty in the framework of a bi-zonal and
bi-communal federation seemed to him "unavoidable".
Mr. Holbrooke expressed support for the idea of free movement
between the Cyprus Republic and the Turkish-occupied north,
noting that "there was freedom of movement before (the Turkish
invasion of) 1974".
The newly appointed US envoy said that preliminary talks he had
with both sides indicated that there were profound differences
between the two, which the US diplomat said he was not sure
would be overcome in their entirety.
In addition, he firmly opposed the idea of linking the Cyprus
issue with Greek-Turkish relations, especially concerning the
Aegean, and noted that none of the representatives he met in
Athens or Ankara wished to associate the Cyprus issue with any
other problem.
The Cyprus issue is the primary problem between Greece and
Turkey, he said, noting that due to the profoundly different
views each had precluded a Dayton-type solution for Cyprus, as
neither side was ready for such a procedure. A solution was not
impossible, he noted, by the end of negotiations, after
"differences in views are reduced".
As to the direct talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides
and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, which open near New
York under the aegis of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Mr.
Holbrooke said he would not attend the talks. He said he would
do his best towards a solution of the Cyprus issue, but
expressed doubt about an outcome, part of which he added would
depend on Turkey's acquiring a stable government.
[03] Philippines' Ramos holds talks with Greece's leadership
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The president of the Philippines Fidel Ramos yesterday held
talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis focusing on closer
political and economic ties between the two countries. Mr. Ramos
is the first head of state of the Pacific archipelago nation to
visit Greece.
Earlier, he met with President of the Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos with whom he discussed a wide range of issues of
interest to both countries.
Mr. Ramos arrived in Athens on Sunday evening at the head of a
12-member official delegation on the last leg of a tour of
Britain, Oman and Greece.
During the delegation's visit here, a number of agreements will
be signed, including a bilateral cultural accord and a
memorandum of understanding between the Philippine Bureau of
Export Trade Promotion and the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board
(HEPO).
The Filipino delegation includes Labor Secretary Leonardo
Quisumbing, Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Baautista,
Senator Alberto Romulo and Foreign Affairs Under-secretary
Rodolfo Severin, who was due to meet with Foreign Minister
Theodoros Pangalos yesterday.
Mr. Ramos was due to meet yesterday with leaders of various
political parties, Greek shipowners and managers of
Greek-flagged vessels, which employ about 36,000 Filipino seamen.
During an official dinner later in the evening in honor of the
Filipino president, Mr. Stephanopoulos thanked Mr. Ramos for his
nation's stance concerning the illegal occupation of part of
Cyprus by Turkish troops.
Before leaving today, Mr. Ramos will also meet with
representatives of various Filipino organizations in Greece,
which hosts about 25,000 Filipino workers.
According to reports, the main purpose of Mr. Ramos' visit is to
further political, maritime and economic ties between the two
countries. Philippine trade with Greece, though small-scale, has
been steadily increasing over the last five years.
A graduate of the top US army academy West Point, the
69-year-old Ramos was a former defense minister and chief of
staff of the Philippine armed forces before becoming president
in 1992.
Specifically, the Philippine president's talks with Mr.
Stephanopoulos and Mr. Simitis focused on bilateral relations,
given the large number of Filipino workers in Greece and seamen
on Greek-flagged ships, as well as the situation in the Balkans,
south east Europe and southeast Asia.
President Stephanopoulos told reporters after his morning
meeting with Mr. Ramos, which was also attended by Mr. Pangalos
and Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou, that there were no
problems in bilateral relations and stressed the prospects for
further expanding co-operation between the two countries.
He said he had briefed his Filipino counterpart on the problems
in the Balkans and southeast Europe, adding that the substantial
presence of Filipinos in Greece constituted an "additional bond
in our relations.
President Ramos underlined the common interests of the two
maritime countries, noting that bilateral relations were also
strengthened through the dialogue that had commenced between the
EU and ASEAN, to which the Philippines belonged.
He also stressed the prospects for strengthening the ties
between the two countries in the commercial, shipbuilding and
repair and investment sectors, saying consultations would begin
for an agreement that would promote protection of investments.
[04] Trade agreement
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The co-operation agreement between the Philippine Bureau of
Export Trade Promotion and HEPO will be aimed at developing and
expanding commercial and economic transactions between the two
countries. Within this framework, HEPO has already scheduled a
series of activities, the most important being a trade mission
to the Philippines and other countries of southeast Asia in
October this year.
Also on the occasion of Mr. Ramos' visit to Greece, a delegation
of Filipino businessmen will tomorrow visit the Athens Chamber
of Commerce and Industry for contacts with their Greek
counterparts.
Later, during an official ceremony at Athens City Hall, Mayor
Dimitris Avramopoulos bestowed the Golden Medal of the City of
Athens to Mr. Ramos.
On his part, the president invited the Athens mayor to
officially visit Manila.
In his address, Mr. Avramopoulos said: "we honor you as an
Athenian citizen, Mr. President, because an Athenian is not only
the inhabitant of this city, or he who had the fortune to be
born here, but anyone in the world who has set as an aim in life
to struggle for the great and noble values of democracy and
respect for human dignity, which were born in this city'.
Mr. Ramos thanked the president, and referred to the friendly
relations between the two countries.
"We have made many common efforts, our embassy together with the
Athens municipal authority have organized many cultural events,
choirs, and exhibitions from the Philippines, and I would like
to add that Filipino organizations here in Athens have benefited
greatly from many social facilities, but also from medical
services provided by the municipal authority."
[05] Fino confident of broad coalition Gov't from Albanian elections
Tirana, 24/06/1997 (ANA - P. Haritou)
Albanian Prime Minister Bashkim Fino yesterday expressed
confidence that general elections in his country next Sunday
would produce a broadly based coalition government, and called
on all Albanians currently in Greece to return home to vote.
"Bearing in mind the situation which has been shaped and
expressing the positions of my party, I believe that the
elections will result in a broadly based coalition government,"
Mr. Fino said in an exclusive interview with the ANA.
Asked about the difficulties experienced by the two main parties
in presenting their programs in certain parts of the country,
Mr. Fino said it was his party which had proposed alternative
campaign methods, such as television or radio "but the other
parties preferred rallies and tours".
Replying to another question on the apparent reluctance of the
approximately 400,000 Albanians in Greece to return to their
country to vote, Mr. Fino underlined that they should return to
Albania to vote, particularly since they had been given
assurances that they would be able to come back to Greece.
Mr. Fino said Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and the Greek
Embassy in Tirana had given assurances that coaches of Albanians
returning to vote would be protected by the multinational force
in Albania and local police squads.
[06] Greek delegation at Earth Summit
United Nations, 24/06/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Environment Under-secretary Theodoros Koliopanos is representing
Greece at the Earth Summit which opens tomorrow in New York.
Mr. Koliopanos, who arrived to the United States on Sunday
afternoon and has already participated in a meeting of the
European Union member-states, will address the summit today.
This morning, Mr. Koliopanos and the remaining members of the
Greek delegation will attend the opening of the summit, which
will evaluate the results of the Rio de Janeiro Summit's
decisions five years ago.
[07] German state parliament delegation in Athens
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis received a delegation
from the parliament of Baden-Wurtenberg yesterday and briefed
its members on Greek positions regarding Greek-Turkish relations
and stability in the Balkans.
The delegation is headed by the president of the
Baden-Wurtenberg parliament, Mr. Straub.
Mr. Kaklamanis outlined what he called Turkey's expansionist
policy towards Greece, adding that Athens wants Ankara to
proceed with accelerated democratization and not be overrun by
Islamic fundamentalism.
"The image of present-day Turkey resembles that of Iran shortly
before the collapse of the monarchist regime. Unless it is
democratized and unless a political solution is given to the
Kurdish issue, it will continue to remain a huge problem for
Europe," he said.
Greece's initiatives to consolidate peace and co-operation in
the Balkans, the overall repercussions of the Kurdish issue and
education for ethnic Greek children in Germany were among the
matters also discussed during the talks.
Mr. Straub invited Mr. Kaklamanis to visit Baden-Wurtenberg in
the framework of the official visit he will pay to Germany in
November at the invitation of the president of the German
Federal Parliament.
[08] Major ecclesiastical conference begins in Austria
Vienna, 24/06/1997 (ANA-D.Dimitrakoudis)
Representatives from several eastern and western Christian
churches opened their meeting here yesterday with nearly 30,000
people attending the opening ceremony of the Second European
Ecumenical Conference held in Graz's central square. The meeting
is expected to last until Sunday.
In addition to about 1,000 representatives of churches from
throughout Europe, more than 10,000 people from 43 countries
will also attend. A notable exception, however, will be
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos.
Vartholomeos canceled his attendance, charging that the Moscow
Patriarchate and the Vatican attempted to dominate the meeting.
Participants include Russian Patriarch Alexiy II, Karekin of
Armenia, the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and the
World Council of Churches secretary general.
Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Austria Michael and Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Austria Johann Weber jointly officiated
at a special service held at the main cathedral of Graz on
Sunday night, before the official opening.
[09] British sports minister: Athens has strong arguments for 2004
Games
London, 24/06/1997 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)
British Sports Minister Tony Banks has expressed the view that
Athens has very strong arguments and special reasons to organize
the Olympic Games of 2004.
He added that if the games were ever to be organized in one
place on a permanent basis, there is no doubt that this place
should be Greece.
"The Greeks always have special reasons and very strong
arguments to organize the Olympic Games, taking into account
that they gave them to the world. There is also an argument that
has concerned me at times, if there should be a permanent home
for the holding of the Olympic Games. And it has been
recommended that the permanent place for the Olympic Games
should be Greece, as their (Games) organization is now becoming
increasingly costly. So, I believe that the Greeks have a very
good case," he said.
Mr. Banks intends to spend his summer holidays this year on the
island of Symi, of which he is an honorary citizen.
[10] Greek army chief on official visit to Spain
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff, Lt-Gen. Manoussos
Paragioudakis yesterday began a four-day official visit to Spain
at the invitation of his Spanish counterpart, Lt-Gen. Jose Faura
Martin. During his stay, Lt. Gen. Paragioudakis will visit
military academies, units and be briefed on the activities of
the Spanish army.
He will also have talks with the chief of Spain's national
defense general staff and Lt. Gen. Martin on issues of common
interest.
[11] Reppas: Ciller playing to domestic audience
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller's statements on
Greek-Turkish relations are part of the "domestic political
game" in the neighboring country and serve only to compromise
both her and Turkey, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said
yesterday.
This situation, Mr. Reppas added, merely creates an adverse
climate which is "pointless".
The spokesman also dismissed statements by Ms Ciller on Cyprus'
accession to the European Union, stressing that "the course of
the island republic's accession has been decided by the EU".
In a written statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry,
Ms Ciller reiterated that Cyprus could not join the EU before
Turkey.
Mr. Reppas once again condemned the violations of Cyprus
airspace by Turkish aircraft, adding that "all the appropriate
representations" had been made.
[12] Greece stresses need for Balkan countries' NATO inclusion
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Addressing a meeting on European security in Prague on Sunday,
National Defense Under-secretary Dimitris Apostolakis stressed
the need for NATO's enlargement towards central and eastern
Europe not to proceed on a selective basis but to include Balkan
countries such as Bulgaria and Romania.
The event is part of NATO's three-day seminar, organized in the
Czech Republic covering political and military decision-making.
Mr. Apostolakis also expressed the need for protection clauses
contained in Article 5 not to have a selective effect, since
NATO must provide suitable guarantees for the security of all of
its members.
He held private talks with the defense ministers of Norway,
Belgium and the Netherlands concerning NATO's enlargement, the
situation in Albania, factors of instability in the eastern
Mediterranean and bilateral co-operation issues with these
countries.
[13] Greek military chief winds up visit to Armenia
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Promotion of co-operation between the armed forces of Greece and
Armenia was the focal point of talks held in the one-time Soviet
republic by the National Defense General Staff Chief Gen.
Athanasios Tzoganis.
Gen. Tzoganis examined issues concerning training and
co-operation exercises within the framework of the
NATO-sponsored program "Partnership for Peace" (PfP), with the
chief of Armenia's armed forces and First National Defense
Under-secretary Gen. Harutunian.
The talks once again ascertained the strong ties linking the two
countries which constitute the given basis of a sincere and
continuous co-operation for the future.
Gen. Tzoganis paid a courtesy all on the Armenian president, the
prime minister, the parliament president, the defense minister
and the Patriarch of All Armenia.
[14] Ankara's response
Istanbul, 24/06/1997 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)
"Turkey is closely watching the agreement reached between Greece
and Armenia on the exchange of military information and the
widening of the joint exercises program," Turkish foreign
ministry alternate spokesman Sermet Atatzanli said yesterday.
"The issue concerns the security of Turkey and for this reason
it is showing the necessary sensitivity," he added.
Several Turkish press reports presented the agreement as a
"strengthening of the front of evil", and claimed that
"co-operation between countries which the general staff is
accusing of being PKK supporters is being strengthened."
[15] Gligorov confirms FYROM proposal on name
Skopje, 24/06/1997 (ANA - M. Vihou)
The president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM), Kiro Gligorov, confirmed unofficial reports that FYROM
has submitted a proposal to UN mediator Cyrus Vance on resolving
the dispute with Greece over the landlocked, former Yugoslav
republic's name.
In a statement on his return from the United States, Mr.
Gligorov said FYROM has submitted its official proposal on the
name at the negotiating table in New York, but he did not
elaborate.
The statement in essence confirms a report in the weekly "Pouls"
newspaper about two months ago which, invoking unofficial
sources, which claimed that an official proposal has been
submitted on the name, by which FYROM will keep its
constitutional name on the international scene, while in its
bilateral relations with Greece the latter can call it whatever
it wishes.
[16] FYROM wants Greek help in association agreement with EU
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The head of the FYROM liaison office in Greece, Ljupco Arsovski,
requested Greece's assistance for speedy approval by the
European Parliament of the EU-FYROM association agreement,
informed sources said.
The request was made during a meeting with Alternate Foreign
Minister George Papandreou held at Mr. Arsovski's request.
The same sources also said that during the half-hour meeting Mr.
Arsovski expressed desire to seek ways of overcoming the
practical problems that will arise from the application of the
Schengen agreement.
[17] Romanian military unit begins CFE inspections
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
A nine-member team of Romanian military inspectors today began a
tour of Greek military units, which will last until June 29.
The visit is in the framework of the CFE Treaty for the
reduction of conventional arms in Europe.
[18] Dismissals will begin if Olympic strike continues, Gov't warns
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The government will not succumb to blackmail by Olympic Aviation
technicians holding a "go-slow" strike, and will proceed to
dismissals if they don't call off their action, Transport and
Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said yesterday.
In statements to the press from Helsinki, where he is attending
the third European Union conference for transport ministers, Mr.
Kastanidis said that the technicians are "creating serious
problems in services by asking for rash economic demands in the
midst of the tourist season, while passenger movement is
especially high".
"The government will not accept and will not succumb to this
blackmail. If they don't stop immediately this go-slow strike
and help the company carry out its summer schedule, the
government will proceed through the board to dismissals of those
responsible," he said.
Mr. Kastanidis also said the government had filed a lawsuit
leading to the arrest of employees caught striking, "in order
that those responsible for this situation be tried by justice".
The strike began over the weekend and created havoc at Greek
airports as canceled or postponed flights led to hundreds of
travelers being stranded at airports throughout Greece.
Nineteen scheduled domestic flights were canceled yesterday as a
result of the "go slow" action. Up until noon, a further five
scheduled flights eventually left after delays of three to four
hours.
Meanwhile, the president of the technicians and mechanics' labor
union, Theodosis Arbatzoglou, stressed that the "go slow" action
was not tantamount to a strike, but a refusal to work overtime.
"We are working our normal eight-hour shifts, in order to press
for the hiring of seasonal staff who are necessary for
maintaining the normal flights schedule," he added.
Mr. Arbatzoglou claimed that Olympic Aviation's flight schedule
relied entirely on overtime work, which often meant employees
having to work an additional six to 10 hours after their regular
eight-hour shift.
He added that three aircraft were currently grounded and the
problems for passengers were increasing.
Olympic Aviation is a subsidiary of Olympic Airways and controls
the domestic flights, which it carries out with airplanes
carrying a maximum of 80 passengers each.
[19] Venizelos, Lang meet
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos held a meeting yesterday
with former French culture minister and president of the French
Parliament's foreign policy committee Jack Lang focusing on
issues of mutual interest.
Mr. Lang and Mr. Venizelos discussed issues related to European
cultural policy, the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece
and the promotion of the "Thessaloniki Charter," a ten-point
document containing the aspirations of European scholars and
politicians for the 21st civilization.
[20] Korean War commemorated this week
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
A wreath-laying ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the
Korean War will be held Wednesday at 11:30am at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square.
The ceremony is being organized by the Embassy of the Republic
of Korea to pay its respect and to commemorate the noble spirit
of the Greek heroes who sacrificed their lives to defend the
freedom of the world.
The Korean Ambassador in Athens expressed his government's and
people's gratitude to the Hellenic Republic and the people of
Greece on this special day.
[21] Bregovic, Dalaras concert to kick off Cultural Olympiad
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Cultural events within the framework of Athens' bid to host the
2004 Olympic Games will get under way on July 2 with a joint
concert by world renowned Yugoslav composer Goran Bregovic and
one of Greece's most popular singers, George Dalaras.
"The cultural events which we are organizing constitute a
prelude to the four-year cultural Olympiad which will be held
from 2001 to 2004," Athens 2004 Bid Committee President Yianna
Angelopoulos-Daskalaki told reporters yesterday.
"It is a great honor for us that George Dalaras and Goran
Bregovic will be inaugurating this cultural period and are
providing such valuable support for Athens' bid to host the 2004
Games," she added.
"I am a strong supporter of the Olympic Games. I was bitterly
disappointed and hurt when we were not selected for the 1996
Olympics," Mr. Dalaras said.
Mr. Bregovic said he remembered the Winter Games in Sarajevo,
where he was born and grew up.
"It was one of the most pleasant experiences of my life. I hope
with all my heart that Athens will have the opportunity to
experience the joyous moments of an Olympiad," the composer said.
[22] Parliamentary delegation visits Cuba
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
A Greek Parliamentary delegation is visiting Havana for meetings
with Cuban officials, including President Fidel Castro.
Nine members of the Parliamentary committee of national defense
and foreign affairs will meet with Mr. Castro, the president of
the Cuban parliament, ministers of national defense and foreign
affairs, and the chairmen of related parliamentary committees .
The delegation is headed by PASOK deputy and former foreign
minister Karolos Papoulias.
[23] Institutional selling undermines stock market confidence
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Stock prices remained under pressure on the Athens Stock
Exchange extending last week's huge losses with investors
suffering a confidence crisis in the market.
Foreign and domestic institutional investors have led the market
down during the last five sessions pushing the general index
below the 1,500 psychological level, 260 points lower than the
year's high of 1,727.70 points two weeks ago.
According to market players the reaction reflected
disappointment among institutional investors over errors in the
distribution of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE)
shares, which led to institutional overbooking.
The market also was wary of a proposal for a 10 percent one-off
payment on corporate profits, the prospect of higher interest
rates in the domestic money market, and problems linked to a
further fall in inflation.
The general index closed 2.16 percent lower at 1,467.92 points,
reflecting losses in the banking and investment sectors, down
2.66 and 4.30 percent respectively.
Most other sector indices also lost ground. Industrials fell
2.64 percent, Insurance was 1.67 percent off, Leasing dropped
1.64 percent, Construction fell 1.63 percent and Miscellaneous
eased 1.45 percent. Holding bucked the trend to end 0.40 percent
up .
The Parallel Market index eased 1.28 percent.
Trading was heavy with turnover at 640 billion drachmas due to
the transfer of 47 million shares of OTE, placed on public offer
on June 11-13, from the state to main underwriter National Bank
of Greece and then to other underwriters.
Broadly, decliners led advancers by 159 to 62 with another 26
issues unchanged.
Petzetakis, Aspis, Levenderis and Ideal scored the biggest
percentage gains while Bank of Central Greece, Interinvest and
Parnassos suffered the heaviest losses of the day.
National Bank of Greece ended at 33,500 drachmas, Ergobank at
16,350, Alpha Credit Bank at 17,780, Titan at 11,850 and OTE at
6,600 drachmas.
[24] Euro-conference okays transport links between Greece, Austria
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
A pan-European transport conference in Helsinki on Monday
endorsed the creation of a road and rail link between the
northern Greek city of Thessaloniki and Salzburg, Austria.
Speaking on the first day of the conference, Transport and
Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis underlined the
importance of the new road and rail axis, which will pass
through countries of the former Yugoslavia.
Mr. Kastanidis called on delegates to help find a happy medium
between protecting the environment in central Europe, and
meeting infrastructure needs of eastern Europe and outlying
European Union countries such as Greece, while keeping transport
costs down.
[25] Greece changes penalties for tax evaders
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Greek Finance Under-secretary George Drys unveiled a more lax
penalty system for taxpayers who fail to submit tax returns or
are guilty of errors or inaccuracies, but tougher legal
sanctions against evaders.
Under the new system additional taxes cannot exceed 300 percent
in cases of inaccuracies or non-submission of tax returns in
order to combat tax evasion. Legal sanctions will be stricter.
The new settlement system applies to taxpayers who have pending
cases with the tax collecting agency that have yet to be cleared
or relate to outstanding debts, Mr. Drys said.
The system envisages ten-year imprisonment for tax evasion on
annual income of more than 50 million drachmas, and one-year
imprisonment for evasion on annual income exceeding 5 million
drachmas.
Ten-year imprisonment is envisaged for tax evasion on Value
Added Tax and related withholding taxes of more than 25 million
drachmas a year.
[26] EU debate on social dialogue in southeast Europe starts Tuesday
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
The first international conference to discuss promoting social
dialogue in southeast European states begins in Thessaloniki on
Tuesday, organized by the European Union.
The EU's Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) has invited
representatives of social partners and professional groups in
southeastern Europe to the two-day meeting.
The agenda includes promotion of social, political and economic
co-operation among countries in the region, and with the EU.
The meeting will also discuss issues arising from the social
dialogue which has already begun in the region.
Attending the conference are 30 social agencies from eight
southeast European states - Albania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia,
Croatia, FYROM, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey. The EU also has
sent a delegation to the meeting.
Greece will be represented by 26 social agencies including the
biggest workers' and employers' unions in the country.
[27] Seminar on Euro's impact
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
A seminar entitled "The Euro's Consolidation: What it Means for
the Businesses," will take place on at the end of the month in
Athens.
The June 30 seminar is organized by the European Information
Centers of the Athens and Piers' chambers of commerce and
industry, the Hellenic Organization of Small and Medium
Sized-Enterprises and Craftsmen (EOMMEX), the competent
department of the European Commission and others.
The seminar will focus on issues related to the European Union
after the IGC as well as problems facing businesses in the light
of the consolidation of the Euro as a single EU currency.
[28] Xiosbank slightly raises interest rate on deposits
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Xiosbank raised the interest rate on it's Xiosalma savings plan
by a quarter of a percentage point yesterday.
Specifically, for an account more than two million drachmas, the
nominal rate stands at 9.5 per cent, while the annual return
stands at 9.92 per cent.
[29] Pension issue, family benefits discussed by ADEDY, Gov't
Athens, 24/06/1997 (ANA)
Leaders of the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council
(ADEDY) held talks with Finance Under-secretary Nikos
Christodoulakis yesterday on the pensions issue and the problem
of paying family benefits to both spouses.
Mr. Christodoulakis promised the trade unionists that as of Aug.
1, state pensions will be paid on the basis of the new salary
scale, which is expected to lead to an average increase in
pensions ranging between 7 and 8 per cent.
However, Mr. Christodoulakis rejected ADEDY's claim for payment
of family bonuses to both husband and wife.
He did, however, leave open the possibility of payment to a
spouse working in the public sector of benefits alone, since the
remaining family benefits will only be received by the spouse
employed in the private sector.
[30] Consulate security breached
Gjirokaster, 24/06/1997 (ANA - P. Barka)
Police guarding the Greek consulate in this southern Albanian
town yesterday discovered the consulate had been broken into
without their knowledge.
The unidentified persons gained entry and caused minor damage to
two offices, left a hand grenade on a desk and left.
The consulate has ceased issuing visas for the past ten days and
all material associated with the issuing of visas has been
removed from offices.
The general navy staff said yesterday it was questioning two
Albanian nationals found aboard an inflatable craft which a
coast guard patrol pursued towards the northern coast of Corfu
yesterday.
No contraband was found aboard the vessel, although authorities
believe it may have been dumped overboard.
End of English language section.
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