Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-07-05

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From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1229), July 5, 1997

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca

CONTENTS

[01] Tempi railway tunnel opens officially

[02] Council of State, Supreme Court appointments

[03] Opposition comments

[04] Stoyanov promises return of rare 18th century manuscript

[05] Tsohatzopoulos to view PfP exercise in Lvov

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Ruehe discuss NATO structure, enlargement

[07] A divided Cyprus cannot join EU, Kinkel warns

[08] Gov't comments on upcoming NATO summit

[09] Int'l conference on the Left ends

[10] Constantopoulos rejects PASOK's call for co-operation

[11] KYSEA for continued readiness at Albanian border

[12] Situation worsens in Sarande

[13] Italian troops to begin departing Albania on July 18

[14] European Commission warns Greece on car VAT violation

[15] Commission funding for radio, television

[16] Forest fires reported

[17] Minister confirms no illegal British beef in Greece

[18] ATE's governor comments on latest press reports

[19] Consumer price inflation rises

[20] Greek equities finish higher, propelled by blue chips

[21] Greece gets new interbank system in September

[22] Greece's Macedonia-Thrace Bank opens six new branches

[23] HEPO's Packaging Institute to open this September

[24] EU program on renewable energy sources

[25] Parliament summer session rules on tax ID number, bonuses

[26] Greek team qualifies for Eurobasket semi-finals

[27] Greece returns to sports event after reference to 'Macedonia' deleted

[28] 'Cyclades '97' yacht race begins today

[01] Tempi railway tunnel opens officially

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The project is being carried out by the Tempi Joint Venture, which has undertaken to further shape the railway line. It constitutes one of the main infrastructure projects in the Greek Railways Organization's (OSE) new double high-speed Athens-Thessaloniki railway line. The project is being jointly funded by the European Union's Cohesion Fund with the operational program "Railways 1994-1999."

The specific program was approved by decision of the European Commission and budgeted at ECU 499 million and with subsidies from the European Regional Development Fund, at Ecu 294 million. The program includes a series of activities aimed at developing the national railway network and achieving favorable conditions for the transport of passengers and goods, as well as its linking with the corresponding railway networks in the EU.

The object of the specific project is the building of infrastructure for the new double high-speed railway line from the Evangelismos railway station to the Rapsani station. The project has been undertaken by the Tempi Joint Venture in which the Aege-Triton, Aktor-Pantechniki-Ifaistos, Meton-Zaeger-Seli companies are participating. The general characteristics of the project focus on allowing train speeds of 300 km per hour on open tracks and 250 km per hour in tunnels.

Apart from the tunnel in question, the project includes the building of a railway bridge across the Pineios River, having a length of 240 meters and a breadth of 12.5, three small tunnels having a total length of 950 meters at the section which lies in front of the section facing Evangelismos of the main Tempi tunnel, which has a length of 4,034 meters, two underpass crossings along the new double railway line with the Athens-Thessaloniki national motorway, one in the Evangelismos area and the other in the Rapsani region, four small railway bridges, one railway bridge on stakes running parallel to the bank of the Pineios River, having a length of 140 meters, and facilitating traffic in the adjacent road network with the building of parallel roads and underpass crossings for rural and regional roads.

It was stressed during the ceremony that while the specific tunnel will reduce the time of the trip between Athens and Thessaloniki to four hours, the new tunnel of Kallidromo which will be made in early 2000 at Bralos will further decrease the time to two-and-a-half hours.

The project is showing a great absorption rate amounting to one billion drachmas a month, while the total budget for the three Tempi, Platamonas and Kallidromo tunnels amounts to 600 billion drachmas.

However, the Tempi tunnel, according to the timetable strictly adhered to, is expected to be ready in October 1998.

[02] Council of State, Supreme Court appointments

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Appointed to the Supreme Court are Theodoros Tolias, Polyvios Matziaras, Haralambos Myrsinias and Dionysios Katsireas. Justice Minister Evangelos Yiannopoulos noted that the principle of seniority had been adhered to in making these appointments.

With regard to the Council of State, George Deliyannis was appointed along with Christos Yeraris, bypassing Mr. S. Sarivalasis. It was noted that it had been considered necessary to upgrade Mr. Deliyannis in view of the fact that he is deputy president of the independent state authority for the protection of citizen's personal data.

The Justice Minister commented that seniority should only be bypassed in special circumstances, since this practice had not proved beneficial in the past.

[03] Opposition comments

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The Political Spring party called for the election of the judiciary's leaders from within its own ranks rather than having them appointed.

[04] Stoyanov promises return of rare 18th century manuscript

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Stoyanov arrived in Mount Athos early yesterday morning, on the final leg of his three-day official visit to Greece. He was received with the full honors afforded by the holy community to a leader of an Orthodox country.

Following a service at the Protato Cathedral, he visited the Ayios Georgios Zografos monastery, where he assured the monks that the manuscript currently on display at a museum in Sofia would be returned.

The priceless 1762 manuscript written by Paissios Hiliendarios was stolen from the monastery in the 1980s but replaced with a copy, delaying the discovery of the theft.

Efforts have been under way to retrieve the manuscript since it turned up in Sofia a few years ago.

Mr. Stoyanov will fly back to Sofia in the early afternoon from Thessaloniki's Macedonia airport.

[05] Tsohatzopoulos to view PfP exercise in Lvov

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The exercise includes training for land and air forces from participating countries. On the part of NATO, forces from Greece and the United States are participating, as well as from Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Georgia, Moldova, Romania and Slovakia.

Greece is participating in the exercise with military forces amounting to 144 troops and a Hercules C-130 transport plane, which will carry staff and drop supplies.

The exercise has been scheduled by US Adm. Joseph Lopez, commander of allied forces in southern Europe.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will participate tomorrow in the "Philellinia 97" events taking place in Peta, Arta which are dedicated to the symbolic recreation of the Philhellenes Corps.

[06] Tsohatzopoulos, Ruehe discuss NATO structure, enlargement

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The talks began as the two ministers went walking through the breathtaking Vikos Gorge in northwestern Greece, and was continued later in the nearby town of Ioannina. The two ministers agreed that there was rapprochement of views, while Mr. Ruehe reiterated Germany's endorsement of the establishment of four NATO sub-head-quarters in Europe, one of which would be in Greece.

They also discussed initiatives needed to be taken in the context of the Western European Union (WEU), as Germany is set to take over the rotating WEU presidency from France for the second half of the year, followed by Greece in the first half of 1998.

"There was a series of positive proposals, and we shall continue our collaboration in that direction because we believe that security matters do not concern only NATO and are of priority in many regions of Europe, such as Bosnia, Albania and elsewhere," the Greek minister observed.

On bilateral issues, the talks focused mainly on armaments, collaborations and a series of political initiatives.

"We reached very positive conclusions," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, while the German minister added: "Our relations have become closer, it was an outstanding day for us." The ministers further discussed the Cyprus issue.

"Negotiations are underway and so are all the initiatives that have been taken, so that the dialogue over the next two months between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cyriot leader Rauf Denktash will create more auspicious conditions for success," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

He said he told Mr. Ruehe that Greece "endorses the prospect of Cyprus' membership in the European Union. We hope that entry negotiations will commence, as decided, in the most efficient manner. For us, the prospect of a Cyprus solution is to be found within the procedures for Cyprus' accession to the EU".

On withdrawal of the eight-nation protection force in Albania, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the force had completed its mission, which was to assist the distribution of humanitarian aid and support the election process.

"Consequently, withdrawal of the multinational force is a matter of time and, in the next few days, the final decision shall be taken in co-operation with the new Albanian government".

Mr. Ruehe returned to Bonn this morning.

[07] A divided Cyprus cannot join EU, Kinkel warns

Bonn, 05/07/1997 (ANA - P. Stangos)

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Erdmann confirmed Mr. Kinkel's statements in yesterday's "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung". "As long as Cyprus is divided and I am minister, Cyprus shall not enter the European Union. The start of negotiations [for accession] is another issue, given the fact we have promised to hold them," Mr. Kinkel was quoted as saying.

"However, without the political solution of the problem, there can be no accession and that is based on the principle that the European Union cannot accept countries with unsolved territorial problems and problems of minorities. States which wish to enter the union have the preliminary obligation of solving such problems," he added.

According to Mr. Erdman "the entry of 'problem-states' would lead to complete paralysis of the process of problem-solving in the Union, something the Union cannot stand, especially after the next expansion."

[08] Gov't comments on upcoming NATO summit

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas, who briefed the press on the results of a Cabinet meeting yesterday chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said he based his opinion on a letter by NATO Secretary General Javier Solana. The spokesman, however, did not elaborate on the letter's content.

Mr. Reppas said the Cabinet meeting focused on a range of issues to be raised at the Tuesday summit, including NATO's expansion and the role of the United States in European security structures.

Turning to the issue of NATO headquarters, Mr. Reppas said all NATO member states, except Turkey, supported the establishment of two European headquarters, one in the north and the other in the south, with four sub-headquarters in Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Turkey claims that the number of NATO's Mediterranean headquarters should be reduced, while suggesting that Greece and Turkey share common headquarters.

Turning to the issue of NATO enlargement, Mr. Reppas reiterated that Romania, Slovenia and Bulgaria should be included in the first phase of NATO expansion.

Washington has ruled out a broader expansion, saying only the leading three countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland - are currently ready for membership, but France, Italy and Greece, backed by other European allies, want Romania, Slovenia an d Bulgaria included as well.

[09] Int'l conference on the Left ends

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The conference yesterday was attended by the Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Development Minister Vasso Papandreou.

Discussion during the afternoon session, chaired by the president of the European Parliament's Socialists group, Pauline Green, focused on technology, art and culture.

Main speakers were political science professor Colin Leys and professor of social psychology professor at the Pantion University Thanos Lipovats.

In a short speech, Ms Green proposed an adjusting of the European socialist thought to the new reality of the communications boom and open markets, in order to have control over developments. She placed special emphasis on education and training of employees, saying that unemployment was mainly due to a "skill crisis".

Prof. Lipovats focused his presentation on the need to shape a pan-European culture, based on critical thought rather than instrumental speech.

Prof. Leys appeared rather pessimistic on the prospects of the Left, in an era when mass media are uncontrolled. In his paper, Prof. Leys maintained that the effectiveness of the leftist speech was questioned by the dominance of the image, sound and the rationale of impressions. He said as readership decreased, rational alternatives were hard to prevail. He proposed that the socialists implement a charter on mass media to limit their control.

Scholar and former Bulgarian parliament president Nikolaj Todorov elaborated on the future of the nation-state. His address also included an elaboration on the war in former Yugoslavia.

Speaking on the same issue, London School of Economics sociology professor Nikos Mouzelis said globalization would marginalize those nation-states that are not growth-oriented, while giving a new, upgraded role to those turning to growth.

In reference to the welfare state, Prof. Mouzelis proposed a policy of "generous selectivity," to protect and care for the "truly marginalized social classes, not the middle class."

Athens University sociology Prof. Constantine Tsoukalas referred to the issue of "new social solidarity," while Rober Cabanes, head of the Ortsom Research Institute, elaborated on the various contradictions emanating from such processes such as globalization and the lifting of national limitations.

[10] Constantopoulos rejects PASOK's call for co-operation

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Speaking at his party's organizational meeting, Mr. Constantopoulos said that "the new power bloc the prime minister is talking about is not compatible with the model the government has of self-reliance (in Parliament) and single-party power".

It was "political delusion", he charged, for the government to talk about a new political bloc while "making non-negotiable government decisions".

Synaspismos called on powers in the center-left to come to talks in a search for "alternative politics, an overall program for the Left, an alternative solution to the government."

[11] KYSEA for continued readiness at Albanian border

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

KYSEA, chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, said increased security measures should continue in particular in the sea region between Corfu and the Albanian coast. Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the security measures were being implemented in accordance with provisions as laid down in international treaties and international law.

[12] Situation worsens in Sarande

Gjirokaster, 05/07/1997 (ANA - P. Tsakas)

The first signs of food shortages were reported yesterday, while an ethnic Greek - Vangelis Papas of Tremouli - was kidnapped. A ransom of five million drachmas was requested by kidnappers.

[13] Italian troops to begin departing Albania on July 18

Rome, 05/07/1997 (ANA - L. Hatzikyriakou)

Mr. Bruti said the withdrawal would be gradual and would be completed by Aug. 12.

He praised the work of the Italian troops in Albania, saying they had been "the backbone of the multinational force."

[14] European Commission warns Greece on car VAT violation

Brussels, 05/07/1997 (ANA - P. Pantelis)

In an avis sent to Greece, as a first step before filing a lawsuit, the Commission noted a violation of the sixth directive on applying a common system of VAT on car sales.

The commission said Greece calculated the tax on the basis of set price lists that did not take into account discounts provided by manufacturers or sellers. This resulted in cars being taxed on a higher price than the actual value of the vehicle.

The Commission gave Greece two months to reply before it would file charges.

Another case at the Eurocourt of justice is still pending, concerning Greece's overtaxation of used cars.

[15] Commission funding for radio, television

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The Commission has already published a relative invitation for the submission of proposals.

Proposals on the above initiatives should be submitted by interested parties by Aug. 31 in one of the union's official languages, which includes Greek.

For both radio and television stations, the initiatives should relate to a European dimension and take into account multilingual and multicultural aspects, as well as the latest technological achievements in the sector.

[16] Forest fires reported

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Two forest fires broke out in the Paradeisia and Ekklisoula sites near Megalopoli, Arcadia prefecture, while two fire-fighting aircraft and a number of fire-engines and forestry personnel had joined efforts to put out the blazes.

Meanwhile, two more fires that had broke out yesterday morning near the villages of Araxos and Lepreo in the western Peloponnese were partially extinguished later in the day.

Efforts to extinguish the Araxos fire, which has so far destroyed about 25 acres of forest and pastureland, were hampered by strong winds and rough terrain. The blaze briefly threatened outlying residences of the village.

The Lepreo fire was reportedly caused by negligence on the part of a group of workers cutting tree branches.

Another fire was reported yesterday in a pine forest near Anavissos in eastern Attica, threatening vacation homes in the area.

Efforts to bring it under control were continuing yesterday.

[17] Minister confirms no illegal British beef in Greece

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The European Commission said Thursday that 1,600 tons of British beef had been illegally exported to the Netherlands, Russia and Egypt. The EU banned the export of British beef last year after London acknowledged that consumers eating infected beef could contract the human equivalent of mad cow disease.

Mr. Geranidis said checks were being carried out at all the country's entry points, adding that on the ministry's instructions, the checks would continue.

"If quantities of British beef are discovered," Mr. Geranidis said, "they will be seized on the spot."

[18] ATE's governor comments on latest press reports

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

His announcement followed certain press reports stating that ATE was going through a crisis.

Mr. Papathanasiou made the statement after a meeting yesterday with the Prime Minister Costas Simitis, during which he briefed the premier on his ideas related to the policy ATE's administration should follow.

"ATE's accumulated, chronic problems are being dealt with systematically and responsibly," he said.

He also pointed to the bank's positive steps, one of which has been an effort to expand activities abroad and strike contracts with major European and Balkan banks. An agreement was recently signed between ATE and the Yugoslavia-based Beobanka.

[19] Consumer price inflation rises

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

June's rise in the cost-of-living index was due to increases of 0.6% in foodstuffs, 1.6% in apparel and footwear, 0.4% in housing (mainly rents), and 0.3% in transport (mainly a rise in passenger ship fares).

[20] Greek equities finish higher, propelled by blue chips

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The general index closed at 1,514.18 points - up 0.43 percent on the week - with all sector indices scoring gains. Trading was moderate with 12.8 billion drachmas changing hands.

Banks rose 1.54 percent, Holding was 1.76 percent up, Insurance increased 1.29 percent, Industrials rose 1.63 percent, Construction was 0.87 percent up, Investment increased 0.81 per cent, Leasing ended 0.40 percent up and Miscellaneous increased 0.29 percent.

[21] Greece gets new interbank system in September

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The new system, called DIASTRANSFER, will provide speedy and safe capital transfer services among banks either by crediting bank accounts or by cash payments to beneficiaries, said Thomopoulos, who is also president of Dias.

DIASTRANSFER will simplify interbank transfer procedures, enabling settlement within the day.

DIAS is expected soon to introduce a new interbank payments system called DIASDEBIT that will cover, in the first phase, consumer payments to public utility firms.

The company's electronic clearing system on bank cheques, used by 35 banks in Greece, handles more than 50 percent of transactions in the country.

[22] Greece's Macedonia-Thrace Bank opens six new branches

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

[23] HEPO's Packaging Institute to open this September

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The Packaging Institute (EIS), according to the organization's information bulletin, hopes to play an active role in the research and training sector, apart from watching all developments in the packaging sector.

Among others, EIS aims at creating an information service in the packaging sector and conduct market research concerning international requirements and trends in exports packaging for Greek products.

The operation of EIS is expected to have favorable results for small- and medium-size enterprises since it will minimize packaging costs, increase their competitiveness and resolve a series of problems concerning packaging.

[24] EU program on renewable energy sources

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

The program will provide for the financing of studies and other activities aimed at implementing and supplementing Community measures already decided to develop renewable sources of energy as well as research activity.

Financing will also be provided to encourage the exchange of experience and technical know-how with the aim of bolstering coordination between international, local, EU, national and regional activities. Countries from central and eastern Europe with association agreements, Cyprus and all European Union countries will be able to take part in the program.

[25] Parliament summer session rules on tax ID number, bonuses

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Deputies from the main opposition New Democracy party and the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) abstained in protest from discussion on the amendment.

Finance Under-secretary George Drys said of 1.5 million people using an AFM for tax purposes, about 100,000 had two or more to their name, according to computerized cross-checks.

"It's about time tax evaders and all those who got rich by taking advantage of the state start fearing for themselves," the minister said.

He also said that an order had been issued to proceed with checks on local tax bureau which granted double AFMs to taxpayers.

Parliament's summer session also passed amendments dealing with transferals of employees from the bus organization OASA to local government organizations.

Among the draft bills passed was an amendment regulating the special family bonus married couples get. Under the new law, the same bonus cannot be received by both spouses. Instead, a supplement is offered to the bonus received by one of the spouses.

[26] Greek team qualifies for Eurobasket semi-finals

Barcelona, 05/07/97 (ANA - D. Efstathiou)

Poland led 39-38 at half time.

The Greek team achieved its seventh consecutive win in as many games, and will now vie for a medal in the championship round.

Greece will play Yugoslavia today in one of the semi-final matches. The Yugoslav team yesterday beat Lithuania 75-60.

[27] Greece returns to sports event after reference to 'Macedonia' deleted

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Greece withdrew from the "Olympic Balkan Days" games on Thursday in protest to the Bulgarian organizers' original decision to use the name "Macedonia" in posters and lists of participants.

The leader of the Greek team on Thursday accused organizers of being fully aware of the violation of international decisions regarding the name of the FYROM team.

The Greek team returned to the games after the president of Bulgaria's Olympic Committee and the representative of the International Olympic Committee agreed to the Greek request to withdraw the name "Macedonia" when referring to the FYROM team.

Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia are not participating in the games.

[28] 'Cyclades '97' yacht race begins today

Athens, 05/07/1997 (ANA)

Sixty-six yachts are taking part, compared to 54 which participated last year. The first race will cover a distance of 81 nautical miles and the finish is expected at the Adamantas port on Milos late at night today, provided northerly winds continue wit h the same intensity after Sounion.

The second race will start on July 7, the third on July 10 and the fourth and last on July 12.

Crews from Britain, Belgium, France, Italy and Ukraine will also be participating in the event.

End of English language section.

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