Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-07-15

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1237), July 15, 1997

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

CONTENTS

[01] Stephanopoulos, PASOK EB briefed on Madrid communiqui

[02] Gov't spokesman

[03] Security Council urges Cypriot sides to continue peace process

[04] UN envoy briefs the press on Troutbeck round

[05] President Clerides briefs Holbrooke

[06] Skandalidis clarifies 'whip' statement

[07] Constantopoulos calls for convening of political leaders council

[08] Greek assistance to Bosnia the focus of meeting with US officials

[09] Greek-Egyptian law enforcement accord

[10] Karamanlis briefed on Athens' bid for 2004 Olympics

[11] IOC members

[12] Gov't responds to question over Athens 2004 committee's expenditures

[13] Kastanidis eyes 'labor peace' during IAAF Championships

[14] Greek tourist dies in road accident in Turkey

[15] Gov't pushes for more rapid decentralization

[16] ND leader visits ESHEA

[17] Greek-Turkish peace event in Pergamus

[18] Operational Program for Industry the focus of meeting

[19] Inquiry ordered over pharmacists' strike

[20] Conference on northern Greece-Romanian business ties

[21] Poor regions protected in EU expansion plans

[22] Greek retail sales volume up 2.5 pct in April

[23] Greek stocks edge past 1,600 points

[24] Dollar posts record high against drachma

[25] Laliotis stresses that Egnatia Highway will finish by 2000

[26] Restriction on trucks' circulation over summer weekends

[01] Stephanopoulos, PASOK EB briefed on Madrid communiqui

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Simitis later in the day chaired a meeting of the Executive Bureau of the ruling PASOK party, which focused on Greek-Turkish relations as well as on other political developments.

The Madrid communiqui to improve relations between Greece and Turkey was issued between the two NATO allies on the sidelines of an alliance summit in Madrid.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with the Greek president, Mr. Simitis said their talks covered the details and prospects of the communiqui.

Mr. Simitis also briefed Mr. Stephanopoulos on the results of the NATO summit.

Meanwhile, PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis said after the Executive Bureau meeting that in his address, the premier referred to all issues, namely, modernization of the economy and society, Greek-Turkish relations, employment, Economic and Monetary Union, modernization of the state, transparency and other issues. He added that he briefed Executive Bureau members in detail on the latest developments concerning Greek-Turkish relations.

Mr. Skandalidis said the discussion will be concluded at a new meeting on July 28 and that after the summer holidays final decisions will be taken on the party's winter strategy.

On the question of the "22" party deputies, he said the issue was not discussed and said that a discussion on the Madrid communiqui had preceded at a Cabinet meeting where, as he said, a clear and unanimous decision had been taken.

Mr. Skandalidis said every Executive Bureau member expressed his views freely, adding that there were no reservations in general over the handling, but only individual objections.

He reminded that the party's central committee will convene in Nafplion on Friday and Saturday where apart from a discussion on state reform (the "Kapodistrias" program on local government mergers) PASOK's overall strategy on municipal elections will also be discussed.

In addition, Executive Bureau members turning up to the meeting commented on a statement by Mr. Skandalidis in the newspaper "Kyriakatiki Eleftherotypia" that "the prime minister must take up the whip."

Executive Bureau member Manolis Daskalakis said that whips are for other places, while Labor Under-secretary Christos Protopapas said that national issues are not suitable for confrontations.

[02] Gov't spokesman

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said the communiqui was not an agreement but a joint statement "bearing the meaning of a non-agression pact."

Stressing that the text's effectiveness depended on future action by the two countries, Mr. Reppas expressed hope that Turkey "will contribute to the formulation of a climate of security and stability in the region."

In Athens, the communiqui was unanimously endorsed by the Cabinet last week, but also prompted criticism by 22 ruling PASOK deputies.

The "22" reacted strongly to the communiqui, saying Greece was gradually slipping into choices that result in recognition of Turkish claims.

Speaking before the Executive Bureau meeting, Mr. Reppas repeated that party criticism of actions in Greek-Turkish relations could create problems for the government. He also emphasized the fact that the government considered its policy on the issue beneficial for the nation.

"The orientation of the country's foreign policy has not changed," he noted, while expressing hope that the Madrid communiqui would lead to a "re-orientation of Turkish foreign policy."

[03] Security Council urges Cypriot sides to continue peace process

New York, 15/07/1997 (ANA-M. Georgiadou/CNA)

In a statement to the press yesterday, SC president Peter Osvald of Sweden welcomed the completion of the first round of UN-led direct negotiations and asked the two sides to be constructive.

Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary General's special advisor on the Cyprus problem who led the talks, briefed earlier yesterday the SC members on the outcome of the first round of the four-day negotiations between President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, held at Troutbeck, near New York, between July 9 and 12.

In his statement after being briefed by Mr. Cordovez, Mr. Osvald said "the Council is very pleased to learn that these talks were held in a positive and constructive atmosphere."

"Security Council members urge the leaders of the two communities to uphold a sustained process of direct negotiations until the instruments that will constitute a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue have been concluded," he added.

The statement also noted the SC members "urge the two parties to respond constructively to the suggestions made by the secretary general's special advisor on Cyprus, so that further progress can be made in the next round of talks."

It concluded that "Security Council members reaffirm their active, firm and full support to the efforts of the secretary general for a continued and sustained process of negotiations."

A second round of negotiations is scheduled to take place near Geneva, Switzerland, between August 11 and 16.

[04] UN envoy briefs the press on Troutbeck round

Following the conclusion of the first round of talks, Mr. Cordovez told the press that the leaders of both sides were cordial and expressed good will, despite the thorny problems that remain unsolved.

Mr. Cordovez said that Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash had frequent private meetings, meals, and took walks in the forest around Troutbeck. He quoted as an indication of the friendly atmosphere that for the first time in three years they agreed on their own initiative to meet in Nicosia before the next round of talks in Geneva, to discuss human rights issues.

The UN secretary general's envoy expressed the hope that the change in the system and process of the talks, which was adopted for Troutbeck, would be continued in future rounds and help towards finding a solution. He supported this hope by the fact that the two leaders were not asked to give a final reply on any issue, as in the past.

Instead, Mr. Cordovez said, the two leaders were expected to study the UN proposals, discuss them with their own people and come to the next round of talks with specific stances.

In this way, he explained, the outcome of various rounds will be accumulative, and the talks will not be starting from scratch every time, as in the past.

In her statements to the press, Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Walleen also agreed with Mr. Cordovez on the importance of the talks and the friendly climate between the two leaders.

Ms Hjelm-Walleen is involved in the negotiations, and along with Mr. Holbrooke has met with both leaders.

[05] President Clerides briefs Holbrooke

New York, 15/07/1997 (ANA-M. Georgiadou/CNA)

Mr. Holbrooke met President Clerides over an hour-long working breakfast, in New York, and was scheduled to meet later yesterday with Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash.

The US envoy refrained from making substantive statements, but said they had a "very good conversation," during which the president "gave me his views on the talks at Troutbeck".

To the question of when he sees the US coming into talks, Mr. Holbrooke replied there is "no decision on that " and gave the same answer with regard to his visit on the island.

The Cyprus talks between President Clerides and Mr. Denktash took place at the rural retreat of Troutbeck, near New York, between July 9 and 12. A second round is expected to take place near Geneva from August 11 to 16.

Speaking to the press, President Clerides said he briefed the US envoy on the negotiations and they exchanged views on the future course.

Replying to a question, Mr. Clerides said Mr. Holbrooke informed him when the US will become more active for a Cyprus solution, but refrained from revealing any details.

Asked what he expects from the next round of talks, the president said he "never expected that Geneva would produce a solution to the Cyprus problem. It is absurd to think that in the five days we are going to be in Geneva we will solve all the aspects" of the issue.

"It would be impossible, even if we worked 24 hours out of 24 to cover all those subjects," Mr. Clerides said, pointing out that there are too many issues, beyond the constitutional, including demilitarization, guarantees, accession to the European Union, the refugee problem, property and human rights.

Referring to the Geneva talks, the President said "the issue we will have before us to discuss is the content of a joint declaration", expected to be issued if an agreement is reached.

Commenting on statements made by Mr. Denktash that none of the 200,000 Greek-Cypriots forced to flee their homes after the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of 37 per cent of Cyprus will be able to return, the president said "no progress can be achieved if Denktash comes with these views."

President Clerides left New York later yesterday for London, where he is scheduled to meet today with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

[06] Skandalidis clarifies 'whip' statement

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

"I simply expressed the central question of our supporters and voters, who see that despite the almost complete lack of an effective opposition, we are constantly raising the tripping line before our own feet. You know very well that I would be the last one to recommend expulsions," he said after a meeting with the premier.

Replying to questions, he said the issue of the 22 deputies who criticized the Greek-Turkish communiqui signed in Madrid last week was not discussed, and that he respected their views and sensitivities.

Commenting on Mr. Skandalidis' statement, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the prime minister was opting for "the force of persuasion rather than the persuasion of force," but there was a general line that everyone should heed as well as the principle of joint responsibility.

[07] Constantopoulos calls for convening of political leaders council

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Constantopoulos called for the immediate convening of a political leaders council to discuss the joint communiqui between Greece and Turkey.

"It is the government's duty to brief the parties, the Parliament and the Greek people," Mr. Constantopoulos said, adding that the government "should plan its initiatives and its moves ahead, rather than agreeing... to plans by mediators such as the United States."

The Synaspismos leader said his party was interested in making full use of the provisions of the communiqui "to the benefit of Greece's interests, and of peace and stability."

He also unveiled plans to visit Turkey in the next few months.

[08] Greek assistance to Bosnia the focus of meeting with US officials

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The measures were announced after a Greek-American meeting yesterday in Athens chaired by Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis.

The US delegation at the meeting was headed by a US official responsible for the program, who laid out the points for co-operation between Greece and the United States, as well as praised Greece's participation in the program.

The two delegations decided in this first phase of talks to establish an experts committee to consider the needs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and to determine the technical aspect of Greek participation.

[09] Greek-Egyptian law enforcement accord

Cairo, 15/07/1997 (ANA/AFP)

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry delegation had visited Athens on July 3-6 for talks regarding the agreement, which is to be signed during the forthcoming visit of Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos to Cairo.

The date for the minister's visit has yet to be confirmed.

In the meantime, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis is due to visit Cairo today for talks to improve Greek-Egyptian co-operation in various sectors.

[10] Karamanlis briefed on Athens' bid for 2004 Olympics

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

In statements afterwards, he expressed satisfaction with the briefing and support for the Greek capital's candidacy.

"The only questions remaining mainly concern the government, regarding the completion of projects within the deadlines set," he said.

Candidacy Committee President Gianna Angelopoulou-Daskalaki said there was great expectation, in parallel with serious preparation and in view of the final selection of the host city by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September.

"The candidacy is a national cause, not a one-dimensional political issue. Athens has proven it is essentially supported by all public bodies, and for this reason, quite rightly, it is not politicized," she said.

[11] IOC members

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Bulgarian IOC delegate Ivan Slavkov said: "I feel especially pleased whenever I visit Athens, since the days I played water polo. I consider the Greek candidacy very strong, and I believe that in the event of Athens' victory, the Bulgarian people will also be very pleased."

Paul Wallwork, of Western Samoa, said: "I see that Athens is changing for the better, compared to my last visit. The Greek candidacy is thorough, carefully planned, and based on an authentic technocratic perception".

Four other IOC members, Messrs. Rene Esomba (Cameroon), Jan Stabo (Norway), Roy Anthony Bridge (Jamaica) and Francis Ngvesko (Uganda) are beginning their official visit to Athens today.

[12] Gov't responds to question over Athens 2004 committee's expenditures

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said it is customary for members of the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to visit cities seeking to host Olympic Games and that these visits have the nature of well-intentioned public relations.

[13] Kastanidis eyes 'labor peace' during IAAF Championships

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Kastanidis will attempt this in co-operation with the federations and the transport ministry's employees' unions and all supervising organizations.

He will have a meeting today with all the bodies involved and afterwards, he will make statements to the press.

[14] Greek tourist dies in road accident in Turkey

Istanbul, 15/07/1997 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The dead include a Greek national, Dimitris Liapis, and the driver of the truck, while six passengers were listed as severely injured.

According to police, the truck driver lost control, entered the on-coming lane and crashed into the bus, which was serving the Istanbul-Ankara route.

Among the injured were tourists from Greece, Romania, Russia and Poland. Two Greeks who were among those injured are being treated at the Kocaeli hospital, where Greek consul Yiannis Ghikas and consulate interpreter Socrates Tragossis were summoned by local police.

[15] Gov't pushes for more rapid decentralization

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

In a one-day meeting at the Zappeion Hall, Mr. Papadopoulos described the new plan as "a law that nobody has realized how radical it is, given the fact that we are shifting the stage of applying public administration from ministries to the region, a vir gin and fertile ground so that Greece may at last acquire a proper public administration and the state may operate properly."

The law was voted by Parliament last May in order to "upgrade the role of the regions and complete decentralization on the peripheral level and that of local government," Mr. Papadopoulos said.

During the meeting it was decided that meetings would be held every two months, to accelerate and improve the application of this particular law.

Interior Under-secretary Tassos Mantelis, who attended the conference, said that public administration should become more effective, "with emphasis placed on faster, better, and cheaper services."

He added that "we don't have any time left. We must take decisions now and apply everything, to prepare Greece and public administration for the year 2001."

[16] ND leader visits ESHEA

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

During his visit he urged that a professional code of ethics be drawn up for the press and go through Parliament in order to prevent charges that fines imposed on the media for violations of rules are unfair or random.

ESHEA President Aristidis Manolakos said that all party leaders would be briefed on problems the union faces.

Mr. Karamanlis expressed his support over these issues.

Today he is expected to visit President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos to discuss Greek-Turkish issues.

[17] Greek-Turkish peace event in Pergamus

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Events opened on Saturday evening with children's dance groups from both regions performing in the ancient city's center, where the old Greek quarter was located.

The event was attended by many locals and about 300 tourists from Lesvos, Hios, Thrace and Serres. Many of them included ethnic Greeks from Asia Minor who had been born or had parents born in Pergamus.

A concert by the state-controlled ET-3 was given that night at the city's ancient theater, with the audience waving Greek and Turkish flags.

Events ended Sunday evening with the planting of an olive tree in the city's modern quarter by Lesvos Prefect Alekos Mathiellis and Pergamus Mayor Sefa Tashkin.

Officials attending the ceremonies included the prefects and mayors from many Greek islands and Alexandroupoli, tourism-sector businessmen, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy Stratis Korakas, the Greek Consul General in Istanbul Fotis Xydas and the Greek Consul in Smyrna Andreas Fryganas.

[18] Operational Program for Industry the focus of meeting

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The secretariat and the commission representatives expressed their satisfaction over acceleration observed in the application of the industry program, the significantly increased rates of absorption and the promotion of innovative and developmental interventions of the program.

They also expressed the certainty that the path the program has taken guarantees its completion within the foreseeable dates and the attainment of goals, namely, the continuous improvement of Greek industry's competitiveness and positive results for the job market.

The program largely relates to strengthening of private investments, but also includes a series of innovative actions to improve Greek businesses.

The committee has decided to apply, among others, actions that guarantee quality in industrial products, supervision of the market and co-operation with other countries.

[19] Inquiry ordered over pharmacists' strike

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Koliokostas assigned the Athens security police with conducting the preliminary inquiry, together with instructions to summon officials from the health ministry and insurance funds to testify as witnesses.

The inquiry will also examine whether the health of citizens is placed at risk, measures have been taken to handle emergencies, there are adequate quantities of medicines in the market and the continuing situation results in ex officio offenses.

[20] Conference on northern Greece-Romanian business ties

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The conference will constitute the basis for continuous co-operation and mutual information between the bureau and the region's bodies in the framework of the program's implementation.

[21] Poor regions protected in EU expansion plans

Brussels, 15/07/1997 (Reuter)

They said the 20 EU commissioners, meeting in secret conclave on Thursday, agreed that member states whose gross national product is less than 90 percent of the EU average will still benefit even if they qualify for the EU single currency.

Although this was proposed in a draft report some powerful factions within the EU's executive commission had tried to exclude Spain, Ireland and Portugal from the fund because they are likely to meet criteria for joining the new currency, the Euro, in 1999.

It was argued that if those countries were strong enough financially to meet the tough single currency membership conditions, they did not need special EU aid totaling three billion ECU's annually from the so-called "cohesion fund".

The aid is used to help fund trans-European road, rail and other transport networks as well as environmental projects.

But Spain and the other three countries warned they would block any attempt to cut off the aid, saying that the terms for economic and monetary union and the cohesion fund were separate issues.

They received powerful support within the Commission from the EU's social affairs and regional commissioners, Padraig Flynn and Monica Wulf-Mathies, who swung support in favor of extending the existing rules.

But the aid level would be gradually reduced.

The future of the cohesion fund, which was set up in 1992 to help poorer regions catch up with the rest of the EU, was the main outstanding issue in plans to fund the EU's expansion east.

The plans are due to be agreed next Tuesday and presented to the European Parliament in Strasbourg the following day. They will then be submitted to EU foreign ministers for approval.

The prospective first wave of new EU members -- Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia and Slovenia -- would benefit from 45 billion ECU's of regional, social and agricultural aid between 1999-2006 to prepare for membership.

Total EU structural and cohesion fund spending would be set at 275 billion ECU's between 1999-2005. Structural funding covers regional, social and agricultural development projects.

[22] Greek retail sales volume up 2.5 pct in April

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

Retail sales volume was 1.7 percent higher in the first four months of 1997 from the same period in 1996.

[23] Greek stocks edge past 1,600 points

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The index yesterday closed at 1,600.90 points, up 0.59 percent in moderate trading. Turnover was 13.8 billion drachmas.

All sector indices scored gains led by Investment which surged 3.47 percent. Banks ended 0.42 percent higher, Leasing rose 2.07 percent, Insurance edged 0.04 percent up, Industrials increased 0.81 percent, Construction ended 0.21 percent higher, Holding moved 1.16 percent up and Miscellaneous rose 2.47 percent. The small cap index, however, fell by 1.02 percent.

Broadly, advancing issues led declining ones by 137 to 81 with another 23 issues unchanged.

National Investment Fund, Piraeus Investment, Lavipharm and Sidenor scored the biggest percentage gains, while Papastratos, Alysida, Maxin, Ideal and Doudos suffered the heaviest losses of the day.

National Bank of Greece closed at 36,600 drachmas, Ergobank at 17,500, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,600, Titan Cement at 16,200, Intracom at 13,195 and OTE at 6,410.

[24] Dollar posts record high against drachma

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The dollar was a record 281.27 drachmas at the central bank's daily fix, up 5.16 drachmas from last Friday. Commercial banks were selling the dollar at 285.489 drachmas.

The US currency has shown a 13.63 percent rise since the beginning of the year.

Sterling also rose sharply to 474.20 drachmas, up 5.52 drachmas from its previous close.

The British currency broke new six-year barriers against the DMark last week in international markets, surpassing the 3.0 mark level.

The German currency has come under pressure due to the uncertainties over the future of European monetary union and talk of a more lax interpretation of the Maastricht treaty.

[25] Laliotis stresses that Egnatia Highway will finish by 2000

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

He was speaking in Thessaloniki after a meeting on the course of the motorway's construction, while several mayors and prefects from Epirus and the Macedonia-Thrace region also participated.

Mr. Laliotis displayed figures showing that 122 km out of the 680 km of the motorway's length have been completed, while funding has been secured for another 420 km.

He further said that promotion of construction for the remaining 140 km, which have not been included in the funding program, will utilize several forms of national financing and loans.

Mr. Laliotis revealed that a considerable amount is expected to be secured with the planned gradual increase in the Egnatia stamp tax, from which about 10 billion drachmas have been received so far.

Outlining the present situation, Mr. Laliotis said at the moment 25 new projects are being constructed, with a total length of 186 km, while tendering is under way for another three sections stretching 45.4 km. Tendering will take place for another 16 projects by the end of 1997.

Mr. Laliotis conceded that there are delays due to unforeseen factors, such as the case of a section of the highway at Grevena, where the Council of State recently annulled approval of a construction license due to the need to protect brown bears.

He said these delays cost in both money and time and mentioned that changes in designs due to environmental problems have so far spelled a one-year delay in the project and an economic burden of 15 billion drachmas.

Mr. Laliotis said bordering Balkan countries are showing increased interest in the acceleration of construction of eight vertical axes linking them with the Egnatia at certain sections, where work is under way or tendering is taking place.

He interpreted this interest as proof that "the para-Egnatia motorway network has even been canceled...", adding that bordering countries have started a race to have themselves linked to the Egnatia Motorway."

[26] Restriction on trucks' circulation over summer weekends

Athens, 15/07/1997 (ANA)

The restrictions will be imposed from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays on national motorways linking Athens-Lamia, Athens-Corinth-Patra and Thessaloniki-Halkidiki.

The measure was agreed to by the environment, town planning and public works ministry, the public order ministry and the transport ministry.

Trucks carrying perishable goods will be excluded from the restrictions. Violators will be punished by virtue of article 52 of the traffic code which concerns trucks weighing 1.2 tons or more.

End of English language section.

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