Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-08-19
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1266), August 19, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Gov't calls on Turkey to end 'policy of blackmail' over Cyprus
[02] Foreign ministry announcement
[03] Turkey should be condemned, Greek Eurodeputy says
[04] EU to continue to work for Cyprus solution
[05] NBC poll says Athens best choice 2004 Olympics
[06] Vartholomeos: Wish for better relations between Orthodoxy,
Vatican
[07] Decree to give EU citizens right to vote in municipal elections
[08] Feminist theologians' conference opens
[09] Greek Culture Foundation for Melbourne
[10] Diaspora festival
[11] Actor playing role of Judas found hanging on stage
[12] World's seismologists meet in Thessaloniki
[13] Court rules in favor of Laliotis in libel suit
[14] Gov't approves subsidized investments by Delta Informations
Systems
[15] Sarantopoulos firm awarded ISO 9002
[16] Greek stocks tumble in thin market
[17] Xios Bank expands activities
[18] New rates for treasury bill issues
[19] Clarifications
[01] Gov't calls on Turkey to end 'policy of blackmail' over Cyprus
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis warned Ankara
yesterday against continuing what he called its "policy of
blackmail" on the Cyprus issue, stressing that this policy along
with its refusal to co-operate on the 23-year-old problem would
harm Turkey 's hopes of joining Europe.
In an interview published yesterday in the Athens daily "Ta
Nea", the Greek under-secretary contended that the breakdown of
direct talks in Switzerland last week between Cypriot President
Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was
not only the responsibility of the latter, but of the Turkish
government as well.
"It's very unfortunate that Denktash has found a sympathizer
within the Turkish government in the person of Bulent Ecevit.
These two supporters of pan-Turkish nationalism are not
interested in seeking a just solution to the Cyprus issue, but
in fully incorporating occupied Cypriot territory into Turkey."
According to Mr. Kranidiotis, at the UN-sponsored talks near
Montreux last week the Turkish side's goal was to stall the
process of Cyprus' accession to the European Union as well as
the installation of Russian-made S-300 missiles in Cyprus.
He stressed that the Cypriot government had come to the
negotiating table in a "constructive mood". "I believe that both
Cyprus and Greece, with their consistent stance, have already
made the right impression. The international community knows
which side is in the right and which is acting unjustly.
Therefore, it is up to (the international community) to
attribute the blame for the deadlock to the Turkish side and not
to equate the victimizer with the victim," emphasized the
Under-secretary.
Mr. Kranidiotis said the text presented at the talks by UN
mediator Diego Cordovez contained several weak points, although
it nevertheless "confirmed the need for the unified and
indivisible sovereignty of the Cypriot Federation".
"This I believe is a positive and significant development in
favor of our positions and our policy," he added.
With regard to the role of US presidential envoy on the Cyprus
issue Richard Holbrooke, the under-secretary noted:
"Mr. Holbrooke's role should be auxiliary to that of the United
Nations. We expect Mr. Holbrooke to exercise his influence on
the Turkish side so that it co-operates in the international
effort to solve the Cyprus issue based on international
principles. "
Mr. Kranidiotis also referred to Ankara's inability to realize
that Cyprus' course towards EU membership is an EU decision, and
that Turkey, a third country, "has no right to attempt to
overturn it".
He repeated a statement by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos,
according to which "Greece would be willing to accept an
improvement of Turkey's relations with the EU, if the former
co-operates in finding a just and viable solution and ends its
aggressive policy against Greece".
Finally, he stressed that Turkish intransigence on the Cyprus
issue will adversely affect the climate which the Madrid joint
communiqui attempts to promote.
Mr. Kranditiotis said he believes that the crucial period for
the Cyprus issue will be 1998, following the presidential
elections in Cyprus and the beginning of negotiations for the
island republic's accession to the European Union.
[02] Foreign ministry announcement
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
In an announcement yesterday, the foreign ministry called for
continual vigilance and opposition to Turkish intransigence on
the part of Greek and Cypriot political parties and of Greek
communities around the world.
Greece, the announcement stated, would be making diplomatic
approaches to the United Nations Secretary General, all members
of the UN Security Council and the European Union. Athens has
also begun a briefing campaign of governments and media around
the world.
These moves, the foreign ministry added, were aimed at having
the international community adopt positions that would permit
the good services of the UN Secretary General to bear results
and to deal with Turkish intransigence "so that the two
communities in the island republic may live in harmony within
the framework of a bi-communal and bi-zonal federation,
according to UN resolutions and the summit agreements of 1977
and 1979".
[03] Turkey should be condemned, Greek Eurodeputy says
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
The European Union must condemn Turkish Cypriot intransigence,
which led to the deadlock of UN-led direct talks between the
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, Communist Party
of Greece (KKE) Eurodeputy Vassilis Efremidis said yesterday.
In a question tabled in the European Parliament, Mr. Efremidis
also called on the EU Council to take all necessary action and
deflect threats by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and
Turkish officials regarding the annexation of the island's
Turkish- occupied north.
[04] EU to continue to work for Cyprus solution
Brussels, 19/08/1997 (Reuter)
The European Commission, saying it would regret any obstacles in
the hunt for a political solution in Cyprus, vowed yesterday to
keep urging the Greek and Turkish communities on the divided
island to talk to settle their differences.
"We continue to encourage both parties to seek a negotiated
solution to their differences," Commission spokesman Joao Vale
de Almeida said.
He was commenting on last week's failed UN talks in Switzerland.
The spokesman was specifically asked to react to a threat by
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash to pull out of UN
negotiations if talks between Cyprus and the European Union go
ahead early next year. The European Union decided two years ago
to open en try talks with Cyprus in 1998.
But Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, president of the
internationally recognized Cypriot government which will
negotiate on behalf of Cyprus, has vowed to pull out of any
settlement negotiations if EU plans are delayed.
Vale de Almeida reiterated that there had to be a politically
negotiated solution on the island. "We have a strong position on
this and we have not changed our view", he said.
[05] NBC poll says Athens best choice 2004 Olympics
New York, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Athens was by far the top choice to host the 2004 Olympic Games,
according to a phone poll conducted by the US national
television network NBC.
The poll asked which of the five prospective cities - Athens,
Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Rome or Stockholm - should host the
2004 Olympics.
The sample included 844 people, and was organized by NBC's media
service department.
Scores went as follows, in percentages: Athens 62, Cape Town 18,
Buenos Aires 8, Stockholm 6 and Rome 5.
[06] Vartholomeos: Wish for better relations between Orthodoxy,
Vatican
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos yesterday expressed a wish
that relations between Orthodox Christianity and the Vatican be
soon restored.
The Patriarch made the statement upon concluding his visit to
the eastern Aegean island of Hios.
Vartholomeos said he expects a delegation from the Vatican to
visit the See of the Orthodox Church at its Phanar district
headquarters in Istanbul on November 30 - the day commemorating
the founding of the Church of Constantinople by the Apostle
Andreas .
He added that the Phanar had not sent a similar delegation to
the Vatican because there had been what he called a "small
distress" recently.
Earlier, Vartholomeos continued his official visit to the island
of Hios with a short trip by helicopter to the nearby island of
Psara yesterday.
The Patriarch was invited officially by the Union of Mastich
Producers of Hios to bless the trees producing mastich, a basic
ingredient for the myrrh provided by the Patriarchate.
During the first official visit of a Patriarch to Hios,
Vartholomeos also visited a hospital on the island and was
received at the island's historic monastery of Nea Moni, built
in the 11th century by Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachus.
He arrived on the island on Saturday.
The Patriarch, who is returning to Istanbul today, also
announced his forthcoming schedule, which includes a visit to
the United States in October.
[07] Decree to give EU citizens right to vote in municipal elections
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Citizens of European Union countries who reside in Greece will
have the right to vote and stand as candidates in this country's
next municipal elections, according to a presidential decree
being prepared by the interior, public administration and
decentralization ministry.
The decree, designed to bring in line Greek legislation with EU
directives, does not establish the right of foreign nationals to
be elected as mayors or heads of municipal councils, and sets as
requirements a command of the Greek language, enrollment in the
registers of the municipality they choose to stand as
candidates, as well as possession of an electoral booklet.
The relevant documents for enrollment in the electoral registers
must be submitted by March 31, 1998.
Finally, EU citizens will be eligible to vote only if they do
not vote in their countries of origin.
[08] Feminist theologians' conference opens
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
"Orthodox Christian spirituality and feminist theology generally
reflect two very broad and vastly different types of world view
and thinking, but also contain common points of interest," an
Orthodox theologian told the 7th international conference of the
European Society of Women in Theological Research (ESWTR), which
opened here Sunday. "
Thinking and re-thinking relationships, experience and process
are main concerns of both feminist theology and Orthodox
spirituality even if they operate within different traditions of
thinking," Orthodox theologian Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald
said.
"It was a long journey for most of the 200 women theologians
from 28 countries to come to Crete for the biggest ESWTR
conference ever," Michaela Moser, the conference spokeswoman,
told the ANA.
The theme of the conference is "Sources and Resources of
Feminist Theologies", and it focuses on the dialogue between
Orthodox women theologians and Western feminist theologians with
different religious backgrounds.
"The journey towards true encounter and dialogue of women coming
from different backgrounds is long, difficult and often
painful," Karidoyanes FitzGerald added.
Other keynote speakers at the conference, considered "the start
of a difficult journey towards dialogue" between the East and
West", and include Old Testament scholar Silvia Schroer from
Switzerland, Joan Martin from the United States, Letizia
Tomassone from Italy, and Ulrike Bechmann of Germany.
Greek-Orthodox theologian Katerina Karkala-Zorba, a program
coordinator at the Orthodox Academy in Crete, the venue of the
conference, regards the development of international exchange
with women from different denominations as one of the important
areas of her work.
Having invited the ESWTR to Crete, she believes the conference
is a "milestone in the interconfessional and interorthodox
dialogue of women".
[09] Greek Culture Foundation for Melbourne
Melbourne, 19/08/1997 (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)
A branch of the Greek Culture Foundation is to be set up in
Melbourne in the near future, according to statements by the
president of the interparliamentary committee on overseas Greeks
Grigoris Niotis and General Secretary for Overseas Greeks
Stavros Lambrinidis.
Speaking at the World Conference of Hellenic Research
Foundations, they added that other branches would open in other
cities in the Diaspora with large Greek populations. The center
in Melbourne is to be funded by the Foreign Ministry with the
participation of the Australian authorities.
Mr. Niotis also said that within 1988 "if everything goes
according to plan", the Greek state television channels would be
broadcast to Australia.
[10] Diaspora festival
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Australia's Greek community is to be represented by two dance
troupes, the Sofia Haska and the Paroula Thurman companies, at
the 1st Festival of Diaspora Artists at Athens' historic Herod
Atticus Amphitheater on 22 and 23 September.
[11] Actor playing role of Judas found hanging on stage
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
A British actor working at a hotel complex in Halkidiki
prefecture was found hanging late on Sunday shortly after taking
part in a play in which he was acting out the role of Judas.
Tony Wheeler, 25, from London, had been participating in the
"Jesus Christ Superstar" theatrical production, staged by the
entertainment group of the hotel complex Sani, as part of its
program for guests.
His role called for walking up to the gallows, placing the noose
around his neck and hanging himself as the spotlight was
switched off him. A special hook would have allowed him to
remain suspended while appearing to hang.
When he failed to turn up later, a search revealed that Wheeler
had actually died on the theatrical gallows. A doctor who
performed an autopsy said, "There are indications of death by
hanging", but could not say whether the death was accidental or
not.
[12] World's seismologists meet in Thessaloniki
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Greece belongs in the highest seismic zone in the world,
comprising an area stretching from Gibraltar to China,
University of Thessaloniki Professor Vassilis Papazachos told an
international seismology congress yesterday.
During opening remarks at the 29th international congress on
seismology and physics of the earth's interior at Thessaloniki,
Mr. Papazachos also said that it was appropriate that Greece had
been chosen as the venue for the congress, since its ground and
especially the area of the Aegean comprised a natural
geophysical laboratory.
President of the International Association of Seismology and
Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI), Claude Froidevaux,
said that the sea level at the Aegean was lower 20,000 years ago
and said that the Mediterranean was non-existent as a
water-filled basin 20 million years ago.
He pointed out that Greece's high seismic activity was due to
the African plate's moving northwards, due to pressure it
received from surrounding oceans.
The congress aims at providing solutions in facing seismic
phenomena and in foreseeing them.
The congress is organized by the University of Thessaloniki and
scheduled to run for 10 days.
[13] Court rules in favor of Laliotis in libel suit
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
An Athens first instance court yesterday ruled in favor of
Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Costas
Laliotis, ordering the publisher of the Athens daily "To Onoma",
Makis Psomiadis, to pay 30 million drachmas to the minister for
libel.
Mr. Laliotis sued the publisher and well-known nightclub owner
after two front-page stories in "To Onoma" last February alleged
that the minister had received a 4.5 billion kickback for the
granting for major public works contracts.
[14] Gov't approves subsidized investments by Delta Informations
Systems
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
The development ministry recently approved new subsidized
investment of 920 million drachmas by the Athens Stock
Exchange-listed Delta Informations Systems.
The subsidies will amount to 322 million, and will be aimed at
creating a new division for the provision of software for
operational applications in industry, co-operation with foreign
firms, restructuring of the company on the basis of the quality
standard ISO 9000, and overhauling premises with a view to
increasing productivity.
[15] Sarantopoulos firm awarded ISO 9002
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
The K.I. Sarantopoulos construction firm has been issued with
the ISO 9002 quality certificate, covering all areas in which it
is active, including suppliers and subcontractors.
The total worth of projects awaiting construction by the company
amount to 61.1 billion drachmas.
New contracts include external supply systems at the new Athens
airport at Spata, and an east-west highway in Albania, budgeted
at six billion drachmas.
[16] Greek stocks tumble in thin market
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Equity prices came under strong pressure on the Athens Stock
Exchange yesterday to end sharply lower.
Market participants said the pressure was more of a technical
nature and that price swings were exacerbated by a lack of
supply as the market had not returned to normal after a three
day holiday.
The general index closed 1.39 percent lower at 1,622.90 points.
Sector indices lost ground. Banks fell 1.54 percent, Leasing
eased 0.62 percent, Insurance declined 0.53 percent, Investment
fell 1.98 percent, Industrials were 2.03 percent off,
Construction eased 1.46 percent, Holding dropped 2.01 percent
and Miscellaneous fell 1.76 percent. The parallel market for
small cap companies index ended 1.21 percent lower. Trading was
moderate and turnover was 7.8 billion drachmas.
Broadly, declining issues led advancing ones by 149 to 46 with
another 14 unchanged.
Allatini, Alysida, Ideal and Balkan Export scored the biggest
percentage gains, while Tzirakian Profil, Demetriades and
Athinea suffered the heaviest losses of the day.
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) rose 60 drachmas
to end at 6,610. National Bank of Greece ended at 37,000,
Ergobank at 17,835, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,790, Delta Dairy at
4,200, Titan Cement at 14,870 and Intracom at 12,900.
In the domestic foreign exchange market the dollar fell sharply
against the drachma following a strong correction of the US
currency in international markets.
[17] Xios Bank expands activities
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
Xios Bank activities in the area of investment and financial
services are showing significant growth, according to the bank's
officials.
Two years after commencing operations in 1994, the bank managed
to conquer 5 per cent of the market. This year it has increased
market share in lead managing loan issues for firms, bringing
the total to 2.2 billion drachmas, compared to 1.9 billion for
the whole of last year.
It is also worth noting that Xios Bank has taken part in all 10
public subscriptions in 1997, compared to eight last year and
six in 1995.
[18] New rates for treasury bill issues
Athens, 19/08/1997 (ANA)
The finance ministry has announced new rates for the next issues
of treasury bills, as follows:
- Three-month: 8.40 per cent
- Six-month : 8.70 per cent
- One-year : 9.50 per cent
The next issue of one-year bills is tomorrow, by public
subscription.
An auction of fluctuating-rate bills, worth 100 billion, will
take place on August 25.
[19] Clarifications
In Saturday's "Bulletin" and in a story concerning a report on
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos' visit to the
Czech Republic, the correct title for Josef Matejka was
misprinted. He is the political counsellor and charge d'affaires
ad interim at the embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens.
In yesterday's "Bulletin" and in the story headlined "Albanian
Foreign Minister appeals to Greece after Grammos incident",
Greek diplomat Constantine Kolias, who was called to the
Albanian foreign ministry to discuss the issue, is secretary at
the Greek embassy in Tirana, not the ambassador.
End of English language section.
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