Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-08-25
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1271), August 25, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Ruling party to resume meeting focusing on economy, foreign
policy
[02] Anti-occupation concert held in Cyprus
[03] US Congressmen pledge support for end to occupation
[04] Turkish violations of Greek airspace reported
[05] Gov't spokesman proposes Damanaki for Athens
[06] Veteran Cypriot diplomat Nikos Kranidiotis dies
[07] Cultural agreement between Greece, FYROM
[08] Romanian telecoms to float 30 per cent of shares
[09] Nikas expanding into Balkans
[10] Tougher measures enforced for drunk driving
[01] Ruling party to resume meeting focusing on economy, foreign
policy
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Ruling PASOK's political secretariat today will resume its
discussions, which began on Friday, concentrating mostly on
economic issues, and especially the 1998 budget.
Friday's meeting opened with a report by Prime Minister and
PASOK President Costas Simitis on promoting the government's
work and dealing with the problems the nation is facing.
The main topics on the agenda today are the performance of the
1997 budget and the drafting of the budget for next year, which
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou has called
"crucial". Discussions on the economy are expected to intensify
this week, allowing Mr. Simitis to present the government's
overall positions at the annual premier's speech on the economy
during the Thessaloniki International Fair, which opens on the
first weekend of September.
The government is also involved in discussions over the "Ioannis
Kapodistrias" plan, a project to combine and merge several local
communities around the nation into larger administrative
entities. The government plans to introduce a draft bill on this
issue in Parliament by early September, and expects the
legislation will be voted on by the end of the same month.
The political secretariat meetings are being attended by Mr.
Papantoniou, Interior, Public Administration and
Decentralization Minister Alekos Papadopoulos and Foreign
Minister Theodoros Pangalos.
Mr. Pangalos is expected to discuss issues of foreign policy
with the prime minister and members of the secretariat at
today's meeting, especially the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish
relations.
Friday's meeting was also attended by PASOK Secretary Costas
Skandalidis and Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
[02] Anti-occupation concert held in Cyprus
Nicosia, 25/08/1997 (ANA - G. Leonidas)
A concert opened at the Paralimni stadium yesterday to
commemorate the deaths of two anti-occupation demonstrators, who
were killed by a Turkish mob and occupation forces last year
during protests against the Turkish occupation of one-third of
the island republic.
The event was attended by Archbishop of Cyprus Chrysostomos,
House Speaker Spyros Kyprianou, party leaders, ministers and
members of parliament.
The Greek government was represented by Greek ambassador in
Nicosia Kyriakos Rodoussakis. Also attending were main
opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, the
president of the Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) Dimitris
Tsovolas and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.
Before the concert began, Paralimni Mayor Nikos Vlittis received
a flame lit at the Acropolis of Athens and transported by
reserve commando officers by speedboats. Upon receiving the
flame, Mr. Vlittis said this flame would be placed on the tombs
of those who had died, to remind everyone of the duty towards
the occupied part of their country.
A short address was delivered by him and the mayor of occupied
Famagusta.
The concert included noted Greek singers Giorgos Dalaras and
Alkinoos Ioannidis, Cypriot composer Marios Tokas and others.
[03] US Congressmen pledge support for end to occupation
Larnaca, 25/08/1997 (CNA/ANA)
Four US Congressmen, in Cyprus to attend the World Congress of
Overseas Cypriots, called for an end to the illegal Turkish
occupation of Cyprus and said the US administration should make
a constructive contribution towards this goal.
Speaking on arrival at Larnaca airport, Bob Menendez described
the timing of their visit as "crucial and promising for Cyprus"
and added "we seek to get first hand knowledge and facts from
policy makers in Cyprus and do whatever we can to help in a
constructive way to resolve this circumstance here".
"We believe the US Congress has a major foreign policy role to
play and we are very concerned about the continuing occupation
in the north", he added.
Mr. Menendez expressed the hope that, as the European Union
considers the accession of Cyprus next year, "this would be a
critical moment for a just and lasting solution".
Congressman Maurice Hinchey described the Turkish occupation as
"inappropriate and illegal", and said "the people of Cyprus need
to be given the opportunity to determine their own future as
soon as possible".
"The US administration has a constructive role to play to
resolve the situation as it has good relations with all parties
involved," he added.
Robert Andrews said "we are here to call attention to the
ongoing abrogation of human rights by the occupiers in the
north, here we have a clear-cut unmistakable case of human
rights violation".
He also said he believed "it is imperative for the US government
to bring to an end this occupation".
Congressman Alcee Hastings pledged to "try as best as we can to
try and assist in peace and stability in this region".
Asked to assess the involvement of US presidential emissary for
Cyprus Richard Holbrooke in efforts to bring a settlement, Mr.
Menendez said the Congressmen commended Mr. Holbrooke's
appointment in a letter to US President Bill Clinton and
outlined their views on how best to try and seek a resolution of
the Cyprus question.
"In the letter we said we hope to see emerge from negotiations a
federated state that derives its power from the federated
constitution, that guarantees all its citizens free passage
throughout the country, one country, one nation, one people, a
country that guarantees basic human rights and property rights",
he said.
[04] Turkish violations of Greek airspace reported
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Ten pairs of Turkish F-16 warplanes infringed on Greek airspace
on at least 10 occasions and violated Athens FIR regulations
three times on Friday near the eastern Aegean islands of Lesvos,
Hios and Symi, sources at the national defense ministry said.
All Turkish violators were successfully intercepted, the same
sources said, while six engagements were also reported.
[05] Gov't spokesman proposes Damanaki for Athens
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Mayoral elections in large municipalities cannot be treated by
political parties as means for political gain, but must remain
independent of party politics, government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas noted, as he suggested that a former Coalition of the
Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader could run for Athens
mayor.
In statements to the "Sunday Eleftherotypia", Mr. Reppas said
that the results in the three largest cities of Greece (Athens,
Thessaloniki, Piraeus) contained political messages, but that
did not mean that municipal elections should be seen as means of
political gain by various parties.
"Municipal elections do not promote or bring down governments,"
he was quoted as saying. "Local government is not a prelude or
an extension of politics. It has to find its own independent
character."
Synaspismos press spokesman Dimitris Papadimoulis, responding to
the interview on a private radio station, saying that "if Maria
Damanaki wants to become a candidate for the mayorship of
Athens, Synaspismos' support must be considered a given and
obvious fact".
He noted, however, that the possibility of PASOK and Synaspismos
proposing a joint candidate was slim, because "up to now we only
have positive statements from separate individuals in PASOK",
instead of a specific proposal.
[06] Veteran Cypriot diplomat Nikos Kranidiotis dies
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Diplomat, poet and author Nikos Kranidiotis, the father of the
current Greek foreign under-secretary, died yesterday in Athens
at the age of 86.
Kranidiotis was born in Kyrenia and studied at the universities
of Athens and Harvard. He was a close associate of the
then-president of Cyprus and Archbishop Makarios and took an
active part in Cyprus' struggle for independence.
He became Cyprus' ambassador to Athens in 1959, following the
establishment of the Cyprus Republic, and ended his term with
retirement in 1979.
His son, Yiannos Kranidiotis, ended an official visit to Cyprus
and returned to Athens yesterday. The funeral will be held in
Cyprus at a date to be announced.
[07] Cultural agreement between Greece, FYROM
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
The culture ministers of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (FYROM) said on Saturday that they intended to
launch a "lasting and systematic" yet unofficial bilateral
co-operation in the sector.
Greek and FYROM Culture Ministers Evangelos Venizelos and
Slobodan Unkofski, respectively, made the statement on the
sidelines of the 7th "Prespian '97" cultural festival.
"Culture is the most useful means to create common understanding
in the world," Mr. Venizelos said.
Mr. Unkofski said he had observed "substantial changes" in both
countries' policies, adding that "we are both open to continuing
communication between the two peoples, who share so much in
common."
"It will take a long time to solve the name question, but this
should not mean that cultural co-operation should not begin
between the two countries," he said.
[08] Romanian telecoms to float 30 per cent of shares
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
The Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) is
considering a possible participation in the partial
privatization of Rom Telecom, the Romania state-owned
telecommunications organization.
Rom Telecom will float 30 per cent of its shares in the European
market in the near future, to a total expected to reach US$ four
billion.
Ten of the top investment banks in the world are interested in
managing the flotation for Rom Telecom. These include Credit
Suisse, First Boston, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Lazards, Merrill
Lynch, Morgan Stanley, ABN-AMRO Bank jointly with NM Rothschild,
and Lehman Brothers in association with SBC Warburg.
[09] Nikas expanding into Balkans
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Greek sausage-maker Nikas increased its sales so far this year
by 15 per cent, while its turnover for 1996 totaled 16.7 billion
drachmas, as against 14.9 billion drachmas for 1995, the company
announced.
The company announced it would distribute a dividend of 135
drachmas per share on its 1996 turnover.
It also announced an ambitious program to open plants in three
Balkan countries where no such units currently exist.
In Skopje, Nikas will set up a new unit and retain 90 per cent
control, while the remaining 10 per cent will be owned by a
local businessman who will also be responsible for management.
In a joint venture with another businessman, Nikas plans to set
up a joint venture in Bulgaria, retaining 49 per cent ownership.
Nikas is also negotiating with Romanian businessmen the
possibility of a joint venture in that country.
A new unit is under construction in Cyprus jointly with
Grigoriou SA, in which Nikas owns a 36 per cent share. The unit
will target the Lebanese market.
[10] Tougher measures enforced for drunk driving
Athens, 25/08/1997 (ANA)
Police in the greater Athens area have begun implementing
tougher measures to combat drunk driving, including confiscation
of alleged drunk drivers' cars on the spot.
Athens First Instance Courts Public Prosecutor Anastasios
Kanellopoulos on Friday ordered traffic police to confiscate
cars driven by alleged drunk drivers.
The tougher measure follows a fatal accident early Thursday
morning, in which a 22-year-old driver ran down two women and
injured one man as they were crossing the Athens-Sounion coastal
road outside a well-known nightclub.
An alcohol test showed the female driver's blood/alcohol level
at more than three times the legal limit.
Sofia Hatziroussea, 22, was charged with repeated manslaughter
by negligence and bodily harm by negligence.
A magistrate ordered her yesterday not to leave the country,
while she is obliged to appear twice a month at a local police
station, pending trial.
Meanwhile, traffic police confiscated eight cars over the
weekend after alcotests of the drivers proved positive. In one
of the cases, a 25-year-old driver ran into and killed an
87-year-old woman as she was crossing Katechaki Avenue.
End of English language section.
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