Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-09-13
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1287), September 13, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Greece grants initial 2-billion drachma loan to Albania
[02] ... Improved relations noted
[03] ... Regional developments
[04] ... Meeting with Kaklamanis
[05] ... KKE
[06] ... Synaspismos
[07] Cabinet approves 'Kapodistrias' restructuring plan for local
Gov't
[08] ... Opposition reactions
[09] FYROM FM says name issue won't be referred to Security Council
[10] Greece backs EU pre-accession talks with candidate-nations
[11] Kasoulides briefs Greek FM leadership on latest contacts
[12] Tsohatzopoulos warns Turkey
[13] Cyprus FM interview
[14] Athens says latest Yilmaz remarks part of 'dead-end' Turkish
policy
[15] Albanian Socialist Party delegation meets with Tsovolas
[16] OA flight attendants continue work-to-rule action
[17] OTE revenues increase
[18] Greek song festival in Thessaloniki tonight
[19] Int'l center for commercial transactions in Thessaloniki
considered
[20] Gov't comments on terms of IOC contract
[21] ... Synaspismos
[22] Protests mount over sentences for two anti-2004 activists
[23] Radioactive capsule recovered
[24] UNESCO conference on Tilos
[25] Success of periodical EU negotiations noted
[26] Greek wholesale prices rise to 5.2 pct yr/yr in July
[27] Greek stocks climb, rallying after correction
[28] Greek aluminium industry has Dr 500 bln turnover
[29] Greece to give Serbia Dls 100 mln. for roadbuilding
[30] EU seminar on energy to be held in Rhodes Oct. 3
[31] Greece swamped by proposals for EU-funded energy plan
[32] EU supports municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina
[33] Bank of Crete purchase bid by Piraeus Bank
[34] Lower transit cargo prices decided for Piraeus
[35] Ionian Bank profits rise
[01] Greece grants initial 2-billion drachma loan to Albania
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Athens yesterday presented Albania with two billion drachmas
(seven million dollars) as urgent economic aid for the Albanian
state, and said relations with Tirana were developing "in a most
favorable manner".
"This is an element which Greece considers definitive for its
foreign policy," Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said.
Mr. Pangalos handed the funds to visiting Albanian Foreign
Minister Paskal Milo after their one-hour meeting at midday.
Mr. Milo, who is on a three-day official visit to Greece, the
first by an Albanian foreign minister since civil unrest wracked
the neighboring country earlier in the year, also met earlier
with President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime
Minister Costas Simitis. Speaking to reporters after their
meeting, Mr. Pangalos said the Greek president had extended an
invitation through Mr. Milo for his Albanian counterpart to
visit Greece in the first half of 1998.
He said that, apart from the two billion drachmas, expert
committees from both countries would be meeting soon to thrash
out the details of 18 million drachmas worth of Greek loans
promised to Albania to aid in the implementation of public works
projects in Albania.
Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Milo called their meeting "the most
favorable development in Greek-Albanian relations in recent
times", with Mr. Pangalos adding that a friendship and
co-operation agreement between the two countries would be
ratified by Parliament by March next year - with the prospect of
a new pact on co-operation in the education and cultural sectors
- and announcing a series of measures and initiatives that would
further strengthen ties between the two Balkan neighbors.
Among these, Mr. Pangalos said, were plans for contacts between
the public order ministries of both countries to "maintain law
on both sides of the border", a planned visit by the chief of
the Albanian armed forces to discuss the reform and
reorganization of the Albanian military with his Greek
counterparts, as well as the establishment of three new customs
points on the border with Albania and the beginning of talks on
territorial borders and the delineation of the continental shelf.
Mr. Pangalos said their discussion, which was also attended by
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Foreign
Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, also ranged over the issue
of a European prospect for Albania, the Balkan summit in Crete
in earl y November and on problems in the region.
[02] ... Improved relations noted
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Mr. Milo said that bilateral relations were at "their best point
ever", thanking the Greek people and government for "standing by
Albania in its difficult times".
"This was a historic stance and something the Albanian people
are not likely to ever forget," Mr. Milo said.
He called on Albanians residing and working in Greece to abide
by Greek laws and "act honorably". At the beginning of the year
there was an estimated 400,000 Albanians in Greece, although
that figure may have increased following the violence and mayhem
in the neighboring country, after thousands lost their life
savings in collapsed 'pyramid' investment schemes.
Mr. Milo invited back Greek investors who had fled Albania in
the wake of the unrest, assuring them that "the situation is now
under the control of the Albanian government and the Albanian
people are ready to welcome them and assist you". "We will take
all the necessary steps to protect your businesses," he said.
Mr. Milo said the spirit of co-operation noted in his talks in
Athens was "a passing phase" but a "strategic choice in the
interests of both countries and their peoples". Mr. Pangalos
told reporters that Athens, in co-operation with the European
Union, was examining ways to create a regime to the benefit of
both Tirana and Athens regarding the issuing of visas for
Albanian nationals.
"The system of entry into Greece from third (non-EU) countries
is governed by the Schengen Treaty," Mr. Pangalos said, adding
the two options were being studied: one, the granting of
multi-entry visas for those with jobs or making frequent visits
to Greece; and the creation of the status of a 'border
resident', who would be able to move freely in the border region
on the presentation of an identity card.
"We will do everything we can to make the Greek-Albanian border
region a zone of growth," Mr. Pangalos said.
[03] ... Regional developments
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Turning to relations with other Balkan neighbors, Mr. Pangalos
revealed that he had called on the governments of Albania and
Federal Yugoslavia to meet on the sidelines of the Balkan summit
in Crete in November.
"I hope the two governments will consider the proposal in a
positive light," Mr. Pangalos added.
Mr. Milo said that Tirana was hoping to upgrade its relations
with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and had
been "sending messages of understanding and co-operation" to
Skopje.
The substantial number of ethnic Albanians residing in FYROM, he
said, will have to find solutions to their problems in the
framework of international law, stressing the need for the
respect of the large minority's rights to education, cultural
expression and local government.
"Without the understanding of the Albanian population of FYROM,
FYROM will be unable to have stable prospects," Mr. Milo warned,
adding that he hoped Skopje would be able to contribute to the
efforts for stability and peace in the Balkan region.
Turning to Albania's recovery from the rioting and looting of
earlier this year, Mr. Milo said the disarming of insurgents in
the south was proceeding at a satisfactory rate and said that a
large proportion of the arms looted from military camps would
have been recovered by the state by the end of the month.
Finally, Mr. Pangalos said a planned visit by Prime Minister
Costas Simitis to Tirana next month was in the context of
bilateral relations and unconnected with visits to other Balkan
capitals in light of the Crete summit.
"FYROM is among the countries which have responded positively to
the invitation to participate in the Balkan summit, but it is
not yet clear whether it will be represented at the presidential
or prime ministerial level," he added.
[04] ... Meeting with Kaklamanis
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
In a later meeting with Parliament President Apostolos
Kaklamanis, one of the topics of discussion was that relating to
the thousands of Albanian nationals working in Greece, as Mr.
Milo assured his compatriots that both countries' governments
were willing to legalize them soon.
Special emphasis during the meeting was placed on issues such as
the ethnic Greek minority living in Albania, education and
religious freedoms.
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Mr. Milo also met Communist Party (KKE) Secretary General Aleka
Papariga, who stressed after the meeting that there was still
room for development of relations between Greece and Albania.
Ms Papariga underlined the need for Albanian workers in Greece
to be treated equally with local workers and have the same
rights.
[06] ... Synaspismos
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The same issue was also discussed at a separate meeting with the
leader of the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos),
Nikos Constantopoulos.
Mr. Constantopoulos pointed to the need for the two countries'
governments to take joint initiatives targeted at building up
peace in the region.
Mr. Milo thanked Mr. Constantopoulos publicly for his party's
supportive positions on the issue of the Albanian workers in
Greece.
[07] Cabinet approves 'Kapodistrias' restructuring plan for local
Gov't
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Cabinet yesterday unanimously approved a plan to restructure
local government organizations into larger municipalities in an
effort to transfer bureaucratic functions out of Athens and
revive the provinces.
The plan, named "Ioannis Kapodistrias" after the first governor
of independent Greece, is expected to be submitted to Parliament
as a draft bill in October.
Following the Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Dimitris
Reppas said the plan, if passed, would reduce 5,879
municipalities and communities in Greece to 780 municipalities
and 120 communities.
Certain functions, such as deciding on bequests, foundations or
community enterprises, will remain under the jurisdiction of
communities, Mr. Reppas said.
No discussion was made on where the seat of a new municipality
will be. The program is expected to cost 600 billion drachmas,
which will not be drawn from new funds but collected from
redistribution of existing funds.
The spokesman also said the government could not understand the
objections raised to the program, since they had no sound basis,
and criticized main opposition New Democracy (ND) for never
having taken any initiatives to upgrade local government. All
such changes were made by PASOK governments, he added.
Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister
Alekos Papadopoulos said after the Cabinet meeting that the
government wanted to create new municipalities with strong
administrative mechanisms to revive rural Greece.
[08] ... Opposition reactions
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Reacting to the Cabinet's decision to promote the plan, ND party
spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said his party would "oppose in
full force the coercive nature of the unification" of
communities and municipalities into new regions.
The party "believes in voluntary unions by means of introducing
strong initiatives resulting in powerful, strong and viable
local government organizations", he said.
On her part, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) general secretary
Aleka Papariga criticized the government over the way it was
handling the "Kapodistrias" plan.
She said there was a way to fight this plan once it becomes law,
through local elections (scheduled for October 1998) and in
everyday dealings.
Political Spring (Pol.An.) party charged that the government has
no right to turn Parliament from a forum for dialogue into a
forum of compulsory decisions.
[09] FYROM FM says name issue won't be referred to Security Council
Skopje, 13/09/1997 (ANA - M. Vihou)
The foreign minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) Blagozya Hatjinski, ruled out the likelihood
of referring the issue over his landlocked country's name to the
United Nations' Security Council,
He made the statements during a televised interview here on
Thursday night.
"There are no indications that Cyrus Vance will resign, nor that
the issue (over FYROM's name) will be referred to the Security
Council", he said, adding that "this required consent by both
sides involved".
However, he made it clear that talks over the name continue and
will eventually lead to a final decision by the Security Council.
Speaking on the development of economic and cultural relations
between Greece and FYROM, Mr. Hatjinski said: "this undoubtedly
leads and contributes to a positive solution of the name
problem."
However, he maintained "there is no room for concessions, nor
for changing (FYROM's) constitutional name".
Finally, the Skopje minister praised the Simitis government,
saying that it was due to Costas Simitis' European orientation
that the appropriate conditions were created for a solution of
what he called Greece's problems with neighboring countries,
"including the pending problem (FYROM's name) that hinders our
bilateral relations."
[10] Greece backs EU pre-accession talks with candidate-nations
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Athens favors a simultaneous opening of pre-accession
negotiations with all European Union accession candidates in
central and eastern Europe, Alternate Foreign Minister George
Papandreou told reporters yesterday ahead of an EU General
Affairs Council meeting next Monday.
The council agenda includes discussion of "Agenda 2000" - the
European Commission's proposals on the future image of Europe,
as well as its expansion and a new financial support program.
Mr. Papandreou also said the Greek government was opposed to
certain proposals for a more fragmented Common Agricultural
Policy, and favored measures to improve European farmers' income.
The council will also discuss the Cyprus problem, Turkish
intransigence to the island republic's accession negotiations
with the European Union, and Turkey's relations with the EU in
general.
Another issue on the agenda is the EU's relations with Albania.
The Greek government argues that conditions have been met to
resume rapprochement between the two sides.
"We don't want exclusions or discrimination among the countries,
since everybody knows that each accession negotiation has its
own rhythm and does not mean that all countries will accede at
the same time," he said.
Greece, he added, would not agreed to any proposals that would
lead to a "renationalization" of the Common Agricultural Policy,
and that farmers' incomes had to be protected.
Greece's basic aim, Mr. Papandreou noted, was to ensure social
cohesion and Community solidarity.
"Enlargement cannot be had at the cost of depth," he said.
The Commission's proposal to maintain the level of 1.27 per cent
of Community GDP in the 2000-2006 period for the new fiscal
framework would not meet the Union's ambitious enlargement
plans," Mr. Papandreou said.
[11] Kasoulides briefs Greek FM leadership on latest contacts
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Foreign Under-secretary
Yiannos Kranidiotis met yesterday with visiting Cyprus Foreign
Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, discussing recent developments on
the Cyprus issue and the process of Cyprus' accession into the
European Union (EU).
Mr. Kasoulides briefed the Greek ministers on the results of his
tour to European capitals, while the Greek side briefed him on
the results of their contacts. They discussed the upcoming
Council of General Affairs in Brussels on Monday. Mr.
Kranidiotis also briefed the Cypriot foreign minister on
contacts he had on Thursday with visiting US official Thomas
Miller, a special US State Department coordinator on the Cyprus
issue. Mr. Miller is now in Nicosia for talks.
[12] Tsohatzopoulos warns Turkey
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Meanwhile, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos warned
Turkey yesterday to stop toying with the issue of the
Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, stressing that Cyprus
is under the full protection of Greece.
According to an ANA dispatch from Nicosia, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos
reiterated that casus belli will automatically apply in the
event Turkey strikes against Cyprus, as it is threatening to do
if the S-300 missiles are deployed. In an interview with the
Cyprus magazine "Selides", which was published yesterday, Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos stressed that the right of Cyprus to defend
itself is inalienable on the basis of UN resolutions and
principles, adding that no one can question it, degrade or annul
it.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos called on Turkey to follow a policy leading
to a decrease in tension and to pave the way for a solution to
the Cyprus issue.
[13] Cyprus FM interview
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
In an interview yesterday morning with the Cyprus radio, Mr.
Kasoulides expressed satisfaction with his contacts in the
European capitals and in particular with assurances by officials
who had recently expressed negative views on Cyprus' bid to
become an EU member. "I believe these meetings were particularly
useful and, of course, others will follow with the rest of my
counterparts of EU member-states, as we are in one of the most
critical periods of our accession course," he said.
The Cypriot minister said it is expected that the EU political
decision will be taken in December as to when accession talks
will start with candidate countries, noting that Turkey has
launched an unprecedented campaign in Europe to prevent Cyprus'
bid.
He said during the meetings with his counterparts of Germany,
Luxembourg and Italy, he underlined EU decisions for the entry
of Cyprus into the EU and the start of accession negotiations,
early next year.
He also said that during his meetings he had the chance to calm
concerns expressed by EU member-states on the deployment of the
S-300 missiles in mid-1998.
[14] Athens says latest Yilmaz remarks part of 'dead-end' Turkish
policy
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece said yesterday that statements by Turkish Prime Minister
Mesut Yilmaz threatening the annexation of the occupied north of
Cyprus were "no surprise".
"(These statements) are an indication of the dead-end policy
that Turkey is following in issues which concern us,
particularly Cyprus," Alternate Foreign Minister George
Papandreou told reporters.
"The international community is awaiting respect of
international law. I hope Turkey realizes that only if it
follows the rules of international law will it find a response
to its course towards Europe," he said.
[15] Albanian Socialist Party delegation meets with Tsovolas
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
A delegation from the Albanian Socialist Party, led by Secretary
Panteli Maiko, met with Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI)
leader Dimitris Tsovolas yesterday to discuss relations between
the two countries and the financial state of Albania.
The delegation members expressed optimism over the protection of
ethnic Greeks in the neighboring country and their presence
there.
They also made special note of promoting economic relations with
Greece and creating conditions that would allow Greek businesses
that suffered losses during the recent turbulence in Albania to
return.
[16] OA flight attendants continue work-to-rule action
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Long delays of Olympic Airways flights at airports around the
country were noted yesterday as the airline's flight attendants
refused to work overtime.
Newly sworn in Transport and Communications Minister Tassos
Mantelis yesterday morning refused to receive a delegation of
union representatives who wanted to express their objections to
an interior ministry bill, saying the issue did not come under
his jurisdiction.
Flight attendants have demanded that their sector be excluded
from public sector hiring ceilings, claiming they are
specialized personnel, such as pilots.
The management of Olympic also issued a statement stressing that
it would exhaust all legal means at its disposal to ensure that
all flights were carried out.
[17] OTE revenues increase
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
According to figures, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization's
(OTE) revenues from telephony services over the first half of
the year increased by 15 per cent.
At the same time, a rates policy is being considered for 1998.
The average burden for the consumer will not exceed 2.5 per cent
although it has not yet been clarified whether the rates freeze
being planned by the government for all public utilities (DEKO)
will also apply to OTE.
In the first half of the year, OTE received 218.89 billion
drachmas from telephony compared to 190.55 billion drachmas over
the corresponding period last year.
The net increase is 12 per cent since the rates for 1997
increased 3 per cent on average. Telephone movement in units
over the same period increased 16.2 per cent compared to the
corresponding period in 1996 (more than 23.67 billion units in
1997 as against more than 20.34 billion units in 1996).
According to its official budget for 1997, OTE expects total
revenues amounting to 840 billion drachmas (738 billion drachmas
last year) and net pre-tax profits totaling 315 billion drachmas
- 304 billion drachmas had initially been predicted, however, 11
billion were added on following the purchase of 30 per cent of
COSMOTE - as against 250 billion last year.
[18] Greek song festival in Thessaloniki tonight
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Festival of Greek Song will take place at the Palais de
Sport in Thessaloniki tonight, with a competition featuring
unreleased Greek songs.
The first part of the event will open with a concert by
composers Stavros Kougioumtzis and Yiannis Spanos, who will play
popular songs some of which were heard for the first time at the
festival.
The competition part will include 16 songs selected from nearly
200 submissions. A committee will decide which song merits first
place, and a prize of three million drachmas; second place and
two million drachmas, or third place and one million drachmas .
[19] Int'l center for commercial transactions in Thessaloniki
considered
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Scientific agencies in Thessaloniki are preparing the creation
of an international center for resolving commercial transactions
based here, considering reactions on the part of business
organization representatives positive so far.
The creation of the center was discussed on the first day of a
two-day conference entitled "International Commercial
Transactions in Central and Eastern Europe", organized at the
HELEXPO-Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) by the faculty of
law of the Aristotelion University in Thessaloniki, the
Inter-Balkan and Black Sea Business Center (DIPEK), the
Thessaloniki Bar Association and the TEE/Central Macedonia
Department.
Speaking at a press conference, Aristotelion University law
professor Petros Stangos said the choice of arbitration as a
means of resolving international commercial and technical
differences arising from their activation in Balkan and Black
Sea countries presents many advantages.
Legislation in these countries present quite a few peculiarities
or vacuums and the creation of the Center could safeguard
business activities from possible dangers.
International banking transactions were one of the issues
examined yesterday. The president of the Macedonia and Thrace
Bank, Spyros Kouniakis, referred to the difficulties of
establishing a modern banking system in Balkan countries which,
as he said, would effectively help Greek businesses which are
active in these countries.
Mr. Kouniakis proposed the creation of joint ventures in which
two or more Greek banks will participate so that they can
activate themselves in Balkan markets. Mr. Kouniakis' proposal
met with a positive response.
Today's session is devoted to procurements and constructions, as
well as to the funding of major infrastructure projects. The
session will be inaugurated with an address by former transport
and communications minister Haris Kastanidis.
[20] Gov't comments on terms of IOC contract
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The government will have the first say in setting up the
organizing committee for the Olympic Games of 2004, government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday.
Mr. Reppas said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis had
personally given guarantees to the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) for the Games.
The prime minister said that if the Games were organized by
Athens and the Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) only, then those
two should have to undertake the entire cost. Because this was
not possible, the government would have a decisive role to play,
even though all necessary agencies would be represented in the
organizational committee, Mr. Reppas said.
The decisions related to setting up this committee would respect
the IOC founding charter, and a voice would also be given to HOC
and the city of Athens, the spokesman said.
Consultants to the prime minister had already started
researching these issues before the bid was awarded to Greece,
he asserted.
Asked whether the IOC contract obliged Greece to accept the
entry into Greece of unwelcome persons, such as ex-king
Constantine (a member of the IOC), Mr. Reppas replied that all
citizens with legal documents may visit Greece.
Referring to a statement by Bank of Greece governor Lucas
Papademos that Greece would need loans of some 320 billion
drachmas to carry out the Games, the spokesman explained there
was no deficit, and that the governor simply suggested loaning
because a return of any revenues would take a long time.
He also said Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras had informed
him that the contracts IOC had agreed on with sponsors during
the first week following the decision for the bid exceeded
US$1.1 billion, as against an estimate of US$800-900 million.
[21] ... Synaspismos
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The end of rejoicing for winning the bid meant that Greece has
now entered "a phase of deep contemplation, questions and
competition for leading positions and managing this huge
enterprise," Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos)
spokesman Dimitris Papadimoulis told a radio station yesterday.
Mr. Papadimoulis charged that Greece won the bid "through a
great lack of serious planning, briefing and real dialogue".
He said that what was being revealed now was "the difficult and
rough edges of organizing the games, such as the possibility of
having to resort to a loan, the hateful colonial-style contract
already signed (with the IOC), the threat of cheating rural
(development), of creating facilities that would not be used
after the games and of helping some people who are preparing the
games become champions of easy gain".
The contract signed with the IOC includes harsher terms
following the Atlanta games last year, he charged, calling on
"those who knew" earlier about the contract "ought to explain
now what they did before the signing - whether they sought to
improve the terms or change them, whether they held a minimum of
negotiations, or whether they were ready to sign anything put
before them by (IOC President Juan Antonio) Samaranch."
[22] Protests mount over sentences for two anti-2004 activists
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Hellenic Association for Human and Civil Rights said
yesterday that the prosecution of people who had protested
against Athens' bid to host the 2004 Olympics defied the terms
of democracy.
The group protested what it called the "unprecedented
prosecution, jailing, and sentencing of Spyros Mavrodimas and
Susan Ritter", who were arrested while distributing leaflets
against the 2004 bid a few days before the final decision
awarded the Games to Athens.
"The freedom to think differently and express your disagreement
does not constitute a threat, but is a fundamental term of
operation and survival of democracy," the group stated.
The two activists were arrested in the central Athens district
of Kypseli and later convicted under a 1938 law on littering.
They each received a two-month suspended sentence and a fine.
[23] Radioactive capsule recovered
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
A small capsule of radioactive waste discovered to be missing on
Saturday from an abandoned factory in Fihtia, Argos, was found
on Thursday night by local police just a few meters from the
factory building.
A box containing the material was found to be missing during an
inspection of the abandoned Ariplast factory on Saturday. The
material, of little financial value, is commonly used in the
plastics industry.
The capsule, found hidden among bricks outside the factory, has
been given to experts from Athens' "Dimocritos" atomic energy
center.
[24] UNESCO conference on Tilos
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Dodecanese department of UNESCO will organize a conference
entitled "Mediterranean 2000-peace, environment, culture and
tourism" in Tilos between Sept. 15-21.
The conference will be inaugurated at 6 p.m. on Monday at the
Harkadio cave, in which the bones of dwarf elephants have been
found.
Scientists from France, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Greece will
attend.
[25] Success of periodical EU negotiations noted
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The ever-increasing success of periodical negotiations (reunions
pacquet) has been noted on violations issues organized at the
initiative of the Special Legal Service of European Communities
(ENEK), between the services of the Greek administration and
relevant European Commission departments.
These meetings produce particularly positive results since they
improve the image of Greek administration abroad.
The following cases of surmised public works violations are
indicatively referred to as:
Construction of Spata airport, the Egnatia motorway,
construction of a sewage treatment plant in Patra, construction
of a train tunnel in Tempi, electrification of the
Piraeus-Athens-Thessaloniki railway line, advertising services
for the state broadcasting network ERT, the procurement of a
system of control and data procurement for the Public Natural
Gas Enterprise (DEPA) and sewage drainage in the tourist regions
of Thessaloniki.
Regarding outstanding issues, those underlined at present are
the conveyance to our domestic law of directive 92/50 for public
services contracts, an issue on which a conviction by the
European Communities court is already pending.
Moreover, issues noted at a preliminary stage are the awarding
of the Athens and Thessaloniki Metro projects and the Flisvos
casino whose settlement is hoped for.
In the domestic market sector and more specifically with regard
to the free movement of goods, Greece shows increased compliance
results and a speedy settlement of pending issues.
Out of a total of about 20 cases of pending issues constituting
an object of negotiation with the Commission over the past year,
more than 10 have already been settled which concerned
violations of model procedures or approvals of products on
importation.
In the sensitive environmental sector, out of a total of 110 EU
directives only 18 remain unsettled without a clear
incorporation timetable for harmonization.
[26] Greek wholesale prices rise to 5.2 pct yr/yr in July
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek wholesale price inflation rose to 5.2 percent year-on-year
in July from 4.3 percent in June and 6.4 percent in July 1996,
the National Statistics Service (NSS) said.
Average wholesale inflation in January-July fell to 3.4 percent
from 6.6 percent and 8.7 percent in 1996 and 1995 respectively,
it said.
Wholesale price index
July 97 June 97 July 96: Month-on-month 0.2% 4.3% -0.6%,
Year-on-year 5.2% -0.1% 6.4%, Index (1980=100) 890.1 888.0 846.1
[27] Greek stocks climb, rallying after correction
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek equities resumed their upward trend after a two-day
correction on the Athens Stock Exchange.
Buying interest was once again focused in construction and
industrial issues helping most other sectors to rebound. The
general index closed 0.83 percent higher at 1,654.65 points.
Banks rose 0.18 percent, Leasing fell 0.19 percent, Insurance
increased 1.70 percent, Investment ended 1.93 percent higher,
Industrials rose 1.56 percent, Construction jumped 3.77 percent,
Holding was 2.20 percent up and Miscellaneous rose 0.14 percent.
The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 0.76
percent higher.
Trading remained heavy and turnover was 22.8 billion drachmas.
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 121 to 90 with another 25
issues unchanged.
Bank of Athens, Sysware, Hellenic Sugar and Pouliades scored the
biggest percentage gains, while Benroubi, Pairis, Sarandopoulos
and Xylemporia suffered the heaviest losses.
National Bank of Greece ended at 34,400 drachmas, Ergobank at
18,000, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,500, Delta Dairy at 4,100, Titan
Cement at 15,850, Intracom at 13,600 and Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization at 6,830. In the domestic
foreign exchange market the US dollar fell 0.67 percent against
the drachma following a sharp depreciation of its parity in
international markets.
[28] Greek aluminium industry has Dr 500 bln turnover
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Greek aluminium industry's total turnover is 500 billion
drachmas, accounting for 1.7 percent of the country's gross
domestic product, the Greek Aluminium Union (GAU) said at
Thessaloniki international trade fair.
Greek aluminium exports accounted for 9 percent of total
exports, or 17 percent of industrial and manufactured products.
Greece ranks eighth in the world aluminium industry, while the
country's bauxite production accounts for 1/3 of European
production.
GAU's chairman Ch. Christodoulou told a seminar on aluminium at
the trade fair that the sector had great growth potential in
developing and producing finished aluminium products.
The Greek industry should undertake this task in order to
survive and prosper in the international market, he said.
Christodoulou pointed out that aluminium production had doubled
during the last decade from 53,000 tons in 1986 to 105,000 tons
last year.
More than 8,000 enterprises operated in Greece with a total
workforce of 40,000.
GAU's chairman also said the union's recycling program, launched
ten years ago, had brought significant results.
With a rate of around 30 percent of tin cans recycled in Greece,
the country was catching up with average rates of aluminium
recycling in Europe.
Aluminium is the theme sector for this year's Thessaloniki trade
fair.
[29] Greece to give Serbia Dls 100 mln. for roadbuilding
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Greek government will provide credits worth 100 million US
dollars to fund construction of a new motorway in Serbia.
A consortium of Greek contractors, led by Meton and Aktor,
signed a memorandum for the creation of a joint venture with
Serbia's ministry of public works.
The joint company will take part in an international tender for
the construction of a motorway in the Balkan country. Serbian
Public Works Minister Branislav Ivkovic said that the Greek
companies had pledged to secure satisfactory funding for
construct ion of the road. Greece has shown great interest in
the project because it will significantly improve road links and
transport from Greece to Europe.
[30] EU seminar on energy to be held in Rhodes Oct. 3
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The third in the series of "Energy and local authorities"
seminars organized by the European Commission and the Committee
of the Regions will be held in Rhodes (Greece) on October 3,
1997.
It will focus on energy management, local development and
employment. The objective of these seminars is to discuss in
greater depth the role played by local authorities in EU member
states in combating climate change and formulating effective
energy strategies, bearing in mind that urbanization is the
cause of the majority of energy consumption and emissions of
pollutants. The seminar should provide an opportunity for local
and regional authorities to exchange experiences, with a view to
improving energy efficiency, and to promote use of new
technologies in the light of the impact which such schemes have
had on job creation.
Local and regional authorities have been demonstrating their
commitment to combating global issues by launching more and more
local schemes.
The European Commission's specific action to promote regional
and urban energy management under the SAVE II program has been
supporting them in their efforts by co-funding the establishment
of regional or local energy management agencies.
These have the technical and scientific know how to advise
consumers - whether private, public or industrial - on energy
matters, leading on to local activities. The first two seminars
- in Espoo (Finland) on February 28, 1997 and Bologna (Italy) on
April 18, 1997 - produced a clearer picture of the role played
by local authorities in combating climate change and formulating
effective energy strategies.
In particular, they helped to forge a common position for
regions and towns and cities in preparation for the conference
on climate change in Kyoto from 1 to 12 December 1997.
[31] Greece swamped by proposals for EU-funded energy plan
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece's development ministry has been swamped by proposals from
private companies seeking funds under its European Union funded
energy saving and renewable energy program. The call for
proposals in mid-July has brought investment plans across the
board with renewable energy projects being the most popular,
ministry secretary general Andonis Papathanasopoulos told a news
conference at Thessalonkiki international trade fair.
The program, budgeted at 90 billion drachmas, is funded under
the EU's second support framework. Sixty billion drachmas are
destined for energy saving and 30 billion for renewable energy
projects.
The ministry also expects more proposals on technology for
energy co-production by the October 15 deadline, sparked by
progress in building a national natural gas network for
industrial and household use.
In the first round, spanning December 1996-March 1997, proposals
for energy co-production represented only four percent of
investment plans.
Eligible to apply are private concerns that wish to launch a
project budgeted at a minimum 100 million drachmas for energy
co-production and 20 million for energy saving technology. The
ministry's subsidies range between 35 percent and 55 percent.
No further proposals will be sought until 2000 but the ministry
is preparing a new program it hopes will fall under the EU's
third support package, Mr. Papathanasopoulos said.
[32] EU supports municipal elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The European Union (EU) is providing financial support amounting
to more than ECU 8 million for the municipal elections in
Bosnia, which will take place on 13-14 September 1997.
"Free and fair municipal elections are a vital aspect of
ensuring long term stability in Bosnia Herzegovina" commented
Commissioner Hans van den Broek. "Since the central authorities
are still not functioning up to Dayton standards, it is
important that the people have faith in directly elected
municipal officials," he said.
The EU has deployed some 2,450 election supervisors in Bosnia
and Herzegovina as part of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) elections supervision mission.
Polling on September 13-14 and subsequent counting of the votes
will be observed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina by more than
250 monitors, many of them from EU Member States.
A delegation from the European Parliament will monitor the
elections in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Brcko. The EU assistance
is part of a common and foreign and security policy joint
action, one of the EU's foreign policy tools.
[33] Bank of Crete purchase bid by Piraeus Bank
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
A bid for the purchase of Bank of Crete was eventually submitted
yesterday by Piraeus Bank.
Copies of the bid were delivered to the members of an appraisal
committee for consideration.
Eurobank was the first institution to express interest in buying
Bank of Crete, at a minimum price of 30 billion drachmas, but it
did not submit a bid.
AGET releases first half results The cement company AGET Iraklis
recorded a 13 per cent rise in sales (47.6 billion drachmas)
during the first half of 1997 in comparison to the corresponding
period last year.
The company's pre-tax profits totaled 8.68 billion drachmas, a
rise of 71.7 per cent. Announcing the economic results
yesterday, Aget officials told the members of the board that
prospects for the second half of the year were also expected to
be positive, owing to increased demand in the domestic market
and abroad. AGET also said the nomination of Athens to host the
Olympic Games in 2004 was expected to boost an investments
program for infrastructure projects underway across the country.
The Iraklis consortium also recorded a rising course with sales
in the first half of the current year, having reached 70.35
billion drachmas, a rise of 45 per cent.
[34] Lower transit cargo prices decided for Piraeus
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
The Piraeus Port Authority (OLP) has decided to establish a more
favorable invoice for transit cargoes passing through the port
in containers.
The new invoice, according to the number of containers
transported by each company on an annual basis, is as follows:
For 1-5,000 containers: $72.50 dollars; from 5,001-20,000, $59;
from 20,001-100,000, $50.50 and from 100,000 containers and
above, $43.50.
Prices include both employees' overtime work and additional
charges for work done on holidays and Sundays.
OLP's new invoice allows for an increase in transit cargoes'
exclusion from storage dues from nine to 15 days. The same
applies to empty transit containers.
For containers having dangerous contents or a mixed content
(dangerous and non-dangerous) a free seven-day stay period is
established.
[35] Ionian Bank profits rise
Athens, 13/09/1997 (ANA)
Ionian Bank's net pre-prediction profits have amounted to 6.2
billion drachmas in the first half of 1997 compared to 3.1
billion drachmas in the corresponding period in 1996.
The bank's net pre-tax profits amounted to 4 billion drachmas in
the first half of the year as against 1.1 billion drachmas over
the same period last year.
According to an announcement by the bank, the positive course
over the first half of the year is expected to continue during
the second half of the current year.
According to the announcement, the loans granted by the bank as
at June 30, 1997 amounted to 509.8 billion drachmas and deposits
to 1.589 trillion drachmas, while on the same date in 1996 they
amounted to 453.1 billion drachmas and 1.422 trillion drachmas,
respectively.
End of English language section.
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