Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-09-24
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1297), September 24, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Turkey insists on disputing Aegean status quo, Pangalos says
[02] Gov't spokesman
[03] Ambassador-designate Burns lauds Greece's role in region
[04] Biden condemns Turkey over Cyprus occupation
[05] Poos mentions Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus problem in UN
address
[06] Simitis, Niles meet
[07] Greece-Cyprus defense co-operation examined
[08] Albanian defense minister in Greece
[09] NATO's 'Dynamic Mix '97' exercise begins with Greek participation
[10] F-16 missing off Agios Efstratios
[11] ND reaction
[12] US plane catches fire
[13] Papandreou meets with Australia's Whitlam
[14] Kaklamanis to visit Australia
[15] Sofia to host southeast Europe defense ministers meeting
[16] Four new Orthodox archbishoprics created in Africa
[17] Proposed 'Kapodistrias' plan continues to stir up reactions
[18] ... KKE
[19] Media conference focusing on the Mediterranean ends
[20] OA board plan to pension off 469 employees
[21] Meeting focuses on environmental impact studies for projects
[22] Gov't says revenue measure for funds be examined only after 2000
[23] Cohesion Fund director briefed on OSE projects
[24] Alumil agreement with Egyptian firm
[25] OTE shortwave station contract awarded
[26] EU Mediterranean farm ministers meet
[27] Greek bourse launches stock index today
[28] Greek telecom mulls listing on NYSE
[29] International benchmarking conference to be held in Athens
[30] Black Sea group urges creation of better business climate
[31] Greece to host Mediterranean business meeting
[32] Greek stocks take tentative step towards 1,700 pts.
[33] Greece to hold trade fair in FYROM
[01] Turkey insists on disputing Aegean status quo, Pangalos says
United Nations, 24/09/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Turkey wants to insist on keeping open the issue of disputing
the status quo of the Aegean, something that Athens cannot
discuss, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said in New York
yesterday after meeting with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem
on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.
"The Americans have been making some attempts at finding a
formula that has been sought in the past also, but the issue is
not an issue of (finding) a formula," Mr. Pangalos explained.
"The issue is an issue of political decision (by Turkey). Turkey
wishes to keep open the issue of doubting the present situation
in the Aegean, something that Greece could not even hold talks
on," he added.
Asked what issues the two foreign ministers talked about, Mr.
Pangalos said: "The discussion focused exclusively on Imia and
the specific issue of Turkey's territorial demands against
Greece, which I have set as a prerequisite issue for any further
discussion."
The foreign minister said that both sides repeated their stance,
while at Mr. Cem's request that both countries sit down at the
discussion table, Mr. Pangalos replied that "this is a refusal
to dialogue, it is a non-starter, and there is no use at all of
holding any further discussion in this direction. I gave him a
few characteristic examples. To the extent that logic may (be
able to) influence someone, I remain hopeful".
Asked whether the United States could play a role in Greece's
decision to refuse discussion if Turkey does not lift its
demands against Greece, Mr. Pangalos replied: "Not even God
could play an important role in Greece's refusal to negotiate
its sovereign rights. This is a message to all directions. And
at present, at least, God is above the United States".
On the possibility of setting any confidence-building measures,
he said, "the confidence-building measures are technical
measures, that relate to daily life. They do not regulate the
essence of the issue".
On his side, Mr. Cem said that he had had a "friendly
conversation in a friendly atmosphere", adding that "each of us
presented our stances in a friendly manner. We shall meet again
and continue our dialogue".
Mr. Pangalos added that both would meet again on Crete in
approximately a month with the prime ministers of Greece and
Turkey. He also added that each of them planned to meet
separately with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Asked to comment on his meeting with Archbishop of America
Spyridon, Mr. Pangalos replied that his relations with the
Archbishop had always been excellent.
Speaking to Greek television reporters hours before his meeting
with Mr. Cem, Mr. Pangalos said that "he did not expect"
something important out of the meeting.
However, he said one should await the events and termed as very
important the fact that both the United States and Russia have
included Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue in their
agendas.
Turkish Under-secretary Inal Batu termed last night's meeting
"useful and helpful", adding that the dialogue was also helpful
in light of the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Costas
Simitis and his Turkish counterpart Mesut Yilmaz in Crete.
However, he reiterated his government's position that Turkey
does not accept resorting to the International Court at The
Hague only for the issue of the Imia islets and insists on
calling for an examination of all issues.
[02] Gov't spokesman
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Earlier in Athens, government spokesman Demetris Reppas said
Greece expected the New York meeting to "clearly" show that
Turkey is willing to act in the spirit of the Madrid communiqui.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Reppas said there was still no news
on whether a tripartite meeting with the participation of the
Greek, Turkish and US foreign ministers would be held during the
UN General Assembly.
"It's not something that can be ruled out," Mr. Reppas said,
adding however, that there had been nothing official.
In a related development, he said the statements made by US
President Bill Clinton in his United Nations address on Monday
did not come as a surprise to the Greek government.
Mr. Reppas added that Greece was aware of the US role in Greek
Turkish relations and that there were no new developments in the
issue.
Mr. Pangalos and Mr. Cem will meet separately with US Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright today.
Mr. Reppas also said the use of the word "supremacy" by the
Turkish defense minister in relation to the deployment of the
S-300 missiles on Cyprus was "arrogance."
Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin was reported as saying
that the deployment of the missiles would overturn "Turkish
supremacy."
"(The word) should not be used," Mr. Reppas said. "There is no
need of 'supremacy'."
[03] Ambassador-designate Burns lauds Greece's role in region
Washington, 24/09/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis /DPA)
The newly appointed US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns said
yesterday that Greece is a leader in the Balkans and a force for
peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.
Mr. Burns was expected to be confirmed by the US Senate Foreign
Affairs Committee, along with nominees for the posts in Ankara,
Rome and the Vatican. The committee yesterday told the four
nominees that "they should pack their bags."
Outlining Washington's targets in its relations with Greece
during his confirmation hearings by the US Senate Foreign
Affairs Committee in the framework of his confirmation hearing
as US ambassador to Greece, Mr. Burns, a former State Department
spokesman, also said the relationship between Washington and
Athens is "very important" which, he noted, constitutes a
decisive element for NATO's success and the power of the
alliance's southeastern flank.
However, he added that the strategic relationship between the US
and Turkey is also absolutely essential.
He said he will place emphasis on the need for a peaceful
settlement of Greek-Turkish differences as well as of a
resolution of the Cyprus issue. He reminded that the interest of
the US in these two issues is increased and is shown by both the
active role undertaken by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
and the appointment of Richard Holbrooke as a presidential envoy
on the Cyprus issue.
Apart from Greek-Turkish differences and the Cyprus issue, Mr.
Burns said that he must contribute towards stamping out
terrorism in Greece and the wider region, as well as to an
increase in trade exchanges between the US and Greece.
Mr. Burns added that Ms Albright is determined to render the
spirit of the Madrid communiqui as a guiding policy in
Greek-Turkish relations. He assessed that some tension existing
in Greek-American relations in the past has disappeared and has
been replaced by close co-operation.
[04] Biden condemns Turkey over Cyprus occupation
Washington, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Newly appointed US ambassador to Ankara Mark Parris also
testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee together with Mr.
Burns. The two US diplomats stressed that their long-standing
acquaintance and friendship will render more effective the
common effort they will be making to improve Greek-Turkish
relations and resolve the Cyprus issue.
The only note that marred the polite, cheerful atmosphere in the
hearing room was an angry denunciation by Sen. Joseph Biden
(D-Delaware), insisting that Mr. Parris should tell the Turkish
government that its sense of isolation in the world is because
it violated international law by invading Cyprus in 1974 and
continues to violate international law by keeping its troops
there.
Mr. Parris answered diplomatically, which brought on another
response by Sen. Biden.
He demanded that Mr. Parris tell Ankara that the United States
is "even-handed, which means to be fair... Our policy is that it
(the Turkish invasion and occupation) was illegal."
Mr. Parris did not directly respond.
[05] Poos mentions Greek-Turkish relations, Cyprus problem in UN
address
United Nations, 24/09/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Luxembourg EU Council of Ministers president Jacques Poos
extensively referred at yesterday's session of the 52th UN
General Assembly to the Union's relations with Turkey,
development of which in the economic and political sector
depends on solution of certain serious issues.
Mr. Poos said these issues included respect for human rights,
the situation in southeastern Turkey and the Cyprus issue.
His positions were also mentioned in a bulky EU memorandum which
circulated here.
Mr. Poos stressed that the Dublin EU summit in December 1996
called on the presidency of the Union to continue efforts for
promoting an acceptable solution of the situation in the Aegean,
according to international law.
He also referred to the setting up of a joint Greek and Turkish
"committee of experts", and pointed out that the EU stressed
that the development of its relations with Turkey basically
depends on an improvement of Greek- Turkish relations, as well
as o n Ankara's "positive contribution" to the search for a just
and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, and finally, on
securing the protection of the human rights of the minorities.
He mentioned the Commission's July 16 call to Turkey for a
strengthening of its relations with the EU, and the new call to
that country to use its influence for the promotion of a
negotiated solution of the Cyprus issue through direct
negotiations.
[06] Simitis, Niles meet
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis met yesterday with outgoing US
Ambassador to Greece Thomas Niles.
Sources said the meeting was a formality as Mr. Niles was
shortly leaving Greece. The two were reported to have discussed
recent developments in Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus
issue and bilateral relations.
Mr. Niles will be replaced by the end of October by the former
US State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns.
[07] Greece-Cyprus defense co-operation examined
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece and Cyprus yesterday examined the course of defense
co-operation between the two countries, at a meeting between
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his Cypriot
counterpart Costas Eliades.
The two men examined the progress towards meeting goals set out
in the framework of the joint defense doctrine between Athens
and Nicosia, as well as details of Cyprus' forthcoming
"Nikiforos '97" exercise, to be held next month. Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos said Greece's armed forces would be participating
in the Nikiforos exercise, which will include, as it did last
year, military flights over Cyprus by Greek fighters.
He said he had accepted an invitation to visit Cyprus during the
annual military exercise.
Mr. Eliades said the planning and holding of the Nikiforos
exercise was independent of the course of planned security talks
between Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktash on Friday.
"These contacts will proceed aiming at a final agreement whether
on the issue of the demilitarization of the island or on other
issues, since the agenda is open," Mr. Eliades said.
[08] Albanian defense minister in Greece
Gjirokaster, 24/09/1997 (ANA- D. Tsakas)
Albanian Defense Minister Sabit Brokaj is starting a two-day
visit to Athens today, at the invitation of his Greek
counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.
The two men will sign a new co-operation pact in the defense
sector.
[09] NATO's 'Dynamic Mix '97' exercise begins with Greek participation
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
The NATO multinational exercise "Dynamic Mix '97" is taking
place with Greece's participation after a lengthy absence, while
Turkey has announced that it would not participate.
The exercise, coordinated by NATO's southern flank headquarters,
was launched yesterday and will continue until Oct. 13.
Three regional exercises will take place on Greek territory,
namely, in Macedonia, Thessaly and the western Peloponnese.
"The exercise covers the entire national territory and meets our
demands in this current phase," the chief of the exercises
coordination office at the Hellenic Armed Forces General Staff
said.
According to reports, with the holding of the military exercise
NATO indirectly favors the necessity of an alliance regional
headquarters in Larissa, as part of NATO's new structural
changes.
"Dynamic Mix" is held with the participation of Belgium,
Britain, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands,
Norway and the United States.
[10] F-16 missing off Agios Efstratios
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
A Hellenic Air Force F-16 fighter disappeared from radar screens
at around 3:30 p.m. yesterday.
The plane was on a training flight with another three F-16s west
of the Aegean island of Agios Efstratios when communication was
lost.
Air force helicopters and navy vessels are conducting a search
of the area. Later reports said an oil slick had been detected
in the sea region where the F-16 had disappeared. Efforts were
still under way to find the plane and its pilot, First-Lt.
Christos Angelopoulos, 30.
[11] ND reaction
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
In a statement, main opposition New Democracy (ND) party
expressed concern over the "unjustifiable increase in the number
of aircraft accidents" of the Hellenic Air Force. ND called on
the ministry of national defense to "take an effective active
role towards preventing accidents".
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said the fall signified what
it called "huge problems of political and military character."
"Is it true that the loss of so many aircraft is due to the fact
that the armed forces are supplied with armaments appropriate
for NATO's long-range maneuvers, but inappropriate for areas of
limited-range maneuvers, such as the Aegean?" KKE asked in a
statement.
[12] US plane catches fire
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
A US Air Force P-3 Orion aircraft caught fire as it landed at
Souda air-base in Crete early yesterday, but there were no
injuries, the Greek Air Force General Staff said. An
announcement said that the US naval co-operation aircraft
cracked the left side of its belly and caught fire as it landed
at 2:30 a.m. at the end of the Souda air-base tarmac.
It said Greek and US fire-fighting units extinguished the fire.
Military sources said the four-engine US aircraft skidded off
the landing runway at Souda and caught fire after its left wheel
broke.
Its two left engines and left wing were also damaged, but there
were no injuries among its six-member crew, the sources said.
The airplane was taking part in a NATO southeastern wing
exercise code-named "Dynamic Mix".
[13] Papandreou meets with Australia's Whitlam
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou held a meeting
yesterday with visiting former Australian prime minister Gough
Whitlam.
Mr. Whitlam spoke warmly of the late Andreas Papandreou, founder
of ruling PASOK party and former premier, with whom he was
acquainted.
Mr. Papandreou, the son of the late premier, suggested the
Australian statesman become a member of the honorary
international board of the Andreas Papandreou Foundation.
In the meeting, the two men confirmed the close ties between the
Greek and Australian people, with particular emphasis to the
important role which the Greek community in Australia plays in
the country's economic and political life.
Mr. Whitlam invited Mr. Papandreou to participate in a meeting
on art and culture to be held with the participation of
Australian intellectuals and artists.
[14] Kaklamanis to visit Australia
Melbourne, (ANA - S. Hatzimanolis)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis will pay a formal
visit to Australia from September 27 to October 4, at the
invitation of Australian counterpart Bob Halverston,
parliamentary sources said yesterday.
Mr. Kaklamanis will visit Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and
also meet with members of the Greek community of Australia.
[15] Sofia to host southeast Europe defense ministers meeting
Sofia, 24/09/1997 (ANA/AFP)
Defense ministers from southeast European NATO countries and
countries involved in NATO's "Partnership for Peace" program
will attend a meeting in Sofia on October 3.
An AFP dispatch from the Bulgarian capital reported Bulgarian
Defense Minister Gueorgui Ananiev saying that the defense
ministers of Greece, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Albania, Romania and Slovenia would be participating.
The United States and Italy, which proposed these regional
meetings, will also be represented.
The first such meeting was held in Tirana in 1996. Romania,
Slovenia and Greece did not participate in that meeting.
[16] Four new Orthodox archbishoprics created in Africa
Alexandria, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Petros yesterday chaired
a meeting of the Holy Synod of the Alexandria Patriarchate.
Petros announced his forthcoming tours and the establishment of
four new archbishoprics in Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and
Madagascar.
The Synod appointed new bishops in Cameroon, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
[17] Proposed 'Kapodistrias' plan continues to stir up reactions
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Although the "Ioannis Kapodistrias" plan to merge villages and
small communities has sparked strong reactions among communities
throughout the nation seeking to hold on to the current local
government system, the government says it is determined to
proceed with its implementation.
"Reactions are sporadic and will be taken into consideration as
long as they don't conflict with the general planning,"
government spokesman Demetris Reppas said yesterday. However,
extending what is already a long list of reactions, some 240
communities in eastern Macedonia yesterday stated opposition to
the plan.
Communities in Kavala, Drama and Serres prefectures announced
plans for "dynamic protests," including road blockades, to be
held on Sept. 25-30.
Meanwhile, residents of Polygyros, Halkidiki, have resorted to
roadblocks in protest of the plan.
The city, which wants to merge with more communities than
provided in Kapodistrias in a bid to increase its size, has
threatened with roadblocks in Thessaloniki.
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
In a related development, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
has announced plans to launch a country-wide campaign against
the plan. "The plan's goals come into conflict with people's
interests," a KKE announcement said.
In addition, KKE's central committee said the substance and
targets which the Kapodistrias plan serves "are contrary to
popular interests" and called on the government not to table the
relevant bill in Parliament out of respect for popular reactions.
KKE said that if this does not happen, the relevant debate
should be broadcast by the state-controlled media.
[19] Media conference focusing on the Mediterranean ends
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
A two-day conference entitled "The Role and Importance of the
Mediterranean in the Process of European Unification" ended
yesterday at Zappeio Hall, following extensive references to the
"new reality" created by the spread of mass media and technology.
The conference was organized by the Union of European
Journalists.
Yesterday's speeches addressed two separate themes. The first
was "News Agencies and the Mass Media in the Mediterranean:
Their Role and Function", and "Europe, the Mediterranean, North
America: A New Cultural Reality".
On the first theme, Press Ministry Secretary General Nikos
Athanassakis pointed out that the convergence of mass media with
telecommunications created a new market that gradually unified
the infrastructures of networks and sources, and services and
multi-media businesses. Co-operation between national news
agencies would improve the effectiveness of communications,
beyond the power carried by large international news agencies,
he said, calling for the promotion of joint programs in
informatics.
Mr. Athanassakis also praised an initiative by the Athens News
Agency (ANA) to table a proposal with the European Union program
INTERREG II that would link Greece with Cyprus and Lebanon.
ANA general director Andreas Christodoulides called for
collaboration between national agencies that would utilize local
networks for information and promote exchanges and joint
projects.
"The only way to prevent the creation of two separate worlds in
information is to promote the set-up of professional groups of
national agencies that would utilize the local networks for
further information, create regional specialized bulletins,
exchange photos and videos on issues of interest to the area,
planning joint investments and carrying out seminars," Mr.
Christodoulides proposed.
The ANA's general director also announced an agreement underway
between ANA and the national news agencies of Turkey, Bulgaria,
Romania, Albania and Yugoslavia on English-language bulletins
for economic and business news.
Turkish journalist Dogan Tilic, of the Spanish news agency EFE,
expressed disappointment from a clash in interests resulting in
a conflict between "what we truly believe and what we actually
write", which he said has occurred because the traditional press
was replaced by "unrelated businessmen interested only in
profits".
The second theme of the congress included speeches by authors
Nikos Demou and T. Theodoropoulos on the new "culture" created
by mass media and how the development of informatics would
radically alter the identity of cultures. Journalist Rihardos
Someritis pointed out the lack of a common Mediterranean policy,
which he said would be untenable in the near future anyway,
charging the European Union with indifference for the
Mediterranean and subservience to Washington.
The conference was brought to a close with a speech by Foreign
Ministry Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis on the main issues
of Greek foreign policy.
[20] OA board plan to pension off 469 employees
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
A total of 469 Olympic Airways (OA) employees are expected to be
pensioned off with privileges anticipated by law 2271 (calling
for the restructuring of OA) until the end of 1997.
The decision, taken by the state-run national carrier's board
yesterday, will be proposed to Transport and Communications
Minister Tassos Mantelis. If the minister ultimately approves
the board's request, the company is expected to be burdened with
400 million drachmas in excess of compensation.
[21] Meeting focuses on environmental impact studies for projects
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis chaired a meeting yesterday on
accelerating ratification of environmental impact studies to
avoid delays in the completion of several major projects around
the country.
The meeting was attended by Environment, Town Planning and
Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, Interior Minister Alekos
Papadopoulos, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou, Culture
Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Interior Under-secretary
Lambros Papadimas.
According to reports, three measures were agreed to speed up
processes for ratifying such studies.
In a statement afterwards, Mr. Laliotis said a process exists by
which solutions must be provided in relation to the rate of
project development.
He added that there were no problems between ministries
concerning promotion of environmental impact studies for
projects.
[22] Gov't says revenue measure for funds be examined only after 2000
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou said yesterday that the
issue of imposing an additional tax in support of insurance
funds will be examined only after the year 2000.
Mr. Papaioannou was speaking at a meeting of a Parliamentary
committee on the bill concerning a crackdown on tax evasion at
the Social Insurance Foundation (IKA).
Mr. Papaioannou said the issue of imposing a social revenue for
funds is being examined in the framework of social dialogue and
also left open the issue of auxiliary pensions, saying that a
subcommittee will be created on the issue and results will be
disclosed at the end of the year. However, he pointed out that
there will be no cutbacks in pensions.
The discussion on the bill at the Parliamentary committee was
tense between the government and the main opposition New
Democracy party and there was disagreement over the exact amount
of debts owed to IKA.
ND representative Gerassimos Yiakoumatos said debts amounted to
one trillion drachmas, while Mr. Papaioannou said they totaled
650 billion drachmas.
[23] Cohesion Fund director briefed on OSE projects
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
European Union Cohesion Fund director Jean Francois Verstrynge
will be briefed today by the managing director of ERGOSE, P.
Alexakis, on the course of projects being implemented for the
Greek Railways Organization (OSE).
The projects , jointly financed by the Cohesion Fund and the
Community Support Framework II, include electrification of the
Piraeus-Athens-Thessaloniki line, construction of a new railway
line along the Thriasio Pedio-Elefsina-Corinth section,
completion of the Paleofarsalou-Kalambaka railway line's
widening and the improvement of the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli
line.
[24] Alumil agreement with Egyptian firm
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
The Alumil aluminium company has signed an agreement with the
Egypt-based Honaffa company for the manufacturing of its
products in Egypt and their distribution in North Africa and the
Middle East.
Given the region's needs in building materials, the economic
benefits for Alumil are expected to be high. The company
recorded sales of 9.45 billion drachmas and profits of 1.14
billion in 1996, while in the first half of this year sales
reached 5.5 billion drachmas.
[25] OTE shortwave station contract awarded
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
The GENER construction company has undertaken the project of
procuring, installing and delivering the Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization's (OTE) new coastal
remote-controlled shortwave station Olympia radio.
According to an announcement by GENER, the company has signed a
contract with OTE amounting to four billion drachmas. The
project includes installation of necessary equipment for the
creation of broadcasting centers and a center for the
exploitation of re mote control and remote supervision.
[26] EU Mediterranean farm ministers meet
Brussels, 24/09/1997 (ANA - P. Pantelis)
Agriculture ministers of the five Mediterranean EU member-states
- France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece - yesterday held a
working dinner on the sidelines of the farm ministers council,
at the initiative of Athens and Madrid.
The five ministers discussed the issues with common positions in
a more cohesive Mediterranean agricultural policy, in the
context of a more general reform of CAP, as well as the
coordination procedures for the promotion of such a policy.
EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler raised the issue of
the repercussions of EU enlargement on CAP, setting out the
Commission's proposals for the farm sector, which are contained
in the "Agenda 2000".
Agriculture Minister Stephanos Tzoumakas responded favorably to
the proposal for the structural policy in the rural sector. He
stressed, however, that the agricultural budget is "very tight"
and there will be great difficulty in covering the need for p
rice and farmers' income support. He also said that the extra
burden of expenses relating to structural action on the FEOGA is
not acceptable to Greece, adding that they should, instead, come
from the reserves of structural funds.
Greece supported a Spanish request for extra support for the
withdrawal of fruit and vegetables to be channeled as food aid,
and an Italian request relating to the non-symmetrical cut-backs
of supports to major olive-oil producers.
The Agriculture Commissioner said that the request for olive oil
could not be met because the support system is given and the
reserves of the budget determined.
Changes could only be made in the context of a reform of the
common market for olive oil, he added.
[27] Greek bourse launches stock index today
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
A new stock market index designed to facilitate operation of a
future derivatives market will be launched today on the Athens
Stock Exchange.
Based on a basket of 20 blue-chip stocks listed on the Greek
bourse, the new FTSE/ASE-20 index will track the daily movement
of key shares in the market.
It will be used as a basis for the operation of a derivatives
market, due to start next year.
The index was set up by the Athens Stock Exchange and FTSE
International, a company owned by the Financial Times Group and
London Stock Exchange with expertise in designing and developing
stock and bond market indices.
Under an agreement signed by the two companies, the Athens
bourse will calculate the index on a daily basis and FTSE
International is to review the index every six months.
The Athens Stock Exchange hopes that the new index will offer
international investors a new standard of measurement for the
Greek market.
The 20 companies comprising the index are: Alpha Credit Bank,
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, National Bank of
Greece, Ergobank, Commercial Bank of Greece, Titan Cement,
Hellenic Bottling, Heracles Cement, Ionian Bank, Delta Dairy,
Piraeus Bank, Papastratos, Michaniki, Macedonia-Thrace Bank,
Intracom, Greek Aluminium, Goody's, Mortgage Bank, AEGEK and
Viohalco.
[28] Greek telecom mulls listing on NYSE
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) may seek listing
on the New York Stock Exchange, chairman Demetris Papoulias told
a news conference yesterday.
Mr. Papoulias said that OTE's profits are expected to reach 304
billion drachmas in 1997, fulfilling the market's expectations.
The Greek state telecom's managing director Petros Lambrou said
that the organization will conclude its procurement agreements
by the end of the year with the aim of speeding up modernization
of the company. The two executives also expressed their
satisfaction over initial operations by the Cosmo-OTE mobile
telephone subsidiary and reaffirmed that the official launch of
the network would take place by December covering the three
major cities of Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras.
Commenting on OTE's participation in an international tender for
the purchase of a 90 percent stake in Armetel, Armenia's
state-owned telecoms company, Mr. Papoulias said that a final
answer was expected by October 15.
He also expressed interest in signing new co-operation
agreements with telecom companies in Skopje, Bulgaria and
Romania after the governments in those countries took final
decisions on privatization of the telecommunications sector.
[29] International benchmarking conference to be held in Athens
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
An international conference on how benchmarking is used by
corporations in Europe and the US to achieve quality will be
held in Athens on October 1.
The meeting, organized by The Economist Conferences, has 22
speakers from Greece and abroad including managers who use
benchmarking. They will outline their experiences and answer
questions.
Among the speakers are Transport and Communications Minister
Tassos Mantelis and Sultan Kermally, senior vice president of
The Economist Intelligence Unit. Also due to speak are managers
from Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Rank Xerox UK,
Panafon and Citibank.
More than two thirds of companies in Europe and the US use
benchmarking in many departments. Greek firms have embarked on
total quality and similar initiatives to try to match their
global competitors.
The Economist Intelligence Unit recently published a report that
shows the pursuit of quality is the best way of developing
sustainable corporate advantages.
[30] Black Sea group urges creation of better business climate
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Black Sea and Balkan countries should create a better business
climate and tighten trade links by developing new strategies,
officials of Black Sea Economic Co-operation said.
The officials were speaking on the first day of a two-day
meeting in Athens of the group's parliamentary assembly.
Represented are Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine.
"Developing economic co-operation among the group's members
needs a structural leap, which cannot be attained through
traditional bilateral co-operation agreements," Maria Arseni,
the parliamentary assembly's vice president, said.
"Radical and effective steps need to be taken," she said.
[31] Greece to host Mediterranean business meeting
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece will hold an international conference on Mediterranean
co-operation and development on September 26-29 in the northern
town of Kozani.
"(The meeting) is an attempt to extend the horizon for creation
of a new economic area among Balkan, Mediterranean and Black Sea
countries," Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou told a
news conference. Held under the aegis of the foreign ministry,
the conference's organizers include the Arab-Hellenic Chamber,
Mediterranean Co-operation Institute, Mediterranean Research
Institute, Hellenic Exports Promotion Organization, and
Thessaloniki international trade fair.
Development Under-secretary Anna Diamantopoulos, who heads the
conference's organizational committee, said the purpose of the
meeting was to encourage firms in the region to set up joint
ventures and an information network.
Expected to take part are ministers, bank governors, corporate
managers and academics.
[32] Greek stocks take tentative step towards 1,700 pts.
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek equities took another hesitant step towards the 1,700
level on the Athens Stock Exchange helped by strong buying
interest in construction and industrial shares.
The general index closed 0.57 percent higher at 1,693.87 points
with most sector indices scoring gains.
Banks rose 0.49 percent, Leasing was 0.05 percent up, Insurance
increased 0.61 percent, Investment ended 0.29 percent higher,
Industrials rose 0.85 percent, Construction jumped 1.33 percent,
Miscellaneous rose 1.08 percent but Holding eased 0.07 percent .
Trading was heavy and turnover was 21.8 billion drachmas.
Broadly, advancing issues led declining ones by 130 to 82 with
another 32 issues unchanged.
Attica Aluminium, Ioniki Hotels, Vernikos Yachts, Terna,
Hellenic Bottling and General Bank scored the biggest percentage
gains, while Heliofin, Viosol, Greek Aluminium and Pairis
suffered the heaviest losses. National Bank of Greece ended at
33,595 drachmas, Ergobank at 18,300, Alpha Credit Bank at
19,900, Delta Dairy at 3,725, Titan Cement at 16,450, Intracom
at 14,545 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organization at 6,740.
In the domestic foreign exchange market the US dollar and the
DMark rose fractionally against the drachma.
[33] Greece to hold trade fair in FYROM
Athens, 24/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece's state trade fair organizer will hold an exhibition in
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on December
3-6 as part of a strategy to expand its activities into the
Balkans.
The trade fair, which comes in the wake of two exhibitions of
Greek products in Odessa and Ukraine, also forms part of the
government's economic policy of extending links to the Balkans.
HELEXPO-DETH, which is organizer of the annual Thessaloniki
international trade fair, plans to hold an exhibition in
Belgrade. The date has yet to be set.
The move follows requests by exhibitors at the Thessaloniki
event, who requested trade fairs in Belgrade and Skopje, FYROM's
capital.
Among major firms expected to take part are Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization, Public Power Corporation,
Olympic Airways, Public Petroleum Corporation, and Piraeus and
Thessaloniki Port Authorities.
End of English language section.
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