Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-01-03
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1381), January 3, 1998
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Athens calls for concerted European action on refugees
[02] Human wave from Turkey continues
[03] Search for missing three illegals continues
[04] Separate Kranidiotis meetings with US, British ambassadors
[05] Athens: No harassment of Turkish vessels by Greek warships
[06] ... Turkey to protest
[07] ... Press reports
[08] President on official visit to India
[09] Memorial service for lost air force officers
[10] New speedboat on patrol in Ionian
[11] Declassified Foreign Office documents on Greek junta
[12] Minister sets out Thessaloniki's cultural future
[13] CD set features works by Greek composers
[14] EU-funded development program for Aegean rock-islets
[15] First instance court decision on Distos sinking
[16] Greek equities make hesitant 1998 debut
[17] Greek telecom raises monthly rates, local unit cost
[18] Smokers to pay more in 1998
[19] Athens Water Company freezes 1998 rates
[20] Lesvos Maritime nine month profits up 38.8 percent
[21] OA board chairman resigns
[22] Alpha Credit Bank rates
[23] Bake rolls investment
[24] Sales drop for Greek Textiles Co.
[25] Program to aid repatriated Greeks of Drama prefecture
[26] Pensioners, salaried workers the hardest hit taxpayers
[01] Athens calls for concerted European action on refugees
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Greece yesterday called for coordinated action on the part of
Schengen Pact member-states to deal with the causes of the
large-scale illegal immigration of Kurds into western Europe.
"The increase in the flow of illegal immigrants to Europe,
particularly to EU countries, is a phenomenon which has become
acute over the last few months, causing concern and mobilizing
interest - beyond the governmental level - of EU organs and of
Schengen," the foreign ministry's Secretary-General, Stelios
Perrakis, told ANA yesterday.
"Recent events, particularly the arrival of about 1,200 Kurdish
refugees in Italy onboard Turkish ships, confirm what the Greek
side has repeatedly stressed at a high political level in the EU
and in the Schengen system, that the issue cannot be dealt with
through increased police measures and stricter control of
external borders (sea, air or land).
"What is required now is international action on the part of
Schengen countries and on the causes of the problem, namely, the
aggressive Turkish military activity in northern Iraq, on one
hand, and Ankara's policy of not controlling or restricting and
even tolerating the flow of Iraqi refugees through its territory
westwards," he specified.
"In the context of the same policy, all Schengen countries must
demand of Turkey the signing of an agreement for re-entry (of
refugees), which, we note, this country has been refusing to do
with Greece for a number of years," Mr. Perrakis stressed.
"The flow of illegal immigration, of course, affects our
country, as proven by the increase in arrivals, but also the
applications for asylum, which Greece has to deal with in the
framework of its obligations arising from the 1951 Geneva
Convention on the status of refugees and from international law.
At the same time, Greece adopts all those measures required for
the control of external borders, according to the obligations
arising from our country's participation in the Schengen
system," he added.
Meanwhile, a recent Italian proposal for the convening of an
international conference on the Kurdish problem met with
negative reaction from Ankara.
On his part, press ministry Secretary-General Nikos Athanasakis
told the AFP news agency of the government's concern over the
increasing number of Kurd refugees attempting to enter Greece.
"It is a problem which is causing us serious concern because the
rate of refugee arrivals is increasing. We are aware of the
humanitarian aspect and we try every time to tackle the problem
by helping the refugees," Mr. Athanasakis said. "They leave
Turkey easily, a country which is not linked to Greece with an
agreement for repatriating immigrants," he said, adding that
according to latest estimates 12,000 illegal immigrants, mostly
Kurds, arrived in Greece through Turkey in 1996.
However, the UN High Commissioner's representative for refugees
in Greece, Marion Hoffman, said yesterday that few stay in
Greece, and most move on to another European country. People
requesting asylum are only a small percentage of the illegal
immigrants, she said.
The Greek government is closely following developments over the
last few days and has boosted patrols by coast-guard and navy
vessels for the location of ships transporting illegal
immigrants.
A Greek warship is patrolling in the northern Aegean for the
same reason, according to defense ministry sources.
According to reliable sources, the foreign ministry will decide
within the month on the adoption of additional measures in
accordance with the Schengen Pact.
[02] Human wave from Turkey continues
Rome, 03/01/1998 (ANA/AFP/REUTERS)
Another ship carrying 300 Kurd illegal immigrants left Istanbul
yesterday morning and is in the Aegean, according to an
announcement by a Kurdistan National Liberation Front (ERNK)
spokesman.
The ship's final destination is not known but it is believed
that it will sail to either Italy or Greece, the pro-Kurdish
agency DEM stated.
According to ERNK, the PKK's political wing, two more ships left
Turkey two days ago with 1,000 Kurds. Their destination is again
unknown.
"We don't know about the ship. Had we known, we would have
seized it," one Turkish coast-guard official reportedly said.
ERNK had warned Rome in November that a "biblical exodus" of
Kurds was about to occur and that at least 20,000 people were
ready to head west.
[03] Search for missing three illegals continues
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
As international attention appeared to be focusing on the
problem, three Iraqi illegal immigrants of Kurdish origin were
reported missing and presumed drowned in the Evros River, which
constitutes the Greek-Turkish border in Thrace, police in
Alexandroupoli said yesterday. The missing two women and a small
boy were among a group of 28 illegal immigrants being
transported by a Turkish smuggler to the region of Didimotiho
late New Year's Eve, police said.
"Their boat overturned, and the three were swept away by the
river's currents," a police spokesman said. The Turkish smuggler
had put the group of 28 ashore on an islet in the middle of the
river, from where he had strung a rope across to the Greek side
in order to provide a hold and keep the vessel from being
overturned by the rushing waters, according to reports.
The illegals were then ferried across in groups of five. The two
women and the boy were among the second group, with another
child and a man. Police said the man managed to save one of his
children, but his wife, his other child and another woman were
carried away by the waters and disappeared.
A Greek military patrol in the area heard the calls for help and
rushed to their assistance, but the three had already vanished
downstream. A massive rescue operation was launched by the army
and local fishermen, who picked up the rest of the immigrant s
stranded on the tiny islet and facing serious danger from rising
waters.
Eleven of the illegal immigrants who appeared to be in poor
condition were taken to Didimotiho hospital as a precaution,
before being taken to a nearby police station.
The search and rescue operation for the missing three continued
late into the evening and was resumed at dawn yesterday.
Finally, authorities said they were holding a total of 125 Iraqi
illegal immigrants at the Didimotiho police station, including
the 25 picked up from the islet yesterday.
[04] Separate Kranidiotis meetings with US, British ambassadors
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis had successive
meetings yesterday with new US ambassador to Athens Nicholas
Burns and British ambassador in Greece Sir Michael John Llewelyn
Smith.
The under-secretary exchanged views with the British ambassador
on Britain's plans for its presidency of the European Union,
which it will assume on Thursday. The two officials also
discussed the procedure for implementing the findings of the
Luxembourg summit, with regard to expanding EU membership.
Mr. Kranidiotis' talks with Mr. Burns included bilateral issues
and problems in the southeastern Mediterranean region.
In addition, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos also
held a scheduled meeting with Mr. Burns, focusing on upcoming
visits to Greece by US senators and congressmen.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also briefed Mr. Burns on Turkish
provocativeness over the past days as well as on Turkey's
continuing military exercise in the Aegean.
[05] Athens: No harassment of Turkish vessels by Greek warships
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The national defense ministry late Thursday night flatly denied
a Turkish press report alleging that Greek warships had
"challenged" two Turkish cargo vessels in the Aegean's
international waters early Thursday.
Defense ministry sources told ANA that a Hellenic Navy gunboat
had been carrying out a "routine patrol in the area, following a
tip that a ship was planning to land 2,000 illegal immigrants on
the Greek shores in the region."
The same sources rejected Turkish press reports that two Greek
warships attempted to inspect merchant vessels nine nautical
miles off the Dardanelles Straits, flashing lights at them and
asking them to identify their ports of origin and destination.
Greece has recently been flooded by hundreds of illegal
immigrants ferried across from Turkey.
In a New Year's Eve incident, two Iraqi women and a boy were
missing after being swept away by rising waters in the Evros
River. They were among a group of 28 Iraqi Kurds being ferried
across by a Turkish smuggler.
[06] ... Turkey to protest
Ankara, 03/01/1998 (DPA/ANA)
Turkey's leadership is considering protesting to Greece over
claims that Greek warships challenged vessels emerging from the
Dardanelles, television reports said.
The reports claimed that the Greek ships refused to identify
themselves, and left their stations on the arrival of Turkish
warships, put on alert after calls by the captains of the
harassed vessels, the reports further claimed.
They quoted Turkish diplomats as saying the incident came at a
time of high tension between Athens and Ankara over Turkey's
plans to carry out military exercises in the Aegean over the
next few days.
According to Turkish press reports, the Turkish army will carry
out an eight-phase maneuver in the region between Jan. 2-25,
while the Greek forces will launch a four-day exercise on Jan.
19.
According to reports, there was no Turkish activity in the
Aegean yesterday in the framework of the announced exercise. The
scenario for the Turkish exercise anticipated activity by the
Turkish navy and air force north of the island of Limnos
yesterday, which however, was not carried out.
[07] ... Press reports
Ankara, 03/01/1998 (ANA - A. Abatzis)
Meanwhile, the Turkish daily "Milliyet", under the headline
"Greek Piracy in the Aegean", also referred to a statement by a
senior Turkish foreign ministry official that Greece could be
trying to underline that the Aegean's international waters
belonged to Athens alone.
"If this is true, then Greece should change its stance at once,
since Turkey has warned the international public that it
considers such a position a cause for war," the official was
quoted as saying.
Finally, Turkish Foreign Under-secretary Inal Batu,
characterizing 1997 as a "bad year for Greek-Turkish relations",
said that Turkey was awaiting a response from Greece to its
"continued calls for dialogue, such as that made by (Turkish)
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on March 24, 1996".
Responding to a question on what 1998 holds in store, he said:
"We hope that no more problems will arise, that there will be at
least some small steps taken towards resolving existing problems
and that we will learn to live with the remaining unresolved
problems."
[08] President on official visit to India
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos will pay an
official visit to India January 12-18 at the invitation of his
Indian counterpart Kocheril Raman Narayanan, it was announced
yesterday.
He will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos
and National Economy Under-secretary Alekos Baltas.
[09] Memorial service for lost air force officers
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The Hellenic Air Force yesterday held a memorial service in
honor of the five air force officers who lost their lives when
their C-130 "Hercules" transport plane crashed during the
operation to find a missing Ukrainian airliner last week.
The service was held at the Agios Pavlos chapel inside the
Elefsina air force base.
[10] New speedboat on patrol in Ionian
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
A state-of-the-art 40-foot patrol boat capable of achieving
speeds of up to 60 nautical miles is scouring the Ionian as of
yesterday as part of the Igoumenitsa port authority's force.
The new speedboat will patrol the sea region between
Igoumenitsa-Corfu and the Albanian coast round-the-clock,
preventing smugglers' speedboats from approaching.
[11] Declassified Foreign Office documents on Greek junta
London, 03/01/1998 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)
Newly released British Foreign Office documents apparently shed
light on the thoughts behind Britain's policy toward Greece at
the beginning of the 1967 Greek military dictatorship.
At the time, Britain's leadership considered its reaction to the
junta, according to the documents.
According to official document CAB 129 - declassified after a
30-year statute of limitations expired - Britain pondered the
policy of Denmark and Norway, namely, publicly denouncing the
junta and suspending diplomatic relations. British leadership,
however, deemed that such a course would have created problems
in communication with Greece, especially over the Cyprus issue.
The alternative, which was finally adopted, was to keep channels
of communication open at a low governmental level, although arms
sales would cease and high-level contacts between the two
countries would be suspended.
Then British Foreign Minister Michael Stewart decided to propose
the second alternative to the cabinet, since it better
represented British interests in the area, according to the
released documents.
"I think that we will have greater influence over Athens toward
the right direction with the way we choose. In Athens we have a
hard and experienced ambassador who is in a position to judge
what kind of influence can be exerted on the leadership of the
junta" wrote Mr. Stewart, in justifying his decision.
He added that the first alternative "would agree with the public
feeling of disapproval for the situation in Greece, but it would
deny us the possibility of communicating directly with the
leaders of the regime, this is the way most of our friends and
allies have chosen, except the Danes and the Norwegians, and
they created a problem to NATO."
The diplomatic files of the Foreign Office will be released at
the end of 1998.
New Democracy honorary president and former prime minister
Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday confirmed the contents of the
documents.
[12] Minister sets out Thessaloniki's cultural future
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Thessaloniki's cultural future, following the end of Cultural
Capital of Europe 1997 organization, was set out at a press
conference in Thessaloniki yesterday by Culture Minister
Evangelos Venizelos.
The Museum of Modern Art will be housed at the YFANET building,
while Prof. Demetris Fatouros has already been appointed its
president.
Jules Dassin was appointed board president for the city's annual
film festival.
Meanwhile, a Museum of Cinema will function as an independent
sector of the festival.
The State Theater of Northern Greece continues to exist with the
explicit purpose of utilizing its buildings, while the Design
Museum will conclude a scheduled contract with the State Museum
of Modern Art to which it will be subject as an independent
sector.
The Literature Archives of Thessaloniki will be housed at the
renovated building along Theofilou Street in Ano Poli.
Lastly, the Concert Hall will be finally ready in about 14
months. Athens News Agency
[13] CD set features works by Greek composers
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
A luxury set of five CDs with works by the most noted Greek
composers has been issued by the Center of Modern Music Research
with funding by the National Investment Bank for Industrial
Development (ETEBA).
The issue is entitled "From the Greek Music Vanguard of the 20th
Century."
All five CDs include works 34 Greek composers, such as Yiannis
Xenakis, Yiannis Christou, Argyris Kounadis, Mihalis Adamis and
Demetris Mitropoulos.
[14] EU-funded development program for Aegean rock-islets
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The Aegean ministry yesterday announced a 400-million-drachma
"Tour Through the Aegean" development program for several
rock-islets in the eastern Aegean.
Funding will reportedly become available through the European
Union's "Interreg II" program and will include rock-islets that
are part of "Natura 2000," another EU environmental protection
program.
Aegean Minister Elisabeth Papazoe said plans include the
building of primary port facilities, small buildings, bird
watching facilities, etc.
This program is envisioned to boost alternative low-impact
tourism in the eastern Aegean, protect wildlife and facilitate
research.
[15] First instance court decision on Distos sinking
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
A Piraeus court yesterday ordered a restraining order on 322
million drachmas worth of AGET Iraklis' financial assets in
order to cover possible liabilities emanating from last year's
sinking of the freighter "Distos".
The vessel belonged to Iraklis shipping firm, a subsidiary of
the AGET cement company. It sank last year, taking with it all
but one of its crew members and family members of the crew.
The first instance court has already awarded 17 million drachmas
to relatives of three of the maritime disaster's victims.
The shipping firm, in an press release, stated that the
cement-carrying vessel was properly maintained according to
existing safety regulations.
[16] Greek equities make hesitant 1998 debut
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Greek equities traded narrowly yesterday to end with fractional
gains during the first session of 1998 on the Athens Stock
Exchange.
Traders said investors remained sidelined extending their New
Year's holiday ahead of the weekend.
The general index closed 0.19 percent higher at 1,482.41 points
with sector indices mixed.
Banks fell 0.09 percent, Insurance rose 1.79 percent, Leasing
dropped 0.39 percent, Investment ended 0.21 percent,
Constructions surged 2.04 percent, Industrials eased 0.38
percent, Miscellaneous ended 1.30 percent up and Holding rose
1.03 percent.
The parallel market index for small cap companies gained 1.63
percent, while the FTSE/ASE index ended 0.13 percent higher at
846.99 points.
Trading was moderate with turnover at 13.5 billion drachmas on
trading of large block of shares in National Bank and Commercial
Bank (300,000 and 150,000 shares respectively).
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 132 to 65 with another 9
issues unchanged.
Loulis, Elve, Atemke, Hellenic Mills and Sysware scored the
biggest percentage gains, while Lambropoulos, Dane, Britannia
and BarbaStathis suffered the heaviest losses.
National Bank of Greece ended at 24,820 drachmas, Ergobank at
14,700, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,460, Delta Dairy at 3,240, Titan
Cement at 12,850, Intracom at 13,050 and Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization at 5,900.
[17] Greek telecom raises monthly rates, local unit cost
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), Greece's
telecoms company, has announced a rise in local telephone unit
cost from 11.5 to 13 drachmas from January 1st.
OTE also announced a rise in monthly fixed charges from 1,850 to
2,050 drachmas and an increase in the cost of telecards to 1,700
drachmas.
The Greek telecom, however, reduced the cost of linking fees
from 40,000 to 30,000 drachmas.
[18] Smokers to pay more in 1998
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Greece's finance ministry has announced that from January 1
cigarette prices will increase by 50 to 70 drachmas a packet.
[19] Athens Water Company freezes 1998 rates
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
There will be no rises in the cost of water in Athens during
1998, Environment, Town Planning and Public Works
under-secretary Christos Verelis told a news conference
yesterday.
Mr. Verelis said that Athens Water Company (EYDAP) would freeze
its rates for the year.
He noted that the company would begin operation of the complete
Evinos project, currently operating by 40 percent servicing
water needs in the Attica region.
Mr. Verelis said that Athens Water Company would work towards
drastically improving customer services by adopting a company
strategic charter.
[20] Lesvos Maritime nine month profits up 38.8 percent
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Lesvos Maritime Company reported a 38.8 percent rise in profits
for the first nine months of 1997, compared to the corresponding
period in 1996.
Profits rose to 1.2 billion drachmas, while its turnover for the
period from January to September totaled 6,710 million from
6,150 million the year before.
[21] OA board chairman resigns
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Emmanuel Fthenakis yesterday submitted his resignation as
chairman of the board of the national carrier, Olympic Airways.
In a letter of resignation addressed to Transport and
Communications Minister Tassos Mantelis, Mr. Fthenakis cited,
inter alia, his bitterness that New Democracy MPs on the
relevant parliamentary committee that approved his nomination
had not voted for him, according to reliable sources
Mr. Fthenakis was first appointed to the board in 1993 under the
then New Democracy government of prime minister Constantine
Mitsotakis. He was approved for a second term recently by the
relevant Parliamentary committee.
In the committee, ruling PASOK representatives voted in favor of
Mr. Fthenakis, New Democracy MPs abstained, the Coalition of
Left and Progress cast blank ballots and the Communist Party of
Greece (KKE) and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI)
representatives voted against him.
"...Nothing has changed in Greece," Mr. Fthenakis was quoted by
the sources as writing in his letter.
Ministry sources said a new chairman of the board would be
selected between January 10-20.
[22] Alpha Credit Bank rates
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Alpha Credit Bank announced that as of Monday, Jan. 5 the
minimum loan interest rate for currency with the Alpha 605
account in foreign exchange is set as follows: US dollar, 8.40
per cent; ECU 7, per cent; deutschmark 6.25, per cent; yen 3.20,
per cent; Swiss franc, 4 per cent and Italian lire 8.75 per cent.
[23] Bake rolls investment
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The Agrotiki Viomihaniki Makedonias foodstuffs company has
completed a 600-million-drachma investment program to increase
croissant production and begin production of bake rolls,
according to company officials. The investment was covered by
the company' s own capital by 55 per cent.
[24] Sales drop for Greek Textiles Co.
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The Greek Textiles Co. posted decreased sales by 24.4 per cent,
or 11 billion drachmas, according to figures covering the first
nine months of 1997. Conversely, losses decreased by 40 per
cent, reaching 553 million drachmas.
On the other hand, the company decreased short-term liabilities
and losses during the same period.
Bank loans were restricted to 41 million drachmas compared to
1.1 billion drachmas, while long-term liabilities were paid off,
shaping total liabilities at 1.85 billion drachmas as against 4
billion drachmas over the corresponding period in 1996.
[25] Program to aid repatriated Greeks of Drama prefecture
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
The Hellenic Organization of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
and Craftsmen (EOMMEX) and the Society of Repatriated Greeks of
Drama Prefecture are participating in the European Union program
"Enterprise and Employment".
The program will financially aid and offer technical expertise
to enterprises founded by repatriated Black Sea Greeks
(Pontians).
The program includes such services as a reception center, which
will provide information on market and state regulations as well
as employment and business orientation.
[26] Pensioners, salaried workers the hardest hit taxpayers
Athens, 03/01/1998 (ANA)
Pensioners and salaried workers provided the lion's share of the
1997 taxes, according to finance ministry statistics.
Those two categories of taxpayers buffered the national budget
by 56.8 per cent as opposed to 55 per cent in 1996. The increase
is due to the fact that there has been on price indexation on
taxes for several years. The government introduced a 5.5 per
cent price indexation on taxes for 1998.
The average declared income in 1997 was 2,927,024 drachmas per
taxpayer and the median tax slice was 201,138 drachmas, an 22.4
per cent increase.
End of English language section.
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