Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-02-06
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <grnewsca@sympatico.ca>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1409), February 6, 1998
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca
CONTENTS
[01] Papantoniou in London promotes Greece's investment potential
[02] Gov't: Turkey's worsening position behind latest false claim
[03] ... Tsohatzopoulos on peaceful coexistence between Greece, Turkey
[04] Kaklamanis meets with Russian MPs
[05] SAE presidium to meet in Thessaloniki
[06] Stoyanov invites Greek president to Bulgaria
[07] Bulgarian, Greek, Romanians discuss cross-border co-operation
[08] US calls for better protection of Orthodox churches in Turkey
[09] Vance on Greece-FYROM dispute
[10] Report focuses on decentralization
[11] PM meets with PASOK youth group secretary
[12] Deliberations continue over ND developments
[13] OA flights on schedule today
[14] Balkan transport, environmental protection the focus of meeting
[15] Simitis, Venizelos meeting
[16] IOC to honor Fouras
[17] Gov't responds to complaint of trash at archaeological sites
[18] Farmers' intensify protests around Greece
[19] ... PM refuses meeting with protesting farmers
[20] Scuffles as pensioners march for tax, medical benefits
[21] Corruption charges against SDOE staff
[22] Thessaloniki-Skopje rail connection decided
[23] Labor groups criticize alleged shrinkage of certain agencies
[24] Black Sea bank to choose board of directors
[25] HELEXPO to hold conference on SE European trade, transport
[26] Greek stocks end higher on bargain-hunting
[27] Most state tourism units post losses in 1997
[28] Tax squad finds evasion in video games
[29] Greek shipowners blast Gov't measures to aid competitiveness
[30] Sigma tops brokerage firm lists
[31] Another worker fatality reported at Diana papermill
[32] Rain floods more than 200 homes in northern Greece
[33] Romania's Iordanescu in Athens to coach Greek team
[01] Papantoniou in London promotes Greece's investment potential
London, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday began
his official visit here with a speech at a conference on the
topic of "Greece in the next millennium," sponsored by the
Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Afterwards, Mr. Papantoniou held talks with his British
counterpart Gordon Brown, who told him that the positive course
of the Greek economy is expected to attract the interest of
British investors.
According to a statement by Mr. Papantoniou, Mr. Brown expressed
his government's intention to play a more active economic role
in the Balkans, utilizing possibilities offered by Greece. He
also spoke of the possibilities of establishing joint
enterprises and developing common initiatives in the wider
region.
Earlier, the Greek minister's speech was attended by several top
executives from multinational companies and banking
institutions, as well as members of London's Greek Shipping
Committee.
Mr. Papantoniou, heading a group of high-ranking Greek officials
and business leaders, spoke on "Business Opportunities in
Greece: Rediscovering Southeastern Europe".
He stressed that the Athens government today enjoyed a broad
political consensus for measures aimed to promote Greece's
participation in Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).
"Greece is the only stable factor, a member of the EU and NATO
and other international organizations in southeastern Europe. It
is the only country which combines the advantages of a developed
economy, adequate infrastructure, and political stability. It is
in an excellent geographical position, and possesses the
potential to expand even more its economic access to the
Balkans, the Black Sea, CIS countries, the Middle East etc. It
is thus a bridge between east and west, ready to accept foreign
investment," he added.
Setting out the Greek economy's present positive picture, Mr.
Papantoniou said the country would be ready to meet Maastricht
criteria in 1998-99, so as to participate in the third phase of
EMU on Jan. 1, 2001.
He referred to the program for the privatization of public
enterprises and the efforts for reducing public expenses, as
well as the restructuring and modernization of ailing utilities,
particularly in the transport sector.
"The business community in Greece is showing new dynamism,
becoming more extrovert, and is efficiently utilizing the
opportunities of the new markets. Business confidence was won
through the stability in government and in the implementation of
the macro -economic policy," he said.
"Foreign investors also have every reason to invest in Greece,
which is the country with some of the largest infrastructure
projects in Europe today in the transport, telecommunications
and energy sectors," he added.
He went on to point out the considerable improvements in the
Greek banking sector, which now meets international
specifications, and that the Athens Stock Exchange is becoming
the center of economic activity in the broader region.
"The Greek government is trying to assist foreign investors to
promote their programs without bureaucratic impediments, and has
abandoned old habits and practices that caused problems. The
economic situation in Greece today is very different from that
prevailing a few years ago," he said.
The conference was also addressed, among others, by the
president of the Greek Industries Association (SEB), Iason
Stratos, the president of the Hellenic Foreign Trade Board
(HEPO) Yiannis Tzen, and Christos Megalou, of the
Hellenic-British Commercial Chamber.
Today, Mr. Papantoniou is being hosted by the "Economist"
magazine, and will later give a press conference to Greek and
British reporters.
[02] Gov't: Turkey's worsening position behind latest false claim
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The foreign ministry yesterday denied a Turkish government claim
that a club in Thrace frequented by a predominately Moslem crowd
was attacked last Tuesday.
"The event is entirely non-existent," foreign ministry spokesman
Costas Bikas said, attributing the claim to Turkey's difficult
position over continuing criminal attacks against the few
remaining ethnic Greeks and Greek cultural heritage in the
neighboring country.
Specifically, he was referring to the burglary of an Orthodox
church two days ago on the northeastern Aegean island of Imvros,
as well as to the inertia and inability of Turkish authorities
to apprehend the culprits.
"Greece is a European country and respects the human rights of
all its citizens, in contrast to Turkey," Mr. Bikas said in his
statement.
He provided figures recording the mass violations of ethnic
Greeks' rights in Turkey, and the shrinking of their numbers in
contrast to the growing Moslem minority in Thrace.
[03] ... Tsohatzopoulos on peaceful coexistence between Greece, Turkey
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos yesterday called
on Turkey to co-operate for a peaceful coexistence between
Athens and Ankara.
Speaking at the end of military maneuvers on Rhodes, Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos said that "the co-operation of both sides is
necessary..."
"We hope this fact becomes understood by the other side. It is,
by our estimate, a matter of time," he added.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the "continued presence of the armed
forces (on the islands) constitutes a barrier (to expansionist
designs) and provides security for residents..."
The defense minister visited military outposts on Rhodes. He
canceled visits to the islands of Symi, Tilos and Halki due to
poor weather conditions.
[04] Kaklamanis meets with Russian MPs
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday received the
members of the Russian parliament's Russian-Greek Friendship
Group, to whom he stressed the need for a security system that
would include the whole of Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals.
The planning and implementation of such a system, he added, was
solely up to the governments and peoples of Europe.
Stressing the "close, friendly relations" between the Russian
and Greek peoples, Mr. Kaklamanis also expressed his
appreciation for Russia's assurances regarding the recent
agreement signed with Cyprus for the purchase of Russian S-300
missiles.
The Russian delegation conveyed an invitation to Mr. Kaklamanis
from his Russian counterpart to pay an official visit to Moscow.
[05] SAE presidium to meet in Thessaloniki
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The first regular meeting of the newly elected presidium
resulting from plenum elections at the Hellenes Abroad Council
(SAE) last December will take place in Thessaloniki on Feb. 7-8.
One of the issues to be discussed is organizing the Olympiad of
young expatriates and SAE's co-operation for the 2004 Olympiad.
To this end, a special meeting between the presidium and Culture
Minister Evangelos Venizelos has been set for Feb. 7.
The presidium's works will be attended by Expatriate Hellenism
Secretary-General Stavros Lambrinidis and the President of the
Parliamentary Inter-Party Committee on Expatriate Hellenism
Grigoris Niotis.
[06] Stoyanov invites Greek president to Bulgaria
Sofia, 06/02/1998 (BTA/ANA)
Bulgarian President Peter Stoyanov invited his Greek counterpart
Kostis Stephanopoulos to visit Bulgaria, during a meeting with
members of the Greek Parliament's Committee on Defense and
Foreign Policy on Wednesday.
Mr. Stoyanov said that he highly valued relations with Greece
and that bilateral relations would improve with the prompt
realization of the infrastructure projects in the region.
Meanwhile, in an interview in the Sofia newspaper "Continent"
yesterday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov emphasized his
country's smooth relations and co-operation with Greece,
particularly regarding the construction and operation of three
new customs posts at the Greek-Bulgarian border.
He said Bulgaria had resolved problems regarding restrictions
and trade, as well as those related to the reunification of
families split up during the emigration of ethnic Turks to
Turkey.
Mr. Kostov hoped that the normalization of relations with the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia would proceed rapidly,
considering Skopje's declared willingness to discuss the issue
of language differences with Bulgaria.
[07] Bulgarian, Greek, Romanians discuss cross-border co-operation
Sofia, 06/02/1998 (BTA/ANA)
Government delegations from Bulgaria, Greece and Romania will
discuss the construction of new transport corridors and border
crossings at a meeting in Thessaloniki soon.
The Bulgarian delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister Evgenii
Bakurdjiev, Minister of Environment and Waters Evdokia Maneva
and Transport Minister Vilhelm Kraus. Possible easing of customs
regulations of the three countries will also be on the agenda of
the talks.
The meeting is a continuation of earlier talks on these problems.
[08] US calls for better protection of Orthodox churches in Turkey
Washington, 06/02/1998 (ANA - T. Ellis)
The US yesterday called on Turkey to improve security for
Orthodox Christian churches in that country - and religious
institutions in general - also urging Ankara to fully probe the
causes of recent attacks and to apprehend the culprits.
Replying to a question by ANA, US State Department spokesman
James Rubin referred to "criminal actions" which were to be
condemned.
"We regard attacks of this kind as cowardly and we condemn them
in the most categorical way. The most recent attack against the
Church of Agios Therapon in Istanbul is criminal," he stressed.
He acknowledged that Turkish officials had condemned these
attacks and had adopted measures improving security for such
sites.
[09] Vance on Greece-FYROM dispute
United Nations, 06/02/1998 (ANA- M. Georgiadou)
Special UN mediator on the Greece-FYROM dispute, Cyrus Vance,
yesterday said he was satisfied with the progress of discussions
on the only remaining difference between the two countries, that
of FYROM's name.
"I met again last week with the representatives of Greece and
FYROM. We had a good meeting and I can say that, generally, I
believe things are going satisfactorily," he said.
Asked to comment on the fact that talks have already been going
on for more than two years, he replied:
"One must proceed carefully and slowly to do a proper job."
[10] Report focuses on decentralization
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
A series of responsibilities held today by ministries will be
transferred to regional authorities, prefectural administration
bodies and municipalities.
A report by the interior, public administration and
decentralization ministry's relevant committee, unveiled
yesterday, calls for the transfer of the measurement of air
pollution, taking extraordinary measures, controlling parking
and opening hours for clubs.
Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said the decentralization
of responsibilities to first and second stage regional and local
administration bodies is an important reform and attributed
delays by certain ministries to "resistance" by civil service
establishments which have nothing to do with the ministries'
leaderships.
According to the report, regional services will be entrusted
with duties concerning documentation for those requesting Greek
citizenship and the measurement of air pollution.
Prefectural services will be responsible for taking measures on
activities polluting the environment and the granting of
licenses for storing liquid fuel in quantities of up to 50,000
cubic meters.
Municipalities will be responsible for controlling parking and
defining working hours for department stores and clubs.
[11] PM meets with PASOK youth group secretary
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis held 40-minute talks with the
secretary of the PASOK party's youth group last night at the
latter's request.
Tonia Antoniou briefed Mr. Simitis on the situation currently
prevailing in the organization and on the results of
negotiations carried out between the three major trends emerging
in the youth group.
According to reports, Mr. Simitis listened to what Ms Antoniou
had to say, without however, showing any inclination to
intervene in the processes already underway in the run-up to the
youth organization's congress.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday met with 20
students of a Piraeus evening school, discussing several issues
of concern to them.
[12] Deliberations continue over ND developments
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Intense deliberations were reported yesterday in the aftermath
of dramatic developments in the main opposition New Democracy
party, which witnessed the expulsion of three senior ND members
and the suspension of three others earlier this week.
Former minister George Souflias held successive contacts with
the other expelled or suspended deputies, while his political
office was inundated with messages of support for the idea of
establishing a new political party.
Sources said, however, that Mr. Souflias has not reached any
final decisions and will not make any hasty moves.
Replying to a question on reports claiming contacts with the
Political Spring party, Mr. Souflias said: "they are (political)
parties, so anything is possible," although he refused further
comment.
Meanwhile, ND leader Costas Karamanlis is reported to have told
aides that a period of introversion in ND is definitely at an
end. Party headquarters sources were saying the situation was
developing normally, and believed the expelled deputies would
not create a new party or co-operate with the Political Spring
party.
Spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos commented: "Parties emerge through
social needs and are not vehicles of personal political
survival".
Former foreign minister Michalis Papaconstantinou said he
believed that former PM Constantine Mitsotakis was being
squeezed out of the party, and expressed support for the idea of
a new political formation.
Former minister Stephanos Manos was said to be rather negative
on the idea of a new party, expressing reluctance to cut off
ties with his constituents.
[13] OA flights on schedule today
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
All flights scheduled by Olympic Airways, Greece's national
carrier, will be carried out according to schedule as of today.
According to the state-run company's board, yesterday's
inconveniences for passengers (a total of seven flights were
canceled) were due to actions by the Union of Flight Stewards'
(EISF) administration and not to the departure of 64 OA seasonal
members .
Olympic's board accused EISF of circumventing an agreement
concluded in 1994, anticipating that the flight program over the
1994-1997 period would be carried out without problems with the
existing staff (1,000 people) and corresponding overtime work.
The administration of EISF, with peculiar moves and in one night
created needs which even surpassed the 45 per cent of staff
potential, namely from 1,000 to 1,450 people.
These practices bring the company back to loss-making times
which created a 600 billion-drachma deficit.
It is noteworthy that over the past two years when the 210
seasonal flight stewards were maintained, they burdened the
country with 1.2 billion drachmas a year, OA's board said.
[14] Balkan transport, environmental protection the focus of meeting
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Significant decisions over the future of transport,
infrastructure and environmental protection in the Balkan region
were taken at a meeting yesterday in Thessaloniki by relevant
ministers from three Balkan nations.
Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis and Environmental, Town
Planning and Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis represented
Greece, while several high-ranking ministers from Bulgaria and
Romania attended.
A call for a unified transport system - including port
facilities, roadways and rail connections - in the Balkans
connected with all major European Union networks and corridors
was the primary focus of the meeting.
[15] Simitis, Venizelos meeting
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Culture Minister Evangelos
Venizelos yesterday met and discussed plans for the "Cultural
Olympics" as well as the ministry's financial problems. They
also discussed policies, actions and priorities of the ministry.
[16] IOC to honor Fouras
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio
Samaranch yesterday announced that the organization will honor
Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras during a special ceremony
in Athens this May for his contribution to the Olympic movement.
Mr. . Samaranch made the announcement after meeting with Mr.
Fouras and the 2004 Olympic Games' organizing committee. Mr.
Fouras and the committee will today visit the Olympic village in
Nagano, Japan and will meet with the Greek delegation.
[17] Gov't responds to complaint of trash at archaeological sites
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
An announcement by the Society of Tour Guide Graduates regarding
trash-filled archaeological sites in the country prompted a
response yesterday by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
"Cleanliness, decency and the good operation of archaeological
sites and museums is the top priority and primary directive of
the culture ministry to the Central Archaeological Service," Mr.
Venizelos' letter read.
He also called on tour guides to specifically report on the
state of archaeological sites.
[18] Farmers' intensify protests around Greece
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Farmers protesting the government's agricultural policy
yesterday blockaded the airport at Irakleio, Crete, forcing
airport autho-rities to cancel all flights until 6 a.m. today.
Farmers from the prefectures of Irakleio, Rethymno and Lasithi
participated in the protest.
A few hours before blocking roads leading to the airport,
farmers waving black flags gathered outside the offices of the
Federation of Agricultural Associations.
A march followed through the center of Irakleio to the airport,
causing serious traffic problems.
The farmers are using their cars, rather than tractors, to block
access to the airport.
Also, farmers in Hania held a rally outside the prefecture's
administration offices, calling for specific measures for the
two primary local products, oranges and olive oil.
Meanwhile, farmers in northern Greece blockaded the Athens to
Thessaloniki highway for two hours at the Malgara toll station.
In many other parts of central Macedonia, their colleagues kept
hundreds of tractors parked alongside main road arteries.
A symbolic blockade of the road leading to the Evzonoi customs
border post has been planned for today.
[19] ... PM refuses meeting with protesting farmers
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas yesterday urged protesting
farmers to discuss their problems with the agriculture ministry,
rejecting their demand to meet with the prime minister.
Mr. Reppas stressed that farmers should seek a solution to their
problems after talks with the ministers involved, and avoid
confrontation.
He acknowledged, however, that olive and citrus producers were
facing a crisis.
[20] Scuffles as pensioners march for tax, medical benefits
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Minor scuffles broke out yesterday as demonstrating pensioners
were prevented from marching towards the prime minister's office
to press their demands for taxation and medical benefits.
Marchers who had set off from Kaningos Square, after holding a
rally in the pouring rain, were stopped by a police cordon at
the corner of Irodou Attikou St. , where several demonstrators
clashed with police officers.
A delegation representing all pension funds was received instead
by Minister to the Prime Minister George Paschalidis, who
decided to hold an inter-ministerial meeting this coming
Wednesday to discuss the issues.
Mr. Christos Triantis, president of the pension fund for the
self-employed (TEBE) warned that the protests would continue if
the government did not find solutions to the chronic problems
faced by 1,350,000 pensioners around the country.
The minister said the prime minister would be briefed on all
aspects of the pensioners' demands prior to meeting with their
representatives.
[21] Corruption charges against SDOE staff
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The finance ministry yesterday decided to dismiss three members
of its "untouchables" Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) for...
corruption.
Following an investigation carried out by an Athens public
prosecutor, the ministry is alleging that the three are guilty
of accepting bribes.
In an announcement, the ministry said it was determined to
impose the stiffest possible penalties on any employees found to
be guilty of corruption.
[22] Thessaloniki-Skopje rail connection decided
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The Greek Railways Organization (OSE) and its Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) counterpart yesterday decided to
inaugurate a Thessaloniki to Skopje route with high-speed trains.
The decision was announced during the 12th conference of Balkan
railroad organizations' managing directors, taking place in
Thessaloniki.
The rail connection is expected to commence sometime in 1998,
while the possibility of an express rail connection from
Thessaloniki to Istanbul was also examined.
OSE Managing Director Yiannis Mourmouris said that while these
connections can begin immediately as far as necessary equipment
and technical ability goes, there are problems with European
Union regulations and customs controls, which must first be
ironed out.
He added that Greece is interested in reopening the land
corridor to the north connecting Greece with central Europe.
[23] Labor groups criticize alleged shrinkage of certain agencies
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Representatives of the General Confederation of Workers of
Greece (GSEE) and the Athens Labor Center (EKA) told a press
conference yesterday that the government is shrinking certain
public agencies to the point of disappearance.
They pointed to agencies such as the Greek Tourist Organization
(EOT), the Hellenic Organization of Small and Medium-Size
Enterprises and Craftsmen (EOMMEX), the Hellenic Productivity
Center (ELKEPA) and the Institute of Geological and
Metallurgical Research (IGME).
GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos admitted that some public
organizations exist which have been overcome by developments and
can be abolished, but added that the above organizations are not
included among them.
[24] Black Sea bank to choose board of directors
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The governors of the Black Sea Commerce and Development Bank,
which was set up by the Black Sea Economic Co-operation (BSEC)
organization, was to meet for the first time in Thessaloniki
last night to choose a board of directors.
The governors from Greece, Russia, Turkey (each country
participating with 16.5 per cent), Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria
(13.5 per cent each) and Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Albania
(each contributing 2 per cent of share capital) are expected to
work out an agreement of principles for the bank's
administrative structure.
It has already been decided that the president of the
Thessaloniki-based bank for the first four-year term will be
Ersoy Volkan from Turkey.
The official inauguration of the bank is scheduled for June.
National Bank of Greece deputy governor Nikos Karamouzis, who
represents Greece on the board of governors, said one of the
principal objectives of the bank would be to finance commerce
and small- and medium-sized infrastructure works.
[25] HELEXPO to hold conference on SE European trade, transport
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
HELEXPO, organizer of the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair,
will for the second consecutive year hold a conference on
multimodal transport and transit trade in southeastern Europe.
The June 4-6 conference, being organized with Thessaloniki
University's Department of Communications Technology, will focus
on legal and administrative issues arising from crossing
borders, methods and practices associated with multimodal
transport in the light of new technology and the use of
logistics, multimodal transport corridors and infrastructure
(terminals and junctions), networks, services and international
co-operation.
Participating in the conference in the northern Greek port city
will be representatives of European Union directorates,
universities, transport organizations and the ministries of
transport, communications, environment, town planning, public
works, finance and merchant marine of countries including
Austria, Bulgaria and Germany.
[26] Greek stocks end higher on bargain-hunting
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Greek equities changed direction yesterday for the fourth
consecutive session this week to end substantially higher helped
by bargain-hunting and other speculative buying.
The general index ended 1.10 percent up at 1,429.07 points
reflecting a 3.74 percent surge in the Miscellaneous index.
Other sector indices were mixed. Banks rose 0.85 percent,
Insurance increased 1.82 percent, Leasing fell 0.99 percent,
Investment ended 0.07 percent up, Construction eased 0.66
percent, Industrials rose 1.17 percent and Holding ended 1.08
percent higher .
The parallel market index soared 3.08 percent extending
January's rally. The FTSE/ASE index rose 0.96 percent to end at
789.41 points.
Trading was subdued with turnover at 11.4 billion drachmas.
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 141 to 82 with another 22
issues unchanged.
Eskimo, Faliro Medical, Viokarpet, Singular, Nireas and Agrinion
Metalplastic scored the biggest percentage gains at the day's
8.0 percent upper limit.
Mouriades, Klaoudatos, Ionian Investments and Elfico suffered
the heaviest losses.
National Bank of Greece ended at 20,105 drachmas, Ergobank at
14,310, Alpha Credit Bank at 15,150, Delta Dairy at 2,980, Titan
Cement at 13,450, Intracom at 14,770 and Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization at 5,640.
[27] Most state tourism units post losses in 1997
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The Greek National Tourism Organization (EOT) yesterday reported
that sixty nine units it owns around the country posted profits
of 1.074 billion drachmas in 1997 against an estimated 688
million drachmas a year earlier.
Of the sixty nine units, which include the Xenia hotel chain,
spas, casinos, marinas, skiing centers and caves, only nine
posted profits, EOT said in a statement.
The profitable units were five marinas, two casinos and two spas.
The highest profits were posted by the casinos at Rhodes and
Parnitha, which reported gains of 2.38 billion drachmas between
them.
The government is implementing a policy of selling off EOT's
assets.
Nudging up profits were sharp cutbacks in seasonal staff
effected in the last few months of 1997, tighter procurements
and better control systems, EOT said.
Also aiding profits were a policy of collecting long-term debts,
worth billions of drachmas overall, it said.
This is the first year EOT has published a comprehensive balance
sheet.
EOT Secretary-General Nikos Skoulas has ordered the
organization's units to produce their 1998 cost-cutting budgets
as soon as possible. They are being worked out on a zero basis.
[28] Tax squad finds evasion in video games
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Greek tax squad officers have found a barrage of tax offenses in
raids conducted on shops, clubs, cafeterias and ships housing
video games.
The raids were conducted in Attica on 15 enterprises. Offenses
included the illegal installation and use of games or
non-payment of dues on the machines.
[29] Greek shipowners blast Gov't measures to aid competitiveness
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
The Greek Shipowners Union criticized the merchant marine
ministry's measures to help improve the Greek flag's
competitiveness as timid and inefficient, despite the
government's good intentions.
The union's chairman Yiannis Lyras said that the merchant marine
under Greek ownership was facing problems in maintaining its
current status due to negative domestic and international
factors.
As a result the Greek shipping register suffered a loss of more
than 120 ships in 1997, he said.
Greek shipowners had warned the government and the merchant
marine ministry of hardships facing the industry, but the
response was the announcement of inefficient measures likely to
hurt rather than benefit Greece's maritime sector.
The government should have taken into account the fact that the
Greek maritime operates in one of the world's most liberalized
and globalized sectors.
Any state intervention or protection measures were destined to
fail, and to inflict damage, Mr. Lyras said.
[30] Sigma tops brokerage firm lists
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Changes have taken place at the top of the list of brokerage
firms, according to their transactions last month.
Sigma Chrimatistiriaki moved into first place with a total
turnover of 49.4 billion drachmas, obtaining a 7.75 per cent
share of the market.
According to an announcement by the Federation of Athens Stock
Exchange Members (SMEXA), Alpha Chrimatistiriaki comes next with
33 billion drachmas and 5.27 per cent.
Ethniki AXE is in third place with 28.7 billion drachmas and
4.51 per cent, followed by Devletoglou AXE with 4.26 per cent
and Telesis with 4.06 per cent.
Genesis AXE, which started operation recently, is in last place.
[31] Another worker fatality reported at Diana papermill
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
A fatal workplace accident occurred at the Diana papermill in
Xanthi prefecture yesterday morning when a 40-year-old
electrician fell to his death.
According to reports, Mihalis Kasapidis had mounted a crane to
repair an electric generator at the papermill when he slipped
and fell as he was trying to get down, falling onto several
lathes that were in operation. The man was declared dead on
arrival at a nearby hospital.
In a related development, the General Confederation of Workers
of Greece (GSEE) denounced what it called the "criminal
indifference of the employers and the great responsibilities of
the state", less than two months after the previous fatal
accident in the same papermill.
GSEE said that according to information by trade unionists, the
worker killed yesterday was working overtime to fill in a slot
left open by a victim in the previous accident.
An announcement by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) called
the new accident a "new crime due to employers' lack of control."
KKE spoke of medieval working conditions, adding that the Diana
company can intensify work because state services "turn a blind
eye." It called for "a systematic struggle and the creation of
conditions for the overturning of this policy and its agents."
The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) said in an
announcement that "a fatal accident at the Xanthi paper industry
is taking place for the second time in the same year."
[32] Rain floods more than 200 homes in northern Greece
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
More than 200 homes have been flooded in the northern Greek
towns of Kavala, Drama, Nea Peramos, Nea Iraklitsa and
surrounding areas, where torrential rain also caused landslides
yesterday on the old Kavala to Thessaloniki road.
Gale-force winds are sweeping the northeastern Aegean, bringing
a halt to coastal shipping in the area.
Agricultural land has been flooded by waters from the Angitis
and Drama rivers around Megalokambos, Drama.
[33] Romania's Iordanescu in Athens to coach Greek team
Athens, 06/02/1998 (ANA)
Romanian football coach Anghel Iordanescu said upon arrival in
Athens yesterday that he had come to sign an agreement to take
over the Greek national team during qualifying rounds for the
Euro 2000 championship.
"I have been Romanian national coach for the past five years and
I think it's long enough. The time has come for a change in my
career. The national Greek team is the most ideal solution for
me. I have spoken with my family and the Greek soccer federation
and I believe all will go well," Mr. Iordanescu told reporters.
According to sources, Mr. Iordanescu and the Greek soccer
federation have already reached a verbal agreement about a
contract.
End of English language section.
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