Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-04-27

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tsohatzopoulos holds talks with FYROM counterpart

[02] Foreign ministry to publish history of the Greek Jews

[03] Karamanlis elected EDU deputy president

[04] Bulgarian army chief begins visit to Athens

[05] Athens hosts int'l meeting of female journalists

[06] Tsohatzopoulos addresses event marking anniversary of Armenian genocide

[07] EU foreign ministers meet to discuss EU-US trade relations

[08] British stage director Peter Hall visits Athens

[09] British Euro-MP to address conference on 'Byron against Elgin'

[10] Skandalidis slams rumours of early elections

[11] Roman era tomb examined

[12] Three tax officials sentenced for blackmail

[13] Conference examines fate of domestic tour operators

[14] General Bank of Greece general assembly

[15] Gov't says will not intervene in OA's operational plans

[01] Tsohatzopoulos holds talks with FYROM counterpart

OHRID, FYROM 27/04/1998 (ANA - M. Vichou)

FYROM believes that the multi-national force should not intervene to keep the peace in countries that take part in the group.

The final decision on the peacekeeping force's sphere of activity will be taken in September at a meeting in Skopje, FYROM's capital, the report said.

Turning to Kosovo, the two ministers agreed that borders in the Balkans should remain intact, and that a solution to the crisis should be sought through an immediate, unconditional start to talks between the two sides.

The talks should aim to secure the greatest degree of autonomy feasible for Kosovo within the framework of the Yugoslav Federation, they said.

Mr.Tsohatzopoulos, who said Athens was willing to contribute to guaranteeing borders throughout the Balkans, stressed that inhabitants of the region had every reason to fear the crisis in Kosovo, and its repercussions.

Although the dispute was an internal matter for Yugoslavia to resolve, Balkan countries and the international community had the right to contribute to a political solution to the crisis, he said.

Greece and FYROM both opposed any violence or terrorism as a solution, Mr. Kitanovski said.

Setting up a corridor for Albanians fleeing Kosovo was not discussed at the talks as Greece and FYROM placed emphasis on initiatives to resolve the crisis and therefore avoid an exodus, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said.

Finally, the two countries agreed that bilateral cooperation should be promoted, and the armed forces of the two countries could cooperate to safeguard borders.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said a positive outcome to talks in New York would contribute to closer cooperation between the two countries that had already begun with the signing of an interim agreement, also in New York.

Greece opposes the use of the name Macedonia by the neighbouring country, arguing that it conceals expansionist designs against its northern province of the same name.

Talks between Greece and FYROM are currently being held in New York under UN auspices to find a solution to the name issue.

An interim accord aiming at normalising bilateral relations was signed in New York in September 1995 by the two countries.

Athens News Agency

[02] Foreign ministry to publish history of the Greek Jews

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

She said the various files from the archives concerning the rich cultural, economic and political activities of the Greek Jews and the holocaust were being used for the publication.

Ms. Konstantopoulou said that the "Nazi operation to annihilate the Jews of Europe was a heinous crime, a murderous crime against humanity".

The memorial service and event, at Thessaloniki's Monastirioton Synagogue, was attended by many of the surviving Greek Jews and Greeks who had helped save their Jewish compatriots, the administration of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki headed by its president Andreas Sefiha, and representatives of political parties, local administration and the Church.

Only 62 of the 1,600 Thessaloniki Jews who survived the Holocaust are alive today. About 50,000 Thessaloniki Jews, the largest Jewish community in Greece at the time, were transported in 19 operations by the Nazis to the Auschwitz and Birkenau concentr ation camps between March and August 1943. Only 1,600 of them or 4 percent of the Thessaloniki Jewish population, survived.

Athens News Agency

[03] Karamanlis elected EDU deputy president

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis was elected EDU Deputy President on Friday, while the Deputy Prime Minister of the Finnish government and National Economy Minister Saouli Ninisto was elected President. He succeeds Alois Mock who was EDU President for 19 years. Mesut Yilmaz was also elected Deputy President.

The Conference is attended by Prime Ministers and party leaders from Europe and all over the world. ND is participating with a delegation headed by Deputy Marietta Yiannakou.

The issues on the agenda are the citizen's security and protection, combatting organised crime and drug trafficking, the prospect of uniting all centre-right parties in Europe into a wider European party, social development and the employment policy.

Athens News Agency

[04] Bulgarian army chief begins visit to Athens

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Defence Ministry sources told the ANA the two men would discuss issues of mutual interest focusing on bilateral relations and developments in the region.

Mr. Tonev would also visit formations, infantry units and archaeological sites while in Greece.

Athens News Agency

[05] Athens hosts int'l meeting of female journalists

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

The meeting was attended by women journalists from France, Albania, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Portugal, Romania and Turkey.

An exchange of views took place on European issues and ways and proposals were set out on Euro-Mediterranean cooperation and finding solutions to problems faced by women journalists in southeastern Europe.

The President of the Institute of Audiovisual Means Olga Kleiamaki said that a struggle should get underway for the equal participation of women in the informatics system.

It was further stressed at the meeting that the globalisation of the economy, and by extension of informatics and information, has created new problems in the sector of journalism in which women are primarily called on to play an assisting role.

Athens News Agency

[06] Tsohatzopoulos addresses event marking anniversary of Armenian genocide

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

He said Greek-Armenian relations were developing rapidly, were of a defence nature, and were not aimed against any third country, while at the same time they covered a broad range of activities and sectors, including economic cooperation, which focused on the materialisation of Greek investments in Armenia.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos called on Greek businessmen to invest in and cooperate with Armenia, following the example set by various state agencies.

"Today, in the wake of globalisation of the economy and the effort of international organisations to create an environment of security and peace, Greeks and Armenians all over the world have a duty to develop and cooperate closely," the minister said.

Parliament president Apostolos Kaklamanis, speaking at the same event, held under the aegis of the Municipality of Athens, outlined the ties of friendship between the two peoples and their common struggles for freedom, democracy and protection of human rights.

"We believe in peace, and are fighting for the smooth and peaceful coexistence of all nations," Mr. Kaklamanis said.

He added, however, that "as long as there is a threat and that threat is manifested in a violent and unprovoked manner, as long as Turkey continues its barbaric occupation of northern Cyprus and refuses to comply with the rules of international law and act like a civilised country, we are obliged to be vigilant and reinforce our defence shielding".

In a similar event in Thessaloniki, the Armenian National Committee of Greece called on the international community to recognise the genocide of 1.5 million Armenians on April 24, 1915 by Turkish troops in Asia Minor.

The Greek parliament recognised the genocide two years ago.

Athens News Agency

[07] EU foreign ministers meet to discuss EU-US trade relations

BRUSSELS 27/04/1998 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The meeting will focus primarily on trade relations between the European Union and the United States, while relations between the EU and Turkey are expected to be discussed during the luncheon at noon on the basis of a relevant report to be presented by Commissioner van den Broek.

In parallel, the British EU Presidency is preparing a draft on the joint position of the "15" on the EU-Turkey Association Council due to take place on May 25 and which it is expected to bring before the remaining member- states by the end of April.

Today's meeting is also expected to examine the issue of approval for the fiscal mechanism for Turkey, with which Greece disagrees.

Athens News Agency

[08] British stage director Peter Hall visits Athens

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Peter Hall proposed cooperation between the Royal Shakespearean Theatre and the National Theatre for the production and presentation of a spectacle of great dimensions and a worldwide calibre in Sydney, Australia, during the Cultural Olympiad in the year 2000.

Mr. Venizelos said afterwards that the Culture Ministry has the volition to adopt and help in materialising the plan concerning the worldwide promotion of the Greek theatrical performance.

The two sides did not announce details. However, it was disclosed that Peter Hall will come to Greece again in July when details of the cooperation will be discussed.

Athens News Agency

[09] British Euro-MP to address conference on 'Byron against Elgin'

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Protection of Lord Byron's Heritage and as part of events organised in memory of the great poet and philhellene over the April 25-27 period.

In a brief address, Mr. Coates referred to Lord Byron's work, particularly in contrast to Lord Elgin and the theft of the Parthenon Marbles. He stressed Lord Byron's strong opposition to Elgin's action "which was also noted in his poem Harold's Tour and to such a degree that its publisher was led to censoring it." Mr. Coates also underlined Byron's unshakeable opposition to oppression of any kind.

Wreaths were also laid at Byron's monument on the part of the Athens Municipality by Deputy Mayor Mr. Yiatrakos, on the part of the Committee by the journalist and its President Theodoros Karzis, on the part of the Greek Byron Society by its head profes sor V. Laizis and the President of the Mesolonghi branch Rodanthi Florou.

At 10 a.m. today, Mr. Coates will address a conference titled "Byron against Elgin", organised by the Committee for the Protection of Lord Byron's Heritage.

The Committee was established a few months ago by residents of Vyronas (Byron) Municipality in eastern Athens to sensitise Greek public opinion on the danger of destruction faced by the ancestral home of Lord Byron in Newstead Abbey in Nottingham, England, as a result of subsidence caused by coal mining in the region.

Athens News Agency

[10] Skandalidis slams rumours of early elections

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Speaking at a party meeting of prefectural and local committees, Mr. Skandalidis painted a picture of internal jostling for power that he said was endangering the party's hold on the government and the government's work.

Reports said that Mr. Skandalidis's comments were indirect references to officials close to the prime minister. Mr. Skandalidis called for the "effective transfer of decision-making to collective bodies (of the party)". He said that government practice was often lacking in social dialogue, ideological and political preparation and in policy-planning.

He also criticised the "internal opposition" in the ruling party, which, he said, was working as though it wanted to create a new leadership within the party.

Political developments are expected to be on the agenda of the meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Thursday of the inner cabinet and the PASOK executive bureau. The party's Central Committee meets on Wednesday.

Athens News Agency

[11] Roman era tomb examined

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

The tomb has a diametre of 30 metres and a height of three metres. It was made of several strata of earth having a different texture and covering only one cremation dating back to the early 2nd century A.D. The cremation was discovered at the southeastern sector of the tomb.

Clay and glass urns were found, a small copper urn, fragments of gold and a part of a metal ring containing a stone.

Athens News Agency

[12] Three tax officials sentenced for blackmail

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

The three had ascertained a taxation violation concerning oil smuggling at a bakery in the Platanos Trikalon village belonging to Ioannis Kotoulas. They demanded 1.5 million drachmas from Kotoulas not to report the violation, but he reported them to pol ice who arrested them after they received marked banknotes from him.

Athens News Agency

[13] Conference examines fate of domestic tour operators

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

Speakers at the Hellenic Association of Tourist and Travel Agencies (HATTA) conference on "Expansion: development or threat?" said the travel industry - the third largest sector in Europe - was being transformed by mergers and buyouts by strong travel organisations primarily based in northern Europe, such as Neckermann, TUI, LTU and Alltours.

Speakers said that these groups had the power to place demands on local hoteliers and tourist agents who could comply or face extinction.

This trend was of immediate concern to the countries of southern Europe, the main destination of package tours by holidaymakers from the north of Europe.

Speakers said 75 percent of organised tours in Europe were in the hands of only 10 tour operators. In Germany, the biggest market for tourists for the southern states, just two companies control 75 percent of the market. In the equally important market of Britain, three companies shared 58 percent while in Belgium one company held 50 percent. These firms were internationally- oriented, with interests in charter companies, hotels, ship-ping and retail stores.

In Greece, the problem is particularly acute as most businesses in the sector are small by European standards and vulnerable to these operators. Sixty-four percent of Greek hotels have less than 50 beds, while 86 percent have less than 100. Ninety-eight percent of hotels have staffs of less than 50 people. Nikos Skoulas, the secretary-general of the Greek National Tourist Organisation, told the conference that the Greek tourist agent was "an endangered species" and said that what was needed was mo dernisation, mergers and consortiums between medium-sized tourist businesses, such as agencies and accommodation.

He urged Greek tour operators to diversify their product and extend the tourist season and said Greece could take a leaf out of Turkey's book and create private charter companies with the participation of domestic hoteliers and agents. Otherwise, he said, Greek tourist operators were in danger of becoming simple handmaidens of foreign tour operators, unable to effectively influence the demand of tourist services for Greece.

Athens News Agency

[14] General Bank of Greece general assembly

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

The share capital increase would be effected with the deposit of cash and the issue of 4,794,380 new common bearer shares with a nominal value of 1, 770 dr. and purchase price of 4,800 dr. per share.

The total revenues from the increase, according to the president of the board Y. Daskalakis, was estimated at 23 billion dr. and would be used for the technological upgrading and further automation of the bank's services.

Part of the revenues would also be used to finance the expansion and improvement of the bank's network of overseas branches, particularly in the Balkan countries, and to reinforce the activities of the General Bank Group's subsidiaries.

Following the successful completion of the "tendering dossier" process for the sale of 33 percent of the bank's share capital to Greek and foreign institutional investors, the bank's main shareholder, the Army Share Fund (Metochiko Tameio Stratou),now holds a 35.5 percent interest from its previous 68.5 percent. After the share capital increase is completed, the General Bank's shareholders will comprise: Army Share Fund 35.5 percent, institutional investors, insurance funds and small-scale investors 54.5 percent, and the Interamerican Group 10 percent.

Athens News Agency

[15] Gov't says will not intervene in OA's operational plans

Athens 27/04/1998 (ANA)

The minister emphasised that the recently approved law on streamlining the airline must be implemented, and that the changes introduced to the bill at the last minute were made on the recommendation of the unions. He urged pilots to sort out problems wi th management so that the carrier's operation may return to normal. OA management yesterday did not rule out the possibility of suspending operations if flight schedules do not return to normal.

The airline's flight attendants union, meanwhile, has reportedly withdrawn its threat to start work stoppages on Monday.

Olympic Airways on Saturday urged its pilots to end an overtime ban that has led to daily flight cancellations and delays, crippling the ailing national carrier's finances.

OA's management said in a statement that it had no wish to formally reduce the airline's operations, but continuing disruption meant that a new flight schedule would have to be drawn up based on commercial and financial criteria.

The pilots' union has so far indicated it will stick to its original strike plan and order one or more stoppages during the week, probably on Wednesday or Thursday.

Athens News Agency

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article