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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-08-18Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Simitis sees 3.5% growth rate, higher investmentsAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday that the economy would show a 3.5 rate of GDP growth for the second consecutive year and that investments were rising, a clear sign of economic progress.Mr. Simitis was speaking in a message to mark next month's annual international trade fair in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. The progess was seen in major inflows of foreign capital; a spectacular increase in public and private investments; a drop in the fiscal deficit; declining interest rates; job creation; and the rapid pace of restructuring in public enterprises and state banks. The economy also displayed monetary, institutional and political stability, he said. However, the prime minister cautioned against complacency. "We must intensify our efforts in all sectors of the economyIbecause the sacrifices of the Greek public these past four years have borne fruit and must not be wasted." Mr. Simitis reiterated that entry into European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) by Jan. 1, 2001 remained the government's target. Finally, he said Thessaloniki could become a hub in the Balkans, linking the region's emerging economies. "It's up to us, if that is what we all want P and it doesn't depend solely on the government P to turn Thessaloniki into the financial capital of the Balkan hinterland," the prime minister said. Karamanlis: On his part, main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis, in a message regarding this year's international fair, noted that a new global environment devoid of frontiers generates new opportunities and challenges for the Greek economy and T hessaloniki. Mr. Karamanlis stressed that the Greek economy will have a better chance to successfully confront international competition when "it shakes the suffocating state control and alleviates heavy taxation". Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas, commenting on Mr. Simitis' address regarding the Thessaloniki Fair, spoke of a "deception of the Greek people and beautifying of the Greek economy". Finally, ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos called Mr. Simitis the "prime minister of lost opportunities and defeated hope". Athens News Agency[02] Simitis ends vacation today, meetings scheduled for next weekAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis is expected back from his vacation this evening, as a meeting with his closest associates is scheduled for Wednesday.Mr. Simitis will meet with associates on Wednesday although his full schedule essentially begins next Monday with Cabinet meetings on various issues, such as the announcement of next yearYs economic measures during the opening of the International Thes saloniki Fair on Sept. 4. Other topics include the S-300 missiles issue prior to Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides' arrival in Athens on Aug. 27 for talks. In addition, sources close to the prime minister apparently place added importance on next weekendYs meeting in Thessaloniki between Mr. Simitis and Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima, who will be visiting Greece between Aug. 21-23. Athens News Agency[03] Kranidiotis on Athens' Cyprus issue prioritiesNICOSIA, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis said yesterday that Athens' main concern with regard to the Cyprus issue was not the current debate over deployment of the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles but the island republic's cont inuing occupation by Turkey and its refusal to comply with UN resolutions.In an press interview published here by the Nicosia-based daily "Fileleftheros", the Greek official underlines that efforts to politicise and internationalise the Cyprus problem were to the benefit of the Greek Cypriot side, while the island's further militarisation was to the benefit of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. He added, however, that what was more important to the Greek Cypriot side was to set a "hierarchy of initiatives" and to reorganise priorities. He further cited the promotion of Cyprus' EU accession process and preparations for negotiations as well as a resumption of talks on the basis of UN resolutions for a solution of the dispute and a reduction in the island's armaments. Asked about Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine commitments, Mr. Kranidiotis said these were certainly in force. Consequently, he added, Cyprus has the right to choose any weapons systems it wished. He further underlined that the decision to install the S-300 missiles on Cyprus was not an aim in itself, but served the island's defence needs. The necessity for the weapons' installation could only be re-examined, he stressed, if things changed for th e better and conditions making their installation necessary were improved. "(Cyrpiot) President (Glafcos) Clerides has submitted his proposals for a reduction in armaments on Cyprus, which Greece fully backs", Mr. Kranidiotis said, adding that, "foreign countries honestly concerned about easing tensions on Cyprus should turn t heir attention to the Turkish side, which not only breaks the law by strengthening its military precense on Cyprus but also complains about neighbouring countriesI" Concluding, he emphasised the close cooperation between Greece and Cyprus, saying that Prime Minster Costas Simitis has placed the Cyprus problem on the top of Athens' list of foreign policy priorities. Athens News Agency[04] Athens condemns deadly N. Ireland bombingAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday expressed his sorrow over the bomb attack in Northern Ireland to his British and Irish counterparts, Robin Cook and David Andrews, respectively.Mr. Pangalos expressed a hope that the deadly and "illogical attack" will not slow down the ongoing peace process. Athens News Agency[05] Ankara rejects US proposal for flight moratorium over CyprusAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Turkey has rejected a US proposal for a moratorium on Greek and Turkish military overflights of Cyprus in "exchange" for a postponement of the deployment of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles by the Cypriot government.Turkish Minister for Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Giurel, on the eve of the arrival of US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, in Ankara for discussions, told the "Anadolu" news agency that "we could not tolertate this type of e xchange on the missile issue". Athens News Agency[06] Contract signed for 4 Super Puma helicoptersAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)A contract for the purchase of four search and rescue helicopters was signed in Athens yesterday between the merchant marine ministry and the French-German consortium "Eurocopter".The four all-weather "Super Puma" helicopters will cost approximately 18 billion drachmas, according to the government. Athens News Agency[07] Athens professor calls for 'democracy' instead of 'republic'Athens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)An Athens university professor has addressed a letter to Prime Minister Costas Simitis calling for replacement of the word "republic" with "democracy" on all official Greek documents issued in a foreign language, such as stamps, contracts, etc.According to Panteios University Prof. Stavros Theophanidis, the word "republic" should be replaced "by the very Greek and internationally respected 'democra-cy'." "Consequently, instead of 'Helle-nic Republic', all public documents should be entitled 'Hellenic Democracy'," he writes. Prof. Theophanidis stresses that the word republic stems from the latin roots of "res" and "publicus", meaning "public affairs". Conversely, the Greek word "democracy" hails from the words "demos" and "cratein", which loo-sely translate into "government by the municipality, the people". He concludes that the Greek word is preferable. Athens News Agency[08] Two Turks arrested after flag-raising incident on KalymnosAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Six Turkish nationals were initially arrested early yesterday morning after two of the six hoisted the Turkish flag on a power pole in Kalymnos' port, just prior to racing towards the Asia Minor coast in a luxury motorboat.A Kos public prosecutor later charged two of the six Turks P seaman Gunay Zeybeker and the owner of the yacht, Gengiz Menteseoglu P with disturbing the peace and offending national sentiment. Both men were then released without restrictions pending trial on March 21 next year. The yacht later departed Kos, where it was led by coastguard authorities after being forcibly stopped, and was reportedly headed for Turkey. In their defence, the two Turkish nationals claimed they had not intended to provoke, but rather to express their "feelings of friendship." The merchant marine ministry identified the other passengers on the yacht as Seket Gaykan, the vessel's skipper; Gonca Menteseoglu, as well as Attila and Leyla Kayihan. According to coastguard reports, the Turkish nationals were spotted at about 1 a.m. by local residents raising the Turkish flag in the Dodecanese island's main port, as one of the men in the group videotaped a local celebration. Kalymnos residents reportedly chased the suspects through the port, where the Turkish-flagged yacht "Eda" was waiting with its engines on. Five of the Turkish nationals managed to board the yacht as it departed, chased by a Kalymnos-based patrol boat, w hich detained the vessel before it was able to exit Greek territorial waters. The yacht had arrived in Kalymnos from Patmos on Saturday afternoon. Gov't response: On his part, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas later said that the government confronts the case with responsibility and cool- headed attitude. He said the provocation by the Turkish nationals was "without reason and foolish", while he added that responsible agencies have already taken the necessary steps. Main opposition New Democracy spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos maintained that the flag incident was a carefully planned provocation. He also accused the government of "willingness to make concessions" towards Turkey. He called on the government not to accept the theory that the yacht's passengers were tourists, saying it was a "fitting excuse" for the government. Athens News Agency[09] International Ecological UniversityAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)The 2nd annual "International Ecological University" started yesterday evening in Kalamata and will last two weeks.Some 90 specialists from various countries will attend, as noted environmental researchers from the US, Greece and other countries will give lectures. Athens News Agency[10] 22 customs officers to face disciplinary council over transit fuel scamAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA)Twenty-two customs officers will face the finance ministry's disciplinary council on charges of participating in a widespread transit fuel smuggling scheme and major fraud against the state. The charges stem from a more than two-year investigation by Pira eus prosecutors into bogus transit fuel deliveriers to yachts and merchant ships in the greater Piraeus region. The same disciplinary council will also examine the case of another customs officer charged with masterminding the mock export of fuel allegedl y shipped to Albania through the Kakavia border post on the Greek-Albanian frontier.Athens News Agency[11] Economic NewsGreek stocks slump 1.63 pct, again dragged down by turmoil abroad: Equities ended sharply lower on the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday as renewed turbulence in international markets stemming from a currency crisis in Russia again hit the Greek market.The general index ended 1.63 percent lower at 2,539.35 points, off the day's lows of 2.80 percent early in the session. Dealers said the partial reversal was proof that the underlying trend of the market remained positive. Trading was moderate with turnover at 35.5 billion drachmas. Sector indices suffered losses across the board. Banks fell 1.33 percent, Insurance ended 0.68 percent off, Investment dropped 1.42 percent, Leasing eased 0.58 percent, Industrials plunged 2.20 percent, Construction fell 1.33 percent, Miscellaneous ende d 0.27 percent off and Holding dropped 1.29 percent. The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 1.10 percent lower, and the FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 1.58 percent off at 1,544.23. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 157 to 67 with another 20 issues unchanged. Bank of Athens, Desmos, Rokas, Boutaris, Klaoudatos, Ekter and Development Invest scored the biggest percentage gains. Etma, Ridenco, Orion, Parnassos, Athinea, Seafarm Ionian, Hellenic Mills and Uncle Stathis suffered the heaviest losses. National Bank of Greece ended at 48,550 drachmas, Ergobank at 28,600, Alpha Credit Bank at 25,800, Ionian Bank at 16,825, Hellenic Telecoms at 7,515, Delta Dairy at 3,595, Intracom at 12,360, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,725 and Titan Cement at 21,000. Macedonia-Thrace Bank completes equity capital increase: The Macedonia- Thrace Bank paid up 35.7 billion drachmas last Friday to complete an increase in its equity capital. The bank's own capital will now rise to 56.1 billion drachmas, compared to 20.4 billion drachmas in 1997, an increase of 174.81 per cent. The Piraeus Bank-contolled financial institution's new board said the new share capital will be adequate to cover its strategic plan, while it forecasts a doubling of all figures by the end of 2000, with the provision of new services and products, expan sion of its network and a considerable rise in profits. Xiosbank interest rates: Xiosbank yesterday announced that its basic business credit rate will remain unchanged at 18.5 per cent this week, while annual savings rates, payble on a monthly basis, are set at 10.47 per cent. The Proodeftiki ATE-TEB S.A.-GEKAT S.A. construction consortium has been awarded a 26.5-billion-drachma contract for construction of the Alexandroupoli detour on the Egnatia motorway, envisioned to span the breadth of northern Greece. Athens News Agency[12] To Readers of the Daily BulletinAthens, 18/8/1998 (ANA) The Athens News Agency (ANA) provides a same-day, around-the-clock-newsservice in English to keep subscribers up to date on the issues that shape Greece's political and economic scene. The ANA Special English Service offers diplomats and journalists the latest news through on line (PC & Modem) on the country's foreign and domestic policies, its political parties, trade unions and pressure groups, the economy, industry and transport, and visits by officials from abroad.For further information, please call Chris Eliou, Director of the Special English Service on 6400560 , Ext.613. You may order subscriptions from George Tsambras, Management and Sales Department, on 6400580, fax 6400024. Athens News Agency on the Internet: You can now find the Athens News Agency's news service on the Internet with a brief review of the main news items, in Greek or English, twice a day (at 11:00am and updated at 4:30pm approximately). Log in to our Internet address: http://www.ana.gr and keep abreast with the latest news from Greece. Athens News AgencyAthens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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