Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] European Socialists prepare positions for Sarajevo summit

[02] Gov't roundly condemns Ankara's recent provocations, talks still scheduled

[03] Varvitsiotis sues Lambrakis press group over Litton probe

[04] Kostov, Kaklamanis talks cover Kozloduy's operation

[05] Stocks hit new high in wake of correction

[06] Information technology market jumps 34.3 pct

[07] Bank of Cyprus gets central bank OK ahead of bourse entry

[08] Gasoline retailers call for price consensus

[09] ANEK orders ships from Norwegian yard

[10] Aegean Airlines makes deals with foreign airlines

[11] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] European Socialists prepare positions for Sarajevo summit

VIENNA, 23/07/1999 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

He made the statement here last night after the start to the European socialist and social democrat parties' two-day Balkan summit.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said this policy should be based primarily on the need for the recognition and non-violation of existing borders and, secondly, on the need for support for democratic institutions, human freedoms and human rights as a basic ingredient for the operation of all Balkan states.

He also referred to the need for support in Balkan states for the implementation with EU funds of an integrated plan for the productive reconstruction of Balkan countries as a third point.

Lastly, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the EU should guarantee the common prospects of all Balkan states towards the EU through special processes which will recognise the strategic importance the accession of all Balkan states in common European prospects has for Europe.

Apart from Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, PASOK is also represented at the ESP's summit by Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Alternate Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis.

Stephanopoulos-Simitis discuss Balkans : Meanwhile in Athens Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday briefed President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on various domestic and foreign issues.

Before entering the Presidential Mansion for the 50-minute talks, Mr. Simitis told the president he would be visiting the Greek contingent in the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, stationed in the town of Urosevac, next Tuesday. He also described as positive the EU's decision to base its Balkan reconstruction agency in Thessaloniki.

Mr. Simitis also said he believed the extraordinary EU summit in Sarajevo would set in motion developments that would ensure a "more peaceful autumn in the region than this spring", which he said had been "difficult and unpleasant".

After the meeting, Mr. Simitis said Greece favoured a comprehensive confrontation of the problems in the Balkans, rather than reconstruction being limited to Kosovo only.

He described the upcoming meeting of EU and donor countries as important because "the directions of the policy to be follwed by the EU will be decided".

"If there is no comprehensive policy, then the problems that existed and led to the crisis will reappear sooner or later. And a condition for peacekeeping is a comprehensive confrontation and development".

Mr. Simitis expressed hope for a policy that would guarantee positive progress in the Balkans.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said later that the prime minister's visit to Urosevac next week was of great significance and would also be a strong message of Greece's interest in developments in the region.

Kranidiotis at OSCE : In another development in Vienna, Alternate FM Yiannos Kranidiotis submitted Greece's proposal to assume the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) presidency in 2004 at the permanent council of the 54 member-states at the OSCE's hea dquarters.

Greece's proposal is already being viewed positively by the organisation's member-states following yesterday's development.

The representatives of a number of countries, including the US and Russia, expressed positive positions, after Mr. Kranidiotis presented the proposal, and praised Greece's role in the recent crisis in Yugoslavia, as well as its wider role in guaranteeing security and peace in the region.

Mr. Kranidiotis said the year 2004 when Greece intends to assume the OSCE's presidency is the year of the Olympic Games for Greece, as well as the year immediately after Greece's presidency at the European Union.

He added that it is an important year, just as the role of the OSCE presidency is very important and substantive since it also has a political and executive content.

Addressing the OSCE's Permanent Council yesterday, Mr. Kranidiotis underlined the need for "the charter on security in Europe" to be signed at the next OSCE summit in Istanbul in November.

He said it will be a document based on a series of principles many of which Greece succeeded in raising, such as the inviolability of borders, respect for international law and resolving differences peacefully.

Mr. Kranidiotis stressed the decisive role Greece can play in the framework of efforts to reconstruct the Balkans, with the headquarters of the Reconstruction Organisation being in Thessaloniki, which is gradually emerging as the centre of this entire effort.

He further stressed the need at the OSCE's permanent council for the principles of this organisation to also apply to the case of Cyprus where the international community has the obligation of assisting a solution to the problem on the basis of principles of international law and UN resolutions.

In a statement afterwards, Mr. Kranidiotis said that although at the moment there is no activation by the OSCE on the Cyprus issue he believes that this is an issue which should preoccupy the organisation.

On the question of Turkey, he said that for as long as Ankara does not comply and does not adjust itself to the OSCE's general principles, of which it is a member, its course towards Europe will certainly have obstacles and problems.

Athens News Agency

[02] Gov't roundly condemns Ankara's recent provocations, talks still scheduled

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said another example of Turkey's stance was the neighbouring country's issuing of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) requesting that certain areas of the Aegean be reserved for Turkish air and naval exercises during the two-month moratorium on military flights over the Aegean in the summer, something agreed to in the past by Athens and Ankara.

Two Turkish F-16s on Wednesday infringed on Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) regulations and harassed an aircraft carrying Mr. Mantelis from Larnaca to Athens. The incident took place at an altitude of 28,000 feet south-east of Rhodes in air corri dor RED-19, which connects Larnaca with the Dodecanese island.

The harassment was also roundly condemned by Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who added however, that it would not affect efforts for a de- escalation of tension between Greece and Turkey.

Replying to reporters' questions, Mr. Reppas said Turkey should stop "reacting in this way" to initiatives for the resolution of the Cyprus and Kurdish problems, and Greek-Turkish relations.

On the aircraft harassment incident itself, Mr. Reppas commented that Turkey from time to time "created problems, caused tension and undermined relations of good neighourliness".

"The government, having as its criterion the interests of the country, rather than reacting spasmodically, will continue its efforts to attain its objectives, since as a member of NATO and the European Union it has a very important say in the greater region regarding the safeguarding of peace and security," he said.

He added, however, that Turkey's actions should be addressed by the international community and stressed that Greece would under no circumstances allow itself to become "inactive" or a "captive" to the situation.

Mr. Reppas noted also that Turkey would have to bear the entire diplomatic and political cost of its actions.

The spokesman said the Greek-Turkish dialogue which is scheduled to begin on Monday would proceed as planned and would not be affected by recent developments.

On the issue of the Turkish NOTAM, Mr. Reppas said Ankara's efforts to have certain areas of the Aegean reserved for military exercises during August was a breach of the moratorium agreed by the two countries "and this illustrates Turkey's inability to contribute to the normalisation of Greek- Turkish relations".

Papandreou : It was also announced later in the day that Mr. Papandreou had a telephone contact with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, where the former reportedly expressed both his and the Greek government's displeasure over the mid-air harassment by the Turkish warplanes.

According to sources, Mr. Cem, who was apparently more-or-less familiar with the incident, "distanced" himself from the incident and reassured his Greek counterpart that Ankara shared the necessity to maintain "lower tones" for the sake of the Greek-Turkish dialogue.

On his part, Greek ambassador to Ankara Ioannis Korantis reiterated to a Turkish foreign ministry official that the incident took place inside the Athens FIR and the air corridor, while he stressed that it was "unacceptable" for Turkish warplanes to fly at such a small distance from a civilian aircraft.

Conversely, the Turkish foreign ministry denied that Turkish warplanes had harassed the plane.

According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Turkish officials told the Greek ambassador that the situation was different than what they called Athens' "claims".

Opposition : In a related development, the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party stated that Turkey's reactions and actions on the Cyprus issue as well as on the issue of bilateral relations required a "strong stance and a decisive approach."

ND spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos stressed that ND's "full support to fixed national positions is a given, however, needless to say, the position of the country will be strengthened by the development of a firm foreign policy".

Mr. Spiliotopoulos said "the future will not be sealed by Turkey's arbitrariness. Our common future is to be good neighbours, enjoying smooth cooperation... Unfortunately, this future cannot be secured with either Turkey's arbitrariness, or with our submissiveness and often contradiction. We don't have a positive impact on developments in that manner..."

Coalition of Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos said that "the way Greece got involved in the dialogue procedures shows a lack of planning..."

Finally, the Greek Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) announced it will report the incident to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Athens News Agency

[03] Varvitsiotis sues Lambrakis press group over Litton probe

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The newspaper reported that Litton paid 12 million dollars in commissions to secure a contract for the supply of spare parts for Greece's F-16 fighters and while Mr. Varvitsiotis was defence minister.

"To Vima" quoted relevant court proceedings against Litton in a US federal court.

Mr. Varvitsiotis is seeking 500 million drachmas in damages,pledging to donate all the proceeds to charity in the event he wins the lawsuit.

Athens News Agency

[04] Kostov, Kaklamanis talks cover Kozloduy's operation

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

According to an announcement by the Parliament president's office, Mr. Kaklamanis referred not only to the possibility of a major industrial accident at Kozloduy, which uses largely obsolete 1970s-era Soviet technology, but also to an incident during the recent NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, in which an Alliance missile fell by accident close to the facility.

On his part, the Bulgarian PM stressed that there was no danger of an accident at the plant, while he asked for Athens' support in securing EU funds in order to enable Sofia to close down the aging facility.

Mr. Kaklamanis also emphasised the important role in which Greece and Bulgaria are being called on to play within the framework of the Balkan Stability Pact.

Noting the important role that Athens has to play in the reconstruction of the region, Mr. Kostov said Greece served as an example to neighbouring states regarding the political and economic direction that they must follow.

He also reiterated Sofia's position concerning the inviolability of existing borders in the Balkans and thanked Athens' leadership for its support over Bulgaria's efforts to join the European Union and NATO.

Mr. Kostov began an official two-day visit to Greece on Wednesday with talks with his counterpart Costas Simitis and main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis.

The Bulgarian premier later paid a courtesy call on Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos during which local government issues were discussed and both sides underlined the friendly relations between the two countries.

Athens News Agency

[05] Stocks hit new high in wake of correction

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.29 percent higher at 4,528.97 points from 4, 471.22 points a day earlier.

Turnover was 167.869 billion drachmas from 164.127 billion drachmas in the previous session. Changing hands were 27,923,073 shares.

Again attracting investors were small and medium capitalisation stocks. Players mostly fought shy of banking shares.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks (+0.60 pct), Leasing (+1.79 pct), Insurance (+1.33 pct), Investment (+1.93 pct), Construction (+2.13 pct), Industrials (+0.92 pct), Miscellaneous (+3.49 pct) and Holding (+5.20 pct).

The parallel market index for smaller capitalisation stocks ended 3.95 percent higher. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 1.06 percent to finish at 2,654.61 points.

Of 298 shares traded, advances outpaced declines at 231 to 56 with 11 issues unchanged.

National Bank of Greece ended at 22,300 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 22, 105, Bank of Piraeus at 9,160, Ergobank at 40,500, Titan Cement (commom) at 30,530, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,910 and Intracom (common) at 21,390 drachmas.

Long-term bonds edge up thin trade : Long-term bond prices in the secondary market yesterday gained around 30 basis points in slim trade following limited buying interest.

Electronic trade was 12 billion drachmas from 15 billion drachmas in the previous session. Of yesterday's total, sell orders accounted for around 7.0 billion drachmas of turnover.

The benchmark 10 year bond showed a yield of 6.33 percent. The yield spread above German bunds was 173 basis points.

Prices on shorter term bonds fell with sellers dominating the market.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro crept up against the drachma. It was set at 324.960 drachmas from 324.900 drachmas in the previous session.

Athens News Agency

[06] Information technology market jumps 34.3 pct

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The survey by Strategic International/K.Kataras SA said the market was worth 276.7 billion drachmas last year.

The rate of increase is expected to decline in coming years, but not below 15 percent.

The market's explosive rise in 1998 was due mainly to three factors, the survey said.

For the first time, personal computers appeared in the market that cost less than 300,000 drachmas, expanding the customer base.

In addition, wider use of the Internet in Greece spurred sales, coupled with lower prices for personal computers.

Finally, debate on the "millennium problem" led many companies to buy new hardware and software, again stimulating sales.

Athens News Agency

[07] Bank of Cyprus gets central bank OK ahead of bourse entry

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The Bank of Cyprus will call a shareholders' meeting in September to endorse the release of 10 percent of its share capital to Greece, in effect endorsing the move to seek bourse entry.

Athens News Agency

[08] Gasoline retailers call for price consensus

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The federation said in a statement that a gentleman's agreement sought by the state would have to involve concrete commitments on prices by the two other parties involved - fuel producers and the development ministry.

Retail price anomalies seen among filling stations and districts were due to shifting wholesale prices charged by the companies, the statement said.

Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos repeated yesterday that he would slap ceilings on fuel prices if the violations continued. Retail prices should not differ widely from weekly indicative rates released by the ministry, Mr. Venizelos said.

He added that the ceilings would be imposed if prices fluctuations were not reduced by 50 percent in the next ten days.

Athens News Agency

[09] ANEK orders ships from Norwegian yard

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The cost of the two vessels is 205 million euros. The first ship is due for delivery in October 2000 and the second in May 2001.

The ferries' maximum speed is 30 knots. They have a capacity of 1,850 passengers, 130 trucks and 120 cars.

Athens News Agency

[10] Aegean Airlines makes deals with foreign airlines

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

The private Greek carrier said the operators were KLM, Alitalia, Northwest Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Middle East Airlines and Maersk. Aegean Airlines, which launched domestic flights in June, has undertaken to effect the Greek stretch of the airlines routes.

Athens News Agency

[11] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 23/07/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             307.004 314.122
Can.Dollar            203.697 208.420
Australian Dlr        198.435 203.036
Pound Sterling        484.314 495.543
Irish Punt            409.313 418.803
Pound Cyprus          556.948 569.862
Pound Malta           715.347 745.153
Turkish pound (100)     0.063   0.066
French franc           49.144  50.283
Swiss franc           200.682 205.335
Belgian franc           7.991   8.176
German Mark           164.820 168.641
Finnish Mark           54.217  55.474
Dutch Guilder         146.280 149.672
Danish Kr.             43.331  44.335
Swedish Kr.            36.702  37.553
Norwegian Kr.          38.902  39.804
Austrian Sh.           23.427  23.970
Italian lira (100)     16.649  17.035
Yen (100)             260.162 266.194
Spanish Peseta          1.937   1.982
Port. Escudo            1.608   1.645

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              307.004 314.122
Montreal              203.697 208.420
Sydney                198.435 203.036
London                484.314 495.543
Dublin                409.313 418.803
Nicosia               556.948 569.862
Paris                  49.144  50.283
Zurich                200.682 205.335
Brussels                7.991   8.176
Frankfurt             164.820 168.641
Helsinki               54.217  55.474
Amsterdam             146.280 149.672
Copenhagen             43.331  44.335
Stockholm              36.702  37.553
Oslo                   38.902  39.804
Vienna                 23.427  23.970
Milan                  16.649  17.035
Tokyo                 260.162 266.194
Madrid                  1.937   1.982
Lisbon                  1.608   1.645

Athens News Agency

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