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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-02-23

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] Papantoniou says Greece will fulfill all EMU criteria by end of February
  • [02] Cooperation in the Balkans between Greece and the Czech Republic
  • [03] Putin invites Simitis to visit Russia
  • [04] Papandreou voices concern over situation in Kosovo
  • [05] UN envoy de Soto to visit Cyprus next week
  • [06] Ambassador addresses Israel Business Forum
  • [07] Simitis, Venizelos finalize PASOK platform
  • [08] Liani Papandreou not a candidate
  • [09] Ex-basketball star Fassoulas on PASOK ticket
  • [10] Papantoniou says ND election victory possibly harmful to Greece's EU prospects
  • [11] Premier discusses wage earners' problems with young trade unionists
  • [12] Karamanlis tours Galatsi tax bureau
  • [13] Coalition, AKOA announce elections collaboration
  • [14] Stephanopoulos receives Samaras
  • [15] Gov't comments on 'Echelon' program discussions in Europarliament
  • [16] Greek stocks remain under pressure
  • [17] Bulgarian premier says solution to BOT privatization possibly within the week
  • [18] Long-term yields drop substantially
  • [19] European Coordinating Center for forest fires to be established in Athens
  • [20] Gov't says no direct listeriosis danger
  • [21] Passenger shippers call for better ports

  • [01] Papantoniou says Greece will fulfill all EMU criteria by end of February

    BRUSSELS, 23/02/2000 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

    National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Tuesday, in an address to the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Committee, that Greece will fulfill terms and conditions for accession to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) at the end of February, according to existing data, and will consequently join the euro as of January 1, 2001.

    Papantoniou said Greece achieved economic restructuring over a period of a few years. He said the fiscal deficit decreased from 13.6 percent of GDP in 1993 to 1.4 percent in 1999, the public debt from 111.3 percent of GDP in 1996 to 104.2 percent in 1999 and inflation from 14.2 percent in 1993 to 2.5 percent in 1999, while the yields of 10-year bonds have now been harmonized with the corresponding European ones. He said that according to existing data, harmonized inflation in Greece will be 2.1-2.2 percent at the end of February, while the average of the three countries with the lowest inflation in the EU will be around 0.8 percent. On the basis of these evaluations, he added, Greece will meet all the criteria for EMU accession at the end of February.

    Papantoniou also said he was optimistic that the EU will give Greece's application to join the euro, due to be submitted in early March, a positive response. He said Greece has achieved high growth rates and low inflation despite adverse predictions by many economic officials, which guarantee that economic restructuring will be steady and sustainable, as required by the Maastricht Treaty.

    Papantoniou said the Greek government was aware of dangers lurking, particularly in relation to inflation due to increases in oil prices and the impending decrease of Greek interest rates. Consequently, he added, the government would proceed with determination to further restructure the public sector in order to enable an increase in productivity and in the economy's competitiveness, and in parallel it will remain vigilant to tackle decisively whatever inflationary pressures might arise.

    He said that the Greek economy's development course would continue to enable the average Greek income to reach the levels of the average European one by the year 2010. He also expressed hope that the problem of unemployment, which has now taken on dimensions in Greece, which are similar to those in other member-states, will be tackled gradually.

    [02] Cooperation in the Balkans between Greece and the Czech Republic

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his visiting Czech counterpart Jan Kavan on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations, issues concerning the European Union, including enlargement and the Czech Republic's accession candidacy, and European security and defense.

    Papandreou briefed Kavan on developments in Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue and discussed developments in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.

    Papandreou said they would both be visiting Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Wednesday to inaugurate a Greek-Czech cooperation bureau on Balkan reconstruction. Greek and Czech businessmen will also be meeting in Thessaloniki with the aim of consolidating economic and political cooperation.

    The Greek foreign minister said that he and Kavan discussed the intergovernmental conference process and "to what extent it will affect the dates, which will signal the EU's possibility of receiving new member-states."

    Papandreou said Greece regards 2003 as a target date for the start of accession for countries belonging to the first wave of enlargement and supports the wish of the Czech Republic to be in this time margin.

    Kavan said bilateral relations have developed spectacularly recently, adding that the two countries can and should intensify their cooperation with the aim of promoting stability and peace in the region. He also expressed satisfaction over Papandreou's statement that Greece supports the 2003 target for new members starting to join the EU.

    Kavan also underlined the importance attributed by his country to the Czech prime minister's upcoming visit to Greece and announced that he will deliver an invitation to President Kostis Stephanopoulos from Czech President Vaklav Havel to visit his country during the year.

    Meeting with Kaklamanis: Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis received visiting Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Kavan at the Greek legislature on Tuesday, stressing his concern over recent developments in strife-torn Kosovo.

    "Unfortunately, costs for the policies implemented in this region weren't taken into consideration by those that bear the responsibility. The cost is borne by the people of the region and neighboring countries. Those with primary responsibility are far away and are limited to promises made at no expense," Kaklamanis said, adding:

    "In Bosnia and Kosovo they're still waiting for the 40 billion dollars, that was supposed to be collected for the relief of (local) populations due to natural disasters and for reconstruction to begin. At this point, we have a major ecological catastrophe in the Danube and the interruption unhindered shipping."

    Talks between the two men focused on Greek-Czech Republic relations at the political level and Athens' support of Prague's NATO application for membership. The Czech Republic's EU accession course and bilateral economic relations.

    [03] Putin invites Simitis to visit Russia

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Russia's acting president Vladimir Putin has invited Greek premier Costas Simitis to visit Russia, in a letter delivered Tuesday to foreign minister George Papandreou by Russian deputy premier and emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu, who is on a working visit to Athens.

    Papandreou and Shoigu met Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations and problems in the region, particularly the situation in Yugoslavia.

    After the meeting, Papandreou thanked Putin for Russia's assistance after September's devastating earthquake in the Greek capital and in fighting major forest fires throughout the country over the past two years.

    He also pointed out the two countries' important contribution in the provision of humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia through their joint initiative in setting up the Focus organization.

    Shoigu was in Athens for Monday's meeting of the Council of Europe's Europa conference on cooperation in preventing and confronting natural and technological disasters.

    [04] Papandreou voices concern over situation in Kosovo

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Greece on Tuesday voiced concern over the situation in Kosovo's divided town of Mitrovica.

    "Greece, which participates in the peacekeeping force in Kosovo, wishes the development of a multiethnic community, with full respect for the human rights of all those living there, be they of Albanian, Serb or any other ethnic origin," stated Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

    [05] UN envoy de Soto to visit Cyprus next week

    NICOSIA, 23/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

    UN top envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, who will visit Cyprus for the first time next week, will have a full program of visits and meetings on both sides of the divide, in the southern government controlled areas of the Republic and the northern Turkish occupied part of the island.

    The familiarization visit, from 29 February to about 7 March, will take him from one end of the UN controlled buffer zone to the other, to see UN peace-keepers serving here, in Dherynia on the east and Morphou area on the west.

    He will also visit Pyla village, bordering the buffer zone, where the UN Irish contingent is stationed.

    On Monday, 6 March he is scheduled to be received by President Glafcos Clerides and have a meeting with the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Rauf Denktash.

    De Soto plans to visit the Karpass peninsula, the most northern tip of the island and see the monastery of Apostolos Andreas, one of the sites to be repaired following an agreement the UN reached with the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

    The other religious site to be repaired is the Moslem place of worship, Hala Sultan Tekke, on the southern coast.

    The Peruvian diplomat is planning to give a press conference on Tuesday 7 March.

    De Soto, who will be accompanied by UN senior official Peter Schmitz, now serving in New York, is likely to meet ambassadors of various countries here and other persons from both communities.

    Commenting on the flurry of visits to Cyprus by foreign dignitaries, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the purpose of these visits is to maintain a dialogue and avoid anything that could jeopardize the third round of UN-sponsored proximity talks.

    [06] Ambassador addresses Israel Business Forum

    NICOSIA, 23/02/2000 (CNA/ANA)

    Israeli Ambassador to Cyprus Shemi Tzur on Tuesday said the new momentum in the Middle East peace process "will pave the way for enhancing commercial ties in the region" as it is changing the political situation and creating opportunities.

    Opening an Israel Business Forum in Nicosia, Tzur said that "in this context Cyprus is of central importance, in light of its position in the trade relations between Israel and the neighboring Arab countries".

    "We look upon Cyprus as a vital economic and logistic center in development of the region," he told Greek Cypriot and some 10 Israeli businesspeople here to meet their counterparts in a bid to boost trade relations.

    Referring to the Middle East peace process, the Israeli ambassador said the new momentum "is already changing the political situation in the region and is creating a window of opportunity for renewed economic relations between Israel and its neighbors". Tzur pointed out that "new business opportunities will also open up for Cyprus as she stands on the threshold of joining the European Union".

    [07] Simitis, Venizelos finalize PASOK platform

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday had a one-hour meeting with development minister Evangelos Venizelos to put the finishing touches to the PASOK government's program for the next four years.

    Venizelos told reporters after the meeting that he had submitted the 250-page draft program to Simitis last Friday.

    The program covers all aspects of government policy, and aims to give solutions to the problems faced by the Greek economy and society, and the country in general.

    "We are now at the stage of finalization," Venizelos said, adding that the premier would reveal the program in early March, ahead of the April 9 general elections.

    [08] Liani Papandreou not a candidate

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Dimitra Liani-Papandreou, the widow of PASOK founder and former prime minister Andreas Papandreou, announced Tuesday that she would not contest the April 9 general elections, but would help the ruling party's re-election effort.

    After a 20-minute meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis at his office, Liani-Papandreou said she had a "positive and warm" discussion with Simitis.

    "The subject was, in a way, how I could contribute to the effort for PASOK's victory," she told reporters, adding that she had not asked to be a candidate.

    The government said the meeting took place after an initiative by Mrs. Liani-Papandreou.

    In response to a question during a regular press briefing, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas added that Dimitra Liani-Papandreou belongs within the PASOK camp, and that the meeting at the PM's office dealt with the ruling party's preparations for the upcoming April 9 general elections. No further details were given.

    [09] Ex-basketball star Fassoulas on PASOK ticket

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    The ruling PASOK party announced on Tuesday that former star basketball center Panayiotis Fassoulas will be on its candidates list in Piraeus' first election district.

    General elections in Greece are set for April 9.

    "After the Prime Minister's invitation I accepted the honor that he made on my behalf of including me in the Piraeus first election district," Fassoulas said after a meeting with Premier Costas Simitis.

    Fassoulas, a longtime player with PAOK Thessaloniki, Olympiakos Piraeus as well as a veteran of the Greek national team, said Greece's largest port city has treated him unbelievably well over the years - one of the reasons he cited in wanting to give back to the area as a Parliament deputy.

    [10] Papantoniou says ND election victory possibly harmful to Greece's EU prospects

    BRUSSELS, 23/02/2000 (ANA- Y. Zitouniati)

    National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said on Tuesday that a possible victory of the main opposition New Democracy party in the April 9 elections could mean a delay in Greece's accession to the euro zone, scheduled for January 1, 2001 if the relevant application is approved.

    "I have a feeling that (the application of) Greece would be at risk if the election result brought New Democracy back to power ... the low degree of confidence and persuasiveness it enjoys among our European partners (on account of allegations of falsified official Greek data accepted by the Commission) pose dangers for the efficient pursuit of the accession process in the crucial months," he told reporters after a presentation of the Greek convergence program to the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Committee.

    Greece's application for accession is due to be submitted next month and come up for consideration at the EU summit in June.

    He further warned that there would be an even greater danger after accession to the euro zone "to the degree that Greece would have to have a trustworthy economic policy and promote ambitious reforms with social sensitivity that secure social cohesion".

    In Athens, New Democracy party spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos charged that Papantoniou's claims were "false, baseless, clash with basic democratic principles and constitute an attempt at blackmailing the Greek people".

    [11] Premier discusses wage earners' problems with young trade unionists

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Tuesday held talks with a group of young trade unionists affiliated with the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY), who briefed him on problems faced by working people in both the private and public sectors as well as on the situation prevailing in trade unions.

    Among others, Labor Minister Miltiades Papaioannou, GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos and ADEDY President Yiannis Koutsoukos attended the meeting.

    Simitis said that in past years the government applied a policy of dialogue with GSEE and ADEDY, which facilitated the economy's restructuring and development and an increase in the real incomes of wage earners and pensioners.

    [12] Karamanlis tours Galatsi tax bureau

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Main opposition New Democracy Costas Karamanlis visited a tax bureau and Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) office in the Galatsi municipality north of Athens on Tuesday morning.

    After his tour of the tax bureau Karamanlis noted that the structure and organization of the country's tax and revenue-collecting sectors translate into a major cost for the state, as well as leading to injustices and aggravations for citizens. He also charged that the black economy and tax evasion are buttressed by this situation.

    [13] Coalition, AKOA announce elections collaboration

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    The Coalition of the Left and Progress (SYN) and the tiny Renovative Communist Ecological Left (AKOA) parties on Tuesday announced they would join forces for the April 9 early general elections.

    SYN president Nikos Constantopoulos and veteran left-wing politician Yannis Banias, secretary of AKOA, announced the cooperation at a press conference.

    Constantopoulos said the two parties enjoyed a relationship of "equality and respect", adding that SYN had taken the initiative to make overtures to other Left forces aiming at a wider rallying together of the Left that would also endure after the elections.

    SYN, he said, believed that the April 9 elections were critical for the country's course over the coming years, and the ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy parties proposed continuation of the same policy.

    The pre-electoral clash between the two major parties, he added, lacked substance.

    Banias, a former secretary of the now defunct Communist Party of the Interior (KKE-Int.), said the cornerstone of AKOA's cooperation with SYN was their shared policies on issues of major importance, with the focus on the problems of unemployment, growth and redistribution of revenues, their different position on and perception of authority, and the "movement-style character" of their collaboration.

    Such a rallying of forces could give hope and vision, create momentum, and change the correlations, comprising an opposite pole so as to pave the way to a new society, Banias said.

    Replying to questions, Banias said his party had also held discussions with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), noting, however, that the KKE had stated that it did not desire electoral cooperation with other political parties but rather had called for the participation of various personalities on the KKE candidate lists, "which AKOA rejected".

    According to informed sources, SYN is also discussing cooperation with another Left veteran, Manolis Glezos, as well as seismology professor Vassilis Papazachos, professor Costas Vergopoulos and Alternative Ecologists former MP Tassia Andreadaki.

    [14] Stephanopoulos receives Samaras

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos received Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras on Tuesday.

    Samaras congratulated Stephanopoulos over his recent re-election by Parliament to a second consecutive term as Greece's president, while he also briefed him on Pol.An's decision not to participate in the upcoming April 9 general elections.

    [15] Gov't comments on 'Echelon' program discussions in Europarliament

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    The government commented on Tuesday over a controversial text being discussed currently in the Europarliament that deals with implementation of the "Echelon" program in the 15 EU member-states.

    Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the crux of discussion deals with crime-related issues and not simple telephone conversations. He also noted that a final decision has not been made, as the issue is complex, leading to its discussion in the Europarliament over the past three years.

    [16] Greek stocks remain under pressure

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Equity prices remained under pressure for the second consecutive session to end sharply lower on the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

    Traders said market sentiment was undermined as hopes of a pre-election rally were fading and a decision on the Greek market's inclusion among international developed markets was delayed.

    The general index ended 1.47 percent lower at 5,109.81 points. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.86 percent lower at 2,775.61 points and the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index plunged 3.11 percent to 827.15 points.

    Turnover was a low 158.9 billion drachmas.

    The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 1,299.65 points, down 6.52 percent.

    Broadly, decliners led advancers by 321 to 24 with only one issue unchanged.

    Exelixi, Phaliro Medical, Chipita, Aspis Insurance, Ideal, Rocas, Pairis and Singular scored the biggest percentage gains, while Xylemporia (c), Athinea, Hadzikraniotis, Eskimo, Technodomi, Alysdia, Corfil (p) and Druckfarben ended at the day's 10.0 percent limit down.

    ETBAbank, Doudos and Hellenic Telecoms were the most heavily traded stocks.

    Equity futures mostly end down in derivatives trade: Most equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Tuesday in line with the stock indices on which they are based.

    On the Athens bourse, the FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.86 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 for medium capitalization stocks closed 3.11 percent down.

    Turnover from equity futures rose to 12.9 billion drachmas from 10.4 billion drachmas a day earlier, 6.7 billion drachmas on Friday and 9.4 billion drachmas on Thursday.

    A total of 1,943 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20, showing turnover of 10.9 billion drachmas.

    The contracts ended as follows: expiring March at 2,808; expiring April at 2,850; expiring May at 2,860; and expiring June at 2,866.

    Futures traded on the FTSE/ASE Mid 40 numbered 554, posting turnover of 2.0 billion drachmas.

    Contracts closed as follows: expiring March at 859; expiring April at 868; expiring May at 875; and expiring June at 895.

    Bond prices nose up in higher turnover: Bond prices edged up in higher turnover on Tuesday with the yield spread over German bunds narrowing slightly, traders said.

    In the previous session, bonds had traded thin with players focusing on the state's 20-year paper and shunning 10-year bonds.

    On Tuesday, the Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.44 percent from about 6.55 percent in the last two sessions and 6.52-6.56 percent on Thursday.

    The paper's yield spread over German bunds fluctuated between 96 and 97 basis points from 98 basis points a day earlier and between 97 and 99 basis points on Friday.

    Trade through the central bank's electronic system totalled 86 billion drachmas from 34 billion drachmas in the previous session and 38 billion drachmas in the two preceding trading days.

    In Tuesday's trade, buy orders accounted for around 78 billion drachmas of turnover and sell orders the remainder.

    An auction of 10-year bonds by the finance ministry in a reopening of January paper was successful, despite fairly tight liquidity in the market.

    Analysts said there was little room for the yield spread over bunds to fall further, and that even a central bank rate cut of 75-100 basis points, anticipated in March, would have little impact on the market.

    Drachma slips vs. euro, surges vs. dollar: The drachma edged down against the euro but jumped versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market on Tuesday, in line with the greenback's decline on world markets.

    In the previous session, the drachma had come under pressure following heavy demand for the euro, prompting the central bank to sell around 190 million euros to nudge up the national currency.

    At the central bank's daily fixing on Tuesday, the euro was set at 333.800 drachmas from 333.600 drachmas a day earlier and 333.360 drachmas on Friday.

    Also at the fixing, the US dollar was set at 333.400 drachmas from 338.050 drachmas in the previous session and 338.220 drachmas on Friday.

    [17] Bulgarian premier says solution to BOT privatization possibly within the week

    SOFIA, 23/02/2000 (ANA - B. Borisov)

    Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov said on Tuesday "our relations with Greece cannot be worsened by a press report", in response to a recent report in a Greek weekly newspaper claiming a possible crisis in relations between the two countries over the sale of the Bulgarian BOT telecommunications organization to the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and the Dutch KPN firm.

    According to state-run TV, Kostov said that in his letter to his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis there was no proposal concerning the "cancellation of BOT's buyoff."

    Kostov said he did not wish a new auction for BOT's privatization, because only 7-8 points remained to be resolved.

    "These issues could be resolved even this week," Kostov said.

    [18] Long-term yields drop substantially

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Long-term yields fell substantially during Tuesday's regular auction of state securities by the Public Debt Management Organization.

    The average weighed yield of a 10-year bond, paying an annual coupon of 6.3 percent, fell to 6.42 percent from 6.60 percent in the previous auction of same debt on January 25.

    Bids submitted totalled 564 billion drachmas, more than three times the asked sum of 180 billion, evidence of strong demand for Greek state securities.

    The average weighed price of the bond auction was 99.180 units with a minimum accepted price of 99.120.

    [19] European Coordinating Center for forest fires to be established in Athens

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Ministers and representatives of the Council of Europe 'Europa', attending their 8th ministerial meeting on tackling great dangers and natural disasters in the wider region of the Mediterranean, Europe and the Balkans which came to a close on Tuesday, agreed to the establishment in Athens of a European Coordinating Center on forest fires.

    Interior Ministry Political Protection Secretary General Dimitris Katrivanos said the meeting was a response to recommendations by the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly concerning the earthquakes which took place in Greece and Turkey in August, September and November last year.

    The ministers proposed the use of new communications and information technologies to facilitate decision-making and cooperation in the sector of earthquake prediction and management in Greece and Turkey.

    Speaking to the Athens News Agency (ANA), Europa President Jean Massoe said "it is not enough for a country to be willing to help another. It should also have the knowledge and capabilities to enable its aid to have results."

    Government announces new measures against forest fires: The government on Tuesday announced plans to hire 1,100 permanent and 4,000 seasonal forest firefighters, as part of a package of measures of prevention and restoration.

    The package, announced by Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysohoidis, includes the granting of more responsibilities and resources to 800 municipal authorities, and the addition of two new Canadair-type aircraft and seven fire fighting helicopters to the existing fleet.

    Papandreou said measures introduced in 1999 had spectacular results in limiting the extent of destruction. Despite an increase in the number of fires, only 19,500 hectares of forest and pastureland were burned, compared to 96,300 hectares in 1998.

    The new measures will be introduced after the April 9 election.

    [20] Gov't says no direct listeriosis danger

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    Authorities said on Tuesday that the recent appearance of fatal incidents of listeriosis in France posed no direct danger to Greek consumers.

    The Development Ministry's Food Control Unit said in a statement that Greek authorities, as in all other EU member-states, had been notified of the names of manufacturers and brands of foodstuffs considered responsible for the disease.

    The listeria monocytogenes bacterium has been located in cheeses and sausages presently produced in France, Germany and Italy, but no incidents have been reported in other countries. Pasteurization of milk destroys the bacterium.

    The statement said that the particular type of pate delicacy from pork meat identified as the cause of the first deaths in France two months ago was not exported to Greece, while Greek cheeses were all produced from pasteurized milk. Health authorities were conducting checks for a limited number of imported cheese types produced from unpasteurized milk.

    An outbreak of the disease in France caused the deaths of at least 20 people in 1992.

    [21] Passenger shippers call for better ports

    Athens, 23/02/2000 (ANA)

    The Union of Passenger Ship-owners on Tuesday complained to the government that ports around the country lack facilities needed for new, high-tech fast ferries.

    "Appropriate breakwaters need to be built in most ports so that new technology ships may dock easily and safely, also aiding the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and vehicles," the union said in a memorandum to the government.

    "In addition, ports should be equipped with the right electronic systems to check passengers," said the memorandum, released at the union's general assembly.

    The document was addressed to National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis and Merchant Marine Minister Stavros Soumakis.

    The union also asked to have port improvement and fleet renewal projects made eligible for funding under the European Union's Third Community Support Framework.


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