Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 00-08-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't prepares major autumn policy initiatives

[02] Chrysohoidis pays official visit to Albania

[03] German finance ministry report reportedly outlines Berlin guarantee for major tank deal

[04] US to decide when an agreement will be signed, says Reppas

[05] Karamanlis confers with aides, industrialists

[06] Greek PM sends condolences for loss of 'Kursk'

[07] PM pledges major EU funding for Greek regions

[08] Alexakis sets out measures for upgrading bourse trading

[09] Equities nose up in scant trade

[10] Gov't refers to bureaucratic obstacles in Albania for Greek investment

[11] Ruling pave way for end of notorious Hania landfill

[12] IOC delegation to monitor progress in Olympics preparations

[13] Cyprus government strives for substantive negotiations at proximity talks

[14] Ambassador says Greece backs Clerides' positions on peace talks

[15] Foreigners will not be able to keep Greek Cypriot property bought in Turkish-occupied north

[01] Gov't prepares major autumn policy initiatives

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

Simitis on Tuesday chaired a meeting of economic ministers who briefed him on situation regarding the economy's basic indicators and the leeway, which this year's budget allows for more spending in social policies.

Sources said that Simitis approved the basic guidelines for the drafting of next year's budget and the size of tax breaks which it will contain.

In statements later, National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou expressed optimism about the economy generally, saying that the government was aiming for growth rates of 5 per cent in the coming year, coupled with low inflation and fiscal discipline in the public sector.

The finance minister warned, however, that achieving these goals and maintaining a positive image of the Greek economy within Economic and Monetary Union demanded an effort equal to that made in order for Greece to qualify for EMU in the first place.

Asked about lowering taxes, the minister said these would fall in line with the government's pre-election pledges.

[02] Chrysohoidis pays official visit to Albania

TIRANA, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

During his visit, Chrysohoidis held meetings with Prime Minister Ilir Meta and his Albanian counterpart Spartak Poci.

Ten police armored vehicles also crossed the Greek-Albanian border on Tuesday, a donation by the Greek Public Order Ministry to the Albanian police.

In his meeting with Meta, the Greek minister said that "Albania has taken major steps in the combatting of organized crime and in the improvement of security", factors which will strengthen stability and cooperation in the region.

Chrysohoidis further stressed that as of next year the agreement for seasonal employment will be fully implemented in order to give the possibility to Albanian citizens the opportunity to work unimpeded in Greece.

Prime Minister Meta said that Greek-Albanian relations, "which have been the best ever in the past ten years," constitute an example in the Balkans.

In the Greek minister's meeting with his Albanian counterpart, emphasis was given on the very good level of cooperation between the two ministries with regard the combatting of organized cross-border crime and the confrontation of drug trafficking.

A proposal by the Albanian side was approved for the setting up of an international center in Vlore for the combatting of smuggling. It was also announced that in the near future regional meetings would be held on security issues and on the combatting of crime. The first meeting will be held next month in Corfu between Greece, Italy and Albania, while a meeting between Greece, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will be held soon.

After a proposal put forward by Chrysohoidis, the Albanian side accepted that Greek police contribute with technical means to combat the growing of cannabis in Albania.

[03] German finance ministry report reportedly outlines Berlin guarantee for major tank deal

BERLIN, 23/08/2000 (ANA - P. Stangos)

Greece is apparently in the final stages of selecting a new main battle tank (MBT) for its armed forces, a deal that could be worth more than $1.8 billion, and with Germany's Leopard 2A5 as one of the main contenders.

Additionally, an article in Tuesday's "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung" also refers to the finance ministry report, noting that the German government appears to be guaranteeing the tank sale to Greece to the tune of almost four billion marks. The paper also reports that negotiations between Athens and the tank's manufacturers, Krauss-Maffei-Wegmann and Rheinmetall, are underway.

Others candidates for the Greek order include the US-made M1-A2 Abrams, Britain's Challenger 2E and France's Leclerc, while previous reports have put the number of tanks to be purchased at around 250, along with 24 recovery vehicles and 12 bridge layers. Although no number was mentioned in the German finance ministry's report to the Bundestag committee, other sources in Berlin claimed that the purported level of guaranteed German credits point to an order of even up to 600 tanks.

No comment was issued by the manufacturers regarding the ministry report.

Greece has signed weapons contracts worth more than $4 billion over the past three years.

[04] US to decide when an agreement will be signed, says Reppas

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

Reppas added that there were no problems regarding the content of such an agreement

[05] Karamanlis confers with aides, industrialists

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

Meanwhile, the party's spokesman on Culture and the Olympic Games, Manolis Kefaloyiannis, said ND was concerned over the continuous changes in the timetable for the completion of projects.

Karamanlis will open a one-day meeting on Wednesday on Greece after its accession to the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).

[06] Greek PM sends condolences for loss of 'Kursk'

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

The government spokesman informed reporters of the Greek PM's letter during the daily press briefing.

[07] PM pledges major EU funding for Greek regions

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

Addressing a visiting delegation of northern Greek industrialists, Simitis also promised that no monies would be wasted.

"We are ending the inequality between the center and the regions, sending a higher proportion of funds to the regions ... Not a single euro will be lost," the prime minister said.

Simitis met the board of the Association of Northern Greek Industrialists ahead of his trip in early September to the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair, where he will deliver his annual economic policy speech.

"The government believes regional development to be of major significance, a precondition for cohesion of the whole of Greek society," he added.

The industry association's president, Vassilis Takas, called on the government to accelerate structural changes in the economy, and take swift initiatives to promote cooperation in the Balkans, centered on the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

Takas told a news conference that his group underlined the need for improved competitiveness, and backed talks the government has initiated with employers and unions on liberalizing the labor market.

[08] Alexakis sets out measures for upgrading bourse trading

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

The measures include the introduction of a book building procedure with fair prices in all new listings, a provision whereby the managers of the issues support the price of a stock at public subscription levels for a six-month period, and publication at regular intervals of the changes in the size of the interest of basic shareholders.

[09] Equities nose up in scant trade

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

The general index rose 0.16 percent to finish at 3,758.34 points. Turnover was 61.6 billion drachmas.

Analysts were reluctant to forecast the bourse's short-term future in its current lackluster phase.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.04 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index for medium-sized shares finished 0.71 percent higher.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: -0.24% Leasing: +1.25% Insurance: +0.09% Investment: -0.55% Construction: -0.26% Industrials: +0.40% Miscellaneous: -1.21% Holding: +3.63%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks closed 0.98 percent up.

Of 346 shares traded, advances led declines at 189 to 140 with 17 issues unchanged.

Closing prices of leading shares in drachmas were as follows: National Bank: 13,660 Titan Cement (c): 13,100 Alpha Bank: 12,290 Hellenic Telecommunications: 7,840 Commercial Bank: 16,380 Panafon: 3,890 Hellenic Petroleum: 3,860 Eurobank: 8,995 Intracom: 12,280 Lambrakis Press: 9,300 Heracles Cement: 6,700

Equity futures rise, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Tuesday, in line with the indices on which they are based.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.04 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.71 percent higher.

Turnover was 7.87 billion drachmas from 9.32 billion drachmas a day earlier.

A total of 764 contracts were traded on the FTSE/ASE 20 with turnover at 3.2 billion drachmas.

On the FTSE/ASE 40 index, 2,355 contracts changed hands on turnover of 4.6 billion drachmas.

Bonds rise in scant, buy-oriented trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished higher in thin trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 6.072 percent from 6.065 percent in the previous session.

The Greek paper's yield spread over German bunds was 82 basis points from 81-83 basis points a session earlier.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 16.2 billion drachmas from 88 billion drachmas the day before.

Buy orders accounted for the whole of trade.

Drachma ends up vs. euro, down vs. dollar: The drachma on Tuesday ended higher against the euro and lower versus the US dollar in the domestic foreign exchange market.

At the central bank's daily fixing, the euro was set at 337.380 drachmas from 337.390 drachmas in the previous session.

Also at the fix, the dollar was set at 375.480 drachmas from 373.460 drachmas a day earlier.

[10] Gov't refers to bureaucratic obstacles in Albania for Greek investment

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas added that construction work on a new refinery being built in Albania is, nevertheless, proceeding on schedule. He also expressed Athens' hope that no more obstacles will be encountered while stressing that Greece is very interested in retaining excellent relations with the neighboring state.

[11] Ruling pave way for end of notorious Hania landfill

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

In early July the Eurocourt imposed a daily fine of 20,000 euros on the Greek government over its failure to comply with a 1992 European Court decision to stop dumping toxic wastes at the Kouroupitos landfill near Hania.

That action marked the first time that the Eurocourt passed down such a ruling against a EU member-state for failing to implement one of its previous decisions. The daily fine was to be tacked on from the day of the second ruling -- July 4, 2000 -- and until the time the Greek government complied with the previous 1992 decision.

On Tuesday, a Hania first instance court accepted two requests by the prefecture's administration; one for use of a road at the Mesohori site in order to base a temporary refuse management landfill. More importantly, the other decision allows for the appropriation of land at the "Korakia" site - south of Kouroupitos -- for the establishment of a permanent landfill and recycling plant.

The European Commission in late July had also announced that it was referring Greece to the Eurocourt over the latter's failure to implement Community standards regarding the safe disposal of waste in landfills.

Work is slated to begin in the coming week, authorities said.

[12] IOC delegation to monitor progress in Olympics preparations

Athens, 23/08/2000 (ANA)

The IOC delegates will have successive meetings with the leadership of the "Athens 2004" Olympics Organizing Committee, Culture Minister Theodoros Pangalos and other members of government, and will inspect sites of Olympic projects.

On Wednesday morning, meanwhile, Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a ministerial meeting for the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis, whose ministry has undertaken the construction of five major Olympics projects, on Tuesday told "Flash" radio station that "great leaps were needed to make up for lost time," in preparations for the Olympics.

He said the timetable for the works which he unveiled to reporters on Monday were very specific because they were linked to specific tasks and actions that had to be carried out at regular intervals and could therefore be monitored. He also pledged to give three-monthly progress reports for each project.

But main opposition New Democracy's "shadow" minister for cultural issues and the Olympics, Manolis Kefaloyiannis, on Tuesday expressed concern regarding the schedules for the five projects presented by Laliotis, saying that for 10 of the 28 events at the Olympics might not be carried out reliably.

"This concern will also be expressed by the IOC which will check the schedule for the projects, which keeps changing. But it is the Greek people who are primarily concerned, as it is now evident that the cost of the specific projects will be double that budgeted for in the original bid file," Kefaloyiannis said.

Memorandum with Foreign Ministry signed: Foreign Minister George Papandreou on Tuesday signed a memorandum of coordination with the Athens 2004 company, the organizers of the Olympic Games, regarding matters governing the entry of members of foreign Olympic team officials and athletes into the country, the participation of expatriate Greeks in the volunteer program, and the promotion of the Olympic Idea among international organizations and NGOs.

The memorandum also includes measures of support to the International Olympic Truce Center founded by the foreign ministry in collaboration with IOC.

[13] Cyprus government strives for substantive negotiations at proximity talks

NICOSIA, 23/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou on Tuesday described September's new round of talks as "significant" also noting this marks the end of the intervention by US President Bill Clinton.

"Our objective has been and remains to find an honorable compromise solution, through talks, in a peaceful manner and we are working towards this direction," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing.

He said Cypriot diplomacy is trying to influence matters in the right direction and these efforts are continuous.

"In this context, we believe that the period of any preparatory discussions to prepare the ground has finished and there is a need to embark on substantive negotiations to solve the Cyprus question," the spokesman said.

Papapetrou said diplomats at home and abroad and the foreign minister himself are engaged intensely in contacts to convey this message.

"President Glafcos Clerides is likely to have a series of significant contacts during his stay in New York and already he is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Ambassador to the UN Richard Holbrooke," Papapetrou.

[14] Ambassador says Greece backs Clerides' positions on peace talks

NICOSIA, 23/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

The ambassador, whose term in office in Cyprus ends shortly, also said Greece backs President Glafcos Clerides in the positions he outlines at the UN-led peace talks, due to resume in New York in early September.

"Greece stands by Cyprus and the positions President Clerides presents at the talks, especially the view he expressed in a letter to the UN Secretary General making a point on the need for substantive negotiations," Rodousakis said.

Invited to assess the new round of talks, he called for patience and effort to deal with the unacceptable positions the Turkish side puts forward and try to secure the best possible outcome from these talks and Cyprus' European accession course.

Replying to questions on a joint defense pact between Cyprus and Greece, Rodousakis said planning by the Greek Defense ministry includes Cyprus as well and added "anything the Cyprus Defense Ministry has asked for was given it immediately."

[15] Foreigners will not be able to keep Greek Cypriot property bought in Turkish-occupied north

NICOSIA, 23/08/2000 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said the government would not condone under any circumstances such purchases.

His comments were made in response to reports in the British press that UK and German nationals have illegally bought or leased property belonging to Greek Cypriots from Turkish Cypriots or Turks in Turkish -occupied part of Cyprus.

"Anybody acquiring property from Turks or Turkish Cypriots which belongs to Greek Cypriots cannot possibly keep that property. We shall not, under any circumstance condone something like that," the spokesman told his daily briefing.

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