Fishermen net ancient bronze statue
NEWS IN DETAIL
PM denies US involvement in coordination of Aegean exercises
Prime Minister Costas Simitis stressed today in Parliament that the the
United States was in no way involved with the coordination of recent Greek
and Turkish air and naval exercises in the Aegean.
Replying to a question tabled by main opposition New Democracy party deputy
Alekos Papadogonas, Simitis said that the issue which arose when recent
Greek and Turkish exercises coincided in the same area between Chios and
Samos at the same time was resolved by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
in cooperation with the General Air Staff.
''In cases when the location (for separate Greek and Turkish exercises) is
the same, an effort is made by the CAA to find some mutually acceptable
solution. In the case in question, there was a coincidence as far as the
location was concerned,'' Simitis said.
The premier added that it was eventually agreed that the Greek and Turkish
exercises should take place at different times ''within the framework of
what is a common practice''.
Exports outlook good but no room for complacency
The third meeting of the Exports Council plenary concluded today that
although Greek exports were at a satisfactory level, the picture presented
by the country's trade balance did not allow complacency, since imports
were rapidly increasing.
The result, according to the council, was that better coordination was
needed between state services and Greek businessmen in order to chart a
more effective and uniform strategy for promoting Greek products in foreign
markets.
The plenary meeting, the first for two years, was held with the participation
of dozens of representatives of the producer classes and agencies directly
or indirectly involved in the country's foreign trade.
National Economy Undersecretary Alexandros Baltas said exports increased by
18 per cent in the first half of 1996, compared to the same period of 1995,
thanks to a number of favourable developments such as improvements in the
relevant institutional framework and cheaper and easier financing.
Baltas acknowledged however that disincentives still remained and were
impeding export efforts. The government, he added, would do all it could to
resolve this problem.
He also announced the simplification and a ''different philosophy''
concerning the system of export credits to various states ''which has not
been as effective as we had believed''.
At present, he went on, export credit lines have been opened for Romania,
Georgia and Moldova, while others, namely for Ukraine, Krasnodar in Russia,
Armenia and Azerbaijan, were being negotiated or, in the case of China,
Vietnam and Yugoslavia, at the planning stage.
The aim of the Greek government, Baltas said, was on the one hand to
support the export of Greek capital equipment and technical know-how for
the promotion of investment programmes abroad, while on the other,
facilitating access to these markets for Greek small- and medium-size
enterprises.
Alternate FM in Sofia to offer EU's help
Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou is to make a brief visit to
Sofia today to discuss European Union aid to Bulgaria, informed sources
said. He will meet with caretaker government vice-president Al. Boskov,
Foreign Minister Stoyan Stalev and Foreign Undersecretary for European
Affairs Valentin Dobrev. The Bulgarian media report that Papandreou will
ask for guarantees for Greek investments in Bulgaria.
New Patriarch elected for Alexandria and All Africa
Petros Papapetrou, the Metropolitan of Cameroon and Western Africa, was
today elected the 114th Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa.
The Holy Synod of the Alexandria Patriarchate elected Papapetrou from a
shortlist of three metropolitans, or archbishops, from an original
seventeen bishops and archbishops from around Africa.
The new patriarch succeeds the late Parthenios, who died while on holiday
on the Greek island of Amorgos in July last year at the age of 77.
Parapetrou, born in the northern Cypriot town of Kyrenia in 1949, speaks
English, French and Arabic and has represented the Patriarchate of
Alexandria at numerous ecumenical meetings.
New international airport to be built at Meteora
An international airport is to be built at Meteora, near the site of the
famous Byzantine monasteries. The first phase of construction, budgeted at
10,500,000,000 dr., is expected to provide around 300 jobs.
A master plan for the airport, whose 2,450m runway is scheduled to open for
air traffic in 2000, is to be presented in Meteora on Sunday by the
construction companies Meteora Airport S.A., Daimler-Benz Airport Systems
and Faulenbach Da Costa Airport Consulting. The plan includes a modern
cargo centre for the transport of Thessaly's agricultural produce, a pilot
training centre, and facilities for international exhibitions, conferences
and air-shows.
Companies participating in the project include Dornier GmbH, the Hellenic
Aerospace Inudstry (EAB), AGET Heracles and the International Commerce and
Financing Corp.
Premier optimistic major works will be completed on schedule
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday expressed optimism that all the
major infrastructure works under way throughout the country would be
completed on schedule, while all related European Union funds would be
absorbed.
Speaking to reporters at the environment, town planning and public works
ministry after a two-hour meeting with the ministry's political leadership,
Mr. Simitis said he was satisfied by the progress of works despite certain
difficulties and "friction".
For most of the approximately 7,000 works in progress, Mr. Simitis said
funding, estimated at 4.2 trillion drachmas, has already been secured. In
those cases where available finances remained inadequate the necessary
funds will be raised in cooperation with the environment,town planning and
public works ministry and the national economy ministry, he added.
The premier did not rule out participation of the private sector in the
financing of major works.
"It is an issue which has been discussed by the cabinet and inner cabinet.
But we must find ways to ensure that it would be to the benefit of the
works and not increase their cost," he said.
Holbrooke arrives Monday on unofficial visit
Former US assistant secretary of state Richard Holbrooke will be in Athens
on Monday to accompany his wife, who will be honoured at a press awards
ceremony.
Kati Marton will be honoured for her work as president of the International
Committee for Protection of Journalists by the Costas Kyriazis International
Centre. Her group has been particularly active in pressing for the safety
of reporters in Turkey and former Yugoslavia, according to the centre.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas has confirmed that the ex-State
Department official will visit Athens, but said he did not know of any
scheduled meetings with Greek officials.
Iran offers to mediate between Greece, Turkey
Iran has offered to undertake the role of mediating between Greece and
Turkey to resolve their outstanding problems, a press release from Iran's
permanent representation at the United Nations said.
The press release referred to the visit to Athens this week by Iranian
First Vice-President Hassan Habibi, saying that the aim of the three-day
visit was to examine forms of widening cooperation between Tehran and
Athens in various fields.
Iran's Alternate Foreign Minister for European and US affairs Mahmoud Vaezi
told IRNA, the state news agency, that strengthening Greek-Iranian
relations was not directed against any other nation, specifically not
Turkey.
Jan-Oct 1996 current accounts deficit rises
The current accounts deficit in January-October 1996 rose to $4.3 billion,
compared to $3.0 billion in the corresponding ten-month period of 1995,
according to figures released yesterday by the Bank of Greece. The bank
said the increase was due to a 952.4 million dollar widening of the trade
deficit coupled with a 302.8 million dollar reduction in the invisibles
surplus.
In October 1986, the current accounts deficit reached $646 million,
compared to $627 million in the same month of 1995.
OTE to unveil new mobile phone in September
The Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) will unveil its first
mobile telephone at the annual Thessaloniki International Fair in
September.
Making the announcement yesterday, OTE president Dimitris Papoulias said
that a subsidiary - COSMO-OTE - had already been set up and would be
responsible for the organisation's cellular phone activities.
Mr. Papoulias said the subsidiary's share capital would total 100 billion
drachmas, of which half would be paid in from OTE's own capital while the
remainder would be borrowed funds. OTE will be entering the Greek mobile
phone market with a par tner, to be selected after evaluation of offers
from three companies - Airtats, Telenor and Orange.
The offers, he added, would be submitted by the deadline of February 28 and
the competent evaluation committee would convene prior to March 10 and give
its recommendation to OTE's board of directors. The successful bidding
company will purchase 30 per cent of COSMO-OTE's shares. The mobile phone
market in Greece is currently divided between two companies -Telestet and
Panafon.
Australian Greek, FYROM communitites agree to disagree
The ethnic communities of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia (FYROM) in Australia have decided to try and overcome their
differences which reflect the dispute between the two Balkan neighbours
over the name to be used by Skopje.
According to an ANA despatch from Melbourne, the two communities agreed on
Tuesday to tone down their antagonism and discontinue pending legal action
concerning a defamatory letter against ethnic Greeks of the Black Sea
region.
Representatives of the FYROM community had sent the letter to then
Australian premier Paul Keating.
After agreement was reached with representatives of the Greek Council and
the Association of Ethnic Greeks of the Black Sea, representatives of the
FYROM community in Australia issued an announcement recognizing the
sacrifices of the Greek people during the Second World War.
According to the announcement, the letter was not intended to question the
struggle of the Greek people against fascism.
''If our letter unintentionally offended you, then we apologize and
sincerely hope that our two communities can co-exist in peace, both in the
Balkans and in Australia,'' the announcement said.
In the letter, the FYROM community had accused the ethnic Greeks of the
Black Sea region of collaborating with the Nazis.
Ten illegal immigrants arrested
An army patrol arrested ten illegal immigrants from southern Bulgaria in a
mountainous region of Drama, northern Greece and handed them over to the
police today.
Procedures are already under way for their deportation.
Meanwhile, the police and army have increased measures along the entire
Greek-Bulgarian border, from Serres to Evros, to prevent a mass wave of
illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country.
According to unconfirmed reports from northern Greece, hundreds and perhaps
thousands of Bulgarians are waiting for the opportunity to cross into
Greece illegally.
Fishermen net ancient bronze statue
The crew of a fishing boat got more than they bargained for when they
pulled up the nets and found the head of an ancient bronze statue.
The skipper of the boat, Michail Koufakis, told the harbour authorities
that he had ''caught'' the head and other pieces of bronze while fishing
yesterday off the northwest coast of the island of Kalymnos.
The harbour authorities have already informed the competent marine
archaeology department about the find.
WEATHER
Partly cloudy with occasional sunshine and drizzle, but low temperatures in
most parts of Greece. Gale force winds in the southeastern Aegean Sea, and
the Cyclades. Athens will be overcast with sunny spells and moderate winds
with temperatures between 3-10C. Thessaloniki will be overcast with
temperatures ranging from 11-8C.
SPORTS
Athens among 2004 Olympics favourites
Athens, Rome and Buenos Aires, and to a lesser extent Cape Town, appear as
the favourites for the hosting of the 2004 Olympic Games, according to a
report issued in Lausanne yesterday by the International Olympic Committee's
(IOC) evaluation commission.
The IOC will announce a short-list of four or five Olympic contenders in
Lausanne on March 7.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Thursday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 262.483
Pound sterling 422.493 Cyprus pd 519.808
French franc 46.047 Swiss franc 177.672
German mark 155.565 Italian lira (100) 15.665
Yen (100) 212.437 Canadian dlr. 193.380
Australian dlr. 202.046 Irish Punt 412.077
Belgian franc 7.539 Finnish mark 52.259
Dutch guilder 138.548 Danish kr. 40.771
Swedish kr. 35.385 Norwegian kr. 39.101
Austrian sch. 22.102 Spanish peseta 1.836
Portuguese escudo 1.545
(M.P.)
