From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca Subject: News - Tue, 31 Aug 1993 Athens News Agency Bulletin, August 31,1993 =========================================== Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA )-- Government spokesman Vassilis Manginas yesterday welcomed as "highly encouraging" the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on the Greek economy. The report, he said, confirms the appropriateness of the government's economic policy and underlines the need for Greece to continue its successful course in order for its economy to improve further over the next 18 months. "The government (will responsibly) continue its policies of modernisation and reconstruction and will not destroy what has been achieved so far through its efforts and the sacrifices made by the Greek people", Mr. Manginas said. "It will confine its movements solely to the true limits of the economy, (as regards) employee incomes, and steer clear of empty promises and pre-election handouts", he added. Mr. Manginas said he did not know when the next meeting between President Constantine Karamanlis and Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis would take place and that he could make no official announcement regarding a possible visit by Mr. Mitsotakis to Washington. US press sources had reported that a meeting between Mr. Mitsotakis and US President Bill Clinton had been set for October 26. Mr. Manginas announced that the prime minister is due to meet with the presidency of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) today and with the presidency of the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) on Thursday. The government spokesman said these contacts were useful in view of the important speech to be given by Mr. Mitsotakis next Saturday in Thessaloniki on the course and aims of the Greek economy. Athens, 31/8/1993 Greece's spate of forest fires this summer have claimed another life, bringing the toll for the month to 18 dead, police said yesterday. The police said fire-fighters found the charred body of Fotini Peverou 67, yesterday during efforts to extinguish a fire that has destroyed thousands of acres in Arkadia in southern Greece. Thirteen people were killed on the island of Ikaria in the Southeast Aegean earlier this month and a woman on the neighbouring island of Samos, a 40-year - old forestry official and two soldiers who died when their fire-fighting plan crashed also lost their lives this month. Officials said fires were currently raging in 14 prefectures, devastating many of Greece's most scenic sites, including Mount Olympus, home of the ancient Greek gods. Agriculture Ministry sources said 30 fires so far had been placed under control. Hundreds of soldiers, fire-fighters and forestry crews have been mobilised in large-scale operations to extinguish the fires. Assisting in the operations are eight German and Canadian fire fighting helicopters. Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA) - A four-member delegation will represent Greece's ruling New Democracy party at the Conference of the European Democratic Union (EDU), scheduled to be held September 1-3 in Hungary, after Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis announced he will not be attending the meeting. The delegation, headed by former Health Minister Marietta Yiannakou - Koutsikou, comprises Culture Under-secretary Kelly Bourdara, former minister George Tzitzikostas and deputy Constantine Karamanlis. The EDU gathering will hold elections for a new presidency and discuss European defence matters, the course of democracy in Central and East European countries and issues related to the implementation of the Maastricht treaty. Melbourne, 31/8/1993 (Macedonian Press Agency) - Australia's Federal Immigration Minister Senator Nick Bolkus will pay a visit to Greece in September as part of his tour of European capitals. Senator Bolkus is of Greek origin. Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA) - Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday held separate meetings with National Defence Minister Ioannis Varvitsiotis and the governor of the Bank of Greece Efthymios Christodoulou. Mr. Varvitsiotis and Mr. Christodoulou briefed Mr. Mitsotakis on matters of their responsibility. Geneva, 31/8/1993 (ANA-Reuters) - Foreign Under-secretary Virginia Tsouderou, representing Greece at the International Conference for the Protection of War Victims, yesterday, urged the international community to press the need for all countries to join international bodies promoting basic human rights, particularly in the light of prevailing conditions. Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) opened three-day talks yesterday due to draft a declaration affirming compliance with the Geneva Conventions of 1949, which safeguard the rights of prisoners and civilians during armed conflict. Forty ministers are among officials from 160 states attending the conference. Switzerland is the depository government of the Geneva Convention, which 181 countries have recognised as binding - virtually the entire international community. But the ICRC is seeking universal ratification of two protocols to the treaty, adopted in 1977, which extend protection to any person affected by armed conflict. Britain, Indonesia, Israel, South Africa, Turkey and the United States are among those who have not signed the protocols, the ICRC said. "Greece has always followed a traditional policy of peace and humanitarianism, and has also signed all related conventions and protocols", Ms Tsouderou stressed in her address. "An international court should be immediately set up and sit permanently to try war criminals", she said. United Nations' Secretary General Boutros Ghali also addressed the conference yesterday while Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev will speak today. Moscow , 31/8/1993 (Reuters) - A Greek businessman was killed by a bomb which exploded in a car outside a central Moscow hotel, Itar-Tass news agency said yesterday. The businessman, identified only as N. Ladidis, suffered severe leg injuries when a bomb blew up a Zhiguli saloon car outside the Belgrade Hotel. Ladidis, who directed a company in Moscow and lived at the hotel, was taken to hospital where he died. Tass did not say when the incident occurred or whether Ladidis had been inside the car when it blew up. Tass said the car did not belong to Ladidis and there was speculation he had been the innocent victim of a gangland dispute. Dozens of people have died this year in Moscow in armed clashes between gang members. Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA) - Macedonia-Thrace Ministry General Secretary Yiannis Tsalouhidis and Thessaloniki Mayor Constantine Kosmopoulos yesterday opened the Institute of International Law and International Relations' 22nd annual conference in Thessaloniki. The conference this year will focus on " Peace and Human Rights" and is organised in collaboration with the International Studies department at Thessaloniki University and the Thessaloniki Municipality. The conference is considered one of the highest - level educational events on current affairs in international relations and international law in Greece. Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA) - The National Economy Ministry announced yesterday that Thivae in Boeotia had been chosen as the most convenient and economical site for a privately-owned electricity production plant. The ministry also announced that further information would be forwarded to investors interested in participating in the call for tenders to build and operate the plant. Siemens of Germany, General Electric and Coastal of the United States, Mitsubishi of Japan and ABB, a Swiss-Swedish concern, are among the companies which have displayed interest in taking part in the call. Athens, 31/8/1993 (ANA) - Two Turkish nationals were arrested yesterday by the Samos Port Authority for fishing in Greek waters. The authorities said the two were to be formally charged yesterday.