Subject: A.N.A. Bulletin 3/9/93
From: miltos@nfl2.irc.nrc.ca

        Athens News Agency Bulletin, September 3, 1993
        ==============================================

	Athens, 3/9/1993 (ANA) - Foreign Minister Michalis
Papaconstantinou yesterday assured his Israeli counterpart
Shimon Peres that Greece would help in any way it could for a
successful outcome to the current Middle East peace effort. Mr.
Peres made a brief stopover in Athens yesterday on his way to
Brussels. Speaking to reporters after the meeting with Mr.
Peres, Mr Papaconstantinou said they had discussed issues of
mutual interest that ways to improve "already good" bilateral
relations. He said that he had invited Mr. Peres to pay an
official visit to Greece, if possible by the end of the year.
Mr. Papaconstantinou said he had told Mr. Peres of the Greek
government's satisfaction at the recent progress in efforts for
peace in the Middle East.


	Brussels, 3/9/1993 (Reuters) - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon
Peres said yesterday construction of a new Middle East should be
in a joint venture between Europe and the United States.
"Building a Middle East of tolerance, of economic co-operation
and of a durable peace can profit very much from co-ordinated
help", he told a news conference after meeting European
Community chiefs in Brussels. "Europe never lost its interest in
the Middle East for religious and geographical reasons", Mr.
Peres added.
	European Commission President Jacques Delors, who flanked
Peres, pledged financial and political support for the new
Middle East peace plan, but he gave no details of a possible aid
package. He said, however, that the European Community would
throw all its weight behind implementation of a Middle East
peace accord.
	"The Commission proposes that the Community plays its full
role, Delors told a news conference after meeting Mr. Peres. The
plan will give self- government to Palestinians in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho immediately and more
limited self-rule for five years to the one million other
Palestinians under Israeli occupation. "In the coming days, the
(EC) Council of Ministers will be called upon to confirm much
better than I can, he said, encouragement and political
involvement of the Community", Mr. Delors said.
	Mr. Peres also won Community assurance that a trade agreement
signed in 1975 would be upgraded rapidly. "We should also be
prepared to intensify our relationship with Israel in updating
the co-operation accord of 1975", EC External Affairs
Commissioner Hans van den Broek said.


	Athens, 3/9/1993 (ANA) - Thousands of Greek and foreign
companies will participate in this year's Thessaloniki
International Fair (TIF), one of the biggest showings in the
history of the annual event, TIF President Alexandros Bakatselos
said yesterday. "It will be one of the best showings in the
history of the international fair and it will confirm that Greek
productivity is fighting and winning the battle of economic
recovery", Mr Bakatselos said. A total of 3,200 companies from
51 countries will take part in the 58th TIF, which Prime
Minister Constantine Mitsotakis will officially open on
September 11.
	Mr. Bakatselos said 180,000 sq.m. would house thousands of
pavilions and that an estimated one million people were due to
pass through the turnstiles. Among the countries participating
are the United States, Canada, Colombia, Iran, Israel, South
Africa, and the Czech republic. The exhibition will feature
industrial and craft products, automation systems, industrial
equipment, advanced technology machinery, folk art, publications
and computer systems.


	Athens, 3/9/1993 (ANA) - An earthquake measuring 4,9 on the
Richter scale was recorded yesterday but no injuries of damages
were reported, police said. The Athens observatory said the
quake's epicentre was 225 kilometres Southwest of Athens, the
sea region near Kyparissia.


	Athens, 3/9/1993 (ANA) - Delors II Package funds will be used
to put into effect Culture Minister Dora Bakoyianni's
"archaeological park" project in Athens, with work already
underway to connect archaeological sites in the city, a press
conference was told yesterday. Repair of buildings in the
Kerameikos area has already begun, the minister said, the both
projects are expected to have been completed by March 1994.
	"It is a project which will protect Athens and help the
environment", Ms Bakoyianni said. She added that final drafts
for the Acropolis Museum would be released soon. The Community
is financing up to 85 per cent of seven major projects - six of
them being conducted under the auspices of the Culture Ministry
and one, valued at 500 million dr. under the Town Planning,
Environment and Public Works Ministry, which will redevelop the
Plaka, Exarchia, Psyri and Daphne areas. The cost of the Culture
Ministry's six projects is in excess of 1,5 billion dr.