From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Thu, 3 Nov 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, November 3, 1994 --------------------------------------------- * Parliament endorses partial sale of OTE * OTE staff protest * Papoulias briefs EU's Trumpf * Premier chairs economic policy meeting * Kranidiotis due in Dublin * Skopje, Athens talks with Vance expected * Kranidiotis meets with US State Dept. Cyprus co-ordinator * Williams * Venizelos * Kaklamanis welcomes Orthodox MPs to conference * Arsenis talks in Egypt delayed by bad weather * Education ministry announces Greek to be taught at Russian universities * London Greek Centre to be inaugurated November 18 * Greek chamber ready to assist joint ventures in Russia * Black Sea states to meet in Thessaloniki * Britain not likely to tax Greek shipowners * Piraeus Marine Club examines shipping issues * Merchant Marine Ministry calls for tenders for traffic system Parliament endorses partial sale of OTE ---------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Greece's parliament yesterday endorsed the main article of a bill calling for the sale of 25 per cent of the state-run telecommunications organisation (OTE). A total of 139 lawmakers approved the bill and 104 voted against. The 300-seat parliament votes article by article and then holds a final vote on the full bill, expected to pass with ease with the majority support of the socialist-controlled house. Eleven PASOK deputies, however, including some former labour leaders, abstained from the vote, and one voted against the bill. The government has said OTE's partial sale will rake in about 80 billion drachmas in a bid to help finance a development programme planned for the organisation. Part of shares will be sold on the Athens stock market, and part internationally. Shares will be made available via public subscription, while the state will retain the remaining 75 per cent. Foreign investors will not participate in OTE's management, retained by the state. The National Bank of Greece together with Schroeders and Credit Suisse/First Boston will act as the financial consultants. After the vote, main opposition New Democracy party leader Miltiades Evert told the parliament that "a sum below 1.7 trillion drachmas for OTE's 25 per cent privatisation would be a scandal." ND parliamentary spokesman George Souflias criticised the government over procedures followed in the partial privatisation of OTE. Political Spring party spokesman Akis Gerontopoulos criticised the government for lack of seriousness and makeshift mentality in dealing with national economy issues. OTE staff protest ----------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Several hundred OTE employees demonstrated outside parliament during the voting on the bill last night. OME-OTE, the OTE employees union, has called a number of strikes over the past weeks to protest the sale. Papoulias briefs EU's Trumpf ---------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Secretary-General of the European Union Council of Ministers Jurgen Trumpf was briefed by Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday on Greece's firm positions on the Skopje issue and its relations with Albania and Turkey, diplomatic sources said. Mr. Trumpf, who arrived in Athens yesterday on a one-day official visit at the invitation of Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, had a half-hour meeting with Mr. Papoulias followed by lengthy talks with Alternate National Economy Minister George Romaios. "I had fruitful discussions this morning (yesterday) with the political leadership of the Foreign Ministry and at the National Economy Ministry," Mr. Trumpf told reporters later in fluent Greek. Diplomatic sources said Mr. Romaios, in his meeting with Mr. Trumpf, expressed the Greek government's opposition to a multi-speed Europe. He also explained that a strict, logistical application of the conditions outlined in the Maastricht Treaty would create serious social problems in most of the member countries and would weaken the course towards European integration. Mr. Romaios further stressed the need for the Council to support efforts to find additional EU resources to materialise the inter-European networks. The sources said Mr. Trumpf displayed understanding and said he would back Greece's efforts. Mr. Trumpf also had a meeting with Foreign Under-Secretary in charge of European Affairs Yiannos Kranidiotis focusing on relations between the European Union and the countries of Central Europe, as well as issues related to the European summit in Essen i n December and the EU intergovernmental conference in 1996. Noting that Mr. Trumpf is "an old friend of Greece," Mr. Kranidiotis told reporters later that a "a new round of fruitful co-operation begins (between Greece and the European Union Council)." Premier chairs economic policy meeting -------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou chaired an informal meeting of economic ministers and advisers at the Maximos Mansion yesterday, focusing on the economy's state and prospects, general economic policy issues and the preparation of the 1995 state budget. Press Under-Secretary Telemahos Hytiris said afterwards no specific conclusions were drawn at the meeting, but the prime minister was briefed at length on the state of the economy. The issue of the partial privatisation of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) was also discussed and, according to Mr. Hytiris, government policy to date was confirmed. Finance Minister Alecos Papadopoulos said the budget's preparation was proceeding satisfactorily. Replying to questioners before the meeting on what would be discussed, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said "development policy." Kranidiotis due in Dublin ------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis was due to fly to Dublin last night as part of a tour of European Union capitals aimed at briefing Greece's EU partners on issues of special interest to Athens. In his talks today, Mr. Kranidiotis will also underline the need to push forward Cyprus' application to join the EU and discuss issues of EU interest in view of the European Council meeting in Essen in December. Mr. Kranidiotis is expected to return to Athens today. Skopje, Athens talks with Vance expected ---------------------------------------- United Nations, 3/11/1994 (ANA/M. Georgiadou): Reliable sources expect the resumption of separate meetings between the UN mediator on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia issue, Cyrus Vance, and representatives of Athens and Skopje soon. The sources expect an announcement today or tomorrow. Kranidiotis meets with US State Dept. Cyprus co-ordinator Williams ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday held talks with US State Department special co-ordinator for Cyprus James Williams on the Cyprus problem. Mr. Williams arrived from Nicosia where he held talks with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides. Ankara will be Mr. Williams' next stop. Mr. Kranidiotis called on Mr. Williams to ensure the US show a practical interest in the Cyprus issue by pressing the Turkish side, which is responsible for the present deadlock, for progress to be achieved in the framework of UN resolutions. Mr. Kranidiotis brought Mr. William's attention to recent statements by Turkish Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal endorsing the policy of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and questioning the basis of negotiations, revealing the Turkish side's intransigence. On Sunday, Mr. Soysal, in an exclusive interview to the Athens News Agency, rejected a federal solution to the Cyprus problem and the concept of a single state as foreseen in UN resolutions. Venizelos --------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday left open the possibility of changing its stance on the issue of the Fourth Financial Protocol providing 700 million dollars of EU aid to Turkey which Athens has, until now, consistently blocked because of no movement on resolving the Cyprus issue. Replying to questions, government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos said that "the possibility of a change in the Greek stance will depend on the course of Cyprus' accession to the European Union and more particularly, provided that there are concrete and positive developments". At the beginning of the week, Foreign Under-Secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis expressed Greece's "general reservations" regarding Turkey's relations with the European Union, particularly the customs union envisaged in the Association Agreement. He was addressing the Foreign Ministers Council, which met in Luxembourg on Monday, to discuss EU relations with Turkey in the context of the Turkey-EU Association Council meeting scheduled for December 19. Mr. Kranidiotis referred to technical problems involved in the customs union and also to Turkey's human rights record, the Kurdish problem and the Cyprus issue. Kaklamanis welcomes Orthodox MPs to conference ---------------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Greek Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis yesterday opened a conference of European MPs of the Orthodox faith meeting in Athens to discuss the creation of an inter-parliamentary committee to undertake joint action on a European level. The decision to establish a committee was reached during a previous meeting in Halkidiki. "Orthodoxy constitutes the binding link through time among the peoples of Europe," Mr. Kaklamanis said in his address to the forum. "This initiative is met with the full support of the Greek Parliament and the Greek people," Mr. Kaklamanis added. The opening ceremony was attended by political leaders, government and church officials. The conference, taking place at the initiative of the Greek Parliament, has drawn MPs from 19 European states. Arsenis talks in Egypt delayed by bad weather --------------------------------------------- Cairo, 3/11/1994 (ANA/G. Zarkadis): The start of National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis' current visit to Egypt has been delayed due to the heavy rain, floods and extensive disruption of communications in the Egyptian capital and Mr. Arsenis will begin his official round of meetings with the Egyptian leadership this morning. Freak storms wrought havoc in Egypt yesterday, leaving some 410 dead in southern Egypt when lightning struck a fuel depot, and a further 63 dead in flash flooding. The delay will result in Mr. Arsenis' visit coinciding with Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's visit on Friday. The Greek side attributes great significance to the visit, in view of Egypt's key role in the current peace process in the Middle East. Mr. Arsenis will visit military equipment factories and installations in Cairo and Alexandria, and seek to promote the idea of a mechanism for the control of armaments in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region -- including the southern Turkish area of Mersin which has been exempted from conventional arms reduction agreements in Europe -- and of the creation of a nuclear and chemical weapons free zone. He is also expected to seek Egypt's co-operation in the promotion of the peace process in the region, and express Greece's desire to contribute troops to forces sponsored by international organisations. In the framework of bilateral relations, Mr. Arsenis will seek co-operation in the military production sector, the provision of facilities and the holding of joint navy exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. His visit is in the framework of planned visits to several Middle Eastern and Balkan countries in the near future, including Israel. Education ministry announces Greek to be taught at Russian universities ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): Alternate Education and Religious Affairs Minister Philippos Petsalnikos announced yesterday that Greek would be taught at three institutes of higher education in Russia and that similar arrangements were underway for Ukraine. He said that the initiative was part of a ministry programme for the teaching of the Greek language abroad, particularly in countries where Greeks reside. After discussions with Russian education authorities, six Greek educators will teach Greek at the universities of Krasnodar and Stavropol and at the Language Institute of Piattigorsk. The six will undertake a month-long preparatory seminar at the University of Patras before their departure for Russia. Also, an interstate educational agreement between Greece and Belgium signed this year has secured the position of Greek as the third official language in French-speaking Belgian schools. The Greek language will also be introduced in a joint experimental programme run by the Council of Europe in Brussels. The ministry announced that Greek will also be taught in Italy, England, Switzerland and in 14 schools in France. London Greek Centre to be inaugurated November 18 ------------------------------------------------- London, 3/11/1994 (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis): The Greek Centre of London, a non-governmental and non-political organisation serving as a liaison between the various cultural societies, professional associations and Greek community bodies generally, will be officially inaugurated on November 18, in the presence of Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides, Cyprus Education Minister Claire Angelidou and Greek Education Minister George Papandreou. The Greek Centre has its own premises, made possible through the generous donations of the British Greek community. The centre cost 2.5 million pounds to construct. Greek chamber ready to assist joint ventures in Russia ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): A total of 50 joint ventures between Greek and Russian enterprises have been concluded and operate in Russia in such fields as wood processing, medical equipment, building material, fuel and aluminium products, transportation, tourism and lotteries, the Central Union of Greek Chambers announced yesterday. Greek businessmen, however, face a wide range of problems including the problem of an insufficient legal framework to provide necessary guarantees for the development of investments, difficulty in finding reliable business partners, lack of information on market developments, and state protection of the local banking sector. In order to overcome such difficulties, the announcement said, the Union has made great efforts to brief Greek businessmen on the Russian market and organised a wide range of events to urge the development of ties between the Greek and Russian business communities. In Moscow, meanwhile, Fuel and Energy Minister Yuri Safranic announced that Russia was about to decide to use the route through Greece and Bulgaria for oil transportation and not to support the construction of new oil pipelines in Turkey. Black Sea states to meet in Thessaloniki ---------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): The Hellenic Centre for European Studies and Research (EKEM) is holding an international meeting on economic co-operation between Black Sea countries in Thessaloniki, November 24 through 26. EKEM has invited delegations from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. Britain not likely to tax Greek shipowners ------------------------------------------ London, 3/11/1994 (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis): The existing privileged tax status for Greek and other foreign shipowners in Britain will not be abolished despite recent proposals by British tax services urging the contrary. This was the assessment reached by National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou after meeting British Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke on Monday. Mr. Papantoniou had been briefed by members of the "Greek Maritime Co-operation Committee of London" on the tax concerns of Greek shipowners at a luncheon they gave him on Sunday noon and he raised the issue with Mr. Clarke. "I discussed the activities of Greek shipowners with Mr. Clarke and their considerable role in the City's economy. A quarter of world trade is now transported by Greek-owned ships. We are a big maritime and economic power now and the English know this. I don't think there will be a question of Greek shipowners being taxed," Mr. Papantoniou said. Piraeus Marine Club examines shipping issues -------------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): The world economy and financing shipping are issues being examined at the 12th annual international meeting organised by the Piraeus Marine Club in co-operation with the London City University's Business School. The meeting, due to end tomorrow, is co-ordinated by the director of the City University's Shipping, Trade and Finance Centre Professor Costas Grammenos. Delegates were welcomed by Marine Club President Nikos Kotzias who outlined the importance of the meeting. Merchant Marine Minister George Katsifaras, opening the meeting, said the principal element in the development of shipping is maintaining and improving the free and legitimate competitive environment. British Ambassador to Athens Oliver Miles said Britain supported actions in the European Union aimed at securing the converging implementation of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) measures. Greek Shipowners Union (EEE) President Yiannis Goumas said shipping is heading toward the 21st century on a complicated international scene, but expressed certainty that Greek shipping will continue its upward trend. Merchant Marine Ministry calls for tenders for traffic system ------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 3/11/1994 (ANA): The Merchant Marine Ministry has called for international tenders for a study on developing an electronic system for monitoring, serving and managing sea traffic. The system will cover all Greek seas and will constitute a part of the corresponding European system. The system will focus primarily on facilitating shipping, reducing accidents at sea, improving search and rescue services and protecting the marine environment through checking the transportation of dangerous cargo. The study to be prepared will be guided by existing European Union directives, international treaty clauses and international maritime organisation resolutions.