From: tzarros@ccs.carleton.ca (Theodore Zarros) Subject: News (in ENGLISH)- Fri, 23 Dec 1994 (Greek Press Office BBS, Ottawa). Athens News Agency Bulletin, (Apo to Ellnviko Grafeio Tupou kai Plnroforiwv, Ottaba, Kavadas E-Mail Address: grnewsca@sympatico.ca) Inner Cabinet to discuss bids for Spata contract today ------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): The Inner Cabinet will meet at 1.30 p.m. today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to choose the successful bidder to construct the new Athens airport at Spata. Contenders for the lucrative contract have been whittled down to two consortiums, one led by the German Hochtief group and the other by France's Aeroports de Paris. Hochtief has been the favourite to build the airport since the ruling PASOK government took office in October last year and revised terms agreed by the previous New Democracy government. Under the terms of the revised contract, according to sources, the Hochtief-led group would own 45 per cent of a company to be set up with the Greek state to operate Spata airport, against 60 per cent agreed in the previous contract. Hochtief would receive part of the airport's revenues for 30 instead of 50 years. If the deal finally goes ahead, preliminary construction is expected to begin early in 1995. Greece awaits official briefing on Vatican diplomatic relations with FYROM ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Greece yesterday declined immediate comment on the Vatican's establishment of diplomatic relations with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). Government spokesman Evangelos Venizelos declined comment "until the government has been officially briefed". He added however that "all actions which encourage the intransigence of (FYROM President) Kiro Gligorov or might be misinterpreted by the Skopjan regime do not help towards a solution of the problem". Greece imposed trade sanctions as retortion measures against the neighbouring country in February in an effort to curb the intransigence of Mr. Gligorov. Greece insists that Skopje change its name, remove ancient Greek symbols from its flag and amend the preamble of its constitution expressing irredentist designs against Greece's northern province of Macedonia. Meanwhile Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, in an interview with CNN yesterday, said that "if Skopje solves its problems with our friends the Greeks, then we will recognise this former Yugoslav republic." PASOK members to visit women prisoners -------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Members of the ruling socialist PASOK party will pay a visit to women inmates at Korydallos prison on December 29 as part of a series of social activities organised by the Solidarity Department to tackle social problems. Secretariat members will also give gifts and toys to children living with their jailed mothers. Premier unhappy at opposition stance on defence expenditures ------------------------------------------------------------ Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou yesterday said he "regretted" the refusal of main opposition New Democracy and Political Spring to vote for defence expenditures included in the 1995 state budget. "This for me is an offence. It is no time to abstain from voting," Mr. Papandreou said. The budget was ratified by parliament shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras told the assembly during the debate that his party would vote against defence expenditure to voice its objection to the "unacceptably low level" of officer's pay. Asked whether there was wage increase for members of the armed forces in the offing, Mr. Papandreou said "these are details." Mr. Papandreou said the budget moved unavoidably in the orbit of commitments set out in the Convergence Programme, but at the same time it was part of "a policy for a society of cohesion and hope" where "working people will not pay for everything." Despite the fact that for the first time in the past 20 years opposition parties voted against the budget in its entirety, including defence expenditures, tones were rather low-keyed during the debate. "More than ever in the past there was a convergence and understanding of views in a budget debate in Parliament. The government's positions were not questioned substantively by the opposition," National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said. The New Democracy party concentrated its fire on Mr. Papantoniou, accusing him of presenting distorted figures. However, even former conservative prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis "acknowledged" that Finance Minister Alexandros Papadopoulos had made great efforts to stamp out tax evasion. ND doubted state revenues could increase by 18.5 per cent in 1995 and that state expenditures would increase by only 8 per cent. It also sharply criticised the reduction in public investments and the increase in the public debt. Political Spring leader Antonis Samaras said the budget was a "cash management budget" which would not lead to a breakthrough in the crisis. He said it did not allow for development and would cause even worse recession and unemployment due to the under mining of working people's spending power. Mr. Samaras said the 31 per cent increase anticipated by the Public Investment Programme was inadequate, adding that a permanent budget Under-Secretary should be appointed to facilitate discussion on public finances. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga said the government's economic policy was dictated by the Maastricht treaty and Brussels. She warned that the budget "will face popular reaction in its implementation" because "it will create new profits for the few, new poverty and squalor and will bring autocratic measures and the restriction of democratic rights." Ms. Papariga further termed the budget "colonialist", "guided by Community mandates" and "tailo-red to suit the interests of multinational capital." Arsenis due in Germany, Romania in New Year ------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): National Defence Minister Gerasimos Arsenis will visit Germany and Romania in January, it was announced yesterday. The Egyptian Chief of Armed Forces National Staff will visit Greece on January 9-12 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Admiral Christos Lymberis. The French Chief of Armed Forces National Staff will visit Greece in February. Airforce War Academy officers will visit Cyprus mid-January. PASOK executive examines major party issues ------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): The ruling socialist PASOK party's Executive Bureau yesterday held a marathon meeting on all major issues concerning PASOK at present. No decisions were taken on any issue since the Panhellenic Political and Organising Conference will take place in early March and the issues will be raised once again. PASOK Central Committee Secretary General Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the Executive Bureau would convene again in the first week in January to agree to procedures in light of the conference. The same issue will be examined by the party's Central Committee at the end of January. Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also said 1995 would be a year of mobilisation for major targets set by PASOK. Mikroutsikos announces book promotion programme ----------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Culture Minister Thanos Mikroutsikos yesterday announced the launching of a National Book Policy, to take the form of a three-year programme (1995-97), and the founding of a National Book Centre. The programme, to be promoted through the Culture Ministry Directorate of Letters, envisages lectures in the faculties of Modern Greek Studies in foreign universities, upgrading of the institution of National Literary Awards and subsidisation of the translation and publication of Greek books. The setting up of the National Book Centre, already provided for by law, will be a co-ordinating organ, providing solutions to book technology problems. It will involve the setting up of a Documentation Centre and the Book Observatory. Public Works Ministry calls for consultant for Maliakos Gulf link ----------------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): The Environment and Public Works Ministry yesterday invited tenders for the appointment of a consultant on the Maliakos Gulf connection. The project is part of the planned Patra-Athens-Thessaloniki-Bulgarian border highway, and the ministry has already explored the possible technical solutions and approved the construction of a submerged tunnel. The consultant's task will include the control of available studies and data, and the drawing up of specifications for the required complementary studies and research. Papoulias meets with Bulgarian ambassador ----------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias yesterday met with Bulgarian Ambassador to Greece Branimir Petrov. The meeting focused on Greek-Bulgarian relations and the latest developments in the Balkans. Health ministers meet in Brussels on AIDS, cancer, drugs -------------------------------------------------------- Brussels, 23/12/1994 (ANA - P. Pantelis): The last meeting of the European Union Health Ministers' Council under the German presidency yesterday discussed problems relating to the fight against cancer, AIDS, and drug addiction, without adopting any decisions. The German presidency had not submitted any draft proposals, and discussion concerned only Commission proposals. Greek Health Minister Dimitris Kremastinos welcomed the inclusion of hepatitis in the action programme against AIDS and other contagious diseases, and said the prevention programme for Greece placed high priority on cardio-vascular diseases. The Council again postponed decision on a draft resolution concerning tobacco advertising. Adamopoulos announces programmes to combat unemployment in northern Greece ---------------------------------------------------------- Athens, 23/12/1994 (ANA): Labour Under-Secretary George Adamopoulos announced a series of programmes to combat unemployment in northern Greece in Thessaloniki last night. Addressing a press conference, Mr. Adamopoulos said 453,600,000 drachmas would be provided for unemployment programmes in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, 1,923,000 drachmas for Central Macedonia and 243,600,000 drachmas for Western Macedonia. Mr. Adamopoulos said the funds would be used for educating and training of unemployed women and people under the age of 25, adding that the private, public and social sectors would participate in the programmes on an equal basis. "Our country now possesses a development charter on vocational training and from now on the proclamation of programmes will be based on it," he said.