A.N.A. Bulletin, 10/04/96

From: "Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada" <[email protected]>

Athens News Agency Directory

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 859), April 10, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office

Ottawa, Canada

E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[1] Clinton agrees threats of force have no place in bilateral relations, Simitis says

Prime Minister Costas Simitis said yesterday he was satisfied with the outcome of his talks with US President Bill Clinton, saying the US leader had made it clear that there should be no force or threat of force in bilateral relations and on the need for the respect of international law, international treaties and the territorial integrity of each country.

Mr. Simitis and President Clinton had wide-ranging talks on bilateral relations, Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus issue.

The Greek prime minister added that President Clinton agreed that differences should be resolved peacefully by resorting to international courts.

He said President Clinton accepted Greece's approach on the way of resolving problems arising from Turkish aggressiveness and accepted that a solution could not be found from a wide-ranging bilateral dialogue on all issues but "gradually".

President Clinton agreed with Greece's proposal that the first step be that the issue of the islets of Imia and the Dodecanese posed by Turkey could only be resolved by resorting to The Hague, Mr. Simitis said.

He said that if this happened Greece would not raise objections on the development of the customs union agreement between Turkey and the European Union.

Mr. Simitis said international law on this issue was clear, as he explained to President Clinton. He added that Greece's position on foreign policy issues was accepted by the US president and he ascertained with certainty President Clinton's intention t o take an interest and undertake initiatives.

He added the issue of confidence-building measures was not discussed, but said that the second step was to resolve the continental shelf issue by preparing a draft agreement in a prescribed period of time, with contacts on other issues to follow.

He clarified that the Imia issue was not linked to the continental shelf question.

"We cannot expect anything but we must work to achieve our goals", Mr. Simitis said, adding that problems could not be resolved in one meeting.

He stated that Greece had the right to extend its territorial waters whenever it deemed it appropriate.

The Cyprus issue was raised in the talks and President Clinton stated that he intended to undertake initiatives. On the question of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Mr. Simitis said that Greece intended to implement the interim accord, while Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos noted that the US was the last country in the western world to recognize FYROM.

Replying to a questioner on the possibility of a composite name for the state, Mr. Simitis said he could not predict anything because talks at the UN were continuing.

The possibility of developing joint bilateral initiatives in the Balkans was also discussed. The creation of a common Greek-US business mission in Balkan countries was agreed as well as examining the possibility of creating a Technology Institute in Thessaloniki with joint funding to transfer technology to Balkan countries.

He said the airports issue was not discussed, but was discussed on Monday at a meeting between the foreign minister and security adviser Anthony Lake.

[2] Clinton statements

In the discussion the two leaders held Mr. Clinton expressed the hope that Washington will be able to contribute to a decrease of tensions in the Aegean, and also called for a peaceful resolution to disputes between Greece and Turkey without the use of violence or threats to use violence.

"Let me say it's a great honor for me to welcome Prime Minister Simitis here, along with his party. Greece has been a long and strong ally of the United States, and I'm looking forward to discussing a number of issues, including how we can be helpful in resolving some of the difficulties in the Aegean," President Clinton said in welcoming the Greek prime minister.

On his part, Mr. Simitis said the Greek side's primary concern was a further improvement in bilateral ties with the United States as well as promotion of common goals the two countries have in the greater region in order to ensure stability and security .

Mr. Simitis initially brought up the Cyprus issue, citing the fact that it is an international problem requiring a solution and that the time has come for such a resolution.

"Let me say first of all that I think all these issues should be resolved without the use of force or the threat of force, with both parties agreeing to abide by international agreements and with a mutual respect for territorial integrity.

"With regard to the Imia question, the United States has already said we believe it should be submitted to the International Court of Justice or some other international arbitration forum.

"I also want to thank Greece for its leadership in trying to resolve the problems and the future of the Balkans in a positive way. Greece is participating in IFOR and is working with the challenges presented in Albania, the Former Yugoslav of Macedonia and in a number of other ways," the president added.

In reference to the Cyprus problem, Mr. Clinton expressed the hope that a solution will arise in the near future, a development he added will contribute to the normalization of the situation in the region.

"...I hope we have a chance to talk about Cyprus a little bit. This has been an area of intense interest for me since I became president, and I hope we can do more in that area to help that situation to be resolved," he said.

In response to a press question, Mr. Clinton avoided taking a position as to whether Washington would assume an initiative to act as an intermediary between Athens and Ankara. In addition, Mr. Clinton responded that he presented the same positions to Turkish President Suleyman Demirel during the latter's official visit to the US 10 days ago.

According to reports, the Simitis-Clinton meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. The US president also thanked Mr. Simitis for the greeting and hospitality his wife and daughter received last month during their visit to Greece.

In other statements, Mr. Clinton spoke of bilateral relations between Greece and the United States, which he said can be further strengthened during the Greek premier's visit to Washington.

[3] White House statements

After the meeting between President Clinton and Prime Minister Costas Simitis, White House spokesman Mike McCurry made the following statements:

"The two leaders examined bilateral relations. They discussed briefly the dispute between Greece and Turkey regarding the Imia-Kardak islet, and the president told the prime minister that the US are strongly anxious about the situation in the Aegean in general, and they want to help in finding a solution.

"The president said, as he has publicly stated, that the US supports a referral of the issue of the sovereignty of the islet to the International Court, or to some other procedural forum. He also clarified that the US believes that the differences between Greece and Turkey must be solved without violence or the threat of violence, and that the two sides must apply the relevant international agreements and must respect each other's territorial integrity.

"The prime minister made a presentation which the president found especially encouraging. We offered, as we have done in the past, to be useful if there is some way we can help," he said.

Mr. McCurry expressed the hope that "the two sides will find in the presentations they have made publicly a way with which they can promote dialogue between them. Again we would be ready to help if we were asked".

Late in the afternoon, the prime minister, accompanied by National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou met with Treasury Secretary Rubin, and afterwards Mr. Simitis was received by Defense Secretary William Perry.

[4] KKE, Coalition reactions

In an announcement, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) characterized Mr. Clinton's statements on abstaining from the use of violence and the peaceful resolution of problems with Turkey as being hypocritical, stressing that the Greek prime minister officially delegated the US factor as a referee in Greek-Turkish relations.

It added that the US is only interested in consolidating an even more dangerous role in the region.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress expressed the view that nothing essential appeared to have arisen from the promotion of Greek positions during the meeting and stressed that the country needs a clear course and a plan of initiatives for the promotion of national positions.

[5] Simitis at the White House

Costas Simitis is the fifth Greek prime minister to visit the White House for talks with the president of the United States.

Constantine Karamanlis was the first Greek prime minister to visit the White House in April 1961, when he discussed economic matters concerning US investments in Greece and US aid with John F. Kennedy.

Three years later, in 1964, George Papandreou visited the White House for discussions with President Lyndon Johnson, at a time when Turkey was threatening to invade Cyprus. The talks were held in an icy atmosphere as the US president made it clear that Washington would not tolerate a war between two NATO members, and recommended the two sides hold talks on the Cyprus issue.

Mr. Papandreou did not accept the American president's suggestions, and left Washington convinced that the US would encourage any acts that would remove his Center Union government from power.

Twenty-six years later, Constantine Mitsotakis visited Washington to hold talks with his personal friend George Bush. Mr. Mitsotakis returned to the White House in December 1991. Discussions centered on the interventionary role of the US in Greek-Turkish problems and Balkan affairs.

Andreas Papandreou visited the White House in 1994, with discussions centering once again on the Cyprus problem, Greek-Turkish relations and the situation in the Balkans.

[6] Simitis hails achievements of Greek-Americans

Prime Minister Costas Simitis attended a reception held in his honor by the leadership of the Greek-American community on Monday evening. "I am glad, in these important moments for Greece, I am close to the most important part of Hellenism," he said.

"You live in a mighty country and you use your power in the right way," Mr. Simitis said. "In Greece we are proud of your achievements and your successes in all fields from politics and economy to science, art and sports."

[7] Premier to speak on economic policy in NY today

Prime Minister Costas Simitis is scheduled to deliver a speech on his government's economic policy at an event today organized by the Joint Greek-American Business Council.

Tomorrow, the prime minister will speak at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on 'Challenges and Prospects for Greece in the year 2000'.

After the speech, Mr. Simitis will attend a dinner, also to be attended by Greek students at Yale, members of the local Greek-American community, and local businessmen.

[8] Pangalos speaks at Carnegie Institute

Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos outlined Greece's foreign policy positions at a speech at Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday night.

Speaking to an audience of US academics, researchers, scholars and foreign ministry officials, Mr. Pangalos said Greece respected international law and internationally-recognized borders.

The axis of Greece's foreign policy, he said, was the promotion of peaceful co-operation.

He said Greece was both politically and financially the "superpower" in the Balkan region and had good relations with the Balkan countries, while any existing problems were being settled.

But he criticized Turkey's policy, especially the policy of former prime minister Tansu Ciller, who disputed Greece's sovereignty of its 3,700 islands.

He said, however, that he was optimistic regarding the course of the Cyprus problem in view of the beginning, in 1998, of the Cyprus-EU accession procedures.

Mr. Pangalos said he favored a rapprochement of the two communities in Cyprus, adding that "holes should open in the wall which divides Cyprus into two parts."

Mr. Pangalos is accompanying Prime Minister Simitis on his working visit to the US.

[9] US diplomat calls for Athens, Skopje to have direct talks over name issue

A senior American diplomat yesterday called for direct talks between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to resolve the FYROM name issue.

Victor Comras, former head of the US liaison office in Skopje and now chief of the US mission pending US Senate approval in June of Christopher Hill's appointment as its envoy to FYROM, said that the US endorsed direct Athens-Skopje talks since it was n o longer playing a mediating role.

"We believe that the name problem must be solved bilaterally by the two sides concerned," he said in an exclusive interview with the ANA.

"This is the best procedure, since we are no longer acting as mediators" as, after the signing of the interim accord, "we have reached the point where the two sides have direct talks," Mr. Comras said.

The US presidential envoy on the FYROM issue Mathew Nimetz resigned his brief when the two countries signed an interim accord in New York last year.

But, he added, "if a compromise on the name is feasible, then it should be encouraged. But then again, we should not be the ones to set out the framework for such a compromise. The US position is that the two sides must find a solution in a direct and constructive manner."

Turning to relations between FYROM and federal Yugoslavia, Mr. Comras reiterated the US position that Yugoslavia needed to fulfill certain conditions - including the establishment of friendly relations with all neighboring countries, respect of human rights domestically, resolution of the Kossovo problem and settlement of the issue of succession to the Socialist Federation of Yugoslavia - before sanctions could be fully lifted and federal Yugoslavia be reinstated in the international community.

To a question, he replied that there were many factors, and not only the Kossovo issue, that would determine the continued presence or not of the UN peacekeeping force (UNPREDEP) in FYROM, which includes a US contingent.

But, he added, "the force still maintains an important role under the present circumstances."

Mr. Comras disagreed with warnings by some FYROM officials that the Albanians constituted a long-term threat to the country's stability, saying that it was precisely FYROM's mixed population that "constitutes part of its strength, as in the case of the US."

He declined comment, however, on the Albanian political parties' demand that the Albanians be recognized as a component of the country, describing it as an "internal problem, the solution of which is up to the communities themselves."

"What we seek is the confrontation of such issues in a constructive manner through dialogue and acceptable constitutional principles and procedures, rather than fighting in the streets," Mr. Comras added.

Turning to US-FYROM relations, Mr. Comras described them as "clo-se and constructive," with emphasis mainly in the economic and military sectors.

He said close military ties had been established in the context of the "Bridge to the US" program, which includes support in military training and organization.

Now that the embargo on arms sales was gradually being lifted, Mr. Comras continued, talks could also begin on military support in that area as well, initially with small-scale weapons, although "the perception that exists is that FYROM should be allowed to develop its own defense system."

[10] Thessaloniki mayor condemns Belgrade's decision to recognize FYROM as 'Macedonia'

Thessaloniki Mayor Constantine Kosmopoulos yesterday condemned Yugoslavia's move to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as "Republic of Macedonia."

Branding the Yugoslav move as "hostile" to Greece, Mr. Kosmopoulos said "Greece could have expected such behavior only from its enemies."

"When in previous years, Serbia was isolated, our country helped it like no one else did," the mayor said.

He called for government action and a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to discuss the issue.

Belgrade's decision to recognize FYROM and establish full diplomatic relations prompted the displeasure of Greece who said the move did not help efforts to establish stability and good bilateral relations in the region.

In a statement from Washington, a Greek foreign ministry spokesman said Belgrade's decision "cannot be considered a friendly gesture towards Greece."

An ANA dispatch from New York reported that Archbishop of North and South America Iakovos addressed a message to Serb President Slobodan Milosevic, expressing his dissatisfaction over Belgrade's decision, terming it "hasty" and "an indication of ingratitude."

"Your hasty action to recognize the state of Skopje (FYROM) as 'Macedonia' constitutes an indication of ingratitude and a blow at the alliance between the two peoples of Greece and Serbia," the message said.

"No one else stood by the people of your country as Greece and the Orthodox Church of America did," it added.

In Brussels, however, an ANA dispatch said the European Commission expressed satisfaction at the recognition of FYROM by Yugoslavia.

"The European Union is satisfied at this development for it opens the road to Europe's recognition of Belgrade," a spokesperson of EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek told reporters.

[11] Gligorov

FYROM president Kiro Gligorov said in an interview with the "Free Europe" radio station that Serb President Slobodan Milosevic told him in a telephone conversation that "nobody in Serbia will understand recognition (of Skopje) under a composite name."

'We have lived together for seventy years and the Serbian people knows that you are a different people, that you speak a different language and (therefore) recognition under a composite name would be inconceivable between two peoples that lived together ," he was quoted as saying.

Mr. Gligorov added that he would agree to Mr. Milosevic's visiting Skopje only if it recognized it under the name 'Republic of Macedonia."

The FYROM president said that "Greece does not have a powerful influence in Belgrade now... and Mr. Milosevic can do as he pleases."

Referring to relations with Greece, he said that bilateral relations have been developing well since the signing of the interim accord but that there was no precedent for the name issue.

"If this happens, it will be an unprecedented act which will have various consequences on our country setting a pretext for a new conflict in the southern Balkans," he added.

[12] Romeos meets with Canadian commerce minister

Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos held a meeting with visiting Canadian Commerce Minister Art Eggleton yesterday on issues of bilateral interest and Greece's relations with its neighbors.

Sources said the Canadian minister told Mr. Romeos that the 300,000-strong Greek community in Canada constituted an important bridge for the reinforcement of relations between the two countries.

The Canadian minister noted that Canada had billions of dollars invested in Greece, adding that "the firm friendship and co-operation between the two countries could be reinforced at the level of the European Union."

According to the sources, Mr. Eggleton underlined the Action Program between Canada and the European Union due to be signed by June and also stressed Canada's wish to increase economic and trade activity with Greece.

Stressing Canada's support on Greece's national issues, Mr. Romeos said there were no problems in the country's relations with Canada.

[13] Bulgaria requests Greek support for inclusion in EU programs

Bulgarian deputy Alexander Marinov yesterday asked for Greece's support for the participation of Bulgarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in European Union programs. Mr. Marinov made the request during a meeting with Alternate Foreign Minister George Romeos in Athens. In a statement to the ANA, Mr. Marinov said Bulgaria was keenly interested in the process of European integration as well as in the convening of a meeting in Athens with the participation of Bulgarian NGOs. Mr. Romeos assured Mr. Marinov that Greece would back Bulgaria's efforts to come closer to Europe.

[14] Thessaloniki to get new 5.3-billion-drachma theater building

A new Royal Theater is to be built on the site of the former Royal Theater-Melina Mercouri Stage in Thessaloniki, at a cost of 5.280 billion drachmas, according to the budget of the project undertaken by the General Construction Company (GEK) on behalf of the Organization for the Cultural Capital (OPPE).

The contract between the two companies was signed yesterday in Thessaloniki.

[15] Fouras to attend international meeting on violence in sport

Under-secretary for Sport Andreas Fouras leaves today for Amsterdam to participate in an international meeting on the subject of "Tolerance and fair play in sport".

Participating in the meeting, to be held tomorrow, will be representatives from 25 countries.

It will culminate in the signing of an international action plan aimed at encouraging programs which promote tolerance and fair play and rid sport of violence and racism at an international and national level.

Another objective of the plan is to promote a European program for international sporting events which aim at strengthening positive values in each sport.

The plan was given the green light at the 8th meeting of European sports ministers in Lisbon in May last year.

[16] New houses for quake victims

New tendering for the construction of houses for earthquake victims will be announced in May, a year after the destructive earthquake in Kozani and Grevena.

Over a period of 30 days, the inhabitants of 24 settlements who have to be relocated are obliged to select one of the solutions proposed by the environment, town planning and public works ministry.

Concluding his tour of the region, Public Works Minister Costas Laliotis reiterated that additional funds would be given for the Kozani prefecture by imposing a duty on lignite, but without determining whether the duty would be included in Public Power Corporation (DEH) bills.

[17] Pangalos, Gonensay to have acquaintance meeting later this month

The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers will have an acquaintance meeting on the sidelines of the Black Sea Co-operation Conference in Bucharest on April 27, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Emre Gonensay said yesterday.

He made the statement after a meeting with Greek Ambassador to Ankara Dimitris Nezeritis.

"I will be happy to meet him (Greek counterpart Theodoros Pangalos) and start a dialogue," the Turkish minister said.

Branding the forthcoming meeting with Mr. Pangalos as "hopeful" he said that there was no agenda for the meeting.

Mr. Pangalos said on Friday that he was willing to talk to his Turkish counterpart but that the "absolute minimum" that Turkey must do is to retract its threats of war, take any claims against Greece to the International Court at The Hague and respect t he status quo in the interim.

[18] Greek-Romanian banking venture signed in Thessaloniki

The Macedonia-Thrace Bank and seven Romanian investment groups yesterday signed a protocol for the establishment of a joint banking venture based in Bucharest in which they will hold 49.5 and 50.5 per cent stakes respectively.

At a press conference in Thessaloniki after the signing, Macedonia-Thrace president Andreas Boumis said the Greek bank would act as an umbrella for capital belonging to Greek and Cypriot entrepreneurs, and northern Greek construction companies, and its own share will amount to one million dollars in the total $13.66 million share capital of the new venture.

He added that this is the "first banking effort which implements a consortium approach in the rapidly developing Balkan market".

The Greek side will control the management of the new venture, which is estimated to open its first two branches in 10 months' time.

The charter of the new bank, whose name has not been determined yet, will be signed in May.

[19] New OA board takes office

For the new board of governors of Olympic Airways to succeed in the task of rehabilitating the company, which it must, a climate of co-operation must be cultivated, the program of recovery must be strictly applied, and the carrier must draw up a strategic plan of alliances with other airlines, Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said yesterday at the installation of the new board, headed by professor Nikos Blesios.

The new board, added the minister, must deal with chronic inadequacies which have led the carrier to a stalemate, otherwise the future looks bleak.

He said travelers will not face problems due to staff shortages during the Easter holiday, and that 1,500 seasonal staff will soon be appointed.

Yesterday, the company announced the scheduling of 39 additional domestic flights, mainly to the islands, over the Easter holiday.

Greek railways will also put on extra trains for 10 days, starting tomorrow, mainly on the Athens to Thessaloniki route.

[20] Gov't to aid exports push to Balkan, Black Sea nations

National Economy Under-secretary responsible for foreign trade issues Manolis Beteniotis yesterday said the government would take a series of measures to help promote Greek exports to the Balkan and Black Sea countries.

He made the announcement on the occasion of his visit to the Exports Promotion Organization (OPE) Conference Hall and a series of meetings with OPE officials.

"We attribute great importance to the support of the trade and investment co-operation of the private sector in the new markets of the countries in the Black Sea and the Balkan region," Mr. Beteniotis said.

On Mr. Beteniotis' instructions, OPE officials are expected to submit a special action plan for the promotion of economic activity in these countries, including the establishment of new OPE trading centers in these regions.

The action plan will include the upgrading of the Exports Council in order to achieve the co-operation between the state and the private sector in issues of strategic options and coordination of action in these markets.

It will further include the restructuring of OPE's human resources and the establishment of new offices, the expansion of Greece's banking system to the Balkan countries and Russia, the granting of export credits and the planning of cross-border cooperation with Bulgaria and Albania based on the PHARE program and INTERREG initiative in order to contribute to development of these regions.

The action plan will further call for a more active role of the state through agencies like OPE and the Export Credit Insurance Organization in the promotion of Greek exports to these countries.

[21] Exports up 28.8%

The value of Greek exports showed a 28.8 per cent increase at current dollar prices in the first half of 1995, reaching $5,348 million, the monthly bulletin of the Export Research and Studies (KEEM) reported.

Of the countries of the European Union, to which the bulk of Greek exports goes, the greatest increases were recorded in exports to Portugal (121 per cent), Finland (109 per cent), Spain (79 per cent), Sweden (60 per cent), and Belgium (41 per cent).

A breakdown on a geographical basis shows increases to all areas except North Africa and the Middle East.

Percentage increases according to geographical areas are 330 per cent to the countries of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), 89 per cent to the countries of South East Asia, 31 per cent to the countries of the European Union, and 28 per cent to the countries of central and eastern Europe.

A breakdown according to categories shows an increase across the board except fuels, which recorded a decrease of 12.7 per cent.

The greatest increase, 76.6 per cent, occurred in the category of machinery and transport materials.

[22] Banks approve new wage agreement

The Federation of Bank Employees' general council yesterday approved a new collective bargaining agreement by a vote of 40 in favor, 13 against and six blank ballots.

The agreement calls for an 8.5 per cent pay increase in 1996 to be applied in two installments, with the first 4 per cent increase calculated retroactively as of January 1, 1996.

Other gains included under the labor agreement are:

- An increase in the maximum housing loan for bank employees to 15 million drachmas from 12 million, plus up to another three million drachmas for each borrower's child.

- An increase in a nursery/kindergarten subsidy to 40,000 drachmas from 30,000 and a "youth camp" subsidy increase to 150,000 drachmas from the previous 130,000.

An extra day's leave will be given for five years' employment, two extra days for 10 years' employment and three from 15 years of service.

[23] Canadian commerce minister queries progress on YVX Gold investment during meeting with Vasso Papandreou

Canadian Commerce Minister Art Eggleton had talks yesterday with Development Minister Vasso Papandreou focusing on the delays in the implementation of the Kassandra mines gold investment project by the Canadian company TVX Gold.

Mr. Eggleton asked to be officially briefed on the Greek government's positions concerning the project, which has been held up due to local opposition for environmental reasons.

Ms Papandreou assured Mr. Eggleton that the investment would go ahead without problems, informing him that the contract under which TVX bought the Halkidiki gold mine would be tabled in Parliament for ratification after Easter.

The government has already decided to hold a meeting in the area of the mines on April 20-21 in order to explain to the local communities that the investment - the biggest in Greece in recent years - must go ahead for economic reasons and that it will not pose a threat to the environment.

Among those who will be participating in the meeting will be Development Under-secretary Fivos Ioannidis and representatives of the Canadian company.

[24] Greece offers investment opportunities for Canadian firms

At a press conference, Mr. Eggleton said the investment climate in Greece was positive and that the establishment of the Greek-Canadian Chamber, which he inaugurated earlier today, would contribute greatly in this direction.

Although a comparatively small market, Mr. Eggleton said, Greece offered significant opportunities for investment since it was a "gateway" to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. He predicted that the Greek market would soon attract great interest from Canadian undertakings and that Greek and Canadian companies could co-operate in order to jointly penetrate third countries. Total Canadian investments in Greece amount to over one billion dollars - three times higher than the corresponding figure for Russia. US investments in Greece are only slightly higher (1.2 billion dollars).

The value of Canadian exports to Greece totaled 121 million dollars in 1995, marking a 45 per cent increase over the previous year.

Urging Greece to have confidence in Canadian companies, Mr. Eggleton said he would like to see more Canadian firms being awarded infrastructure works in the country.

Mr. Eggleton described TVX as a responsible company which would do everything possible to protect the environment in Halkidiki.

During his visit to Greece which began on Sunday, Mr. Eggleton has promoted a bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation which is expected to be signed soon. He also asked for Greece's support for the signing of an agreement between Canada and the European Union providing for closer co-operation.

After concluding his visit here later in the day, Mr. Eggleton was due to leave for Izmir and then Ankara for talks of a similar economic nature in Turkey.

[25] This year's Posidonia bigger than ever

Over 1,400 firms representing some 50 countries will participate in the Posidonia '96 international shipping exhibition to be held at the Piraeus Port Authority's waterfront exhibition center June 3-7.

All three floor levels of the center will be fully utilized during the 15th biennial Posidonia exhibition, while 30 per cent more exhibition space has been created to accommodate the record number of participants, according to Nana Michael, Posidonia man aging director.

[26] Panathinaikos goes into European finals

Panathinaikos yesterday qualified for the final of the European Basketball Champions Cup in Paris tomorrow, beating CSKA Moscow 81-71 (36-33 at half time).

Star of the game was American Dominic Wilkins, who scored 35 points for the Athens team. The Greek champions, who ended up third in the last two final fours, will play Barcelona in tomorrow's final. The Catalans beat Real Madrid in the other semi-final 76-66 (34-38 at half time).

End of English language section.