Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 96-11-13

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No. 1039), November 13, 1996

Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]

CONTENTS

[01] ASE resumes normal operation today after settlement reached

[02] Opposition

[03] SMEHA

[04] Kuchma expresses satisfaction over contacts with Greek leadership

[05] Papandreou to meet with German counterpart Heuer

[06] State Dept. says Cavanaugh visit not the beginning of US initiative on Cyprus

[07] Parliament delegation to visit German state

[08] National issues dominate Greek, Cypriot training seminar

[09] Australian PM lauds role of Orthodox community while addressing visiting Patriarch

[10] Turkish helicopter crashes during NATO exercise

[11] PASOK executive bureau meeting today

[12] Xanthi mufti office's hearse confiscated after being used to transport illegal immigrants

[13] Exhibition by Greek, Turkish caricaturists opens in Strasbourg

[14] Pay increases slated for military officers

[15] Self-administration sector plans four-day shutdown to protest Gov't policy

[16] Greek professor appointed one of 34 UN law committee seats

[17] Europarliament, EU Commission differences on relations with Turkey surface during joint meeting

[18] Human rights activist says Ankara waging war against Turkish people

[19] ND political council warns against further dissension

[20] EOT chief says emphasis to focus on infrastructure, airport and port improvements

[21] European Monetary Institute report on convergence of EU economies released

[22] Large quantity of grain seed to be shipped to Gjirokaster, Sarande

[23] Inner cabinet considers '97 budget in marathon session

[01] ASE resumes normal operation today after settlement reached

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

A Delta Securities default of 2.6 billion drachmas will be covered by the Joint-Surety Fund and the Titles Depository. Specifically, under a decision by the Capital Market Committee, disputed transactions must be cleared by Thursday by all brokerage fir ms, while all firms that do not fulfill their obligations will be barred from bourse sessions.

On his part, National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday announced that international auditing firms would conduct special audits in all ASE-affiliated brokerage firms, following the collapse of Delta Securities - an incident that led to an unprecedented suspension of trading on the Athens bourse on Friday and Monday.

He added that the measure aims to fully clear up responsibilities and to draw conclusions, adding that the government intends to deal comprehensively with the trading settlement, giving solutions to both the problem of Delta's inability to meet obligations and to improvement of clearing procedures and reducing market risks.

This would involve legislation, he said, according to which the Titles Depository would immediately pay the National Bank of Greece the sum of Delta's worthless checks, and would in turn demand the sum from Delta and the Joint-Surety Fund.

He added that according to a decision of the Capital Market Commission, all transactions entered up until Nov. 7 had to be cleared by tomorrow morning, and any firms not complying would not be allowed to participate in the market.

Any arrears ascertained would be met in the same way as those of Delta's, he said.

In a related development, it was announced that ASE president Manolis Xanthakis had been summoned to appear before a Supreme Court prosecutor to make a deposition in connection with conditions at the ASE and the Delta affair.

Meanwhile, an Athens first instance prosecuting authority is already carrying out an investigation into the affair.

[02] Opposition

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

He accused the government of participating in an attempt to cover up a major scandal, adding that the competent minister (Papantoniou) bore a huge moral responsibility over the affair.

The Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) requested a "radical restructuring of the legislative framework regulating the operation of the bourse," adding that Delta was not the only such case.

"The reopening of the Athens Stock Exchange must be combined with the final clearing of securities of all brokerage firms and investigation over the legality of all transactions," the Synaspismos announcement stated.

In a question submitted in Parliament, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas accused Mr. Papantoniou of bearing large responsibilities for the recent developments at ASE, since he had not adopted any effective measures for its rationalization and modernization.

He called for sanctions on anyone breaking the law and the adoption of legislative or other measures.

In another question, PASOK deputy Kimon Koulouris asked to be informed why the national economy ministry continued watching developments "like a spectator," with dramatic effects in the investment environment and confidence in the Greek economy abroad.

[03] SMEHA

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

A "mini-session" finally took place, with activity in only seven shares. The general price index closed up by 0.29 per cent at 920.81 points, while the value of transactions rose to only 3.9 million drachmas.

[04] Kuchma expresses satisfaction over contacts with Greek leadership

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

Speaking during a meeting with Greek businessmen yesterday morning, the Ukrainian president referred to the signing on Monday of a friendship and co-operation agreement between the two countries, saying it formed the basis for further co-operation.

In relation to the political and economic situation in his country, Mr. Kuchma said the Ukraine's accession to the European Union was a "strategic goal of national importance," adding that the former Soviet republic looked forward to Greece's support to achieve this goal.

Elaborating on economic developments in the Ukraine, Mr. Kuchma drew attention to the voting of a new constitution defining the principles for the country's further development, downward trends in inflation, completion of a privatization process for small-to-medium-sized enterprises and initiation of privatization procedures for larger companies.

The president of the Athens Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Yiannis Papathanasiou, stressed that the two countries' "economies, which are complementary, have a mutual interest in building closer ties of commercial, industrial, tourism and technological co-operation."

"Mr. Kuchma's visit to our country will undoubtedly have positive results in this direction," he added.

Mr. Kuchma also held a meeting yesterday with Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis.

At the meeting both men expressed a will for further bilateral relations.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, both Mr. Kaklamanis and Mr. Kuchma referred to the traditional Greek-Ukrainian relations.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Kuchma visited the Acropolis, accompanied by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

Afterwards, Mr. Venizelos briefed Mr. Kuchma on Greece's efforts to achieve a return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum in London. Mr. Kuchma supported Greece's demand.

Meanwhile, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos yesterday decorated the Ukrainian president with the municipality's gold medal at a special ceremony held at the Athens City Hall.

Following the ceremony, the Athens mayor and the Kiev mayor, Mr. Omelechenko, signed a friendship and co-operation agreement between the two cities.

Mr. Avramopoulos said Athens and Kiev were linked with "strong ties," adding that co-operation between the two capitals "will continue and will expand to the point of having a catalytic effect to further co-operation between the two peoples..."

[05] Papandreou to meet with German counterpart Heuer

Bonn, 13/11/1996 (ANA/P. Stangos)

Mr. Heuer is Germany's representative at the IGC and was the official who met Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash during his visit to Bonn last month. He also represented Bonn at the recent debate on the Cyprus issue in Parliament and met with the UN mediator on Cyprus, Han Sung Joo, last Friday.

An issue of major importance for Greece in the framework of the IGC is the issue of Greece's borders being guaranteed as the borders of the European Union. On the part of Germany this could be covered with a political solidarity clause which could be incorporated in the new European treaty, without this entailing the commitment to provide defense assistance.

The latest Franco-German initiative from German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel and his French counterpart Herve de Charette on institutional reforms in the European Union, which promotes the total abolition of the right to veto with few exceptions, and initiation of the possibility of strengthened co-operation between member-states in various sectors has met with opposition by Athens, which is concerned that such an initiative could create a directorate of large EU member-states.

[06] State Dept. says Cavanaugh visit not the beginning of US initiative on Cyprus

Washington, 13/11/1996 (ANA/T. Ellis)

He added that Mr. Cavanaugh will be informed on regional developments and will exchange views with interested parties before returning to Washington, where examination of the US approach to Cyprus will continue.

Replying to a question, Mr. Davis said that at this stage, the US mission does not have any new ideas.

[07] Parliament delegation to visit German state

Bonn, 13/11/1996 (ANA/P. Stangos)

The Greek MPs will be received by the state's Christian Democrat prime minister today and will hold talks on all issues with a corresponding delegation from the local Parliament of Stuttgart.

Their program includes visits to a Mercedes-Benz factory, a local university, talks with media representatives as well as with ethnic Greeks.

The delegation also includes deputies Manolis Stratakis (PASOK), Panayiotis Loukakos (New Democracy), Nikos Gatzis (Communist Party of Greece), Nikos Loule (Coalition of the Left and Progress) and Ioannis Arapis (Democratic Social Movement).

[08] National issues dominate Greek, Cypriot training seminar

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

Addressing the seminar, Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos referred to the basic axis of Greece's foreign policy.

The issues of "Turkey and its neighbors and (Greece's) national issues, as these are perceived and approached by the International Community" were addressed by National Foreign Under-secretary Christos Rozakis, university professors, diplomats and journalists.

The seminar, organized by the Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of National Issues (SEPETH) will conclude today.

According to Cypriot government spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides, the seminar aimed at discussing co-operation between the press offices of the Greek and Cypriot governments around the world for the promotion of national issues.

Speaking to the ANA, Mr. Cassoulides said all national issues were linked.

The director of foreign services at the press ministry, Yiannis Petsilas, said the two countries should "unite their efforts abroad and help each other financially..."

The seminar also focused on modern communication methods, as well as Greece's orientations, both recent and long-standing, in the Balkans, the Black Sea Co-operation countries, the Mediterranean and Europe.

In statements conveyed Monday by government spokesman Dimitris Reppas, Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed certainty that useful conclusions will be derived from the seminar regarding "the exercise of an effective strategic communication for Hellenism."

In addressing the seminar today, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos is expected to elaborate on the issue of Greece's involvement in Cyprus's defense.

His address will be followed by a discussion on the "Geostrategic Position of Cyprus," which will be held with the participation of Cypriot Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides.

[09] Australian PM lauds role of Orthodox community while addressing visiting Patriarch

Melbourne, 13/11/1996 (ANA/H. Hatzimanolis)

On his part, Vartholomeos expressed his gratitude over Australian support to Orthodoxy, praising the "multi-cultural" character and tolerance of Australian society.

The lunch was attended by some 400 guests, including high-ranking government officials, MPs, foreign diplomats, members of the Greek-Australian community and reporters.

Today, the Patriarch is scheduled to visit the Greek and Turkish embassies and have lunch with Australia's general governor.

[10] Turkish helicopter crashes during NATO exercise

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

According to reports, the bodies of three crew-members have been recovered by a US helicopter also taking part in the manoeuvres. A fourth Turkish crew-member is still missing, as search and rescue operations are continuing.

The helicopter had taken off from the Turkish frigate "Barbaros," with the cause of the crash initially attributed to mechanical failure.

The helicopter crashed into the sea some 35 miles southeast of Rhodes at 3:15 a.m. local time. The vessel had set sail from Alexandria on Nov. 9 headed for Italy.

Immediately after the crash, a Hellenic Air Force C-130 aircraft flew over the area and began sending off flares.

The Hellenic Navy frigate "Adrias," which was nearby, rushed to the site together with air force helicopters from Rhodes.

According to the national defense ministry, the search and rescue operation is being coordinated by the commander of the Adrias, who also heads the NATO exercise.

Along with Greek vessels and aircraft, NATO ships taking part in the exercise are also continuing search operations.

[11] PASOK executive bureau meeting today

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

The joint meeting between the party's central committee and Parliamentary group has been moved to Monday from Friday, with discussions expected to focus on the economy and development policy.

[12] Xanthi mufti office's hearse confiscated after being used to transport illegal immigrants

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

According to reports, Jesair Jemali, 50, and Reya Yiasar, 32, both residents of Xanthi, charged four Iraqis illegals $200 each to transport them to Thessaloniki.

Police said the two suspects had been under surveillance for some time and were finally arrested Monday as they boarded the four Iraqis into the hearse after receiving $800. The hearse was driven by Jemali, while Yiasar followed in his private car. Both vehicles were confiscated, while the suspects and illegal immigrants were ordered to appear before the Xanthi public prosecutor. In a related development, Kavala police said that 160 illegal immigrants were deported from Kavala in October. They said that the illegals, mainly from Albania, Bangladesh, Bulgaria and Russia, were working illegally in agricultural regions and stock-breeding units in and around Kavala.

[13] Exhibition by Greek, Turkish caricaturists opens in Strasbourg

Strasbourg, 13/11/1996 (ANA/M. Spinthourakis)

Yesterday's opening session was attended by almost all Greek Eurodeputies and a host of foreign Eurodeputies, as well as by caricaturists Vassilis Mitropoulos and Stathis from Greece and Janol and Abaxi from Turkey.

The exhibition will operate throughout the week in Strasbourg and a similar exhibition is being prepared in Athens, sponsored by Parliament.

[14] Pay increases slated for military officers

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

However, despite the increases, PASOK deputies criticized the pay scale during yesterday's meeting of the relevant Parliamentary committee examining the provisions.

Imathia deputy Moshas Yikonoglou described the salaries as a pittance, while Evia deputy Vassilis Kedikoglou said it is unacceptable for a retired chief of general staff to receive the same pension as a clerk in the Public Power Corp. (DEH).

On his part, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said the pay scale is a decisively important intervention for salaries of armed forces and security forces personnel. He added that although it may not solve all problems, it is all the national economy is capable of at the moment, recognizing the special role the armed forces play in facing external threats against the country's territorial integrity.

[15] Self-administration sector plans four-day shutdown to protest Gov't policy

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

The decision is expected to be ratified today in a TEDKNA meeting, during which mobilizations such as rallies, will be decided upon.

It was not been made clear, however, whether the Athens municipality will participate in the mobilizations, and its position is expected to be clarified today during a meeting between TEDKNA and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Pireaus Mayor Stelios Logothetis is supporting TEDKNA and has announced that his municipality will participate in the mobilizations.

Meanwhile, Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Under-secretary Lambros Papadimas met with a delegation of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities and Communities (KEDKE) yesterday and agreed to form joint committees which will study the contribution of local self-administration to the government program for convergence of the economy.

[16] Greek professor appointed one of 34 UN law committee seats

United Nations, 13/11/1996 (ANA/M. Georgiadou)

UN diplomatic circles stressed the importance of the UN's International Law Committee, in which those participating represent cultural trends and legal forms of the international community and guarantee their safeguarding.

Other countries of the Western European Group winning seats on the Committee were Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Austria, as well as the United States and Australia, which are included in the same group.

[17] Europarliament, EU Commission differences on relations with Turkey surface during joint meeting

Brussels, 13/11/1996 (ANA/F. Stangos)

At the meeting, EU Commissioner Hans van den Broek presented the first report after the customs union agreement was implemented.

According to reports, Mr. van den Broek referred at length to all aspects of EU-Turkish relations, without omitting the unfavorable development in the human rights sector or the unacceptable, as he said, situation in Cyprus after the murders of two unarmed Greek Cypriot demonstrators. However, he once again concluded that dialogue with Ankara must be kept open, adding that Turkey must not be blocked completely from funding co-operation sources anticipated by the customs union agreement.

On the question of funding co-operation between the EU and Turkey, Mr. van den Broek made it clear that he disagrees with the tactic of sanctions chosen by the Europarliament. He again expressed his objections to the discontinuation of funding to Turkey from the so-called MEDA Euro-Mediterranean co-operation program, the EU's sole funding source remaining active for Turkey, adding that it is difficult for the Commission to be limited to plans concerning human rights, which account for 10 per cent of funds earmarked for Turkey.

Mr. van den Broek ascertained a slight improvement on Monday in Greek-Turkish relations but added that Ankara has not yet replied to the statement adopted by the EU on July 15, and stressed that he intends to meet Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller a gain on the sidelines of the West European Union's (WEU) ministerial session on Nov. 18-19.

An overwhelming majority of Eurodeputies taking the floor during Monday's meeting condemned Turkey's what they called continuously worsening behavior and stressed that tactics applied to date produced completely opposite results than those expected, since they encourage Ankara's intransigence.

[18] Human rights activist says Ankara waging war against Turkish people

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

Mr. Birdal spoke of "a war which is being waged for the past 14 years against the people of Turkey, an unjust war which has cost 24,000 dead, 35,000 crippled, three million homeless as well as 2,900 villages burnt and destroyed.

He also expressed the concern of Turkish pacifists for the deterioration of Greek-Turkish relations and the Imia crisis, suggesting an outlet be found in the form of contacts between the two peoples on a self-administration level.

In the evening, a group of extremists gathered outside the stadium in which the event was being held, shouting slogans against peace between Greece and Turkey.

[19] ND political council warns against further dissension

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

In a statement after a session yesterday, it said that "the behavior of individual deputies who dispute the latest decision of the political council, for a lowering of tones and diffusion of tension within the party, and ND's historic contribution is h armful to the unity and the course towards the congress..."

Leader Miltiades Evert stressed that a stop had to put "to the party's introversion at a time when the country faces huge problems," stressing that "decisions adopted must be observed because otherwise, we are being self-ridiculed. The buck stops here".

He said he was not annoyed by deputies criticizing him, but it was not possible "for the party's foundations to be disputed".

Former minister George Souflias, who contested the party's leadership after the recent general election, maintained a distance from the rest of the council, stressing that the pre-congress procedures which had already begun, were not compatible with disciplinary measures, and that any views had to be expressed soberly and in terms of political arguments.

The party's secretary of the Parliamentary group, George Panagiotopoulos said that the political council did not have the competence to expel members from the party.

Deputy leader Ioannis Varvitsiotis seconded him, advising moderation and prudence, and adding that "it is not time for expulsions".

[20] EOT chief says emphasis to focus on infrastructure, airport and port improvements

London, 13/11/1996 (ANA/L. Tsirigotakis)

The press conference was held within the framework of an international tourism exhibition held with the participation of 152 countries.

"We are enforcing a new dynamic program to enrich our country's tourism product with new forms of tourism, such as conference tourism, incentives tourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism and sports tourism," Mr. Kourtesis.

He added that despite the fact that overnight stays are expected to fall by 11.5 per cent by the end of the year, as opposed to 1994, tourism revenues are expected to record a 6 per cent rise.

"This means that Greece was visited by higher income tourists," Mr. Kourtesis noted.

[21] European Monetary Institute report on convergence of EU economies released

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

The report says that in 1996, inflation in most member-states is low and stability of prices has been achieved, while in others it has slowed down.

By contrast, it notes that as regards fiscal rationalization, progress has been too slow, as most countries have not reached a situation likely to be maintained in the long run.

Greece is one of the three countries exceeding the envisaged minimum of 3 per cent inflation as a criterion for participation in the third phase of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) on Jan. 1, 1999, the other two being Italy with 4.7 per cent, and Spain, with 3.8 per cent.

The report also forecasts that Greece will record a slight fall in the other criterion for EMU participation, that of public debt/GDP ratio, whose minimum required is set at 60 per cent.

[22] Large quantity of grain seed to be shipped to Gjirokaster, Sarande

Gjirokaster, 13/11/1996 (ANA/D. Tsakas)

Direct mediation by General Consul Nikolaos Kanellos with Athens facilitated in the provision of such a large quantity of grain seed to ethnic Greek farmers in the area for the first time in the past six years.

The quantity of grain amounts to 600 tons and is transported from Greece to Gjirokaster and Sarande with trucks belonging to residents of Dropolis.

[23] Inner cabinet considers '97 budget in marathon session

Athens, 13/11/1996 (ANA)

He added that the government would make specific announcements regarding economic policy and the budget after a cabinet session scheduled for yesterday evening, during which the final text will be endorsed.

Mr. Reppas told reporters that the ministers had submitted ideas and proposals towards an improvement of the basic text of the budget, which he added, was especially ambitious and constituted a very serious endeavor, attempting to combine adherence to terms of the Maastricht Treaty, on one hand, and the safeguarding of social cohesion on the other.

End of English language section.

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