Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-03-04
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1130), March 4, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] EU accepts Greek initiative on Albanian crisis
[02] State of emergency
[03] Dutch EU presidency accepts Greek, Italian proposal
[04] Albania pulls plug on western TV broadcasts
[05] Simitis winds up three-day tour of Thessaly
[06] Reactions on developments in Albania
[07] Archbishop Spyridon receives Pangalos
[08] Event focuses on Greek-Turkish friendship
[09] Striking teachers again request meeting with Arsenis
[10] Simitis stresses that Athens won't negotiate 'even an inch' of
sovereignty
[11] Michaelides, G. Papandreou discuss Cyprus EU accession issue
[12] Panteios seminar on Cyprus
[13] Pangalos attends Greek-American event in NY
[14] Formation of special border patrol units in Evros announced
[15] Greek young unemployed to get a 'second chance'
[16] OTOE anticipates changes in employment, remuneration at banks
[17] GSEE warns Gov't over rumored package of labor measures
[18] 'Black Monday' on the Athens bourse
[19] Greece organizes to send aid to Bulgaria
[20] Conference covers Greek-Romanian trade, investment opportunities
[21] EOT promotional campaign in Canada
[01] EU accepts Greek initiative on Albanian crisis
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
The Dutch EU presidency yesterday accepted Athens' proposals for
action in connection with the situation in Albania while the EU
Working Group on the Balkans will convene tomorrow, a foreign
ministry announcement said.
Earlier in day, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis said
Greece's proposal envisaged an ad hoc meeting of the EU Working
Group on the Balkans and an emergency meeting of the EU's
Political Committee to discuss the crisis and propose measures
to defuse the tension. He added that Athens had also proposed
that a special report be compiled by the ambassadors of the EU's
15 member-states in Tirana.
In addition, the foreign ministry announcement stated that the
meeting of the EU Political Committee has been scheduled for
Thursday. The committee will also discuss the ambassadors'
report.
Meanwhile, Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou said
that Greece proposed a few days ago a meeting in Athens of the
Royamont Group for stability in the Balkans, comprising the
foreign ministers of the EU, the US, the Balkan nations and
Russia, to discuss the situation in Albania.
"The proposal was received with some reservations, but I believe
that now, following the latest developments in Albania, they
will review their position," the minister noted.
He clarified that developments certainly caused concern, but
this had not come out of the blue.
The alternate minister said no extra precautionary measures
would be taken at Greece's borders, since those already in place
were considered sufficient to contain illegal immigration.
Mr. Kranidiotis, commenting further on the crisis in Albania,
advised Albania's ethnic Greeks to keep calm, noting that there
had not been any attacks against the community, nor had there
been any increased movements of people towards the Greek border.
Speaking at a press conference on the Albanian crisis yesterday
morning, Mr. Kranidiotis said Athens was in contact with the
Albanian government and other political forces in the country.
With regards to an invitation extended some time ago to
President Sali Berisha to visit Greece in May or June this year,
the foreign under-secretary said the visit would depend on
developments in the neighboring country.
He also said Greek police officers were on guard at the Greek
consulate in Gjirokaster following the withdrawal of the
Albanian guard, while a demarche had been lodged by the Greek
embassy in Tirana.
The consulate was open for business as usual, but public
buildings as well as shops owned by ethnic Greeks were damaged
during widespread rioting in Gjirokaster Sunday night.
[02] State of emergency
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Despite the Albanian parliament's announcement of a state of
emergency, no police or military forces were to be seen in the
town. There were fears of attacks by gangs of masked looters on
villages with mainly ethnic Greek populations.
Later in the day, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas confirmed
that Gjirokaster's Greek consulate was being guarded by Greek
police and echoed Mr. Kranidiotis' statements that Greece wanted
a meeting of the EU's Political Committee in order to offer
financial and humanitarian aid to Albania.
He stressed that Greece desired good relations with its
neighbors and did not wish to be involved in their internal
affairs.
Meanwhile, he announced that the Albanian crisis would be on the
agenda at a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign
Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) today at noon, to be chaired by
Prime Minister Costas Simitis.
[03] Dutch EU presidency accepts Greek, Italian proposal
Brussels, 04/03/1997 (ANA - P. Pantelis)
The Dutch EU presidency has undertaken to activate a Greek and
Italian proposal for an urgent response by the '15' to the
crisis in Albania.
The presidency announced it had come into contact with EU
capitals in order to assess at what level the meeting would take
place.
It is envisaged that the issue can be discussed at the level of
a special working group for the Balkans of the Council of
Ministers, and by the Political Committee - the directors of the
foreign ministries of the '15'.
It is likely that the committee will meet tomorrow or Thursday
to discuss the situation in Albania on the basis of the findings
of a committee of experts of the Council of Ministers, which
visited Tirana on Friday, and on the basis of reports by the
ambassadors of the '15' in Tirana.
It is also expected that the issue will be discussed by the
European Commission in its weekly session tomorrow. The
Commission is empowered to adopt a position and undertake an
initiative regarding an urgent Community response, coordinating
its proposal s with the actions of the Dutch presidency.
[04] Albania pulls plug on western TV broadcasts
Geneva, 04/03/1997 (Reuter)
Albanian authorities yesterday pulled the plug on western
television broadcasts out of the country after declaring an
immediate state of emergency to combat armed unrest in the
south, the European Broadcasting Union said.
Tony Naetes, head of Eurovision News Services in Geneva, told
Reuters that the EBU, the only organization providing satellite
television feeds to the outside world from Tirana, halted its
work as of 7:30 p.m. after ordered verbally by the Albanian
authorities.
[05] Simitis winds up three-day tour of Thessaly
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis concluded a three-day tour of
Thessaly yesterday with a visit to Meteora and Kalambaka,
returning to Athens early in the evening.
Summing up the results of his tour, Mr. Simitis said a
particularly important result was produced, namely, that despite
problems and difficulties, the great majority of the people want
"a course towards progress, a course of development and applaud
every effort made in this direction from whatever side."
Mr. Simitis said the country's potential is great, adding that
the government... will continue its struggle to enable Greece to
forge ahead and have a voice and a role.
Mr. Simitis toured all four prefectural capitals in the region -
Larisa, Karditsa, Trikala and Volos - as well as other areas
where he met local representatives, prefects, mayors and
community leaders.
He also visited a work site on the Athens-Thessaloniki motorway,
the new regional university hospital of Larisa, as well as the
opening of a new wing of the University of Thessaly, followed by
a visit to the dam and tunnel of the Sykia detour.
Speaking in Trikala on the last day of his three-day tour, Mr.
Simitis said the government's economic goal aimed to lead the
country out of its current economic situation and ensure the
nation's future.
Mr. Simitis said Greece's unemployment rate was well below the
average rate in the European union, adding that small increases
were noted in consumers' real income.
Turning to agriculture sector problems, he noted that the
government depended on the farmers and, therefore, wished to
support agricultural cooperatives.
"Our aim is to put an end to the gap between the Athens that
drains and the countryside that nurtures," he said.
The prime minister added that his government was the government
of all the people and not only of the unions, stressing that "we
will not yield to blackmail."
Later in the day, Mr. Simitis laid the foundation stone of the
new wing of the Trikala prefectural general hospital.
In his address, the premier referred to the government's social
policy, stressing that "it ensures a modern and effective tissue
of social protection for all citizens."
Commenting on Mr. Simitis' address in Trikala, the Communist
Party of Greece (KKE) issued an announcement stating that "the
prime minister's efforts to intimidate workers will yield no
result."
[06] Reactions on developments in Albania
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis said developments in
Albania constituted a cause for concern, but did not justify a
loss of calm and coolheadedness.
"On the contrary, they justify the imposition of measures in
order to avert a massive wave of economic refugees from entering
Greece and encourage ethnic Greeks to remain in their homes," he
said.
Mr. Kaklamanis said European partners should realize that Greece
is directly interested in developments in the Balkans,
especially in neighboring countries such as Albania.
He added that Greece was the only stabilizing factor in the
Balkans and called on the European partners to realize that at
this time "Greece is the only country which can contribute
considerably in EU efforts for the preservation of stability,
normality and peace in the wider region and especially Albania
where the current course of events is beyond prediction."
"Our country's position is clear... we don't wish to have any
involvement in the domestic situations in our neighboring
countries," he said.
He added, however, that the existence of an ethnic Greek
community in Albania calls for a special Greek interest in
developments in the neighboring country.
"As a democratic country we are sensitive to human rights, not
just in Albania due to the ethnic Greeks in the country, but
also in other countries such as Turkey," Mr. Kaklamanis said.
Main opposition New Democracy leader Miltiades Evert warned that
developments in Albania might lead to destabilization in the
region and called on the Albanian leadership to protect with
every possible means the ethnic Greek minority in southern
Albania .
"The ethnic Greeks of Albania should know that we are close to
them and we will not abandon them," Mr. Evert said adding that
Greece constitutes a stability factor in the region and always
pursues the consolidation of peace and the protection of its
vital interests.
On his part, former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis said
that a political solution had to be found to Albania's troubles,
calling for a national unity government that would include
participation of all political parties to usher in free and fair
elections.
"It is certain that it would be a tragic mistake if a solution
was attempted through autocracy and brute force," he said.
Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that Athens had to change policy and
move in the direction of taking positive initiatives in the
framework of the European Union and all international
organizations, saying the government's handling so far was
mistaken and essentially supported (Albanian President Sali)
Berisha.
Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos
called for the cancellation of the planned visit of Mr. Berisha
to Greece, adding that the Greek government should put an end to
"a false impression of tolerance and support to the Berisha
regime."
He also called on the members of the ethnic Greek community in
Albania to stay in their homes.
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) representative Spyros Striftaris
said the "tragedy of the Albanian people is the result of the
policy of a corrupted regime imposed by the Americans and the
European Union in order to subordinate the Albanian people."
Mr. Striftaris said the Greek people could extract their own
conclusions regarding those Greek political parties which hailed
and supported the Berisha regime.
Democratic Social Movement leader Dimitris Tsovolas said
yesterday that developments in Albania endanger the ethnic Greek
community in the country and called for the convening of a
political leaders meeting under the chairmanship of the primer
minister to discuss the situation in Albania and agree on a
common national strategy.
Political Spring party leader Antonis Samaras called on the
government to promote a close co-operation with the European
Union for the creation of a mutually accepted government in
Albania, the protection of the Greek minority and to prevent the
situation in Albanian from expanding to the Kossovo region of
Yugoslavia.
Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Gjirokaster said that many
members of the ethnic Greek community have abandoned their
homes. The dispatch added that many stolen weapons have passed
into the hands of extreme nationalists.
[07] Archbishop Spyridon receives Pangalos
New York, 04/03/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos met yesterday morning with
Archbishop of America Spyridon.
The Archbishop expressed his pleasure over the meeting, saying
that the two discussed and exchanged views on national issues
and matters concerning expatriate Greeks.
Mr. Pangalos said an agreement was reached for closer
co-operation and coordination between himself and the
Archbishop, adding that Athens is looking forward to Spyridon's
forthcoming visit to Athens.
Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Mr. Pangalos expressed
Athens' deep concern over the current situation in Albania.
"We must protect the Greek community of Albania, our borders
from an incalculable wave of refugees and generally peace in the
region," he said.
He added that he is in constant contact with Archbishop of
Albania Anastasios, who is using all his influence to reduce
conflict.
"We have offered a huge amount of economic aid to Albania, and
this has been officially recognized by the Albanian government,
but our tolerance has its limits," he said.
"Just when we were hoping that with the money the Albanians had
gathered through working in our country, Albania's economic
development would begin, today's crisis came along and
overturned everything," he said.
[08] Event focuses on Greek-Turkish friendship
Istanbul, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Improvement in Greek-Turkish relations will be facilitated with
the friendship of the two peoples, the Greek consul general in
Istanbul Fotis Xydas and former Turkish ambassador to Athens
Nazmi Akiman argued at a recent gathering of the Greek-Turkish
Friendship Association.
Initiatives of businessmen and the efforts of friendship
associations will ultimately have a positive effect on the
political level, it was noted.
Mr. Xydas said "fear of the Turks" on the part of the Greek
people should be combated, although he said this was difficult
given the fact that they watched Turkish aircraft over their
heads every day, heard threats of Turkish politicians and had
the experience of Cyprus.
[09] Striking teachers again request meeting with Arsenis
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Secondary school teachers yesterday held another protest rally
outside the education ministry, calling for salary increases.
Teachers' representatives met with Education Under-secretary
Ioannis Anthopoulos and asked for another meeting with Education
Minister Gerassimos Arsenis.
On his part, Mr. Anthopoulos assured striking teachers that he
would convey their request to the minister, who was expected to
return from abroad late last night.
Addressing the rally, teachers' union (OLME) secretary Grigoris
Kalomiris stressed that the strike will end only if the teachers
themselves want it to, adding that the rate of participation
continued to be high.
OLME's administrative council was due to meet last night in
order to decide whether it would submit proposals during today's
teachers general meetings, to be held throughout the country,
for the strike to continue for the eighth consecutive week.
Teachers are to take the final decision today, and it will be
ratified tomorrow during the general meeting of local union
presidents, due to be held in Athens.
[10] Simitis stresses that Athens won't negotiate 'even an inch' of
sovereignty
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday called on Ankara to
respect international law and treaties, saying Greece was not
prepared to negotiate away "even an inch" of its territory.
Speaking in Trikala on the last day of his tour of the Thessaly
region, the prime minister reiterated that Greece "does not
claim anything and does not intend to give away even an inch of
land, air or sea".
Greece needs, he added, a strong deterrent force which will,
unfortunately, be costly.
"We are the only country in the European Union which has need of
armaments," he said, adding that Greece did not desire to
purchase weapons but is forced to do so by circumstances.
Over the weekend, Mr. Simitis warned Ankara to abandon visions
of "a revival of the Ottoman empire", saying the cost of any
aggressive action against Greece would be severe.
Turkey, he added, has turned into "the greatest destabilizing
factor in the Aegean, the Balkans, the eastern Mediterranean,
the Caucasus and the Middle East".
Athens and Ankara came close to a military conflict in late
January 1996 over the deserted Greek islet of Imia. In addition,
Athens has frequently complained about repeated violations and
infringements of Greek air space by Turkish warplanes.
[11] Michaelides, G. Papandreou discuss Cyprus EU accession issue
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Cypriot Foreign Minister Alecos Michaelides began in Athens
yesterday a tour of European capitals in an effort to deal with
the insistence of certain EU member-states to include Turkish
Cypriots in the island republic's EU accession talks.
Speaking after a meeting with Alternate Foreign Minister George
Papandreou, Mr. Michaelides expressed regret at the joint effort
by Germany, France and Britain to include the Turkish Cypriots
in the accession talks.
Mr. Michaelides said this effort was subject to various
interpretations and did not comply with the spirit of the March
6, 1995 decision, according to which accession talks for the
island republic will begin six months after the end of the
Intergovernmental Conference.
Mr. Papandreou said the two men reviewed recent developments
over the issue and focused on future efforts in the direction of
working out a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Papandreou said the meeting also focused on EU-Cyprus
accession prospects.
"On my part, I have already visited Italy, I am to visit France
tomorrow (today) and I am to visit other countries in our effort
to promote the Cyprus issue," he said.
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, who was also
present at the meeting, said in reply to a question that
initiatives on the Cyprus problem "belong primarily to the UN
secretary general, and therefore, any US or European initiative
which is expressed will have to move within that framework."
[12] Panteios seminar on Cyprus
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Earlier in the day, Mr. Papandreou said that Athens and Nicosia
would want to achieve a solution to the problem prior to Cyprus'
EU accession, pointing to the fact that "it should not be
forgotten that this does not solely depend on Greece, Cyprus or
the European Union."
Addressing a seminar on the issue of a national strategy for
Cyprus, organized by the Panteios University's International
Relations Institute, Mr. Papandreou said that statements or
actions imposed as a precondition for Cyprus' EU accession
weakened t he prospects created by the accession process for a
solution to the political problem.
Turning to Greek-Turkish relations, Mr. Papandreou said Greece
wished to contribute to the formulation of a clearer
relationship between Turkey and the European Union.
Addressing the same seminar, Mr. Michaelides stressed that the
Cypriot government never asked the European partners to commit
to voting for a Cyprus-EU accession and added that statements or
actions setting a solution to the Cyprus issue as a prerequisite
for a Cyprus-EU accession undermined the accession's potentially
catalytic role. "Cyprus," the minister said in a referral to
accession prospects, "may constitute the bridge between Europe
and the Middle East."
Questioned on former UN secretary general Boutros
Boutros-Ghali's proposed solution, Mr. Michaelides said such a
solution would not be viable since it emphasizes the
constitutional aspects of the issue, while the most crucial part
is security.
Mr. Michaelides also emphasized the continued settlement of the
occupied parts of Cyprus by mainland Turks, and warned of
potential dangers from changes in the island's demographics.
"If no solution is found to the Cyprus problem," he said, "in a
few years from now the occupied parts will be settled not by
Turkish Cypriots but by Anatolian Turkish settlers."
Referring to the joint defense doctrine between Greece and
Cyprus, Mr. Michaelides reminded of late Greek prime minister
Andreas Papandreou's assurance to the Cyprus leadership that the
political commitment, whereby Greece would stand by the side of
Cyprus in the face of any fresh Turkish provocation, should also
be able to be implemented militarily.
[13] Pangalos attends Greek-American event in NY
N. York, 04/03/1997 (ANA - M. Georgiadou)
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos yesterday attended an event
organized by city's Greek-American community after arriving here
yesterday.
The Greek foreign minister is visiting the United States in
order to attend the opening of the "Glory of Byzantium"
exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum.
The exhibition is organized by the Hellenic Cultural Foundation.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos is also in New York, as
Athens' representative at the exhibitions's opening.
In an address to expatriate Greeks in New York, Mr. Venizelos
said he felt proud at the achievements of expatriate Greeks in
the United States as well as their contribution to Greece's
national issues.
[14] Formation of special border patrol units in Evros announced
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Public Order Minister George Romeos said yesterday that special
border patrol units will be formed and activated in the Evros
prefecture by the end of the year in order to combat the illegal
entry of individuals from neighboring Turkey.
Mr. Romeos, who made the statement at the border checkpoint of
Kipoi during his two-day tour of the prefecture, said excellent
co-operation exists between police and the military in guarding
the border and tackling the problem of illegal immigration. He
said the aim of his ministry is to have the new units manned by
local residents.
Referring to the problem posed by illegal immigration in
general, Mr. Romeos said it is serious, adding that he arrived
in Evros to discuss the issue with responsible services, and
primarily police officials, as well as to take measures to crack
down on illegal immigration.
He added that the ministry spends 300 million drachmas a year to
hire vehicles to deport illegal immigrants and a further 1.5
billion drachmas a year alone in spare parts for equipment,
primarily vehicles.
[15] Greek young unemployed to get a 'second chance'
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Greece has been chosen as one of the countries to participate in
the second phase of the European Union's "Second Chance" schools
program, a European Commission announcement said yesterday.
Following the successful launching of the first "Second Chance"
school in Marseille, France, in December last year, European
commissioner Edith Cresson has decided to begin pilot projects
in the five other member-states with the co-operation of
interested governments.
The program aims to offer - through education and training - a
new opportunity to young unemployed people who lack basic skills
and paper qualifications.
In Greece, towns in the metropolitan region of Attica will be
selected for the launch of a pilot project.
The characteristics of each project depend to a large extent on
local, regional and national needs and circumstances but a few
key elements are the strong partnership between local
authorities and social services and public and private sector
employers, emphasis on learning and training in the field of
informatics and localization in deprived urban areas.
[16] OTOE anticipates changes in employment, remuneration at banks
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Studies unveiled yesterday by the Federation of Greek Bank
Employee Unions' (OTOE) labor institute anticipate two important
changes in the employment and remuneration system at banks and a
modernization system for the banking sector.
The correlation between traditional work at counters is expected
to be overturned in favor of specialized work in sales and
consulting. At present, 40 per cent of bank employees work at
counters, 45 per cent in promotion work and only 15 per cent in
sales and consulting. The last figure is expected to reach 45-50
per cent in the next few years.
Secondly, the traditional system of remuneration through
salaries contained in collective labor agreements and time
maturity is expected to be overturned in favor of the system
linking remuneration with productivity and the competitiveness
of each employee, the so-called merit system.
OTOE President Dimitris Kouselas said the labor union is holding
a dialogue with the Union of Banks on the issue of reducing
working hours without a corresponding reduction in pay.
According to a study prepared by OTOE, the 35-hour working week
will protect employment, and increase productivity by 3.7 per
cent.
Mr. Kouselas ruled out any possibility of a decrease in working
time with a contemporaneous decrease in the remuneration of bank
employees, because in Greece salaries are the lowest in all
European Union countries.
Other unionists argue that such measures will have disastrous
results for employment, since a decrease in working time coupled
with a decrease in salaries will objectively lead bank employees
to finding a second job, resulting in the loss of jobs for young
people, the swelling of the informal economy and losses in
contributions for insurance funds.
[17] GSEE warns Gov't over rumored package of labor measures
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Trade unionists are apparently toughening their stance vis-a-vis
the government amid press reports, which organized labor circles
believe are leaked by the national economy ministry, concerning
a package of measures featuring a 30-hour working week with a
corresponding reduction of salaries in the private sector,
banks, etc.
General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) President
Christos Polyzogopoulos said yesterday that the ministry is
doing everything it can to see that social dialogue never begins.
Mr. Polyzogopoulos spoke of initiatives implemented in Britain
during the Thatcher government in the 1980s, saying such tactics
cannot be transferred to present-day Greece and that ministers
must learn not to take each other by surprise.
He reiterated that if reports are confirmed, GSEE will not enter
into dialogue and will opt for mobilizations.
[18] 'Black Monday' on the Athens bourse
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
Share prices took the biggest dive in the Athens Stock
Exchange's history at yesterday's session, on what brokers are
calling "Black Monday".
The general price index fell 7.45 percent, closing at 1,206.54
points, with turnover totaling just 16.7 billion drachmas.
ASE sources attribute the drop, which they say was exaggerated,
to statements by the president of the capital market commission
Stavros Thomadakis last Wednesday, which they say had a negative
effect on the mood of the market.
During a three-day boom early last week, the general price index
broke the 1,400 mark barrier and recorded record turnover of
over 40 billion drachmas before sliding on Thursday.
[19] Greece organizes to send aid to Bulgaria
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
A joint program by government and local government bodies to
send humanitarian aid to Bulgaria was announced at a joint press
conference yesterday by Alternate Foreign Minister George
Papandreou, Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos and Prefectural
Union (ENAE) President Evangelos Kouloumbis.
Mr. Papandreou said that 1,700 tons of grain had already been
sent, while more aid was expected to be sent from 30 Greek
municipalities to sister cities in the neighboring country.
Mr. Avramopoulos announced a campaign to brief the Greek public
on the program which he said was aimed at sending a message of
"social solidarity" with neighboring states.
Mr. Kouloumbis explained that the plan would be coordinated in
each prefecture and the aid collected by each municipality. Food
aid would be subject to quality control and then sent by train
to Bulgaria.
[20] Conference covers Greek-Romanian trade, investment opportunities
Athens, 04/03/1997 (ANA)
The new government in Romania is in the process of implementing
an economic restructuring program, in order to create a climate
of market confidence and attract foreign investment, a top
Romanian government official said in Athens yesterday.
Romanian Youth and Sports Minister Sorin Stanescu told a
conference on opportunities for Greek businesses in Romania that
this economic program included a wide-ranging plan to privatize
state-run organizations in all economic sectors.
Mr. Stanescu said the Romanian economy was well on the way to
deregulation with restrictions on trade being abolished, pricing
interventions being cut back and new incentives being developed
in the property market for foreign investors.
These positive reforms, he added, were confirmed by the expected
signing this year of economic agreements between Romania, the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European
Union.
The conference, entitled: "Romania's Economy and Greece:
Business Opportunities", was organized by the Institute for
International Economic Relations and the Greek-Romanian Business
Council.
[21] EOT promotional campaign in Canada
Montreal, 04/03/1997 (ANA - I. Frangouli)
The Greek Tourism Organization (EOT) yesterday launched a
campaign in the Canadian market, entitled "Showcase Greece '97",
starting from Vancouver and ending in Halifax next month.
The campaign will tour 25 cities and it is expected draw
approximately 4,500 travel agents.
End of English language section.
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