Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-06-21
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1217), June 21, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Simitis says Greece shouldn't ease efforts for European
unification
[02] V. Papandreou
[03] Opposition
[04] Gov't comments on Pentagon statement referring to Imia
[05] Ankara pleased with Bacon retraction
[06] Tsohatzopoulos: Imia issue non-negotiable
[07] Cabinet briefed on Amsterdam summit
[08] Mitsotakis welcomes result of Amsterdam
[09] New Greek judge at European Court
[10] Papandreou to be remembered at Athens Concert Hall function
[11] Elefsina Shipyards sold to Tavoularis group
[12] 'Treasures of Mount Athos' opens today in Thessaloniki
[13] Avramopoulos in Moscow for mayors' summit
[14] Patriarch of Alexandria to arrive in Greece next week
[15] New armored vehicles for Greek troops in Albania
[16] New Consul General in Albania
[17] Mass murderer given five life sentences
[18] Sixth Panhellenic journalists' conference opens on Samothrace
[19] Olympic Catering to begin procedures for entrance into bourse
[20] Greek March retail sales slip 0.3 pct in volume yr/yr
[21] Equities slump 2.78 pct in brisk sell-off
[22] Greek Aktor engineering contractor sees Dr 3 bln profit in 97
[23] World forum for smaller firms starts in Piraeus next week
[24] Greek Petzetakis plastic pipes maker sees sales up 25 pct
[25] Commercial Bank of Greece signs sale pact for Attica Bank
[26] Thessaloniki hosts regional meeting on social dialogue
[01] Simitis says Greece shouldn't ease efforts for European
unification
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece's equal participation in European unification is its
unique great opportunity, Prime Minister Costas Simitis said
during the ruling PASOK party's central committee conference on
development yesterday.
He warned, however, that the "encouraging" changes in Europe,
which he referred to as "a new socialist spring", must not
create the illusion of a relaxation in economic policy, but on
the contrary, there must be a new impetus for the attainment of
Greece's permanent national objectives.
"Greece will be judged on this count, and must achieve its aims
on its own" because no one else will do it for the country. He
stressed that the issue is not of a narrow economic character,
but also concerns our national front due to Turkey's aggressive
policy.
Referring to European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), the
prime minister said it should not be viewed as a supreme and
indisputable goal, stressing that there is a cost of adjustment,
but also that non-participation in EMU within a fixed deadline
will mean monetary instability, higher interest rates,
restriction of EU subsidies and ultimately, a drop in living
standards.
"Our efforts until 1999 must be expressed on two major policy
levels: First, on fiscal recovery, whose attainment necessitates
an intensification of the fight against tax evasion and social
security contributions evasion, as well as waste by the state;
and secondly, on the incomes and prices policies," he said.
"The basic direction of this effort must be development at state
level, but also at the level of investment and productive
restructuring. The state must function as a headquarters and a
mechanism which sets and controls arrangements, the social
organization of the economy so that the benefits of growth are
not only distributed through the market," he added.
Mr. Simitis focused structural policy on three main axes: First,
the restructuring of a very broad field of services, such as the
financial and credit system, transport, energy,
telecommunication, education etc.
Secondly, a reorganization of the agricultural sector, and
thirdly, issues concerning the labor market and the social
insurance system. In all countries, efforts have been initiated
in these sectors to set new rules, he said.
Referring to the case of 6,000 employees of the Public Power
Corp. (DEH) which he had layed-off as surplus manpower while
industry minister, but the courts reinstated, he said the judges
were accountable, "a whole mentality is accountable".
The prime minister described the government-initiated social
dialogue on economic and labor issues as a decisive development
lever for the country. Citing as examples the relevant agreement
reached in Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Ireland, he said
that social dialogue constitutes the culmination of the process
of integration of political institutions, a culmination of
consensus procedures and the securing of development and social
cohesion.
[02] V. Papandreou
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
On her part, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou defended the
government's economic policy as being the sole realistic
solution under the existing circumstances in her speech at the
conference.
Ms Papandreou, who was the main speaker at the development
conference, criticized those individuals who propose "antiquated
policies" as being progressive, giving as an example the
operation of ineffective public organizations, the maintenance
of the present inelastic status in the labor market, opposition
to an increase in the competitiveness of Greek enterprises, etc.
She said a modern party of democratic socialism such as PASOK
must, instead of relying on the role of a mere administrator of
crises, pursue the strategic target of "development with social
justice for a strong Greece."
Ms Papandreou said a basic political tool to this end is social
dialogue, with the government's target being to conclude a "new
social contract", which will mutually commit all of the
country's healthy productive forces and political forces. She
said the dialogue process "must be concluded in an absolutely
democratic and effective way."
She called on PASOK and the government to grapple with the
so-called inter-related interests, economic, political and mass
media. She further said efforts made by her party in this
direction so far are inadequate and called for further
skepticism and the taking of decisions at a special central
committee session after the issue is discussed at length.
Ms Papandreou called on Greek businessmen "to intensify rates of
increasing investments and to sacrifice part of their short-term
profits", on working people "to abandon the logic of maintaining
union-vested interests at all costs, which merely contribute
towards the maintenance of social injustices and
discriminations" and on the state "to abandon once and for all
the role of administrator of clientele relations."
She said the issue of development is a "problem of policy and
ideology" and not technocratic and insisted that "the sole path
to consolidate the incomes of citizens is to what degree the
economy is competitive" and with whatever this entails from the
point of view of measures which must be taken afterwards.
Any proposal, she added, which does not focus on "an increase in
productivity per capita" is "histori-cally antiquated and
deadlocked" since, as she said, "only a competitive economy,
both in the private and public sectors, serves the target of
social justice."
"Combating deficits and inflation, as well as a decrease in the
public debt, are the sole options of economic policy which
support the interests of the underprivileged and, therefore,
even if Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) was not on the horizon
our policy would again have to lead to the same results," she
said.
Ms Papandreou said "those who benefit from the big deficits is
ultimately big capital" and that "such a policy (of deficits)
cannot be proposed as being progressive. It is exactly the
opposite."
In her speech, she also strongly criticized neo-conservative
developmental logic, terming it "socially and morally
unacceptable" and adding that it is a "model by which the
powerful prevails and the weak is wiped out" and which is also
"economically counter-productive."
Referring to the state intervention model, she said "it has been
rejected in practice now" and nurses "corruption and negative
productivity."
In this context, she criticized civil servants, who "having
secured permanent status for remuneration and employment are
indifferent about the object of their work and the citizen."
Ms Papandreou expressed support for the larger participation of
private capital in public enterprises (through privatization or
the creation of mixed subsidiaries) as well as for a turn of a
part of major defense expenditures towards local industry.
[03] Opposition
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Commenting on the prime minister's reference to his attempt to
dismiss the DEH employees, main opposition New Democracy party
spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos said "the first and most basic
rule of a rightful administration is respect for the decisions
of justice. What Mr. Simitis said constitutes an affront to
justice".
The Communist Party of Greece commented that "the popular
resistance to the reactionary policy of the government and the
European Union will grow whatever they do. The popular
counter-attack will become a reality". Political Spring party
leader Antonis Samaras said "Mr. Simitis' government must at
last realize that its policy of merciless austerity has
destroyed the Greek economy".
[04] Gov't comments on Pentagon statement referring to Imia
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
The government yesterday described as "quite significant" a
statement by a US Pentagon spokesman that Washington considered
the Imia islets as being within Greece's sovereignty.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas noted, however, that since
1996, when Turkey first began disputing the sovereignty of the
islets, the US had issued maps designating Imia also by its
Turkish name, Kardak - although at one time Ankara had also
proposed the name Ikince.
Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon on Thursday verified the existence
of an official nautical map issued by a US federal cartographic
service showing the Imia islets as Greek territory.
"It's a fact that there was a new map issued at the end of 1996
clearly showing the island within Greece's sovereignty, as it
always was. It's a nautical map for mariners and it's available
to the public," he said, stressing that anyone can check and
verify that the islet is depicted as under Greek sovereignty.
A few hours later, however, Mr. Bacon seemed to retract his
statements, reverting to a stance according to which the
sovereignty of the Imia islets is supposedly "in dispute".
"During yesterday's briefing I mistakenly said that the Aegean
islet of Imia is under Greek sovereignty," Mr. Bacon said in a
written statement.
"In reality, the sovereignty of the island is under dispute
between Greece and Turkey. It is a standing position of the
United States to take no position on conflicting claims of
sovereignty or border disputes between other countries" Mr.
Bacon added.
"If a problem was created," Mr. Reppas said, "it was certainly
not created for the Greek government." He added that Athens had
already proposed the utilization of international procedures
(i.e. International Court at The Hague), through which "anyone
can put forward their arguments about whether Imia is Greek or
not".
"But they will not achieve anything," the spokesman added.
Washington's position, he continued, appears to be that when
there is a dispute, the US government does not wish to make its
position known, even if it has a position. Mr. Reppas said that
while Greece did not expect third parties to solve its problems,
it did expect from the US, other governments and international
organizations assistance and support in making use of
international procedures.
"To a great extent Greece does have this support, since many
governments are pointing to the use of the International Court
at The Hague," Mr. Reppas added.
[05] Ankara pleased with Bacon retraction
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Turkey greeted the retraction with "satisfaction" yesterday,
with the Turkish foreign ministry saying "it was impossible for
us to accept the Bacon statements, which were in contradiction
with the official stance of the US administration on the issue
of t he Kardak (Imia) islets", an ANA dispatch from Istanbul
reported.
"We greet with satisfaction this second announcement and hope
that in the future US officials will act with more caution and
care on this issue, which is extremely important and sensitive
for us," the Turkish announcement read.
[06] Tsohatzopoulos: Imia issue non-negotiable
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
On his part, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
stressed that the Imia islets issue was not subject to
negotiation.
The minister reiterated that the tiny, uninhabited Imia islets
were Greek territory in a short statement on the sidelines of a
PASOK central committee conference.
Responding to a question regarding the US Pentagon spokesman's
contradictory statements over the islets' sovereignty yesterday,
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said this was not a problem that should
concern Greece, but the US officials themselves.
[07] Cabinet briefed on Amsterdam summit
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday briefed the Cabinet on
the results of the intergovernmental summit in Amsterdam at a
four-hour meeting which also focused on the new civil servants'
code.
Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said the discussion of the
new code eventually extended to public administration problems
in general, which means that the issue will be taken up and
final decisions taken by the inner cabinet which is due to meet
so on.
In addition to the recommendations of Interior, Public
Administration and Decentralization Minister Alekos Papadopoulos
and the report of the competent committee of the Public
Administration secretariat, the inner cabinet would also take
into considerations the views expressed at yesterday's Cabinet
meeting, Mr. Reppas said.
Talks on a new code of conduct for civil servants will be
concluded at a forthcoming inner cabinet meeting, Interior
Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said yesterday after the Cabinet
meeting.
[08] Mitsotakis welcomes result of Amsterdam
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Former prime minister and honorary president of the opposition
New Democracy party Constantine Mitsotakis yesterday issued a
statement on the recent conclusions of the Amsterdam summit.
The summit at Amsterdam, Mr. Mitsotakis said, "was another step
on the stable course towards European unification as the time
schedule for a single currency remained the same and the talk on
a 'left' Maastricht went nowhere...".
He said the summit confirmed the principles of fiscal discipline
and the rejection of the policy of large deficits.
The social sensitivity particularly to combating unemployment
was rightly given priority by the Union but the decision has no
practical value since it was not accompanied by economic
measures, he said.
For Greece, the result was as expected and that "nobody can
speak either of success or failure", he said.
On Wednesday, ND leader Costas Karamanlis told unionists that
the Amsterdam summit had made no inroads or moves forward and
had condemned the government for celebrating the achievement of
provisions to safeguard external EU borders - and, by extension,
Greek - without there having been any progress.
[09] New Greek judge at European Court
Brussels, 21/06/1997 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)
Krateros Ioannou, a distinguished Greek legal figure, will
become a member of the bench of the European Court, according to
an announcement yesterday.
Mr. Ioannou is one of three new members on the bench and
replaces Constantine Kakouris who has been a European Court
justice since 1983.
Mr. Ioannou was born in 1935 and became a member of the
Thessaloniki Bar Association in 1963 and achieved his doctorate
in international law in 1971. He is a professor of international
and Community law at the University of Thrace and has acted as
legal advisor on an international and national level.
[10] Papandreou to be remembered at Athens Concert Hall function
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
President Kostis Stephanopoulos will attend an event in memory
of late premier Andreas Papandreou at the Athens Concert Hall on
Sunday evening on the occasion of the first anniversary of the
death of the ruling PASOK party's founder.
The political and music event is to be addressed by Prime
Minister Costas Simitis and French former culture minister Jack
Lang.
[11] Elefsina Shipyards sold to Tavoularis group
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
After negotiations lasting several months, a deal was signed at
the development ministry yesterday for the transfer of the
Elefsina Shipyards to the N. Tavoularis group.
The price of the sale was set at 30 billion drachmas, to be paid
over 15 years, and with a three-year grace period, during which
shareholders will receive no dividends. The discounted price,
taking into account the present level of treasury bill rates, is
estimated at 14.5 billion drachmas.
A short while before the sale was finalized, an agreement was
reached between the workers' union at the shipyard and the
buyers on labor relations and the number of jobs.
On his part, Labor Under-secretary Christos Protopapas expressed
satisfaction with the agreement, referring to a new start for
the concern which has been troubled for some time due to the
uncertainty over its ownership status.
The Tavoularis group entered into a commitment to retain all of
the 630 remaining employees, even promising to soon increase the
number of jobs to 750.
However, the group's seeming intention to sell land surrounding
the shipyard installations may prove to be a source of friction
in the future, as the employees' union warned that in such an
event, the sale must be considered null.
On its part, the Communist Party of Greece was critical of the
deal, saying that the "sell-out of the shipyard completes one
more government crime against the working class".
The troubled Elefsina Shipyards have dominated the headlines on
several occasions over the past few years, beginning with the
purchase of the once state-owned yards by the Peratikos group in
1992, followed by their sudden closure in August 1995 by the
London-based Greek shipping family. The Peratikos group cited
crushing debts and unfair competition by the state-run
Skaramanga Shipyards as leading to the closure.
Two years later, the infamous terrorist group "November 17"
assassinated 42-year-old Costas Peratikos, who managed the
shipyards between 1992-95, in a downtown Piraeus street late
last month.
[12] 'Treasures of Mount Athos' opens today in Thessaloniki
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos said the
exhibition of "Treasures of Mount Athos" is an event of major
importance for all Greece.
The president is due to inaugurate the exhibition this morning
at Thessaloniki's Byzantine Museum in the presence of Prime
Minister Costas Simitis and many high-ranking government
officials.
In a statement upon arrival at Macedonia Airport in
Thessaloniki, he said "the exhibition is not only cultural and
religious but also a national event", adding that "it is the
most important manifestation organized by the Cultural Capital
of Europe Organization."
"It is a very big opportunity for all of us to admire these
treasures and all the exhibits, which the community of Mount
Athos is offering for common knowledge, admiration and view," he
said.
President Stephanopoulos further said "culture and Greece are
identical concepts" and that Greece's contribution to culture is
far greater than that of other European countries.
He was due to meet the members of Mount Athos last night and
attend an official dinner given in their honor by the
Thessaloniki 1997 Cultural Capital of Europe organization.
The exhibition, in which 16 of the 20 of Mount Athos'
monasteries are taking part, features icons by famous
hagiographers, such as Panselinos and Theophanis, relics of
everyday life and worship as well as a video presentation of the
natural environment and the peninsula's architecture.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos yesterday said in reply to
a question on whether the relics would also be exhibited in
Athens, that it would take several decades before the they would
leave the monastic community again.
[13] Avramopoulos in Moscow for mayors' summit
Moscow, 21/06/1997 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)
The mayors of the 27 largest cities in the world have gathered
in Moscow for their 5th summit to discuss problems affecting
large urban centers.
The mayors called on governments to allow local government more
of a say in pressing issues affecting their cities.
Athens is also represented at the summit, for the first time, by
Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos.
The Athens mayor met his Moscow counterpart to discuss bilateral
relations, the Greek contribution to the Russian capital's 850th
anniversary celebrations and the possibility of a
non-governmental international initiative on the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Avramopoulos is reportedly considering donating a 3.5m
statue of the ancient goddess Athena to the Russian city.
[14] Patriarch of Alexandria to arrive in Greece next week
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Petros is to pay an
unofficial visit to Athens on Tuesday.
During his stay in the Greek capital, Patriarch Petros will meet
a number of government officials, including President of the
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Costas Simitis,
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos, Athens Mayor Demetris
Avramopoulos and Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Serapheim.
[15] New armored vehicles for Greek troops in Albania
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
The Greek army yesterday took delivery of six French technology
amphibious armored vehicles at a special ceremony at Aghioi
Anargyroi attended by army chief Lieutenant-General Manoussos
Paragioudakis.
The vehicles, each with a three-man crew, will be used by the
Greek contingent serving with the multinational protection force
in neighboring Albania.
The "PAN HARD VBL" is a three-tonne 4 x 4 vehicle which can
travel in water at 1.5 meters per second and reach speeds of up
to 100 kph on land.
With a fuel tank enabling it to cover a distance of 600
kilometers on one fill-up, the vehicle is armed with "Milan"
anti-tank missiles and a 7.62 mm machine gun.
Twelve volunteers on five-year contracts with the army have
already been trained to operate the vehicles.
[16] New Consul General in Albania
Gjirokaster, 21/06/1997 (ANA - P. Barka)
Costas Kahiousis, Greece's new consul general at the Gjirokaster
consulate yesterday took up his post.
Mr. Kahiousis succeeds Nikos Kanellos.
He is a graduate of the Panteion School of Political Sciences
and has been a diplomat since 1984.
[17] Mass murderer given five life sentences
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
A 24-year-old Thassos man was sentenced to five life sentences
late yesterday by a Drama criminal court after being convicted
of murdering five family members in May 1996.
"I am fully aware of all the charges against myself and I don't
deny my acts," Theophilos Sehidis replied to the charges earlier
in the day.
The court had heard the testimonies of two psychiatrists who
said Sehidis was fully aware of his actions when he committed
the grisly murders, which included the dismemberment of their
bodies and their placement in several trash bags. At one time,
he had confessed and cynically described his actions by saying:
"I killed them before they killed me".
The two psychiatrists who examined Sehidis for three months said
he was not insane but suffered from a schizoid disorder.
He was convicted of murdering his father, his mother, his
sister, his uncle and his grandmother.
Sehidis appealed the verdict.
[18] Sixth Panhellenic journalists' conference opens on Samothrace
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
The sixth Panhellenic journalists' conference opened yesterday
morning on the island of Samothrace, with addresses by political
and local authorities.
The conference is attended by some 350 journalists and reporters
from Greece and abroad.
Declaring sessions open, the secretary general of the press and
media ministry, Yiannis Nikolaou, underlined that the conference
should include in its topics references to formulating a code of
ethics for the mass media.
In a message read to participants on behalf of government
spokesman Dimitris Reppas, it was stressed that the conclusions
of the conference will decisively contribute to the challenges
of the present times. Another message by the leader of the main
opposition New Democracy party, Costas Karamanlis stated that
the mass media were a factor for the establishment of democracy.
In his address to the congress, Evros prefect Georgios Dolios
said the region hosting the congress was a bridge connecting
Greece with the Balkans and that the mass media should
contribute to the effort to change the image of Evros, which
only gets the chance to be referred to in the news in cases of
drug smuggling and problems with Turkey.
Journalists, irrespective of their personal beliefs, should
provide objective information to the public; convey the views of
all sides; refrain from cultivating ethnic hatred; avoid using
fiery terminology and avoid disorientating the public, but
should let them make their own judgment on the basis of facts, a
session on "Developments in the Balkans and the Mass Media"
concluded
The conference will wind up today.
[19] Olympic Catering to begin procedures for entrance into bourse
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Procedures for the introduction of Olympic Catering, a
subsidiary of Olympic Airways, into the Athens Stock Exchange
are expected to begin at the end of the year, the company stated
yesterday.
Olympic Catering president M. Kontonikolis reported that profits
for 1997 are expected to reach 1.4 billion drachmas, compared to
1 billion in 1996.
The state-run company's main sources of revenue are the catering
facilities at the country's airports (38.27 per cent), and
catering for other airlines (38.55 per cent).
Mr. Kontonikolis said a 55.9 per cent reduction in the company's
wage bill is within the aims of the company, and for this reason
early retirement and reorganization schemes are being introduced.
[20] Greek March retail sales slip 0.3 pct in volume yr/yr
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Greek retail sales in volume slipped by 0.3 percent year-on-year
in March against the same month in 1996, the National Statistics
Service (NSS) said. The volume of retail sales in January-March
rose by 1.1 percent against the same period a year earlier.
[21] Equities slump 2.78 pct in brisk sell-off
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Greek stocks came under heavy selling pressure to finish 2.78
percent lower in moderate trade, only just holding the
1,500-point psychological level. The bourse lost 7.71 percent
over the week.
The Athens general share index finished at 1,500.37 points with
turnover at 20.6 billion drachmas, slightly up on the previous
session. The parallel market for smaller cap stocks ended
fractionally lower by 0.07 percent.
The insurance sector bucked the downward trend, ending 0.03
percent higher. Banks slid 3.48 percent, Leasing plunged 4.35
percent, Investments dropped 2.78 percent, Industrials slumped
3.19 percent, Construction fell 2.20 percent, Holding dropped
2.26 percent, and Miscellaneous slipped 2.62 percent. Decliners
led advancers at 160 and 59 with 22 shares remaining unchanged.
The day's biggest percentage gainers were Biokarpet (preferred),
Macedonia Textiles, Inon, and Bank of Athens.
The losers of the day were Rokas (preferred), Papoutsanis
(common), Alpha Investments (registered) and Aluminium de Grece
(preferred with no vote).
[22] Greek Aktor engineering contractor sees Dr 3 bln profit in 97
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Greek engineering contractor Aktor sees earnings rising to three
billion drachmas in 1997 from 2.522 billion a year earlier,
company executives told an annual general shareholders' meeting.
Turnover is expected to increase to 17 billion drachmas from
13.012 billion in 1996, the officials said. The firm's balance
of projects to be executed is currently at 70 billion drachmas.
Forty eight billion drachmas of the total derive from
construction of a major state project to link Elefsina near the
port city of Piraeus to Stavros in northern Athens.
Construction of the highway, which will eventually link up with
a new international airport being built at Spata by Germany's
Hochtief, has already begun and financing agreements are due for
completion this year.
Aktor, which is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, also is due
to raise its share capital through a capitalization of reserves.
It will distribute 10 free shares for 20 existing ones.
A dividend of 120 drachmas per share will be paid from
distributed profits in 1996 of 976 million drachmas.
[23] World forum for smaller firms starts in Piraeus next week
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Representatives of more than 2,000 small and medium-sized
enterprises (SME) worldwide will meet on June 23-24 in Piraeus
to attend Europartenariat-Hellas 1997, a forum set up to promote
business co-operation.
Europartenariat, which helps firms to develop their business
strategy on an international and European level, has become a
pillar of the European Union's policy of trying to assist SMEs,
hard hit by competition from larger firms.
Greek Commissioner for SMEs, energy and tourism Christos
Papoutsis will open the forum, in which more than 400 Greek
firms have been chosen to take part.
Attending are representatives from EU countries, central and
eastern Europe, southeast Asia, Latin America and the US. Around
12,000 meetings will be held during the event.
[24] Greek Petzetakis plastic pipes maker sees sales up 25 pct
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Greece's Petzetakis, a plastic pipes manufacturer, expects to
see a 25 percent rise in 1997 sales following a corresponding
rise in January to May, company officials told an annual general
shareholders meeting. The officials attributed the rise to
higher sales in integrated pipe systems used in major water
supply, drainage, telecoms and natural gas projects in Greece
and abroad.
Also higher were sales of new high technology flexible piping,
which boosted the firm's presence in Europe.
Petzetakis, which is listed on the Athens bourse, posted net
consolidated earnings of 507.3 million drachmas in 1996 on
turnover of 24.3 billion drachmas.
The parent company recorded net profits of 313.9 million
drachmas on sales of 16.7 billion drachmas. It cut general
expenses to 14.8 percent of total sales, down from 22.3 percent
a year earlier.
Profit before interest and depreciation was 1.9 billion
drachmas, up 72 percent on 1995.
Borrowing, which was used to boost capacity and productivity at
the firm's Thebes plant, slipped to 9.9 billion drachmas.
[25] Commercial Bank of Greece signs sale pact for Attica Bank
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
Commercial Bank of Greece signed an agreement for sale of part
of its holding in Attica Bank to the Public Works Contractors
Pension Fund and Loans and Deposits Fund.
The state bank, which is to retain management for five years,
welcomed the widening of Attica Bank's share base as an aid to
development.
[26] Thessaloniki hosts regional meeting on social dialogue
Athens, 21/06/1997 (ANA)
A two-day meeting on the issue of social dialogue in the
countries of southeast Europe will be held in Thessaloniki on
June 24-25.
Taking part in the meeting, organized by the Economic and Social
Committee (ESC), will be 60 delegates representing 15 trade
union organizations, eleven employers' associations and two
farmers' unions from countries of southeast Europe.
The delegates also include representatives from the
corresponding ESC of Croatia and FYROM.
Speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki yesterday, the
President of the Greek ESC, Professor Ioannis Koukiadis,
described the committee as an advisory body for bills which are
to be tabled in Parliament.
He said the objective was for similar committees to be set up in
other countries of southeast Europe, in order to promote the
process of social dialogue.
End of English language section.
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