Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-09-16
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1290), September 16, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] Shevardnadze begins visit, friendship and co-operation pact
signed
[02] ... Meeting with Stephanopoulos
[03] ... Parliament president
[04] ... V. Papandreou
[05] Albright says Clerides and Denktash to discuss security
[06] FM says Clerides to enter dialogue in 'constructive spirit'
[07] Denktash on demilitarization
[08] EU Council says Cyprus accession not linked with island's problem
[09] Paris proposal on Turkish attendance
[10] US-Greece-Turkey meeting not ruled out for next week
[11] Greek-Russian exercise aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties
[12] Greek military exercises
[13] PASOK says it won't support Avramopoulos for Athens mayor
[14] Gov't on Albright visit to Cyprus
[15] Turkey will always threaten Greece, Tsohatzopoulos says
[16] Synaspismos leader meets with Turkish party officials
[17] Greek, Bavarian police to co-operate on several sectors
[18] Bonn's reparations stance 'morally unacceptable'
[19] OA changes regular flight schedule to avoid delays
[20] Onassis Foundation awards int'l prizes
[21] Events in memory of Maria Callas conclude today
[22] Metropolitan Museum officials visit 'Treasures of Mount Athos'
[23] School year begins for ethnic Greeks in Albania
[24] Former president dismisses 'ramblings' of Spain's Sophia
[25] Small business owners to begin mobilizations
[26] Brussels to host Greek-Turkish-Cypriot meeting
[27] Three Iraqi Kurds killed in border minefield incident
[28] Several groups form anti-racism forum
[29] Greece sees Dr 11 trillion of projects in 2000-2006
[30] Greek retail sales volume up 2.2 percent in June
[31] Greek stocks end higher fueled by banks and construction
[32] Greece renews pledge to crack down on tax evaders
[33] Debtors owe Greece Dr 1.25 trillion
[34] EU jobless rate falls for first time in a year
[35] 62nd Thessaloniki International Fair comes to a close
[36] ATE plan to rescue ailing Mimikos poultry producer
[37] National Bank insurance firms merge under Ethniki Asfalistiki
name
[01] Shevardnadze begins visit, friendship and co-operation pact
signed
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece and Georgia yesterday signed a friendship and
co-operation agreement during talks here between visiting
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Prime Minister Costas
Simitis.
Mr. Shevardnadze, who began a three-day official visit to Greece
yesterday, met earlier with his Greek counterpart Kostis
Stephanopoulos.
The Georgian president will be awarded today the Onassis
Foundation's prize for International Understanding and Social
Achievement. He is also to visit the monastic community of Mount
Athos.
Signing the friendship and co-operation agreement with Mr.
Simitis, Mr. Shevardnadze said the pact signaled the beginning
of a "new era in relations between the two countries and their
peoples."
Mr. Simitis said after the meeting that Mr. Shevardnadze's visit
to Greece was an indication that Greek foreign policy had yet
another "pole", that of the Black Sea and the Caucasus.
He said that over the past five years relations between Greece
and Georgia had become steadily stronger, noting the
centuries-old links between the two peoples, such as the Iviron
Monastery on Mount Athos and the sizable ethnic Greek community
in Georgia.
Stressing the activity of Greek businesses in
telecommunications, banking and construction in Georgia, Mr.
Simitis said Greece aimed at expanding bilateral ties and trade.
He said he had briefed Mr. Shevardnadze on Balkan issues,
Greek-Turkish relations and the Cyprus problem and that there
had been agreement on the need for relations between neighboring
countries to be governed by international law, international
treaties be applied and the resolution of problems be guided by
United Nations resolutions.
Noting Georgia's recent problems with the secessionist Abkhazia
movement, Mr. Simitis stressed: "In all these things, solutions
should not be found through force but should be the result of
mutual understanding and be pursued on the basis of
international law."
Mr. Shevardnadze's receipt of the Onassis Foundation prize, Mr.
Simitis continued, is an indication of Greece's esteem for his
peace efforts and his contribution to efforts to "foster a
climate of friendship and peace in Europe."
The Georgian president said the main focus of his talks with Mr.
Simitis and Mr. Stephanopoulos were the efforts being undertaken
by the two countries to secure peace and stability in their
regions and beyond.
"The essential principle is that of territorial integrity of
states," he said.
He said his talks in Athens had focused on sectors which held
promise for future co-operation between the two countries and
spoke specifically of the telecommunications and transport
sectors, as well as possibilities of co-operation in
ship-building, farming and banking.
Georgia has surpassed its economic problems, he noted, and has
created "very favorable conditions to attract Greek investors
which would undoubtedly help our country's economy".
[02] ... Meeting with Stephanopoulos
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
In his meeting with Mr. Stephanopoulos, Mr. Shevardnadze
extended an invitation to his Greek counterpart to visit Tbilisi.
The Georgian president's visit, Mr. Stephanopoulos said, "is the
opportunity for the greater expansion of ties in the economic
and cultural fields.
He said the discussion - also attended by National Defense
Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos
Kranidiotis and National Economy Under-secretary Alekos Baltas -
focused on bilateral relations.
Mr. Shevardnadze said his Athens visit afforded him the
opportunity to "establish new principles for effective
co-operation in the future".
The two presidents discussed stability and security issues in
the wider region, given the leading role played by Georgia in
the Caucasus. Mr. Shevardnadze said that he "was aware of the
Cyprus problem" and that in his meeting with Mr. Stephanopoulos
" attention was focused on how existing problems can be resolved
peacefully".
"We agreed on more systematic contacts," he said, adding that he
believed that Greece and Georgia could play a significant role
in the peaceful settlement of problems in the region.
Mr. Shevardnadze is accompanied by a ministerial delegation and
businessmen, as well as representatives of the 80,000-strong
ethnic Greek community in Georgia, which he called the "flesh
and blood of the country".
Mr. Stephanopoulos applauded Mr. Shevardnadze's role in ending
the Cold War as well as in the stabilization of Georgia and the
wider region, thanking him for declaring Greek an official
language to be taught in Georgian schools.
Within the framework of President Shevardnadze's visit to
Greece, four co-operation agreements are expected to be signed
between Georgian Foreign Minister Iraklis Menagarisvili and
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis, in the sectors of
environment al development and protection, sports, state
archives and statistics.
[03] ... Parliament president
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis also met with Mr.
Shevardnadze, whom he assured that upon the opening of its
sessions next month the Greek Parliament will ratify an
agreement signed between the European Union (EU) and Georgia.
Mr. Kaklamanis promised the Georgian president that Parliament
will provide scientific and technical assistance to support
Georgia's parliament.
Issues examined during the meeting, which lasted for one hour,
included bilateral relations, the Cyprus problem and peace and
security concerns in the Aegean.
Mr. Kaklamanis also expressed his pleasure at a recently
announced decision for the teaching of Greek in Georgian schools.
Earlier, Mr. Shevardnadze met representatives of Greece's
political parties. During the meetings it was ascertained that
Greece and Georgia had many common interests in the area of
geostrategic concerns.
The leader of the main opposition New Democracy party, Costas
Karamanlis, who also had a meeting with Mr. Shevardnadze
declined to comment.
Ruling PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis described the
president of the former Soviet republic as "a man of great
knowledge and sensitivity in the hard times we live in", while
Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos
Constantopoulos said "he is an historical person symbolizing the
struggle for dialogue and peace, with an obvious perseverance on
democratic development and stability, not only in Georgia but in
the wider Caucasus and Black Sea regions".
The Georgian president extended an invitation to Mr. Skandalidis
and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Demetris Tsovolas
to visit his country.
Last night President Stephanopoulos hosted an official dinner in
honor of Mr. Shevardnadze at the Presidential Mansion.
[04] ... V. Papandreou
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
President Shevardnadze also had a meeting with Development
Minister Vasso Papandreou, during which discussion focused on
forms of co-operation in the sectors of electric power,
renewable energy resources and oil exploration.
Mr. Shevardnandze extended an invitation to Ms Papandreou to
visit Georgia.
He described a meeting he had late yesterday evening with
repatriated nationals from Georgia to Greece, as utterly moving
and sentimental.
"I have the feeling I'm meeting my closest friends", he said.
He stressed that the repatriated people were conceived a
"bridge" towards a further development in relations between the
two peoples.
[05] Albright says Clerides and Denktash to discuss security
Larnaca, 16/09/1997 (ANA/CNA)
President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf
Denktash will meet soon to discuss security issues, US Secretary
of State Madeleine Albright announced here yesterday.
Congratulating both leaders for "their wisdom and foresight",
Ms. Albright described the development as "a substantial step",
that would help "reduce tensions and improve the overall
atmosphere for serious negotiations to tackle the core issues of
the Cyprus problem".
Ms. Albright, on a quick stop-over from Lebanon, returning to
Washington, said both President Clerides and Mr. Denktash have
informed State Department special coordinator for Cyprus Thomas
Miller and US Ambassador to Cyprus Kenneth Brill of "their
willingness to meet soon to discuss security issues".
Mr. Miller left yesterday evening after a four-day visit to the
island during which he discussed the Cyprus problem with
President Clerides and Mr. Denktash. He also had meetings with
UN resident representative Gustave Feissel and other foreign
diplomats. Prior to his visit here, he held talks in Greece and
Turkey.
"Today's agreement represents a significant step in the right
direction", Ms. Albright said, adding that it "symbolizes the
same spirit to settle differences peacefully and not through the
threat of force", citing as a similar example the agreement
reached between the leaderships of Greece and Turkey in Madrid
earlier this year.
She reaffirmed the commitment of President Bill Clinton to a
resolution of the Cyprus problem, pointing to the appointment of
Richard Holbrooke as presidential envoy for Cyprus as "concrete
manifestation of the American commitment to use all resources a
t our disposal to help the people of Cyprus help themselves".
The date of the Clerides-Denktash meeting has not been set yet.
Ms. Albright said the US looks forward to the further reduction
of tensions through the talks that herself, Ambassador
Holbrooke, Assistant Secretary Marc Grossman, and Mr. Miller
will be conducting next week in New York with officials from the
region.
Both Ms. Albright and Mr. Miller departed yesterday evening for
the US.
[06] FM says Clerides to enter dialogue in 'constructive spirit'
Nicosia, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
President Clerides will enter the dialogue with Mr. Denktash on
security issues in a "constructive spirit", Foreign Minister
Ioannis Kasoulides said later.
In a written statement, Mr. Kasoulides said "President Clerides
has today (yesterday) accepted the proposal by US State
Department special coordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Miller, to
start a dialogue with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in
Nicosia under the auspices of UN resident representative Gustave
Feissel, to discuss all issues concerning security, without any
pre-conditions or a set agenda".
Mr. Kasoulides makes note of President Clerides' proposal,
during last month's second round of UN-sponsored direct talks in
Switzerland to enter a dialogue in Nicosia on security issues.
"It was proposed that all issues mentioned in recent UN
resolutions on Cyprus that concern, armed forces, armaments and
measures to reduce tension on the demarcation line, should as a
first step, be discussed within the framework of a program for
the complete demilitarization of Cyprus", he said.
Finally, Mr. Kasoulides stressed that Mr. Clerides will enter
the dialogue with "a constructive spirit and willingness to
promote the aforesaid goals".
[07] Denktash on demilitarization
Nicosia, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
On his part, Mr. Denktash said yesterday that President
Clerides' proposal regarding demilitarization of the island
could only be taken up after a solution to the Cyprus problem,
according to an Anadolu dispatch from the Turkish-occupied part
of Nicosia.
Mr. Denktash made the statement before meeting with Mr. Miller.
"Clerides' demilitarization proposal could only be negotiated
after a solution based on the equality of the two communities
living in Cyprus," Mr. Denktash was reported as saying.
[08] EU Council says Cyprus accession not linked with island's problem
Brussels, 16/09/1997 (ANA - M. Savva)
Cyprus' accession talks to the EU will start six months after
the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference and are
connected with the Cyprus problem.
This was stressed here yesterday in a joint statement adopted by
the foreign ministers of the 15 EU states after a discussion
regarding Cyprus' accession process. The IGC is expected to
conclude on October 2 with the signing of the Amsterdam Treaty.
Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos and Alternate Foreign
Minister George Papandreou are attending the EU General Affairs
Council.
In the statement, the council said that the accession talks are
definitely not linked with efforts to solve the Cyprus issue and
expressed its regrets that the two rounds of direct talks held
over the summer between the two sides did not meet with success.
The schedule for opening accession talks had been decided by the
European Council in 1995.
EU member-states expressed satisfaction over the stance of the
Cyprus government, which has invited representatives of the
Turkish Cypriot side to attend in the accession negotiating
group.
They also noted they are awaiting from all sides to work in a
constructive manner and in good faith.
In the statement, the 15 council members condemned any actions
that could endanger Cyprus' territorial integrity, and any
statement that could harm efforts by the United Nations
secretary general in trying to solve the issue.
All proposals to include in the statement a positive statement
on Turkey's prospects of joining the EU met with strong
resistance from the presidency of the council.
[09] Paris proposal on Turkish attendance
Brussels, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Meanwhile, a proposal by France for a European conference that
will include nations being considered for accession and Turkey
will not be decided on until October, according to sources
yesterday.
The proposal will be voted on after the October 2 signing of the
Amsterdam Treaty, the revised Maastricht treaty agreement by the
15 EU members.
The issue of the conference came up yesterday on the occasion of
discussion for negotiations to expand EU membership, due to
begin for the first wave of nominees early in 1998.
The first wave of expansion includes Cyprus, Poland, Hungary,
the Czech Republic, Estonia and Slovenia.
According to an AFP dispatch from Brussels, French Foreign
Minister Hubert Vedrine said at the sidelines of the EU Council
of Ministers that the majority of the EU members favors the
participation of Turkey in the European conference together with
the six prospective member-states.
No country vetoed that proposal, he was quoted as saying, but
Germany expressed reservations.
[10] US-Greece-Turkey meeting not ruled out for next week
Washington, 16/09/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)
US State Department spokesman James Foley did not rule out
yesterday the possibility of a meeting between the foreign
ministers of Greece and Turkey along with US Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright at the sidelines of next week's United
Nations General Assembly meeting in New York.
Ms Albright "had a very constructive meeting with her
counterparts of Turkey and Greece in Madrid. If the leaders are
willing to return to the Madrid spirit, then such a meeting
could become constructive," the spokesman said. It was necessary
to have "a return to an atmosphere that is indicative of the
intention of both sides to approach one another as colleagues
looking for common solutions to the differences keeping them
apart," he added.
[11] Greek-Russian exercise aimed at reinforcing bilateral ties
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
A joint Greek-Russian military exercise due to begin today is
not directed against any third party, government spokesman
Demetris Reppas said yesterday.
He noted that following the major changes that had taken place
in the world, "military accords between countries have been made
which would not have been considered permissible in the past".
The exercise due to begin today, he said, was aimed at
"bilateral friendship and co-operation".
Meanwhile, he added in response to a question that no final
decisions had been made with regard to the country's armaments
program. "(These decisions) will be reached based on the
country's requirements, and not on the country of origin (of the
armaments)," he said.
[12] Greek military exercises
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
The Hellenic Navy exercises "Kataigida '97" (Storm) started in
the Saronic gulf, the Cyclades, and the Aegean yesterday.
They will end on Sept. 19.
The annual "Filippos '97" is taking place at the same time in
western Macedonia, with the participation of army and air force
units.
[13] PASOK says it won't support Avramopoulos for Athens mayor
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Ruling PASOK will definitely not support current Athens Mayor
Demetris Avramopoulos as a candidate of common acceptance for
the same position, government spokesman Demetris Reppas said
yesterday.
Mr. Reppas said PASOK members had started proposing candidates
that might be supported by more than one party, but the official
process of deciding had not begun.
Mr. Avramopoulos was elected on the party ticket of New
Democracy, the main opposition. During the last elections, PASOK
had supported Theodoros Pangalos, currently foreign minister.
The spokesman said that before specific individuals could be
nominated, platforms had to be worked out.
[14] Gov't on Albright visit to Cyprus
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas yesterday expressed the
certainty that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who
made a brief stop over in Cyprus yesterday, would be briefed on
the positions of all sides and that she would realize that all
the Cypriot government's views on the issue were just.
Mr. Reppas noted that Ms Albright had shown interest in the
Cyprus problem even before assuming her current post, and had
raised the idea of a military dialogue.
Meanwhile, with regard to statements by European Union Council
of Ministers president, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Jacques
Poos on Cyprus' accession to the EU, Mr. Reppas recalled Mr.
Poos' categorical declaration that accession procedures would
begin as scheduled.
The purchase of S-300 missiles from Russia would have no bearing
on this process, he said, since the EU would come to a decision
based on socio-economic criteria.
Commenting on reports that Russia would not be able to meet its
commitments regarding the missiles, Mr. Reppas said Russia had
given guarantees, and had confirmed its commitment in a
telephone call yesterday between representatives of both
governments.
Referring to Mr. Poos' statement regarding a crisis in Greek-
Turkish relations, the government spokesman said that Greece
would assume initiatives so that its proposal that
member-states' borders be viewed as the borders of the EU
itself, a proposal which had been accepted by the EU, would be
respected.
[15] Turkey will always threaten Greece, Tsohatzopoulos says
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Turkey constitutes a permanent steady threat of strategic nature
for Greece, and nobody can expect that negotiations,
improvements and regulations of specific topics will put an end
to the threat, National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos
said yesterday.
Addressing the opening of the National Defense School, Mr.
Tsohatzopoulos said that it was necessary to upgrade defense for
that reason and to improve the quality of the training in
personnel.
He added that Greece could also play a special role in regional
security, and towards that means it had already taken
initiatives in promoting regional security in the Balkans,
southeastern Europe, the Black Sea and the Caucasus region.
[16] Synaspismos leader meets with Turkish party officials
Istanbul, 16/09/1997 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)
The Ecumenical Patriarchate is of historical importance and can
provide historic opportunities in today's world, Coalition of
the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos
said here yesterday.
On the sidelines of an official visit to the Ecumenical
Patriarchate, Mr. Constantopoulos met with officials from the
Turkish Popular Republican Party (CHP).
Following the meeting, the Synaspismos leader said "the
Patriarchate can generate ties" between Greece and Turkey,
adding that it "is a presence of historical importance and
(provides) historic opportunities in today's world".
Mr. Constantopoulos also met with deputy and former minister of
state Algan Hadjaloglu, as well as the president of the CHP
Istanbul branch, with whom he discussed his October official
visit to Ankara. In Turkey, he also paid a visit to the Phanar
district and the Halki Theology School on the Sea of Marmara
island.
[17] Greek, Bavarian police to co-operate on several sectors
Bonn, 16/09/1997 (ANA - P. Stangos)
Public Order Minister George Romeos and the interior minister of
Bavaria, Gunther Beckstein, have agreed to co-operation between
Greek Police (EL.AS) and Bavarian police in several special
sectors, such as policing land borders and electronic controls
to ascertain the genuine nature of travel documents and identity
cards.
Mr. Romeos, who is in Munich at the invitation of Mr. Beckstein,
told the Greek program of Bavarian Radio that in light of the
ambitious, as he said, modernization program for EL.AS in the
sectors of organization, training, technical and material
infrastructure, he looks forward to an exchange of experiences
on ways to combat organized crime.
A leading issue in talks he held with Mr. Beckstein was also
that of illegal immigration and of technical means to police
borders, where the special German police BGS and the Bavarian
police, in particular, have experience, both in connection with
illegal immigration and smuggling.
On his part, Mr. Beckstein expressed his interest on how the
US-based quasi-religious Scientology group (known as "KEFE" in
Greece) was banned from operating and recruiting members in
Greece, since the German minister had repeatedly sought the same
in Bavaria. Mr. Beckstein was opposed by German courts on the
issue, accepting only the request to have the multinational
organization placed under surveillance.
[18] Bonn's reparations stance 'morally unacceptable'
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
The vice-president of Germany's Party of Democratic Socialism,
Silvi-Yvon Kauffman, yesterday condemned Bonn's refusal to
respond to demands regarding war reparations, raised over the
past few years by Greece. During an event organized by the
international relations department of the Coalition of the Left
and Progress (Synaspismos) party in Athens, Ms Kaufman said the
fact that Germany was reluctant to respond to Greece's demands
was "politically and morally unacceptable".
An announcement by Synaspismos said the party had adopted a
proposal by former PASOK minister George Mangakis on the
establishment of a Greek-German team to work on the issue.
[19] OA changes regular flight schedule to avoid delays
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Olympic Airways (OA) yesterday decided to make changes to its
regular schedule of flights in order to avoid further problems
caused by flight attendants' work-to-rule actions.
OA's managing director and general director were given authority
by the state-owned company's board to take all necessary
measures to minimize trouble both to passengers and OA,
resulting from further action by flight attendants.
The Association of Flight Attendants, whose work-to-rule action
last week caused serious delays in OA flights, had earlier given
OA a 48-hour deadline to change the schedule of flights to avert
further problems.
The decision was taken during last night's meeting of the
association, following OA's refusal to accept a demand by flight
attendants to regard newly employed staff as cadets, rather than
seasonal personnel coming under Law 2140.
[20] Onassis Foundation awards int'l prizes
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
The Alexander S. Onassis Foundation is presenting its biennial
awards at the Megaron Concert Hall this morning.
The awards cover three areas and carry a prize of US$250,000
each.
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, on an official visit to
Greece, will be presented with the Onassis Prize for
International Understanding and Social Achievement.
Byzantine historian and scholar Sir Steven Runciman and Dolly
Goulandris, founder of the pioneering Goulandris Museum of
Natural History, will share the prize in the category for
Culture.
The Onassis Prize for the Environment will be awarded to the
International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency
responsible for maritime safety and protection from pollution by
ships.
The awards, which were announced months ahead of the ceremony,
will be handed out by President of the Republic Kostis
Stephanopoulos.
[21] Events in memory of Maria Callas conclude today
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the death of Maria
Callas conclude throughout Europe today with a concert by
winners of an international competition in her name. The
concert, organized by city of Athens, will be conducted by Louli
Psychouli. Musicians invited from orchestras in Europe will form
an orchestra in Callas' memory.
State Television ET-1 has scheduled extensive features on Callas
for the next three days. EMI-classics, the only company Callas
recorded for, has completed the re-release of her performances,
which have been technically processed to improve sound.
Callas recorded 32 complete operas, 11 recitals in studios, 2
albums with rare gravures and a double compact disc, all of
which have been included in a commemorative edition by EMI.
European events honoring Callas conclude today with a concert at
the ancient theater of Ostia, Italy. The concert will be
transmitted live.
[22] Metropolitan Museum officials visit 'Treasures of Mount Athos'
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Representatives from the Metropolitan Museum in New York
yesterday visited the exhibition "Treasures of Mount Athos",
currently on display at Thessaloniki's Byzantine Museum.
The Metropolitan Museum hosted an extensive exhibition this year
entitled "The Glory of Byzantium", which ended a few months ago.
That exhibition focused on presenting the life of an entire
empire, in the boundaries of which the monastic community of
Mount Athos was established.
Metropolitan curator of medieval and Byzantine antiquities,
Helen Evans, described 1997 as a great year for the Byzantine
civilization, underlining that "both exhibitions supplemented
each other and succeeded in uniquely presenting Byzantium's
intense activity."
[23] School year begins for ethnic Greeks in Albania
Gjirokaster, 16/09/1997 (ANA - D. Tsaka)
The new school year began yesterday for the ethnic Greeks of
Albania, with students beginning their first year of primary
school in Gjirokaster, Delvine and Sarande.
Eleven new students enrolled for school in Gjirokaster, seven in
Delvine and two entire classes in Sarande.
Greece's consul general Costas Kakiousis toured the schools in
the region in the morning.
[24] Former president dismisses 'ramblings' of Spain's Sophia
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Former president of the republic Constantine Karamanlis issued a
statement yesterday commenting on what he said were "inaccurate
ramblings" in references to himself in a book by Queen Sophia of
Spain, sister of Greece's ex-king Constantine.
Queen Sophia's book was recently published in Greek.
The statement noted that the form of regime in Greece had been
decided in a referendum in 1974 that abolished the monarchy.
Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that in July 1973 (during the
military dictatorship in Greece) both he and ex-king Constantine
had committed themselves to holding a referendum once the Greek
people had regained their sovereign rights, in order that they
them selves could decide as to the type of regime they wanted.
[25] Small business owners to begin mobilizations
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Small and medium-size enterprise owners will start mobilizing
following a decision by their confederation (GSEBEE) in
Thessaloniki yesterday.
The decision was made to protest the rapidly deteriorating
status of their sector, they said, charging that the government
was ignoring their problems.
[26] Brussels to host Greek-Turkish-Cypriot meeting
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Businessmen and scholars from Greece, Turkey and Cyprus will
discuss the benefits arising from a Cyprus accession to the
European Union at a special meeting in Brussels in November,
according to reports.
The meeting has been organized on the initiative of the United
States in co-operation with the European Commission.
[27] Three Iraqi Kurds killed in border minefield incident
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Three Iraqi illegal immigrants of Kurdish descent were killed
and 11 injured early yesterday when they stepped into a marked
minefield near the Evros River on the Greek-Turkish border.
Military bomb-disposal experts worked into the early morning
hours to extricate the injured, six of them in critical
condition.
According to reports, the incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. when
the illegals attempted to cross into Greek territory and
wandered into the minefield near the region of Nea Vissa,
Orestiada.
Another 48 Kurdish would-be immigrants who were outside the
minefield were detained for illegal entry. The injured were
taken to nearby Didimotiho hospital.
"It would have been a greater tragedy if the other illegal
immigrants had entered the field, which is clearly marked with
reinforced barbed wire fences," a police spokesman said.
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas later expressed regrets at
the deaths of the three and told reporters that the 11 injured
were not in a critical condition.
"Illegal immigration is a major problem poisoning Greek-Turkish
relations. The international community must concern itself and,
in view of this terrible incident, the need for Turkey to assume
its responsibilities has once again been highlighted," Mr.
Reppas said.
The illegal immigrants who survived and are being held at the
Orestiada police station laid the blame for the incident on the
Turkish slave-traders, who they said received a close to
US$50,000 for the entire group.
They told police they had agreed to be transported to the
Greek-Turkish border, where another slave-trader would take them
by truck to Athens.
When nobody appeared for two hours, the 62 illegal immigrants
decided to walk across, believing the wire fence marked the
borders between the two countries, and not knowing it contained
a minefield.
The fenced off area has been reinforced with wire that is 1.70
meters in height to prevent such incidents.
[28] Several groups form anti-racism forum
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
A Forum of Social and Youth Organizations for Human Rights has
been founded by some 53 groups representing minorities,
immigrants, humanitarian groups and youth groups of all
political parties, except from the Communist Youth of Greece
(KNE).
The forum, operating under the auspices of the General
Secretariat for Youth, has branches throughout Greece. Its
immediate goals are creation of a hot-line for reporting
discrimination and an anti-racism conference in November.
At a press conference yesterday, the Forum's president,
representing homosexuals, drew attention to article six of the
revised Maastricht treaty which prohibits any discrimination on
the basis of color, sex, ideology or sexual orientation.
Forum vice-president Halim Abdul Dede, representing minorities
of Thrace, charged that the state's efforts to create conditions
of equality for all the province's citizens were being
undermined.
[29] Greece sees Dr 11 trillion of projects in 2000-2006
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece hopes to carry out infrastructure projects worth 11
trillion drachmas between 2000 and 2006 under a new package of
European Union funds.
Funds from the newly created 3rd Community Framework, which is
currently being discussed by the EU, are expected to total eight
trillion drachmas for Greece. The government would contribute
another three trillion drachmas.
The figures emerged from statements by National Economy Minister
Yiannos Papantoniou yesterday following an informal weekend
meeting in Luxembourg of the EU's economy and finance ministers.
The new funds, also known as the Santer package, are to replace
the expiring second support framework.
[30] Greek retail sales volume up 2.2 percent in June
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek retail sales volume increased by 2.1 percent in the first
six months of the year compared with the corresponding period in
1996, the National Statistics Service (NSS) said yesterday.
In its monthly release of retail sales data, NSS said that the
volume of sales rose by 2.2 percent in June.
[31] Greek stocks end higher fueled by banks and construction
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Greek equities ended the first trading session of the week
substantially higher reflecting renewed buying interest in
banking and construction issues.
The general index closed 1.64 percent higher at 1,681.81 points
with all sector indices scoring gains.
Banks rose 2.17 percent, Leasing was 0.34 percent higher,
Insurance ended 1.36 percent up, Investments increased 0.64
percent, Industrials rose 1.82 percent, Construction jumped 2.30
percent, Holding was 2.97 percent up and Miscellaneous ended
2.10 percent higher.
The parallel market index ended 0.77 percent higher.
Trading was heavy and turnover was 27.5 billion drachmas.
Broadly, advancers led decliners by 142 to 62 with another 25
issues unchanged.
Intrasoft, Altec, Sysware, Vis, Bank of Attica, Pouliades and
Petzetakis scored the biggest percentage gains, while Nafpaktos
Mills, Klonatex and Elve Clothing suffered the heaviest losses.
National Bank of Greece ended at 34,630 drachmas, Ergobank at
18,300, Alpha Credit Bank at 19,890, Delta Dairy at 4,290, Titan
Cement at 16,390 and Intracom at 14,140. Hellenic
Telecommunications Organization ended at 6,765, off 65 drachmas,
in heavy volume of 284,510 shares.
[32] Greece renews pledge to crack down on tax evaders
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Greece will pursue its drive against tax dodgers, giving
offenders sleepless nights, National Economy and Finance
Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said yesterday.
The crackdown already underway has focused on large-scale
evaders.
"They'll be losing their sleep in coming years," Mr. Papantoniou
said after an informal weekend meeting of European Union economy
and finance ministers in Luxembourg.
The socialist government's main weapons in the fight against
rampant tax evasion are its financial crimes squad, which
carries out lightning checks on suspect enterprises, and a
computer system still being phased in.
The EU ministers discussed a proposal by the Commission, the
EU's executive arm, to adopt a code of conduct in taxation on
compensation and companies in order to reduce violations.
[33] Debtors owe Greece Dr 1.25 trillion
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Major debtors to the Greek state total 4,462 with money owed
exceeding 1.25 trillion drachmas, Finance Under-secretary George
Drys said yesterday.
Mr. Drys said that a list of debtors who owe more than five
million drachmas each to the state would be published by the end
of October.
The data on moneys owed came from a survey by the informatics
department of Athens University, he said.
According to the survey, 98.5 percent of debtors were from the
private sector and 1.5 percent from the public sector. However,
public sector debtors owed 59 percent of the total.
Mr. Drys said that 91.9 percent of debtors owed more than 100
million drachmas, while another 57 percent owed between 10 and
50 million.
The commerce sector included the largest number of debtors to
the state.
Out of the total debt of 1.25 trillion drachmas, six percent
resulted from direct taxes, 10 percent from indirect taxes and
44 percent from loans.
[34] EU jobless rate falls for first time in a year
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
European Union unemployment fell in June to 10.7 percent and
again in July to 10.6 percent for the first time since October
1996, since when it had stood at 10.8 percent, Eurostat, the
EU's statistics office, said.
The good summer results were due mainly to a drop in jobless
rates in Britain, the Scandinavian countries, Portugal and
Spain, where the rate fell below 20 percent for the first time
since October 1992, Eurostat said.
But the "encouraging trend" did not extend to Germany where
unemployment rose to 9.7 percent in June from 9.6 percent in May.
The EU's current unemployment rate of 10.6 percent means 18.0
million people are out of work in the 15-nation bloc. It
compares with 5.0 percent in the United States and 3.4 percent
in Japan, both in June.
Following are the June and July jobless rates for the EU
compared with July 96. Eurostat's latest figures were for May.
June July July 1996
Belgium 9.6 9.6 9.7
Denmark 6.1 na 7.3
Germany 9.7 9.7 8.8
Greece na na na
Spain 20.2 19.9 22.0
France 12.6 12.6 12.5
Ireland 10.8 10.8 11.9
Italy na na 12.0
Luxembourg 3.7 3.8 3.3
Netherlands 5.7 na 6.4
Austria 4.5 4.5 4.4
Portugal 6.4 6.3 7.3
Finland 14.3 12.5 15.3
Sweden 10.8 10.5 10.1
Britain 7.0 6.9 8.2
EU 15 10.7 10.6 10.9
na = not available
[35] 62nd Thessaloniki International Fair comes to a close
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
The 62nd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) came to a close
last night, with figures pointing to increased attendance.
An announcement issued by the state-run exhibition's (HELEXPO)
organizers shortly before it closed its doors to the public said
that although the number of commercial agreements signed during
TIF could not as yet be accurately assessed, the high number of
visitors throughout the fair was noted.
According to HELEXPO, the number of entrance tickets sold
recorded an increase of 9.42 per cent in comparison to last
year's figures.
[36] ATE plan to rescue ailing Mimikos poultry producer
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
Agricultural Bank of Greece (ATE) approved a plan yesterday to
rescue and restructure the ailing poultry producer Mimikos Bros.
S.A.
An announcement by ATE's leadership said the state bank's
intervention was aimed, firstly, at safeguarding the
institution's own economic interests, since it owed a little
more than 15 billion drachmas, and secondly, at preventing the
firm's closure.
The ATE decision provides for a new managing director to be
assigned by the bank, as well as granting controllable funding
to meet the company's immediate financial obligations, as well
as a number of measures aimed at selling the entire or part of
Mimikos.
[37] National Bank insurance firms merge under Ethniki Asfalistiki
name
Athens, 16/09/1997 (ANA)
The Ethniki Asfalistiki insurance company has become a major
insurance player in the Greek market after merging with the
firms Astir, Panellinios and ETEBA Asfalistiki, with a primary
goal of expanding into the Balkans and eastern Europe.
Development Minister Vasso Papandreou expressed satisfaction
over the development, while inaugurating an Ethniki Asfalistiki
sales conference.
Addressing the conference, National Bank Governor Theodoros
Karatzas said the merging of the four insurance companies of the
National Bank's group is part of the group's wider strategic
restructuring.
The president of the new Ethniki Asfalistiki and current
National Bank deputy governor Costas Stamoulis said the new firm
already covers more than 20 per cent of the local market, while
by the year 1999 it will control about a quarter of the
insurance market and more specifically 23 per cent of life
insurance, 28 per cent of automobile insurance and 26 per cent
of the remaining sectors. Expansion of Ethniki Asfalistiki into
neighboring countries will start in a few months' time from
Romania, while the new company will possess 100 branch offices,
185 production offices, 900 insurance agents and 4.500 insurance
and financial advisers.
Five hundred National Bank branches and 100 belonging to the
National Mortgage Bank must be added to them.
The Athens Stock Exchange has also approved the merging of Astir
and Ethniki Asfalistiki.
End of English language section.
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