Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-12-19
From: The Greek Press & Information Office, Ottawa Canada <[email protected]>
ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1371), December 19, 1997
Greek Press & Information Office
Ottawa, Canada
E-Mail Address: [email protected]
CONTENTS
[01] No sign of missing Yakovlev-42, search continues
[02] ... Passengers
[03] ... Assistance requested to locate plane
[04] ... Gov't spokesman
[05] ... Stephanopoulos, Simitis
[06] ... Mantelis
[07] ... Last conversation
[08] ... Tape to prosecutor
[09] ... Presidential delegation
[10] Athens hosts second Mideast peace process meeting
[11] ... 'Excellent avenue for advancing peace process'
[12] Simitis-Scharping meeting yesterday
[13] Scharping praises Greece's role in Balkans
[14] PM briefs president on EU summit
[15] US says it is unaware of Turkish threats to annex occupied Cyprus
[16] Romeos in London for talks with British Gov't
[17] Papantoniou: Greek economy now entering battle of competitiveness
[18] Greek equities end substantially lower
[19] Ergobank signs 100 mln US dollar syndicated loan
[20] European Commission approves ILP control of Hellenic Steel
[21] EU budget approved by wide majority
[22] EU farmers' income falls by 3.1 per cent
[23] Cost of traditional Christmas dinner rises slightly
[24] GSEE, ADEDY claim strike a success
[25] Greek-Albanian agreement on cultural artifacts, museums
[26] Albanian sports delegation in Athens
[27] Greek jewelry exhibition
[28] ESHEA delegation meets Reppas over state-run TV news rooms
[29] Survey results on attitudes towards foreigners
[30] EU's 'Horizon' program in Evros
[01] No sign of missing Yakovlev-42, search continues
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Search and rescue teams were working against time yesterday to
detect any sign of a Ukrainian airliner that disappeared from
the radar screens at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki Wednesday
evening.
At press-time there was still no reports that rescue teams had
found the wreckage of the plane or any sign of the 70 people on
board.
Inclement weather in the region has also hampered rescue teams'
efforts.
"Adverse weather conditions, heavy snow and fog are hindering
the search," a special disaster unit (EKAM) officer said.
The Russian-built Yakovlev 42, belonging to Ukraine's Aerosweet
airlines, disappeared from radar screens at 9:15 p.m. local time
while at an altitude of some 3,200 feet as it flew over the
northern Greek city of Veria, according to Thessaloniki control
tower authorities.
The plane vanished minutes before landing at Macedonia Airport.
On his part, the Chief of the National Defense General Staff
Gen. Athanasios Tzoganis said the main emphasis of an air and
land search shifted to the mountainous region west of Katerini
after an extensive search in the Thermaic Gulf area proved
fruitless.
He said that Hellenic Air Force radars monitored the course of
the plane, which pinpointed that the plane had flown over
Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport heading north, turned right,
and went off the radars after the village of Kato Milia.
The plane had been flying at an altitude of 3,500 feet when
"something sudden must have happened, possibly it crashed into a
mountain-top", Gen. Tzoganis said.
The mountains in the area range from 3,500-5,500 feet in height.
Gen. Tzoganis ruled out the possibility of mechanical failure,
from indications so far.
The weather conditions in the area are particularly adverse for
aircraft, with low cloud formations between 800 and 1,500 feet
and visibility at barely 100 meters. Gen. Tzoganis said there
was a danger of "passing near the plane at just a little more
than 100 meters and not seeing it".
He also said a company of commandos, army alpine units, eight
helicopters, two C-130s, fire-fighting vehicles and a frigate
were combing the region.
He said that the extremely adverse weather conditions, which
were expected to worsen, were hampering the search and rescue
operation, and expressed fear that some "areas of interest"
could not be reached before hours.
Two C-130 "Hercules" planes flew over the mountainous Pieria and
Imathia prefectures as well as Kozani after being informed of
the disappearance of the plane. They were joined by two Chinook
helicopters at day break.
On the ground, police assisted by commando units and local
farmers in tractors, who searched the area. Many regions "are
inaccessible and the snow is 1.5 meters deep," an air force
spokesman said.
[02] ... Passengers
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Forty-two of the passengers are Greeks and 20 foreigners,
including eight women and two children. Most of the Greek
passengers were either businessmen or construction workers
returning to Greece for the holidays.
Scores of relatives gathered at Macedonia Airport to await news.
Haris Stamos, from the northern Greek city of Kozani, whose son
Nikos is among the 42 Greek nationals aboard the airliner told
the ANA that his son was among six other persons from Kozani
working since last September for a Greek construction company in
the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.
"It's his first home leave and he was coming here for the
Christmas holidays," Mr. Stamos said, who is taking part in the
search of the Pieria mountains together with 27 EKAM officers
combing the area with sniffer dogs.
[03] ... Assistance requested to locate plane
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The government yesterday asked a Brussels-based center
specializing in locating downed aircraft for assistance in
pinpointing the position of the Ukrainian airliner.
Airport authorities at Thessaloniki said the Brussels center
"has a satellite for tracking airplanes, and we supplied them
with the flight details of the missing Yakovlev-42".
"It will be very difficult for the satellite to locate the
Yakovlev, as this type of airplane does not carry the beacons
tracked by this system. Such beacons are usually found only on
long-distance haulers," a Thessaloniki airport official told ANA.
[04] ... Gov't spokesman
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Government spokesman Demetris Reppas expressed the regret of
Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the government over the air
tragedy, stressing that the competent services were doing
everything possible to locate the aircraft.
Mr. Reppas said that all services had been placed on the alert
from the outset and all the appropriate technical means were
being used in the search.
Replying to reporters questions about the delay in the
installation of a new radar system at Thessaloniki international
airport, Mr. Reppas said that if somebody was found to be
responsible they would have to "pay the price".
Mr. Reppas attributed responsibility to both "competent
services" and local residents who are opposed to the
installation of the new radar system.
He acknowledged that the government bore political
responsibility but said that "to succeed in its task it needs
the assistance also of the competent, social or trade union
agencies involved".
Mr. Reppas stressed, however, that for the time being, and
before an investigation has been carried out, the tragedy could
not be linked to the delay in the installation of the new radar.
[05] ... Stephanopoulos, Simitis
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
On his part, President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos
expressed his "sincere regrets" for the plane's accident in a
telegram addressed to his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma.
Mr. Stephanopoulos ended a three-day official visit to Ukraine
on Wednesday.
The president also expressed his sympathy to the relatives of
the plane's passengers.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed the government's sorrow
for the loss of the Ukrainian plane and his sympathy to the
relatives of the missing passengers.
Mr. Simitis said that rescue teams in northern Greece have been
mobilized to locate the plane, while he stated categorically
that it was premature to attribute responsibilities.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in a statement that the
accident spotlighted "tragic inadequacies" of Thessaloniki
airport.
It described as unacceptable and dangerous the mentality of
ministers in making excuses about bureaucracy and shifting
responsibilities to residents in the area for the lack of a
landing radar system at Macedonia Airport.
[06] ... Mantelis
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis also arrived in Thessaloniki
yesterday to help coordinate efforts to find the missing
aircraft.
"The assessment is that if the airport had the special radar
system LRS to facilitate approach, we would have had an
additional tool at our disposal. No one can say for sure but it
is possible that it would have helped to avert (the accident),"
Mr. Mantelis told reporters.
He added that the government would be investigating the matter
to see who was responsible the fact that the radar system had
not been installed even though it had been purchased.
"The truth is that the radar has been procured, and the
facilities have been built at the airport for the placement of
the system. However, the necessary facilities outside the
airport have not been built because there is the matter of the
expropriation of land where the antenna is to be erected. The
official announcement regarding the expropriation of the land
was made on Oct. 10 this year and approval for the environmental
works was given in April. However, the local residents have
opposed the plan, citing environmental repercussions and since
then they have been in talks with the Civil Aviation Authority,"
Mr. Mantelis said.
Presenting the Civil Aviation Authority's version of events, Mr.
Mantelis said that the aircraft entered Greek airspace at 8:40
p.m. last night and its pilot received permission from the
control tower of Thessaloniki airport to land using the ILS
system . At 8:55 p.m. the aircraft flew over the landing runway
but at a higher altitude than usual and did not land. The pilot
again asked for and was given permission to attempt a new
landing.
At 8:59 p.m., Mr. Mantelis continued, the pilot reported that he
was flying 10 nautical miles northwest (of the airport) at an
altitude of 3,500 feet. The control tower then instructed him to
climb to 6,000 feet and report his position.
The pilot reported his position at 9:09 p.m. and at an altitude
of 6,000 feet. He said he was beginning the landing procedure
using the ILS system which helps aircraft descend to within 300
meters of the runway.
During the landing procedure, the pilot requested assistance
from the control tower which however did not have "electronic"
contact with the aircraft since the airport does not have radar.
At 9:13 p.m. the air traffic controllers lost radio contact with
the pilot and the airport went on alert five minutes later.
Mr. Mantelis said that it was highly likely that the pilot
became confused and from some point onwards was incorrectly
reporting his position.
[07] ... Last conversation
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Press reports stated that a few minutes before the Ukrainian
aircraft went missing, the pilot had notified the control tower
at Macedonia Airport that he was at a distance of 28 miles,
while the control tower instructed him to start the approach
process.
The conversation occurred at 9.10 p.m. while the aircraft's
direction (west, east, south or north) was not clarified.
The pilot replied that he is at 3,500 feet and the control tower
called on the aircraft to proceed to the point of starting the
descent process and the pilot responded "Okay".
Two minutes later, at 9.12 p.m., the pilot told the control
tower: "I will report to you when I reach the point of starting
the descent."
They were the pilot's last words before the aircraft lost
contact with the control tower.
Military units participating in the search for the aircraft were
ordered to return to army bases in the towns of Katerini and
Litohoro due to bad weather conditions prevailing in the area of
the search. Likewise, commandos will camp near Kato Milia, Rizom
a and Polydendro.
Several vessels are continuing their search in the Thermaic Gulf.
The search will be resumed at first light today in the areas of
Pieria and Kilkis, focusing on Kato Milia and with the
participation of more forces.
[08] ... Tape to prosecutor
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
In addition, Mr. Mantelis will visit Supreme Court prosecutor
Panayiotis Dimopoulos today to deliver to him, according to ICAO
rules, the tape and recorded conversation between the control
tower at Macedonia Airport and the missing plane's pilot.
The prosecutor is already leaning towards ordering an
investigation into the causes of the plane crash and failure to
install the special radar at the airport.
[09] ... Presidential delegation
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
All members of the delegation that accompanied President Kostis
Stephanopoulos on his official visit to the Ukraine returned to
Athens last night, the president's office announced.
The statement came after a Ukrainian civil defense official in
Odessa said that the passenger list of the missing Yakovlev-42
airliner may have included some members of the delegation who
had accompanied President Stephanopoulos on his three-day
official visit.
[10] Athens hosts second Mideast peace process meeting
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Israeli and Palestinian delegations met in Athens yesterday for
the second "Athens Meeting" on the Middle East peace process.
The meeting, organized by the Greek government, aims to examine
the course of the peace process and allow an exchange of views
on stepping up the process. The first "Athens meeting" was held
last June at the Vouliagmeni seaside resort.
Foreign Under-secretary Yiannos Kranidiotis formally opened
proceedings, which will be held behind closed doors.
Diplomatic sources said a third meeting tentatively scheduled
for the coming summer will also include the participation of
Israeli, Palestinian and Greek businessmen. Mr. Kranidiotis
proposed that the third meeting be held in Athens.
Participating in the present meeting are two vice-presidents of
the Israeli Knesset, deputies from both the Israeli ruling
coalition and opposition, as well as the Israeli foreign
minister's brother.
Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is expected to close
the meeting with a speech on Sunday. The European Union's
emissary on the Mideast peace process Miguel Angel Muratino is
also scheduled to speak on Sunday.
The ambassadors of the United States, European Union member
states, Russia, Jordan, Norway and Egypt had been invited to
attend a dinner hosted by Mr. Kranidiotis last night in honor of
the participants.
According to diplomatic sources, Greece as an EU member-state
wants to play a coordinating role in the region without usurping
the peacemaking efforts of other countries in the region.
"Our ambition is for this informal channel of communication,
which has been created through the Athens meetings and which is
not binding on governments, to develop into an institution which
can contribute to procedures to clear obstacles in official
talks," a source said.
In his address yesterday, Mr. Kranidiotis said that Greece
wanted to offer organizational support through these meetings in
a more informal climate which offers the opportunity to both
sides to exchange ideas and opinions on the peace process. He
stressed that Greece was opposed to any terrorist actions,
regardless of the motives they served and said the Greek
government aimed to undertake the training of a number of
Palestinian police officers working in anti-terrorist services.
He noted that the "creation of axes" in the region did not
contribute to efforts for regional stability and peace and
referred to Greece's efforts in the Balkans and the
Mediterranean - particularly through the recent Southeast
European summit on Crete .
Cyprus, he added, was an issue for the "collective security of
the Eastern Mediterranean", saying that the Cyprus and Mideast
issues were issues directly linked.
[11] ... 'Excellent avenue for advancing peace process'
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Knesset Vice-President Meir Shitrit said that the meetings
provided an excellent opportunity for a constructive exchange of
views between the two sides and the advancement of the Middle
East peace process.
Mr. Shitrit said peace in the region was the only possible path
for both peoples "who are the only ones who can provide a
solution to the problem".
"This solution could take the form of a new agreement once the
greatest possible consensus has been secured from all the
political parties. For the time being this is a stumbling block
to progress in this direction," Mr. Shitrit said.
On the role of the international community in the peace process,
and particularly of the European Union, Mr. Shitrit praised the
efforts being made in the economic sector to assist the
Palestinians.
Within this framework, he agreed with Mr. Kranidiotis' proposal
for the holding of a third meeting in Athens.
Palestinian Legislative Council member Marwan Barghouti
underlined the present extremely adverse position of the
Palestinians as compared to the Israelis.
Mr. Barghouti stressed the need for priority to be given to the
political problem and the implementation of agreements already
signed by the two sides.
[12] Simitis-Scharping meeting yesterday
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday received the president
of the European Socialist Party, Rudolf Scharping, for a
discussion concerning Socialist parties in the European Union
and the results of the recent EU summit in Luxembourg.
Mr. Scharping leaves today for Ankara, where according to
diplomatic sources, he is to make an attempt to defuse some of
the tension between the EU and Turkey that arose after the
summit.
Mr. Scharping, who is also Vice-President of the German
Socialist Party (SPD), held talks on the issue with German
Chancellor Helmut Kohl and foreign ministry officials before
leaving Bonn, according to the same sources.
He also attended a lunch hosted by Foreign Under-secretary
Yiannos Kranidiotis yesterday.
[13] Scharping praises Greece's role in Balkans
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
European Socialist Party president and Vice-President of
Germany's Social Democrat Party Rudolf Scharping praised Greece
as being the sole stabilizing force in the Balkans.
He was addressing an event of the Institute of Strategic and
Development Studies (ISTAME) "Andreas Papandreou" yesterday on
the state of central and southeastern European countries.
"Greece is the sole stabilizing force in the Balkans and
stability and democracy in the region is a vital interest, both
of its own and of Europe's," he said.
Addressing the same event, National Defense Minister Akis
Tsohatzopoulos stressed the need for strengthening the role of
Greece and of central European countries to enable the
consolidation of peace and development in the region.
Mr. Scharping said in his address that states abiding by the
principles of European civilization can join the European Union,
namely, a state of justice, a free market, enlightenment and
democracy.
However, it is important that it should be understood that the
EU is open to all the European countries on the above basis and
is willing to contribute to the democratization process "from
Croatia to Turkey" with great assistance so that "no one will
feel excluded."
Replies given by Mr. Scharping to questions from the audience
were of particular interest. He conceded that his country
contributed to the creation of the crisis in former Yugoslavia
with the "very hasty" recognition of the secessionist republics.
On his part, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the precondition for
stabilizing the situation in the Balkans is, on the one hand,
support for central European countries which join the EU and, on
the other, strengthening the role of Greece as the sole
member-state of the EU, the WEU and NATO in the region, taking
into consideration Greek actions for the creation of a
subregional security zone and a single market in the Balkans.
Mr. Tsohatzopoulos also stressed the need for focusing on
Cyprus' accession effort, including it in the effort of
promoting Euro-Mediterranean security and co-operation policies
by the EU.
He said Europe must stop facing crises "passively and in
retrospect" but should make pre-emptive political interventions.
[14] PM briefs president on EU summit
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Prime Minister Costas Simitis yesterday briefed President of the
Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on the outcome of the recent
European Union summit in Luxembourg and reactions worldwide on
the issue of EU-Turkish relations.
After the 40-minute meeting, Mr. Simitis told reporters that
Greece's policy line remained firm, adding that the Greek line
was one of consistency, stability in policy, and cool-headedness.
Mr. Stephanopoulos, who returned on Wednesday from a three-day
official visit to the Ukraine, expressed his grief over the air
accident in Northern Greece in which a Ukrainian airliner went
missing just minutes before landing at Thessaloniki airport and
was feared to have crashed into the Pieria mountain range.
"Today is a day of grief," Mr. Stephanopoulos told reporters
before the talks. He said he had communicated with the Chief of
the Air Force General Staff but, "unfortuna-tely, the airplane
has not been located yet".
[15] US says it is unaware of Turkish threats to annex occupied Cyprus
Washington, 19/12/1997 (ANA - T. Ellis)
US State Department spokesman Jim Foley yesterday stated that he
was unaware of any recent Turkish government threats to annex
Turkish-occupied Cyprus.
He also reiterated the US position that "emphasis must be placed
on talks between the two communities under the auspices of the
United Nations".
Mr. Foley said Washington considered a bi-zonal, bi-communal
federation the "only viable and fruitful solution to bring peace
and reconciliation to the island".
Commenting on Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to the
US, he said the two sides would discuss issues of investment and
trade, including closer co-operation in the energy sector,
besides a wide gamut of bilateral and regional matters.
[16] Romeos in London for talks with British Gov't
London, 19/12/1997 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)
Public Order Minister George Romeos began a two-day visit here
yesterday in light of Britain's assumption of the European Union
presidency.
At the same time, a delegation he is heading will be briefed on
British authorities' experience on such issues as anti-terrorism
action, football violence and corruption among law enforcement
officials.
Mr. Romeos held talks yesterday with British Interior Minister
Jack Strough and Under-secretary Joyce Quinn, a former deputy.
"This visit is part of a series of visits abroad, having already
visited Germany and the US, and has the main target of
developing co-operation with police of other countries in very
many sectors. Given that present-day crime in all sectors has no
border and, consequently, co-operation primarily with the police
forces of European Union countries is necessary," he said.
Mr. Romeos said that his talks with the British interior
minister and the under-secretary moved within this framework,
adding that public order ministry officials held parallel talks
with British police services.
[17] Papantoniou: Greek economy now entering battle of competitiveness
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The Greek economy is entering the battle of competitiveness,
National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou said during the
budget debate in Parliament last night.
"In the last four years, we won the battle of stabilization, we
are winning the battle of development, and now we must win the
battle of competitiveness," he said, stressing that this
required a restructuring of the labor market and privatizations,
to be achieved through consensus.
The minister appealed for "self-restraint" by the social
partners in their incomes claims in order to attain Maastricht
criteria in the next two years.
"Our aim is to reach the 'finishing line' of convergence in
1998, by reducing the deficit below 3 per cent of GDP and
inflation below 3 per cent, at 2.5 per cent, in order to claim
our position in EMU early in 2000 and have the drachma enter the
Euro on Jan. 1, 2001".
He announced that a policy of de-escalating taxes for businesses
and low-income earners would begin in two or three years, while
in the meantime, spending on social services would far exceed
the projected inflation rate.
[18] Greek equities end substantially lower
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Greek equities came under pressure to end substantially lower on
the Athens Stock Exchange yesterday.
Traders said the market lacked fresh incentives to attract
investors.
The general index closed 0.83 percent lower at 1,502.14 points.
Trading was extremely heavy reflecting transaction of large
blocks of shares in National Insurance and Mortgage Bank.
Turnover totaled 81.3 billion drachmas.
Sector indices lost ground. Banks fell 0.51 percent, Insurance
eased 0.39 percent, Leasing ended 0.63 percent off, Investment
dropped 0.20 percent, Constructions fell 1.36 percent,
Industrials eased 0.88 percent, Miscellaneous ended 1.24 percent
down an d Holding fell 0.05 percent.
[19] Ergobank signs 100 mln US dollar syndicated loan
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Ergobank, one of the biggest private banks in Greece, yesterday
signed a two-year syndicated loan worth 100 million US dollars
with a group of 18 international banks.
The loan will be used by Ergobank's London branch to fund
lending and investment programs.
The syndicated loans carries a 0.125 percent margin over Libor,
with favorable terms reflecting the bank's positive credit
rating abroad.
Sanwa Bank, a Japanese bank, acted as underwriter to the deal,
with Barclays Capital and Commerzbank acting as co-underwriters.
[20] European Commission approves ILP control of Hellenic Steel
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The European Commission has authorized a takeover deal according
to which ILVA Laminati Piani, a subsidiary of the Riva Group,
will acquire through its wholly owned subsidiary Chabana, 10.37%
of the shares of Hellenic Steel Company from the Japanese
company Itochu.
As a result of the operation ILP would hold, through various
wholly owned subsidiaries, 51.66% of shares of Hellenic and
would obtain sole control of that company.
Hellenic is a Greek company specializing in the cold rolling and
coating of flat steel products. It has no activities apart from
those covered by the ECSC Treaty. In 1996 its production of cold
rolled wide strip was 320 000 tons and its turnover was 1 48
million ECU.
In cold rolled strip, ILP/Hellenic will have a combined Europe
market share of less than 10 % in cold rolled strip, less than
15% in hot dip galvanized and less than 15% in tinplate.
These are modest market shares and will not give the parties the
power to determine prices, restrict production or distribution
or hinder effective competition.
[21] EU budget approved by wide majority
Strasbourg, 19/12/1997 (ANA - C. Charalambopoulos)
The plenum of the Europarliament yesterday approved the EU
budget for 1998 by a large majority.
The two main points of the budget related to Greek positions
concern adoption of two amendments which "freeze" credits to
Turkey, and another amendment, co-signed by New Democracy
Euro-MP Pavlos Sarlis, proposing supports to small- and
medium-size enterprises, mainly in the tourism sector.
One of the first two amendments refers to the withholding of
16.5 billion drachmas from the financial co-operation program on
the grounds that Turkey has not shown respect to the principles
of the European Convention of Human Rights and the rules of
international law.
The second of the first two amendments envisages that 10 per
cent of the MEDA program funds, amounting to 29 billion
drachmas, it transferred to the reserves of the budget, and will
not be disbursed until the Commission carries out a proper
evaluation of the financial plans submitted by Turkey and the
Parliament agrees on the disbursement.
The third amendment envisages the disbursement of 512 million
ECUs.
[22] EU farmers' income falls by 3.1 per cent
Brussels, 19/12/1997 (ANA - G. Daratos)
Farmers' income in EU countries fell by 3.1 per cent on average
in 1997 compared to 1996, according to preliminary figures
released by the Union's statistical service, EUROSTAT.
Greek farmers' income fell by 2.6 per cent.
On the other end, Dutch farmers achieved a record increase of
6.7 per cent, due to increases in the prices of poultry,
livestock and fresh produce. At the other end of the scale,
British and Portuguese farmers suffered decreases of 23.1 and
13.7 per cent, respectively.
[23] Cost of traditional Christmas dinner rises slightly
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The cost of the traditional Christmas dinner table rose slightly
this year, as opposed to last year's levels as prices of items
comprising it show small increases and decreases.
According to figures by the development ministry, the total cost
increased by 0.9 per cent to about 2,600 drachmas.
On her part, Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said the
holiday markets are operating smoothly and with adequate
supplies of all items.
She said daily checks by the ministry's services ascertained
that consumer goods showing increased demand, such as meat,
fruits and vegetables, are being provided in quantities that are
more than enough for consumers' needs and at prices which are
competitive.
Development Under-secretary Mihalis Chrysohoidis said that
checks will continue all over the country throughout the
holidays and called on consumers to be careful with whatever
purchase they make.
[24] GSEE, ADEDY claim strike a success
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Civil
Servants' Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) claimed that
yesterday's 24-hour strike was a success. Mobilizations were in
protest against the government's economic policy.
The strike was particularly felt in the transport sector and
industrial plants.
ADEDY President Yiannis Koutsoukos, who addressed a central
rally in Kaningos Square, said trade unions rejected the
government's incomes policy, while mobilizations would continue.
He called for immediate measures of support for employment and
increases in social spending.
The rally was followed by a march to Parliament, where trade
unionists handed a petition to Parliament President, Apostolos
Kaklamanis, who responding, acknowledged the fairness of
unionist demands, particularly those relating to unemployment.
However, he said that there were no margins for changes in the
budget. A new round of mobilizations is expected by public
utility unions after Christmas on the taxation draft bill.
[25] Greek-Albanian agreement on cultural artifacts, museums
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Greece will provide Albania with a catalogue of all cultural
artifacts belonging to the latter that found their way to south
of the border, allowing for their return as soon as an official
request is made.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and his visiting Albanian
counterpart Arta Dade signed a joint communiqui yesterday on the
issue.
Furthermore, Greece will undertake the reconstruction of
Albania's museum network and the education and re-education of
Albanian archaeologists through a series of scholarships.
Cultural exchanges were also discussed.
[26] Albanian sports delegation in Athens
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Sports Under-secretary Andreas Fouras met a visiting Albanian
delegation headed by Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Arte
Dante yesterday.
Talks focused on co-operation between the two countries in the
sports sector in light of their upcoming cultural agreement.
Among others, the agreement will include participation of
Albanian athletes in pre-Olympic games.
Meanwhile, Mr. Fouras accepted an invitation to visit Albania in
January.
[27] Greek jewelry exhibition
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
The most complete exhibition on Greek jewelry will be
inaugurated at the Bianca Villa in Thessaloniki on Dec. 21 in
the framework of Cultural Capital of Europe events.
It is the first time that six millennia of Greek jewelry from
prehistoric times, classical Greece, the Byzantine era, the
period of Ottoman occupation to modern Greece are on display.
The objects come from 14 of the largest museums in the country.
[28] ESHEA delegation meets Reppas over state-run TV news rooms
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
An Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) delegation yesterday
discussed with Press and Mass Media Minister Demetris Reppas the
staff problems facing the news department of the state-run Greek
radio and television networks (ET-1, NET).
ESHEA President Aristides Manolakos told the minister that the
government's decision not to renew public utility employees'
contracts starting Jan. 1, 1998, will make news production
impossible.
ESHEA delegates asked Mr. Reppas to suspend the law where
reporters are concerned, while he replied that the views
presented to him were constructive.
[29] Survey results on attitudes towards foreigners
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Residents of Macedonia mostly believe that foreign workers take
away jobs, are too many and are of different religious
background, but do not consider them dangerous or "unwanted",
according to a study by the National Research Center.
While Black Sea Greeks (Pontians) from the former soviet
republics, Russians, Bulgarians, Italians, gypsies and Serbians
are seen in a mostly positive light, Albanians, Turks and
residents of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are
generally disliked.
Financial dealings with Balkan peoples are well received and
only 17 per cent are reportedly hostile to foreigners.
[30] EU's 'Horizon' program in Evros
Athens, 19/12/1997 (ANA)
Evros Prefect Georgios Dolios held a meeting yesterday in
Alexandroupoli on the implementation of the European Union's
"Horizon" program for the mentally disabled.
The program's aim is the social and psychological rehabilitation
of the mentally ill, and will be implemented by the Ferres
municipality with the assistance of a mobile unit of the General
Regional Hospital of Alexandroupoli and the Mental Health
Society.
End of English language section.
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