Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 97-12-20

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

ATHENS NEWS AGENCY BULLETIN (No 1372), December 20, 1997

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

CONTENTS

[01] Search for plane continues, NATO planes participate

[02] ... Massive ground search underway

[03] ... Tape recording to prosecutor

[04] ... Cabinet

[05] ... Opposition

[06] Mandela receives Skandalidis, deputy Spyropoulos

[07] Athens letter to Clinton in light of Turkish PM's visit

[08] Papandreou reiterates Greek positions on EU-Turkish relations

[09] Tsohatzopoulos tour of border military units

[10] Olympic Flame lit for Winter Games

[11] ... 'Message of joy, friendship'

[12] Italy's di Pietro speaks in Athens

[13] PASOK delegation in Albania

[14] Eurobarometer results on racism, xenophobia in EU

[15] Agreement for training of police instructors in Britain concluded

[16] Halki Academy's reopening linked with 'concessions' in Thrace

[17] V. Papandreou on Greek economy's performance

[18] Finance directors of ministries to meet on state budget

[19] IOBE recommends freeze of all '98 budget expenditures

[20] T-bill auction

[21] Athens' mass transit system given to OASA control

[22] Greek stocks end down, investors hold the sidelines

[23] EU to take action against Greece over waste

[24] EU reports on cohesion fund allocation

[25] EU council considers Mediterranean, Atlantic quotas

[26] Alumil enters bourse

[27] Mortgage Bank-Housing Bank merger

[28] Fthenakis approved as OA's president

[29] Supermarket group - Greenpeace against genetically modified foods

[30] Appellate decision on 3 'satanist' murderers on Tuesday

[31] 13 students from Kalas tribe arrive in Greece

[01] Search for plane continues, NATO planes participate

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The missing Aerosweet line's Yakovlev-42 three-engine jet, carrying 70 passengers and crew, vanished from radar screens on Wednesday evening, shortly after it was scheduled to land at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki.

The specially modified P-3, usually used for anti-submarine operations, is also capable of carrying out detailed photographic scanning of terrain for search and rescue missions, even at night.

The aircraft, sent after National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos asked for NATO assistance in locating the plane, uses electromagnetic radiation to record the shape of objects. It was scheduled to scan the area until midnight last night, before returning to Sicily to process the collected data.

In addition, a US Air Force U2 utility plane, also using sophisticated equipment, was due to begin surveying the area after midnight, while two Hellenic Air Force F-16s, equipped with the Lantirn system, were on standby to contribute to the search, weather permitting.

[02] ... Massive ground search underway

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

On his part, US ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns accepted a request for US equipment and personnel to assist in the search, following a meeting with Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou yesterday.

Earlier in the day yesterday, a massive search operation was resumed at dawn to locate the missing plane, defense ministry sources said.

Macedonia-Thrace Minister Philippos Petsalnikos said that a total of 6,500 troops were taking part in search efforts, not including firefighters, police and local residents. He added that assistance would also be requested from alpine clubs throughout Greece.

The main search was now concentrated in the Pieria mountain range, while sources said that rescue teams began a search of a triangle of Kato Milia, Fotina and Morna villages, where the altitude exceeds 2,000 meters. The problem lies in that the area is covered with a heavy blanket of snow and in some points inaccessible, officials said.

It was near Kato Milia when the pilot of the airliner sent his last message to Macedonia Airport at 9.13 p.m. while at an altitude of 3,500 feet. Kato Milia, about 28 miles from the airport, is located in rugged terrain.

Adverse weather conditions, heavy fog and low cloud formations still prevailed in the region, with visibility at less than 100 meters.

Additionally, a team of Ukrainian aviation experts arrived in Thessaloniki on Thursday night to join the search.

[03] ... Tape recording to prosecutor

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Mantelis attributed the accident to disorientation of the pilot of the Ukrainian plane, in reply to reporters' questions outside the Supreme Court building after he handed the tape to Supreme Court Judge Panayiotis Dimopoulos.

He said the landing system used at Macedonia Airport was the same one used by all airplanes. The minister added, however, that if the airport had had the LRS landing radar system it would have had an "additional tool" to facilitate its job. "But," he stressed, "this does not mean that this was the cause of the accident".

Mr. Dimopoulos ordered the Thessaloniki prosecutor's office to launch a preliminary investigation into the conditions and causes of the accident, and also into whether all the necessary safety measures set out under international regulations and practice had been taken at Macedonia Airport.

[04] ... Cabinet

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The issue of Thessaloniki airport was discussed at length at the Cabinet meeting.

Mr. Mantelis said he explained that the radar was not the cause of the Ukrainian airliner's crash.

"The cause of the crash is another issue concerning the aircraft, the pilot and issues which will be clarified provided the lost aircraft is found. The radar was and could be an additional instrument of communication at this airport," he said.

On the question of the procurement of radars for airports, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, a one-time transport minister who had approved the procurement of the four radars for Thessaloniki, Rhodes, Irakleio and Corfu, said after the Cabinet meeting that "the procurement of the radars is not the procurement of one machine which is installed. It is the procurement of a system which is planned and harmonized with other similar systems."

Mr. Venizelos said that apart from the tragic event, all penalties which must be imposed will be imposed, "the Thessaloniki airport, which has problems and problems which must be tackled quickly, is a safe international airport, all the major and known airline companies use it on a daily basis."

[05] ... Opposition

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said in a statement that proof of the government's responsibilities in the affair was the fact that although an ultramodern radar had been purchased, it could not be operated due to the lack of trained staff.

[06] Mandela receives Skandalidis, deputy Spyropoulos

Johannesburg, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Skandalidis briefed the South African leader on the course of Greek-Turkish relations, latest developments in the European Union and the problems of ethnic Greeks in South Africa. He also thanked Mr. Mandela for his country's support in the final phase of voting for 2004 Olympic Games bid. The PASOK secretary assured him of Greece's solidarity in any future Olympic bid by Cape Town.

On his part, Mr. Mandela expressed his feelings of friendship and appreciation for the Greek people, stressing characteristically that "Greeks do not only keep me company with their spirit and their history throughout my life, they are my best friends h ere in my own country".

In other contacts with Greek expatriates, the two Greek officials briefed them on a series of agreements in the sectors of shipping, tourism, air transport and education, as well as for the prevention of double taxation and protection of investments between Greece and South Africa.

[07] Athens letter to Clinton in light of Turkish PM's visit

Chicago, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

"The effort by President Clinton to find a solution to the Cyprus issue and to settle Greek-Turkish relations in the Aegean righteously will have decisive success if the Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz receives a clear message that the US government no longer accepts 'nice' words when they are accompanied by 'mistaken actions'," the letter read.

The letter was sent in light of yesterday's White House meeting between President Clinton and Mr. Yilmaz.

"In our modern civilized world, in Europe and the US, the course for the development of Turkey requires acceptance of the laws of international justice, respect for human and sovereign rights, as well as the avoidance of the use of force or threats of a n attack," it added.

The letter pointed out that with its position so far, the US has accepted and rewarded Turkey's positive references but is unaware of its negative actions which follow on every occasion.

[08] Papandreou reiterates Greek positions on EU-Turkish relations

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

"We have repeatedly stressed that we are in favor of Turkey's European prospects. But Turkey itself has the duty to make the necessary steps towards this direction," Mr. Papandreou said.

"And, naturally, moves such as the annexation of the northern (Turkish-occupied) part of Cyprus or threats directed towards neighboring countries, and particularly towards Greece, which is a member of the European Union, do not contribute to this European prospect." "Turkey's policy of believing that through provocations it can assist its European prospects is a dead-end. We hope and expect that there will be a different stance on Turkey's part that will help it itself. And we will all assist this

European prospect," he said.

Mr. Burns declined to answer reporters' questions, saying he had not yet presented his credentials to the Greek president, which is scheduled for Monday.

[09] Tsohatzopoulos tour of border military units

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The first stop in Mr. Tsohatzopoulos' two-day tour were military units in Samothrace. He is then due to visit checkpoints on the border with Turkey where he will also observe test-firings by various weapons systems.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos' tour will be concluded today with visits to units in Rodopi prefecture. Ministry officials said the program of his visit might be amended in connection with developments on the course of the search for the missing Ukrainian airliner. Athens News Agency

[10] Olympic Flame lit for Winter Games

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

A white-robed high priestess touched the Olympic torch to the flame at the temple dedicated to Hera, mother of the Olympian gods, in a re-enactment of the ancient ritual that marked the beginning of a truce among the warring states of antiquity for the duration of the noblest of contests.

The priestess, portrayed by an actress, handed the lit torch to Greek skier Vassilis Dimitriadis, the first runner in the relay.

The torch was due to arrive in the town of Kalavryta yesterday afternoon. The next stage of the relay will take the torch to the Helmos ski center today, where a flame will be lit symbolically, and then on to Athens' Panathenian Stadium, venue of the first modern Olympic Games, tonight, to light another flame to shine the way to the Winter Games.

The torch leaves Athens on Monday for the long flight to Japan, where the relay will be taken up on January 6 for a month-long journey involving some 1,200 runners.

British landmine victim Chris Moon, Japanese Olympic skiing champions Takanori Kono, Masashi Abe and Reiichi Mikata, and distance runners Hiromi Suzuki and Masako Chiba will be the final torch runners at the opening ceremonies of February's Winter Games .

The organizers of the Nagano Games said last week they picked the two long-distance runners to be a "bridge between the Nagano Games and the Sydney summer Olympics".

One of the two would hand the torch to former Olympic figure skating medallist Midori Ito, who will light the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium in Nagano on February 7.

[11] ... 'Message of joy, friendship'

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

"Some 2,800 years ago, on these grounds where the ancients worshipped Zeus and Hera, the king of the people of Elia, Hephitus, dedicated a bronze disk whereupon the sacred ekecheiria was engraved and recorded, the most exalted, the most respected and t he most sacred act throughout the centuries. The act whereby wars ceased, so that Greeks could pursue virtue, honor and glory, competing in brotherly spirit in the Stadium," Mr. Devves said.

[12] Italy's di Pietro speaks in Athens

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. di Pietro said that transparency and ethics must govern all functions of economic and political life as a cure to corruption.

"If we want to avoid massive interventions by the justice system and the disintegration of the rule of law we must recognize the role of morality as a convention of the function of society," Mr. di Pietro said.

Mr. di Pietro came to Athens at the invitation of the Italian language institute CEPU.

The Italian official presided over operation "Clean Hands" a campaign to eradicate corruption in Italy's public sector.

[13] PASOK delegation in Albania

Tirana, 20/12/1997 (ANA - P. Haritos)

The delegation will visit Tirana to participate in the work of the Socialist Party's national conference, due to start today and be concluded tomorrow afternoon.

The delegation includes Mr. Kranidiotis, Stefanos Manikas, G. Korantis, Al. Papanastasiou, Ilias Plaskovitis and others.

On the sidelines of the conference, Mr. Kranidiotis is expected to meet Socialist Party president and Prime Minister Fatos Nano as well as Foreign Minister Paskal Milo.

During his meetings, Mr. Kranidiotis will exchange views on issues concerning bilateral relations between Greece and Albania, and more specifically, possibilities of strengthening co-operation in the commercial and economic sectors, as well as the sector s of education and cross-border co-operation.

Mr. Kranidiotis will brief the Albanian officials on the results of the European Union Luxembourg summit, as well as on the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations.

Coalition of the Left and Progress Eurodeputy Mihalis Papayiannakis arrived in Tirana yesterday to attend the conference.

[14] Eurobarometer results on racism, xenophobia in EU

Brussels, 20/12/1997 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

Those figures are the result of a Eurobarometer questionnaire on racism and xenophobia.

The EU average of citizens' views regarding the unfavorable treatment of foreigners in the workplace is 71 per cent, while in Sweden, Greece, Spain and Portugal this exceeds 80 per cent.

Six per cent of Greek respondents said they considered themselves "very racist" (the EU average is 9 per cent), 21 per cent "quite racist" (EU 24), 31 per cent "slightly racist" (EU 33), while 43 per cent considered themselves "not at all racist" (EU average 34).

In another poll, citizens were questioned on how confident they feel concerning the state and politicians. Belgians (63 per cent), Greeks (59 per cent) and Germans (54 per cent) appeared the least happy. By contrast, the Dutch, Swedes, Luxembourgians and Danes show percentages of dissatisfaction lower than 20 per cent. The EU average of those satisfied is 24 per cent, with 43 per cent being dissatisfied, and 33 per cent with rather critical disposition.

The percentage of satisfied Greeks is 16 per cent, while the Belgians come last with 7 per cent.

The poll was conducted in the spring of 1997.

[15] Agreement for training of police instructors in Britain concluded

London, 20/12/1997 (ANA - L. Tsirigotakis)

Summing up results of his two-day working visit to the British capital, Mr. Romeos said that he concluded an agreement for the training of Greek police instructors in Britain.

"Until today several Greek officers have come to Britain and have been trained in different sectors. But the new agreement we concluded provides for the training of police instructors. Namely, to educate Greek police officers, who in turn, will become instructors. This means that the duration of training will be longer than what was in effect to date and we consider this agreement as being very important," he said.

Mr. Romeos confirmed that the creation of an internal affairs unit is also underway. He added that the new unit will be modeled after the New York City police force.

[16] Halki Academy's reopening linked with 'concessions' in Thrace

Istanbul, 20/12/1997 (ANA-A.Kourkoulas)

The minister was replying to a question put to the government by an opposition deputy.

"We want the 'Turks' in western Thrace to elect their muftis themselves," he said.

Mr. Celebi said if Greece allows this then we will discuss the reopening of the Halki Academy of Theology.

The question was tabled by the leader of the ultra-nationalist Great Unity Party, Musi Yiazitzioglu, and concerned Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to Washington as well as "the possibility of concessions being made" on the issue of the academy.

The issue of the Halki Academy of Theology's reopening is expected to be raised by US President Bill Clinton during his meeting with Mr. Yilmaz.

[17] V. Papandreou on Greek economy's performance

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

"Greece's average income is last in the EU, and we are continuing not to be productive, competitive and modern," she said.

"Today, however, the Simitis government has achieved the continuous improvement of the country's position, without reducing social spending, which makes Greece exceptional in the EU," she added.

Commenting on the main opposition's argument that government policy is promoting nominal rather than real convergence of the Greek economy, she said the percentage of interest in the public debt would be reduced to 37 per cent in 1998 from 52 in 1996, and investment spending as part of total state spending would increase to 22 per cent in 1998 from 15 per cent in 1996.

Ms Papandreou also stressed that privatization programs would continue according to plan and that "1998 would be a 'quality' year for Greek businesses.

Energy policy included the Public Power Corp.'s (DEH) adjustment in a deregulated market after 2001, and completion of the natural gas project, she added.

[18] Finance directors of ministries to meet on state budget

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The circular has already been sent to ministries, regional authorities, prefectures and other public agencies.

The circular focuses on an allocation of expenditures every three months, the detailed planning of expenditures and revenues for every subsidized agency, as well as readjustment of expenditures at the end of every three months.

According to a relevant announcement by the finance ministry, the monitoring and control of expenditures will be supported through the introduction of more up-to-date accounting systems at public agencies.

[19] IOBE recommends freeze of all '98 budget expenditures

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

IOBE also proposes immediate structural reforms for the improvement of the public sector's performance and warned that the present economic policy mixture is not durable in cases of new monetary turbulence.

IOBE proposes a speedup in the privatization program, measures to strengthen competition, a more flexible labor market and a decrease in taxation on production capital.

[20] T-bill auction

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

An announcement by the finance ministry said the amount of 52 billion drachmas from three-month treasury bills was obtained from yesterday's auction and 53 billion drachmas from those of a six-month duration. The average interest rate resulting was 12.9 per cent for those of a three-month duration and 12.7 per cent for the six-month ones.

The securities will be made available for investors on Dec. 23, 1997, while the next auction for treasury bills will take place on Dec. 29.

[21] Athens' mass transit system given to OASA control

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

He also said that OASA will receive support in its effort to:

- Restructure the urban mass transit system.

- Utilize the organization's real estate holdings.

- Restructure its ticket fare policy.

- Upgrade services and vehicles and facilities.

[22] Greek stocks end down, investors hold the sidelines

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The general index closed 0.70 percent down at 1,491.66 points to show a net loss of 1.68 percent on the week.

Trading was moderate with turnover at 14.9 billion drachmas for the day.

The week's turnover totaled 149 billion drachmas helped by block trades, showing a daily average of 29.8 billion, slightly up from 29.5 billion the previous week.

Traders said the market lacked incentives and investors remained on the sidelines awaiting a final vote on next year's budget in parliament, due at midnight on December 21, and a further decrease in interest rates in the domestic money market.

Sector indices ended mixed. Banks fell 1.15 percent, Insurance eased 0.19 percent, Leasing rose 0.12 percent, Investment increased 0.25 percent, Construction ended 2.14 percent up, Industrials fell 0.72 percent, Miscellaneous rose 1.24 percent and Holding ended 0.68 percent up.

The parallel market index for small cap companies fell 0.51 percent to post a weekly gain of 0.71 percent. The FTSE/ASE index for the main market ended 0.93 percent down at 850.98 points, off 1.79 percent from last Friday.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 107 to 86 with another 34 issues unchanged.

Vis and Mytilineos shares were heavily traded. Dane, Mochlos, Mytilineos, Epilektos and Elve scored the biggest percentage gains, while Konstantinidis, Viosol, Macedonian Mills and Hellenic Sugar suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 25,380 drachmas, Ergobank at 15,100, Alpha Credit Bank at 16,480, Delta Dairy at 3,300, Titan Cement at 12,978, Intracom at 13,600 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organization at 5,885.

[23] EU to take action against Greece over waste

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The Commission will make an application against the country to the European Court of Justice. Also due to be taken to court for the same breach are France and Italy.

The EU member states failed to submit waste reduction plans to the EU by September 1992 to cover 1993-1997.

The Commission is also due to give Greece a reasoned opinion for failing to adapt national laws to a directive on the incineration of hazardous waste to reduce air, soil, surface and groundwater pollution, and risks to human health.

Other countries due to receive reasoned opinions for the same violation are Belgium, Italy, Finland, Denmark, Austria and Ireland.

Finally, the Commission will resort to the European Court of Justice as Greece's finance ministry has retained the right to set price floors for retail sales of processed tobacco, breaching Community rules.

[24] EU reports on cohesion fund allocation

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The beneficiary member states are Greece, Spain, Ireland and Portugal.

In previous years transport projects had received more weight in funding allocations than environment projects. This year the fund contributed 54.4% of its money to the environment and 45.5% to transport.

[25] EU council considers Mediterranean, Atlantic quotas

Brussels, 20/12/1997 (ANA - P. Pantelis)

Quotas in the Mediterranean were proposed for the first time, as the population level of red tuna and swordfish now demand measures, such as quotas, according to the international organization for the protection of tuna fish (ICCAT).

The Greek delegation questioned the validity of ICCAT's study and demanded the study be considered temporary until a new study by the organization is submitted.

Agriculture Under-secretary Vassilis Geranidis, who represented Greece at the council, intervened asking for special measures for Greece since it has a large number of islands. His intervention was accepted.

[26] Alumil enters bourse

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The public subscription took place at a sale price of 1,100 drachmas per share, while the company issued 2,446,250 million shares. Following public subscription, the total number of shares will reach 12,231,250 million.

The amount obtained was 2.69 billion drachmas of which 500 million drachmas will be used for the subsidized extension of installations, 500 million drachmas for the company's four-year business plan which anticipates, among others, the company's expansion abroad, while 250 million drachmas will be provided for the purchase of new equipment.

The company's turnover amounted to 9.237 billion drachmas during the January-September period this year, while profits totaled 997 million drachmas.

[27] Mortgage Bank-Housing Bank merger

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

Every document concerning the Housing Bank must from now on be communicated to the Mortgage Bank.

[28] Fthenakis approved as OA's president

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

Mr. Fthenakis said that in five to seven years European airlines will be privately run, so "if it is necessary", Olympic will be privatized as well.

PASOK deputies ratified his placement, main opposition New Democracy MPs abstained, while Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) deputies cast a blank ballot. Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) MPs voted against.

[29] Supermarket group - Greenpeace against genetically modified foods

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

SESME representative Manolis Apostolou told a press conference today that suppliers would from now on be required to ensure that their products do not contain GMOs or their by-products.

Mr. Apostolou said SESME and Greenpeace were asking the Greek state to require that GMO products are identified at source and clearly marked before being put on the shelves.

"These procedures must proceed quickly because the seriousness and implications of the issue leave no room for prevarication," he said.

Greece has already imported thousands of tons of genetically-modified soya which is being used in the food industry and for animal feed.

Greenpeace representative in Athens Nikos Haralambidis said that the repercussions for human health from food-related genetic engineering experiments were still not known.

"Greenpeace is totally opposed to the release of GMOs in the environment and their use in foodstuffs," he said.

[30] Appellate decision on 3 'satanist' murderers on Tuesday

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The court had originally imposed a sentence of two life terms on Katsoulas, two life terms and 15 years on Dimitrokallis, and 18 years and four months on Margeti. The prosecutor, who did not complete his address due to a sudden illness, urged the court to reject the claims of the accused that they have now repented. A decision is expected on Tuesday.

[31] 13 students from Kalas tribe arrive in Greece

Athens, 20/12/1997 (ANA)

The 3,000 members of the mountainous tribe follow ancient Greek customs and religious practices, speak a mixture of Greek, Sanskrit and Persian, and consider themselves descendants of Alexander the Great's soldiers, with Greece as their real homeland.

Over the past few years, Greek educators have staged a campaign to preserve the tribe's traditions by helping build a school in the Kalas' region.

Donations are welcome and can be deposited at the Agriculture Bank account 41801100655769.

End of English language section.

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