Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-05-16

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Simitis urges rallying of political, social forces

[02] Gov't to keep to privatisation plan despite strikes

[03] Foreign buyers shun Athens bourse, turnover drops in week

[04] Gov't tenders 15-year bond in shift to long-term debt

[05] Xiosbank to boost share capital by Dr 12.7 bln

[06] Greek stocks drop in profit-taking

[07] National Bank of Greece aims to attract capital to Balkans

[08] Hellenic Sugar Industry workers reject privatisation

[09] Government sets priority on combatting unemployment

[10] Minister denies plan to sell Piraeus port authority

[11] Eurobank housing loan programme

[12] Greek-American trade exhibition in Atlantic City

[13] Sigma anniversary

[14] PASOK delegation at Socialist International Council in Oslo

[15] Gov`t reiterates positions on S-300 missiles for Cyprus

[16] Cypriot defence minister in Athens

[17] Air force operation commander visits Cyprus airbase

[18] Demirel repeats criticism of the west, European values

[19] Tripartite presidents' meeting postponed

[20] Ankara displeased with US statement holding T/C side responsible for latest impasse

[21] Kinkel

[22] Police break up pirate CD operation

[23] Milosevic receives Greek deputy Papoulias

[24] European naval chiefs conclude Athens meeting

[25] European sports ministers meeting in Nicosia ends

[26] Fayum portraits exhibition in Greece

[27] Twinning of two cities

[28] Gov't says evidence needed to substantiate espionage claims

[29] Police drug sweeps net 685 Kgs of hashish, as well as one murder suspect

[30] Civil Aviation unions call on OA management, gov't to 'reverse negative climate'

[01] Simitis urges rallying of political, social forces

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The premier said the coming period would be of crucial importance, since decisions would have to be implemented over which there could be no compromise with attitudes and practices of the past.

The government has committed itself to cutting public spending and streamlining the public sector in order to join EMU by Jan. 1, 2001. The commitments were made when the drachma joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) on March 14 as a stepping stone t o EMU.

On Wednesday, the government announced a timetable for the sale of 12 public enterprises (DEKOs), with the sale process beginning this month and ending in September 1999.

In particular, Mr. Simitis cited the completion of the revitalisation programme for the national carrier Olympic Airways, the government's measures in the employment sector, share flotations of state enterprises, reforms in education, social security legislation and the fight against crime.

Mr. Simitis expressed support for dialogue, saying no great change had succeeded without social consensus, while noting that significant changes brought opposition from all forms of the "establis-hment" as well as small and major interests.

"Therefore, no one should allow themselves to be influenced by the sirens of political cost because the government is able to look citizens in the face since its policy has already brought tangible results and its efforts have borne fruit," Mr. Simitis said.

"We're not here to tell fairy-tales, we're here to tell the truth and implement our programme," he added.

Mr. Simitis launched a stinging attack on opposition parties, particularly the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party, which he accused of "protesting on behalf of the black economy and tax evaders". "(ND leader) Costas Karamanlis is the only politici an in Europe who after 20 years is still enchanted by obsolete Thatcherism," he said. The premier also rejected the proposals of the parties of the left, saying that Greek society did not exist in order to preserve the public sector, which he stressed had to modernise.

Turning to problems within PASOK, Mr. Simitis urged all to march forward together "on a path of mutual understanding, solidarity and cohesion, a path of creative unityI"

Mr. Simitis charged that opposition parties had recently launched a fresh attack on the government, based not on political argument but on groundless accusations of scandals.

The reply to false allegations is simple, he said.

"Whoever has evidence to back up his claims should present it to the public prosecutor, otherwise, he will be acting irresponsibly...".

The government's strategic target remains the country's equal participation in the new Europe, since this will be to the benefit of all Greeks, he said.

The strategy of going it alone, he added, would bring only inflation, unemployment, borrowing and a worsening of living standards.

"Social policy is essentially an element of our development strategy, with the formulation of an integrated and effective social safety net which will not be a decorative complement but a substantive procedure," he said.

"For the government, social policy is not only a focus on benefits, pensions or services, but a sum of policies for a fairer society. The government rejected the dichotomy of stabilisation first and social cohesion later, as it considers development as an important tool for the reduction of inequalities and social exclusion," he added.

The prime minister said real wages were rising at an annual average of 3 percent annually when GDP was increasing at 2.4 per cent, social expenditure had increased from 23.3 per cent of the budget in 1993 to 26.3 per cent last year, unemployment benefit s had increased by 50 per cent in the last four years, while the rate of increase in unemployment had shrunk to only 0.6 per cent and there were prospects for 134,000 new jobs.

"The aim is not simply to avert stagnation and inequality, but to create new sources of wealth and dynamismIto convert the state into headquarters and to make it competitive," he said.

He defined as crucial issues which will determine the outcome of Greece's efforts for the future, the targets of fiscal adjustment, the reform of the labour market and the social insurance system, the privatisation programmes, and the stre-amlining of public utilities.

Other speakers: General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) President Christos Polyzogopoulos later said in his address that government members had committed serious mistakes and that the hour was crucial for a united PASOK. He criticised the policy followed on the issue of streamlining Olympic Airways, saying that a great deal was being done in a makeshift manner and without planning, while privatisation was not always being promoted with business criteria.

National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou defended the government's economic policy, stressing that reforms being carried out today were not discovered now, but had been agreed and decided upon since 1993.

"We have the obligation to provide better services to the citizen at low rates," he said. This will be achieved through partial flotations that would bring in cheap capital, while the majority stakes and management in most of the utilities would be reta ined by the state.

EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis said the prosperity of citizens had to receive priority over the prosperity of indicators.

"The smooth course to EMU needs the acceptance and support of society. The Community does not impose denationalisation, nor does it set the tax base," he said.

He called for greater respect to the social majority that elected the government, and "an end to the method of defamation of working people which is alien to the philosophy of our political camp".

Opposition parties: Responding afterwards, New Democracy spokesman Aris Spiliotopoulos launched a scathing attack on the prime minister, saying that he was under "political hallucinations," having led the country to bankruptcy and on Europe's margins.

He charged that the premier had committed the grave mistake of appearing as an ill imitation of the party's founder, Andreas Papandreou, and was resorting to insults against New Democracy in an effort to rally his party.

"He is shutting his eyes to the uproar caused by the favouritism and intransparency with which he is governing the country. His call to anyone who had evidence of scandals to supply it to the public prosecutor betrays an intention to cover up illegal de eds, as the prime minister is the most competent of all to order administrative inquiries," he said.

The Coalition of the Left commented that the prime minister was unable to conceal the increasing unrest over widening social inequalities, the deficit in consistency, transparency and reliability, as well as the distance between words and deeds.

Athens News Agency

[02] Gov't to keep to privatisation plan despite strikes

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

An indefinite strike by employees at Ionian has disrupted operations, lowered its credibility and held customers hostage, Mr. Reppas told his daily news briefing.

He said the government had chosen to save jobs by selling Ionian rather than merging it with Commercial Bank of Greece, its parent company.

A feasibility study on Ionian's privatisation by Monitor, a consultancy firm, had concluded that a merger would mean 3,000 redundancies.

Asked to comment on the value of Ionian Bank, which is listed on the Athens bourse, in terms of its share price, Mr. Reppas said the question of Ionian's value would be dealt with using transparent procedures.

Ionian's share price has slumped; both the government and Commercial Bank have denied allegations they drove down the share in order to ease the sale to private investors.

Major state and private banks are staging rolling strikes to protest Ionian's sale.

Workers at the state National Bank, Greece's biggest bank, launched the strike wave yesterday with a 24-hour strike.

State-run Commercial Bank and Agricultural Bank are to strike on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, with a four-hour national strike due on Wednesday and a full 24-hour nationwide general strike planned for May 27.

Other banks, including private ones, are also due to join in, although it was unclear how much support the strikes were attracting.

Mr. Reppas said the country needed powerful banking groups in order to survive in a highly competitive market.

Also yesterday, Ionian Bank union president Yiannis Markakis blasted the bank's governor for reportedly saying that the indefinite strike would undermine the bank's future.

Mr. Markakis said management was paving the way for court action to try to have the strike declared illegal.

He also repeated allegations that Commercial Bank had dumped a bloc of Ionian's shares on the bourse in order to force its price down.

According to the union, Commercial Bank owned 62 percent of Ionian's equity on April 9 but only 57 percent on May 12 after the share's slide.

Union officials also said 80 percent of Ionian's employees had joined the strike, and the percentage was increasing daily.

The bank's executives were also taking part in the strike, they said.

Athens News Agency

[03] Foreign buyers shun Athens bourse, turnover drops in week

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The absence of investors from abroad had led to a significant drop in the week's turnover, the traders said. Profit-taking hit the market, especially blue chips. Buying activity focused on smaller capitalisation issues.

Turnover totalled 319.07 billion drachmas to post a daily average of 63.8 billion drachmas, down from 81.9 billion the previous week.

The general index ended the week 0.80 percent higher to show a 66.9 percent rise since the start of the year.

Athens News Agency

[04] Gov't tenders 15-year bond in shift to long-term debt

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Bankers said yesterday that the government had decided to take advantage of confidence in the economy shown by institutional investors abroad.

The finance ministry announced that the auction of the 15-year bond with a fixed interest rate of 7.5 percent would be held on Monday, May 18.

The interest rate applies to the entire duration of the loan, and the bonds are in electronic form.

The competitive price auction will be held at the Bank of Greece with the market's primary dealers bidding for the paper.

The 100-billion drachma issue will have a maturity date of May 20, 2013.

The public can buy the bonds from banks and the Post Office Savings bank from Wednesday.

Athens News Agency

[05] Xiosbank to boost share capital by Dr 12.7 bln

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The increase will be effected through a cash deposit with priority rights for existing shareholders. The price per share is 3,200 drachmas for five new shares to ten old.

Under the plan approved at a shareholders meeting, Xiosbank's shareholders' equity will total 27.2 billion drachmas.

In a second phase, Xiosbank will issue subordinated debt paper totalling 10 billion drachmas in order to further boost its capital.

The bank has also taken steps to set up an insurance company and it is interested in acquiring a domestic stockbroking firm.

In addition, it hopes by 2000 to double its customers and become the top bank in terms of returns on shareholders's equity. It also wants to rank among the top three banks on the basis of profit rises.

Xiosbank showed pre-tax profits of 2.8 billion drachmas for the first four months of the year, up from 1.5 billion in the same period of last year.

It will grant a dividend of 130 drachmas per share from 1997 profits.

In 1997, pre-tax profits were 4.5 billion drachmas, up 115 percent from 1996.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greek stocks drop in profit-taking

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 1.0 percent down at 2,469.84 points to show an 0.80 percent gain in the week.

Sectoral indices lost ground. Banks fell 2.25 percent, Insurance eased 0.23 percent, Investment was 0.46 percent off, Leasing dropped 2.12 percent, Industrials ended 0.69 percent down, Miscellaneous fell 0.33 percent, Holding dropped 3.38 percent but Co nstruction bucked the trend to end 1.67 percent higher.

The parallel market index ended 1.07 percent up reflecting a turn by investors to smaller capitalisation issues.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 1.44 percent down at 1,480.11.

Trade was moderate with turnover at 51.7 billion drachmas.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 133 to 107 with another 15 issues unchanged.

Sysware, Singular, Sanyo, Boutaris, Ideal, DIS, NEL scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the day's 8.0 percent limit up.

Balkan Export, Galis, Hellenic Sugar, Barba Stathis, Viohalco and Hadzioannou suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 47,000 drachmas, Ergobank at 27,120, Alpha Credit Bank at 32,605, Delta Dairy at 4,600, Titan Cement at 23,250, Intracom at 19,105 and Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 8,790. In the domestic money market the d rachma fell against most foreign currencies.

Athens News Agency

[07] National Bank of Greece aims to attract capital to Balkans

BUCHAREST, 16/5/1998 (ANA/A.Lidorikis)

National Bank, Greece's largest commercial bank, formally inaugurated a new branch in Bucharest on Thursday. Mr. Karatzas, who led a delegation of Greek businessmen and bank officials to Bucharest, met Romanian President Emil Constantinescu, Patriarch T heoktistos and cabinet ministers, including the country's finance and privatisation ministers.

The National Bank governor reiterated that the bank was seeking a long-term presence in the Balkans, and not short-term, opportunistic profits.

Athens News Agency

[08] Hellenic Sugar Industry workers reject privatisation

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The workers union at Hellenic Sugar's plant in Xanthi in northeastern Greece said that full privatisation of the industry would lead to lay-offs among its 1,200 permanent staff and more than 3,000 temporary workers.

The union said that Hellenic Sugar underwent a successful part-privatisation in 1992 through a flotation on the Athens bourse and had improved its competitiveness by adopting European standards.

Athens News Agency

[09] Government sets priority on combatting unemployment

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

"The unemployed are our greatest priority at this time," Mr. Papaioannou said.

The minister was outlining the government's social policy at a central committee meeting of the ruling PASOK party.

Under programmes underway, the government would create 300,000 subsidised jobs in 1998-2000 at a cost of 450 billion drachmas.

Of the total, 200,000 were destined for young people aged 20-27 years.

"The problem of unemployment in Greece lies more in the difficulty in finding work than in maintaining the number of jobs intact," Mr. Papaioannou said.

"Joblessness has taken on dramatic dimensions among the young who become the long-term unemployed even before they can begin their working life."

The minister said changes were needed in the public sector where labour regulations were inflexible.

However, the government was not planning to introduce a 35-hour week in the near future in order to avoid jeopardising its European Union economic alignment targets.

The shorter working week was not being considered, either on the same or lower pay, Mr. Papioannou said.

Athens News Agency

[10] Minister denies plan to sell Piraeus port authority

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Soumakis was speaking during a verbal spat with ruling PASOK party deputy Yannis Kapsis over whether or not the minister had alleged the existence of corruption at the port, and whether the port authority would be sold to the private sector.

"We are not selling Piraeus Port Authority," the minister said.

Up to 49 percent of OLP's shares are due to be listed on the Athens Stock Exchange in September 1999 using a bookbuilding process. It will first become an SA company.

OLP's president, George Klavdianos, resigned recently in the wake of acrimony with Mr. Soumakis, who had claimed the port was being mismangaged. No successor has been appointed.

In parliament yesterday, Mr. Kapsis asked the minister to explain quotes attributed to him in press reports alleging the existence of corrupt individuals in the port authority.

The minister said :"(The deputy) has fallen prey to misinformation or disinformation."

The spat ended when Mr. Kapsis stormed out of the chamber.

Athens News Agency

[11] Eurobank housing loan programme

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The minimum monthly instalment is 10,000 drachmas per million of a loan.

The programme is divided into two parts. The first period has a duration of one to seven years and is discontinued at the loan recipient's will.

During the second period "after the free instalment" the loan recipient can choose the final duration and the terms of the loan's payment, chosing one of Eurobank's available housing programmes.

Athens News Agency

[12] Greek-American trade exhibition in Atlantic City

MONTREAL, 16/5/1998 (ANA - I. Frangouli)

The exhibition is being organised by the Greek-American newspaper "Hellenic News of America" and links Greek-American businesses between them with buyers from the United States and Greece, providing a crossroads for new horizons.

Hermes Expo promotes businesses in the American market and provides small and average-size enterprises from the US and Greece with the opportunity of having immediate contact with products and buyers, the organisers told ANA.

Nine thousand visitors are cxpected to visit Hermes Expo, which enjoys support from important Greek expatriate bodies such as the Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce, etc.

Athens News Agency

[13] Sigma anniversary

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

About 90 per cent of the company's turnover comes from overseas clients and major institutional investors. The company has been repeatedly honoured by various international bodies for the quality of services it provides.

Athens News Agency

[14] PASOK delegation at Socialist International Council in Oslo

OSLO, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The ruling PASOK party will be represented by Eurodeputy Paraskevas Avgerinos, Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis and Eurodeputy Anna Karamanou, among others.

The meeting will focus on the issue of "World Solidarity", while particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening democracy and protecting human rights, extending humanitarian action, promoting initiatives on peace, combatting poverty and investing i n human potential.

Athens News Agency

[15] Gov`t reiterates positions on S-300 missiles for Cyprus

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

"The Greek government is in full agreement with the policy being followed by Nicosia," Mr. Reppas added. The spokesman made the statement when asked by reporters if the United States agreed to the proposal for the prohibition of military flights over Cy prus so as to obviate the need to install the anti-aircraft missiles.

"In this regard," Mr. Reppas said, "there is no other issue which can alter the decision to install the missiles."

Athens News Agency

[16] Cypriot defence minister in Athens

NICOSIA, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

"This is an orchestrated campaign to transform the Cyprus issue from a problem of invasion, occupation and violation of international legality" Mr. Omirou said in Nicosia, shortly before leaving for Thessaloniki, where he is to have talks with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Mr. Omirou also said that a proposal by Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos on creating a "flight-prohibition" zone over Cyprus "could be discussed in the context of a larger demilitarisation of Cyprus."

Athens News Agency

[17] Air force operation commander visits Cyprus airbase

NICOSIA, 16/5/1998 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

He later attended a meeting with the commanders of the base and the Cyprus National Guard.

Athens News Agency

[18] Demirel repeats criticism of the west, European values

ANKARA, 16/5/1998 (ANA - A. Abatzis)

"If you claim that we have minorities, this is tantamount to an effort to dismember our country," he said.

Receiving the Turkish administration of the Turkey-European Union Federation, Mr. Demirel referred to the decision taken at the EU's Luxembourg summit last December and said the decision was "political." He added that "time will tell how mistaken this d ecision was."

Commenting on the minorities' issue, Mr. Demirel said that "certain values of Europe do not suit Turkey".

Speaking at the Istanbul war academy two days ago, the Turkish president had criticised the west for its criticism of Turkey on the issue of human rights and the Kurdish problem, claiming "all Moslems in Turkey are Turks."

Athens News Agency

[19] Tripartite presidents' meeting postponed

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said a new date would be fixed for the meeting through diplomatic channels.

Athens News Agency

[20] Ankara displeased with US statement holding T/C side responsible for latest impasse

ANKARA, 16/5/1998 (ANA/AFP)

The Turkish press carried an announcement by the foreign ministry expressing Ankara's displeasure at the State Department spokesman's comment, saying "it may bolster Greek and Greek Cypriot intransigence", adding that "Cyprus needed impartial and balanc ed approaches".

However, on his way out of the Turkish foreign ministry US official Frank Riciardone said "the US was concerned over preconditions set by the Turkish Cypriot side (for the resumpption of inter-communal talks)".

Athens News Agency

[21] Kinkel

COBLENCE, 16/5/1998 (ANA/AFP)

Mr. Kinklel reportedly stated that he asked Ankara to stop its verbal attacks against Bonn, and further quoted the occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, the Kurdish issue and TurkeyYs human rights record as the main barriers to that country's EU ac cession, observing that "Turkey is a candidate (country for EU accession), but this will not happen very soon."

Athens News Agency

[22] Police break up pirate CD operation

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Athanasios Atlas, 35, was arrested pending charges to be brought later yesterday.

Police said they confiscated about 206 pirate CDs of Greek and foreign artists, 300 blank CDs and a large number of photocopied CD covers. All the hardware used to produce the pirate CDs in the store, located at 203 Lenorman Avenue, was also impounded d uring the search.

Athens News Agency

[23] Milosevic receives Greek deputy Papoulias

BELGRADE, 16/5/1998 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

Mr. Papoulias, who is also a Parliamentary foreign affairs committee member, met with government and party officials of Serbia and Yugoslavia, discussing ways to improve the bilateral relations.

Mr. Papoulias supported the accession of Yugoslavia to the Council of Europe and the normalisation of the country's relations with international organisations.

Athens News Agency

[24] European naval chiefs conclude Athens meeting

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Officials exchanged views on a common approach to operational and military training, activities within the framework of NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, and further exchanges on new naval programmes.

CHEN is an unofficial body comprising NATO and EU member-states, which meets annually and has a rotating presidency.

Athens News Agency

[25] European sports ministers meeting in Nicosia ends

NICOSIA, 16/5/1998 (ANA-G.Leonidas/CNA)

The head of the sport division of the Council of Europe (CoE), George Walker, told a press conference yesterday the Nicosia two-day 15th informal meeting of European sports ministers was "exceptionally well organised" in every respect and congratulated organisers. Cypriot Education and Culture Minister Lykourgos Kappas, said a local committee will be set up to draw a plan for the implementation of the meeting's findings.

A press release issued after the closing session of the meeting, attended by top officials from 47 countries, said it was "agreed that traditional sporting ideals should be resurrected." It explained that this would help "both to counter the domi nance of money in today's sports and to make the most of make the most of the power of sport to create social bonds."

It added "these values include tolerance, fair play and the contribution sport can make to building peace, including the ideal of the Olympic truce during major sporting events," it added.

The meeting also emphasised the need for new laws and ethical decisions on specifically modern sports problems, including violence, doping, ever- increasing commercialisation and the impact of new media technologies.

It unanimously endorsed the important role of sport in creating social cohesion, as set out in the action plan of the CoE's Second Summit of Heads of State and Government.

It also agreed future priorities for further work in this field and that the voluntary sector had an important role to play, the press release said.

The Cypriot minister told the press a local committee that will include officials from his ministry and the Cyprus Sport Organisation, will assess the meeting's findings and draw a relevant implementation plan.

Mr. Kappas said Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, in a message to the meeting, suggested that during the 2004 Athens Olympics a truce should be adopted like the one during the ancient Olympics in Greece.

He said European ministers welcomed the proposal, as well as the initiative of the International Olympic Committee to revive the ideal of Olympic truce as a basic and effective measure for world peace and understanding.

The meeting of European sports ministers, held in Nicosia between May 14 and 15, was attended by ministers and top officials of the CoE 40 member- states, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, Georgia, the Vatican and Monte Carlo.

Israel and a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also took part as observers. Yesterday morning the Nicosia meeting participants called on President Glafcos Clerides.

Fouras: Sports Undersecretary Andreas Fouras described Cyprus as a country where injustice was surviving, adding that a conference dealing with ethical issues and sports could not but have human rights as a point of reference.

He added that Mr. Clerides made it clear that Cyprus is a country which progresses well, while wishing to have its problems resolved, and called on the international community to respond.

Athens News Agency

[26] Fayum portraits exhibition in Greece

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

These portraits on coffins date from the 1st to 4th century AD, and where found in the Al Fayum region of Egypt. They combine Hellenic and native Egyptian styles in a unique way.

The Fayums are on loan from the British Musuem.

Athens News Agency

[27] Twinning of two cities

Athens News Agency

[28] Gov't says evidence needed to substantiate espionage claims

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

He was referring to a report in the newly published "Acropolis" morning daily claiming that PASOK deputy Galip Galip (Rhodopi prefecture) is an agent of Ankara.

Mr. Reppas added "the government does not comment on the activities of Parliament deputies. The deputies are elected by the Greek people and are judged by themIin case that (their activities) are not legal there are procedures and bodies to deal with th e issue."

Athens News Agency

[29] Police drug sweeps net 685 Kgs of hashish, as well as one murder suspect

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

Keith Hendley, 57, was shot dead when he tried to stop a group of men from stealing the inflatable boat tied to his yacht which was anchored in the Gouvia marina on Corfu's east coast.

A six-member Albanian gang was found in possession of 322 kgs of hashish and Hendley's 5.5 metre boat. Police have arrested Ferdinand (also known as Alecos) Gena, 34, Leonardo (aka Leonida) Tondari, 22, Selam (aka Spyros Vairamis), 28, Gilo Tzinika, 21,

Toni Kentro, 20 and Nikos Vavis, 32.

Police believe one of the six murdered Hendley while at least one other is suspected of being an accomplice.

Kentro and Tzinika were arrested after showing undercover police posing as drug dealers where the hashish was hidden in rough terrain near Igoumenitsa. The other four, who were residing in Athens and Megalo Pefko, Attica, were arrested after a surveilla nce operation.

The second major narcotics seizure came when police stopped a refrigerator truck at the Capandriti toll post and found 363 kgs of hashish. The Albanian driver of the truck, Pandelis Nito, was arrested but has so far refused to cooperate with the p olice.

In a separate case, Albanians Ilia Bousi, 28 and Dolores Koupi, 23 were arrested after being found in possession of over half a kilogram of heroin. Police are continuing their investigation in cooperation with Interpol because two arrest warrants have b een issued for Bousi who is wanted for attempted murder and robbery.

Three Ghanans were arrested after allegedly receiving heroin from Turkey through the mail. The three were named as Kofi Usi, 35, Oko Maklean, 36 and Angelina Osei, 39. Police seized 855 grams of heroin.

Lastly, Egyptian national Josef Henen, 45 was arrested after being found in possession of 390 grams of heroin.

Athens News Agency

[30] Civil Aviation unions call on OA management, gov't to 'reverse negative climate'

Athens, 16/5/1998 (ANA)

The federation expressed concern over European Union Commissioner for Transport Neil Kinnock's reservations on approving an increase in the national carrier's share capital of 35 billion drachmas, saying that this is indicative of the general negative a ttitude against OA.

The recent turmoil in the company, which followed the tabling in parliament of a bill on OAYs restructuring, has further deteriorated the loss-making carrier's economic situation, which is now seeking a lender to borrow a sum of 20 billion drachmas.

OSPA asked the government to see that the increase in OAYs share capital is approved by the European Commission soon.

In a related development, according to sources, a report on OA's assessment is expected to be released by the end of the month. The assessment was commissioned by the European Commission and carried out by the international firm Deloit, whose report P a ccording to the same sources P is anticipated to be satisfactory.

Transport Minister Tassos Mantelis will then (mid June) have a meeting with Mr. Kinnock, which will be aimed at lifting reservations on approving the increase in OA's share capital.

Athens News Agency

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