Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-09-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece says itis time to bring Yugoslavia back into the fold

[02] Greece to issue convertible bonds on Sept 22 in privatisation drive

[03] Greenpeace again halts Larco ferronickel from dumping waste

[04] Government bans genetically altered turnip seeds

[05] Health workers protest against govt's welfare reform bill

[06] Greek stocks creep down in thin, edgy trade

[07] Gov't warns transport workers to accept overhaul or lose jobs

[08] Results positive in organic grape project, researcher says

[09] Greek EMU entry still feasible by 2001 - EU Commissioner

[10] Greece-Japan commercial transactions

[11] Greek ready made clothes promoted in Germany

[12] Premier Simitis holds talks with Cypriot EDEK party leader

[13] Lecture on FYROM's political system

[14] Venizelos addresses EU Council of Culture Ministers

[15] Gov't denies considering appointing a deputy prime minister

[16] Pangalos receives US envoy for Cyprus

[17] Finnish president arrives in Athens on Monday on four-day visit

[18] Papandreou attends EXPO 98 in Lisbon

[19] Tsohatzopoulos announces new conscription system

[20] Draft law on national land register tabled in parliament

[21] Constantopoulos speaks on Greece's course towards EMU

[22] LSE study shows Greeks least satisfied with their public health system

[23] Hawking attends physics conference at Hania

[24] Greek-Bulgarian Friendship Society

[25] Young woman desecrates graves in Edessa

[26] Gunmen rob bank in Athens suburb

[27] Fake 5,000 drachma notes

[01] Greece says itis time to bring Yugoslavia back into the fold

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

"Yugoslavia has to be included in international life and a policy of sanctions is not effective," Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told reporters after meeting with his Yugoslav counterpart Zivadin Jovanovic in Athens.

Belgrade's recent positions on the Kosovo issue are heading in the right direction, Mr. Pangalos said. "We are ready to help as much as we can to find a peaceful solution to this difficult problem in the context of the existing borders of Yugoslavi a and with the simultaneous safeguarding of human rights and freedoms for all the population of Kosovo," the Greek minister said. Mr. Jovanovic said Yugoslavia was determined to find a peaceful resolution to the problem, to safeguard the rights of all the residents of Kosovo, regardless of religion or ethnicity, and to have full respect for international and European standards of human rights for ethnic minorities.

"All this within Serbia, within the internationally recognised borders of Yugoslavia," he said.

Mr. Jovanovic said he had briefed Mr. Pangalos on the Serbian government's efforts to resolve humanitarian problems and allow a return of refugees to their homes.

"This, along with the handing over of weapons, with the normalisation of the operation of schools, economic life and other factors are the basis for a resumption of dialogue," he said.

Mr. Jovanovic called the ethnic Albanian separatist "Kosovo Liberation Army" a "terrorist organisation which should be included on the list of similar organisations". He accused the KLA of kidnapping, torture, bomb attacks on cars and other targets and said he was convinced that the Albanian-spea-kers of Kosovo were becoming more sceptical of the KLA.

Bilateral relations : Turning to bilateral relations, Mr. Jovanovic and Mr. Pangalos agreed that there were strong ties between the two countries.

Economic ties between Greece and Yugoslavia were growing rapidly, with trade rising 26 percent this year, Mr. Pangalos said.

Greece was Yugoslavia's fifth largest trade partner and biggest foreign investor, he said.

Mr. Jovanovic said that the opening of two new Greek consulates in Gorica and Nis had also contributed greatly to the development of bilateral relations.

He also thanked Greece warmly for the humanitarian aid it had sent to Yugoslavia and for its support of Belgrade's attempts to join European and international bodies and organisations.

Mr. Jovanovic also noted the great importance his country placed on multilateral meetings of Balkan countries and of countries of southeast Europe because "Yugoslavia holds an equal place" in these.

Mr. Pangalos said both Athens and Belgrade were supportive of Balkan cooperation and expressed the hope that there would be positive results from the summit for Balkan countries in Antalya, Turkey on October 12- 13.

Meetings with president, PM : Mr. Jovanovic was also received by President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis. No statements were made after the talks.

Athens News Agency

[02] Greece to issue convertible bonds on Sept 22 in privatisation drive

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Issue of the new bonds, named Prometoha, is aimed at spurring the government's wide-ranging privatisation scheme, which it has promised the European Union in order to gain entry into economic and monetary union by 2001.

The bonds are a new investment product that reproduce the low-risk status of government securities, at the same time offering optional conversion into the shares of any state firms joining the Athens Stock Exchange from January 1, 1999, the finance mini stry said yesterday.

The new bonds will offer high yields due to a fixed, competitive interest rate. They are tax-free whether they are converted into equity at any point after January 1, 1999, or held until expiry and then encashed, the ministry said in a statement.

The minimum investment is 100,000 drachmas, and the bonds, issued in electronic form, are negotiable. Registration is by book entry.

The paper allows an immediate preferential option on any stock of firms privatised through the bourse.

At roughly the same time, the ministry will issue the same type of bond in markets abroad for foreign investors.

Athens News Agency

[03] Greenpeace again halts Larco ferronickel from dumping waste

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The activists on Wednesday tied themselves to barges and unfurled banners with slogans against dumping waste in the sea.

There were scuffles with Larco employees later in the day when the workers attempted to remove the activists.

Larco's president Constantine Daskalakis, who said on Wednesday that the protest was costing the company 100 million drachmas a day, warned that he may have to close the plant down until Sunday.

But a Greenpeace spokesperson said that the protest against dumping had nothing to do with the company's production, which is not being obstructed by the activists.

Nikos Haralambidis said that Larco was trying to shift blame for mismanagement of the company to the Greenpeace protest.

"If the company wants to survive then it must turn to clean production, something which will create jobs," he said.

"We're not against the company, but against the catastrophic practice (of dumping), which has the support of the government".

Mr. Daskalakis claimed that port police and judicial authorities were doing nothing to end the protest, despite the company's appeal for help.

Twelve Greenpeace activists were released by the coastguard on Tuesday after being detained for taking over Larco's loading facilities near Volos but the activists again boarded the Greenpeace ship MV Sirius, to resume their protest on Wednesday.

Greenpeace representatives said the environmental organisation was determined to continue its protest until the authorities banned dumping of the slag.

Mr. Daskalakis and the plant's union president have claimed that the waste is not toxic. The Athens Labour Centre and the General Confederation of Workers of Greece have both called on Greenpeace to end the protest, citing the risk to workers and the danger of closure of the company.

Athens News Agency

[04] Government bans genetically altered turnip seeds

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The ban was decided on the recommendation of a government committee that reviewed files pertaining to the product, which was determined to be harmful to public health and a risk to the environment.

Athens News Agency

[05] Health workers protest against govt's welfare reform bill

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Unions claim that the new legislation attempts to change industrial relations and privatise many free state services extended to those in need.

"We are in favour of an integrated, public, free and upgraded welfare system which will provide services to the Greek public in line with today's needs," a workers' representative told the Athens News Agency.

The protestors, accompanied by Athens mayoral candidate and former Communist Party of Greece deputy Leon Avdis, rallied outside parliament and handed a resolution to officials. Also protesting were representatives of groups for the blind and paraplegics .

The resolution stated that welfare services should not fall under the jurisdiction of local government, and objected to the creation of private companies to handle welfare services.

It also asked for an increase in state allowances including family and disability benefits.

Athens News Agency

[06] Greek stocks creep down in thin, edgy trade

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Traders said investors stayed on the sidelines due to lingering uncertainty over the fallout in international markets of a crisis in Russia coupled with doubts that the government could successfully carry out its privatisation programme.

The general index ended 0.17 percent lower at 2,210.36 in low turnover of 36.5 billion drachmas.

Sector indices mostly lost ground.

Banks fell 0.45 percent, Insurance eased 1.29 percent, Investment was 0.28 percent off, Leasing plunged 3.76 percent, Construction dropped 1.08 percent, Miscellaneous ended 0.54 percent lower, and Holding fell 1.63 percent, but Industrials bucked the tr end to end 0.90 percent up.

The parallel market index for small cap companies jumped 1.89 percent, and the FTSE/ASE 20 index eased 0.38 percent to 1,342.90 points.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 131 to 104 with another 22 issues unchanged.

Macedonian Mills, Eltrak, Mosholios Chemicals, Boutaris, Singular and Remek scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Development Invest, Ergodata, Sportsman, General Warehouses, Daring, Radio Athina, General Trade and Ideal suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 41,010 drachmas, Ergobank at 24,675, Alpha Credit Bank at 24,190, Ionian Bank at 10,700, Hellenic Telecoms at 6,850, Delta Dairy at 3,260, Intracom at 11,200, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,680 and Titan Cement at 18,850.

Athens News Agency

[07] Gov't warns transport workers to accept overhaul or lose jobs

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

"The government is making a serious effort to upgrade and modernise public transport, providing 134 billion drachmas at the expense of the Greek taxpayer to renew the fleet," Mr. Mantelis said in an interview to an Athens radio station.

"Workers have to realise that if they are to continue working they will have to make certain concessions, so as to reduce the operating cost of the companies involved," he said.

The government was prepared to write off debts accumulated by urban transport organisations over the years and subsidise bus and trolley fares, Mr. Mantelis said.

Part of the overhaul the government has devised for urban transport aims at saving 10,000 working hours a year, and transferring some 700 surplus workers to other duties in order to avoid redundancies, he said.

Twenty five new buses would begin circulating by the end of the month, rising to 170 by the end of the year. Delivery of 750 buses, 192 trolleys and 120 train carriages was expected by 2001.

Athens News Agency

[08] Results positive in organic grape project, researcher says

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The project, which was financed by the European Union's Interreg II programme, was based on a pilot application for grapes used to produce wine and raisins.

The application aims to combat vine-moths (Lobesia botrana) with biological means through bacillus thuiniensis soil dusting before sowing.

The project was carried out on 43 stremmas of "soultanina" variety raisins and 47 stremmas of wine-grapes with the distribution of 1,000 kilos of bacillus to 24 wine grape and raisin producers in 13 villages throughout the prefecture of Iraklion, Crete in all crop seasons.

Agricultural guidelines were adhered to in the programme, which was directed by scientists.

An evaluation of results on completion of the cultivating season showed that soil-dusting with bacillus before sowing produced equal or better results than the use of chemicals to combat vine-moths.

The producers who participated in the programme said that they would continue with the bacillus method.

Athens News Agency

[09] Greek EMU entry still feasible by 2001 - EU Commissioner

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Papoutsis was addressing a news conference in Athens on the sidelines of Partnership '98, an EU conference on electronic commerce and the euro, the EU's planned single currency.

When Greece achieves EMU entry, then the challenge willlie in surviving the unified market under tight fiscal discipline, he said.

Turning to the conference on the euro and electronic commerce, Mr. Papoutsis said that encouraging a new attitude to business was a priority for the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

European businesses should be supported in their effort to adjust and develop operations through simplification of the law and creation of a favourable administrative and financial environment.

"Our aim is to boost industry's competitiveness and create more jobs," Mr. Papoutsis said.

He said that electronic commerce was emerging as the most rapidly developing value added commercial sector in modern economies worldwide.

The news conference was held jointly with Development Undersecretary Anna Diamantopoulou, whose ministry is responsible for electronic commerce in Greece.

Taking part in the conference are more than 400 hundred members of trans- European cooperation networks from 50 countries.

Athens News Agency

[10] Greece-Japan commercial transactions

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

This was announced by the Japanese Overseas Trade Organisation which is participating in the 63rd Thessaloniki International Fair.

The purpose of the participation is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the conclusion of a friendship, commerce and shipping agreement between Greece and Japan in 1898.

The Japanese market is showing particular interest in such Greek products as wine and olive oil, as well as in products having high added value such as health food.

Athens News Agency

[11] Greek ready made clothes promoted in Germany

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

OPE successfully organised and carried out Greek participation in the international readymade clothes exhibition CPD in Duesseldorf.

The exhibition is considered the most important of its kind in Europe with 47,000 commercial visitors from all over the world and was held between September 2-5.

Athens News Agency

[12] Premier Simitis holds talks with Cypriot EDEK party leader

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Lyssarides, who was speaking after holding talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the Maximos Mansion yesterday, said that "the Cyprus issue is an issue of invasion and occupation and not missiles", adding that any other consideration of the is sue helps Turkey and those desiring a perpetuation of the present situation.

On the question of the deployment of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Cyprus, Mr. Lyssarides said that "logic says that the less is said so much the better.

The missiles should have been in Cyprus and nobody should have known about them. We must not speak about details of defence preparations."

Asked whether he will keep his promise and withdraw from the government of Cyprus in the event the missiles are not deployed, Mr. Lyssarides said that he did not want to reply to a hypothetical question, adding that the President of Cyprus offered reass urances on Wednesday that decisions taken by the National Council still hold and that the contract will be honoured.

Athens News Agency

[13] Lecture on FYROM's political system

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Jankuloski noted the characteristics of the political parties in FYROM and the developments of conditions since the last two elections, as well as the expectations of the parties in light of the Oct. 18th elections.

Answering to questions from the audience, he stressed the importance of the international community's role for the security of his country, while he noted that the basic principle of FYROM's foreign policy is to keep equal distances between all countries.

Speaking on FYROM-Greek relations he said that he did not expect that his country would change its name as Greece has demanded.

Mr. Jankuloski teaches International Law and International Relations and directs FYROM's "Centre of Studies for Refugees and Forced Migrations."

Athens News Agency

[14] Venizelos addresses EU Council of Culture Ministers

LINZ 11/09/1998 (ANA - D. Dimitrakoudis)

Mr. Venizelos, who was addressing the European Union's informal Council of Culture Ministers at Linz yesterday, said that culture does not only mean cultural heritage, but primarily means mentalities, traditions and attitudes.

Referring to the cultural dimension of EU enlargement, which preoccupied ministers during yesterday's first day, Mr. Venizelos expressed support for the promotion of negotiations and the preparation of candidate countries.

He said that at this phase the role played by the cultural dimension can be limited and that it must be stressed for this reason that the cultural dimension is always creative and positive and helps in rapprochement between candidate me-mber-states.

Mr. Venizelos said that the Council of Ministers must function as a political body and make a political assessment of the course of negotiations so far.

In a statement to the Athens News Agency (ANA) in Linz last night, Mr. Venizelos said that the prospect of EU enlargement brings one closer to the destitution of cultural programmes, if funds for culture remain the same with enlargement, there is a cons iderable problem of funding and credibility.

Mr. Venizelos also said that the budget proposed by the European Commission for the cultural draft programme for the period between 2000 and 2004 is inadequate.

Athens News Agency

[15] Gov't denies considering appointing a deputy prime minister

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

"The foreign minister was simply expressing some views at an informal discussion," acting government spokesman Yiannis Nikolaou said.

According to press reports, Mr. Pangalos told journalists accompanying him on his official visit to Tehran this week that he had proposed the idea of a deputy prime minister to Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Mr. Pangalos himself laughed off the speculation that his comments had caused in yesterday's press.

"I saw myself today on the front pages and noted that what I had said had been linked with political developments and scenarios of cabinet reshuffles, " he told reporters after meeting with his visiting Yugoslav counterpart.

"I thought we were talking about an institution on a purely hypothetical level... nevertheless it is always good to be on the front page."

Athens News Agency

[16] Pangalos receives US envoy for Cyprus

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannos Kranidiotis and U.S. ambassador to Athens Nicholas Burns were present at the meeting.

No statements were made afterwards.

Athens News Agency

[17] Finnish president arrives in Athens on Monday on four-day visit

HELSINKI 11/09/1998 (ANA - V. Patouhas)

The Finnish president will be accompanied by a 13-member mission of representatives of companies producing paper, timber and high technology, including NOKIA.

In a statement to the Athens News Agency (ANA), President Ahtisaari said that the economies of the two countries are supplementary, which provides opportunities for further differentiation as well as an increase in their commercial exchanges.

He said that Finland is interested in promoting high technology and know- how products in shipbuilding in the Greek market. He added that Greece is the most popular summer travel destination for the Finns.

The visit by the president of Finland coincides with the economic and political crisis in Russia, which provides Greece with the opportunity of having full information on the issue and in particular on the repercussions of the crisis in the region of northeastern Europe and the Baltic since Finland, due to its position, has a clearer picture of developments in Russian society.

Finland is also showing great interest over developments in the Balkans and Cyprus. Replying to a relevant question by the ANA, President Ahtisaari termed relations between Greece and Finland and being good and without problems, although they are somewh at distant due to their geographical position at the two ends of Europe.

President Ahtisaari's stay in Greece will be concluded on September 17 with a visit to Crete from where he will be returning home.

Athens News Agency

[18] Papandreou attends EXPO 98 in Lisbon

LISBON 11/09/1998 (ANA - I. Vergitsis)

Apart from Mr. Papandreou, who headed the Council of Europe's delegation, also present were the organisation's Secretary General Daniel Tarschys and the Deputy President of the Parliamentary Plenum Joset Duriet.

Athens News Agency

[19] Tsohatzopoulos announces new conscription system

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

To offset the increase in border service for conscripts, the new regulation establishes an obligatory leave of absence of a small duration every two months (in addition to normal leave), as well as free tickets on all means of transport for all soldiers . Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said that the principle of six-month service in border areas in effect to date "was vindicated because there was social acceptance and because it was observed to a great degree."

The new measure was considered necessary due to the demographic problem faced by the country and for the planning of a flexible and effective military requiring an increased presence of troops on the borders with Turkey.

Athens News Agency

[20] Draft law on national land register tabled in parliament

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The draft law also defines that the final registration of real estate in a land register will take place five years after the initial statement has been made, while real estate not registered will be considered as being of unknown ownership and will come under the ownership of the state.

A report accompanying the draft bill said that main legislation is being supplemented for the modernisation of the publicity system for all real estate in the country.

The land register has also created 2,400 new jobs all over the country for a period of about 2.5 years.

The Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Ministry also tabled a bill on transferring duties to regional services and self- administration.

According to this bill, more than 70 duties of various ministries will be transferred to regional services and self-administration.

Athens News Agency

[21] Constantopoulos speaks on Greece's course towards EMU

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Constantopoulos, during a press conference in Thessaloniki, said that Greece's efforts to enter the EMU might fail "due to the overwhelming social repercussions and due to the refusal and inability to confront the real structural problems." Mr. Cons tantopoulos added that "the whole economic and social policy (sic: of the government) is one sided in its orientation and attempts to gain accession to the EMU is not through the improvement of the Greek economy but with the veneer of nominal statitical indicators.

Speaking on national issues, he said that Prime Minister Costas Simitis "contributed decisively to the creation of the climate for all the talk around" the Russian made S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

Mr. Constantopoulos was speaking on the occasion of his visit yesterday to the 63rd International Thessaloniki Fair.

Athens News Agency

[22] LSE study shows Greeks least satisfied with their public health system

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

According to the study, Denmark's health system is the most successful according to the citizens of that country, with a 90.6 per cent of them stating their satisfaction in the system.

These as well as other findings were discussed yesterday during a conference on "The priorities in health policy," taking place in Athens.

The study revealed that the percentage of satisfaction rose in direct proportion to the funds allocated for health services.

In fact this was apparent in Denmark, Austria, Ireland, and Italy, while an interesting conclusion of the study is the renewed confidence of British citizens in that country's public health system, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Athens News Agency

[23] Hawking attends physics conference at Hania

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

World famous physicist Stephen Hawking was among the 40 scientists invited to this closed event and presented the theory of relativity, while he said he is looking for specific solutions to the gerenal theory of relativity.

The participants represent universities from Uppsala, Paris, Copenhagen, Rome and Crete.

Athens News Agency

[24] Greek-Bulgarian Friendship Society

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The decision to give Trogadis' name to the library is the result of the love he felt for people of Greek origin living in countries of the former communist bloc.

Pomorie, a town having 14,000 inhabitants, has a Greek community. The society was established in 1990. A traditional building provided by the municipal authority in the town is used for Greek language lessons for 70 children of Greek and non-Greek origin.

ERA has offered books and CDs worth 400,000 drachmas to the Greek-Bulgarian Friendship Society.

Athens News Agency

[25] Young woman desecrates graves in Edessa

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Police said the 32-year-old woman had caused an estimated 3.5 million drachmas of damage to some 400 graves in three hours.

Athens News Agency

[26] Gunmen rob bank in Athens suburb

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[27] Fake 5,000 drachma notes

Athens 11/09/1998 (ANA)

The four - George Halilopoulos, 28, and his wife Harikleia, 45, and Yiannis Kamberis, 27, and his wife Christina, 18 - were tracked down by police after they passed the notes while making purchases in a number of villages in the Ilias and Achaias region .

Athens News Agency

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