Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Industrialists report rise in 1998 sales,see EMU entry as feasible

[02] ABN-AMRO takes dim view of management change in state telecom

[03] Most Greek households see standard of living down, ICAP says

[04] Stocks jump on bond auction, creep towards 2,500 points

[05] Athens bourse sees 24 new listings in 1998

[06] Bank of Attica launches loans for millennium bug, euro

[07] Barclays Bank cuts housing loan rates

[08] Latest attempt to privatise Duty-Free Shops in March

[09] SEB's Stratos confident in decreased interest rates, if inflation falls

[10] Slight decrease in petrol prices

[11] Athens Foreign Exchange

[12] Skandalidis finds proposal for progressive coalition 'interesting'

[13] Fog postpones Pangalos visit to Islamabad

[14] Schengen executive committee approves Athens' implementation of pact's provisions

[15] Simitis briefs Stephanopoulos on EU summit

[16] Third locally produced frigate received by Hellenic Navy

[17] Christodoulos focuses on drug problem with Deputy Health Minister Kotsonis

[18] ND meets over 1999 budget

[19] EMU's supplement an imperative for gov't: Simitis

[20] EU employment exhibition in Athens

[21] Memorial service for victims of Yakovlev crash

[22] Athens says it's confident of Nicosia's handling S-300 issue

[23] Tourist arrivals up in '98, SETE official says

[24] Lack of environmental measures leads to Commission action against Greece

[25] Widespread vandalism at Thessaloniki school

[26] Civil aviation work stoppages during Christmas week

[27] Kaklamanis on EU stance vis-a-vis Cyprus accession process

[28] Dropouts, unemployed more likely to have drug dependency: survey

[29] Strong winds hit Crete

[30] New hospital for Athens next year

[01] Industrialists report rise in 1998 sales,see EMU entry as feasible

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

It emerged from ICAP's survey that only large, profitable enterprises raised their prices to roughly the level of consumer price inflation, with smaller firms showing below-inflation price hikes.

Taking part in the survey were 250 enterprises polled between November 2- December 7, ICAP told a media presentation.

It said it thought profit forecasts were premature but the estimates indicated that around 27 percent of industries would show higher real profits this year; 30 percent would hold 1997 levels; and 14 percent would post lower profits, or show losses.

In addition, two out of three industries made capital investments.

Most companies kept the staff levels unchanged in 1998 but a fair number of profitable industries raised employment.

Industrialists were fairly optimistic about the outlook for 1999 with 73 percent of respondents expecting sales to rise further due to an anticipated real rise in demand for products; 40 percent seeing a real rise in profits; 47 percent likely to make investments at 1998 levels; and 33 percent holding investments steady.

The outlook for employment in 1999 was stagnant with two out of three industrialists saying they had no plans for fresh recruitment.

EU convergence feasible, industrialists say : Most industrialists polled said that the government's target of economic alignment with the European Union was feasible, according to the findings of ICAP's survey.

The majority of respondents believed that consumer price inflation and interest rates would maintain their decline.

In addition, they saw no threat to the stability of the drachma, again expressing confidence in the government's policy.

No company polled foresaw pressure on the drachma that could drive the national currency out of the European Union's exchange rate mechanism, and only 8.0 percent expected a major slide in the drachma.

Larger companies were more optimistic about the continuing decline of inflation and the country's entry into EU economic and monetary union (EMU) by the government's target date of January 1, 2001.

Eighty percent of firms responded affirmatively to the two statements and 10 percent negatively.

Smaller industries, which represented about 35 percent of the sample, were gloomier overall.

At the same time, companies across the board feared that the decline in interest rates would be too slight to radically change the high cost of bank loans.

Finally, ICAP noted a disturbingly high rate of ignorance (17 percent) about the repercussions of EMU, which accompanied optimism about joining the euro, the EU's future single currency.

ICAP president and Alpha Credit Bank director general A. Kyriakopoulos stressed there was no doubt Greek industry was now in a phase of recovery after a difficult effort of readjustment.

He denied that the cost of finance to industry was high, saying that about one-third of loans was in foreign currencies with very low interest rates (3-7 per cent). He also said the ratio of equity to borrowed capital had on average risen to 80 per cent from just 40 per cent in 1990.

SEB survey on business executives' support for EMU, euro : Ninety-eight per cent of top business executives are in favour of Greece's participation in Economic and Monetary Union and the common EU currency, according to a special survey by the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB).

The survey was based on a sample of 110 participants in a conference focusing on the effect of the euro on business activity, held in Thessaloniki.

Other findings of the survey are that 72 per cent of executives consider that Greece will probably accede to EMU in 2001.

Fifty per cent of respondents expect that short-term repercussions of the euro on their firms will be positive, while only 15 per cent think the impact will be negative.

Athens News Agency

[02] ABN-AMRO takes dim view of management change in state telecom

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The bank made the recommendation in its latest investment report for clients.

The previous managing director, George Chrysolouris, resigned a fortnight ago citing personal reasons, but acrimony followed his withdrawal from the state telecom, a briskly traded stock on the Athens bourse.

Announcement of the resignation had driven OTE's stock sharply lower on the New York bourse, where it was recently listed.

The company's management has since been in contact with international investment houses and institutional investors abroad in a bid to remove qualms about the change in personnel.

The transport and communications ministry, which oversees OTE, has proposed that George Symeonidis, vice-president of London-based Inmarsat, should be appointed as new managing director.

The appointment has to be endorsed by parliament in line with practice for key state-owned firms.

Athens News Agency

[03] Most Greek households see standard of living down, ICAP says

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

An ICAP survey held in 47 towns and cities on November 2-December 7 showed that of more than 1,000 households polled, 46.4 percent saw a decline in their finances in 1998 and 42.4 percent saw their circumstances unchanged.

Only 11 percent said their standard of living had improved. The respondents in the category were mainly from more educated sections of the population, and some were middle income farming families.

The reasons given by households who saw their living standards worsen in 1998 were a higher cost of living (45.7 percent) and a low rate of growth of available income (33.6 percent).

Asked to name their expectations for the coming year, only 15 percent of households forecast an improvement.

A 44.4 percent majority forecast stagnation in their living standards followed by 40.4 percent who expect to see a deterioration.

The reasons cited for a decline or stagnation in 1999 were a low rate of growth of available income (44.5 percent), consumer price inflation (27.4 percent), new family needs (13.1 percent), and a likely loss of sources of income due to unemployment or loss of a second job (10.4 percent).

Athens News Agency

[04] Stocks jump on bond auction, creep towards 2,500 points

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The general index ended 2.68 percent up at 2,488.89 points in light to moderate trade. Turnover nosed down to 62.7 billion drachmas from 66.5 billion in the previous session with 18,569,000 shares changing hands.

The FTSE/ASE-20 blue chip index gained 3.07 percent to finish at 1,540.55 points.

The parallel market for smaller cap stocks underperformed the general index, closing 1.34 percent higher.

Sector indices were mostly higher.

Banks jumped 2.96 percent, Leasing rose 1.96 percent, Insurance edged up 0.35 percent, Investment gained 1.32 percent, Construction lost 1.48 percent, Industrials surged 2.30 percent, Miscellaneous soared 3.22 percent, and Holding gained 0.91 percent.

Of 271 shares traded advances led declines at 172 to 81 with 18 unchanged.

Making its trading debut on the bourse's parallel market for smaller cap stocks was Kyriakidis Marble at 1,200 drachmas. It closed at 1,990 drachmas, up 65.8 percent on 359,000 shares traded. The usual limit up or limit down does not apply to new listings.

The most heavily traded stocks were Sarandis, Thessaliki, Eskimo and Viosol.

Scoring the highest percentage gains at the daily 8.0 percent upper volatility limit were Sysware, Commercial Invest, Radio Athine, Vasilopoulos, Metka (common and preferred), Euromedica, ELBE Apparel and Dimitriadis.

Posting the biggest percentage losses at or near the 8.0 percent limit down were Lambropoulos, Bank of Athens, Etma, Macedonian Spinning Mills, Keranis, Benroubi, Papoutsanis, Doudos, Xifias and Ippotur.

National Bank of Greece ended at 53,400 drachmas, Ergobank at 28,170, Alpha Credit Bank at 26,950, Ionian Bank at 13,550, Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation at 6,500, Delta Dairy at 3,410, Intracom at 12,400, Titan Cement at 20,000, Hellenic Petro leum at 2,175, Minoan Lines at 6,250, and Panafon at 6,995 drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[05] Athens bourse sees 24 new listings in 1998

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Five companies used listing on the parallel market as an incubator for growth, transferring to the main market in 1998, Ionian's Financial Research Division said in a report.

In addition, another 10 percent stake of state-owned Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) was listed on the main market, representing 302 billion drachmas.

In 1998 shares listed on the Athens bourse including main market transfers totalled 488 billion drachmas, the report said.

Entries into the bourse in 1997 were 12 representing 158 billion drachmas.

Beyond the new flotation by OTE, which was already listed, the highest funds were tapped by Panafon, a mobile phone operator, in an initial public offer (IPO) of 169.8 billion drachmas; and state-owned Hellenic Petroleum with a 50.9 billion drachma IPO.

Athens News Agency

[06] Bank of Attica launches loans for millennium bug, euro

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The two-year loan, called "Adapt to 2000", has a fixed interest of 15.8 percent and ceiling of 20 million drachmas.

Bank of Attica also announced that its floating rate loan for business premises is 12.5 percent.

Athens News Agency

[07] Barclays Bank cuts housing loan rates

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

• 9.3 percent fixed rate for five years
• 11.1 percent fixed rate for three years
• 12 percent for floating rate loans

The same rates apply for business premises, the bank said in a statement.

Athens News Agency

[08] Latest attempt to privatise Duty-Free Shops in March

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The decision was taken in light of a decision to be taken by the ECOFIN Council, which will examine the possibility of an extension to the special status of duty-free shops in EU member-states.

According to a deadline in effect, their status will expire in July. It has therefore been assessed that a decision for an extension, even a small one, until the end of 1999, will strengthen interest in their purchase.

Consequently, it was decided that March is the best time, as the situation will be clarified by then.

The last attempt by the government to privatise the Duty-Free Shops fell through, after an international tender was declared null when a French- Greek consortium failed to furnish a guarantee.

Athens News Agency

[09] SEB's Stratos confident in decreased interest rates, if inflation falls

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

He said that what is of importance, and which the Bank of Greece's administration has also stressed, is that a decrease in interest rates cannot precede inflation, adding that there will be a lag to ensure that the economy will not become overheated.

Mr. Stratos said that in any case interest rates are higher in Greece than they are in other countries and that it is anticipated that, provided the country joins Europe's Economic and Monetary Union at the end of 1999, there will also be a decrease in interest rates enabling them to equal European interest rates.

Consequently, he said, banks should make an effort to improve their operational cost as much as possible to enable them to adapt to this policy.

On the question of the settlement of debts owed by farmers, Mr. Stratos said that whatever writeoff of debts must be combined with securing the viability of a business.

SEB also announced data concerning the development of the purchase capacity of salary-earners' remuneration.

It said that real salaries increased in Greece at a rate of more than three times the corresponding ones in the European Union in its entirety during the 1995-1998 period.

Athens News Agency

[10] Slight decrease in petrol prices

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

According to announcements by the government, the decrease in super gasoline and unleaded will be one drachma per litre and in heating oil 0.10 drachmas per litre (for quantities in excess of 1,000 litres), while there will be an increase of 0.50 drachm as per litre for diesel.

In the Attica region and the Thessaloniki prefecture, super gasoline will cost 191.10 drachmas per litre, unleaded oil 174.50 drachmas per litre and heating oil 64.20 drachmas per litre.

Athens News Agency

[11] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            275.984 282.383
Can.Dollar           179.096 183.248
Australian Dlr       171.720 175.702
Pound Sterling       464.018 474.776
Irish Punt           413.366 422.951
Pound Cyprus         561.968 574.997
Pound Malta          684.340 712.854
Turkish pound (100)    0.080   0.083
French franc          49.640  50.791
Swiss franc          206.078 210.856
Belgian franc          8.070   8.258
German Mark          166.458 170.317
Finnish Mark          54.758  56.028
Dutch Guilder        147.704 151.128
Danish Kr.            43.761  44.776
Swedish Kr.           34.472  35.271
Norwegian Kr.         35.940  36.773
Austrian Sh.          23.673  24.222
Italian lira (100)    16.812  17.202
Yen (100)            238.348 243.874
Spanish Peseta         1.957   2.003
Port. Escudo           1.624   1.662

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             275.984 282.383
Montreal             179.096 183.248
Sydney               171.720 175.702
London               464.018 474.776
Dublin               413.366 422.951
Nicosia              561.968 574.997
Paris                 49.640  50.791
Zurich               206.078 210.856
Brussels               8.070   8.258
Frankfurt            166.458 170.317
Helsinki              54.758  56.028
Amsterdam            147.704 151.128
Copenhagen            43.761  44.776
Stockholm             34.472  35.271
Oslo                  35.940  36.773
Vienna                23.673  24.222
Milan                 16.812  17.202
Tokyo                238.348 243.874
Madrid                 1.957   2.003
Lisbon                 1.624   1.662

Athens News Agency

[12] Skandalidis finds proposal for progressive coalition 'interesting'

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Synaspismos leader Nikos Constantopoulos made the proposal.

Following a central committee meeting, Mr. Skandalidis also said that PASOK does not refuse joint actions and cooperations even on a non-governmental level.

"The priority, however, is for a strong government to exist and that can be possible either by a united party or by a coalition of forces with common policies and strategies," he said.

The PASOK secretary counter-proposed a dialogue "without pre-conceived perceptions and preconditions."

Mr. Skandalidis added that any discussions on the election law - as Mr. Constantopoulos proposed - without convergence would be a "dialogue for the sharing of powers", a discussion which is, at least, "untimely."

He also said that "PASOK can not abdicate from power " and will claim the government on the same terms, during the next general elections."

He also called ND's political proposal "empty of content" and said that the "country will enter into adventures if it would be governed by ND."

Mr. Skandalidis recalled a recent MRB poll, which he claimed proved that voters did not trust ND to rule the country.

Speaking on the current education sector problems, Mr. Skandalidis said "the refrom is correct regarding its principles and philoshophy; it is supported by all of PASOK and we are hoping for its realisation in its entirety, because it regards the future of the new generation and the country."

He expressed the hope that the upheaval in the education sector will end, while he reminded that PASOK's executive bureau supported Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis and his reforms.

Addressing internal PASOK affairs, Mr. Skandalidis said the party "should appear united" in light of its increased responsibilities and duty to confront the country's major problems.

"We are not toying with issues of double elections, or other senarios which weaken the total prospect of the country, the course and the goals we have set," he said.

He added that, on the other hand, a turn toward issues regarding the quality of life and work is considered necessary.

Finally, he said the issue of expelled party cadres will be discussed during the next meeting of PASOK's central committee.

Athens News Agency

[13] Fog postpones Pangalos visit to Islamabad

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The Falcon-type aircraft returned to Kuwait, where the foreign minister had just completed a two-day visit. He will return to Athens today.

Greece and Pakistan were expected to sign a bilateral agreement on tourism cooperation and a memorandum on talks between the two countries' foreign ministries.

Athens News Agency

[14] Schengen executive committee approves Athens' implementation of pact's provisions

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The foreign ministry's secretary general for European affairs, Stelios Perrakis, represented Greece at the Berlin meeting yesterday and also announced the approval.

His announcement noted that Greece has recorded considerable progress, especially in airports and security adjustments in its external borders.

Greece will notify EU Schengen Pact members when required preconditions will be fulfilled with regard to protection of land and sea borders, the announcement stated.

The Schengen committee will then verify and decide on the lifting of internal border controls, expected within 1999.

Athens News Agency

[15] Simitis briefs Stephanopoulos on EU summit

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Stephanopoulos told the premier that he had been following developments with regard to the EU summit through the press.

On his part, Mr. Simitis commented that the Union is now focusing on employment and joint efforts for an external policy, "but there are also certain difficulties concerning cuts in funding."

After the meeting, Mr. Simitis told reporters that although there were difficulties over funding, Greece and other EU member-states had a common position to press for their interests.

Athens News Agency

[16] Third locally produced frigate received by Hellenic Navy

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The third frigate, the 'Salamis', will be operational shortly, according to navy officials.

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who was at the delivery ceremony yesterday, said that the completion of the contract within the time frame foreseen under the 1998 agreement proved that the shipyards were in a position to be a strategically important and productive agency for the local defence industry and deal with international competition.

He said he hoped to conclude the signing of a contract for the construction of four gunboats by the Skaramangas Shipyards at the beginning of February, saying the delay in signing the contract had been due to the lack of a final decision on which arms systems the gunboats should be equipped with.

Also on the agenda for the first quarter of the year is a contract for the construction of three submarines, which will be a first for the shipyards. The submarines' construction is scheduled to begin in 2003 and be completed in 2010.

Athens News Agency

[17] Christodoulos focuses on drug problem with Deputy Health Minister Kotsonis

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Afterwards, Christodoulos stressed that the state and the Church have decided on close cooperation in the sectors of welfare, protection for needy people and relief for the afflicted, among others. He added that closer cooperation is required both in the Attica area as well as all over the country.

Athens News Agency

[18] ND meets over 1999 budget

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

According to sources, ND will keep an aggressive stance and will maintain that the new budget will lead the country to a nominal, not real economic convergence with the economies of other EU member-states.

The party will also attack the government over what it called its failure to sell state-run Ionian Bank and the Hellenic Duty-Free Shops, as well as for the stagnation of structural changes, sources said.

It will further present tables showing the tax burden on all social groups and will again put forth a proposal for tax relieves and a rise in the non- taxable income to two million drachmas.

Mr. Karamanlis will propose the privatisation of debt-ridden Olympic Airways, the Urban Transports Organisation (OASA) and state-owned banks, the same sources added.

Athens News Agency

[19] EMU's supplement an imperative for gov't: Simitis

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Simitis was commenting yesterday on discussions held at the Vienna summit in reply to a relevant question by PASOK deputy Ilias Papadopoulos.

Mr. Simitis tried to allay the deputy's concern over a freeze on European Union funds, saying that "extreme positions were set out by the Austrian presidency, but they will not be accepted. Our hope is that is that we will achieve satisfactory settlemen ts. We must not be concerned, but we must be very careful in negotiations."

He further said that the issue of the allocation of funds is open in the EU and Spain, Portugal and Greece have reacted to proposals made by northern countries and have insisted on the implementation of what is already being underway.

Referring to common foreign policy issues discussed in Vienna, he said that Greece expressed its steadfast position that "the Balkans must constitute the object of the European Union's interest."

Athens News Agency

[20] EU employment exhibition in Athens

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The products exhibition of the EU Employment and ADAPT Initiatives includes the presentation of printed and electronic educational and informational material, as well as items made by trainees during the practical part of their training.

The purpose of the exhibition is the dissemination and promotion of appropriate practices for agencies implementing plans contained in the initiatives' second round, utilisation of products by enterprises and their adoption and incorporation in the nati onal vocational training and promotion policy of the employment initiative.

Athens News Agency

[21] Memorial service for victims of Yakovlev crash

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The Yakovlev plane had taken off from Kiev and was about to land at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport. An initial inquiry ruled that pilots were lost when the plane went down west of the airport.

Relatives of victims have filed lawsuits demanding damages, while two conflicting reports have been issued on the accident.

One report placed responsibility with Macedonia Airport air-traffic controllers and the control tower supervisor.

Conversely, an experts' committee set up by the Greek Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), which examined the plane's flight recorder, ruled that the pilots' failure to locate the exact position of the airport runway led to the tragedy.

Athens News Agency

[22] Athens says it's confident of Nicosia's handling S-300 issue

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said that nothing had changed concerning the deployment of the missiles.

Asked whether the anti-aircraft missiles had been loaded for transport to Cyprus, the spokesman responded: "...the issue is being handled by Nicosia and the Russian company for them to implement what was agreed upon."

He added that undrestanding between Athens and Nicosia was achieved between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides during their last meeting in Athens.

Nicosia on 'Crete prospect' : NICOSIA (ANA - G. Leonidas) Meanwhile, the Cypriot government accepts the installation and full deployment of the S- 300 missiles on Crete instead of Cyprus, on condition there will be satisfactory guarantees for the Cypriot people's sense of security, press sources said here yesterday.

The same sources said Washington seems to understand the terms set by Nicosia, namely, guarantees by the US, the presidency of the European Union and the Security Council of the UN that would offset the sense of insecurity caused by Turkey's military presence and superiority.

A government source confirmed that Nicosia asked for a few-days' delay in the shipment of the missiles, while Cyprus Radio reported that Moscow, after receiving detailed information on the content of current deliberations, "responded positively to the request."

Finally, Cyprus government spokesman Christos Stylianides, who returned from Athens yesterday, said there were indications that the international community has begun acting on the logic of demilitarisation, and that the Greek and Cypriot governments wo uld evaluate the results of their merits.

Athens News Agency

[23] Tourist arrivals up in '98, SETE official says

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

SETE president Spyros Kokotos referred to the need for the immediate promotion of necessary institutional changes directed increasing quality and called on the state to proceed with the provision of a "star status" system for Greek hotels, something ann ounced but never implemented.

However, he said he believes the Greek Tourist Organisation (EOT) lacks the means to convincingly implement the transition from a category system to the star system, given the reaction by several hoteliers who believe they will be harmed by the new system.

Mr. Kokotos also sounded the alarm over the problem of air traffic controllers which, as he said, "is simmering".

Athens News Agency

[24] Lack of environmental measures leads to Commission action against Greece

BRUSSELS 17/12/1998 (ANA - P. Pantelis)

The Commission accused Greece and Portugal of not enacting legislation conforming with European Union regulation 1836/1993 on environmental management and ecological controls.

The regulation prescribes mandatory participationby industries. Actions mandated by the regulations include an environmental programme, a management system, controls and public information.

Athens News Agency

[25] Widespread vandalism at Thessaloniki school

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

Students of the school who are occupying the premises in protest at education ministry reforms said that some of the youths, who were not students, approached them and offered them narcotics.

About 50 junior and senior high schools are under occupation in the northern Greek city.

Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas yesterday reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the ministry's reforms "in their entirety".

He expressed optimism that the spate of school occupations around the country, thought to number about 1,500, were decreasing in number.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting on a number of issues, including teacher shortages, education ministry changes to grading and examinations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, the introduction of open university type programmes, and changes to procedures for appointing new teachers.

Also sparking discontent are budget allocations for education, private schooling, and the prosecution of those occupying or vandalising school property.

Athens News Agency

[26] Civil aviation work stoppages during Christmas week

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The Federation of Civil Aviation Authority Unions (OSYPA) said its members would hold two four-hour walkouts from Dec. 21 through to Dec. 23. The work stoppages begin at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

OSYPA said it was taking the action to press for the immediate hiring of personnel to cover needs at regional airports around the country.

Also striking are the union of telecommunications employees, who will stage a four-hour walkout from 12 noon on Dec. 18 and from 9 a.m. on Dec. 19. They are calling for the immediate appointment of 95 people.

Athens News Agency

[27] Kaklamanis on EU stance vis-a-vis Cyprus accession process

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

"From the moment a discussion of any repercussions on the Union other than those concerning accession of any country outside the group of candidates as a condition for the adoption of the final political decision for Cypriot accession, Europe will cease being the one envisioned by its peoples and will be a hostage of a crude Turkish blackmail," he said after receiving the ambassador of the Netherlands to Greece, Paul Brouwer, in his office yesterday.

Mr. Brouwer said his country was in favour of the continuation of the process of Cypriot accession.

Mr. Kaklamanis later received Australian ambassador Ross Burns, with whom he discussed a visit by an Australian parliamentary delegation to Greece next summer.

Athens News Agency

[28] Dropouts, unemployed more likely to have drug dependency: survey

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

"Most users experiment with cannabis or pills at around 16. This age coincides with the age they left school," Gerasimos Notaras, the president of the Centre for Drug Dependency (KETHEA), told a news conference.

Mr. Notaras was presenting the centre's annual survey of the details of those who sought help from KETHEA's nine centres in 1997.

Of those questioned for the survey, 76.3 per cent said they took heroin on a regular basis. Of all those seeking help form KETHEA, 71 per cent were unemployed or had occasional employment, and 72.3 per cent lived with their parents.

He underlined that preventative programmes had to be designed to reach those who had left school. Also needed were vocational guidance and job re- entry programmes for those who had shaken their dependency.

KETHEA director Haris Poulopoulos said there was a need to set up specific programmes for special needs users, such as mothers and foreigners.

However, he warned, KETHEA needed more financing to be able to develop and implement these programmes.

Athens News Agency

[29] Strong winds hit Crete

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The school's principal said the classroom in which most of the debris fell was empty at the time.

The prefecture of Hania has borne the brunt of the recent cold snap, with torrential rain, strong winds and low temperatures hitting the region for the second consecutive day.

Part of a wall on the old port of Hania was brought down by the rough seas on Tuesday, and strong winds uprooted a number of trees in the area.

Heavy rain caused subsidence yesterday along part of the national road linking Hania and Rethymno and on one rural road.

Phone and power company crews have been working since early in the morning to restore damage to lines which resulted in blackouts on Tuesday.

Television and radio station antennae in the region of Malaga have also been damaged by the winds while the bad weather conditions also forced the cancellation of a morning Olympic Airways flight from the city.

Athens News Agency

[30] New hospital for Athens next year

Athens 17/12/1998 (ANA)

The president of the Errikos Dynan Foundation, A. Martinis, said the hospital is expected to be fully operational after the summer.

The hospital will be able to treat 450 patients and its staff will exceed 900.

Athens News Agency

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