Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 98-12-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] 1999 state budget approved,no surprises in voting

[02] Deutsche Bank buys 10 per cent of Eurobank

[03] Mark-to-market system adopted

[04] EIB loan for Greek infrastructure projects

[05] Greek equities end higher

[06] 20 Greek firms among Europe's most dynamic

[07] Majority buy-out of Greek software firm

[08] Druckfarben share capital increase

[09] Citibank interest rates

[10] Athens hospital physicians' work-stoppages over payments

[11] Civil aviation employees suspend strikes

[12] Athens Foreign Exchange

[13] Tsohatzopoulos calls for changes in PASOK's policies, people

[14] Pangalos refers to centre majority at Piraeus event

[15] Gov't stresses interim agreement with FYROM,Papathemelis warns of `Macedonia` compromise

[16] Gov't proceeds with education reforms,students prepare road blocks

[17] Baseball the topic of Burns-Fouras meeting

[18] New president of ethnic Greek group 'Omonia'

[19] Number of Greek patients seeking foreign medical care dropping

[20] `Izvestia`: Several Russian criminals fled to Greece with fake documents

[21] Police suspect child abduction ring out of Russia

[22] Larko workers decide mobilisations to protest lay-offs

[23] Increased municipal budget for Athens

[24] Mountain climber dies on Mount Parnitha

[25] Mushrooms poison three on Crete

[26] EOA: Renovation of stadium through private investors

[01] 1999 state budget approved,no surprises in voting

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Specifically, 161 deputies voted in favour, 135 against, one MP was present, while there were three absences.

In addition, the eight Democratic Social Movement(DHKKI) deputies voted in favour of defence expenditures.

Concluding a five-day debate, Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his conviction that the government will win the next general elections in 2000, thanks to its efforts for modernising the country and EMU accession, as he noted.

Referring to the "prosperity of figures" characterising the Greek economy, as he called them, Mr. Simitis criticised the main opposition New Democracy party of exposing itself by disputing macro-economic factors and also of speaking of "accounting tricks" at a time when figures are checked and ratified by the European Commission.

"Do they know better than the European Commission? Do they probably represent the interests of foreigners who do not want us to join EMU?" he said.

He criticised ND leader Costas Karamanlis in general to the effect that "he is distorting reality continuously and conscientiously" and that "he is cultivating false impressions...levelling everything in the name of political prevalence." He also said the ND leader is "constinuously speaking of disasters", rendering a substantive dialogue impossible in this way.

Mr. Simitis also criticised the other opposition parties of voicing "words of decline" and distorting reality, trying to convince the Greek citizen that Greece's course is worsening at a time when the country is being transformed daily and at rates which have drawn the recognition of the European Union, all international organisations and the most authoritative international mass media.

He said that reality is that Greece is converging with the other EU countries.

"We are joining Europe with our worth. Nobody is giving accession to us," he said, rejecting criticism from the opposition that the country will indeed join EMU, but this will take place following a harmful political transaction.

Mr. Simitis also offered assurances that "the more the course of the economy improves, the more Greek people will be given the price of their toils."

S-300 : Meanwhile, Mr. Simitis said the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile system purchased by Cyprus were not a "mean in itself", but a bolster to Cyprus' defence and to promote a political solution for the long- standing problem.

Responding to ND criticism, Mr. Simitis recalled that the present government had promoted the Cyprus issue in the best way, saying the opening of EU accession talks was an achievement of Athens' efforts.

With regard to the Greece-Cyprus joint defence doctrine, Mr. Simitis underlined that ND was the party that had lodged initially objections and voiced criticism.

Papariga : In beginning her statements on the budget, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga said Greece is being led to EMU "as a lamb to slaughter".

Ms Papariga added that a compromise and subjugation to what she called a "neo-liberal policy" is being pushed forward, not only by the conservative parties, but by the social-democrat party and the self-styled "non- dogmatical, left renewal," as she called it.

She also critisised the economic policies of the government, noting that it has imposed new taxes and nullify social wellfare.

Finally, she reiterated KKE's proposal for an "anti-impe-rialist", "anti- monopoli-stic democratic front".

Constantopoulos : Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos said the 1999 budget was moving within the context of a policy the government has been following over the past two years, sealed by "the hunt for nominal goals of EMU."

Mr. Constantopoulos added the government's convergence policy has an immense social cost, while he accused it of failing to distribute the burden of EMU accession fairly, putting pressure on social weaker groups.

He further referred to the fact that only half of EU funds had been absorbed and that labour costs in Greece remained the lowest in Europe.

Pangalos, Tsohatzopoulos : Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos said ND did not take advantage of the budget debate to submit proposals, rather to create impressions.

He also said that all governments are four to five percentage points behind the main opposition party in mid-term polls, however, this is the first time that the main opposition is disapproved more that the government, he claimed

Mr. Pangalos also attacked Mr. Karamanlis for what he called the ND leader's "unpreced-ented" opinion of the Greek economy.

"When the GDP is increasing by 3.5 per cent...it is not a time when the prime minister is enclosed in a glass tower, rather Mr. Karamanlis is closed in a tower of hallucinations, due to the results of the temporary polls."

As for the prime minister's absence from Mr.Karamanlis' Sunday night address, Mr. Pangalos said the main opposition party leader usually speaks on the last night, just before the premier.

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos called on all parties to vote in favour of defence expenditures, as an option recognising Greece's international role as a force of peace and stability in the region.

Referring to the defence ministry's expenditures, he said that they will increase by 4.26 per cent in 1999 and amount to 1.2 trillion drachmas.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said the country's accession EMU constitutes a supportive and upgrading leap for the Greek economy. He said that ruling PASOK and European socialists, contrary to the logic of neo-liberalism, pursue the balancing of enlarged social in equalities in Europe and to have social justice proceed together with productivity, competitiveness and growth.

Commenting on the Greek people's "great course" towards EMU, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos criticised what he called the policy of the Greek economy's "demolition" by New Democracy during the 1990-1993 period, and called on the main opposition party not to appear "innocent" and criticise the PASOK government of not preparing Greece's entry to EMU in 1999.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos predicted an increase in incomes next year, as well as a decrease in taxation and the combatting of unemployment.

Development Minister Vasso Papandreou said that the budget "condenses the long-standing sacrifices of the Greek people, which brought the country to the threshold of EMU."

As the previous PASOK ministers before her, she criticised Mr. Karamanlis for making "unwise statements" on a supposed course of the Greek economy "towards disaster", while now he is "admitting" that Greece will enter EMU.

"Our participation in EMU constitutes an instrument enabling Greece to become more powerful and for us to proceed with a bold taxation reform. Mitsotakis On his part, ND honourary president Constantine Mitsotakis accused the Simitis government of making an "orgy" of grants, even in 1996, and compared the 1990-1993 period when, as he said, the number of civil servants decreased by 55,000 while during the pr esent period they increased by 30,000.

Mr. Mitsotakis spoke of an "invisible deficit" amounting to eight trillion drachmas, whose existence the government "admits" in this year's budget and reiterated a past proposal of his for an in camera discussion on armaments programmes at the foreign a ffairs and defence committee.

Finally, Political Spring (Pol.An) leader Antonis Samaras, whose party is not represented in Parliament, said the 1999 state budget will not lead to convergence but deviation.

In comments prior to the vote on the budget, Mr. Samaras said that in order to enter EMU the government has kept the country bound in "a new cycle of austerity".

Athens News Agency

[02] Deutsche Bank buys 10 per cent of Eurobank

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Deutsche Bank enters the Greek market by establishing a strategic partnership with the EFG Eurobank group in Greece. EFG is the second largest private sector banking group, with total assets of DM 10 billion (1.7 trillion drachmas).

As part of the deal, Deutsche Bank purchased a 10 percent stake in EFG Eurobank from the majority shareholder Consolidated Eurofinance Holdings SA Luxembourg, which now retails an 81 percent stake in Eurobank.

The alliance is a further step in the German bank's European expansion. After selective major acquisitions in Italy, Spain and recently in Belgium, the deal highlights Deutsche Bank's commitment to further improving its position in Europe.

Bernd A. von Maltzan, member of the divisional board of retail and private banking of Deutsche Bank said that cooperation with Eurobank was an important step in the bank's European strategy, which aims to be the leader in the distribution of financial s ervices and gathering assets in Europe.

"The cooperation with Eurobank offers a great opportunity for our asset management division, especially with regard to the distribution of international mutual funds," he said.

"The Greek market has developed significantly in recent years. In addition, the microeconomic and political environment has improved considerably. Today Greece is in a position to become an EMU member in the foreseeable future," Mr. von Maltzan said.

Nicholas Nanopoulos, Eurobank's managing director said:

"Our cooperation with Deutsche Bank is based on reciprocity and will be implemented through exclusive product agreements. This strategic partnership, strengthens our international competence and allows us to offer our customers better access to the inte rnational financial services and products. Furthermore, it offers the opportunity to consolidate a leading position in the Greek banking system."

The partnership is the first of this nature to enter into the Greek banking sector and is a consequence of the rapid convergence of the Greek economy with that of its European partners.

EFG Eurobank has 3,500 employees serving more than 600,000 customers. The bank expects pre-tax profits of 115 mln DM this year (19.5 billion drachmas) from 50 mln DMarks in 1997.

Eurobank acquired the majority of Bank of Athens with 23 branches and Cretabank with 89 branches to a total of 170 branches. Owners will be Latsis family interests (81 percent), Deutsche Bank (10 percent) and private investors (9 percent). Deutsche Bank is headquartered in Frankfurt. Total assets exceed 1.1 trillion DMarks. The Group has 2,300 offices in more than 50 countries and employs 75,900 people.

Athens News Agency

[03] Mark-to-market system adopted

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

The change will be gradually implemented from February to June 1999, Finance Undersecretary Nikos Christodoulakis said Monday, following a meeting with Capital Markets Committee chairman Stavros Thomadakis and Bank of Greece board member Panagiotis Thomopoulos.

The new system aims to improve transparency in Greece's mutual funds market and to strengthen the operation of a state bond secondary market in the country.

Athens News Agency

[04] EIB loan for Greek infrastructure projects

BRUSSELS 22/12/1998 (ANA/G.Daratos)

The sum of 8.3 million Ecu will be used to finance infrastructure works in Heraklion Crete, and restoration of Mount Athos monasteries.

A sum of 200 million Ecus will be given in long-term loans to finance small infrastructure projects in Greece, included in a Second Community Support Framework programme.

They include roads, ports, airports, water and drainage networks, and environmental projects.

EIB has earmarked 510 million Ecus for investment projects in Greece since 1991.

Athens News Agency

[05] Greek equities end higher

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

The index ended 1.11 percent up to 2,526.48 points in heavy turnover of 55.4 billion drachmas. Volume was 11,800,000 shares.

Sector indices were mixed. Banks rose 2.51 percent, Leasing fell 0.03 percent, Insurance increased 0.35 percent, Investment ended 1.09 percent up, Construction rose 2.31 percent, Industrials dropped 0.43 percent, Miscellaneous fell 0.28 percent and Hold ing eased 0.20 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 0.39 percent up.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 153 to 94 with another 25 issues unchanged. Eskimo, Hellenic Telecoms, Viosol and Hellenic Petroleum were the most heavily traded stocks.

Despec soared 33.4 percent on its first day of trading in the market. Bank of Athens, Kallinis, Britannia, Chalyps Cement, Viosol, Athinea, Kekrops and Nematemboriki scored the biggest percentage gains hitting the daily 8.0 percent limit up.

Eskimo, Desmos, Daring, Papoutsanis, Thessaliki, Sanyo, Mouriadis, Macedonian Plastics, Giannousis and Folli-Follie suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 54,850 drachmas, Ergobank at 28,900, Alpha Credit Bank at 27,490, Ionian Bank at 13,980, Hellenic Telecoms at 6,835, Delta Dairy at 3,525, Intracom at 12,200, Titan Cement at 19,595, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,200 and Minoa n Lines at 6,380.

Athens News Agency

[06] 20 Greek firms among Europe's most dynamic

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

The 20 Greek firms, 11 of which are also listed on the Athens Stock Exchange, are: AEGEK, Athina, Aloumil Mylonas, Air Greece, Germanos, Delta, DIEKAT, Doral, ETANE, Lavifarm, Mailis, Masoutis, Mevgal, Moda Bagno, Nirefs, Nomiki Vivliothiki, Plastica Thrakis, Sarantis, Sklavos and Wackenhut.

Europe's "500" functions as an informal adviser for the European Union's 23rd department. Its next conference, at which these companies will be given awards, will take place in Edinburgh in March 1999.

Athens News Agency

[07] Majority buy-out of Greek software firm

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Neurosoft is active in a wide range of integrated software systems, as well as in providing services for high technology projects in the Greek and international market.

The price of the purchase will amount to 160-170 million drachmas, officials of Epiphaneia-Intertyp told a press conference yesterday. In 1998, Neurosoft's turnover (in both its legal forms) exceeded 250 million drachmas and pre-tax profits are estimated at 150 million drachmas.

The Epiphaneia-Intertyp company, which is active in the sector of printed and electronic communication, resulted from a merger between the two independent companies Epiphaneia and Intertyp.

For 1998, the company anticipates a consolidated turnover of 4.5 billion drachmas and pre-tax profits of 491 million drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[08] Druckfarben share capital increase

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

It was unanimously decided that the company's share capital will increase by 77,614,000 drachmas and will consequently amount to 465,686,400 drachmas. Druckfarben, which was recently listed on the Athens Stock Exchange's Parallel Market, is involved in the production of ink.

Athens News Agency

[09] Citibank interest rates

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[10] Athens hospital physicians' work-stoppages over payments

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

"Patission" and "Aghia Olga" hospital doctors continue their work-stoppages, while "Aghios Savvas" employees yesterday decided to hold a work-stop-page, demanding payment of due retroactive pay.

The Athens-Piraeus Hospital Doctors Union is meeting tonight to consider further actions to be taken regarding their demands for payment of duty- time.

Athens News Agency

[11] Civil aviation employees suspend strikes

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

In a related development, the management of Athens' trolley network is seeking recourse to the courts against the employees' union call for work stoppages.

Athens News Agency Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

[12] Athens Foreign Exchange

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes            Buying  Selling
US Dollar            277.175 283.601
Can.Dollar           178.957 183.106
Australian Dlr       171.616 175.595
Pound Sterling       466.855 477.679
Irish Punt           414.001 423.600
Pound Cyprus         561.452 574.470
Pound Malta          687.293 715.930
Turkish pound (100)    0.081   0.084
French franc          49.679  50.831
Swiss franc          205.319 210.080
Belgian franc          8.077   8.264
German Mark          166.582 170.444
Finnish Mark          54.873  56.146
Dutch Guilder        147.843 151.271
Danish Kr.            43.805  44.820
Swedish Kr.           34.672  35.476
Norwegian Kr.         36.319  37.161
Austrian Sh.          23.681  24.230
Italian lira (100)    16.821  17.211
Yen (100)            240.044 245.610
Spanish Peseta         1.958   2.004
Port. Escudo           1.626   1.664

Foreign Exchange     Buying  Selling
New York             277.175 283.601
Montreal             178.957 183.106
Sydney               171.616 175.595
London               466.855 477.679
Dublin               414.001 423.600
Nicosia              561.452 574.470
Paris                 49.679  50.831
Zurich               205.319 210.080
Brussels               8.077   8.264
Frankfurt            166.582 170.444
Helsinki              54.873  56.146
Amsterdam            147.843 151.271
Copenhagen            43.805  44.820
Stockholm             34.672  35.476
Oslo                  36.319  37.161
Vienna                23.681  24.230
Milan                 16.821  17.211
Tokyo                240.044 245.610
Madrid                 1.958   2.004
Lisbon                 1.626   1.664

Athens News Agency

[13] Tsohatzopoulos calls for changes in PASOK's policies, people

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

In an interview with the Athens daily "Vradyni", Mr. Tsohatzopoulos reiterated his assessment of a defeat for PASOK in last October's municipal and prefectural elections and added that their results showed the direction in which PASOK and the government must move.

"PASOK must go ahead now on the basis of the decisions we took after the prefectural and municipal elections. Political initiatives of a very wide acceptance and interest are necessary now," he said.

Despite the fact that he is sounding the alarm, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos appears optimistic since, as he said, there is (the main opposition party) New Democracy's weakness and lack of policies for handling the present problems of the country and the people.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos attended the swearing-in ceremony for the cadets at the Greek Military Academy.

Athens News Agency

[14] Pangalos refers to centre majority at Piraeus event

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

The event focused on the issue of "Before 2000 - What coalition of power?".

Mr. Pangalos said that since 70 per cent of Greek society is squarely in the middle class, the corresponding political formation that can express this group is a new political majority of the centre.

Athens News Agency

[15] Gov't stresses interim agreement with FYROM,Papathemelis warns of `Macedonia` compromise

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas was speaking after comments by ruling PASOK MP for Thessaloniki and former minister Stelios Papathemelis that the government was ready to accept the name "Republic of Macedonia-Skopje" for the neighbouring former Yugoslav republic.

Replying to reporters' questions, Mr. Reppas said he was not aware of comments by Mr. Papathemelis in Parliament nor of the documents cited by the deputy.

Mr. Papathemelis said during a debate in the House on the 1999 budget that he was in possession of a document issued by the finance ministry's customs department showing that the alphabetical classification of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ( FYROM) would change as of the new year.

The document, dated Oct. 23, 1998, informs customs points that the code for FYROM remained XJ to the end of the year and would become MK as of Jan. 1.

Athens and Skopje have been at loggerheads over the country's name since the republic declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Greece opposes the use of the name 'Macedonia' by the landlocked republic, arguing it conceals expansionist designs against its northern province of Macedonia.

Athens and Skopje's relations have improved markedly since they signed an interim agreement in New York in September 1995, under UN auspices.

Under the terms of the agreement, Greece and FYROM are to proceed with discussions to find a mutually acceptable solution for the name issue. These talks are being conducted under UN auspices.

Trade between Greece and FYROM is expected to exceed US$250 million in 1998, while Greek investments in the neighbouring country amount to $50 million, first among foreign investors in FYROM.

Pangalos in Skopje today : Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos will pay a one-day visit to Skopje today, at the invitation of new prime minister Ljubco Geor-gievski.

Mr. Pangalos is expected to meet with FYROM government officials on developments in the Balkans and international affairs and will exchange views on the present state of bilateral relations and room for improvement, according to the foreign ministry.

Athens News Agency

[16] Gov't proceeds with education reforms,students prepare road blocks

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

"The government has chosen the path of force of persuasion and not the persuasiveness of force," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said.

"The reforms must be implemented because they are responsive to the needs of the times," he said.

Students protesting education ministry reforms said on Sunday they would hold road blocks on national highways and in major cities today to press their demand the ministry withdraw the controversial changes.

Student committees from around the country meeting in Athens vowed to continue their protests until the ministry withdrew the law.

They said they aimed to cut off circulation on the national highways "from the Peloponnese to Evros".

Summary road blocks and occupations of schools have been the major characteristics of the weeks-long movement by students at high schools to have the education ministry change its tack on the changes.

Students are protesting 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.

Reports from Thessaloniki said that the number of schools under occupation was falling as students returned to classrooms, just days before school lets out for Christmas holidays.

Parents and teaching authorities were optimistic that occupations of school buildings would peter out during the holiday break, despite claims by students to the contrary.

The meeting on Sunday decided occupations of school buildings will continue throughout the Christmas and New Year season at a number of locations, while students have also planned a rally in Athens on Jan. 15.

The committees said they would review their protest action again on Jan. 24.

Athens News Agency

[17] Baseball the topic of Burns-Fouras meeting

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

It was agreed that a bilateral sports cooperation protocol be signed in January 1999 at a special ceremony.

One of the issues discussed was the promotion of baseball in Greece. Mr. Burns assured the president of the Greek baseball federation that he would personally do everything possible to promote the sport in Greece.

Athens News Agency

[18] New president of ethnic Greek group 'Omonia'

GJIROKASTER 22/12/1998 (ANA - P. Barka)

Mr. Dules, from Gjirokaster's Kalogorantzi village, holds a degree in English literature and was a leading member of the December 1990 students' movement that led to the toppling of the Alia regime.

Mr. Dules, a close associate of Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and All Albania, was elected to the Albanian parliament in 1996 with the Human Rights Union party.

He was elected in a marathon voting session Sunday that capped the two-day, fourth Omonia general conference in Sarande.

Athens News Agency

[19] Number of Greek patients seeking foreign medical care dropping

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Mr. Solomos was addressing the "Seventh Health and Health Policies Forum", which was held in the town of Karpenisi over the weekend.

He added that patients' trust in public hospitals, as well as of the state- of-the-art Onassion Heart Surgery Centre was increasing, as the number of people treated in hospitals affiliated with the National Health System (ESY) had increased considerably.

Accoriding to the reccords, in 1991 the number of patients who travelled abroad for treatment, mainly to London, stood at 2,738, costing IKA more than 5.8 billion drachmas.

The number of patients seeking treatment abroad has since been dropping, reaching last year 931.

Private clinics in the same period increased their revenues, but the number of patients treated dropped.

Mr. Somolos said that despite existing problems in infrastructure, more patients were addmitted in public hospitals, while at the same time treatment duration has drop-ped.

However, several health technocrats addressing the forum disputed Mr. Solomos' optimistic observations, saying that public hospitals do not pay any attension with regard to quality of care, while patients are insufficiently briefed by doctors.

Athens News Agency

[20] `Izvestia`: Several Russian criminals fled to Greece with fake documents

MOSCOW 22/12/1998 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)

"This has attracted an intense interest of the general prosecutor of Russia, as well as tracking down on capital illegally exported from Russia," the newspaper stated.

Russian officials believe that the fact that these Russian criminals had obtained Greek citizenship illegally would facilitate their extradition to Russia, it said.

Russian general prosecutor Yuri Skuratov, who recently visited Greece and held talks with the president of the Greek Supreme Court, presented a draft cooperation agreement between the prosecution authorities of the two countries which he hopes will be signed soon, the newspaper said.

The draft, it added, provides inter alia for joint action with the Greek prosecution authority, the operation of a joint Greek-Russian judicial team and exchanges of information on each other's legislation.

Mr. Skuratov told Izvestia that tracking down and securing the return of money illegally taken out of Russia was very important for his country. Russian "black money" has been channelled to Greece, as well as other countries, and that is why Moscow hopes to sign an agreement with Athens so that Greek judicial authorities would make more stringent checks on the source of money kept by Russian citizens in bank accounts in Greece, Mr. Skuratov was quoted as saying by Izvestia.

He also thanked the Greek authorities for their "substantial contribution" in the extradition of Andrei Kazlenok, a notorious Russian outlaw, Izvestia said.

Athens early this year extradited Kazlenok, the so-called "diamond king" and a protagonist in the "Golden ANTA" case concerning the looting of public property by high-ranking government officials in Russia.

Mr. Skuratov had said at the time that Kazlenok's extradition would enable a full investigation into the case to determine whether political figures were also involved.

Lack of judicial cooperation agreements between Russia and the US and Belgium had rendered Russian efforts to extradite Kazlenok or his accomplices fruitless.

Athens News Agency

[21] Police suspect child abduction ring out of Russia

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Sisters Natasha, 11, and Svieta, 8, as well as another young girl, were believed abducted from Russia by Kesova Tsala, 35, and Anatolia Feinarova, 38. Both women were sentenced to six months in jail by a Thessaloniki court for using false travel documen ts before being deported from Greece.

The two women were planning to sell all three children, but they managed to sell only one to a Greek couple, while police believe the two are members of an international ring.

Authorities in Russia are trying to locate the two women and find out whether they had abducted other children.

Athens News Agency

[22] Larko workers decide mobilisations to protest lay-offs

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

According to Larko's management, lay-offs are the result of a continuous decrease in international nickel prices, while Larko workers claim the lay- offs are the first step in plans to close the company.

Today's protest and others scheduled for the coming weeks were decided at a meeting of trade union officials in Larymna on Sunday.

On Jan. 14, workers will hold a rally in Athens and hold a three-hour work stoppage in all the prefectures of central Greece. In cooperation with the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE), Larko workers will also seek a meeting with Prime Mi nister Costas Simitis and Development Minister Vasso Papandreou.

Athens News Agency

[23] Increased municipal budget for Athens

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

According to press reports, the 1999 municipal budget was expected to total 127.9 billion drachmas compared to 118.4 billion drachmas in 1998.

The estimated increase in revenue stands at 16 per cent, while loan interest payments are expected to reach to 9.4 billion drachmas, while 12.7 billion drachmas will be slated for construction projects, the same sources claimed.

Athens News Agency

[24] Mountain climber dies on Mount Parnitha

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

Anestis Anestou and his friend Constantinos Barbas, 25, were reported missing on Mount Parnitha since Sunday when they went climbing in a ravine.

Relatives informed the local police precinct, which mobilised the fire department and rescue teams. According to Mr. Barbas, they slipped into a waterfall, injuring him and killing Anestou.

Rescue units at dawn launched a search for the two.

The two men, who frequently scaled Mount Parnitha, set off early Sunday morning for another trek on the western side of the mountain.

Athens News Agency

[25] Mushrooms poison three on Crete

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

The three were initially admitted to Ierapetra hospital on Sunday night suffering convulsions. They later fell into a coma.

According to relatives, the mushrooms had been bought from a shop in Irakleio.

Athens News Agency

[26] EOA: Renovation of stadium through private investors

Athens 22/12/1998 (ANA)

According to the annoucement, the project will be financed by private investors who will recover the cost of their investment by managing 50 per cent of the facilities for a 20-year period.

The sports general secretariat will oversee an international bid for the project, which is expected to be completed in three years, the announcement stated.

A special telecoms centre for hearing impaired individuals has been in operation since Nov. 16.

Interested parties can reach any Athens telephone number by dialing 88.15.555 daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for emergencies.

A brawl between Black Sea Greeks (Pontians) and Albanians yesterday in the Efkarpia district of Thessaloniki ended in a bloody shoot-out with four injuries.

Police said a group of five armed Albanians launched attacked a group of 15 Pontians outside a small church in Efkarpia, causing serious injuries to three of them with guns, knives and blows.

Athens News Agency

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