Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 99-04-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Kosovo,new EU Commission the focus of EU leaders' meeting today

[02] Athens asked to intervene for release of 2 Australian aid workers in Yugoslavia

[03] Kaklamanis draws parallel between action in Kosovo, inaction on Cyprus

[04] Gov't denies settlement of name issue with FYROM pending

[05] Gov't: No issue of Greek-Turkish dialogue

[06] No Simitis-Demirel meeting scheduled in US, Ankara says

[07] Simitis itinerary this week

[08] Next KYSEA meeting expected to focus on armaments programme

[09] PM meeting with deputy labour minister

[10] Burns to restore Medal of Honor to Greek family

[11] PASOK new executive bureau meets

[12] Gov't again rejects possibility of June double elections

[13] Synaspismos sharply criticises NATO, gov't over continued bombings

[14] More arrests along border

[15] Delegation of Greek youth groups visit Belgrade

[16] Greek aid to Albania, FYROM

[17] Stocks jump on late reaction to ECB rate cut

[18] EFG Eurobank begins trade on Athens bourse today

[19] Container trade at port of Piraeus rose in 1998

[20] The Economist to hold a conference on globalisation

[21] Aspis Bank posts 30 pct rise in profit

[22] Alpha Credit Bank general assembly set for April 30

[23] Two new state-run lotteries expected to premiere

[24] Athens Foreign Exchange

[01] Kosovo,new EU Commission the focus of EU leaders' meeting today

BRUSSELS, 14/04/1999 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The meeting is not being organised along the lines of a summit, meaning that a finalised communique is not expected to be issued.

Developments in Kosovo will be first on the agenda, as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to participate in the session, having accepted an invitation by the EU German presidency. He is scheduled to brief the EU heads of state and government on the way with which the UN is handling the situation in Kosovo.

According to diplomatic sources, Mr. Annan's presence appears to constitute an expression by many EU countries for a UN presence and for action to be strengthened in dealing with the Kosovo crisis, as well as the subsequent participation of Russia.

However, according to the same sources, an announcement today of any new initiative in which Mr. Annan will play a role is not very possible.

On the other hand, it is certain that at a press conference to follow, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will stress the need for the UN's active involvement in the crisis.

EU member-states will then discuss the issue for which they had initially decided to meet in Brussels, namely, the appointment of the new European Commission.

At a working dinner they will have with Mr. Prodi, EU leaders are expected to be briefed on his views regarding change in the way the European Commission functions. The outcome of the talks will be presented by Mr. Schroeder during tonight's press confe rence.

The leaders of Europe's socialist parties will convene here at noon today. According to reports, Prime Minister Costas Simitis will not attend the meeting and is expected to arrive in Brussels early in the afternoon before heading to Sofia tomorrow.

Opposition reaction : In a response, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said the extraordinary European Council meeting provides the Union with a unique opportunity to stand up to the occasion, adding that the EU can and should play a substantive role in the new Yugoslav crisis.

Mr. Karamanlis said the Greek government can and should have a positive influence in this direction, adding that Mr. Simitis should point out that for as long as an end to the use of force and the resumption of negotiations for a finalised and just solu tion is delayed, the more the risk of wider destabilisation increases.

In a similar statement, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas called for an explicit condemnation of NATO bombings by the Greek government at today's meeting.

"At tomorrow's summit, Greece must at last clarify its position, explicitly and categorically condemning the continuing bombings, even against civilian targets, with the civilian population and refugees being the victims and the dissolution of Yugoslavi a being the target," Mr. Tsovolas said.

Athens News Agency

[02] Athens asked to intervene for release of 2 Australian aid workers in Yugoslavia

MELBOURNE, 14/04/1999 (ANA - S. Hatjimanolis)

Mike Wran, the leader of the South Australian Labor Party, has written to Prime Minister Costas Simitis asking him to intercede with the Yugoslav authorities to release the two Australians.

Steve Pratt and Peter Wallace, part of Care Australia's refugee relief programme in Yugoslavia, were reported missing two weeks ago.

Mr. Pratt was shown "confessing" on Serbian television last Sunday to charges of intelligence gathering activities for NATO.

Allegations that the two spied for NATO have been strongly denied by the mens' families, Care Australia and the Australian government. In his letter to Mr. Simitis, Mr. Wran says the charges against the two are "completely baseless" and given that Australia was not involved militarily in the air strikes against Serbia, there was no justification for their being held as "prisoners of war".

"I am aware that Greece and Serbia have close relations in all sectors and would appreciate any initiative of your government to secure the release of the two Australian citizens," Mr. Wran said.

Mr. Wran had asked Cypriot House of Representatives Speaker Spyros Kyprianou to work for the release of the two Australians last week.

Mr. Kyprianou, who was involved in a similar attempt to mediate the release of three captured US soldiers late last week, was unable to make any progress on securing the release of the two Australian aid workers.

The Australian government has expressed concern about the fate of the two Australians and called on foreign governments to assist in securing their release.

Malcolm Fraser, the former prime minister and the president of Care Australia, has visited Moscow to request Russian support for efforts.

Athens News Agency

[03] Kaklamanis draws parallel between action in Kosovo, inaction on Cyprus

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

In a radio interview and referring to the issue of Cyprus, he noted: "this will not be a solution. Hellenism is experiencing this in Cyprus. The same forces which pretend to intervene for human rights and refugees, killing civilians and aggravating the flight wave even more, the same ones for 25 years are implementing (in Cyprus) what they will present as a solution to Kosovo: partitioning."

Referring to Athens' position, Mr. Kaklamanis said "I am absolutely satisfied at the moment because I see that there is unity and unanimity inside the country and the political leadership, in its entirety, is facing the issue with responsibility."

Mr. Kaklamanis expressed the hope that at today's summit of European leaders "certain initiatives will materialise which will express a different strategy, the strategy of Europe and not the strategy relentless bombings which have led to deadlock are expressing so far, the strategy of the US."

Athens News Agency

[04] Gov't denies settlement of name issue with FYROM pending

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

"There is no agreement about to be signed," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas told reporters.

Press reports had speculated that an agreement would be signed in the United States, during a meeting between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and FYROM President Kiro Gligorov.

Athens and Skopje are currently holding talks under UN auspices to reach a compromise on the issue of the name of Greece's northern neighbour.

Greece objects to the term 'Macedonia', which Skopje insists on using for its constitutional name, implies territorial claims against the northern Greek province of Macedonia.

Mr. Reppas said Mr. Gligorov had requested a meeting with the Greek premier, with the meeting set for April 25, although the name issue had not been cited as the reason for the meeting.

He noted that the outstanding issue of an agreement on a name for FYROM has not hindered Athens and Skopje from developing good bilateral relations, adding that it was "positive" that Skopje considered Greece to be a strategic partner in the region.

Athens News Agency

[05] Gov't: No issue of Greek-Turkish dialogue

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas, who was replying to relevant questions, added that a meeting has not been set between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, but noted that such a meeting is possible on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

He also said that contrary to what was the case with (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia President Kiro) Gligorov, a meeting has not been requested with the Greek PM on the part of Turkey and neither has the Greek side requested whatever meeting with the Turkish leadership.

On the question of the armed forces' armaments programme, Mr. Reppas said the government is adhering to its programming, the programme will proceed as normal and no concern is justified.

Athens News Agency

[06] No Simitis-Demirel meeting scheduled in US, Ankara says

ISTANBUL, 14/04/1999 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

However, the possibility of the two men having a discussion cannot be ruled out, the sources said.

Mr. Demirel has scheduled meetings with US President Bill Clinton, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Athens News Agency

[07] Simitis itinerary this week

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Simitis will leave later in the day for Brussels to represent Greece at the EU summit.

Tomorrow he will leave for Sofia, for an official visit at the invitation of Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov.

Mr. Simitis returns to Athens on Friday, where he will brief President Kostis Stephanopoulos on developments regarding Yugoslavia and the wider Balkans as well as on the outcome of the EU summit.

He leaves for New York on Sunday to take part in a NATO summit marking the 50th anniversary of the alliance.

Athens News Agency

[08] Next KYSEA meeting expected to focus on armaments programme

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

The meeting was also attended by the civil and military leaderships of the national defence and national economy ministries. The latest developments in Kosovo were also discussed.

On his part, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said tentative initiatives are looming for a political solution to the Kosovo problem.

Athens News Agency

[09] PM meeting with deputy labour minister

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Athens News Agency

[10] Burns to restore Medal of Honor to Greek family

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

According to a press release from the US embassy in Athens, Georgios Rosakis will accept the medal on behalf of his late uncle, Pvt. George Dilboy.

Dilboy was the first Greek-American to be awarded the honour. The medal was posthumously awarded for his bravery in combat on the battlefields of France on July 18, 1918.

The original Medal of Honor presented to Dilboy's family was taken from their home in Crete during the Nazi occupation of World War II. When this was recently brought to the attention of Mr. Burns, he asked the US Army to provide a replacement medal so that it could be restored to the family and to the Greek-American community in Athens.

Born in 1896 in Alatsata, Asia Minor, George Dilboy later adopted the town of Somerville, Mass. as his new home and the United States as his adopted country. He enlisted in the New Hampshire National Guard in which he served honorably from 1916-17. Late r on in 1917, he rejoined the US military to serve in France.

Dilboy was buried with full military honours at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington D.C. in November 1923. A statue in his honor, erected by a group of Greek-American World War I veterans stands outside the Veterans Hospital of Maywood, Ill. Another statue stands in Nea Erythrea, Greece, erected by the Association of Alatsatiani.

Athens News Agency

[11] PASOK new executive bureau meets

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

The meeting focused on the Kosovo crisis, forthcoming EU elections and the delegation of responsibilities to executive bureau members.

The EB meeting was the first since its election after the fifth PASOK congress last month.

PASOK Secretary Costas Skandalidis told journalists that the executive bureau supported the government's handlings of the Kosovo crisis.

Mr. Skandalidis said that the EB approved the political framework for the party's campaign in the Euro-elections.

Athens News Agency

[12] Gov't again rejects possibility of June double elections

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Reppas said there was no such issue in the works, adding that the government is not considering this possibility.

Athens News Agency

[13] Synaspismos sharply criticises NATO, gov't over continued bombings

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Mr. Constantopoulos also critisised the Greek government for being an "accomplice" and for using "hypocritical double-speak". He also announced initiatives by Synaspismos, including a visit to Skopje tomorrow and Friday, as well as a European peace conference set for Athens at the end of the month.

Athens News Agency

[14] More arrests along border

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Police said the high number of arrests was due to the mistaken assumption by the would-be illegals that border controls would be more lax over the holiday period.

The 521 individuals will all be returned to Albanian territory through the Kakavia border post.

Athens News Agency

[15] Delegation of Greek youth groups visit Belgrade

BELGRADE, 14/04/1999 (ANA - M. Mouratidis)

The Greek delegation voiced its opposition to the NATO bombings and criticised Washington and the European Union for their stance toward Yugoslavia, while they also conveyed the conviction of their political groups toward a peaceful solution, a guarante e for Yugoslavia's territorial integrity and respect for the rights of Kosovo's Albanian community.

Mr. Milosevic pointed out that "the future belongs with the forces of peace and the policies of equality and understanding among states and people", while he added that "the new generation should be able to live in freedom and peace..."

The youth representatives noted that this was the first time various politicial youth organisations, despite political differences, unanimously agreed on the condemnation of the NATO bombings.

Athens News Agency

[16] Greek aid to Albania, FYROM

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Several tons worth of humanitarian aid - foodstuffs, medicines and first aid items - will be sent by several northern Greece municipalities on Serbian trucks to Belgrade next week. In addition to the humanitarian aid, efforts are made with the assist ance of the health ministry to obtain the appropriate permit for transferring to Serbia the blood plasma voluntarily colleted by the municipalities.

Athens News Agency

[17] Stocks jump on late reaction to ECB rate cut

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

The general index ended 2.72 percent up at 3,720.16 points, only 54.13 points off its record close of March 19 before the start of NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia and resulting volatility.

The Athens bourse has fluctuated widely in a range of 3,100-3,700 points since the crisis began in Kosovo.

Traders said the market yesterday welcomed a 50-basis-point cut in short- term rates by the European Central Bank last week and a record rally in European stock markets.

Analysts said the cut in the euro rate paved the way for the Bank of Greece to lower its intervention rate soon.

Turnover was 128.5 billion drachmas and volume 20,481,834 shares.

Sector indices scored gains.

Banks jumped 3.55 percent, Leasing soared 3.67 percent, Insurance fell 0.89 percent, Investment rose 2.79 percent, Construction surged 5.40 percent, Industrials were 2.24 percent up, Miscellaneous jumped 5.21 percent and Holding rose 1.48 percent.

The parallel market index for small cap companies ended 5.14 percent up while the FTSE/ASE 20 index rose 3.01 percent to 2,345.99.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 261 to 27 with another 5 issues unchanged. Boutaris, Hellenic Telecoms, Thessaliki and National Bank of Greece were the most heavily traded stocks.

A total of 82 shares hit the day's 8.0 percent limit up. Among them were Ergobank, Macedonia-Thrace Bank, Xiosbank, ANEK Lines, Ergas, Ionian Invest, Phaliro Medical, Dimitriadies, Nematemboriki and Koumbas.

Hellenic Bottling, Aspis Invest, Ippotour, Development Invest, Connection, Ionian Bank, Hellenic Telecom, Pavlides and Phoenix suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank of Greece ended at 22,650 drachmas, Alpha Credit Bank at 23, 990, Ergobank at 26,989, Ionian Bank at 19,400, Titan Cement at 24,400, Hellenic Petroleum at 2,525, Intracom at 20,950, Minoan Lines at 7,700, Panafon at 8,350 and Hellenic Telecoms at 7,000.

Markets edgy on reports of Serb incursion into Albania : Benchmark ten-year- bond prices yesterday finished around 20-70 basis points higher in heavy trade with gains apparently curbed by talk of a Yugoslav incursion into Albanian territory.

The new 10-year bond was around 102.20-103.90. Electronic trade totalled 130 billion drachmas.

The drachma was came under pressure on talk of the Serb incursion.

At the central bank's daily fix, the euro ended at 323.900 drachmas from 324.580 in the last trading session before Orthodox Easter.

In afternoon trade following the fix, it was trading around 325 drachmas.

The possible entry of Albania into the war led the euro to drop against the US dollar in international markets.

Athens News Agency

[18] EFG Eurobank begins trade on Athens bourse today

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

The shares belong to the new EFG Eurobank that was created from a merger between the former unlisted bank and Bank of Athens, which was already listed.

More than 620,000 investors took part in EFG Eurobank's heavily subscribed rights issue. Each was allocated 10 shares.

The bank's shareholders have already agreed to hold a new share capital rise of 110.4 billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[19] Container trade at port of Piraeus rose in 1998

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Container trade in the first three months of 1999 was flat against the same period last year, it said.

Athens News Agency

[20] The Economist to hold a conference on globalisation

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Speakers include New Democracy Party president Costas Karamanlis, Coalition of Left president Nikos Constantopoulos, Democratic Social Movement president Dimitrios Tsovolas and Political Spring president Antonis Samaras.

Also scheduled to speak are National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Development Minister Evangelos Venizelos and Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos.

Foreign speakers include European Commission vice-president Sir Leon Brittan and US ambassador to Greece Nicolas Burns.

Athens News Agency

[21] Aspis Bank posts 30 pct rise in profit

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Its profits after provisions rose 15 percent while its lending portfolio increased 50 percent in the same period this year.

Aspis Bank opened a new branch in Nikea, western Athens, yesterday raising its network to 16 branches.

The bank aims to increase the network to 21 branches by the end of the year.

Aspis Bank's shareholders will hold a repeat assembly on April 15 to discuss a share capital increase of about seven billion drachmas.

Athens News Agency

[22] Alpha Credit Bank general assembly set for April 30

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

The increase in share capital, amounting to 120 billion drachmas, will be the first to take place after the acquisition of 51 per cent of the Ionian Bank's shares.

The bank's general assembly will be held for the first time at the Athens Hilton Hotel, which now belongs to the Alpha Credit Bank group following a majority purchase of Ionian Bank.

Athens News Agency

[23] Two new state-run lotteries expected to premiere

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Profits from "Olympic Lottery", a slot machine-like game of chance to be played at sites approved by the Greek Soccer Pools (OPAP), will be distributed to the culture ministry and the General Secretariat for Athletics, while the 2004 Olympic Games organ ising committee is projected to receive 70 billion drachmas from the venture.

Profits from KINO, similar to Lotto, will head directly to state coffers.

Athens News Agency

[24] Athens Foreign Exchange

Athens, 14/04/1999 (ANA)

Parities in Drachmas

Banknotes             Buying  Selling
US Dollar             297.521 304.419
Can.Dollar            199.332 203.954
Australian Dlr        189.249 193.637
Pound Sterling        480.267 491.402
Irish Punt            407.978 417.437
Pound Cyprus          556.512 569.415
Pound Malta           711.907 741.570
Turkish pound (100)     0.071   0.074
French franc           48.983  50.119
Swiss franc           200.270 204.913
Belgian franc           7.965   8.150
German Mark           164.282 168.091
Finnish Mark           54.040  55.293
Dutch Guilder         145.803 149.184
Danish Kr.             43.239  44.242
Swedish Kr.            35.845  36.676
Norwegian Kr.          38.400  39.291
Austrian Sh.           23.351  23.892
Italian lira (100)     16.594  16.979
Yen (100)             247.097 252.826
Spanish Peseta          1.931   1.976
Port. Escudo            1.603   1.640

Foreign Exchange      Buying  Selling
New York              297.521 304.419
Montreal              199.332 203.954
Sydney                189.249 193.637
London                480.267 491.402
Dublin                407.978 417.437
Nicosia               556.512 569.415
Paris                  48.983  50.119
Zurich                200.270 204.913
Brussels                7.965   8.150
Frankfurt             164.282 168.091
Helsinki               54.040  55.293
Amsterdam             145.803 149.184
Copenhagen             43.239  44.242
Stockholm              35.845  36.676
Oslo                   38.400  39.291
Vienna                 23.351  23.892
Milan                  16.594  16.979
Tokyo                 247.097 252.826
Madrid                  1.931   1.976
Lisbon                  1.603   1.640

Athens News Agency

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