Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-04-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM says Turkey's decision to postpone certain armaments programs contributes to further d�tente

[02] Greek, Canadian defense ministers discuss Balkan security, bilateral cooperation

[03] Turkey's DM wants 'visa-less' travel to Greece, Aegean exploration

[04] Gov't denies report dealing to airport chairman

[05] EU political committee approves text of anti-terrorism recommendations

[06] Ethnic Greek group in Albania requests ethnicity category in census

[07] Papantoniou sees not serious impact from US slowdown

[08] Three banking groups account for 47 percent of Greece's mutual funds market

[09] Black Sea Trade & Development Bank announces 10.5 million-US dollar loans to Bulgarian companies

[10] Piraeus Bank's chairman sees changes in Greek banking sector

[11] MSCI announces new Greek stock market index

[12] GNTO announces tender for the construction of Athens conference center

[13] Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou announces establishment of 'Society of Informatics' company

[14] Budget revenues rise in March

[15] Premier meets Capital Market Committee chairman on bourse affairs

[16] Greek stocks end lower on Wednesday

[17] Greek wines win two gold and 21 silver medals in Brussels wine contest

[18] Austria supports Cyprus' unconditional EU accession

[19] US government requests 15-million-dollar aid to Cyprus

[01] FM says Turkey's decision to postpone certain armaments programs contributes to further d�tente

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Papandreou, who was speaking to reporters after holding prolonged talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis on domestic political developments and the entire spectrum of foreign policy issues, said Turkey's decision is an "important event" for the Turkish people at a time of great economic hardship and considerable social problems facing the neighboring country.

He expressed the hope that it "presages further detente", adding that "maybe later there will be a mutual decrease (in armaments) when conditions will permit this."

"I hope that our decision to cut back on armaments expenditures contributed to Turkey's recent decision on its own armaments programs," he said.

Papandreou gave Simitis a detailed briefing on his recent visit to Turkey and on developments in that country. He also briefed him on the decision he took with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on cooperation between the two countries in removing minefields from the Evros border and on Turkey's accession to the Ottawa Treaty on banning personnel mines.

Papandreou and Simitis also discussed the European Union accession course of Cyprus and the recent signing of the Association and Stabilization Agreement between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the EU, as well as developments in the Balkans.

Domestic political developments was another issue examined and Papandreou later said "we are all dedicated to working together in a climate of unity and to cooperate closely with the prime minister to enable us to contribute to the handling of the problems of the country and of the citizen."

Papandreou categorically denied the existence of a Turkish claim for Greece to call on the EU to have a loan given to Turkey and said he himself requested the EU's greater presence "in this crisis being faced by Turkey" because Turkey "is a candidate country now, a partner of the EU and we want to contribute so that reforms which shall go ahead will become part of its European course."

On the question of his upcoming visit to Skopje, in FYROM, on Thursday, Papandreou said the meeting between foreign ministers from the countries in the region with their US counterpart Colin Powell will be very useful, adding that the meeting shows close cooperation between the countries of southeastern Europe in tackling the region's problems.

Papandreou, who is also a member of the ruling PASOK party's Executive Bureau, discussed party and organizing issues with Simitis in light of PASOK's congress next year.

According to reports, during his discussion with Simitis, Papandreou got the impression that the prime minister does not intend to make a government reshuffle.

Premier holds meetings on policy issues, with gov't, party officials: Prime Minister Costas Simitis and ruling PASOK Central Committee secretary Costas Skandalidis on Wednesday discussed government and party issues, as well as policies to be implemented in the current circumstances.

Skandalidis said he briefed Simitis on the first meeting of the Executive Bureau's three committees and mentioned that a Central Committee meeting will be held on July 7-8 on issues concerning two of the three committees, namely the opening to society and political positions.

Skandalidis also expressed optimism over the course of both the government and PASOK, saying that he is optimistic since the current image is better than in past days.

Earlier Simitis received Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos and discussed the country's cultural policy, the Cultural Olympiad, preparation for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and current political issues.

Venizelos said a cabinet meeting would be held on issues concerning the implementation of the country's new constitution, adding that he and Simitis also discussed "the framework in which we are moving and which should include the actions and initiatives of all government members and all ministries."

The premier also received Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis, with the former reportedly being briefed on anti-terrorism initiatives in light of a tabled bill in Parliament dealing with the issue.

Additionally, the issue of more manpower and new equipment for the police force and fire brigade was also discussed.

[02] Greek, Canadian defense ministers discuss Balkan security, bilateral cooperation

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Tsohatzopoulos briefed his Canadian counterpart on Greece's initiatives, in the framework of regional security in southeastern Europe, for the multinational brigade to play a key role in boosting security in the region.

Eggleton welcomed NATO's decision for further reduction of the buffer zone surrounding Kosovo, adding that "we have good cooperation with the new government of Yugoslavia on confronting extremist elements, which was not the case with the Milosevic government".

The Canadian defense minister also welcomed the Greek government's decision for the removal of personnel mines as a new confidence-building measure with Turkey, which Tsohatzopoulos said he hoped would have a positive outcome.

Tsohatzopoulos also said that backing for Cyprus' EU accession provided a "prospect for reduction to another crisis in the Mediterranean", adding Greece's hope that Turkey would adapt to the European standards so as to ameliorate the problems between Greece and Turkey.

At bilateral level, the two ministers agreed to advance a research and technology program, beyond the present cooperation between the two countries, concerning the modernization of the C-130 aircraft and the use of the Canadian aircraft for firefighting purposes, and to the ammunition sector via Greek state-run munitions manufacturer PYRKAL and a Canadian firm.

The Greek minister further said that procurement of the Canadian-made short-range anti-aircraft defense missile system ADATS would be a subject of negotiation soon.

[03] Turkey's DM wants 'visa-less' travel to Greece, Aegean exploration

ISTANBUL, 12/04/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

He also claimed that Athens remained "ensnared" in its belief of a "threat from Turkey".

"Greece must abandon its view regarding a Turkish threat" was one of the comments Cakmakoglu made during an interview broadcast on the CNN-Turk network.

Finally, the Turkish minister also opined that in order for bilateral promises of friendship to be implemented, Greece - an EU member-state and Schengen Treaty signatory - must "abolish visas requirements for Turkish citizens wishing to travel to Greece."

Greece, with a population of around 11 million, shares a small land border in the Thrace province with 60-million-strong Turkey, while numerous Greek holiday islands face Turkey's densely populated Asia Minor coastline.

Although relations between Athens and Ankara have dramatically improved over the past year and a half, Greece continues to dismiss various Turkey's claims and demands - aired over the past 28 years -- concerning airspace, sovereignty or territorial waters in the Aegean.

Greece maintains that Ankara's demands lack any sufficient legitimacy to even warrant discussion, apart from that of dividing the Aegean's continental shelf, for which the former has directed the Turkish government to seek recourse at the International Court of Justice at The Hague.

[04] Gov't denies report dealing to airport chairman

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

A government spokesman maintained that the subject of a meeting between Simitis and airport chairman Haris Stamatopoulos was the new multi-billion-drachma facility's operation. The airport, west of Athens, was plagued by various problems following its inauguration two weeks ago, although flight delays and inconveniences for travelers have steadily been reduced since then.

Stamatopoulos heads a nine-member airport board of directors, of which four members are appointed by the Greek state, four by airport manager Hochtief of Germany and the ninth by a mutually-agreed to independent figure, who serves for two years.

Stamatopoulos was previously the president at state-owned Ionian Bank before the latter was purchased and merged with Alpha Credit Bank.

In a related development, state-run Olympic Airways announced on Wednesday that it was scheduling a half-dozen extra flights over the upcoming Easter weekend, mainly to island destinations. According to the airline's management, seat occupancy is running at above 85 percent, with domestic routes nearing the 99-percent mark.

In an effort to minimize problems, OA had earlier announced a cancellation of seven out of its 75 scheduled flights between April 2 and April 11.

[05] EU political committee approves text of anti-terrorism recommendations

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

This "Better Practices" text, was the result of a joint Greek -British initiative, following the murder of Brigadier Steven Saunders in Athens last June, by members of the infamous November 17 terrorist group, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Panos Beglitis said.

The new recommendation will be given to all member states of the Union, as well as to third countries.

[06] Ethnic Greek group in Albania requests ethnicity category in census

GJIROKASTER, 12/04/2001 (ANA - P. Barkas)

During a meeting with representatives of an ethnic Greek organization in the capital Tirana, Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta was quoted as saying that "the government is open so that in a second phase, and through implementing internationally recognized principles, improvements are made."

He declined to give further details in reference to a "second phase", namely, if this refers to the general census or to speculation that Tirana will issue an additional questionnaire for ethnic Greeks in the country that includes the category of ethnicity.

According to reports, the ethnic Greek organization "Omonia" appears determined to urge its members to abstain from an ongoing census if its demands over the ethnicity category aren't met. The same group had earlier called on ethnic Greeks in this impoverished country to abstain from the census, citing the lack of questions about citizens' ethnicity, primary language and religious affiliation.

During the meeting, Omonia representatives also brought up the issue of property rights and minority schooling issues.

[07] Papantoniou sees not serious impact from US slowdown

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters during a ceremony to inaugurate the management agency on information society in Athens, Papantoniou said that OECD's estimates for growth rates of 2.7 percent in Europe was too close to a 2.9 percent estimate by Pedro Solbes, the EU commissioner on economic affairs, and needed no further comment.

Papantoniou stressed that "Greek growth will be affected less than any other European country from a US slowdown".

[08] Three banking groups account for 47 percent of Greece's mutual funds market

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

National Bank, through its subsidiary Diethniki Mutual Funds Management Co, is the biggest player with a market share of 18.20 percent in a market with 260 mutual funds operating with total assets of 9.6 trillion drachmas.

Alpha Mutual Funds, a member of Alpha Bank Group, holds a 17.15 percent market share followed by EFG Mutual Funds, a member of EFG Eurobank Ergasias Group,

The three groups increased the market shares after completion of merger and takeover deals in the previous years.

Hermes Mutual Fund, a member of Commercial Bank Group, has a 8.42 percent market share, followed by Piraeus Mutual and Agricultural Mutual with 5.81 and 4.47 percent, respectively.

Mutual fund management companies that are members of the six largest Greek banks account for 66 percent of the domestic market.

Interamerican Group, also, has a significant market share at 8.96 percent, along with Alico Eurobank Mutual Fund at 8.09 percent.

Mutual funds' managers said their priority was to reduce losses for investors who invested in domestic equity and combined mutual funds last year, and were currently losing an average of 38.42 percent of their capital on an annual basis.

Managers and investors hope for a quick turnaround on the Athens Stock Exchange to improve their returns it time for an official announcement to upgrade the Greek market into a mature market by the end of May.

[09] Black Sea Trade & Development Bank announces 10.5 million-US dollar loans to Bulgarian companies

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Under the deal, Japan's Bank for International Cooperation and Marubeni will also approve a 50 million dollars loan to the Bulgarian group.

KCM SA, a group based in Plovdiv, reports annual exports worth 60 million dollars (accounting for 1.35 percent Bulgaria's export revenues).

The industry was privatized by 80 percent last year and employs 2,400 workers.

The group risked closure of its operations if it did not find the necessary funds to finance its environmental projects.

The Black Sea Trade & Development Bank will also offer a credit line, worth 1.5 million US dollars, to Unionbank of Bulgaria to help the management of pre-export credits in the country.

[10] Piraeus Bank's chairman sees changes in Greek banking sector

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters after an annual general shareholders' meeting, Sallas said Piraeus Bank's shareholders approved a share buyback program, up to 10 percent of its outstanding equity capital.

"It is a mistake to exclude changes in the domestic banking sector. We did that last year when several banks were embroiled in merger or takeover deals that have been concluded. Now, there is space and a will for changes," Sallas said.

He reaffirmed his prediction that 2001 would be a better year for Greek banks' profits and noted that competition now focused on the variety in offered products and high-quality services to customers.

Sallas said Piraeus Bank would open 17 new branches this year, raising its total network to 200, and would seek increased presence in Bulgaria, Romania, the US and Cyprus.

The bank's shareholders approved dividend payment of 100 drachmas per share to shareholders.

[11] MSCI announces new Greek stock market index

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

MSCI said that in the new index 23 stocks would be revoked, 24 stocks would remain and two new stocks would enter, Piraeus Bank and Panafon.

The composition of the new index includes: Alpha Bank, Greek Aluminium, Attica Enterprises, Piraeus Bank, Coca Cola HBC, Commercial Bank, Duty Free Shops, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Athens Water, Folli-Follie, Fourlis, Hellenic Petroleum, Hellenic Technodomiki, Interamerican, Lambrakis Press, Intracom, Maillis, National Bank, Hellenic Telecoms, Panafon, Papastratos, Olympic Technical, Titan Cement and Viohalco.

The 23 revoked stocks were: Aegek, Alte, Aspis Insurance, Medical Center, Delta, Delta Information, Goody's, Hellenic Sugar, Hyatt, Inform Lycos, Klonatex, Michaniki, Minoan Lines, Mytilineos, Petzetakis, Sanyo Hellas Holdings, Epilektos, Silver and Baryte, Singular and Themeliodomi.

The reviewed index is expected to lead to portfolio restructuring moves by Greek and foreign institutional investors and to attract renewed demand for Greek stocks from index-tracking funds.

Analysts expect net inflows of 1.2-1.5 billion US dollars in passive demand in the Greek market from late April.

They said that hedge funds and small cap funds were also expected to show increased interest in the Greek stock market.

Index trackers account for 2.0 percent of the MSCI Greece index, while foreign institutional investors, using the index as an active benchmark account for another 6.0 percent.

Salomon Smith Barney expects a wave of interest in Greek stocks before May 31, 2001, while Credit Suisse First Boston says that the Greek market would follow the MSCI Portugal's course, with the index soaring two months before the official upgrading decision. The rally ended 40 days after the decision.

[12] GNTO announces tender for the construction of Athens conference center

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

The Greek government has pledged to create a large conference center at the site following the relocation of the Athens airport at Spata.

The building site covers a total area of 46,500 square meters.

GNTO tourism authorities said non-binding bids could be submitted by May 31, 2001.

[13] Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou announces establishment of 'Society of Informatics' company

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

The new company is part of the 3rd Community Support Framework's (CSF) 11-department programs and the operational program "Society of Informatics" in particular.

The program's ambition, which the company is being called on to implement under the ministry's supervision, is to provide technical support for the public sector with new informatics technologies for the implementation of projects aimed at the development, prosperity and quality of life of all citizens.

Papandreou said that on completion of the overall program, to be achieved before 2004, the public sector would become effective and friendly to the citizen, with electronic governance being the ultimate target.

The company, having financial and administrative independence, will be undertaking its first projects over the next two months.

[14] Budget revenues rise in March

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

The figures showed that revenues also rose by 9.6 percent in the first quarter of the year (January to March), against a targeted 8.0 percent rise for the entire year.

The increase in revenues in March at a proportion lower than the budget's annual target resulted in a reduction of the first-quarter surplus to 29 billion dr.

[15] Premier meets Capital Market Committee chairman on bourse affairs

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

Thomadakis briefed the premier on the institutional changes in the capital market and developments in the issue of the Athens Stock Exchange's imminent upgrading to "mature market" status.

He told reporters after the meeting that he was optimistic on the course of the Greek bourse, which he said was currently being adversely influenced by adverse developments but would "once again find its way".

[16] Greek stocks end lower on Wednesday

Athens, 12/04/2001 (ANA)

The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) closed its doors to traders at 4:15 p.m. instead of 14:30 p.m., due to those technical problems.

The general index ended 0.43 percent higher at 3,087.04 points, near its day's highs of 3,099.83 points, with turnover at 119.96 million euros, or 40.88 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index ended 0.57 percent up at 1,785.16 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 0.35 percent to end at 369.55 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,602.56

+0.47% Telecoms: 1,022.62 +1.87% Insurance: 1,440.96 -1.51% Investment: 1,118.18 +0.88% Construction: 1,457.87 +0.09% Industrials: 1,872.81 -0.23% Holding: 3,570.18 +0.78% Base metals: 979.57 -0.84% Minerals: 1,005.23 +0.12% Publishing: 993.03 -2.49% Textiles: 1,156.37 +0.39%

Retailing: 1,108.62 +1.11% IT: 1,062.19 -0.62%

IT solutions: 1,009.54 -0.63% Food and Beverages:

934.19 -1.21% Wholesale: 875.68 -0.41%

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 323.29 points, down 0.15 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 205 to 112 with another 40 issues unchanged.

Multirama, Olympic Technical, Karatzis, Greek fisheries, Mohlos, Alco, Leventeris, Panafon and Unifon scored the biggest percentage gains, while Ethniki Asfalistiki, Ideal Group, Tegopoulos, Elval, Korfil, Mesohoritis, Viosol, Elais and Metka suffered the heaviest losses.

Panafon, National Bank, Alpha Bank, Klostiria Naousis Piraeus Bank and ALPHA Bank were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 40.10 Alpha Bank: 29.88 Commercial Bank: 51.34 Eurobank: 17.52 Piraeus Bank: 13.40 Lambrakis Press: 13.72 Altec: 7.04 Intrasoft: 11.76 Titan Cement (c): 37.94 Hellenic Telecoms: 15.00 Panafon: 6.74 Hellenic Petroleum: 9.00 Intracom: 20.18 Mytilineos: 8.14 Minoan Lines: 4.90 Viohalco: 10.62 Coca Cola HBC: 15.56

Equity futures end with mixed results: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher on Wednesday, traders said.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.57 percent up, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.35 percent lower.

Traded in total were 7,916 contracts.

Bond prices mixed in moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished mixed in moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.27 percent.

The yield spread over German bunds was 53 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.5 billion euros ( 511 billion drachmas).

Buy orders accounted for around half of turnover.

[17] Greek wines win two gold and 21 silver medals in Brussels wine contest

BRUSSELS, 12/04/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

It is the most important wine contest at international level, while it is recognized by the European Union and supervised by the Belgian foreign ministry in cooperation with the International Wine Bureau and the International Union of Wine Experts.

Out of a total of 3,006 samples tried by 149 tasters, five of whom were Greeks, 868 distinguished themselves and judges awarded 24 big gold medals, 186 gold and 658 silver ones.

The gold medals were won by "Amethystos-Kava 1997" (produced by the Lazaridis estate) and "Cretan Wine-Dry White Country Wine 2000."

[18] Austria supports Cyprus' unconditional EU accession

NICOSIA, 12/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking at a joint press conference with her Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides, she called on Turkey to introduce the changes needed with respect to its accession process, noting that Austria will not base its policies on threats from Ankara regarding Cyprus' EU membership.

The two ministers discussed bilateral issues, the Cyprus question and the country's EU accession process, the situation in the Balkans and the Middle East and other matters of mutual concern.

"We would really hope that a solution can be found in the framework of the UN and that the UN proximity talks can resume," she said, pointing out that in the absence of a solution and taking into account that one side has worked towards this goal, Austria would give "its full support to Cyprus even if the island is not reunited."

UN proximity talks, which began in December 1999, came to an abrupt end in November last year when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash declared them dead and refused to return to the negotiating table in late January.

Expressing hope that a unified Cyprus would be able to enter the EU, the Austrian minister, who is on an official visit here, said Vienna will certainly respect the Helsinki conclusions, if there is no solution.

The EU decided in Helsinki that a political settlement would facilitate accession but it is not a precondition for accession.

Invited to comment on Turkish threats about incidents if Cyprus joins the EU, she said "we cannot base ourselves on threats, the first necessity is to find a solution."

On Turkey's national program for its accession process, the Austrian minister said it does not include everything the EU had hoped it would but it must be given a chance to work.

"Turkey should now make improvements on different issues," she added.

Ferrero-Waldner referred to "excellent bilateral relations" and said Chancellor Schussel is always very interested in developments in Cyprus.

Asked if she was optimistic about the prospects for the resumption of the talks, she said she is realistic and added "it would certainly be good for the question of Cyprus if these talks were to resume."

Kasoulides thanked Austria for its participation in the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus for the past 38 years, and said EU enlargement featured high on the agenda of Wednesday's talks.

He said Austria is very interested in the enlargement process in that it borders four prospective members and expressed Nicosia's appreciation for Vienna's policy based on the principle of fairness to all candidate countries.

The two ministers discussed EU plans to introduce a transitional period of five or possibly seven years for the freedom of movement of workers after enlargement, something they said would not apply to either Cyprus or Malta.

President Glafcos Clerides and House President Spyros Kyprianou earlier received the Austrian minister.

[19] US government requests 15-million-dollar aid to Cyprus

WASHINGTON, 12/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

A press release issued by the leaders of the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes describes the request as "another facet" of US President George Bush's new administration's Cyprus policy and that "this action by President Bush is consistent with his first personal statement on the Cyprus issue" regarding his commitment to a just and lasting settlement of the Cyprus question.

They add "this annual appropriation of 15 million dollars for Cyprus is an important expression of continued US support for a just and viable Cyprus settlement", noting that the Clinton administration was the first to request the full amount for Cyprus.

"The President's budget request also included 6,7 million dollars in US aid for contributions to the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) up from 6,4 million dollars appropriated last year" the CEH leaders add. The extract from the US administration's report regarding Cyprus reads, "of the funds under the headlines 'Development Assistance' and 'Economic Support Fund' not less than 15 million dollars shall be made available for Cyprus to be used only for scholarships, administrative support of the scholarship program, bicommunal projects, and measures aimed at reunification of the island and designed to reduce tensions and promote peace and cooperation between the two communities on Cyprus".

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