Strike to close shops tomorrow
NEWS IN DETAIL
Defence Minister announces restructuring of forces
National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that the government had
decided to restructure the armed forces and implement a new defence
strategy to confront the disputing of Greece's sovereign rights by
neighbouring Turkey.
Speaking in Thessaloniki last night, he said that the strategy of
deterrence implemented to date would be supplemented with the concept of
''flexible response'' which would, in the event of an aggressive act,
''have the highest possible cost for the other side''.
''In order to attain these targets,'' he said, ''we shall work towards
securing the necessary conditions, such as the reorganisation of the armed
forces, the procurement of modern defence equipment and modern training.''
Tsohatzopoulos spoke of the creation of a special rapid response force
characterized by flexibility, mobility, heavy firepower and readiness.
The element of flexibility, he added, would be achieved through the
cooperation of the three services of the armed forces, with a particular
role for special forces units.
Undersecretary calls for EU-US initiative
Foreign Undersecretary Yiannos Kranidiotis today called on the US and EU to
undertake an initiative on the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish differences.
In an interview with a Sunday paper, Kranidiotis said the outstanding
problem of Cyprus and the dangers inherent in the crisis in Greek-Turkish
relations created additional responsibilities for the international
community and particularly the US and EU which should undertake an
initiative to resolve the problems on the basis of international law and
agreements.
Ministers explain social security amendment
A proposed amendment to the law on social security funds will not change
the existing status of the funds' reserves, according to a joint statement
today by National Economy and Finance Minister Yannos Papantoniou and
Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou.
The announcement explained that the amendment in question was an administrative
move aimed at improving returns on those reserves which are already
deposited in the Bank of Greece. There had been strong reaction against an
announcment yesterday at the amendment, according to which social security
funds would be required to deposit their reserve capital with the Bank of
Greece.
The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) and the Federation of
Bank Unions (OTOE) had both criticised the amendment.
Today's announcement clarified that the amendment provides for further
opportunities for increasing the returns on the reserves, for the benefit
of the funds and those insured with them.
Interior Minister warns of "shock policy" reforms
Interior Minister Alekos Papadopoulos today restated the government's
determination not to give in to social pressure and to persist in its
economic convergence programme.
In an interview with a Sunday paper, Papadopoulos came out in favour of a
''shock policy'' consisting of ''a comprehensive package of reforms in all
sectors''.
As teachers prepared to continue their strike for the fifth consecutive
week tomorrow, Papadopoulos said that the preservation of vested rights
went contrary to the course of the country in the framework of the new
globalised economy.
''In economic policy matters there are no hardliners and wets, just
reliable and unreliable,'' Papadopoulos said.
Opposition to social security fund amendment
An amendment to the law on social security funds tabled by the National
Economy Ministry is likely to cause problems between the government and the
country's trade unions. The amendment requires the funds to deposit their
reserve capital with the Bank of Greece.
According to Saturday's edition of the Athens daily "Eleftherotypia", the
capital could amount to more than one trillion drachmas.
General Confederation of Trade Unions (GSEE) President Christos Polyzogopoulos
said the amendment was unacceptable and asked for it to be withdrawn. He
also stressed that GSEE would in no way accept an increase in the age of
retirement or a drop in pensions.
Bank unions' federation (OTOE) President Dimitris Kouselas characterised
the issue as extremely serious. The banks' social security funds have
particularly large reserves. Kouselas also called for the withdrawal of the
amendment, emphasising that the funds were claiming free movement of
reserves.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Costas Simitis will meet most likely tomorrow
with Labour and Social Security Minister Miltiades Papaioannou to discuss
an amendment to the law on social security funds introduced by National
Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou.
According to informed sources, Papaioannou has also expressed his strong
opposition to the amendment to Papantoniou.
Teachers want meeting with Minister
The president of the union of high school teachers (OLME) Nikos Tsoulias
requested a meeting today with Education Minister Gerassimos Arsenis in an
effort to end the ongoing strike which enters its fifth consecutive week
tomorrow.
Tsoulias made the request during an interview with an Athens radio
station.
The striking teachers have organised protest rallies and marches in Athens
tomorrow morning and in the northern port city of Thessaloniki later in the
afternoon.
Meanwhile, primary school and kindergarten teachers were scheduled to begin
a third week of strike action on Monday.
Political party leaders will discuss problems in the education sector
during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday.
Foreigners arrested passing counterfeit notes
Four Ukrainians and a Moldavian have been arrested for passing counterfeit
10,000 drachma notes on the market. Oleg Andriasko, 27, was arrested trying
to shop with one of the notes in Athens' Varvakeio market. The shopkeeper
realised the note was counterfeit and called police, who arrested Andriasko
after finding another ten counterfeit notes in his possession.
After a search of his home, where he lived with Luba Anoupreia, 37, Igor
and Maria Fostich, both 32, and Eugeni Savraduze, 36, all illegal
immigrants, all five were arrested after another 71 counterfeit notes were
found there.
Andriasko claimed to have bought over one million dr. worth of counterfeit
10,000 dr. notes for the sum of $30, from a Bulgarian named Anton a week
ago in Omonia Square.
In a separate incident, an Iranian, Mehran Sadik, 20, was arrested after
trying to buy a ring from a jewellery shop in Syntagma Square with a
counterfeit $100 bill. Sadik ran off with the ring when one of the salesman
went next door to change the bill, but was apprehended by a nearby
policeman.
Historic Cretan town to get facelift
The old sector of the Cretan town of Rethymno is to receive a 8.6 billion
dr. facelift, Environment Minister Kostas Laliotis announced at the
official opening of the new public works programme there yesterday.
Lalitios said the plan includes preserving the cultural heritage and
architectural character of all historic periods represented in the old city,
while promoting tourism in the surrounding prefecture as well as in the
city itself.
Museum robbery
Four masked gunmen robbed the Ramnounda Museum at Marathon, outside Athens
last night after striking the guard and then tying him up. The men broke
into the museum building and got away with a small statue of a nymph.
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, in a statement today on the incident,
admitted there were deficiencies in the security systems at museums and
referred to the Ministry's efforts to rectify the situation. Only a month
ago, a plan was approved to installation of a new electricity and security
system at Ramnounda.
Strike to close shops tomorrow
A large number of shops in Athens and around the country are expected to
remain closed tomorrow as they participate in the 24-hour nationwide strike
called by the Confederation of Professionals, Craft Industry and Tradesmen
(GSEBE).
The strike has been called over grievances related to fiscal legislation,
financing issues, provisions on business premises, working hours and unfair
competition.
SPORT
Promising international basketball player Efthymis Retzias of PAOK,
Thessaloniki has announced that he has received a transfer offer from NBA
team Denver Nuggets. The 19-year-old centre told reporters last night that
he also had offers from a number of Greek teams but that PAOK would have
the last word regarding the next step in his career.
In soccer, Kastoria was defeated by Kavala 0-1, OFI scored three goals
against Xanthi, Panathinaikos defeated Panachaiki 2-0. Kalamata is to play
Olympiakos tomorrow, while results of the AEK-Heracles and the PAOK-
Apollon matches are expected later this evening.
WEATHER
Cloudy weather and rain later this evening in mainland areas. For Sunday,
weather will be cloudy and wet with local downpours, particularly in the
west, later extending to the rest of the country. Snow is expected in
moutainous regions to the north. The same conditions are expected on
Monday. Temperatures in Athens on Monday will range between 17-12C, in
Thessaloniki between 3-9C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Closing rates - buying US dlr. 260.598
Pound sterling 424.636 Cyprus pd 519.411
French franc 45.872 Swiss franc 180.083
German mark 154.891 Italian lira (100) 15.757
Yen (100) 209.987 Canadian dlr. 192.488
Australian dlr. 200.543 Irish Punt 413.466
Belgian franc 7.508 Finnish mark 52.524
Dutch guilder 138.057 Danish kr. 40.648
Swedish kr. 35.365 Norwegian kr. 39.269
Austrian sch. 22.001 Spanish peseta 1.828
Portuguese escudo 1.540
(Y.B.)
