Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-03
NEWS IN ENGLISH
Athens, Greece, 03/06/1997 (ANA)
MAIN HEADLINES
- Athens ready to increase peacekeeping force for Albanian elections
- Pangalos condemns Turkey's incursion of northern Iraq
- Court rules transfer of former royal family's property to the state
- Kaklamanis holds talks with People's Republic of China's Li Ruihuan
- Comprehensive study of air pollution in Thessaloniki, Athens areas
- Mount Athos representatives object to Schengen accord
- Patras International Festival programme
- Stock market rebounds, drachma stable
- SATO to sell Dauphin products in the Balkans
- Greek participation in Polish trade fair
- Greek firm tapped for consultancy contract with Austrian gov't
- V. Papandreou discusses gas and oil pipeline proposals
- Greek-Israeli economic ties improve
- Weather
- Foreign exchange
NEWS IN DETAIL
Athens ready to increase peacekeeping force for Albanian elections
Greece is willing to increase the number of Greek soldiers participating in
the multinational peacekeeping force in Albania, Foreign Minister Theodoros
Pangalos said in Luxembourg yesterday.
Speaking to the press following a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council,
also attended by Alternate Foreign Minister George Papandreou, Mr. Pangalos
said "there is a tendency to augment the international presence (in
Albania) in order to guarantee free and indisputable elections."
The Greek foreign minister, who is expected in Albania today for talks with
top government officials, said Greece would be willing, within its
abilities, to provide observers and possibly additional troops.
Referring to former Yugoslavia, Mr. Pangalos said that Greece supported the
Dayton peace agreements and assisted in efforts to create institutions that
were in accord with the agreement.
He pointed out that the 15 EU members were reserved in sending off military
forces and funds.
"It's characteristic that many countries have not even contributed yet to
the process of funding municipal elections in Bosnia," he said, adding that
Greece had already contributed US$500,000.
Pangalos condemns Turkey's incursion of northern Iraq
Foreign minister Theodoros Pangalos has condemned Turkey's invasion into
northern Iraq, saying that the way the EU has condemned Turkish attacks
against the Kurdish population in the area was moderate and inadequate.
Referring to Turkey, Mr. Pangalos said that a stable government would
perhaps be able to revise some Turkish [foreign policy] positions, but "the
possibility of Ms (Tansu) Ciller's assuming the prime minister's position
will not solve any of Turkey's problems".
Turkey's problem is deeper, he said, citing the issues of democratic
institutions and social reform.
Asked for the date the Dutch presidency of the EU would present the report
by Greek and Turkish experts on the differences between the two countries,
Mr. Pangalos said that the Dutch presidency had been disappointed. "There
must be someone they can talk with", he said.
Court rules transfer of former royal family's property to the state
A Special Higher Court majority yesterday upheld as constitutional a law
transferring all of the former royal family's to the state, thereby
irrevocably settling the dispute.
The Court had been called upon to rule on two earlier contradictory
decisions by the Supreme Court and the Council of State.
Its decision is to be published within June.
Kaklamanis holds talks with People's Republic of China's Li Ruihuan
Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis held talks with the President of
the People's Consultative Conference of the People's Republic of China, Li
Ruihuan, yesterday, confirming prospects for the further development of
friendly relations between Athens and Beijing.
Mr. Ruihuan stressed that Sino-Greek relations are based on the principles
of understanding and cooperation which inspire and direct bilateral
contacts.
Mr. Kaklamanis referred to various issues such as Greece's role as the sole
stabilising factor in the Balkans and expressed concern over the 23 years
of illegal occupation of 37 per cent of the territory of Cyprus by
Turkey.
He also referred to Turkey's provocativeness in Thrace, where Ankara is
creating problems in the region by exploiting the Moslem minority.
Mr. Ruihuan said Turkey also showed similar provocativeness in the region
of his country where a Moslem minority has showed secessionist tendencies.
Comprehensive study of air pollution in Thessaloniki, Athens areas
The most widespread examination of atmospheric pollution in Greece by air
will begin in Athens today with the arrival of a special "Falcon" research
aircraft from Germany.
The aircraft will be used in the framework of research to be conducted by
professors Themistocles Kouimtzis, Nikolaos Mousiopoulos and Demosthenis
Asimakopoulos, and involves a study of atmospheric pollution over the wider
region of Thessaloniki and the influence of pollution on the industrial
region of Eordaia, as well as the photochemistry of smog over Athens.
The professors told a press conference in Thessaloniki that it will be the
first time that an attempt will be made to provide, answer and collect
accurate data on the question on whether atmospheric pollution is conveyed
to the wider region of Thessaloniki from the areas of Kozani and Ptolemaida.
At the same time, scientists will be given the opportunity to examine the
quality of the atmosphere over the region between Thessaloniki and
Eordaia.
The Falcon aircraft, belonging to a German research centre, will be based
at Athens airport.
Researchers said the photochemical composition of smog in Athens will be
examined as well as its movement. They said research will be conducted over
a wide region, including all the islands of the Saronic Gulf.
The aircraft will be funded by the European Union for its flights in Greece
in the framework of two research programmes.
Mount Athos representatives object to Schengen accord
Representatives of the all-male monastic community of Mount Athos yesterday
reiterated their opposition to the content of the Schengen Agreement,
saying it paved the way for violation of individuals' privacy.
Representatives from 20 monasteries of Mount Athos yesterday held an
extraordinary meeting to express their views prior to Parliamentary debate
this month on ratification of the Schengen Agreement.
The agreement, named after the Luxembourg hamlet in which it was signed,
came into effect in March 1995. Already ratified by a number of European
Union member-states, the agreement foresees removal of border controls
between participating EU members' citizens, and closer cooperation on
police matters with the creation of vast computer databases.
In an announcement, the monks called on Greek deputies not to ratify the
agreement and to revoke a law already passed "on the protection of the
citizen against the computer processing of data of a personal nature" which,
they said, should be replaced "by a corresponding law which affords real,
rather than bogus protection."
If Athens attempted to implement the agreement, the monks stressed, the
state would find itself up against all of Mount Athos' monks "as conscientious
objectors."
According to the monks, the Schengen Agreement completes the legislative
framework for the creation of computer files concerning individual citizens
on a European-wide, "and perhaps later, a world level."
They claim that this could lead to violations of privacy and "the
monitoring of every free person... (thus) abolishing the presumption of a
citizen's innocence."
Patras International Festival programme
The programme for the Patras International Festival was presented to the
public yesterday.
The festival begins on June 25 and will end on September 14 and is based on
four themes: a dedication to composer Mikis Theodorakis and poet George
Seferis; the Balkan forum for musical cooperation; a dedication to Greek
composers such as Xenakis, Antoniou and Christou; and a dedication to 401
years of opera in Europe and Maria Callas.
There will also be special jazz events with performances by Greek and
foreign musicians.
The Karolos Koun Theatre, Anna Synodinou troupe and theatrical groups from
Thessaly, Volos and Cyprus will also perform as will the ERT Symphonic
Orchestra, the Orchestra of Colours, the Camerata and the State Greek Music
Orchestra.
Stock market rebounds, drachma stable
Share prices ended higher in nervous trade on the Athens Stock Exchange
reflecting investors' contradicting views on the short-term course of the
market. The general index closed 1.08 percent higher at 1,652.99 points,
reversing an earlier 2.40 percent dr op. Most sector indices scored gains.
Banks rose 0.32 percent, Leasing was 1.02 percent up, Investment increased
0.09 percent, Industrials ended 0.69 percent higher, Holding rose 1.85
percent and Miscelleaneous edged up 0.96 percent. Insurance and Constru
ction bucked the trend to end 0.28 and 0.87 percent lower respectively.
Trading was heavy at 27.3 billion drachmas. Broadly, decliners led
advancers by 111 to 104 with another 25 issues unchanged. Viohalko,
Elviemek, Oerlikon, Avax and Benroubi sc ored the biggest gains, while Bank
of Athens, Sportsman, Allatini and Keranis suffered the heaviest losses.
Shares of Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) were the highlight
of the session rising 5.9 percent to close at 7,200 drachmas. In the
domestic foreign currency market the drachma rebounded against the ECU to
close at 310.81 drachmas at the central bank's daily fix from 311 on
Friday. Money market trade was uneventful after turbulence last week. The
US dollar however ended significantly higher against the drachma reflecting
the greenback's substantial rise on international markets.
SATO to sell Dauphin products in the Balkans
SATO SA, a Greek office furniture company, finalised an agreement for
exclusive production and distribution rights to Dauphin products in Greece
and other Balkan states. Dauphin is the biggest office seating manufacturer
in Europe. The agreement between t he two companies provides SATO with a
licence agreement for the production of Dauphin's product line and
manufacture of specific components for the firm. SATO will continue
production of its own line of office seat products.
Greek participation in Polish trade fair
The Hellenic Exports Promotion Organisation (OPE) is organising Greece's
participation in an international consumer trade fair, "DOMEXPO Autumn
Consumer Fair" to be held in Poznan, Poland on October 21-24.
Products to be exhibited include electronics, electrical appliances, air
conditioning, tableware, kitchenware, building materials, bathroom fixtures,
home furniture, office and hotel furniture and upholstery.
Greek firm tapped for consultancy contract with Austrian gov't
The Greek firm Euroconsultants S.A. has won an international tender called
by the Austrian government to find an evaluation consultant for its
Community Support Framework programme.
It will be the first time a Greek firm acts as consultant to another
European Union member-state.
Euroconsultants will work with the Austrian firm Regional Consulting on
projects in agricultural regions and Leader II programmes being handled by
the country's town planning and regional policy ministry.
Evaluation is set to begin in Vienna in July and the two firms' contract
expires in Dec. 1999, at the end of the Community Support Framework's
duration.
V. Papandreou discusses gas and oil pipeline proposals
The condition of the pipeline transporting natural gas from Russia to
Greece was one of the issues discussed by Development Minister Vasso
Papandreou and the president of Bulgaria's energy commitee Georgi Stoilov,
The Bulgarian News Agency disclosed yesterday.
The meeting was held on May 27 in Brussels, on the sidelines of a European
Union and associate members' meeting on energy.
The two officials also discussed the proposed Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil
pipeline as well as the issue of radioactive waste disposal, while Ms
Papandreou said Athens did not favour the idea that disposal areas be
located in southern Bulgaria.
Greek-Israeli economic ties improve
Israeli ambassador to Athens Ran Curiel yesterday said Greek-Israeli
commercial and economic relations have shown a rapid improvement over the
past years due to the goodwill existing on the part of both countries.
He spoke at an event organised by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (EBEA) in cooperation with the Israeli embassy's commercial
department.
Mr. Curiel said the geographical position of Greece and Israel provides
comparative advantages for the import of the two countries' products in the
wider Balkan and Mediterranean region.
Greece's exports to Israel amounted to US$126 million in 1995, according to
a bulletin issued by EBEA, increasing by 16 per cent compared to 1994.
Imports in the same year increased 47 per cent as against 1994 and totalled
US$128 million.
The main products Greece exports to Israel are building materials,
metallurgical products, foodstuffs, textiles, paper products, clothing,
electrical products, marble and sanitary equipment.
Greece's main imports from Israel are chemical fertilizers, pesticides,
plastics, air conditioning systems, optics and high technology products.
WEATHER
Local cloudiness, scattered rain and rainstorms are forecast for most parts
of Greece today, especially in the west and south. Winds variable, light to
moderate. Athens will be cloudy with possible rain in the afternoon and
temeratures will between 15-28C. Similar weather in Thessaloniki where
temperatures will be between 13-24C.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Monday's closing rates - buying US dlr. 272.334
Pound sterling 445.983 Cyprus pd 532.129
French franc 46.842 Swiss franc 191.039
German mark 158.298 Italian lira (100) 16.028
Yen (100) 233.983 Canadian dlr. 197.547
Australian dlr. 206.728 Irish Punt 410.509
Belgian franc 7.668 Finnish mark 52.536
Dutch guilder 140.661 Danish kr. 41.565
Swedish kr. 35.081 Norwegian kr. 38.232
Austrian sch. 22.479 Spanish peseta 1.873
Port. Escudo 1.563
(C.E.)
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