Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 97-06-20

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 20/06/1997 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Official US map proves Greek sovereignty of Imia
• Philippines' Ramos in Athens on Sunday
• Greek, Egyptian defence ministers discuss cooperation
• Sixth Panhellenic Journalists Conference begins
• Equipment delivered for Gjirokaster police
• Abducted Greek businessman released in Albania
• Marlon Brando in Athens for speech on environment
• Committee proposes strict incomes policy in next 2 years
• New radar system activated
• EU efforts for integration of internal energy market
• Greek Jan-Feb current account deficit widens to $874 mln
• Greece not to impose special tax on company profit-sources
• Arcadia Rokas to increase share capital
• National Bank, IBM agreement signed WEATHER

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NEWS IN DETAIL

The US government yesterday clearly stated that it considers the Imia islets within Greece's sovereignty, after observing a neutral stance on the Greek-Turkish dispute for almost a year and a half.

In response to a press question, Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon verified the existence of an official navigational map issued by the United States' federal chartographical service, which depicts the Imia islets as Greek territory.

"It's a fact that there was a new map issued at the end of '96, clearly showing the island within Greece's sovereignty, as it always was. It's a navigational map for seamen and it's available to the public. You can check and verify that the islet is depicted as under Greek sovereignty," Mr. Bacon stressed.

The Pentagon spokesman added that the US State Department intervened in order that a previous edition of the same map be corrected, since it depicted the Imia islets as being of "undetermined sovereignty."

"These issues are decided by the State Department. They have an official geographer...He decides on matters of appropriate nationality of properties around the world...we follow his advice," he said.

Turkey's dispute of Greece's sovereignty of the islets almost sparked an armed conflict between Athens and Ankara in late January 1996.

Philippines' Ramos in Athens on Sunday

The president of the Philippines, Fidel Ramos, is due in Athens Sunday for a three-day visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kostis Stephanopoulos.

The two presidents will have a meeting on Monday morning, after which Mr. Ramos will hold talks with Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

Mr. Ramos will meet with political party representatives and Greek businessmen on Monday afternoon.

Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos is also due to meet with his Filipino counterpart on Monday afternoon.

Mr. Ramos is currently on a nine-day tour of Britain, Greece and Oman in a bid to attract foreign investors.

Greek, Egyptian defence ministers discuss cooperation

Greece and Egypt ascertained an identity of views on issues concerning peace, security and progress in the greater region of the Balkans, the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, during talks yesterday between National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos and his counterpart, Gen. Hussein Tantawi.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos stressed that Greece and Egypt were stabilising factors in developments in the broader region.

"Egypt and Greece, two countries with such friendly relations and a stabilising role in the region, care about the behaviour of countries which do not conduct themselves in a stabilising manner in order to exercise their influence," Mr. Tsohatzopoulos said, indirectly referring to Turkey.

The two ministers agreed that Greece and Egypt should embark on more substantial cooperation in the armed forces sector, particularly with regard to training, joint exercises, armaments and the exchange of views and information.

Details concerning the cooperation will be discussed at meetings between representatives of the two countries' general staffs.

They also agreed that the two countries should make joint efforts to contribute to the peace processes in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Gen. Tantawi said that Athens and Cairo were "albeit with a delay" cooperating more closely, citing the signing of a cooperation protocol between the armed forces of the two countries.

He praised "the important role" played by Greece in the Balkans, saying Athens' policy was the same as that being implemented by Cairo concerning problems in the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.

On Egypt's position in relation to the Middle East peace process, Gen. Tantawi said efforts must continue for an overall and lasting peace in the region for the benefit of all the peoples of the Middle East.

In this direction, he added, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was exercising his influence "since Egypt is the only country which can play this role."

Sixth Panhellenic Journalists Conference begins

The sixth Panhellenic Journalists Conference started aboard a vessel sailing from Alexandroupoli to the island of Samothrace last night with the participation this year of some 350 journalists from Greece and abroad.

The conference, held on Samothrace every year, is jointly organised by the Evros Prefecture and the island's municipality with the cooperation of POESY, the Athens and Thessaloniki Journalists Union .

The first part of the conference concerns "Developments in the Balkans and the Mass Media: Former Yugoslavia, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Bulgaria", while the second will focus on "Developments in the Balkans and the Mass Media: Greek-Turkish Relations."

The third part concerns the periodical press and is entitled "Lifestyle Magazines: An Increase in Circulations, a Crisis of Content?", while the session will close with the fourth part on "Established Practice and Freedom of the Press in the Mass Media: Rules, Limits, Dangers."

The conference will run through Sunday.

Equipment delivered for Gjirokaster police

A portion of the aid the Greek public order ministry is providing for the Albanian police was delivered at the Kakavia customs post yesterday.

The aid comprises three vehicles, five motorcycles, bullet-proof vests, police uniforms, clothing, stationery etc. All the equipment is destined for police in Gjirokaster.

Delivery was made by the police inspector of Epirus, Ilias Krokidis, to the head of the Gjirokaster police Jiaffer Tziotzi in the presence of Greece's new general consul in Gjirokaster Costas Kakiousis.

Similar aid was given yesterday to police in Korce, while aid will also be sent to police in Tirana and Vlore in the next few days.

Abducted Greek businessman released in Albania

Greek businessman Andreas Radoyiannis,who had been abducted by an armed gang on Wednesday, was released yesterday after relatives paid two a million drachmas ransom to his abductors.

Mr. Radoyiannis was abducted between the Albanian towns of Tepeleni and Premeti.

The kidnappers, who grabbed the Patra businessman after a clash with his accompanying bodyguards, initially demanded a 20 million drachmas ransom for his release, but settled for a lesser amount after negotiations with hostage negotiators and his Albani an business partner.

Mr. Radoyiannis was riding in a truck loaded with charcoal when he was kidnapped.

Marlon Brando in Athens for speech on environment

Hollywood legend Marlon Brando arrived in Athens yesterday evening, a guest of shpping magnate Yannis Latsis' daughter, Marianna.

The controversial Academy Award-winning actor is to speak Monday night on environmental issues at the Pallas Athena Hotel in the posh Athens suburb of Politeia. Sources said that among those expected to attend are Environment Minister Costas Laliotis and Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos.

The same sources said he expressed a desire to visit the Acropolis, probably on Sunday, after a cruise of several Aegean islands.

Committee proposes strict incomes policy in next 2 years

An economic committee's report released yesterday recommends wage increases of 4 per cent in 1998 and 3.5 per cent in 1999 in order to bring inflation down to 2.5 and 2 per cent, respectively.

The report also calls for a reduction in indirect taxation, and limited public utility rate increases.

Prepared by a committee headed by Professor Yiannis Spraos and commissioned by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, the report also calls for the levying of a "one-off" 10 per cent tax on company incomes or, alternatively, a lump sum contribution, at the same rate, to a fund dealing with labour issues.

Mr. Spraos stressed that the government must seek a consensus of social partners in the application of the report's recommendations, although in case this is not obtained, the government must make it clear it will remain on its inflation target, "even if its attainment without consensus is more painful". He also insisted that the government must consistently apply the programme for privatisation or liquidation of ailing state-controlled enterprises.

Premier Simitis described the economic report (Continued on page 7) (Continued from front page) as "a central reference point for discussions on inflation and incomes."

New radar system activated

The Civil Aviation Authority (YPA) will for the first time activate a radar system to facilitate air transport and pilots within the Athens FIR.

This was communicated to all international organisations with a NOTAM issued by YPA, according to which as of June 25, radar service will be provided in the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) with unlimited possibilities.

Transport and Communications Minister Haris Kastanidis said the system will increase the capacity of airspace, meaning 200 more flights, while delays will be decreased.

EU efforts for integration of internal energy market

Opening a conference on "Energy and Development" yesterday, EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis referred to the efforts of the European Commission for the integration of the internal energy market.

"Natural gas in Europe costs 30 per cent more than in the US, while energy in the chemical industry is 45 per cent more expensive. It is clear that under such conditions, European products are not competitive," he pointed out.

"Renewable energy sources are a priority for Greece. The triptych Energy - Tourism - Small- and Medium-Enterprises cand provide the basis for an integrated development drive," he said.

Greek Jan-Feb current account deficit widens to $874 mln

Greece's current account deficit widened to 874 million dollars in January- February 1997 from 305.1 million dollars in the corresponding period of 1996, the central bank said yesterday.

According to data released by the Bank of Greece, the rise stemmed from a 443.3-million dollar jump in the trade deficit combined with a 125.6- million dollar slump in the surplus of invisible transactions.

At the end of February foreign currency reserves were 19.6 billion dollars, up from 17.4 billion a year earlier, the central bank said.

Greece not to impose special tax on company profit-sources

Greece's socialist government has no plans to slap an extraordinary tax on company profits, national economy ministry sources told the Athens News Agency.

The response followed a proposal for imposition of the tax in a report submitted to the ministry by an advisory committee that has upset stock market players and firms.

Arcadia Rokas to increase share capital

The metallurgical firm Arcadia Rokas will increase its share capital by two billion drachmas to finance investment plans in the wind park sector.

More specifically, Arcadia Rokas will issue 940,680 new common shares and 147,888 preferred ones at the rate of two new shares for every 10 old ones. The price of shares is 1,900 drachmas for the common ones and 1,600 drachmas for the preferred. Last ye ar closed with profits amounting to 1.05 billion drachmas, an increase of 26.8 per cent, while turnover reached 3.7 billion drachmas, meaning an increase of 11.1 per cent. The dividend amounts to 75 drachmas.

National Bank, IBM agreement signed

The National Bank of Greece signed a strategic cooperation agreement with IBM yesterday regarding data processing issues.

The agreement is part of the bank's policy to upgrade and modernise its informatics systems and infrastructure. According to the agreement, IBM is expected to convey know-how to the National Bank.

As a result of the agreement, the bank concludes a long-term strategic cooperation with IBM, which secures priority briefing.

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(L.G.)

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