Athens News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-12-14

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

NEWS IN ENGLISH

Athens, Greece, 14/12/1998 (ANA)

MAIN HEADLINES

• Athens satisfied with Vienna summit results
• Holbrooke touts trilateral business meeting in Istanbul
• KYSEA meeting on armaments programme tomorrow
• Tsohatzopoulos: Coalition governments a future prospect
• Teachers urged to persuade pupils to end school occupations
• Bomb blast outside Holargos police station
• Trolley drivers to strike tomorrow
• Gov't promotes telecoms investments in light of 2001 deregulation
• Future for Thessaloniki Stock Exchange centre foreseen
• Greek first division soccer
• Weather
• Foreign exchange

NEWS IN DETAIL

The latest EU summit in Vienna has fully re-endorsed decisions of the June summit in Cardiff regarding Turkey's status in relation to EU enlargement, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told reporters on Saturday.

The final communique includes the exact wording of the previous summit, referring to the implementation of the European strategy for Turkey's preparation for accession, which remains separate from that for other candidate-countries, he said.

Mr. Simitis reiterated that Greece favours Turkey's accession, as this is conducive to the development of all countries in the area, but this position is conditional on Ankara's observance of international treaties and respect for international law.

"The decisions reached serve these aims," he said, stressing that "absolutely nothing has changed" with regard to the prospect of EU financing for Turkey.

"We are at the same point we were the day before yesterday," he said.

Cyprus conclusions : Regarding Cyprus, European Union leaders expressed their support to the efforts of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a solution, and in particular, to his latest initiative to embark, through his resident representative, on shuttle talks between the Gre ek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

The EU position is outlined in the conclusions of the six monthly rotating Austrian presidency at the Vienna EU summit.

In a separate paragraph on Cyprus, the EU Council "reaffirms its support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General for an overall settlement of the Cyprus problem and in particular for the process which his Deputy Special Representative has developed with a view to reduce tensions and achieve progress towards a just and permanent solution."

On enlargement, EU leaders noted "with satisfaction that the six accession conferences with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have entered into substantive negotiations and reached the first concrete results."

Describing this as "an important stage in the negotiations", EU leaders invite the Council and the Commission "to maintain the momentum in order to permit intensive negotiations in the first half of 1999."

The EU Council welcomed the fact that the overall enlargement process "is now well under way" and the Commission's first regular progress report on the basis of its conclusions in Luxembourg and Cardiff.

It "invites the Commission to present its further report in view of the Helsinki European Council." Referring to EU-Turkish relations, the Council "underlines the great importance it attaches to the further development of relations between the EU and Turkey" and in this context "it recognises the central role of the further implementation of the European strategy for the preparation of its (Turkey's) accession in line with its conclusions in Luxembourg and Cardiff."

Neither Luxembourg nor Cardiff included Turkey in the list of candidate- countries eligible to start accession talks.

The EU developed a European strategy for Turkey to enhance its ties with the country and asked Turkey to help settle the Kurdish problem, assist the peace effort in Cyprus, iron out its disputes with Greece and put its own house in order as far as respect of human rights is concerned, if it wants to get closer to Europe.

Commenting on the European Conference, the EU Council notes its work as "a forum for political consultation on question of general concern to the participants."

Holbrooke touts trilateral business meeting in Istanbul

US presidential emissary for Cyprus Richard Holbrooke noted in Istanbul yesterday that a business meeting between Greeks, Turks and Cypriots (Greek and Turkish) being held there was an exercise in "bridge-building diplomacy".

"We did not come to Istanbul to solve the region's problems, or to negotiate political differences between the two communities in Cyprus," Mr. Holbrooke told the first day of the conference.

"We are here to talk about things that citizens of the three countries, and especially business people, can do to increase communication and cooperation, " he said.

"This is what we call alternative diplomacy."

The meeting was arranged by Oslo's Peace Institute and Columbia University as a continuation of earlier sessions held in Oslo in July and in Brussels last year.

"What is happening here does not change objective realities in Cyprus, but it will soften the hostile climate that exists so that we do not again witness a tragedy, as in the past," Mr. Holbrooke said.

He said the initiative to bring conflicting groups into contact already had shown some success with the installation of a telephone link in Cyprus, boosting communications with the Turkish-occupied north.

"Telephone communication between Greek and Turkish Cypriots has shown a major increase recently. We are seeking similar practical steps, and that is why we are meeting in Istanbul," Mr. Holbrooke said.

Also taking part in the meeting is Thomas Miller, US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus.

Neither US diplomat has held meetings with Turkish government officials. Mr. Holbrooke is due to arrive in Athens today.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference, participants stressed that the meetings are developing into a regular procedure, while a series of measures were also announced.

The lack of drinking water on Cyprus was one of the primary issues discussed, according to the communique, adding that it will be faced with 'non-political' initiatives and through expanding cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Other measures business people will promote are the teaching of Greek in Turkish schools as a second language and vice versa, the teaching of history in a way that doesn't stress differences as well as restoration of historical monuments, among others.

KYSEA meeting on armaments programme tomorrow

Prime Minister Costas Simitis will chair a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) tomorrow to discuss issues related to a multi-million dollar armaments programme.

The programme is currently in underway, aimed at bolstering the effectiveness of all three branches of Greece's armed forces.

At Tuesday's meeting, the focus will be on procurements for the Hellenic Air Force, primarily the purchase of fourth-generation fighter planes and airborne radar.

The main contenders for the lucrative warplane contract are the French "Mirage" 2000-5, the "Eurofighter" 2000, the US-made F-15 and F-16 (block 50+) and Russia's Sukhoi 27.

In recent statements, National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos hinted at Greece's possible participation in the manufacture of the Eurofighter.

The airborne radar "battle" is being waged by two US and one Swedish manufacturer.

Tomorrow, Mr. Tsohatzopoulos will also brief KYSEA on the progress in the implementation of the rest of the armaments programme. The Defence Council met on Friday and Saturday, chaired by Mr. Tsohatzopoulos, to put the finishing touches to recommendatio ns set to be presented at the KYSEA meeting.

Tsohatzopoulos: Coalition governments a future prospect

National Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos on Saturday said that coalition governments are the prospects of the future, under the precondition of social cohesion and with a convergence of progressive parties' policy.

Mr. Tsohatzopoulos was speaking on the Vienna summit results, saying Greece is on the right path regarding recent European developments.

Teachers urged to persuade pupils to end school occupations

Education Minister Gerasimos Arsenis yesterday asked education authorities in Thessaloniki to urge pupils to end the ir occupation of public schools, called to protest government reforms for the sector.

Mr. Arsenis, who was speaking to reporters after closed meetings with high school principals and administrators in the northern city, said he was optimistic that the protests were dissipating.

"The situation is improving because disinformation is receding," he said. The minister has repeatedly blamed disinformation for the outcry, without naming its source.

He added that lost teaching time due to strikes and sit-ins would be made up within the academic year as in the past, when no extension was ordered.

Asked by reporters whether the government would backtrack on reforms, Mr. Arsenis said: "Progress cannot be achieved through deals and concessions, but through courage, persuasion and dialogue."

At the same time, he indicated during the closed meetings that several changes to grading may be made, possibly this year, sources said.

He also told the meetings he was considering a rule allowing students to switch from one university faculty to another in the first year after taking special exams.

The measure would be introduced through a presidential decree, the same sources claimed.

The majority of high school principals and administrators present at the meetings came out in favour of the goverment's reforms, although several expressed qualms about the law's rationale and the amount of information they had been given.

Their objections centred on what they called a more intensive approach, which they feared would drive pupils to private-sector tutorial institutes even more than at present.

A small group of pupils and teachers who have yet to be appointed to public schools waited outside the building where the talks were held, claiming they had been barred from entry.

Meanwhile, firefighters were called in to extinguish a fire that broke out early yesterday at a junior high school under occupation by students in the Athens suburb of Kallithea.

Police said the fire was deliberately lit, probably by intruders who entered the premises through a ground-floor window. Damage to school property was estimated at some 1.5 million drachmas. There were no injuries.

The number of schools around the country presently occupied by pupils protesting planned reforms to the education system is thought to number in the hundreds.

Students, teachers and parents are protesting a number of issues, including teacher shortages, education ministry changes to grading and examinations at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels, the introduction of open university type programmes, and changes to procedures for appointing new teachers.

Also sparking discontent are budget allocations for education, private schooling, and the prosecution of those occupying or vandalising school property.

Bomb blast outside Holargos police station

A bomb exploded at around 8:30 p.m. yesterday evening in a parking lot next to a police station in the Holargos district of Athens, damaging the station's entrance, a nearby wall and a parked car.

An anonymous caller warned a private TV station about the bomb, although an explosion occurred almost simultaneously.

Trolley drivers to strike tomorrow

Athens will be without trolley buses tomorrow as drivers will stage a 24- hour strike, part of wider mobilisations called by the General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) to protest the government's 1999 state budget.

Regular buses and the railway will run from 9 a.m. tomorrow and stop at 9 p.m.

Hospital doctors, meanwhile, will stage walkouts between 8-2 p.m. today and tomorrow.

GSEE and the civil servants union, ADEDY, are demanding an increase in the tax-free threshold for wage earners and pensioners, higher wage and pension increases than those foreseen in the budget and an inflation-linked tax scale.

Gov't promotes telecoms investments in light of 2001 deregulation

The government on Saturday stressed that investment by the private sector in telecoms infrastructure was necessary to ensure access of all citizens to information and communications networks, in light of planned deregulation in 2001.

"Telecoms today are a tool for attracting foreign investment to our country. Investment in the sector to date has only been undertaken by OTE (the state-controlled Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation), but for all citizens to have access to the inf ormation and communications networks, investment by the private sector is necessary, particularly in view of the deregulation of the market," Transport and Telecommunications Minister Tassos Mantelis told the two-day "Money Show" conference, which began on Saturday in Thessaloniki.

He said significant allocations would be devoted to the sector through the third Community Support Framework, and that deregulation could come earlier than Jan. 1, 2001, provided there was adequate planning and organisation in order to avoid "piracy", such as in radio and television frequencies.

"Deregulation frightens neither the government nor OTE, because the appropriate preparations have been made. The market is not going to function in an anarchic fashion, as this would enhance the inequalities between rich and poor by separating those with access to information from those without," he said.

The minister said that subscribers to mobile telephone services today numbered 1.8 million, and given the current 80 per cent growth rate of this particular market segment, they were expected to reach three million by 2001. The growth in the number of I nternet users was projected to rise similarly.

"Greece today must tap existing infrastructure which permit the passage of international communication networks, and play a signifi-cant role in the development of the sector in the broader region of southeastern Europe," he said.

Speaking at the same conference, the president of the Association of Industries of Northern Greece, Vassilis Takas, stressed that the telecoms sector was considered one of the most important and dynamically growing of the Greek economy, representing (ac cording to data in a survey by ICAP) 3.1 per cent of GDP, or 1.029 billion drachmas in 1997, up from 2.7 per cent in 1996, while the forecast cites a doubling in the next five years.

OTE turnover accounted for 78.8 per cent of this sum, and mobile telephony companies for 20.8 per cent.

Future for Thessaloniki Stock Exchange centre foreseen

Current activities to date by the Thessaloniki Stock Exchange Centre could aid privatisation in SE Europe by bringing firms from neighbouring countries into the Greek capital market, Macedonia-Thrace Minister Yiannis Magriotis noted yesterday.

"The centre could be a vehicle for privatisation in southeastern Europe and a channel for Greek, European and US capital into those countries," said Mr. Magriotis, addressing a "Money Show" conference being held in the northern port city.

As part of its original design, the centre is to negotiate Elpis depository certificates and other paper for firms in the region.

Athens Stock Exchange President Spyros Kouniakis told the same conference that the Thessaloniki centre had the bourse's support and plans existed to complete its operation through Balkan listings.

Greek first division soccer

Results of Greek first division soccer matches played over the weekend:

AEK Athens-Panathinaikos 2-0 Xanthi-Iraklis Thessaloniki 0-0 Panionios Athens-Proodeftiki Piraeus 0-0 Ethnikos Asteras Athens-Paniliakos Pyrgos 1- 0 Ionikos Piraeus-Veria 1-0 Aris Thessaloniki-Panelefsiniakos 0-0 PAOK Thessaloniki-OFI Iraklion 3-1 Apollon Athens-Kavala 1-1

Monday: Olympiakos Piraeus v Ethnikos Piraeus

Standings, points: AEK 29, Olympiakos 28, Xanthi, Panathinaikos 25, PAOK 23, Aris 21, Ionikos, OFI, Ethnikos Asteras 20, Iraklis 19.

WEATHER

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

(L.G.)

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