Via: uk.ac.strathclyde.vaxb; Sat, 23 Jan 1993 18:18:04 +0000
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.hellas
Date:         Sat, 23 Jan 1993 18:16:00 GMT
Reply-To:     Haralambos Mantzaridis <CLFV14@VAXB.STRATHCLYDE.AC.UK>
From:         Haralambos Mantzaridis <CLFV14@VAXB.STRATHCLYDE.AC.UK>
Subject:      Eidhseis
Comments: To: HELLAS <HELLAS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU>,
          MACEDONIA <MACEDONIA@HUSC.HARVARD.EDU>

GREEKS BOYCOTT DANISH GOODS OVER MACEDONIA

    By Dina Kyriakidou
    ATHENS, Jan 22, Reuter - Greeks began a boycott of Danish
products on Friday, angrily protesting against statements by the
Danish foreign minister on the former Yugoslav republic of
Macedonia.
    The Consumers Union of Greece called for the boycott as an
answer to Uffe Ellemann-Jensen's accusations this week that Greece
was holding the European Community hostage by refusing to recognise
the breakaway republic.
    "The Consumers Union of Greece is calling for a boycott of
Danish products as an answer to the unacceptable and anti-Greek
statements by the foreign minister of this country," the union said
in a statement.
    It urged shoppers not to buy any Danish products such as canned
meat, cheese, beer and chocolate.
    "There was great public pressure to begin this boycott and we
are already receiving calls of support from consumers and
businesses," said Mihalis Tsifakis, president of the union.
    Some local radio stations were also urging listeners to pass up
Danish products.
    Ellemann-Jensen, whose country holds the rotating presidency of
the 12-nation EC, told the European Parliament he was ashamed of
Greece's attitude.
    "I'm extremely irritated by this Greek stance because this is
tantamount to questioning our (EC) solidarity as well," he said. "We
have felt some kind of hostage, a hostage of the veto right."
    Greece made a formal complaint and said it would request a
discussion concerning Ellemann-Jensen's "unacceptable" conduct at
the General Affairs Council meeting on February 1.
    The EC cannot recognise Macedonia as a bloc as long as Greece
resists. Athens opposes recognition until the Slav- dominated
republic on its northern border changes its name, saying this title
implies territorial ambitions against Greece's neighbouring province
of Macedonia.
    Danish embassy officials in Athens stressed Ellemann-Jensen was
only an acting minister. They said he had been reprimanded by the
Danish parliament's foreign affairs committee chairman for going too
far in defending Macedonia and ignoring Greece's concerns.
    In 1992 Denmark exported goods worth about $350 million to
Greece, about one per cent of all Danish exports.
    It was the second Greek boycott of EC goods over Macedonia, an
issue that stirs great nationalist passion in most Greeks.
    A year ago consumers and companies shunned goods from Italy and
the Netherlands as a protest against their positions on Macedonia,
which were seen as hostile to Greece.
    Greece won half the region of Macedonia, the birthplace of the
Greek conqueror Alexander the Great, from the Ottoman Empire during
the 1912-13 Balkan wars.
    Greeks and Slavs have battled over the region on a number of
occasions this century, most recently during Greece's 1946-49 civil
war.
 REUTER DRK THW



GREECE ANNOUNCES TIGHT INCOMES POLICY FOR 1993

    ATHENS, Jan 22, Reuter - Greece on Friday announced a tight
incomes policy for 1993 but pledged 1994 would be a better year.
    National Economy Minister Stephanos Manos told reporters that
Public employees would get a four per cent salary rise compared to
1992 and the government estimated inflation this year would average
about 12.5 per cent.
    Pensioners would get the same increase from the state plus an
extra two per cent in the second half of 1993.
    "This year will be very tight and painful as the debt servicing
expenditures amount to two trillion drachmas ($10 billion) which
equals the amount the state pays for salaries and pensions," Manos
said.
    The conservative government launched a tough three-year
austerity programme when it took power in 1990 to cut chronic
deficits. It includes below inflation pay rises, increases in public
services and lay-offs in many public companies.
    "We have to carry the programme to the end if we want our
economy to recover. Next year will be better and public employees
will get above inflation pay rises," Manos said.
    He said the government would not set a rate for pay increases in
the private sector but called on employers to be tight.
    Labour unions in the private sector are pressing for a 17 per
cent pay rise while employers have offered a rise of between 11.4
and 12.4 per cent.
 REUTER THW



FOREIGN CURRENCY RATES AGAINST THE ECU

    BRUSSELS, January 22, Reuter - The European Commission on Friday
gave the following official foreign currency rates for one European
Currency unit (Ecu):
 Belgian franc 40.3163 Swiss franc     1.79524
 D-mark        1.95788 Swedish crown   8.78584
 Guilder       2.20227 Norwegian crown 8.32419
 Sterling     0.799772 Canadian dollar 1.56558
 Danish crown  7.51951 Schilling       13.7751
 French franc  6.61933 Finnish mark    6.70874
 Lira          1801.85 Aus. dollar     1.81101
 Irish punt   0.736843 N.Z. dollar     2.36067
 Drachma       261.598 Maltese pound  0.452533
 Peseta        138.587 Turkish lira    10651.6
 Escudo        176.288
 U.S. dollar   1.21645
 Japanese Yen  152.118
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU