Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-03-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU seriously concerned over situation in FYROM

[02] Defense minister appeals for Turkish cooperation in Balkan security

[03] Russia completes first of six anti-aircraft missile offset programs for Greece

[04] Karamanlis briefs President Stephanopoulos on FYROM visit

[05] Communist Party of Greece secretary says generalized Balkan war looming

[06] Universities confirm protest shutdown over education bill

[07] Patriarch welcomes pontiff's scheduled pilgrimage to Greece

[08] Greek scientist says DU bomb hazard was 'overestimated'

[09] Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which do not meet modern environmental standards

[10] Collection of signatures for IDs and religion to be extended

[11] Greek budget revenues up 11.9 percent Jan-Feb

[12] IOC marketing director covers progress with Athens 2004 officials

[13] Gov't planning rate hike to combat water wastage after dry year

[14] Merrill Lynch reportedly welcomes new OTE share-sale plan

[15] Six groups short-listed in sale of Skaramangas Shipyards

[16] EU to fund natural gas study for Macedonia firm

[17] EU warns Greece on medical equipment spending

[18] US and Greece agree on fighting Television piracy

[19] Hellenic Railways launches new high-speed rail line

[20] Athens bourse places trade in six firms under surveillance

[21] New drop has general index skimming 3,000-point mark

[22] Oxford conference to focus on latest archaeological finds in Greece

[23] Greek, Bulgarian local gov'ts eye cross-border cooperation

[24] US clarifies Cyprus settlement would facilitate EU accession

[25] Cyprus FM on UN human rights report

[01] EU seriously concerned over situation in FYROM

The European Union, seriously concerned over the situation created in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) by the activities of Albanian extremists, has invited FYROM President Boris Trajkovski, expected in Stockholm on Friday with Foreign Minister Kerim, to brief EU leaders on the situation and to help in shaping a joint policy.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will have a private meeting with Trajkovski, while Foreign Minister George Papandreou will be meeting Kerim. He will also be seeing his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected in Stockholm on Friday to attend the discussion on the situation in the region since Russia has proposed the creation of an international peacekeeping force to be deployed in FYROM.

The EU, according to Greek sources, is facing the situation with great seriousness and "feels that its prestige is at stake in this case."

According to reports, Greece would not object to the deployment of an international force, but there should be two preconditions for it to consent to such a move. All possibilities for a political understanding should be exhausted, the solution should be a political one and the force should aim at preserving and not imposing peace.

For the time being, however, nobody is discussing the development of a military force in FYROM, while in every case decisions will be taken in the framework of the UN and if a force is deployed it can be either an extension of KFOR or a force to be created from scratch.

The position being promoted by the EU and voiced by high commissioner Javier Solana is a ceasefire followed by a disarmament process. A discussion will then ensue on a package concerning issues preoccupying FYROM Albanians.

Greek interest at the summit will focus on strengthening employment in the direction of securing full employment throughout the EU, deregulating the energy market, an electronic Europe and the pensioning issue.

Another important issue at stake is the creation of a European Capital Market Committee. However, differences of opinion exist on the issue between the European Commission and the European Parliament on who will exercise which duties.

[02] Defense minister appeals for Turkish cooperation in Balkan security

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

Tsohatzopoulos also urged Turkey to remove minefields on the borders of the two countries as a goodwill gesture. He added that in the 21st century the only path out of economic crises, such as Turkey's, might be joining enlarged unions such as the new greater Europe extending from the Atlantic to the Urals.

"Are you aware how serious the situation in the Balkans is? The 'explosion' by Albanian extremists, which we are having now in FYROM and southern Serbia, is creating new dangers. Are you aware who inhabitants are expecting to do something in the region? Of course, there is the international community, KFOR, NATO, but at the same time what are neighboring countries doing in Skopje and Kosovo? What is Greece doing? What is Turkey doing? Turkey and Greece are the biggest countries in the region and they have a responsibility," he said, adding that "Turkey and Greece have the greatest responsibility for the region's security. We should cooperate on this basis. It is time for cooperation and not time for competition."

Tsohatzopoulos further said "we should develop cross border cooperation and a relationship between populations. Why shouldn't our people have the possibility of coming closer. Why is this happening with the Bulgarians? Why with FYROM and Albania? Moreover, we should open paths between our two countries, we should come closer and give the possibility to border people on both sides to cooperate economically and in the tourist sector."

Commenting on whether he desires to inaugurate a new period for peace, Tsohatzopoulos said "I do not like big words. I prefer to be a realist. I want a few tangible and simple decisions, but effective ones. Because we understand very well, defense ministers and armed forces chiefs alike, how much it costs for our peoples to pay so much for their defense."

[03] Russia completes first of six anti-aircraft missile offset programs for Greece

The Antei concern, Russia's leading manufacturer of short and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, has completed the first of six offset programs under a contract with the Greek defense ministry.

A package of six four-year offset programs worth about 820 million dollars was signed last October, the Russian delegation at the fifth international Idex-2001 arms exhibition told Itar-Tass on Thursday.

The first program covers 15-20 percent of offset exports, including deliveries of gas-turbine plants for the anti-aircraft missile systems Top-M1 and Osa-AKM.

Greece is the largest foreign importer of the Russian-made Top-M1 systems. It has already acquired 27 installations and will receive four more before the end of the first quarter of 2002.

A new contract worth more than 700 million dollars is expected to be signed soon.

[04] Karamanlis briefs President Stephanopoulos on FYROM visit

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

After the 40-minute meeting, Karamanlis stressed that it was inconceivable to allow a group of extremists to "set the Balkans on fire."

Karamanlis stressed that ND steadfastly supports the principle of the inviolability of borders and noted that the government must not allow itself to relax and must undertake initiatives for decisive intervention by NATO and the EU.

[05] Communist Party of Greece secretary says generalized Balkan war looming

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

Papariga said if the international community decides to create a multinational force, supposedly to safeguard the integrity of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Greece will be participating in it and then the dismemberment of the neighboring country will be almost certain, while this will pit the remaining Balkan countries against each other for the distribution of the loot.

She blamed the international community, NATO and the Greek government for the situation created in the Balkans, stressing that the Greek people should not be misled since the major powers' main aim is the dismemberment of FYROM and the complete militarization of the region.

Papariga said the position should be strengthened concerning the preservation of borders in Balkan countries with the taking of practical measures and, more specifically, with each country protecting its borders, the disarming of the UCK and NATO forces leaving the area.

She further said an institutional framework to muzzle the Greek people is being shaped with the ratification of the "law on terrorism", the creation of a private or municipal police force and the securing of court rulings to enable military interventions in neighboring countries and the changing of borders to be carried out with greater ease.

[06] Universities confirm protest shutdown over education bill

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

Rectors warned, meanwhile, that this was just the start and that they were prepared to take further action if needed.

Among other changes, the bill would upgrade qualifications awarded by TEIs to the same level as university degrees, while academics want each institute to be assessed previously, to ensure that minimum standards are maintained.

On Thursday afternoon, a group of students from various Athens University schools took part in a march to the Education ministry and then on to Parliament, demanding that the bill be withdrawn. The faculty at the prestigious Athens Polytechnic, meanwhile, is asking for a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis to avoid a further escalation of protests and the paralysis of the educational system.

Discussion in Parliament, meanwhile, focused on sections of the bill concerning secondary schools and the methods for entering tertiary education.

During the course of this debate, Efthymiou slammed those who downgraded vocational lyceums (TEE) and treated those students as though they had dropped out of education.

"I don't accept this denigrating approach toward TEEs, they are a valuable and attractive level of education, they are a choice and not a failure," he said.

[07] Patriarch welcomes pontiff's scheduled pilgrimage to Greece

ISTANBUL, 23/03/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Vartholomeos spoke from the southern Italian region of Calabria, which still hosts a noteworthy Greek-speaking community in lands known during antiquity as "Magna Graecia", after accepting an invitation by the regional government of Calabria, the council of Roman Catholic bishops and the Orthodox Metropolis of Italy.

John Paul II will visit Greece on May 4 and 5 at a time when the Patriarch will also be in the predominately Eastern Orthodox country - in the northeastern city of Xanthi between May 2-3 and nearby Serres from May 5-6.

The Autocephalus Church of Greece's influential Holy Synod last week acquiesced to a pilgrimage by John Paul II - the first-ever by a pontiff to the modern Greek state and the first by a Roman Catholic pope in Greece proper for more than 1,200 years. The western and eastern churches permanently split in 1056, known as the "Great Schism".

On Wednesday, the high-profile primate of the Greek Church, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, noted that he will attend an open-air address by pontiff on top of Pnyx Hill, which directly across from the Acropolis. Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos invited the pope to the country during his recent visit to the Vatican.

The pontiff's visit stems from his stated desire to retrace the steps of the Apostle Paul, with other stops in Syria and Malta planned.

[08] Greek scientist says DU bomb hazard was 'overestimated'

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

According to Greek expert Leonidas Kamarinopoulos, tests in Greece had not revealed a measurable difference from background radiation compared with tests carried out before the bombings. Similarly, about 95 per cent of the samples taken in Yugoslavia had not turned up evidence of uranium contamination.

He also warned against allowing fears of radiation to deflect attention from other polluting repercussions of the bombings, such as chemical contamination, which were a problem in Eastern Bloc countries before the war.

A different approach, however, was taken by the general secretary of Balkan Chemists' Societies Nikos Katsaros, who said that the results presented by his colleague, while not wrong, did not necessarily lead to those conclusions.

He referred to a report by an international committee of experts from 31 countries, which had said that radiation combined with chemical pollution could have deleterious effects on health.

He therefore asked that the use of depleted uranium be banned until it is proven safe. Katsaros also pointed out the huge chemical pollution as a result of the bombings "which in some cases could be classed as chemical warfare."

He also asked the committee to note the many chemical and mining plants operating in Albania and the Former Yugoslav

[09] Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), which do not meet modern environmental standards

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

Specific information and photographs showing the extent of harm done was presented at a two-day conference held by the union with the participation of trade union organizations and social and professional agencies from Balkan countries.

Romanian lawyer and member of the "Right to Nature" foundation, Marius Nistor, said ecological consequences from the attack on Yugoslavia regarding the Danube and the Black Sea are tremendous since pollution has reached 80 percent.

Balkan Friendship Union President Mihalakakos denounced the NATO alliance for the "ongoing genocide" and expressed his concern over renewed hostilities taking place in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

[10] Collection of signatures for IDs and religion to be extended

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

The reports said the faithful are turning up in great numbers in past days to fill in relevant forms at churches, while an even greater turnout is expected during the week before Easter.

Clergymen involved in the issue will convene on Tuesday to examine whether the period for collecting signatures will end immediately after Easter.

[11] Greek budget revenues up 11.9 percent Jan-Feb

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, Drys said budget implementation was satisfactory and said he was optimistic over its strict implementation.

Primary spending rose 3.1 percent in the January-February period, off a budget target growth of 7.9 percent, while interest spending fell 2.5 percent over the same period, achieving an annual target for a 2.6 percent decline.

Drys noted, however, that spending on repayment of the country's public debt accounted for 28 percent of the total sum envisaged in the budget, marking a spectacular increase in the first two months of 2001.

[12] IOC marketing director covers progress with Athens 2004 officials

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

During a noontime press conference afterwards, Payne - the director of the all-important marketing division for the Lausanne-based organization - expressed satisfaction with ATHOC's progress so far.

The British IOC executive cited ATHOC's efforts to meet its set goals, noting that 70-75 percent of national sponsors have been signed up, while the international marketing program reaches the $430-million mark. He also reiterated that the IOC would allocate some one billion dollars for the Athens 2004 Games.

Regarding ticket sales, Payne said 4 percent of tickets for the Sydney 2000 Games were purchased over the Internet, compared to 12 percent for next year's Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah - a more-or-less unofficial benchmark that the IOC apparently wants to surpass for Athens 2004.

Furthermore, he cited what termed heightened interest by sports fans around the world to attend the 2004 Games in the land where the Olympics were conceived, adding that funds announced so far for Athens 2004 are comparatively higher that those for Sydney 2000 during the same period preceding the respective Games.

Finally, Payne stressed that the IOC attributes increased significance to the cultural aspect and events for the 2004 Games, whereas tougher legislation vis-a-vis bootleg Olympics merchandise could prevent problems.

Cooperation with Spanish architect Calatrava: In an unrelated development, ATHOC officials met with noted Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava on Thursday, with the latter announcing afterwards that he has accepted, in principle, an offer to design a handful of 2004-related sites and landscapes near some of the major venues.

Among the proposals discussed were a new commuter rail/metro station near the main Olympic Stadium, as well as a dome for the stadium itself; a landscape redesigning of the coastal Faliro Delta district that's set to host several Olympic competitions; or even the grandiose makeover of a central Athens intersection touted as the future entranceway of a unified "archaeological park" connecting Athens' foremost sites.

Calatrava is best known for designs of the Penn R/R station's extension in New York City, Lyon's new airport, the Alcoy Community Hall in Spain, Montjuic's communication tower overlooking the Olympic park in Barcelona, the Valencia opera house and Bilbao's football stadium, just to name a few.

First 'Olympic Shop': The first 'Olympic Shop', selling Athens 2004 emblems and merchandise, will open on March 28 at the new Athens international airport "Eleftherios Venizelos", the same day as the $1.3-billion facility's inauguration.

The "Olympic Shop" will be located in the airport's busy departure area, ATHOC announced.

[13] Gov't planning rate hike to combat water wastage after dry year

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

"It makes sense for goods that are in short supply to be priced accordingly," Alevras said.

He quickly clarified, however, that these price hikes would only apply to those who used large quantities and would not affect the average household.

The warning came on the anniversary of World Water Day, which is held each year on March 22, during a seminar organized by the Athens water board EYDAP on water management and quality.

According to reports, the environment and town planning ministry - which is in charge of water supply networks - and EYDAP plan to propose a water rates hike for large-scale consumers, but have not yet decided at what levels of consumption the increase will apply.

Speaking during the seminar, Alevras reported that the last winter had been particularly dry throughout the country, with limited inflow of water into Greece's reservoirs.

At the same time, he added, consumption levels had increased after 1994 and these had to be cut down to reasonable levels, while water wastage had to be avoided.

The minister reported that EYDAP currently 700 million cubic meters of draw able water, while on completion of projects currently underway it would be able to ensure adequate supplies to Attica until 2030.

He also stressed the fundamental importance of sensible environmental and water resources management in years to come, when the threat of serious water shortages loomed large.

EYDAP General Director Dionysis Xenos then took the stand and presented more detailed figures regarding Athens' water resources status, noting that the last year had had the lowest rainfall of the past decade.

"Up to now," he added, "EYDAP's three reservoirs have only had inflows of 130 million cubic meters of water, a quantity that is clearly below the annual consumption needs of the Attic basin."

Xenos reiterated that utilizable reserves in all three reservoirs came to 700 million cubic meters, a quantity that should cover the city's needs for the next two years under normal circumstances. He said that this level of reserves was considered adequate by international standards for cities the size of greater Athens.

He also announced the drilling of new artesian wells around Lake Yliki and for water reserves at Mornos.

The seminar was then addressed by a series of respected scientists specializing in hydrology.

[14] Merrill Lynch reportedly welcomes new OTE share-sale plan

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

The global investment house expressed backing for the move in a private letter to OTE chairman and managing director, Nikos Manassis, sources at the state telecom said.

OTE is a heavily traded stock on the Athens Stock Exchange. It is also listed in New York.

"The market's reaction to such a step will be especially positive and investors will see it as steady proof of the advancement of liberalization by Greece and by OTE," the sources quoted the letter as saying.

"The move will act as a strong catalyst for a major upgrade of OTE, whose market value is currently at unjustifiably low levels," the letter reportedly added.

[15] Six groups short-listed in sale of Skaramangas Shipyards

Athens, 23/03/2001 (ANA)

The six groups out of nine that originally expressed interest in the tender will be asked to submit binding bids, the ministry said in a statement.

The shortlist recommended by the government's consultants in the tender was approved by Skaramangas' shareholders - Hellenic Industrial Development Bank with a 51 percent stake, and the yard's worker cooperative with 49 percent, the statement said.

The short listed consortiums are as follows: