Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-05-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Three separate May Day rallies held in Athens

[02] President blasts journalist over 'blatant lies'

[03] Smoldering crisis in Kosovo, FYROM, premier ascertains

[04] Magriotis to represent Athens at Orthodox Easter Week services

[05] Gov't reforms for civil service to include 'results' assessment

[06] PASOK names local polls candidates for Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Patra

[07] Main opposition 'open' to debate on changing constituencies

[08] Synaspismos leader turns down ND offer of post elections collaboration

[09] Greek minister invited to address DHSY party event

[10] Greek economic growth to top 3.8 percent, Christodoulakis says

[11] Bank of Greece report shows jump in consumer credit growth

[12] President meets newly elected board of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

[13] Greek agriculture minister defends common EU policy in subsidy matters

[14] Greek ranking drops in world competitiveness survey

[15] Macedonia-Thrace minister reviews bid for EXPO fair with ND official

[16] Antonakopoulos elected Cosmote's chair-man

[17] Banks to stage 48-hour strike on May 8-9

[18] U.S. report on protection of copy rights worldwide

[19] ASE ends lower on late profit taking

[20] Foreign ministry operational plan with Athens 2004 organizers signed

[21] KKE MPs question plans for new Acropolis Museum in Parliament

[22] President Clerides due to reply to Denktash's non-paper

[01] Three separate May Day rallies held in Athens

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

A somewhat delayed government decision last week to bump the customary workers� holiday coinciding with May Day to next Tuesday (May 7) -- as Wednesday fell in the middle of Orthodox Easter Week, a normally busy day for stores � along with a split between mainstream labor unions, the Communist Party of Greece�s (KKE) affiliated grouping (PAME) as well as a gathering of far leftist groups diluted turnout for the traditional May Day rallies.

The Athens Labor Center, in cooperation with the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) � the country�s largest labor umbrella group � and the Supreme Civil Servants� Administrative Council (ADEDY) began their rally outside the US embassy.

Meanwhile, at a rally organized by PAME in Syntagma square, across from Parliament, most banners stressed support of "class solidarity" and against imperialism, while a few thousand protesters later marched outside the US and Israeli embassies, where resolutions were taped to the doors of the embassies as protesters burned effigies of US President George Bush and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon, respectively.

Finally, many of the protesters from all three rallies met outside the Israeli embassy, a more-or-less unprecedented development directly tied with the recent violence in the Middle East.

Mirroring the situation in Athens, two separate May Day rallies were held in the adjoining port city of Piraeus, the first by the Piraeus Labor Center and the other by KKE-affiliated PAME.

Simitis' May Day message stresses gov't goals, opposition party statements: Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis' May Day message on Tuesday, a day before the labor holiday, stressed that "dialogue" will be a prerequisite for achieving solutions to whatever crucial issues facing the working class and society.

"PASOK, along with all the other progressive social and political forces can ensure the country's steady course," the prime minister and ruling party president said.

Additionally, he said the government aims to achieve a "just, modern and effective tax system"; protection of incomes, pension rights, work conditions and workers' quality of life; protection of workers' rights, as well as the combating of unemployment. Labor Minister Dimitris Reppas also said on Tuesday that the celebration of Labor Day remains live, noting that the workers' offer to the progress and wealth of humanity was fundamental and invaluable.

He added that the government followed an effective policy within the current conditions, always focusing on the concept of the human being.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga, commenting on Labor Day, said on Wednesday that the ''uphill road'' is still long, but the working class and other popular classes of society can reach the top and not only fight to limit the consequences of the neo-liberal measures but reverse the course of affairs as well.

On his part, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) leader Nikos Constantopoulos said that this day is one of solidarity for peace and cooperation of peoples, a day of solidarity with the Palestinian people who were struggling for an independent state and for the implementation of the United Nations' decisions.

Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that labor day is one of common action for workers in an anti-neo-liberal framework, which serves the interests of the workers and not those of a two party system and of the big employers.

[02] President blasts journalist over 'blatant lies'

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

In an announcement issued by the presidential press office, Stephanopoulos blasted journalist Vangelis Papadopoulos who ''lying blatantly, dared yesterday (Monday), from TELE-ASTY television station, to dispute the democratic beliefs of the President of the Republic and to completely reverse the truth with respect to his stance during the period of the dictatorship''.

Press Minister Christos Protopapas and PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Laliotis also condemned the remarks about the president on Tuesday.

Describing the aspersions cast on the President as 'absurd', Protopapas said that the president's integrity and all knew his struggles for democracy.

Opposition parties react to slanderous remarks against the president: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) party spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Tuesday rejected as slander the claims of a television program which attempted to dispute the stance of President Costis Stephanopoulos during the 7-year military junta in Greece.

''The president of the republic, with the moral character, the integrity and his long-term adherence to the democratic ideals is a jewel for the highest state office of our land. For this reason the overwhelming majority of the Greek people embrace him with their love, respect and trust,'' Roussopoulos said.

On her part, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga, commenting on the issue on Wednesday, said ''this is absurdity and nonsense which is appearing merely for consumption and is being utilized for disorientation''.

Also on Wednesday, Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas said that the new attack against the president was "an immoral action and unacceptable which serves illegal interests and of course does not serve democracy, nor the interest of the working class".

[03] Smoldering crisis in Kosovo, FYROM, premier ascertains

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

During a meeting with President Costis Stephanopoulos, the premier briefed Stephanopoulos on his recent tour of Balkan capitals and his forthcoming visit to Belgrade, noting that all the Balkan countries wished to join the European Union.

Although that was difficult, Simitis said, "they must not be discouraged", adding that if their joining the EU would not be feasible in the near future, those countries should be given a "safe timetable".

"They must themselves also try to adapt to the acquis communautaire, which is hard," Simitis said, citing a smoldering crisis in Kosovo and FYROM.

Simitis further briefed the President on his recent telephone contact with Xavier Solana, to whom he said that new proposals needed to be tabled on the part of the EU to resolve the issue of the Euro-army.

On the Cyprus issue, Simitis briefed the President on his recent telephone conversation with Cyprus president Glafcos Clerides, with whom it was agreed they would meet in late May or early June. Simitis noted that the final stage of inter-communal talks were slated to begin on May 7, adding that, according to what Clerides had told him, no essential progress had been made so far.

He explained that a Cyprus solution depended on the Turkish Cypriot side's conforming to the UN resolutions.

[04] Magriotis to represent Athens at Orthodox Easter Week services

ISTANBUL, 02/05/2002 (ANA - M. Papoutsaki)

In a press conference afterwards, Magriotis reiterated Athens' long-standing interest in the re-opening of the Halki School of Theology - closed by the Turkish government in 1971 - as well as the issues of property rights of ethnic Greeks in Istanbul, and of course, a solution to the prolonged Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions.

"... As it (Turkey) wants (EU) accession, this passes through a solution of the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish relations," Magriotis said.

Vartholomeos referred to the Greek government's undiluted interest in the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the cornerstone of Eastern Orthodoxy, while also mentioning that Athens' support for the Patriarchate coincides with the Church's desire to bring the Greek and Turkish peoples closer.

Touching on the Halki issue, the Patriarch said its reopening was a matter of "religious freedom" and accompanying respect for the Lausanne Treaty, which foresees freedom in the educational field.

In an unrelated issue, Vartholomeos also referred to delays in the recognition of Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos by the Israeli government, adding that he has discussed the matter with Israel's consul general in Istanbul.

In earlier comments to the CNN-Turk network, Magriotis squarely laid the blame over the impasse in the Cyprus problem on the T/C leadership.

[05] Gov't reforms for civil service to include 'results' assessment

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

The minister was presenting the government's proposals for improving the civil service to the National Council for Administrative Reforms, manned by representatives of the political parties and various trade organizations.

He said the ''Results Measurement Indices'' would determine whether civil service departments had met their targets and to what extent the results were linked to the quality of services.

The various departments would also be assessed in terms of cost-effectiveness, such as the returns for money spent, the quality of service provided, as well as the quality of departmental management, administration and organization.

The minister said the monitoring would be carried out either by the bodies whose activity was being monitored or by outside bodies that had assigned to the task.

Under the new system, meanwhile, civil servants would regularly undergo written and verbal examinations and interviews that would allow rapid advancement through the ranks, since promotion would not be based on the years of previous employment but on ability.

Finally, Skandalidis announced plans for a ''Rights Charter'' for citizens that set standards for state services in terms of quality and time, possibly even providing compensation for citizens when these standards were not met.

[06] PASOK names local polls candidates for Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Patra

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

Laliotis said that Deputy Transport Minister Spyros Vougias would be standing for mayor of Thessaloniki and Deputy Sports Minister Yiannis Kourakis would vie for the mayorship in the city of Heraklion on Crete.

All three candidates supported by PASOK had been proposed and chosen by local communities themselves, through open dialogue and democratic procedures, he added.

The ruling party also announced the names of its candidates for the prefecture elections, saying it would back entrepreneur Grigoris Hatzisavvas in Thessaloniki, former MP Dimitris Sarris in Heraklion and former MP Dimitris Katsikopoulos in Achaia.

[07] Main opposition 'open' to debate on changing constituencies

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

ND Central Committee Secretary Dimitris Sioufas and ND parliamentary spokesman Prokopis Pavlopoulos warned, however, that the party was not prepared to consider changes to election law and would not participate in any discussion on this issue.

They said the main opposition would happily take part in talks about changing the number of parliamentary seats assigned to each constituency, in accordance with population shifts noted by the latest nationwide census.

They also criticized the government for the continuing desertion of the countryside by people massing in towns and cities, blaming it for failing to boost regional growth and support local government.

The conversion of an area near the border, such as Thesprotia, to a single-seat constituency was more worrying than the gigantic size of Athens 2nd constituency, Sioufas said.

ND officials said the division of the Athens 2nd constituency was likely and possibly correct but expressed fears that the government would try to engineer a division based on its own party-political interests.

[08] Synaspismos leader turns down ND offer of post elections collaboration

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

''Both PASOK and ND want the left vote, only to vote for them as a one party majority government. These games cause laughter, I would say, to everyone, because no one can fool anymore the citizens who want ... a different policy,'' said Constantopoulos.

[09] Greek minister invited to address DHSY party event

NICOSIA, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

According to an announcement by the party, the political bureau of DHSY will honor Lyssarides ''for his long and multiform national, political and social activity and contribution to Cyprus and Hellenism.''

[10] Greek economic growth to top 3.8 percent, Christodoulakis says

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

[11] Bank of Greece report shows jump in consumer credit growth

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

In its annual report for 2001, the central bank said that households' loans accounted for 46.8 percent of total credit expansion last year, up from 34.6 percent in 2000.

The Bank of Greece urged for more transparency in the domestic consumer credit market to have a more effective management of credit risks by banks and to lead to lower interest rates. The report said that "Theresias", a bank information system, was expected to contribute significantly in providing more transparency to the market.

Housing loans rose by 1.493 trillion drachmas, or 38.9 percent last year, compared with a rise of 913 billion drachmas, or 31.2 percent in 2000, the report said. The central bank, noted that lower interest rates were counterbalanced by rising prices in real estate (up by 11-15 percent last year), leading to higher borrowing needs by consumers.

Consumer loans grew 42.5 percent, or 798 billion drachmas in 2001, from a 42.7 percent growth rate or 562 billion drachmas in 2000. Credit card borrowing soared 62.7 percent last year, from a 49.8 percent growth rate in 2000.

Credit card borrowing accounted for 47.5 percent of total consumer loans in 2001, with personal loans accounting for 27.6 percent.

The report unveiled that consumer and housing loans accounted for 18 percent of the country's gross domestic product last year, from 13.8 percent in 2000, and a 50 percent average rate in the eurozone last year.

[12] President meets newly elected board of Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

The representatives of EBEA (president Drakoulis Fountoukakos, 1st vice-president Pavlos Giannakopoulos, 2nd vice-president Yiannis Granitsas and secretary general Panagiotis Koutsikos) paid a courtesy call on Tuesday to Stephanopoulos who showed particular interest in the problems of the market and assured the EBEA board that he will support its efforts.

[13] Greek agriculture minister defends common EU policy in subsidy matters

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

In his address to the body, Drys said that the dominant policy of the European Union should be oriented toward a viable agricultural development, adding that the funding of the common agricultural policy should be done through the budget of the Union as the re-nationalizing of such policies could cause chaos.

[14] Greek ranking drops in world competitiveness survey

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

The ranking is the lowest in the 12-member eurozone, which Greece joined in 2001. Its position in that year was 10th among eurozone members.

In a category of the 2002 survey on macroeconomic performance, Greece rose to 38th place in 2001 from 39th place a year earlier.

But in terms of business ability, Greece fell to 32nd place from 26th; in government ability to 40th place from 33rd; and in infrastructure to 33rd place from 26th, Switzerland-based IMD said.

The findings of the survey were released in the northern port city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday by the Association of Northern Greek Industrialists, which extracted the data on Greece.

[15] Macedonia-Thrace minister reviews bid for EXPO fair with ND official

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

The minister made the statement after meeting main opposition New Democracy's sector coordinator for trade and industry, George Salagoudis, with whom he discussed Greece's bid, the prospects of exhibition organizers Helexpo and preparations for the European Union summit in Thessaloniki during the Greek EU presidency of 2003.

[16] Antonakopoulos elected Cosmote's chair-man

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

Mr. Antonakopoulos, who took over from Mr. Manassis as head of OTE earlier this year, thanked Cosmote's board members for their confidence and emphasized his predecessor's significant contribution to Cosmote's success story.

He said that the mobile operator would continue growing for the benefit of workers, customers, its shareholders and for the Greek economy in general.

[17] Banks to stage 48-hour strike on May 8-9

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

Banks will therefore be closed for seven days due to Orthodox Good Friday, the Easter weekend, Easter Monday, the transferred May Day holiday on May 7, and then the two-day strike.

[18] U.S. report on protection of copy rights worldwide

WASHINGTON, 02/05/2002 (ANA - T. Ellis)

In the same category as Greece were also Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Poland and Turkey, while in the Priority Watch List, in which Greece was also included in the past, were the European Union as a united entity, Israel, Hungary and Russia.

The categories in which countries with the worst performances are placed are Priority Foreign Country (Ukraine), Section 306 (China, Paraguay) and Priority Watch List (16 countries).

The report's paragraph on Greece says that although Greece resolved the WTO TV broadcasting case with the United States last year, optical disk piracy and unauthorized book photocopying remain persistent problems.

The report noted however the United States is encouraged by an increase in police and border enforcement efforts, particularly with respect to business software.

It noted that among European Union member states, Greece continues to have some of the highest piracy rates of music CDs, entertainment software, and business software., and criticized the lack of deterrent penalties imposed on pirates and inefficient judicial action hamper Greece's ability to reduce its piracy rates.

It also stated that Greek government entities should use only authorized software.

[19] ASE ends lower on late profit taking

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

The general index fell 0.43 percent to end at 2,218.35 points, after hitting 2,238.80 points early in the session, with turnover a moderate 88 million euros.

The IT and Bank sectors were the only ones to score gains (0.07 percent and 0.06 percent, respectively), while the Textile, Retail and IT Solution sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (2.97 percent, 2.31 percent and 1.42 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 0.26 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.74 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index eased 1.18 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 242 to 71 with another 45 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares in value were National Bank of Greece, Alpha Bank, Germanos, and Iaso.

Equity index futures hold premium: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished at a slight premium in moderate trade on Tuesday, outperforming the main market.

Turnover was 57.3 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips shed 0.25 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks lost 0.74 percent.

Deals in individual stocks moved into the black, except for Hellenic Telecoms, which showed a discount of around 3.0 percent.

Bond Market Close: Spread over German bunds at 35bp: The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.46 percent in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday, traders said.

The spread over the corresponding German bund was 35 basis points.

[20] Foreign ministry operational plan with Athens 2004 organizers signed

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

On his part, Foreign Minister George Papandreou said promotion of the "Olympic Truce" marks the most visibly initiative under the agreement, along with the highly publicized route for the "Olympic Torch" relay in all five continents.

ATHOC president Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said the year and a half delay between the signing of a relevant memorandum of cooperation and the final agreement was due to numerous details that needed to be solved before hand.

[21] KKE MPs question plans for new Acropolis Museum in Parliament

Athens, 02/05/2002 (ANA)

Addressing Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, KKE MPs Antonis Skyllakos and Liana Kanelli said their party had been opposed to the construction of a new museum in Makrygianni because of the important archaeological finds in that area.

They said the possibility that the Parthenon Marbles might be returned to Greece for the Olympic Games had been used as a pretext for a "race" to complete the Museum, while they criticized Venizelos for allowing the use of pneumatic drills in the building work, even though the land bordered on an archaeological site.

They further asked the minister whether the digging was being monitored by an archaeologist, why the ministry was allowing the destruction of a potential archaeological site whose findings had not been catalogued or assessed and whether there was a study regarding the foundations of the new Acropolis and by whom it had been approved.

Part of the reason for building the new museum has been to counteract arguments that Greece lacks the proper facilities to house the Parthenon Marbles, used by the British Museum in refusing to return them to Greece.

The design chosen for the new museum is by French-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi and his Greek colleague Manolis Fotiadis and was selected among 12 designs submitting in an international architectural competition.

[22] President Clerides due to reply to Denktash's non-paper

NICOSIA, 02/05/2002 (CNA/ANA)

Government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told CNA that President Clerides' reply was due to be sent later in the day to Denktash, as well the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto.

''This document does not open any paths'', Papapetrou told CNA, adding that it comprises a repetition of Denktash's well-known positions.

On Tuesday, the president said he received the 19-page-long non-paper a few minutes before Monday's meeting began, the last of the third round of direct talks.

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