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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-01-13Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>January 13, 2003CONTENTS
[01] FM Papandreou begins tour of western BalkansSPOPJE 13/01/2003 (ANA � N. Frangopoulos)Foreign Minister George Papandreou begins a three-day tour of western Balkan countries on Monday, in his capacity as president of the EU ministers� council.One of the minister�s goals, according to reports, is to examine cooperation between those countries and the European Union with a view to bolster their EU accession prospects. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is the first stop on Papandreou�s tour. [02] Palacio touches on Greek EU presidency's priorities in maritime transports sectorAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)EU Commissioner Loyola de Palacio met with the Greek merchant marine ministry�s leadership this week on the sidelines of a visit by the Commission members to Athens, in light of Greece�s official assumption of the Union�s six-month rotating presidency.Amongst the issues that dominated the contacts was the Union�s maritime transports policy in the wake of the �Prestige� sinking off northwest Spain, noting that the devastating maritime accident has �violently� mandated long-term and short-term solutions. She also noted that a report on the repercussions from the Prestige sinking will be submitted later this month, while adding that she is aware that expanded double-hull requirements for smaller tankers will create problems. Finally, Palacio called for supplementary proposals within the so-called �Prestige� package, which among others, foresees the outlawing of petroleum-based waste into the water. On his part, Greek Merchant Marine Minister George Anomeritis requested, via the Commissioner, that Spanish authorities submit their report on the Prestige sinking as soon as possible. [03] KKE against Greek EU presidency's agendaAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is against the agenda of the Greek EU presidency according to a decision of the Central Committee, issued on Saturday.The Central Committee stressed that "the Greek people, the working classes and the popular classes, should not have illusions and should wait nothing good of the Greek presidency, in contrast with the capital, which will benefit". According to the committee, the Greek government is called upon to manage, during the six-month presidency, measures that have been decided for the benefit of the European monopolies. The same statement claimed that during the strategy of the EU on employment and social policy prescribes the abolition of limits on layoffs, cuts on social benefits and the decrease or abolition of compensation for those fired from their jobs. The KKE is also against the common agricultural policy, as it benefits the large farming capital against to the detriment of the small farmer. KKE leader: Nothing good from Greek EU presidency for people: "Working people should stay away from the boisterous talk of the Greek EU presidency," Communist Party of Greece (KKE) leader Aleka Papariga was quoted in an interview published by Sunday edition of the "Ethnos" newspaper. She defended KKE's policy of alliances in the municipal elections and criticized the Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) stance as well as that of the "Greek Social Forum". Referring to the Greek EU presidency, she said "nothing good will come of it for the people,'' while stressing that, on the contrary, ''the government will manage, as it seems up to now, the dirty war against Iraq, as well as measures for the greater competitiveness of capital in conditions of economic decline and tension between the capitalist forces." [04] EU Declaration on executions in SudanAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)The EU presidency on Saturday condemned the recent executions in Sudan, issuing a relevant declaration after three out of the five sentenced persons were executed, while reiterating the Union's categorical opposition to the death penalty.�The EU strongly condemns the executions of the three persons recently sentenced to death in Sudan. The EU points out to its statement of 3 January 2003 and its repeated demarches to the Government of Sudan. "The EU reiterates its categorical opposition to the death penalty, in all circumstances and calls on the Government of Sudan to refrain from further executions and other forms of cruel or inhuman punishment. It also stresses that such actions go against the benchmarks in the framework of the on-going dialogue between the EU and the Government of Sudan.� [05] President receives foreign journalistsAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Saturday received a large delegation of journalists from abroad, accredited in Brussels on European Union issues.The president talked with the journalists, who represented newspapers, news agencies and other media, and responded to their questions. The delegation was accompanied by Press and Media Minister Christos Protopapas. [06] ND leader to address Constantine Karamanlis Foundation eventAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis on Tuesday will speak at an event sponsored by the Constantine Karamanlis Foundation -- named after the Greek statesman and the uncle of the former -- and celebrating the two-year anniversary of the founding of the Karamanlis chair at the Tuft's Fletcher School of Diplomacy.In addition, the dean of Fletcher school, Stephen Bosworth, will also address the event, entitled ''Peace and stability in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean''. [07] Aboriginal culture to be showcased in Athens during 2004 GamesMELBOURNE 13/01/2003 (ANA)The cultural heritage of Australia's aborigines will be showcased in Athens during the 2004 Olympic Games, the government of the state of Victoria announced here recently.The exhibition will cover 60,000 years of cultural presence and will be jointly funded by the states of Victoria and New South Wales. Each of the states will grant 356,000 Australian dollars, while private firms will also donate funding. The exhibition will be housed in Athens' Benaki Museum. [08] Latest drug overdose incidents at Korydallos prisonAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)Four female inmates at the main Korydallos prison, west of downtown Athens, were hospitalized on Saturday suffering from drug overdose symptoms, the second such incident in the women's wing in less than a month.The four inmates, between 22 and 44 years old, apparently overdosed on prescription drugs and were discovered by a prison guard. All four were serving time for drug charges, according to reports. One of the four women was involved in a similar incident less than a month ago, when three women died in the same wing after mixing a deadly 'cocktail' of alcohol, prescription drugs and heroin pills. Following that incident the head of the women�s wing at Korydallos tendered her resignation. [09] Iraqi arrested on migrant trafficking chargesAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)An Iraqi national was arrested on Sunday by Patra Port Authority officers on charges of attempting to smuggle four illegal immigrants to Italy and for possessing forged documents.Aziz Snor attempted to smuggle four Kurds onto an Italy-bound ferry boat at the Port of Patra, western Greece. Officers also reportedly found a forged driver's license and a forged insurance card on the suspect. [10] PACE Political Committee to discuss developments in CyprusAthens, 13/01/2003 (ANA)Head of the Cyprus delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), Doros Christodoulides, leaves tomorrow for Paris to attend, January 14, a meeting of the Assembly's Monitoring Committee and, January 15, a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee.A press release issued by the House of Representatives said PACE rapporteur on the situation in Cyprus, Hungarian deputy Matyas Eorsi, will make a statement before the Political Affairs Committee on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. The Political Affairs Committee will also discuss a report by Greek deputy Theodoros Pangalos on the contribution of the Council of Europe to the constitution-making process of the European Union. Other agenda items include the conflict in the Chechen Republic, the situation in Georgia, relations with the United Nations and the code of good practice in electoral matters. The Assembly's Monitoring Committee meets to appoint a co-rapporteur for the monitoring of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will hear a statement on recent events in Ukraine by the co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Ukraine. It will also consider the opinion of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe's body of independent legal experts, on the amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Princely House of Liechtenstein, and will be informed of preparations for fact-finding visits to Turkey, Georgia, Moldova and - as part of ''post-monitoring dialogue'' - Latvia. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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