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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-04-23Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>April 23, 2003CONTENTS
[01] Bank of Greece presents annual economic reportAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Bank of Greece's governor Nikos Garganas on Tuesday made a very significant intervention in the social security system saying, in an indirect although clear way, that a government-sponsored reform of the system was incomplete and ineffective.Presenting the central bank's annual economic report for 2002, Mr Garganas urged for an expansion of the reform program to include all other pension funds in the country and stressed that changes were needed in the social security system's parameters. ''Greeks should work more,'' Mr Garganas noted and warned that if the reform program was not completed ''taxpayers will called to pay higher taxes in the future.'' The central banker stressed that high social security contributions were already significantly raising non-payroll labor cost in the country. Mr Garganas noted, however, that a further reforming of the system should be promoted with the consensus of social partners. In its annual report, the central bank noted that Greece's economic prospects for 2003 were largely connected with the demand that foreign capital inflows were creating (Third Community Support Framework, Athens 2004 Olympic Games). The report said that economic growth would remain at high levels this year (3.7 percent), although it warned that foreign capital inflows could fall in the future (possible after 2008), a prospect likely to negatively affect economic growth rates. The central bank said that persistent high inflation rates in the country was one of the more serious problems facing the Greek economy, reflecting its structural weaknesses. The report forecasts that the average consumer price index would be higher this year, compared with 2002. Mr Garganas expressed his concern over a diverging trend between the domestic and the EU's average inflation rates in the last few years and stressed that the Greek government should find ways to ensure price stability in the country. The central bank's report also said that high unemployment rate and a continuous expansion of the current accounts deficit were two more challenges facing the economy. High unemployment rates reflected a rigid and ineffective domestic labor market, while high current accounts deficit was a threat the economic growth, the report noted and urged for measures to strengthen the economy's export orientation. The Bank of Greece criticized delays in promoting structural reforms in the country, and said that the biggest weakness of the economy was the lack of outgoing investments. The report stressed that most investments made in the last few years did not have an export orientation, while the country was unable to attract foreign investments with know-how to boost its economic competitiveness. The central bank urged for pay rises that would not exceed productivity growth and noted that labor costs were growing faster in Greece compared with other EU countries. Under the current situation of increased uncertainty, the central bank urged the Greek government to adhere strictly to its current fiscal policy and avoid relaxing budget targets. The Bank of Greece said that it would need more than seven years to achieve a goal of reducing the country's public debt to the 60 percent of GDP target set by the Maastricht treaty. [02] Simitis, Persson discuss Athens Summit resultsSTOCKHOLM 23/04/2003 (ANA)Prime Minister and president of the European Union Costas Simitis on Tuesday met with Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson here and discussed the results of the European Union Summit of Athens.This was the third of a series of visits in European capitals for Simitis, who will discuss the results of the informal summit in preparation for the June official summit of the Union. Following their meeting, the two men held a press conference, where Persson welcomed the Greek premier and outlined the issues the two men discussed. On his part, Simitis noted that he presented the agenda of the June summit to Persson and stressed that the basic issue of the agenda will be the presentation of the draft for the European Union's Constitution, by Valery Giscard d' Estaing, the president of the Convention for the Future of Europe. ''In Thessaloniki we will have to decide on how the discussion of the intergovernmental conference will continue � in Scandinavian countries, as you know, discussions will be held in the National Assemblies before the intergovernmental conference,'' Simitis said. ''Our opinion is that we will try to conclude the discussions of the intergovernmental conference during the Irish presidency of the EU during the first half of 2004, so that the new constitution can be signed in accordance with the Copenhagen Summit decision, that is after May 1st, 2004,'' he added. Simitis also said that the two men discussed the issue of and EU common border police, conditions in the Western Balkans and EU-USA relations. Speaking during the press conference, Persson said that all 25 members of the European Union will convene for the Thessaloniki Summit, calling it a historic event. Simitis, commenting on the Cyprus issue, stressed that the policies of the Turkish Cypriot leadership should change, adding that in ''Nicosia I met with the leaders of the (Turkish Cypriot) opposition and I can stress to you that there is will for the resolution of the Cyprus problem''. [03] PM discusses EU issues with Finland's leadershipHELSINKI 23/04/2003 (ANA - V. Patouhas)Immigration policy, relations between the European Union and the United States and ongoing efforts to reform EU institutions and draft a new constitutional treaty occupied talks on Tuesday between Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Finland's political leadership in Helsinki.Finland is the first stop in Simitis' tour of Scandinavian countries in his capacity as head of the rotating EU presidency, currently held by Greece. The Greek premier plans to tour a number of European capitals before June in order to pave the way for the Greek EU presidency's final summit in Thessaloniki, where EU leaders hope to have reached some consensus on the thorny issue of institutional reforms that are necessary for the enlarged Community to function effectively. Finland is among the member-states who view the draft constitutional treaty prepared by the Convention for the Future of Europe and its leader Valery Giscard d'Estaing with a degree of skepticism. It is also among the smaller EU member-states that want the European Commission and EU institutional bodies to be strengthened as a counterweight to the EU presidency. During his visit to the country, Simitis held talks with Finnish President Tarja Halonen and newly elected Finnish Prime Minister Anneli Jaatteenmaki, during which the Finnish side raised the issue of its request for an EU food control agency based in Helsinki. Also vying for the specific agency is Italy, which has proposed that it be based in Parma. Simitis said the issue would be resolved at the Thessaloniki summit based on the proposals submitted by the two member-states. The Greek premier's next stop after Helsinki is Stockholm, where he is due to arrive on Tuesday afternoon for talks with Swedish Premier Goran Persson. Next on his itinerary is a visit to Copenhagen on Wednesday, while he is due back in Athens on the same day. During a press conference held after his talks with Finnish officials on Tuesday, meanwhile, Simitis underlined that the general elections in Greece would take place at the end of the government's term in the spring of 2004. [04] EU Commission decides to grant emergency medical aid to IraqBRUSSELS 23/04/2003 (ANA � A. Simatos)The European Commission adopted on Tuesday an emergency humanitarian aid decision for 10 million euros to meet urgent medical needs in Iraq, announced here by EU Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielson.The new decision is an immediate response to the breakdown of law and order that followed the fall of the Iraqi regime, affecting all aspects of civilian life. This is part of a wider co-coordinated effort involving EU Member States and the Commission, as announced by the President during the European Council in Athens last week. The funding will be channeled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). Making the announcement, Commissioner Nielson said: ''It is clear that the war has seriously affected the delivery of basic health services in Iraq. As always, children are among the worst-affected and it is vital that adequate treatment should be available for these innocent victims of the conflict.'' Nielson added that the restoration of power and clean water was a top priority, and that there are also serious shortages of supplies such as liquid oxygen and anesthetics required for operations. The Commission will work together with humanitarian agencies to try to ensure treatment for children inside the country, but - as a part of our wider co-operation effort with Member States and NGO's - also stands ready to organize medical evacuations if the treatment is not available locally. [05] UN should take leading role in rebuilding Iraq, gov't saysAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)The government is interested in backing Greek business in the Middle East but moves towards the reconstruction of Iraq must be led by the United Nations, Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Loverdos said on Tuesday.''We maintain that reconstruction should occur under the aegis of the United Nations and we consider this to be a continuation of the policy we pursued before and during the war,'' Loverdos told a news conference in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. ''This is a policy of principle. As the Greek state, we would not hasten to recommend cooperation moves that fall within the framework of the alliance that made war,'' he added. Loverdos was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting to arrange a Balkan and Black Sea partenariat that is due to be held in Thessaloniki in November. [06] Protopapas says he'll sue 'Avriani' owner for libel, calls report 'baseless'Athens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Press Minister and government spokesman Christos Protopapas on Tuesday said he will sue the owner of an Athens daily for libel, after the paper splashed a same-day front-page headline alleging that his 1996 election campaign was financed by a local IT magnate.Protopapas, speaking at a hastily called news conference in his �capacity as only a deputy�, referred to a �shameless and mendacious attack� by the �Avriani� newspaper through its �baseless and slanderous report�. Controversial �Avriani� owner George Kouris had initially launched attacks against Altec owner and president Thanassis Athanasoulis over the past month, claiming massive bourse-related improprieties involving the company�s traded shares. The Tuesday article claimed that Altec financed Protopapas� 1996 campaign to the tune of 200 million drachmas (nearly 590,000 euros) Last week �Avriani� carried front-page barrages against two high-ranking PASOK cadres, State Deputy Michalis Neonakis and Minister of State Stefanos Manikas, this time claiming that the two profited off the Athens Stock Exchange by insider trading. Earlier, another full-page �Avriani� story claimed that Deputy Public Order Evangelos Malesios was living rent-free in a luxury apartment owned by the Altec chief in exchange for attempting to �influence� a massive 2004 security contract. [07] Court orders Laliotis to pay compensation to ex-PM Mitsotakis, vice-versaAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)A three-member Athens first instance court on Tuesday ruled that PASOK secretary Costas Laliotis must pay former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis nearly 294,000 euros over slanderous allegations the former made last October regarding the Mayo case.Laliotis, the former long-time public works and town planning minister, had claimed that Mitsotakis, the honorary New Democracy president, was involved in illegal campaign contributions disbursed in the early 1990s via an obscure Liberia-based offshore company, Mayo. Conversely, Mitsotakis was ordered to pay nearly 59,000 euros to Laliotis for his statement that the PASOK secretary �is the most miserable thing I have seen in political life�, with the ruling that the quip exceeded acceptable bounds. Other Mitsotakis statements cited by Laliotis as slanderous to his person were ruled as justifiable, as they followed previous verbal attacks by the ruling PASOK party secretary. [08] First Easter for ''Concordia'' troops in FYROMAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)The troops of the European Union's first military operation that was launched on 31 March 2003 and was code-named ''Concordia'' spent their first Easter in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).More of a monitoring and deterrent presence than an armed force, Operation ''Concordia'' took over from NATO's 300-soldier peacekeeping mission in FYROM following a request submitted to the EU by FYROM President Boris Trajkovski, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1371. The transition to an EU-led mission was made possible through successful NATO-EU negotiations and an agreement for ready access by the EU to the collective assets and capabilities of NATO for EU operations. The EU has committed resources and manpower for six months, the duration for this operation, which in essence is a sequel to the preceding NATO peacekeeping force. The force of 350 peacekeepers drawn from 27 mostly European nations are under the command of Admiral Rainer Feist of Germany, also a deputy commander of NATO forces in Europe, with a six-month mandate to oversee political reforms and monitor the security situation. The mission of ''Concordia'', the same as its predecessor NATO mission, is further contribution to the creation of a stable and secure environment in FYROM, to allow for the implementation of the Ohrid Peace Agreement signed on 13 June 2001 by FYROM's political parties. Operation Concordia constitutes EU's contribution to stabilization efforts in the country and to safeguarding its European prospect within the framework of the stabilization and association process. [09] Yiannitsis meets with British Minister for EuropeAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)European Union affairs to be on the agenda of the Thessaloniki EU Council and Balkan-related European policies were the focus of a meeting between Alternate Foreign Minister Tassos Yiannitsis and British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane on Tuesday at the foreign ministry in Athens.The two men exchanged views with regard to gathering the best possible conclusions from the sessions of the Convention on the Future of Europe, which could facilitate a prompt close of the subsequent Intergovernmental Conference. In, addition, both ministers expressed their mutual interest in conveying a strong message of support to efforts directed towards democratization and fighting organized crime in the Balkans. [10] Interior minister, Albanian counterpart discuss immigration, local gov't issuesAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister Costas Skandalidis held talks in Athens on Tuesday night with his Albanian counterpart Ben Blushi on issues related to immigration and reforms in local government, given that changes are being planned in the neighboring country in this sector.The two ministers also decided for the two countries to establish a joint committee of experts aimed at the granting of technical know-how. [11] Greek stocks move cautiously higher on TuesdayAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Greek stocks moved cautiously higher on Tuesday with domestic investors remaining sidelined ahead of the Orthodox Church's Easter holidays.The Athens Stock Exchange reopened after a four-day holiday. The general index ended 0.49 percent higher at 1,641.09 points reflecting buying interest for small and medium capitalization stocks, while blue chips showed signs of weakness. Turnover was a low 76.2 million euros. The Investment sector was the only one to end lower (-0.14 percent), while the Textile, Food-Beverage and IT Solution sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (6.13 percent, 3.43 percent and 2.74 percent, respectively). The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 0.33 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index jumped 1.21 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 2.80 percent higher. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 245 to 64 with another 49 issues unchanged. Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 30.1 mln euros Tuesday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: Bond Market Close: Buyers outstrip sellers on Tuesday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of April 22 2003 Parities in euro For. Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,105 1,080 [12] Long-awaited Monastiraki metro station opens in downtown AthensAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)The long-awaited Monastiraki metro station opened just north of the Acropolis on Tuesday, effectively connecting the old urban rail line from Piraeus to northern Kifissia with the Syntagma-Ethnikis Amynas metro line.The roughly one-kilometer-long metro tunnel linking Syntagma station -- across from the Greek Parliament building -- to Monastiraki had been plagued by delays over the past few years due to subterranean soil erosion and concerns for monuments above-ground, including the Athens Metropolitan Cathedral, as well as efforts to preserve the remnants of continuous human settlement dating back some 3,000 years. The metro line from Monastiraki is being expanded westwards to reach the Aegeleo district in western Athens. Of particular interest to archaeology buffs will be an underground exhibition showing a portion of the Iridanos riverbed � to be more precise, a torrent repeatedly mentioned in accounts of ancient Athens. Work on that project is expected to be completed in six months. Finally, actual images of galaxies and other heavenly bodies -- transmitted by a radio telescope -- will be projected onto the station concourse�s ceiling, according to officials from Attiko Metro, the quasi state-run agency that manages the system. [13] Shipowner Peratikos rails against N17 as 'firm of assassins' in ongoing trialAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Shipowner Mihalis Peratikos, testifying in the ongoing trial of 19 suspected members of the terrorist group ''November 17'' regarding the murder of his son Kostis, told the court on Tuesday that the trial was his first official opportunity to go on the record about the death of his son by what he called ''a firm of assassins''.Kostis Peratikos was killed by ''November 17'' in Piraeus on May 28, 1997 - two years after his controversial decision to close down the Elefsina Shipyard due to its mounting debts. The shipyard had been purchased by the Peratikos group from the state in 1992 - a business move that the elder Peratikos bitterly described on Tuesday as ''the biggest foolishness of my life that I paid for with my son's blood''. The closure of the shipyard was one of the reasons cited by the urban guerrilla group for the attack on Peratikos in its proclamation claiming responsibility for the murder. Talking about the aftermath of his son's death, Peratikos said he had received visits from numerous eye-witnesses who told him they were afraid to testify. ''The witnesses were afraid of this firm of assassins, cowardly professionals that did this for a living. It is my impression that they took pleasure in killing and proclamations. We had no platform, my first official platform as a relative of the victim is this courtroom,'' Peratikos said. The shipowner claimed that the political will to uncover the terrorist group had been lacking during the 27 years that it had operated unimpeded and said he believed there were ''centres'' providing the terrorists with information and protection. Last to testify before the court went into recess on Tuesday was Yiannis Peratikos, who claimed that the authorities had not caught the leader of the terrorist group in Alexandros Giotopoulos. The witness claimed that both Giotopoulos and the defendant Dimitris Koufodinas were lower down in N17's chain of command and also hinted that the group had support from centres of power, noting that they had been given a say denied to relatives of the victims for 27 years. Tuesday's court session had started by considering the case of a rocket attack on the television station Mega channel but was hampered by the absence of all witnesses. Presiding judge Mihalis Margaritis ordered that one witness absent without justification be forcefully brought before the court. Defendant Dimitris Koufodinas was grilled at length by the judges on the bench, however, on whether the terror group had given sufficient warning about the impending hit on the TV station. The defense said that a telephone call warning of the attack had been made to the newspaper 'Eleftherotypia' but witnesses to the attack had denied having any advance warning, saying they first heard of the 'warning call' in the group's proclamation in the same newspaper after the hit. Koufodinas claimed that there had been a 'glitch' in the particular instance and the police had not been alerted, as was usually the case. The rocket attack on the private television station occurred in March 1995, causing extensive damage but no deaths or injuries. The trial will continue on Wednesday with the firing of a rocket at the German Ambassador's residence in Athens and the murder of British military attache Stephen Saunders in 2000 before it goes into recess for Greek Orthodox Easter. [14] EU troika of justice ministers meet with Balkan counterparts in ThessalonikiAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)The EU Troika of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers, including Greece�s Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrisohoidis and Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, met in Thessaloniki on Tuesday with their counterparts from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and western Balkan states.The meeting resolved to strengthen judicial cooperation to fight organized crime especially in the region of the Balkans, and to offer on-going training in European law to Balkan judges at the Thessaloniki School of Judges. Chrisohoidis and Petsalnikos discussed with their counterparts the need to develop mutual cooperation between the EU and the Balkans on issues pertaining to freedom, security and justice. �Greece, in its capacity as EU Presidency and as a Balkans state, tries to offer support to these (Balkan) countries in various ways to help them achieve their objectives and so we can live peacefully and in cooperation in the region of the Balkans,� Chrisohoidis told reporters after the end of the meeting. [15] Personal Data Protection Authority submits its 2002 report to ParliamentAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)The Authority for the Protection of Personal Data on Tuesday submitted its report for 2002 to Parliament, containing a series of conclusions and recommendations on a range of issues, from the posting of maintenance rates by building managers to the release of the names of wanted persons by police.Among the practices frowned on by the authority include the monitoring of employees via closed-circuit television unless there are justifiable concerns for the security of the work area and that of notifying police of arrivals and departures at tourist lodgings on a daily basis. Once again, meanwhile, it raised the issue of religious education in schools, saying parents should not have to justify their desire that their children not attend this class and said that the religion of the holder should be omitted from lower and middle school certificates. According to the authority, police should not release the identity of brothel owners to citizens wishing to press charges due to the sensitivity of the information, while charges in such a case are to be pressed against 'person or persons unknown'. Police are also not justified in releasing the names of wanted persons unless they are being legally sought to be placed under arrest and are not allowed to announce arrests except for the purpose of verifying the crime. Journalists covering the same cases, conversely, are governed by ''constitutional articles establishing the freedom of the Press,'' the authority said. Building managers, the authority said, should not post charts of shared building maintenance costs in areas accessible to visitors. [16] French national charged with antiquities smugglingAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)A 65-year-old French man was led before an Athens public prosecutor on Tuesday and charged with attempting to smuggle antiquities out of the country.The man was arrested at Athens airport on Monday while preparing to board a flight to Milan after customs officials found ancient artifacts in his luggage. These included a carved marble stele, 11 shards of a ceramic amphora and the handle of a ceramic amphora. The artifacts were confiscated and have been sent for assessment and storage to the National Archaeological Museum. [17] Acclaimed Greek films to be screened in BritainAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)On the occasion of the Greek European Union Presidency, the Greek Culture Foundation and the Greek Cinema Centre will organize a panorama of contemporary Greek cinema entitled ''Greece on the Screen'', in London from April 19-May 29, in Edinburgh from May 2-14 and in Cardiff from May 12-22.The dedication to the Greek cinema is supported by the Culture Ministry and is part of the series of the Greek Culture Foundation's ''Greece in Britain'' events in London. The 10 films which will be projected and have received international recognition, portray the picture of modern-day Greece. [18] Education minister visits prison for juvenilesAthens, 23/04/2003 (ANA)Education Minister Petros Efthymiou visited the prison for juveniles at Avlona on Tuesday where inmates wrote, directed and acted in three small plays.The plays were titled ''The Return'', ''Before the Court'' and ''Victims of Television'', while the inmates were in charge of the setting, lighting and sound effects with the assistance of their literature teacher. ''Your effort is a nucleus of education and culture in the struggle you are waging to gain, collectively and individually, the dignity and strength you are entitled to. Everyone is also entitled to make a mistake. All of us should stand by you on the course towards consolidating your personality and for the benefit of you lives,'' Efthymiou said in an address to the inmates. [19] ''Smithsonian'' organizes course dedicated to the Aegean IslandsWASHINGTON 23/04/2003 (ANA - A. Ellis)Washington's Smithsonian Institute, in collaboration with the Press Office of the Embassy of Greece in Washington, has organized a special course dedicated to the Aegean Islands, to take place from 24 April through 29 May.The course, which is subsidized by the Institution and Hellenes in the region, comprises six events, which through lectures, dances and music highlight the culture, history and customs of the Aegean islands. Lecturers include award winning National Geographic photographer James Stanfield, Washington Post's travel editor Gary Lee, Bon Appetit's Mara Papatheodorou and dietician Artemis Simopoulos. [20] National Council terms Denktash's decision illegalNICOSIA 23/04/2003 (CNA/ANA)The political leadership unanimously described as ''illegal'' a decision by the self-styled Turkish Cypriot regime to lift most restrictions on the movement of people to and from the island's northern Turkish-occupied areas and the southern government-controlled part of the Republic.''This decision is illegal, it is an attempt to divert the attention of the international community from the negative stance of the Turkish side with regard to the UN peace effort to find a negotiated settlement. It aims to impress,'' government spokesman Kypros Chrisostomides said on Tuesday after a one-and-a-half-hour long extraordinary meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, comprising all eight parliamentary parties. The spokesman stressed that international law, international court decisions and UN resolutions branded the regime of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash ''illegal'' and that the Turkish Cypriot regime is a local subordinate administration to Turkey, which occupies the island's northern third. He said the government is ready to deal with the situation and pointed out that Cypriot citizens have the right to free movement throughout the territory of the Republic. His comments come in response to statements from occupied Cyprus that the Turkish Cypriot regime will as of Wednesday allow Turkish Cypriots to visit the southern areas of the Republic for longer hours and with the minimum of arrangements and that Greek Cypriots, by presenting their passports, could visit the occupied areas. ''We have always advocated unhindered movement throughout Cyprus and any arrangements in place now are there because of the continuing illegal occupation,'' Chrisostomides said, reiterating the government's resolve to work for a negotiated settlement to the benefit of all Cypriots. Asked how the government would react if hundreds of Turkish Cypriots on Wednesday flood the government-controlled part of the island, he said ''the authorities are ready to deal with any eventuality, we are taking all necessary measures and if tomorrow there is a need, then increased measures will be taken.'' Invited to say what the government would do if Greek Cypriots try to visit the occupied areas in their hundreds, the spokesman said that the government cannot prevent any of its citizens from moving freely in the country. ''It is up to each individual to decide how to react and taken into account the restrictions imposed by the Turkish Cypriot regime and any other arrangements in place,'' he said. Asked if there is a risk to see the regime recognized, should many Greek Cypriots go to the occupied north, the Cypriot official stressed that ''recognition of a state does not come from individuals, it comes from states, subjects to international law.'' ''People can decide for themselves, the government is not prepared to give out orders,'' he added. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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