Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-10-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Investment the only way forward for Greek tourism, Finmin says

[02] Powell not to visit Athens at this time, US Ambassador tells ANA

[03] MRB poll gives 7.8 per cent lead to main opposition ND

[04] Gov't on opinion polls, Turkish military chief's comments

[05] US State Dept. envoy for Cyprus again in region this week

[06] Turkish PM again stresses need for solution on Cyprus

[07] Main opposition leader wraps up tour of Epirus

[08] Efthymiou calls for resolution of church crisis based on status since '28

[09] Mitsotakis hints at again running for Parliament

[10] Child-prostitution ring busted in central Athens

[11] Culture minister celebrates 10th year as MP in Thessaloniki

[12] Police point to latest scam involving ATMs, 1 man arrested

[13] German national dies aboard cruise ship; illegals intercepted

[14] Husband of suicide civil servant asks for police protection

[15] Two arrested on Evia for illegal possession of antiquities

[16] Men's boxing team places 2nd at int'l tournament

[17] Papadopoulos: We could protect EU from illegal immigrant influx

[18] Cyprus will host first Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Immigration

[01] Investment the only way forward for Greek tourism, Finmin says

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

''It is time we faced the facts. If large investments in tourism aren't made in the next few years, tourism will gradually start to decline, along with small tourist enterprises,'' the minister underlined.

He hailed the new golf course, one of the most modern in Europe, as a valuable addition to the ''arsenal'' of Greek tourist attractions and a major aid in Crete's development, describing it as a ''triumph against bureaucracy''.

According to Christodoulakis, the 5.5-billion-drachmas investment mar-ked the start of a gradual shift toward higher quality for Greek tourism and he stressed the need for comprehensive tourism infrastructure that could provide higher-quality services.

At another point, the minister noted that it was bizarre that a place like Crete, which enjoyed sunshine almost 300 days in the year, was only a tourist destination for a few short months and he stressed the need to find ways to extend the tourist season.

Referring to a collapse in prices for tourism services in April and May due to temporarily low demand, he said that Greek tourism once again showed itself defenseless in the face of attack by organized travel agents from abroad.

The only defense against such ruthless tactics was to develop the quality and depth of Greek tourism, so that its services were not easily comparable with those offered elsewhere, Christodoulakis said.

This required new investments but also a different attitude from the state, which had to find ways to curb the excessive bureaucracy that was a disincentive to worthwhile investment, he added.

[02] Powell not to visit Athens at this time, US Ambassador tells ANA

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

Asked whether the US Secretary of State's program would allow a brief stop in Athens en route to Madrid, Miller said he had no information that confirmed a visit by Powell to Athens in the near future.

He also categorically denied having confirmed that Powell would visit Athens during his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou at Athens airport 10 days before.

At the same time, he confirmed that a small advance team from Powell's staff had visited Athens in the past few days.

''It is no secret that an advance team was here. These teams often travel to various places to look at the situation. This is not, however, a sign that there will definitely be a visit to this place by the Secretary of State,'' Miller said.

Commenting on the cancellation of Powell's plans to visit, Greek government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that a heavy workload and outstanding engagements in the wider area of the Middle East prevented Powell from making a stop in Athens.

"We had already pointed out on Thursday that he has a very heavy schedule and that there was a chance that he might finally not be able - as both he and we wanted - to carry out his visit to Greece, which was neither official nor scheduled," Protopapas said.

[03] MRB poll gives 7.8 per cent lead to main opposition ND

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

According to the paper, the main opposition's lead is the result of a greater degree of loyalty among ND voters, a shift of voters away from PASOK and greater degree of confidence in ND's ability to solve the country's three most important problems, as these were assessed by those responding.

The main opposition party is preferred by 39.3 per cent of those questioned, compared to 31.5 per cent for PASOK. The results showed that ND had also managed to rally pre-election levels of support among its voters (92.9 per cent), whereas PASOK could muster only 71.4 per cent support among its own voters.

The most important problems for Greece at this time were listed by those responding in order of importance as follows: un-employment, inflation, health care and education. Among those asked, the greatest number said they trusted ND to tackle the top three.

Respondents did not attach as much importance to other day-to-day problems, such as the smooth functioning of the public sector, narcotics or the environment, nor did they attach great importance to so-called ''major'' issues - such as foreign policy, convergence with the EU and the organization of the Olympic Games.

Significantly, the poll also shows ND leader Costas Karamanlis having a marginal lead over current premier Costas Simitis as the most suitable for prime minister, gathering a positive response from 41.9 per cent of those asked compared to 41.2 per cent for Simitis.

This reverses the picture in the majority of previous polls, where ND had a strong lead over PASOK but Simitis inspired more confidence as a head of government.

[04] Gov't on opinion polls, Turkish military chief's comments

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

Spokesman Christos Protopapas also commented, in a press release, to a same-day interview by the powerful Turkish general staff chief to an Athens daily, as the latter referred to snap resolutions to a variety of Greek-Turkish problems following Turkey�s hoped-for EU accession.

�If things are as easy as Mr. (Gen. Hilmi) Ozkok claims, I would imagine that Turkey can now contribute to a solution of the Cyprus problem, so that this will in turn aid its (Turkey) European course,� Protopapas said.

[05] US State Dept. envoy for Cyprus again in region this week

NICOSIA, 20/10/2003 (ANA � G. Leonidas)

The latest Weston tour comes after his statements at a gathering of Greek-Americans recently, where he said a solution to the Cyprus problem is urgently needed before May 1, although he added that US interest will not wane if a resolution isn�t achieved by that time.

[06] Turkish PM again stresses need for solution on Cyprus

NICOSIA, 20/10/2003 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

Addressing a forum of Mediterranean states taking place in Majorca, Spain on Saturday night, Erdogan said that the Cyprus problem should not be ''condemned to remain unsolved due to Cyprus accession to the European Union,'' while he referred to positive and negative aspects of the Annan peace plan.

At another point, he said that the Turkish-Cypriots had ''made great strides''.

''If [the Greek-Cypriot side] considers these useless, then this means that it rejects the existence of two separate religions, languages and races on the island,'' he added.

Erdogan also denied opposition accusations that Turkey was interfering with elections called by the illegal Turkish-Cypriot regime in the north of Cyprus and said he expected them to be ''conducted democratically''.

[07] Main opposition leader wraps up tour of Epirus

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

He ended his visit with an address to local professional groups, in which he criticized the government and sent a message of collective effort on the day after the elections.

''The key to success is a sense of trust, which is broader than electoral preference. People originating from different political backgrounds can communicate with each other. We respect everyone, whatever they voted or vote for. It is not enough to win the elections. We need collective effort on the day after,'' Karamanlis said.

Referring to the country's economy, as well the problems particular to Epirus, Karamanlis noted that the present government had had more funds at its disposal through the Community than all post-war Greek governments put together but the Greek economy remained the poorest in Europe.

Responding to the ND leader's statements later in the day, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said Karamanlis had been "forced by reality" to abandon his recent positions and claims of "a grey and ruined Greece".

Those who had created this positive reality, in other words the present government, were also the best guarantors of the country's future, Protopapas added.

Saturday tour: Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis continued his tour of the northwestern province of Epirus on Saturday with an address in the coastal town of Preveza, following a visit a day earlier to the port city of Igoumenitsa.

�The roughly 30 years since the restoration of democracy (in Greece) are a milestone. We consolidated democracy; we are a EU member-state. These are significant conquests. Now, however, it is time to place our sights even higher and say, �let�s achieve the effectiveness and quality we need�,� Karamanlis told a crowd of supporters in the town.

He again reiterated that Greece�s primary problems today are a rising cost-of-living, unemployment, social and regional inequities, as well as an increase in poverty. �Greece�s divergence from the EU average is an undisputed fact. PR tricks cannot hide this,� he charged.

Karamanlis reminded that six out of the 11 poorest regions in the European Union are in Greece, as he said, while noting that mountainous Epirus is the poorest. He also warned that the country was at the top of indexes recording joblessness, corruption and insecurity, while at the bottom of the EU�s ranks in terms of public spending for education and health.

Gov�t reaction: In a press release on Saturday, government spokesman Christos Protopapas said that the ND leader passed through a new tunnel near the Dodoni archaeological site, over a stretch of the new Egnatia motorway and probably viewed the new port at Igoumenitsa, among others.

�The PASOK government, with its efforts that are transformed into works, raises and is continuing to raise the sights for Epirus,� he said.

In response to Protopapas� comments, ND spokesman Theodoris Roussopoulos reiterated Karamanlis� words. �The fact that Epirus is today is the poorest region in the European Union is an undeniable fact that no communications trick can hide,� Roussopoulos stressed.

[08] Efthymiou calls for resolution of church crisis based on status since '28

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

Stephanopoulos referred to the issue while on a tour of Messinia prefecture, SW Greece, and after the local Metropolitan, Chryssostomos, touched on the dispute.

The president�s remarks came on the same day as an interview by Education and Religious Affairs Minister Petros Efthymiou in an Athens Sunday paper, who noted among others, that the solution should come �within the framework of the legal and operational status that existed over the past 75 years.�

Meanwhile, an ANA dispatch from Istanbul quoted Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos as saying that the �Church of Greece is the most beloved offspring of the Ecumenical Patriarchate � and if there are differences between individuals, and if there are differences of opinion on certain issues, that does mean that the Mother Church�s love and care towards its offspring and the Greek people is lessened.�

[09] Mitsotakis hints at again running for Parliament

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

In a brief address with references to recent speculation about the octogenarian politician�s intentions for next year�s general election, Mitsotakis merely said that if �God gives me the strength, as long as I feel I am useful I will not abandon the effort. I believe it is useful for Greece and Crete.�

�In politics the first goal is to be useful, not pleasant. And to be useful you must tell the truth, something which most often is not pleasant,� Mitsotakis told a crowd of well-wishers and members of Hania�s municipal council.

[10] Child-prostitution ring busted in central Athens

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

They said six people were arrested during a raid on a central Athens bar and led before a public prosecutor to face charges of being accomplices to pimping, child pornography, facilitating vice by others, sexually abusing children and other crimes.

Four of those arrested were Greek nationals and two were Albanians, one of whom was just 16.

The raid was carried out after police were tipped off that the owners of the bar were hiring underage foreigners, photo-graphing them naked and then arranging meetings for sexual intercourse with clients at a private room in the back of the establishment.

Police also found a camera and a number of photographs of naked juveniles, as well as other evidence of the ring's activities.

[11] Culture minister celebrates 10th year as MP in Thessaloniki

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

In an address to the gathering, Venizelos referred to recent opinion polls that showed main opposition New Democracy taking the lead and expressed conviction that ruling PASOK could turn the climate around and emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.

''The vast majority of society wants a PASOK policy, based on a strong social state, on measures of social cohesion and the redistribution of any surplus,'' Venizelos said.

He accused ND of ''hiding its political face and impersonating a truer and better PASOK,'' but at the same time expressed confidence that voters would choose the ''authentic expression of a policy that responds to their needs and shields them from feelings of insecurity.''

Among those present were Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Magriotis, Deputy Sports Minister George Lianis and PASOK press spokesperson Chrysa Arapoglou, while a message was read out from Development Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos, who is currently recuperating in hospital after an illness.

[12] Police point to latest scam involving ATMs, 1 man arrested

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

According to police, the gang subsequently manufactured plastic cash cards with the customers� account number along with their PIN using state-of-the-art computer and printing equipment.

Incidents involving bogus ATM cards blamed on the ring have been reported as south as Kalamata and as north as Alexandroupolis, police said.

Authorities in Lamia were alerted to two suspects by bank employees at an Alpha Bank branch, with one of the two subsequently fleeing arrest.

No details about the suspect were given by authorities.

[13] German national dies aboard cruise ship; illegals intercepted

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

Authorities identified the man as Gunter Waldemar Venuw. He was a passenger aboard the Italian-flagged vessel �Costa Marina�. An autopsy is pending.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, eight foreign nationals were intercepted on Saturday evening at the western port of Patra for attempting to board an Italy-bound ferryboat with bogus travel documents.

Four Pakistanis, two Iraqis, a Palestinian and an Iranian were arrested, authorities said.

Patra is the country�s primary western port and the hub of the Greece-Italy routes.

Finally, two Turks were arrested on the eastern Aegean island of Samos after landing on a remote beach in the early morning. The pair had crossed a narrow strait separating the isle from the opposite Turkish coast aboard a boat.

[14] Husband of suicide civil servant asks for police protection

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

"I did not ask for the prime minister's intervention without reason and I hope that I am being discreetly protected by the security services," Panagiotis Tzouvaras told gathered reporters.

Reading from a prepared statement, he said he had called the press conference in response to articles about his wife in the Sunday papers, specifically one claiming the existence of a go-between for his wife and government ministers.

He also claimed he had not been given enough time during a televised interview to appeal for a meeting with his wife's lawyer and to ask journalist Thanassis Lalas to get in touch with him.

Finally, he appealed to Stathea's family and siblings to "show understanding" even though he could not talk to them and to hold on to her description of him as "the most sensitive, upright and democratic man" she had known.

Tzavaras refused to answer questions after reading out his statement.

[15] Two arrested on Evia for illegal possession of antiquities

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

They said they had recovered a hidden treasure trove, consisting of 80 marble, pottery and bronze objects from the Hellenistic and Byzantine eras on a small islet in the gulf of Evia. According to police, the items have a very high archaeological and commercial value.

The two suspects were led before a public prosecutor in Halkida on Saturday.

[16] Men's boxing team places 2nd at int'l tournament

Athens, 20/10/2003 (ANA)

The powerful Russian team won the gold medal in all the categories.

The tournament took place in the Siberian city of Niznevartovsk.

[17] Papadopoulos: We could protect EU from illegal immigrant influx

LARNACA, 20/10/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking on his return Saturday from his official visit to Luxembourg and then Brussels where he attended the informal council, he expressed the hope that the view of the small EU member states that they maintain the number of six euro Mps will finally prevail.

Referring to the issue of illegal immigrants discussed during the European Council of Brussels, President Papadopoulos said the view of the government is that Cyprus, as the south-eastern edge of Europe can protect the EU from the influx of illegal immigrants, adding that it is acceptable by many countries that the cost for better monitoring borders should be a joint effort.

He reminded that ''Cyprus and Italy have signed a bilateral agreement to conduct joint patrols in the coastal area and for this reason Cyprus has bought from Italy five coast guards''.

Papadopoulos said the Commission's composition, the duties of the new Foreign Minister, the rotating EU Presidency as well as other issues were raised during the meeting.

Referring to the Italian Presidency, President Papadopoulos said it has undertaken to submit a new, complete proposal referring to the EU Constitution which will be submitted at the next Intergovernmental Conference.

President Papadopoulos described as completely satisfactory his

two-day visit to Luxembourg, noting that together with Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jean Claude Juncker they will give a new dimension to cooperation between the two countries.

In any case, he said ''Luxembourg is a small country like Cyprus and one of the founding members of the EU'', noting that Cyprus maintains almost ''similar views regarding the Intergovernmental Conference and the new EU constitution''.

[18] Cyprus will host first Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Immigration

NICOSIA, 20/10/2003 (CNA/ANA)

The 3-day forum to take place at the coastal town of Limassol (20-22 October) will be attended by the members of Cypriot parliamentary delegation in PACE, Deputies from the Council of Europe (CoE) member states, Mediterranean non-CoE member states, as well as experts in immigration issues.

According to an official press release, Representatives of Non Governmental Organizations, as well as Ambassadors based in Cyprus, will also attend the Forum.

The forum will be addressed by the CoE's Refugee and Population Committee President Tadeusz Iwinski, Cyprus Foreign and Interior Ministers Georgios Iacovou and Andreas Christou respectively, Cyprus' EU Harmonization Coordinator Takis Hadjidemetriou and Head of the Cypriot delegation to CoE Christos Pourgourides.

The forum will focus on issues concerning the history of immigration in the Mediterranean, the present situation in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the immigration in Cyprus. Furthermore, there will be a round table discussion between Cypriot Refugee Parliamentary Committee and CoE's Committee of Refugees and Population.

Forum delegates will also have the opportunity to be briefed by Harbor police senior officials on immigration issues.

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