Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-12-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Parliament approves 2004 budget

[02] Interior ministry tables draft bill for electoral reform in Parliament

[03] President Stephanopoulos' Christmas message for ex-pat Greeks abroad

[04] Defense ministry signs contracts with MBDA FRANCE for procurement of missiles

[05] Karamanlis and Mitsotakis discuss political developments

[06] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national airspace, infringe Athens FIR

[07] Development minister: Inflation rate at 3.4-3.5% this year

[08] British Institute proclaims Athens airport European airport of the year 2004

[09] Development minister to visit Ankara for signing of natural gas agreement

[10] Greece-Turkey bilateral trade reportedly tops one-billion-dollar mark

[11] Merchants react to bill allowing 24-hour opening for Karaiskaki stadium shops

[12] US consul briefed on Thessaloniki's bid for Expo 2008

[13] Labor ministry to table new social insurance bill after the holidays

[14] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose down in late selling

[15] Announcement - ANA's ''Almanac 2004'' now available

[16] Ex-police chief convicted for negligence in hostage situation

[17] European Ombudsman a speaker at ELIAMEP event in Athens

[18] Escaped lifer convicted for double homicide recaptured

[19] Deputy FM to visit facility hosting Iraqi children

[20] Bill establishing day in memory of Holocaust victims to Parliament

[21] Two Ukrainian people-smugglers arrested, 46 illegal immigrants detained

[22] Cypriot politicians stress need for settlement the soonest

[01] Parliament approves 2004 budget

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

Supporting the budget in a roll-call vote were 156 parliamentary deputies, with 143 voting against in the 300-member house. One deputy was absent.

Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis has said that the public will receive three key dividends over the next four years, beginning with the budget for 2004.

The first benefit will be to reap funds in coming years from a cut in defense spending to 3.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.5 per cent. The government aims to boost spending on education to 5.0 per cent of GDP as a result of the cutback.

The second benefit will be more social spending due to a decline in the public debt by 4.0 per cent annually, aiming at a target of 85 per cent of GDP in 2008. The drop will release around 2.0 billion euros a year on health and welfare.

The third benefit will be revitalization funds from curbing tax evasion and widening the tax base, resulting in a gradual lowering of direct tax brackets for individuals and companies.

Following the roll-call vote in Parliament which approved the 2004 state budget early Tuesday morning, Prime Minister and PASOK President Costas Simitis said that Monday's debate showed that the main opposition New Democracy (ND) party had no program.

"There is only one policy of stability and growth for Greece to go ahead and this policy is PASOK'S policy."

PM Simitis says he will 'shape developments': Prime Minister and PASOK president Costas Simitis, speaking in Parliament on Monday on the last day of the Parliamentary debate on the 2004 state budget, said that ''I will shape and we will shape developments at the necessary moment and in the proper way, in connection with our goal, which is for PASOK to be always ahead. Third parties will not tell us what we should do. I will shape, we will shape developments with terms of victory and victory will be ours.''

Simitis made the remarks at the start of his speech in reply to references by main opposition New Democracy (ND) party leader Costas Karamanlis regarding ''clear solutions'' and ''a change of government'' and to calls by the other opposition party leaders for him to make his position clear.

Addressing himself to the ND, he said:''I will worry you and displease you in the coming weeks and months. As in the elections of 1996 and 2000, in the 2004 elections we will not trap ourselves in the climate of confusion with rumors, opinion polls, extreme personal attacks and a climate of scandal-mongering. We will meet the demands of society.''

''I agree with Mr. Karamanlis that everyone in PASOK, myself, the deputies and its cadres, are co-responsible for the accession to the Economic Monetary Union, for stability and progress, for Cyprus' accession to the European Union, for our important position in the Balkans. But we are also co-responsible not to let Greece to turn back to leaderships which are only distinguished by their negative competence. And we will all respond to this responsibility with boldness and intelligence.''

ND leader says problem of economy political, calls for immediate elections: Main opposition New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis, addressing Parliament on Monday, on the last day of the debate on the new state budget, said the problem of the economy is exclusively a political one and called for early elections immediately.

Karamanlis referred to ''explosive dimensions'' taken on by the ''lack of governance'' in the country and discerned a prime minister ''who is unable to take decisions and who has suspended his government'', adding that Costas Simitis is presenting the image of a ''besieged prime minister.''

Karamanlis further said ''the citizens are watching the prime minister's intra-party questioning with full realization of the lack of governance which it entails. Your intra-party affairs do not concern us. However, issues are being raised which concern all Greeks and the course of the country.''

Stepping up his criticism of the government, the ND leader said ''there is a governmental paralysis. There is a particular lack of governance. The country cannot wait. The prime minister is obliged, today in fact, to do what he himself had been promising for so many years. Clean-cut solutions. And the only clean-cut solution is elections now.''

Communist party leader refers to PASOK leadership scenarios in budget debate: Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, speaking in Parliament on Monday on the last day of the Parliamentary debate on the new state budget, referred to leadership scenarios concerning the ruling PASOK party, saying her party is not indifferent to such scenarios.

''We are not indifferent to leadership scenarios. No matter what role they have, persons do not change collective responsibilities. Fire-extinguishing interventions take place in all political parties, from above, from within and from outside. An effort is being made to match restructurings with a new political scene. We do not judge PASOK and New Democracy from groupings and we do not throw down the gauntlet for the clarification of scenarios,'' she said.

Referring to the budget, Papariga said a "great race is taking place for the redistribution of the election pie", which has little to do with "the blow against the dominant anti-popular policy and which is distant from the anxieties and queries of the people".

''Nothing will happen unless there is questioning of the dominant policy of plutocracy which has launched ideological terrorism against the people,'' she added.

Coalition leader Constantopoulos calls on PM to clarify succession issue: Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party leader Nikos Constantopoulos, addressing Parliament on Monday, the last day of a five-day debate on the new state budget, called on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to clarify his party's leadership succession issue.

Constantopoulos said such a need is ''an element of democratic transparency and appropriate functioning of political institutions.''

The Coalition party leader further said succession scenarios ''are not only seeing the light of publicity in the pages of the newspapers of the right, but are preoccupying all of public life intensely in past days and the cadres of PASOK with particular intensity.''

Constantopoulos said it is clear that the starting point of such scenarios is the fact that the conviction has been consolidated in society that PASOK is in an unfavorable climate in the upcoming elections, with a difference against it, and that ''neither modernization nor the prime minister and his government are the strong cards.''

He added that ''it is this that is fuelling thoughts of a big magical move which will change factors.''

Constantopoulos wondered whether ''is it possible that the possibility of an election defeat will lead Mr. Simitis and PASOK to such games? Is it possible that a prime minister who has been ruling the country for two four-year terms to escape before the elections and not provide the Greek people with the possibility of judging him?''

He summed up by saying ''these scenarios are being created without serious denial. Personally, however, I find it difficult to believe that matters will drag on like this in a prolonged election period of savage polarization.''

Papathemelis, Tsitouridis, Pangalos: Newly independent deputy Stelios Papathemelis on Monday said he would vote in favor of �many� articles in the tabled 2004 state budget, speaking in Parliament the same day.

The 300-MP Greek legislature continued debate on Monday on the budget ahead of a vote later in the evening. Political party leaders, including Prime Minister Costas Simitis, are also due to address Parliament, as is customary.

Papathemelis, an outspoken MP elected from Thessaloniki, left ruling PASOK last month.

On his part, main opposition New Democracy (ND) deputy Savvas Tsitouridis, who is also elected from the Thessaloniki area, called the tabled budget �unreliable, fake and insincere�.

Tsitouridis, a high-ranking ND deputy, charged that ruling PASOK is less concerned about the country�s problems than in �searching for successors�, a direct reference to ongoing and unabated press speculation on whether PM Simitis will again lead the ruling party in upcoming general elections.

Finally, regarding the same controversial issue, namely, �succession scenarios�, former minister and current PASOK election campaign head Theodoros Pangalos laconically noted during his Parliament address that "the answer to these scenarios is known, but I won�t tell you what it is. You�ll get the answer from someone else.�

In response to ND�s acerbic criticism of ruling PASOK�s economic policies, Pangalos said the main opposition was simply engaging in �danger-mongering, petty political commentary and scandal-mongering''.

[02] Interior ministry tables draft bill for electoral reform in Parliament

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

According to an outline of the bill's ''fundamental principles'' provided by the ministry, 260 of the Greek Parliament's 300 seats will be divided among all parties or coalitions of parties that amass at least 3 per cent of the nationwide vote using strict proportional representation, under the new system.

This means that the number of MPs elected for each party above the 3 per cent minimum will represent at least 87 per cent of its overall strength in the election results, the announcement clarified.

The remaining 40 votes will all go to the winning party.

Other measures included in the bill are the division of the very large 2nd Athens constituency into three new constituencies and the ''Remainder of Attica'' constituency into two new constituencies.

[03] President Stephanopoulos' Christmas message for ex-pat Greeks abroad

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

"We hope to add to this major sporting event the character that Greece, the cradle of civilization and birthplace of the Games, can give," he said.

He also pointed out that Cyprus' accession to the European Union will be officially sealed within the coming year, noting that expatriate Greeks throughout the world had made crucial contribution toward achieving this goal.

"We hope that this will make Greece's international position stronger," Stephanopoulos added.

[04] Defense ministry signs contracts with MBDA FRANCE for procurement of missiles

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

This procurement will cover the operational requirements of the Air Force General Staff. The procurement was awarded directly to the MBDA FRANCE company and the sum amounts to about 220.5 million euros.

The delivery of the MICA missiles will begin in February 2006 and of the SCALP missiles in October 2007.

With the above-mentioned procurements, the MBDA FRANCE company offers to the defense ministry offset benefits amounting to 115 per cent of the value of the procurement.

Papantoniou visits troops at Evros: Defense Minister Yiannos Papantoniou on Monday visited units and outposts at the Greek-Turkish borders at Evros as well as a gunboat anchored at the port of Alexandroupoli and exchanged season's greetings with the troops.

''The message which we are sending from here is that the National Defense Ministry and the government are close to our children who are guarding the borders,'' Papantoniou said in a statement.

Replying to reporters' questions on political developments, Papantoniou said that ''there is a multitude of scenarios and those who write these scenarios forget that (prime minister and PASOK president) Costas Simitis is and remains for the overwhelming majority of the cadres and supporters of PASOK our strong card for the next elections,'' stressing that ''he (Simitis) will lead us to these elections.''

[05] Karamanlis and Mitsotakis discuss political developments

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

Mitsotakis had telephoned the ND leader in the morning and asked him for them to meet to discuss political developments.

Former prime minister Mitsotakis in statements assessed that early elections would not be held, noting that ''in contrast to PASOK which is divided and today a top minister attacks a colleague and accuses him of adventurism, the ND proceeds united towards victory.''

It was the first meeting between Mitsotakis and Karamanlis since the tough statements which the former prime minister had made that the ND should follow a tight and restricted policy if it comes to power, statements which caused strong reactions in the ND party and which the ND party leader also disagreed with.

[06] Turkish warplanes violate Greek national airspace, infringe Athens FIR

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

One violation of national airspace was also recorded in the region southeast of the island of Rhodes.

In all cases, the 12 Turkish aircraft were recognized and intercepted immediately by Greek air force jets.

[07] Development minister: Inflation rate at 3.4-3.5% this year

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos called the difference in Greece�s inflation rate from the �euro-zone� average of roughly 2.1 percent a �natural development� that demonstrates the local economy�s dynamism, while nevertheless pointing out that certain sectors need to increase competitiveness.

[08] British Institute proclaims Athens airport European airport of the year 2004

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

At the end of 12 months of research, this organization, whose mission is to determine models in the transport sector, proclaimed Athens airport ''European Airport for 2004'', terming it a ''model for other airports aspiring to follow such a successive course.''

Examining such criteria as overall contribution to the air transport sector, services provided, ultramodern technology, cooperation with airline companies, environmental activities and infrastructures, the Assessment Committee reached the occlusion that Athens airport possesses know-how and infrastructure enabling it to rank among the leaders of the next decade.

An announcement by the Institute said Athens airport constitutes an innovative undertaking paving new ways for cooperation between the public and private sectors.

The Institute further went on to say that ''Athens international airport is in a state of complete readiness in light of the challenges of the future, having achieved in parallel a place among the best airports in the world.''

[09] Development minister to visit Ankara for signing of natural gas agreement

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The signing ceremony will take place at Turkey's Energy Ministry at 15:00 and will by followed by a joint press conference by the two ministers.

[10] Greece-Turkey bilateral trade reportedly tops one-billion-dollar mark

ANKARA 23/12/2003 (ANA � A. Abatzis)

The trade balance swayed in favor of Turkey over the same 10-month period, with Turkish exports to Greece increasing in value by 44.9 percent in comparison to the same period last year, namely, US$739.6 million. Greek exports to Turkey increased by 19.6 percent in value, or $342.7 million.

Indicatively, in October Greece imported $102.6 million worth of products from Turkey while exporting $29.7 million.

[11] Merchants react to bill allowing 24-hour opening for Karaiskaki stadium shops

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The merchants' association said retail traders were alarmed by government moves to introduce round-the-clock shop opening hours and that these would marginalize small and medium-sized businesses and turn the entire Greek market over to a few large national and international oligopolies.

An article allowing extended opening hours for shops around the stadium has been tabled in Parliament in a draft bill for ''issues pertaining to Olympics preparations''.

[12] US consul briefed on Thessaloniki's bid for Expo 2008

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The host city will be decided in December 2004.

[13] Labor ministry to table new social insurance bill after the holidays

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

He said this would settle a number of issues not covered in the previous social insurance bill and greatly upgrade the insurance rights of specific categories of insured.

Most importantly, the bill hopes to address problems and delays currently faced by those who have been insured by different state insurance funds during the course of the working life when they seek their pension.

[14] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks nose down in late selling

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The general share index shed 0.23 percent to end at 2,205.52 points. Turnover was 127.1 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.10 per cent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.25 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with losses of 0.24 percent.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

Closing rates of December 22 2003

Parities in euro

For. Exchange Buying Selling

US Dollar 1,253 1,224

[15] Announcement - ANA's ''Almanac 2004'' now available

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The 810-page ''Almanac 2004'' contains date-specific entries for all events of the past year up to September 2003, both within and outside Greece, special sections on economic affairs, Cyprus, sports, the Olympic Games and the Greek European Union presidency, as well as a summary of the year's events in English.

[16] Ex-police chief convicted for negligence in hostage situation

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

A series of botched police actions were judged as contributing to the fatal wounding of a woman held hostage in her apartment by a grenade-wielding outlaw.

According to reports, then chief Athanasios Vassilopoulos considered, among others, that the grenade was fake.

The incident occurred on Sept. 23, 1998 in a densely populated central Athens district following a failed police raid to arrest Romanian-Greek fugitive Sorin Matei. The latter first fled from arresting officers before holding the victim, Amalia Ginaki, 25, and members of her family hostage.

Matei pulled the safety pin from the grenade he was carrying and placed it in the woman's clothes when confronted by a swat team in her apartment building's lobby. The ensuing blast fatally injured Ginaki, who died days later, and also severely injured several police officers. Vassilopoulos was also slightly injured.

[17] European Ombudsman a speaker at ELIAMEP event in Athens

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

Diamantouros stressed the importance of democracy and the rule of law, noting that the balance between the two fundamentally affected the institution of ombudsman in its operation.

[18] Escaped lifer convicted for double homicide recaptured

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

Baharidis and four others escaped by filing through the bars of their cell in the Thessaloniki Court Transits on October 8.

He was picked up by police in Patras on December 17 in connection with a traffic violation, where he presented a false ID and was transferred to Thessaloniki for identification.

[19] Deputy FM to visit facility hosting Iraqi children

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The foreign and health ministries, in association with the NGO, are backers of the program to treat a group of Iraqi children in Greece.

[20] Bill establishing day in memory of Holocaust victims to Parliament

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

[21] Two Ukrainian people-smugglers arrested, 46 illegal immigrants detained

Athens, 23/12/2003 (ANA)

The sources said that a sailboat carrying the illegal immigrants, whose nationalities were not known immediately made known, was spotted at dawn by a coastguard patrol boat in the sea about 4 nautical miles off the bay of Sarakiniko, Evia.

The sailboat was immobilized and the coastguard officials arrested two Ukrainians on board believed to be the smugglers.

The 46 illegal immigrants were transferred to shore.

[22] Cypriot politicians stress need for settlement the soonest

NICOSIA 23/12/2003 (CNA/ANA)

Monday's meeting, under the auspices of the Slovak Embassy in Cyprus, was attended by Greek Cypriot parties AKEL, Democratic Rally, Democratic Party, Social Democrats EDEK Movement, United Democrats, Movement of Ecologists and Environmentalists, Fighting Democratic Movement and Eurodemocratic Reformist Party.

The Turkish Cypriot political parties represented were the Republican Turkish Party, the Democratic Party, the Peace and Democracy Movement and the Patriotic Unity Movement.

The next meeting will be held on January 28, 2004.

Speaking after the regular meeting at the UN-controlled Ledra Palace in Nicosia, Democratic Rally President Nicos Anastassiades said that the picture is still not clear regarding deliberations to form a so-called government in the occupied areas. He noted that what is important is that Turkish Cypriot parties, which disagree with the occupation regime, support a real negotiation to reach a Cyprus settlement before May 1, 2004.

''We asked our Turkish Cypriot compatriots on allegations for a Turkish plan for Cyprus and they told us that for them the only plan on the table is the Annan plan,'' Anastassiades said.

Democratic Party Deputy President Nicos Kleanthous announced that he will be having a meeting with Turkish Cypriot Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktash in early January.

Answering a question, he wondered when at last the Turkish Cypriots would be free to negotiate the common future of this island, noting that Ankara is the main obstacle.

Leader of the Republican Turkish Party Mehmet Ali Talat said that the ''elections'' revealed that the majority of the Turkish Cypriots favored ''a solution of the Cyprus problem and accession to EU as a unified island."

Referring to the deliberations to form a so-called government, he said that ''there is a kind of stagnation for the time being'' but expressed hope that ''we will find a breakthrough."

''The only possible formation of government can be done by the Republican Turkish Party because of the declared position during the election and after the election. Most probably the president will give the mandate to me after the inauguration of the parliament on the 26th,'' Talat said.

Asked to comment on the public quarrel between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Talat said ''it is a bit late clash actually."

Leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement Mustafa Akinci expressed certainty that there is still ''an opportunity to create the conditions in which we can solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan by May."

''If we cannot achieve a solution by May 2004 and a divided Cyprus becomes a full member, in the short run it will be a great loss for the Turkish Cypriots, it will be a loss for Turkey, because Turkey will not get a date to start accession talks, but in the long run I sincerely believe it is going to be a loss for the Greek Cypriots as well," he added.

Asked what the messages were from Ankara, he said he received a telephone call from Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and he had the chance to convey the Turkish Cypriot wish that ''we want to see a solution by May," which the Turkish minister said he shared.

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