Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 04-07-23

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

CONTENTS

[01] Olympic Village, bevy of other projects delivered on Thursday

[02] Armed escort only for heads of state during Olympics, public order minister says

[03] NATO to deploy special anti-terrorist unit, subject to Greece's request

[04] State Department spokesman declines comment on Olympic Games security details

[05] U.S. Defense Secretary on Olympic Games security

[06] Ruling New Democracy party's Congress gets underway on Friday

[07] Coalition leader says Greece under pressure to accept 'mechanisms of repression'

[08] Pnyx Hill event to commemorate 30th anniversary of restoration of democracy

[09] Public administration draft bill ratified by Parliamentary Summer Recess Committee

[10] Leftist organizations opposed to Olympic Games hold rally in Athens

[11] Gov't earmarks 3.5 mln euros to support business activity in regional Greece

[12] Minister briefed on telecoms coverage for Olympics by OTE

[13] Public-sector contract workers stage protests in Athens, Thessaloniki

[14] Greeks feel financially insecure, poll shows

[15] Stocks drop in heavy selling

[16] New patrol boats for coastguard, Olympic security delivered

[17] Makeshift firebombs thrown at culture ministry's entrance

[18] Police report bust of four-member gang of robbers

[19] Human rights memorandum handed to US Coordinator for Cyprus

[20] Commission's regulations for Turkish Cypriots discussed at

[21] New York Council condemns Turkish invasion of Cyprus

[01] Olympic Village, bevy of other projects delivered on Thursday

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

Labor Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos represented the government at the ceremony on Thursday at the Olympic Village, while Athens 2004 Olympic Games Organizing Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki represented organizers

The project was amongst several that were delivered to organizers or the government, including a stretch of the Kymis Avenue (adjacent to the main Athens Olympic stadium of OAKA) and Kifissias boulevard -- the main road artery connecting central Athens and the entire OAKA complex.

Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister George Souflias attended the delivery of the new Kifisos-Poseidonos motorway junction in Athens on Thursday, praising it as one of the most important road projects to take place in the Attica prefecture.

"This project which is being delivered to traffic today, namely the section of the Kifissos motorway that is an extension of the national motorway, as well as the Kifisos-Poseidonos junction, is one of the most important road projects to take place in the Attica prefecture," Souflias said.

The minister congratulated all who participated in the preparation and construction of the project, as well as the construction companies and the ministry's services.

Souflias also attended the delivery of the new Kimis motorway.

"Kimis motorway links the Athens-Lamia national motorway from the Kalyftakis junction, near Kifisia, with the Olympic Village. It is a very important project which, apart from travel to and from the Olympic Village for the Olympic Games, will serve the needs of considerable regions of the municipality of Aharne and the community of Thrakomakedones," Souflias said.

Asked when construction of the second section of Kimis motorway will begin, the minister said he is not in a position at present to say when this will happen since certain issues have to be settled first.

Other projects set for final delivery over the weekend are a new metro station in the Halandri district (northern Athens) and at the Doukissis Plakentias intersection as well as the overdue and previous problem-plagued Marathon route -- the landmark course connecting the eponymous township of eastern Attica prefecture and the Panathinaiko Stadium in downtown Athens, where the Marathon race will finish.

The latter will be officially delivered by contractors on Monday. A previous contractor, Evropaiki Techniki, declared bankruptcy earlier in the year, following numerous delays and spotty construction work.

Also ready, according to the government, is a media village in the eastern Attica seaside resort of Aghios Andreas.

[02] Armed escort only for heads of state during Olympics, public order minister says

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

He also categorically denied the presence of foreign troops of any nationality during the Games. "There will not be any army, whether American, French or Portuguese, nor snipers on the rooftops or other facilities," the minister said.

Voulgarakis told the Committee that the government would allow members of the Authority for the Protection of Personal Data and the Privacy of Communications Authority to be present at the operations centers for the electronic surveillance system set up for the Olympics.

In addition, he added, it would initiate dialogue on the best use of the system after the Olympics in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution. The minister sought to reassure those concerned about the possible infringement of civil liberties through use of the system after the Games, saying that the government shared views in favor of civil liberties and was not prepared to use the system against the citizens.

He said the most probable post-Olympic use for the system will be for traffic control on national highways and high-accident areas in cities or for the policing of sports grounds such as football stadiums, where hooliganism was a factor.

Voulgarakis stressed, however, that any such use would absolutely respect rights established under the Constitution.

[03] NATO to deploy special anti-terrorist unit, subject to Greece's request

BRUSSELS 23/7/2004 (ANA/M.Spinthourakis)

According to well-informed diplomatic sources, this special unit would be stationed at the NATO base in Germany throughout the duration of the Athens Olympics, ready to intervene on Greek soil should Greek security forces request this.

The unit is comprised of several people of various nationalities and is specially trained in dealing with a range of terrorist attacks, according to a diplomatic source.

Following the decision the Council made on Thursday, NATO's contribution to Games security is nearly complete. NATO has already provided AWACS for air surveillance, it has intensified and broadened patrols in the Mediterranean, and it has made available a special anti-terrorist unit in case of a biochemical attack.

[04] State Department spokesman declines comment on Olympic Games security details

WASHINGTON 23/7/2004 (ANA - T. Ellis)

"We are all cooperating very closely with the Greek government," he said, adding that "security is the responsibility of the Greek government and in this field of responsibility it has, of course, the cooperation of the US, NATO and of other countries which are cooperating closely with the Greek authorities which they are supporting in their effort to achieve Olympic Games security."

Boucher also said "I do not think we will ever be in a position to comment on the specific types of settlement on cooperation that can exist on such an event as this."

The State Department spokesman categorically stated that he will not comment on a report appearing in the New York Times newspaper, saying that he will not distance himself from his steadfast tactics of not commenting on whatever concerns security measures.

Responding to persistent questions by the press, he merely said responsibility for the protection of the family (parents and daughters) of US President Bush, who will be visiting Athens, lies with the "secret service."

[05] U.S. Defense Secretary on Olympic Games security

WASHINGTON 23/7/2004 (ANA/T. Ellis)

"Greece is closely cooperating with NATO and NATO answers the requests, thoughts and proposals of the Greek government. They have a very close cooperation for many weeks now and one believes that they have proceeded in all the necessary steps," Rumsfeld said when asked on the role which the American forces and NATO will play.

Rumsfeld said there were no bilateral negotiations between Greece and the U.S., stating with emphasis that the security of the Games "will only be a NATO mission." He added that "as far as I know there is nothing in process other than the Greece-NATO relationship and the 26 countries which are NATO members, including the U.S."

[06] Ruling New Democracy party's Congress gets underway on Friday

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The three-day Congress will be held at the Anthoussa Conference Centre in the Attica region.

Guest speakers at Friday's opening of the Congress will be former French president Valery Giscard D'Estaing and former Belgian prime minister Wilfred Martens.

[07] Coalition leader says Greece under pressure to accept 'mechanisms of repression'

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

He underlined that democracy was protected and defended by the patriotism of Greek citizens rather than the "Rambo mechanisms of international circuits of surveillance and repression", whose "electronic snares and mechanisms of constant surveillance and record create a skewed and mutated democracy, which unfortunately is drifting away from the model of democracy that human civilization has attained".

[08] Pnyx Hill event to commemorate 30th anniversary of restoration of democracy

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The event, which was organized by the Constantine G. Karamanlis Foundation and the French embassy in Athens, was addressed by Prime Minister Karamanlis, former French president Valery Giscard D'Estaing and French Ambassador to Athens Bruno Delaye.

In his address, Prime Minister Karamanlis said:"Thirty years after the restoration of democracy in Greece, we honor all those fighters of the anti-dictatorship struggle and in particular the contribution of the unknown citizen and pay tribute to the victims of the Cypriot tragedy and we are struggling for the reunification of Cyprus and for the last wall on European territory to fall."

The event was attended by a multitude of politicians and intellectuals.

[09] Public administration draft bill ratified by Parliamentary Summer Recess Committee

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The draft bill was ratified with a roll call vote with 54 votes in favor and 37 against.

Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou said the draft bill had an "unacceptable and ineffective content", adding that "we shall struggle together with the trade unionists for a public administration that will serve every Greek man and every Greek woman."

On its part, the ruling New Democracy party placed particular emphasis on phenomena of corruption and mismanagement which, as it claimed, characterize public administration after 20 years of governance by PASOK.

[10] Leftist organizations opposed to Olympic Games hold rally in Athens

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The demonstrators claimed that the climate prevailing in the capital is a state of emergency and that labor conditions are worsening as a result of the Olympic Games.

On the occasion of the rally, the demonstrators also denounced security measures being taken ahead of the Olympic Games by which information will be registered and processed to enable, if necessary, action by a rapid reaction force of the NATO alliance.

Financial News

[11] Gov't earmarks 3.5 mln euros to support business activity in regional Greece

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, the Greek minister said the contract was highly significant for the support of business activity, boosting competitiveness and the development of regional Greece.

"This project is part of a Business Program called "Competitiveness" aimed to create an integrated network for supporting business activity in the country," Sioufas said, adding that the biggest part of funds earmarked in the project were directed towards regional Greece.

Sioufas said that the 13 KETA (one in each region) currently operating around the country, were urban non-profit companies offering consultant services to local businesses and aiming to promote exports and to attract investments.

"So far, KETA were not effective due to lack of mobilization by local agencies and a delay in setting up and operating a central support structure," Kasimatis, speaking to reporters, welcomed the ministry's initiative and stressed that the program would realize the dream of decentralization in the country.

[12] Minister briefed on telecoms coverage for Olympics by OTE

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

OTE chief Panagis Vourloumis showed the minister around OTE's Network Management Centre, which carries out online checks of the network's status nationwide and manages telecoms traffic. Afterwards, Liapis was shown around the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC), from which television signals of the Olympics will be broadcast to an estimated four billion viewers worldwide.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the work carried out by OTE and its mobile phone subsidiary Cosmote to prepare for the Olympics and said he was confident that the largest telecoms organization in the country and the Balkans would be able to fully meet the challenge posed by the increased needs during the Olympics.

On his part, Vourloumis noted that the work carried out by OTE had exceeded the requirements placed on it as a sponsor, being complex, multi-level and requiring cooperation with many other agencies.

As sponsor, OTE has set up a network connecting all Olympics facilities with the IBC, where the TV signal will be processed by Athens Olympics Broadcasting (AOB) and Broadcasting Rights Holders and then retransmitted via other networks throughout the world, either through the satellite dishes stationed next to the IBC or the satellite stations at Nemea and Thermopylae.

[13] Public-sector contract workers stage protests in Athens, Thessaloniki

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The are demanding the full implementation of European Union directives that call for the contracts of all staff covering standing and permanent needs to be converted to indefinite contracts, and the extension of contracts that have either expired or are near expiry.

Protestors in Athens gathered at Klafthmonos Square and marched to the Interior ministry, while those in Thessaloniki gathered around the statue of Eleftherios Venizelos.

[14] Greeks feel financially insecure, poll shows

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The consumer confidence survey by GFK Market Analysis said that 42 percent of respondents feel that their financial situation has worsened over the last year; 46 percent that it has remained the same; and 11 percent that it has improved.

In addition, 71 percent of people polled think that the national economy has deteriorated over the last 12 months; 20 percent see it unchanged; and eight percent believe that it has improved.

[15] Stocks drop in heavy selling

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,316.54 points, showing a decline of 1.38 per cent. Turnover was 70.8 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.41 per cent down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 1.81 per cent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.42 per cent down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 255 to 47 with 45 remaining unchanged.

[16] New patrol boats for coastguard, Olympic security delivered

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

Three of the new boats are built to travel in open sea in the most difficult conditions, while over half have anti-ballistic protection.

They will be used to patrol the seas near Olympic facilities for the duration of the Olympic Games in August and will play an important role in guarding the cruise ships used for Olympic hospitality in Piraeus.

In a brief address at the handover of the patrol boats in Piraeus, Kefaloyiannis referred to the government's commitment to upgrade the coast guard in order to cope with the increased demands of dealing with illegal immigration, smuggling and protection of the marine environment, noting that better-equipped vessels would also act as a deterrent.

He said the new boats were an integral part of measures for Olympic security, forming part of a shield from the air, land and sea for coastal Olympic facilities.

[17] Makeshift firebombs thrown at culture ministry's entrance

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

Both offices are located in downtown Athens, behind the Polytechnic and the National Archaeological Museum.

Only material damages were reported in both incidents.

[18] Police report bust of four-member gang of robbers

Athens, 23/7/2004 (ANA)

The gang are suspected of firing against a police patrol that became suspicious of their movements and tried to question them in the Aghios Ioannis Rendis area earlier in July, where they were apparently preparing a robbery against a security van carrying cash for a large company.

Police said they had arrested suspected gang member Constantine Stamou, 37, when he went into a Kallithea police station to report the theft of a rented car, which he is believed to have given to his Albanian accomplices to use in the robbery and which they then abandoned after the shootout with the police. The gang also left behind a motorbike belonging to fellow-Albanian Elka Berberi, who is now being sought by police.

The search is also on for the three Albanian suspects, identified by Stamou as Kristo Papa, 32, and Hisa Edi, 25, as well as another young man whose identity he did not know.

Police say they have evidence that the same gang was responsible for an armed robbery against a security van of the National Bank of Greece, in which one of the guards was injured and 30,000 euros were taken.

[19] Human rights memorandum handed to US Coordinator for Cyprus

NICOSIA 23/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

In a memorandum handed here on Thursday to a US Embassy representative for US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs Laura Kennedy who is visiting Cyprus for consultations on the Cyprus problem, the associations express the hope that the US, a country which protects the rights of its citizens and fights for democracy ''will reassess its stance regarding Cyprus."

''We hope that the economic and political interests will not continue to block the restoration of the fundamental rights of the people of Cyprus, both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. We hope that the United States will be able to stand by their declared principles they have so openly supported," the memorandum adds.

The associations congratulate Kennedy for her recent appointment as Coordinator for Cyprus in the State Department noting that the purpose of contacting her is to give her a clear indication of what the people of Cyprus require for the solution of their problem and explain why 76% of the Greek Cypriot community rejected the Annan Plan.

As regards to the Annan Plan, the associations note that it is not compatible with basic values and principles, which are the foundation of the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.

Concluding the associations note they look forward to the time when the genuine reunification of the island will be achieved. ''If such an opportunity presents itself when all Cypriots will have the same obligations and equal rights between one another as individuals and

as Cypriots vis a vis the rest of the world, on the basis of universally accepted principles then the Greek Cypriot community will be the first to support such a long-lasting, viable, fair, and

workable solution'' the associations stress.

The memorandum is signed by the International Association for the Protection of Human Rights in Cyprus, occupied municipalities of Karavas and Kyrenia, Refugee Association ''Adouloti Keryneia'',

Refugee Association ''Free Unitary Karpas'', Refugee Association, ''Free Morphou'', Union of Refugees and Displaced Persons of Cyprus and the Pancyprian Association of Human Rights.

[20] Commission's regulations for Turkish Cypriots discussed at

COREPER BRUSSELS 23/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

The second regulation adopted by the European Commission concerning direct trade of EU states with the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus will be referred for a final decision at the EU Council in October.

The regulation on financial aid will be examined on September 2, 2004, at a COREPER level, and a second meeting is due to take place most probably a week later, so that the General Affairs EU Council will take up the issue on September 13.

The Dutch Permanent Representative, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, clarified that the presidency's aim is to reach a decision by consensus for both regulations with Cyprus' active participation, and not to by pass Cyprus, as he said. Five more EU countries supported the same view.

A representative of the Commission's Legal Service, referred to the regulation on direct trade and said that there are legal problems regarding article 133 of the Treaty for direct trade, since the occupied areas of Cyprus can not be deemed as a third country.

He added that according to the international law, the opening of ports is an absolute privilege of the member states.

Regarding the regulation on financial aid, the Dutch Presidency is presenting several compromise proposals so that Cyprus' demands are met.

[21] New York Council condemns Turkish invasion of Cyprus

NEW YORK 23/7/2004 (CNA/ANA)

City Hall Council Member Peter F. Vallone Jr. presented a proclamation to Cyprus Consul General Martha Mavrommatis and Peter Papanicolaou, President of the Cyprus Federation of America, condemning the 30th anniversary of the illegal invasion and continued occupation of Cyprus by Turkish troops.

"The Turkish occupation and division of Cyprus must end. To have an independent and sovereign nation occupied by the invading Turkish army since 1974 is unconscionable. 30 years is enough, it is now time for a responsible solution which will reunite the people of Cyprus," stated Vallone.

In addition, Vallone introduced a resolution calling for a solution to the Cyprus problem based on all relevant United Nations resolutions, which will ensure that all Cypriots will be able to live in peace, security, prosperity, and with the full enjoyment of their deserved human rights.

"The 30th anniversary of the tragic invasion of Cyprus continues to be a blemish on international justice and human rights. We value friends like Peter Vallone who have always recognized this injustice and supported our cause," said Phillip Christopher, President of the International Coordinating Committee - Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA).

Cypriot Consul General Martha Mavrommatis said "the government of the Republic of Cyprus will not cease working for a just solution that will free Cyprus from the Turkish occupation troops, will reunify the island and its people and restore the human rights of all Cypriot citizens, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins."

Cyprus Federation of America President Peter Papanicolaou called on the United States leadership to exercise all its power to help end the illegal occupation and bring justice and freedom to Cyprus.

"It is my desire and hope that by next year we will join together again, but this time to celebrate and present a proclamation for a free and re-unified Cyprus," Vallone said.

Also present at the ceremony were Council Members Michael McMahon, Helen Sears, Joel Rivera, Speaker Gifford Miller and Greek Consul George Alexopoulos.

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