Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Karamanlis said ''organized interests cannot stand in the way'' and stressed with emphasis that ''grey propaganda, doubting and leveling will not succeed, they will fail and discredit those who inspired them,'' while stressing that the government is in conflict with accumulated problems.

The prime minister presented the main elements of the new economic policy being applied by the government, which include fiscal restructuring, which is a condition for the economy's survival, the deregulation of markets and an end to state monopolies with a new generation of privatizations, joint ventures in the private and public sectors and a speedup in the completion of major investment plans which have remained inert in past years.

Commenting on the 4th Community Support Framework (CSF), Karamanlis said that it will be directed entirely to the regions, while underlining that infrastructure projects in the energy sector are rendering the country an energy centre in the region, referring to the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline and the natural gas pipelines between Greece-Turkey and Greece-Italy.

Making a brief account of the government's work over the past 14 months, Karamanlis referred to the new tax and development law, the simplification of licensing procedures for processing companies, the joining of trade to European Union financing and the arrangement on working hours for department stores, due to be tabled in Parliament soon, which will benefit businesses, consumers and working people.

The prime minister hailed the agreement reached between the administration of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and employees, saying that both sides showed maturity and responsibility and that it was proved that there can be consensus in the economy.

Lastly, he stressed that the government is seeking reforms in labor relations, as well as a solution to problems concerning the social security issue.

Reforms place economy on new course, finance minister says: Finance and Economy Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis said during the Federation of Greek Industries' (SEB) annual general assembly on Thursday that reforms being promoted and the climate of confidence being created are placing the economy on a new course.

Alogoskoufis further said that in 55 days of the new development law being implemented, 119 investment plans totalling 286.4 million euros have been submitted, while during the first 55 days of the previous development law 69 investment plans had been submitted worth 82.8 million euros.

The minister placed special emphasis on the results of tax reform, the development law and the draft law on joint ventures in the public and private sectors which will constitute "the third crucial pylon of the new development policy."

Alogoskoufis also focused on the promotion of "a new generation of privatizations" aimed at strengthening competition and development. Following the floating of the Greek Oil Group and the complete privatization of the National Bank, procedures have got under way for the sale of up to 17 percent of shares of the Football Pools Organization (OPAP).

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

"I don't think that anyone among you believes that changes and structural reforms will be any easier to implement today than a year ago," he said.

He referred to the fiscal audit the government conducted. According to Papandreou, the government should have sought political consensus, instead of "us fighting over what the debt is, what the deficit is and who is to blame. We could have taken a serious look at what the weaknesses were and what the truth was. Unfortunately, this effort was not made. Instead, a Portuguese formula was implemented which led to bad publicity for Portugal's economy."

Papandreou emphasized that during the past year, Greece's ''credibility and image abroad have floundered.''

"There is a mix of questioning, sarcasm and disdain which was not previously aimed at Greece," he said.

Papandreou also criticized the government for its course of action in the Balkans, the Cyprus issue and Greek-Turkish relations. Regarding economic ties with the Middle East, he said that the government had failed to establish a presence in those markets.

In terms of investments, Papandreou said that emphasis should be placed on quality, innovation, knowledge, human resources, an outward-looking approach and competitiveness.

As for the financial sector, the main opposition leader proposed that credit institutions abandon old ways of thinking and that they increasingly invest in businesses and take risks without focusing exclusively on securing guarantees.

Finally, he said that PASOK's proposal for economic policy involves, among other things, maintaining macroeconomic balance, providing public goods and services, boosting entrepreneurship through new opportunities, raising employment levels and ensuring citizens' prosperity.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Addressing the annual meeting of the union, Kyriakopoulos, noted that these priorities were the necessary preconditions to put Greek economy on a new growth course, one that would ensure better living conditions for all Greeks.

The Greek Industries Union, in cooperation with Boston Consulting Group, published a report on the needs of Greek enterprises. The report was drafted a year ago and concluded that if a bold reforms program was introduced then the Greek economy could overcome existing problems and grow rapidly in the future.

The report urged for changes and reforms in four areas: business infrastructure, tax framework, labor market and human resources. Kyriakopoulos said that unless reforms were made, economic conditions would worsen, while if reforms were to be continued with their current pace, economic conditions would show a slight improvement. Finally, if reforms were promoted with dynamism, most economic goals would be achieved.

Dimitris Daskalopoulos, the union's vide-president, presented the Charter of Obligations and Rights for Greek enterprises, saying the charter aimed to create a framework for the behavior of enterprises in the country. "The Charter needs the commitment of enterprises, while its positive impact on society depends on two factors," Daskalopoulos said. First, introducing a system of business ethic values and second, acknowledging that business ethics and competitiveness were ensured firstly in an enterprise's leadership through the promotion of corporate culture.

The assembly unanimously adopted the Charter.

Federation of Greek Industries president stresses 'need for profound changes' without delay: Federation of Greek Industries (SEB) President Odysseas Kyriakopoulos, speaking during the afternoon session of the Federation's general assembly on Thursday, stressed the "need for changes" without delay.

"Without reforms, particularly on the major issues of fiscal policy and of the state, the toils of all, and of working people in particular, will be wasted," he said.

Kyriakopoulos ascertained that the government is taking positive steps, that are hailed by the business world, such as the simplification of procedures, the gradual decrease in tax percentages, the investment law and the effort to utilize Olympic Games infrastructures.

SEB's president further referred to a "distance existing between the government's election program and acts of the government", calling on it to proceed with the taking of radical measures without delay in many sectors of the government's work.

"We convey a mistaken message every time we sacrifice tomorrow to be acceptable today, when we beautify reality, when we avoid discussing important issues such as the social security issue or we pretend that we are waiting for a more suitable conjuncture and we postpone the taking of structural measures," he said.

Referring to the environment determining the activities of Greek businesses, Kyriakopoulos said "instead of us businessmen giving struggles in the market with competition, we are giving struggles with the state, administration, local self-administration and with organized or not interests. With outdated concepts and stereotypes."

Coalition (Synaspismos) leader turns down

SEB invitation, comments on OME-OTE deal: Coalition of Left (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos on Thursday said that he had turned down an invitation to attend the annual meeting of the Union of Greek Industry (SEB) taking place on Thursday afternoon, saying he was not interested in being a "passive observer".

"In recent years, SEB invites the leadership and representatives of the left-wing parties to its general meetings and seminars on the Greek economy only as members of the audience. Effectively, it only offers a podium to PASOK and New Democracy, which vie to adapt their choices to the neoliberal doctrines for SEB's favor," he said.

Alavanos made the statement after a meeting with the president of the supermarkets association SESME regarding high prices and the promotion of Greek products.

The Coalition leader also voiced objections to the deal struck between the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and the telecoms workers' union OME-OTE for a new collective agreement designed to make OTE more competitive, accusing the government of acting as a "demolition contractor".

He said the deal was doing away with job security and was obviously designed to act as a model that went beyond OTE to other public-sector jobs.

Calling other opposition parties - including main opposition PASOK - to form a common front on this issue, he nevertheless noted his "sorrow that PASOK trade unionists appear to have agreed to this unacceptable measure and that PASOK as party appears to accept it through its silence".

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Molyviatis expressed satisfaction over the excellent relations between Greece and Syria, and with the Arab world in general, and noted prospects for further strengthening bilateral economic and commercial relations.

On violence and terrorism, Molyviatis warned that they comprised a major threat to security and peace in the wider region, and said confronting the phenomena was a fundamental priority.

"Our primary goal is to consolidate peace, security and stability in the region," Molyviatis added.

Al-Shara noted the immense prospects for cooperation at both bilateral and regional level, stressing that his country placed special importance on its relations with the European Union.

He said that security concerned all the peoples, not only the countries of the Middle East, and stressed the "need to restore peace to a region that has been disrupted due to the ongoing occupation of Arab territories by Israel".

The Syrian foreign minister also met with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, while he was due to meet with main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou later in the afternoon.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

The Balkans, he said, needed to be "transformed from 'the powder-keg of Europe' into 'a peaceful neighborhood'", "and here Greece can serve as the steam-engine of its transformation".

"The vision of the European Union is the most drastic antidote to the forces of instability and multi-partition," Valynakis added.

Regarding FYROM, Valynakis warned that the opportunity which presented itself with the Nimetz (UN special mediator on the FYROM name issue, Matthew) proposal -- which the Greek government considers to be a basis for a final round of dialogue -- must not be lost due to the intransigence of the other side, "which is glued to stereotypes of the past, adding that "if this opportunity is lost, the responsibility will lie fully with the other side".

On Kosovo, Valynakis underscored that it was a "European problem" that required a "European solution", based on the European models and values -- a viable and realistic solution that will reinforce the stability of the region, a solution within the framework of the UN, on the future status of Kosovo that would be determined via dialogue and would be in line with the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter.

"In such a framework, measures must be provided for the safe return of the thousands of Serb refugees, for the protection of human rights, of minority rights, and for the protection of religious monuments," the deputy minister said.

Valynakis said that the EU accession course of the countries of the region comprised a "historic challenge" for Greece, since that prospect would liberate those countries from the "onerous legacy of the past".

"In that light Greece, which currently holds the Inter-Balkan presidency, has this vision for peace, cooperation and the prosperity of all the peoples of the region," Valynakis concluded.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

The ANA delegation was led by ANA board president and general director George Tambakopoulos, who was accompanied by former ANA general director and current management consultant Andreas Christodoulides and ANA managing director Nikolas Voulelis. The ANA delegation is in Cyprus at the invitation of the Cyprus News Agency.

The CNA delegation was led by its board president Dr. Aristos Aristotelous while also present were members of the CNA board, CNA director Themis Themistokleous and the director of President Papadopoulos' press office Marios Karoyian.

After the meeting with the president, the two delegations also met Cyprus government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides, who said he was given an opportunity to exchange views and brief the two news agencies on the current position in the Cyprus problem.

"Cooperation between the CNA and ANA, similarly to cooperation between Greece and Cyprus within the framework of the European Union, is useful for both countries," he said.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Chrysostomides stressed that the Greek-Cypriot rejection of the Annan plan in last year's referendum did not mean that Greek-Cypriots also rejected a solution to the Cyprus issue, and that this had been made clear by President Papadopoulos after the referendum and since that time.

He also reiterated that the Greek-Cypriot side was prepared to come to well-prepared talks in order to make the required improvements to the plan, though obviously without tight deadlines and arbitration, so that the solution arising might be accepted by both communities on the island.

Tambakopoulos briefed Chrysostomides on the ANA's recent centennial events and the merger that is currently underway with the Macedonian Press Agency of northern Greece, which he said will contribute to wider promotion of the Cyprus issue.

The ANA delegation earlier met the General Director of the Cyprus Press and Information Office (CPI) Yiannakis Solomou to discuss further enhancing the already well-established cooperation between the CPI and the ANA. Present at the meeting were the CNA's general director, former ANA general director Andreas Christodoulides, Nikolas Voulelis and the ANA's correspondent in Cyprus.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (ANA/CNA)

The agreement was signed by the General Director and President of the Board of Directors of the Athens News Agency (ANA) George Tambakopoulos and President of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus News Agency Aristos Aristotelous at the CNA offices in Nicosia.

The agreement was put into force with its signing and will be valid until the end of 2007.

''ANA is very important for us. Our relations and cooperation are close and fraternal and our appreciation enormous'' said Aristotelous welcoming the delegation of the Athens News Agency.

Tambakopoulos said that the cooperation between the two agencies will continue and that the two agencies will sign a more extended agreement when a CNA delegation will visit Athens.

After the signing of the agreement the two sides exchanged gifts. Aristotelous offered Tambakopoulos guests a plaque with the logo of CNA and Tambakopoulos offered a ceramic bowl, replica of an ancient scrapbook of the Benaki Museum and a copy of an edition concerning the Athens News Agency.

The agreement provides for the right to receive and use the services of the two agencies in English and Greek. At the same time ANA and CNA provide to each other the right of access and use of their Data Banks.

Furthermore ANA gives free rein to CNA of its Greek photographic bulletin to be used only in Cyprus and CNA assumes the obligation to cover photographically for ANA important developments in Cyprus for use only in Greece.

Finally ANA will offer CNA every possible assistance for its technological upgrading and both agencies will explore the possibility of joint participation in European programs.

Present at the signing ceremony were also ANA's Managing Director Nikolas Voulelis and former General Director and now Advisor of ANA Andreas Christodoulides, members of CNA Board of Directors, CNA Director Themis Themistocleous and Chief Editor George Penintaex, as well as ANA correspondent to Cyprus Kokos Leonidas.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

ceremony by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) for his contribution to the development of Cyprus' national agency.

During the event Christodoulides gave a lecture regarding the global credibility of the media in our days and the role of journalists in the changing world.

In his address Cyprus Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides referred to Christodoulides' active role in the struggle against the Greek junta, which kept him in exile for many years and praised his contribution in journalism.

Greek Ambassador to Cyprus Christos Panagopoulos in his address stressed that cooperation between Greece and Cyprus must constantly expand in all fields of the society.

He also noted that the cooperation between CNA and ANA is a demand which emerges from the needs deriving from the pending national issues.

CNA Chairman of the Board of Directors Aristos Aristotelous noted that ANA helped CNA in its first steps within the several European and Mediterranean alliances of agencies.

Director of CNA Themis Themistocleous read the decision of the Board of Directors to honor Andreas Christodoulides and praised his role in the development of Cyprus' news agency.

He also noted that Christodoulides has served as the President of European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) and in his second term to this post he was unanimously selected.

Government officials, MPs, journalists and members of the family of Andreas Christodoulides also attended the event.

The national agencies of Cyprus and Greece signed earlier an agreement for the development of cooperation aiming to further boost bilateral professional relations.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Meimarakis had earlier held talks with the head of the civil servants' union ADEDY concerning the deal between management and staff at the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) and other issues.

He said the trade unionists had shown a responsible attitude regarding the deal, which concerned only OTE and not the entire public sector and aimed to make OTE more competitive.

ADEDY president Spyros Papaspyrou stressed, however, that the union would strenuously oppose any attempt to change labor relations in the same way in the public sector.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos said the program replaced the previous EPTA and hoped to give new impetus to local government through the funding of a series of projects. The significant difference with EPTA is that funding will not be restricted to established local authority resources but central government will participate with up to 35 per cent of the funds put up by local authorities.

The minister said "Theseus" will boost developmental prospects, with the state providing means without intervening and with better cooperation between local government and private enterprise.

The funding program for the years 2005-2009 will be up to 3.5 billion euros, without including the contribution of the private sector, he added.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

"We believe that public administration is the lever of development and of serving the citizen. We must avoid the logics of the past which led us to tension and, in the end, the Greek citizen always paid the cost. We are helpers in many of the issues which we discussed. We do not adopt everything that was raised, but we do adopt many of them and we shall convey them to the government in a creative way," Meimarakis said.

Referring to developments in the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE), Meimarakis said the agreement showed that, following many months of substantive, sincere and serious consultations and cooperation, both between the administration and employees, a solution was found enabling OTE to get off the ground in the coming years.

ADEDY President Spyros Papaspyrou said the issue concerns OTE's employees, adding that full, steady and permanent work constitutes an achievement and that ADEDY will protect this institution with its position.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

He died on Sunday at the age of 91.

Hundreds of people followed the funeral procession which started after 3 pm.

About 150 buses and tens of private cars from all over Greece arrived from early morning to the small village of Rahoula, of the municipality of Itamos.

Present at the funeral were KKE General Secretary Aleka Papariga, the members of the Political Bureau and deputies of the party and the local municipal leadership.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

While in Athens, the delegation will take part in working meetings and exchange views with officials at Greek ministries and bodies on enhancing bilateral cooperation and improving handling of migration issues, particularly with respect of Albanian immigrants and structures to support their rights and obligations in Greece.

Earlier the delegation met Greek Ombudsman George Kaminis.

The Albanian delegation is comprised by Albanian foreign ministry general secretary Ronald Deimo, Albanian Ombudsman Emir Dobjani and representatives of the labor and social affairs, public order, culture, youth and sports and European accession ministries.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, the Greek minister said it was a historic agreement since, through a consensus, the two sides have reached a big structural change that would help in the restructuring of the organization, while at the same time it set an example to other public enterprises.

"The deal is very important to the organization and the economy," Alogoskoufis said, adding it also proved that consensus procedures have positive results. The Greek minister noted that talks to solve a pension problems in Emporiki Bank and Agricultural Bank were different from the case with Hellenic Telecoms. He stressed that if talks failed to reach an outcome in the next few days the government would intervene, while he did not exclude a plan to find a solution to both banks' problem through a share capital increase.

OME-OTE, the workers union of Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, expressed its satisfaction over the signing of the agreement with OTE's management.

Speaking to reporters, the union's presidency said the deal ensured the organization's future in a competitive environment while it did not harm workers interests. They noted that labor relations would change and that tenure was ensured for new hirings.

The agreement envisages the early retirement of 6,200 workers with an age of more than 50 years old, from a total of 16,000 workers in the organization.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Liapis hailed the deal between OTE's management and the union OME-OTE, saying that the country was proceeding with major reforms that were needed to make the economy more competitive, while stressing that the road ahead remained "long and arduous".

He said the next three weeks will be crucial with regard to the privatization of OA, the tender for which was now entering the second phase.

The OTE-workforce deal was also commented on by government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, who said it opened the way for restructuring OTE and was in the interests of the organization, its workforce and the economy in general.

"Those who worked hard to bring about this result deserve to be congratulated, especially OME-OTE whose responsible stance made a decisive contribution to finding the best compromise without compromising fundamental labor rights," he said.

Asked whether the deal might serve as a "model" for labor relations in other public utilities, Roussopoulos stressed that the deal was tailored to OTE, which was a broader public-sector company operating in a highly competitive sector.

Under the collective agreement signed by OTE and the union, which will apply from the date that a bill for voluntary early retirement from OTE begins to apply, staff will henceforth be hired with indefinite contracts for salaried employment and will be inducted into wage categories that will govern their future wage increases.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Addressing a seminar organized by the UK embassy in Athens, Alogoskoufis stressed that the draft law excluded from joint ventures activities directly related with the state, such as law enforcement, national defense, justice and correctional institutions.

Joint ventures are a new tool that could help the government's work in seeking a more effective improvement of infrastructure projects and offer of services to its citizens. Under the draft law, project budgets could not exceed 200 million euros, private companies would take their part of responsibility in funding and completion of works, while an inter-ministerial commission would be formed to draft government policies in promoting such projects.

The Greek minister congratulated the UK embassy for its initiative to organize the seminar.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, after a visit to Tourism ministry, the Greek PM said the country was now registered as a new tourist destination to new tourism markets around the world. Karamanlis announced that Greek museums and archaeological sites would be open from 08.00 to 19.30 daily, including weekends, valid from June. He noted that the government was promoting alternative forms of tourism in the country, such as spa and agro-tourism, while the ministry was drafting a new legislation on healthcare tourism.

Karamanlis said the Tourism ministry would announce, in the next few days, the hiring of new staff for Greece's National Tourism Organization's offices around the world. The organization currently operates a network of 23 offices and plans to open 49 new offices soon.

The Greek Prime Minister said the government was considering tourism as a main tool of economic growth and emphasized that the government has achieved much in its 14 months in office. "Ambitious goals have been set, many more are expected to be achieved," he noted.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Specifically, the number of those registered as unemployed dropped from 542,731 in March to 511,985 in April.

Commenting on the country's unemployment rate, Deputy Labor Minister Gerassimos Giakoumatos said that the current government inherited a high unemployment rate from the previous PASOK administration.

"The situation we inherited particularly affects women and young people, as well as a number of other vulnerable social groups, thus compounding the problems of social cohesion," he said.

He reiterated the government's commitment to reduce unemployment by 3 per cent by the end of its four-year term.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Specifically, the companies will recommend a swap ratio of 1:12, i.e., one share of NBG will be offered for every 12 shares of the National Investment Co.

The two companies also appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Grant Thornton to determine the book value of the two companies' assets as of the Transformation Balance Sheets date of May 31, 2005.

Emporiki Bank, which was appointed to valuate the merging companies and to render an opinion on the share exchange ratio, has found the recommended ratio to be fair and reasonable and deems merger prospects to be positive.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

He said a temporary contractor had been chosen through a tender that will transport 1,280 tones of sludge per day provided that the solution the contractor proposes for disposal receives environmental approval by July 10.

The company in question was second choice in the tender but has been temporarily given the contract after the disposal scheme proposed by the winner was rejected on environmental grounds.

The present company intends to transfer the sludge to the Mousama quarries behind Mount Poikilon, where it will be interred. Should this scheme receive the go-ahead, it will be possible to transfer the 50,000-tonne sludge mound at Psyttalia that is causing a problem within the first three months and the entire quantity of accumulated sludge in nine or 10 months.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Retail sales increased 13.1 percent, totalling 118.1 million euros, compared to 104.4 million euros in the corresponding quarter last year.

According to a relevant announcement, the continuing upward trend in revenues from airtime, reaching 14.6 million euros and increasing by 23.7 percent, provides special stability in the development of the group's profit-making.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 2,983.47 points, marking a rise of 2.11%. Turnover was 250.0 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 2.42% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 1.32% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.08% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 193 to 70 with 78 remaining unchanged.

BRUSSELS 27/5/2005 (ANA)

It said testing had been carried out on 1,965 coastal locations in Greece and all had met the minimum criteria for cleanliness, while 97.6 per cent had fully met even the strictest quality criteria.

European Commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas also noted that four freshwater bodies of water tested in Greece had also fully met EU health and hygiene requirements.

It said a total of 13,906 coastal areas in the EU had been tested, of which 96.7 per cent had been found suitable for swimming and 88.5 per cent had satisfied the strictest criteria.

The report also found a small percentage of coastlines in the 'older' EU countries that have been deemed unsuitable for any sort of swimming activity, such as in Denmark, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

Waters are tested for five factors: total intestinal bacteria, fac�al bacteria, petroleum, surfactants and phenols.

ISTANBUL 27/5/2005 (ANA/A.Kourkoulas)

The program is geared towards training specialist doctors in the prevention of breast cancer.

He said that in order to make diagnosis more accessible, women will be able to receive free breast exams and mammograms.

President of the Turkish Breast Cancer Association Dr. Can Gurbuz stressed the importance of exams and early diagnosis, saying that they were more important than treatment.

The association's honorary member Sukran Celebi and Director of the Ormylia Charity Father Charles S. Anthony, were also present at the press conference.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

The press conference was organized by the Greek Cardiology Foundation and the anti-smoking and anti-cancer society.

According to data, Greece is one of the top countries in Europe in the consumption of cigarettes, with men leading by 47,4 per cent against 39.6 percent of women.

Thirty-three per cent of youth aged between 12 and 18 have tried cigarettes while 10 per cent declare that they are smokers.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

The president was handed a bouquet from an 11-year-old girl, who thanked him for receiving them in perfect Greek.

Papoulias pointed out that he had been among the first to suggest establishing a Greek school in Tirana, stressing that such schools helped cement ties between Greece and neighboring Albania. He also noted that Albanian authorities have approved the operation of a Greek middle and high school from next year and urged the Greek government to provide financial support.

The Tirana Arsakio primary school first opened in 1998 and is a Greek-Albanian school accepting children of both Greek and Albanian origin. Among the Greek lessons taught are language, literature and European history.

Athens 27/5/2005 (ANA)

Parliament staff also donated 500 euros to KKE in his honor.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to comment on press reports that Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis told Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos that there is a hardening of the Turkish stance, the spokesman said that these are merely reports, noting however that the fact that Turkey's stance is hard, is not something new.

"Naturally our effort is to create the right climate of cooperation, understanding, through the EU framework and the new conditions as they are being formulated, so that the UN will be in a position, after proper preparation, to decide on the resumption of a negotiating procedure," the spokesman added.

Commenting on statements by so called foreign minister of the Turkish Cypriot puppet regime Serdar Denktash that the Cyprus problem has not been solved due to alleged Greek Cypriot intransigence, Chrysostomides expressed the view that such a statement "undermines the intelligence of the Cypriot citizens and the international public opinion because for 30 years now and until 2004, the intransigence of the occupation force was the reason why efforts for a solution were not promoted."

He reminded that the Turkish fundamental position has been that the "Cyprus issue was solved on the ground in 1974," with the Turkish invasion and occupation of the island's northern third.

Commenting on statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat that the property issue is a political issue and not legal and it will not be solved through lawsuits, the spokesman reiterated that this is a private right and no one can interfere or affect the implementation of an individual's rights.

Further to that, the spokesman pointed out "the indiscriminate theft of property in the manner that is taking place in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus has now become a political issue, if we can ever describe as political issue the intervention and theft of private property."

Asked what will be the agenda during UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast's visit to the island next week, Chrysostomides said that he is certain the UN official will convey to the UN chief all elements he considers useful to help Kofi Annan decide for himself whether negotiations for Cyprus should be resumed and whether he will continue his mission of good offices.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

The visit is organized by the Turkish Caucus in the US Congress, whose chairman Robert Wexler has received hundreds of protest letters from his constituents with regard to the visit.

Supreme President of AHEPA (American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) Franklin Manios said in a written statement that he ''strongly protests the manner in which the congressional delegation, plans to visit the illegally occupied Cyprus because it violates the sovereignty of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, an ally on the war on terror.''

''By visiting occupied Cyprus via a direct flight from Turkey into Ertzian airport, an illegal port of entry, the congressional delegation will be violating the rule of law and endorsing decades of human rights violations,'' Manios said.

The AHEPA Supreme President said he would welcome a visit to occupied Cyprus by the delegation ''via legal means, through the Republic of Cyprus, because that will signal goodwill to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots and a strong desire to reconcile the Cyprus issue justly within the boundaries of international law.''

Meanwhile, Panicos Papanicolaou, President of the Cyprus Federation of America, said the trip is ''a very huge step backward'' and called on the congressional delegation to arrive in the southern government controlled part of the island instead of the occupied north.

Nick Larigakis, Executive Director of the American Hellenic Institute, said the trip would hurt reunification efforts, adding that ''the trip really spits in the eye of the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus.''

The Greek American community has said in a statement that it would be watching ''very closely which members of Congress participate in this illegal trip at a crucial time for Cyprus settlement efforts.''

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

NICOSIA 27/5/2005 (CNA/ANA)

It says that Archbishop Iakovos ''spoke out forcefully against violations of human rights and religious freedom and in 1974, undertook a massive campaign to assist Greek Cypriot refugees following the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces.''

The Senate is called to honor the late Archbishop's commitment to the principles of equality, humanity and peace and to recognize that he was a committed and caring pastor to a whole generation of Greek Americans.

The resolution, submitted by Olympia Snowe and Paul Sarbanes, was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

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