Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-06-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] Tourism minister stresses quality upgrade of Greek tourist product at Hotel Chamber awards

[02] West Attica Prefecture Council decides reopening of Ano Liosia landfill

[03] Foreign minister, Germany's Fischer holds talks on Euro-Constitution referenda

[04] Parliament discusses French and Dutch referendums, 4th Community Support Fund

[05] PM Karamanlis confers with interior minister Pavlopoulos

[06] Deputy FM convenes meeting on development and humanitarian aid

[07] Turkish army chief of staff Buyukanit to visit Athens

[08] Turkish Justice Minister Cicek in Athens this week

[09] Education ministry tables amendments to bill for life-long education

[10] PASOK leader Papandreou satisfied with results of Sunday's internal party elections

[11] SYN leader Alavanos attends Rome meeting of Party of the European Left

[12] Jordan asks Irineos to return diplomatic passport

[13] Alogoskoufis underlines that taxpayers will not be burdened by OTE deal

[14] Greek contribution to EU budget edges up in new revision

[15] Finance ministry reports 6.7 per cent rise in government revenues in May

[16] Finance Minister to attend Eurogroup, Ecofin councils in Luxembourg

[17] Deputy tourism minister meets with South Korean deputy minister

[18] Communist party against bank pensions joining main state fund

[19] European cooperative banks meet in Greece

[20] PPC foresees no major threat of widespread power cut

[21] Greece and China sign protocol on scientific and technological cooperation

[22] New water reservoir inaugurated in Alexandroupolis

[23] Greece seeks EU action to cope with shifting oil prices

[24] Two-day bank strike begins on Tuesday

[25] Stocks rise, fuelled by buying in banks

[26] Greece tops list of countries whose citizens oppose globalization, ICAP-Gallup survey shows

[27] President Papoulias inaugurates renovated old people's home in Ioannina

[28] German-Greek federation honors Macedonian Press Agency director

[29] Star athlete Thanou and coach released after answering doping-related charges

[30] Former Australian PM attends Greek awards ceremony

[31] Trial of the alleged members of the Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA)

[32] University of Missouri seminar focuses on Greek women in the arts

[33] Cyprus President Papadopoulos: Too early to talk about a new process on Cyprus

[34] Cypriot government says Turkey must clarify stance

[01] Tourism minister stresses quality upgrade of Greek tourist product at Hotel Chamber awards

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Avramopoulos stressed that the ministry's efforts were aiming in this direction and that quality would give Greece a competitive advantage over other tourist destinations.

He also stressed the need to change shortsighted, price-gouging attitudes by certain businesses in the tourist sector, which sought to gain maximum profits in a short space of time, and said the ministry will crack down on profiteering.

The minister announced that the National Tourism Council will be held for the first time in Thessaloniki on July 4, with the participation of all tourism bodies, and pointed to the benefits of the new developmental law, while he called for the closure of uncompetitive hotel units.

Main opposition PASOK MP Anna Diamantopoulou questioned the minister's optimism concerning tourist traffic in 2005, pointing to disappointing occupancy rates in April and May this year.

Recipients of the Hotel Chamber's awards included former president Kostis Stephanopoulos for his contribution to the country and tourism, Athens Olympics Organizing Committee chairwoman Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki for her contribution to the success of the Olympic Games, the airline company Aegean Airlines for best tourist enterprise, the Grande Bretagne for best city hotel, the Elounda Beach hotel for the best holiday resort, Life Gallery in Ekali for the best design and art hotel, the Hotel Imaret in Kavala for the best traditional lodgings and the Sunwing Resort for the most environmentally friendly behavior.

Also presented at the awards was the results of a survey by the magazine "Money and Tourism", according to which Greek hotels were marginally cheaper than their western European competitors, sometimes even than their equivalents in Turkey.

None of the Balkan countries were on an equal footing with western European destinations, with the possible exception of Bulgaria, while the cheapest destination was Tunisia.

Tourism minister Avramopoulos briefs PM on recent Egypt visit, says negative tourism climate halted: Prime minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday met with tourism minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, who briefed him on the latter's recent visit to Egypt and on the new tourism season.

Avramopoulos told reporters after the meeting that Greek tourism had entered a stage of stabilization, adding that "we have succeeded in halting the negative climate".

He spoke of a period of recovery and increase, but added that, due to the tough competitive environment and the appearance of new holiday destinations, a prerequisite was qualitative upgrading of the Greek tourism product and the services provided.

The responsibility for that, Avramopoulos continued, belonged to both the private and public sector, and noted that an advertising campaign was being launched to formulate tourism conscientiousness.

Avramopoulos further referred to the Social Tourism Program currently underway, and was critical of the problem with the garbage that has been piling up on the streets of Athens.

The landfill at Ano Liosia -- the only legal landfill in Attica, where garbage from the entire prefect ends up for processing -- has been closed since last Tuesday, by order of Ano Liosia mayor Nikos Papadimas, backed by the mayors of the other western Attica cities, in protest to a decision announced recently by environment, town planning and public works minister George Souflias -- following a positive ruling on the issue by the Council of State -- for the transfer of sludge from the sewage-water plant on the island of Psytallia to the Ano Liosia landfill for treatment.

Avramopoulos said that the present picture of Athens caused damage to the capital's image, in addition to the risk for public health, adding that all sides involved should rise to the circumstances and provide solutions.

He said this was an "unacceptable picture", and severely criticized the fact that Greece was last (in Europe) in waste management systems.

Avramopoulos underlined that the environment, town planning and public works ministry was doing its job "well and responsibly", but added that the ministry's proposals should be heeded by the other sides involved.

In a meeting with local mayors last week, Souflias acknowledged the problem that the Ano Liosia landfill poses for the western Attica, but asked the local authorities to be "realistic and responsible", explaining that the sludge can only be stored and treated in a specially-designated space.

Souflias said the New Democracy government had been handed a "hot potato" and was trying to find a solution, referring to the fact that the problem of the Psyttalia plant dated back to when the main opposition PASOK party was in power, since a drying unit to treat the sludge at the Psyttalia installations that was to have been built was never completed because EU funds and time ran out before its completion.

The proposal involves the transport of 1,280 tones of sludge per day from Psytallia to the Mousama quarries behind Mt. Poikilon, where it will be interred.

A temporary contractor has been chosen through a tender, pending environmental approval of the proposed solution, which is due by July 10. The company tentatively assigned the task was second choice in the tender, but was temporarily given the contract after the disposal scheme proposed by the winner of the tender was rejected on environmental grounds.

If the temporary contractor's scheme receives the go-ahead, it will be possible to transfer the 50,000 tone sludge mound at Psyttalia, which is causing the problem, within the first three months, and the entire quantity of accumulated sludge in nine or 10 months.

[02] West Attica Prefecture Council decides reopening of Ano Liosia landfill

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The Council convened in Elefsina on Monday afternoon and decided that the landfill would begin accepting refuse again, but not sludge from the Psyttalia wastewater treatment plant.

Ano Liosia Mayor Nikos Papadimas closed the landfill last Tuesday, in opposition to the decision of the Ministry of the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works, according to which sludge from Psyttalia would continue to be disposed at Ano Liosia.

The prefecture said that it is waiting for the government to realize its promises regarding the creation of two new landfills outside western Attica as well as the adoption of modern, waste management methods.

The fate of Psyttalia's sludge will be discussed with environment ministry officials on June 15.

Earlier on Monday, Athens first instance public prosecutor Dimitris Papangelopoulos had met with West Attica local authorities and had warned that he would carry out the law and press charges, placing those responsible in custody, unless an immediate solution to the dump's closure was found.

Public prosecutor concludes meeting with West Attica mayors over dump closure: A meeting between the head of the Athens first-instance public prosecutors' office Dimitris Papangelopoulos and representatives of West Attica local authorities to discuss reopening the Ano Liosia landfill site ended on Monday.

Sources said the meeting had concluded with an agreement to ask the West Attica Prefecture Council, which is due to convene later on Monday in Elefsina, to re-open the landfill site to receive ordinary refuse but not the controversial sewage sludge from Psytallia.

It was attended by the mayors of Ano Liosia and Aspropyrgos, the West Attica Prefect and representatives of the Attica municipality and community union, as well as other local bodies.

The meeting was called by Papangelopoulos, who warned that he would carry out the law and press charges, placing those responsible in custody, unless an immediate solution to the dump's closure were found.

The Ano Liosia dump is the only landfill for the bulk of the refuse in greater Athens and has been shut for nearly a week by local authorities in the area, which object to its use to dispose of sewage sludge produced by the Psytallia wastewater treatment plant.

The government announced that the Ano Liosia dump was the only remaining solution for disposing of the sludge last week, after alternative schemes and plans fell through.

Depositing sewage sludge at Ano Liosia a suitable solution, minister says: The decision to deposit sewage sludge from the treatment plant at Psytallia at the landfill site in Ano Liosia was a suitable solution for the problem, Deputy Environment Minister Themistocles Xanthopoulos claimed on Monday in Parliament.

While noting that the distrust of local residents was understandable, he urged them to have patience and stressed that there would be no problem in disposing the sludge at the Ano Liosia dump in two years time.

He was responding to a question by Coalition of the Left MP Athanassios Leventis, who said that the ministry was dumping the problem on west Attica residents.

"The environment ministry is not holding a hot potato as [Environment Minister George] Souflias claims but a hand-grenade without a pin. It received a time-bomb, but instead of removing it as far away as possible, it is stuffing into the trousers of West Attica. And this cannot be accepted by its residents," Leventis said.

Xanthopoulos countered the criticism as unfair and stressed that the deal signed with a German company for turning the sludge into soil was the indicated method and would give a final solution to the problem.

"We hope that in two years, all the sludge will become odorless grains that will not pollute the Attic basin," the minister said.

"There is justified distrust on the part of residents, who are right to react, but I guarantee that if I had not seen for myself with my own eyes that the solution we are proposing is the indicated one, we would not go ahead," he added.

[03] Foreign minister, Germany's Fischer holds talks on Euro-Constitution referenda

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

They said the conversation took place on Friday evening, at which time the two ministers exchanged views on developments within the EU in the light of the rejection of the Euro-Constitution by Dutch and French voters.

Molyviatis reiterated the Greek government's positions on these developments, stressing that Greece believes that the process for ratifying the Euro-Constitution Treaty must continue.

[04] Parliament discusses French and Dutch referendums, 4th Community Support Fund

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

"The results of the referendums in France and the Netherlands cannot be considered a mandate to suspend the building of Europe and the process for the ratification of the EU Constitutional Treaty must go on," Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis said, addressing the committee.

"To date, 10 countries have ratified the EU Treaty through their parliaments, while two have rejected it through referendums," he said, adding that the 10 countries that have ratified it represent almost 50% of the EU's population.

Former President of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party Nikos Constantopoulos disagreed, saying that "the European Constitution cannot be brought back to life."

Main opposition PASOK MP Christos Papoutsis, said that while the two 'no' votes should not interrupt the treaty's ratification process, he added that "the EU would be making a political mistake, if we pretend not to understand."

"There has to be an answer, if the EU is to continue functioning, and what the Greek government's stance will be in the event that other alternatives are proposed," Papoutsis said.

Regarding the issue of CSF IV, Valinakis referred to the Greek government's efforts to ensure the best possible funding given the unfavorable circumstances.

He said that Greece has tried to create a group of member-states, which will support the European Commission's proposal that the EU budget for CSF IV will be equivalent to 1.14% of the Union's GDP, as opposed to just 1% proposed by France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands.

"This is a very important issue for us. We decided to broadly support the Commission's proposals and to create a group of 17 member states," Valinakis said.

"We hope that the final compromise will be such to satisfy our country. If the proposal for 1% is approved, that means that Greece will receive approximately � 12 billion. Of course, we hope that we will receive a larger amount and we are fighting for this. This is why we began this effort," he explained.

[05] PM Karamanlis confers with interior minister Pavlopoulos

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

No statements were made after the meeting.

[06] Deputy FM convenes meeting on development and humanitarian aid

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Secretary Generals and representatives from 10 ministries and other state organizations attended the meeting.

According to a foreign ministry press release, it was agreed that coordination will be improved between ministries and organizations with the foreign ministry's Hellenic Aid agency.

The aim of better coordination is to ensure that the aid Greece provides is in line with Millenium Goals and national priorities and to keep better track of the aid Greece has provided developing countries to date.

[07] Turkish army chief of staff Buyukanit to visit Athens

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Buyukanit's itinerary for Wednesday (22 June) and Thursday (23 June) includes the laying of a wreath at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, an official reception at the Ges headquarters, a briefing by GES, talks with the civilian and military leadership, tours of archaeological sites in the capital, and an official dinner at the Armed Forces Officers' Club hosted by Douvas.

On Friday, the Turkish army chief will go to Thessaloniki, where he will address students at the Administration and Staff Academy.

He will also tour the house of Kemal Ataturk and the Vergina archaeological site.

[08] Turkish Justice Minister Cicek in Athens this week

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The Turkish minister is expected to hold talks with his Greek counterpart ahead of the signing, on Wednesday, of a protocol of bilateral cooperation. Statements to the press will follow.

Cicek is also expected to meet with Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki on Thursday morning, whereas he will tour three appellate-level courthouses in the greater Athens area and meet with the Greek Ombudsman as well.

[09] Education ministry tables amendments to bill for life-long education

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The changes give prefectures the right to bypass certain procedures in order lease space to hold classes and regulate issues concerning scholarships granted by the State Scholarships Foundation.

Amendments also relate to the organization and operation of an "Interdisciplinary Organization of Recognition of Academic and Informational Degrees" and others relating to the status and faculty requirements of fine arts schools.

[10] PASOK leader Papandreou satisfied with results of Sunday's internal party elections

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Papandreou met on Monday afternoon with PASOK's National Council Secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou who briefed him on the results in the internal party elections, which Papandreou described as impressive.

Papandreou said that 225,000 members took part, while there was a 100 per cent increase in comparison to the procedures in 2003.

[11] SYN leader Alavanos attends Rome meeting of Party of the European Left

ROME 7/6/2005 (ANA/L. Hatzikiriakos)

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos, who attended the meeting, said: "The Party of the European Left believes that the Constitution is dead. It has been condemned by the peoples of two countries. At the same time, however, it has opened a big dynamic popular participation. We believe that we must move in new procedures, where the legislative and constitutional solutions which will be given should be based on a different awareness: - To the awareness of a social Europe which will first of all give an answer to the problem of unemployment and the security to work. - To the awareness of a Europe being autonomous from the United States. - To the awareness of a democratic and ecological Europe."

[12] Jordan asks Irineos to return diplomatic passport

JERUSALEM 7/6/2005 (ANA)

According to a letter delivered to Irineos' office on Monday from Jordanian Minister of the Interior Awni Yarfas, the demand is linked to a decision taken by Jordan's Cabinet. Amman last month announced that it would cease to recognize Irineos as the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy Land.

The letter was dated May 31, 2005 and signed by Yarfas.

With the latest development, Irineos has been left only with a regular Greek passport as his traveling document.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Greek government on Monday dismisses charges aired by Irineos, namely, of intervention by Greek Deputy FM Panayiotis Skandalakis in the Patriarchate's affairs.

The deposed Patriarch made the charges in a letter he sent the Greek prime minister.

"The intervention by Deputy Foreign Minister Skandalakis always aimed at ensuring and protecting the Greek Orthodox character of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and of course, the unity of its congregation," government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told reporters.

[13] Alogoskoufis underlines that taxpayers will not be burdened by OTE deal

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

In response to a tabled question in Parliament, Economy Minister George Alogoskoufis praised the deal as particularly beneficial for the bourse-listed telecoms utility and the Greek economy, in general.

"Both the management of OTE and well as the employees demonstrated maturity at this crucial moment for the economy," Alogoskoufis said.

He also said termed claims that the cost of the ground-breaking agreement will unduly burden taxpayers as "baseless".

"Alternative solutions were the organization's bankruptcy, along the lines of Olympic Airways, or the firing of OTE employees. Both these solutions entail a huge cost. Taxpayers will not be burdened with the agreement we achieved. The state will recoup the 20 percent of the total (agreement) cost with the transfer of revenues, representing 4 percent of OTE's shares, to the OTE employees' pension fund, that's 290 million euros," he said from Parliament's podium.

On his part, Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) deputy Yiannis Dragasakis, who tabled the relevant question, called the deal "immoral, scandalous and deceiving".

Among others, he said it was "immoral" for current OTE employees, via their union representatives, to decide the employment conditions of future generations of OTE employees, an indirect reference to the prospect of the utility's new hirings not being afforded civil service tenure.

Finally, he said the average yearly turnover of OTE employees would have cut the workforce by more than 6,000 through the year 2010.

[14] Greek contribution to EU budget edges up in new revision

BRUSSELS 7/6/2005 (ANA/V Demiris)

From previous 2005 budgetary spending of 1.882 billion euros, which fell by 45 million euros earlier in May due to an overall EU 2004 budget surplus, Greece's outlay will rise to 1.848 billion euros, down on the original figure.

The increase stems from fresh EU economic data and a surplus in the Guarantee Fund for external actions in 2004, the Commission said in a statement.

Overall contributions by the bloc's member states to the budget will fall by a further � 526 million in the wake of the second revision, the statement said.

Under the amendment, the Commission has proposed major changes for countries including the United Kingdom (- � 909 million), and Germany, (- � 320 million).

Data on growth rates, inflation, trade and exchange rates are used to calculate how much each member state should pay into the EU budget each year. Twenty out of the bloc's 25 countries will see their contributions reduced, the Commission added.

[15] Finance ministry reports 6.7 per cent rise in government revenues in May

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Deputy Finance Minister Adam Regouzas expressed confidence that budget targets for a rise in revenues for 2005 will be met and stressed that no additional taxes will be imposed.

According to the deputy minister, revenues must increase by 10.1 per cent on an annual basis - rather than the 7.4 per cent target stated in the budget - in order to meeting the target rise in revenues for the 2005 budget. He said this was because revenues had fallen short by 1.3 billion euros during 2004.

[16] Finance Minister to attend Eurogroup, Ecofin councils in Luxembourg

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

[17] Deputy tourism minister meets with South Korean deputy minister

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Among others, Liaskos briefed his Korean interlocutor on a new development law and incentives for investors in the tourism sector.

[18] Communist party against bank pensions joining main state fund

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

"We support a single main social insurance fund for banking employees and a single supplementary pension fund, based on funding from the state and from banks that would not involve increasing working time or the pensionable age," the KKE's leader, Aleka Papariga, said on Monday.

Papariga was speaking after a meeting with members of the bank workers' OTOE union, which has called a two-day strike beginning on Tuesday in a rift with management over pension funds.

[19] European cooperative banks meet in Greece

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The association spans 4,500 banks, 60,000 branches, 130 million customers and 700,000 employees, its president, E Pflimin said.

Representatives of Greece's national association welcomed the support of the European umbrella group.

[20] PPC foresees no major threat of widespread power cut

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

"At the same time, we cannot rule out anything. If we have a heatwave for three consecutive days, things will be difficult," Ioannis Paleocrassas told the company's annual general shareholders meeting.

A senior executive of the company added that electricity supplies were better than last year, and fears of a widespread power cut were receding.

Paleokrassas also noted that management had no plan to introduce an early retirement scheme as staff levels were dropping due to normal retirement coupled with curbs on recruitment, allowing the total to drop to near the company's employment target.

[21] Greece and China sign protocol on scientific and technological cooperation

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The Greece-China joint committee which was set up approved the financing of joint research proposals for the period 2005-07.

Tsoukalas conveyed an invitation to Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas by the Chinese government to visit China.

[22] New water reservoir inaugurated in Alexandroupolis

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

"The water reservoir is the largest and most difficult project that was ever constructed in the municipality of Alexandroupolis," the city's mayor Yiorgos Alexandris said.

The water reservoir, which cost � 18.5 million, has a storage capacity of roughly 13.5 million cubic meters and will provide drinking water to the city's residents as well as to residents of Aisymi and Leptokarya 30 km away.

The reservoir will be connected to the city's water network by the end of June.

[23] Greece seeks EU action to cope with shifting oil prices

BRUSSELS 7/6/2005 (ANA/V Demiris)

Addressing an EU competitiveness ministers meeting in Luxembourg, Sioufas restated Greece's proposal of an automatic adjustment mechanism for special consumer taxes on petroleum products that would allow a stabilization of revenue.

[24] Two-day bank strike begins on Tuesday

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

OTOE President Dimitris Tsoukalas accused the government of using "blackmailing tactics" and underlined that the trade unions in the banks "are already at war regarding the social insurance."

[25] Stocks rise, fuelled by buying in banks

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The Athens general share index closed at 3,049.33 points, marking a rise of 1.00%. Turnover was 238.5 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.36% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 2.51% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.14% up.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 139 to 124 with 68 remaining unchanged.

[26] Greece tops list of countries whose citizens oppose globalization, ICAP-Gallup survey shows

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

More specifically, according to the survey results, a 56 percent majority of world citizens are opposed to globalization, believing that it creates more problems than it solves. Greece topped the list, with 72 percent of the respondents in agreement with that opinion.

In a total 64 countries, 56 percent of the respondents either replied either "agree" or "totally agree" that globalization creates more problems than it solves, while 30 percent either "disagree" or "totally disagree" with that view. The area with the highest proportion of citizens with a negative view of globalization was Asia, with 64 percent, while Africa was the only region in which the proportion of citizens with a positive view of globalization (50 percent) exceeded that of those with a negative view (41 percent).

With respect to individual countries, the five countries with the highest proportion of citizens with a negative view of globalization were Greece (72 percent), Japan (71 percent), Croatia (70 percent), Austria (69 percent) and France (67 percent). Worthy of note is the fact that three of those countries are Western European countries and EU member states (Greece, Austria and France).

Also, the proportion of Greek respondents who replied "totally agree" with the view that globalization creates more problems than it solves was a high 47 percent, followed by Croatia with 34 percent, while the country with the smallest proportion was Japan, with just 9 percent.

Conversely, the five countries with the highest proportions of citizens in favor of globalization -- who disagreed with the view that it creates more problems than it solves -- were Albania (62 percent), Nigeria (56 percent), Taiwan (53 percent), Kenya (52 percent) and Egypt (52 percent). Worthy of note is that no EU member state, nor the US, were among the top five countries whose citizens were in favor of globalization.

[27] President Papoulias inaugurates renovated old people's home in Ioannina

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The 'Zosimades' was one of the first homes for the elderly to be established in Greece, in the 19th century. It initially opened as a poorhouse in 1841 and was then converted into an old people's home in 1929. It was transferred to its present premises in 1977 and had been fully renovated and refurbished in the past two years.

It now occupies a four-storey building covering a total of 4,000 square meters capable of housing up to 110 occupants, that meets all international standards for homes for the aged.

President Papoulias attends museum environment event in Ioannina: An event by the Goulandri Museum on the theme "Forest-Biovariety" was held on Monday evening at the Ioannina Cultural Centre, northwestern Greece, as well as a presentation of the Program "Man and Environment in the 21st Century - The crucial problems." The event, which was incorporated in the Program of the Goulandri Museum, was attended by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias.

Similar events will be held in other cities in Greece, while in Ioannina, the event was organized on the occasion of World Environment Day.

Papoulias was received by the president of the Goulandri Museum, Niki Goulandri.

Immediately after the event, the President of the Republic returned to Athens.

[28] German-Greek federation honors Macedonian Press Agency director

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

OEK President Costas Dimitriou presented Kouzinopoulos with an honorary plaque, emphasizing the valuable services the MPA and Kouzinopoulos provide to Greeks all over the world.

On his part, Kouzinopoulos thanked OEK's management and said that the MPA, after its scheduled merger with the Athens News Agency, will be able to further enhance the services it provides to Greek media and communities abroad.

[29] Star athlete Thanou and coach released after answering doping-related charges

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

Thanou is accused of obstructing a doping test and morally instigation of others to commit breach of duty and provide false attestations. The same charges are faced by her training partner and 200m gold medalist Costas Kenteris and relate to their failure to appear for scheduled doping tests in Tel Aviv, Chicago and Athens, as well the events linked to an alleged road accident in Glyfada that sent the two athletes to hospital on the eve of the Athens Olympics.

Tzekos faces the same charges as the two athletes, while also outstanding against him are charges of violating the law on controlled substances.

[30] Former Australian PM attends Greek awards ceremony

MELBOURNE 7/6/2005 (ANA/S.Hadzimanolis)

The awards are given every year to Greek and foreign students who excel in the lessons of Modern and Ancient Greek.

During his speech, Whitlam spoke about his views on current Greek topics, ranging from the Cyprus issue to the name controversy surrounding the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the return of the Parthenon marbles from the UK.

[31] Trial of the alleged members of the Revolutionary Popular Struggle (ELA)

Athens, 7/6/2005 (ANA)

The public prosecutor proposed that the five be found guilty for explosions in eight public benefit organizations during to period 1986-87 and to acquit them for two cases.

On Yiannis Serifis, the public prosecutor proposed that he be acquitted of charges related to the bomb attack against a riot police bus in Perissos in 1994 when police officer Apostolos Velios was killed.

The trial continues on Tuesday.

[32] University of Missouri seminar focuses on Greek women in the arts

WASHINGTON 7/6/2005 (ANA/A.Ellis)

Professors from American and Greek universities presented the results of various studies which reveal Greek women's contribution to the arts internationally.

Speakers included University of Kansas Professor John Junger, Ionian University Professor Anastasia Siopsi, Cornell University Professor Gayle Holst-Warchaft and others.

The closing speech was given by the famous Greek-American actress Olympia Dukakis, who spoke about her personal experience in the theatre and the film industry as a Greek-American.

Russian FM Sergey Lavrov to hold official visit to Cyprus NICOSIA 7/6/2005 (CNA)

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Cyprus from June 7 to 9, at the invitation of his Cypriot counterpart George Iacovou.

Lavrov, who arrives here on Tuesday afternoon, will be received on Wednesday by President of the Republic of Cyprus Tassos Papadopoulos and President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias.

He will also hold talks with his Cypriot counterpart, during which they will discuss the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations as well as other regional issues.

The Russian minister will be accompanied by a nine-member delegation, including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Chizhov and Special Representative of the Ministry for Cyprus Leonid Abramov. An official press release says that the ministers will also sign agreements relating to the abolition of visas for diplomatic and other official passports, as well as an agreement regarding the conditions under which Cypriot and Russian citizens travel to Russia or Cyprus.

After the meeting, Iacovou and Lavrov will make statements to the press.

Lavrov will also have a meeting with Chief of Mission of the UN Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and Special Representative of the Secretary General in Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz.

The Russian minister and his entourage leave Cyprus on Thursday afternoon.

[33] Cyprus President Papadopoulos: Too early to talk about a new process on Cyprus

PAPHOS 7/6/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Papadopoulos said ''our hope is Turkey to realize that the pending situation as regards Cyprus does not serve anyone nor its own interests, the Turkish Cypriots or the Greek Cypriots''.

He noted that the Turkish side should recognize that it has secured more with the Annan plan than what he had the right to take and more than it needs and so ''they have to accept substantive changes in order to be able to begin a new procedure,'' adding that he has already told these things to Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Papadopoulos said his primary concern was to reach the soonest a functional and viable settlement of the Cyprus question, which will result the reunification of Cyprus, the real reunification of its geographical area, society, economy and institutions.

He assured that his is working every day for the creation of preconditions for the resumption of a substantive dialogue, under the UN aegis, that will provide rational hope for an agreed settlement that will be approved by the people, without technical timetables, endless and unfruitful negotiations, without arbitrations and impositions by the foreigners.

''Quietly, consistently and with the right planning and strategy, we have promoted the interest of the UN to look into the possibilities for the resumption of a new initiative. To that end we had useful and intensive talks in New York and this week in Cyprus. It is very premature and uncertain to talk about the beginning of a new process and for the conditions under which it will take place.

The future will show,'' he added.

Replying to a question Papadopoulos said that everyone except Turkey, one of its strongest allies and some circles in Cyprus have not been and will not be convinced ''of the sincere effort we make to create the preconditions for talks.''

[34] Cypriot government says Turkey must clarify stance

NICOSIA 7/6/2005 (CNA/ANA)

Responding to questions, the Spokesman said Turkey should clarify if its aim is to bring back the solution plan, proposed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and rejected by the overwhelming majority of the Greek Cypriot community in April last year, as it was.

As regards the Turkish aim to lift the ''isolation'' of the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus, he described as old and unfounded the allegation that the Greek Cypriot side has imposed any such embargo on the Turkish Cypriots.

''Any isolation is a result of the ongoing occupation of the northern part of Cyprus,'' he pointed out.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

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