[06] Commission finds Greece in breach of EU public procurement law

BRUSSELS, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

Specifically, the Commission is referring Greece to the European Court of Justice regarding the award procedure for the construction of a thermoelectric plant in Lavrio, launched by the Public Power Corporation (DEH).

According to a Commission press release, "the two companies that reached the last phase of the procedure (submission of financial bids) did not meet the conditions set out in the call for tenders, despite the fact that in the announcement of the call and the invitation to tender it was explicitly stated that any bid not meeting the specific requirements would be rejected."

Of the two companies that made it to the final stage, the first did not have the necessary experience, while the second - which was awarded the contract - did not comply with one of the conditions concerning the long-term maintenance agreement.

In the second case, the Commission has sent Greece a reasoned opinion regarding a procedure launched by the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Foods for the award of 24 studies on the protection and management of public forests.

According to the Commission, "the call for tenders mixes up the selection and the award criteria, which is contrary to Directive 92/50 (public service contracts), which foresees that the selection and the award phases should be distinct and based on different criteria (set out in the Directive itself)."

The European Commission began infringement proceedings against Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and France also regarding public procurement.

[07] Government distances itself from controversial text sent out by Archbishop

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

"The government does not adopt the content of the text and deplores it," the spokesman said in response to questions.

The text was entitled as "Manifesto of political positions" and attacked the head of main opposition PASOK George Papandreou and former PASOK leader and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

It drew angry reactions from the main opposition party, which slammed it as libelous and demanded explanations from the government and the Church, hinting at secret arrangements between Christodoulos and ruling New Democracy.

[08] Effort to attribute partisan sentiments to Church and its leadership 'doomed to failure', Archdiocese says in announcement

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

"The Church cannot be identified and is not identified with specific political sectors, nor can it be colored and it is not colored by feelings of sympathy or dislike for them," the announcement said.

"The Church, being the affectionate mother of the people by nature, embraces all people, without being interested in their partisan identity and only serves man and his spiritual and material needs," it added.

An announcement made by the Archdiocese's press spokesman earlier in the day had said that the document did not reflect the views of the Archbishop and nor did it bear his signature.

Sources of the Archdiocese further stressed that the Archbishop receives various analyses from various scientists, etc, without this meaning that he endorses them.

[09] Greece seeks ways to boost EU funds' absorption rates

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

Addressing the meeting, Economy and Finance Deputy Minister Christos Folias, expressed his optimism over the course of implementing a Third Community Support Framework and praised the coordinated and systematic efforts made in the last 16 months towards achieving this goal. Folias said it was crucial to deal with existing problems by the end of 2005 and stressed that the government aimed to reach an agreement on a Fourth Community Support Framework for the period 2006-2013 during the UK presidency of the European Union.

Other officials stressed that the Greek government submitted with EU agencies the first payment applications for 2005, but the total sum of the projects was rather low.

[10] Merchant Marine ministry to tender port projects "very soon"

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

The financial protocol envisages the offering of a 3.0-billion-euro loan to Greece for projects to upgrade the country's major ports. The terms of the loan agreement are very favorable. It has a 25 year duration and a grant period of seven years, low interest rate and comes without the guarantee of the Greek state.

Speaking to reporters, after the meeting, Kefaloyiannis said the purpose of the meeting was to brief all interested parties over the financial protocol and seek their cooperation in implementing planned projects. "We believe we will be able very soon to announce the first projects -to be tendered- for the ports of Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Heraclio and the country's 12 biggest ports," he said.

Merchant Marine ministry has announced a mammoth program, worth 6.0 billion euros, to upgrade the country's projects with the aim to attract new investments and establish the country as a dominant player in sea transport in the Mediterranean and the wider southeastern Europe.

[11] Tourism minister meets with World Travel & Tourism Council chief

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

Avramopoulos told reporters that a series of ideas were put forward on ways that Greek tourism could become more deeply involved in the activities of the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Tourism, on a global scale, was entering a "very interesting" period, he said, given that new methods of tourism policy management were arising and international collaborations were being promoted.

Greece was breaking out of its borders and becoming involved in such activities, Avramopoulos added, aiming at rendering it a major tourism force, and reiterated that systematic work and professionalism were among the means for achieving that target.

Baumgarten, replying to press questions on how the tourism season was developing for Greece, said that the season had started extremely well, adding that Greece should take advantage of the momentum from last year's Olympic Games in Athens and its increased presence in the new markets.

The visiting official, questioned on the repercussions of the recent lethal terrorist attack in London on world tourism, opined that the incident would not have a negative effect, noting that people continued to travel and engage in tourism.

[12] Greek inflation at four-year low

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, the two ministers said the average inflation rate remained at the lowest levels in four years in June (3.2 percent, from 3.1 pct in June 2004; 3.6 pct in June 2003 and 3.5 pct in June 2002). The ministers also pledged to continue working, in cooperation with market authorities, towards further containing prices in the domestic market.

[13] Bond Market Close: Buyers lag sellers

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released

by the European Central Bank:

U.S. dollar 1.217

Pound sterling 0.691

Danish kroner 7.519

Swedish kroner 9.490

Japanese yen 136.4

Swiss franc 1.571

Norwegian kroner 8.033

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.476

Australian dollar 1.621

[14] President Papoulias attends inauguration of Yianoulis Halepas exhibition on island of Tinos

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

"When I received the invitation for the inauguration of the permanent exhibition of Yianoulis Halepas at the Tinos Culture Foundation I responded immediately and with great joy for two reasons: So that I could also be able to express personally the emotion created in me by the work of an exclusively tragic figure of Greek art. In parallel, however, and to find myself with you in a holy location on this beautiful island in the Cyclades, many corners of which still remain unknown and unexplored," President Papoulias said during the inauguration ceremony.

Addressing the mayor of Tinos during his proclamation ceremony, President Papoulias expressed the feelings of joy he experiences every time he "visits the Aegean and its precious pearls, the islands".

[15] Macedonia-Thrace Minister addresses int'l congress of Pan-Macedonian Associations

Athens, 16/07/2005 (ANA)

"The Greek government has made and continues to make efforts in order to find a mutually-acceptable solution to the name issue," he stressed, referring to the long-standing controversy between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding the use of the name Macedonia by the latter.

He said that "We are adamant about preventing the distortion of our history and civilization," Tsiartsionis said.

[16] Cyprus honors those killed in 1974 to defend the Republic

NICOSIA, 16/07/2005 (CNA/ANA)

A church service for those killed during the coup was held in the morning at Saints Constantinos and Eleni Church in Nicosia, in the presence of Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

In statements after the service, Cyprus President stressed that Friday's remembrance should remind all that disunion among people brings disaster and catastrophe.

''Let us wish that today's remembrance is used as a reminder that disunion brings disaster. I appeal to you all for unity and participation at the struggle for justice in Cyprus'', President Papadopoulos said.

The military coup against the first President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece, was followed five days later by the Turkish invasion, which resulted in the illegal occupation of 37 percent of the Republic's territory and its de facto division.

The wailing of sirens was heard at 8.20 local time, the very time when the coup occurred.

Present at the church service were among others House President Demetris Christofias, Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus Demetris Rallis, Attorney General Petros Clerides, National Guard Commander Athanasios Nikolodemos, Police Chief Tasos Panayiotou, leaders or representatives of political parties, other officials and relatives of those killed in defense of the Republic during the military coup.

Addressing the ceremony Minister of Defense Kyriakos Mavronicolas said that the people of Cyprus managed to survive the coup and the Turkish invasion that followed, and to join the European Union, but noted that the tragic consequences of the twin crime remain until today.

''There are still refugees, missing persons, enclaved ones, and the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cyprus people are still being violated'', he said.

Referring to the Turkish invasion the defense minister noted that its aim was to destroy the Cypriot state and to commit genocide by killing innocent women and children and violently forcing them to leave their homes.

On the Cyprus question he said that it still remains an international problem of invasion and occupation, and it should be solved within the framework of the United Nations.

He added though, that after Cyprus' accession to the EU, the problem has become a European one and stressed that Cyprus wishes to see a

more active involvement of the European institutions in the efforts to solve the problem.

Referring to the rejection by the Greek Cypriots of the UN-sponsored Annan plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, he said that Greek Cypriots refused to approve an unfair solution that would not secure their future.

''Our people are interested in solving the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, because we are the ones who suffer from the effects of non-solution. But we want a functional and viable solution that is based on the international and European law'', he stressed.

Mavronicolas underlined that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership demand to upgrade the pseudo state in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus by calling for the lifting of the so-called isolation of Turkish Cypriots and by demanding legalization of the illegal ports and airports in occupied north.

''This proves that priority of Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat is not the solution but the legalization of the occupation faits accomplis. The only one responsible for the non solution so far and the stagnation, is Turkey'', the Cypriot official pointed out.

After the church service President Papadopoulos and other officials laid wreaths at the tombs of those killed defending the Republic.

Cyprus' House denounces coup and invasion: Cyprus' House of Representatives denounced on Friday the July 15, 1974, military coup against the first President of the Republic, Archbishop Makarios, engineered by the military junta then ruling Greece, and the Turkish invasion that followed five days later resulting in the occupation of the island's northern third.

The 56-member parliament held an extraordinary plenary session on the occasion, attended by President Tassos Papadopoulos, Cabinet members, the Undersecretary to the President, the Government Spokesman, other government officials, and the National Guard Commander.

The House observed a one-minute silence in memory of those killed defending democracy and the country.

Addressing the plenary, President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias assured that efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and reunite the island would not cease and that the division would never be a settlement option.

He added that ''the message deriving from the traumatic historical reality we lived and still live is that the political management of situations and developments needs caution and maturity, insistence on principles, and readiness for compromises, in order to reach the aim of solving the Cyprus problem.''

[17] European Commission issues report on Green Line Regulation

NICOSIA, 16/07/2005 (CNA/ANA)

In its report on the implementation of the EU Council Green Line Regulation, that covers the period 1 May 2004 until 30 April 2005, the Commission notes that the Regulation has proven to be a stable legal frame for the daily crossing of thousands of Cypriots as well as for other EU citizens who can move freely within Cyprus.

''This strengthens the links between the two communities on the island and positively affects the development of tourism'', the report states.

About the volume and value of goods crossing the line, it notes that they remain limited. It is estimated that the real value of the products that crossed the line is 818,133 Euros, and adds that there was no trade between the northern part of Cyprus and other EU Member States via the Green Line.

The Commission considers that a swift opening of the two new crossing points would have a positive effect on trade development and would contribute to a further integration of the island.

For the time being the Commission does not envisage further proposals for amendments to the Green Line Regulation.

Illegal immigration across the Line causes concern, the report says, adding that at least 50% of the asylum seekers illegally crossed the line.

''With the implementing measures taken during the course of the reporting period, the regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 to the Act of Accession is fully operational'', the report adds.

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article