Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-11-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM briefs Parliamentary Committee on current foreign policy issues

[02] Rehn tells Turkey there are no shortcuts to Europe

[03] Gov't dismisses PASOK leader's comments over 'early elections'

[04] Interior minister on severe weather, gov't policy and cabinet reshuffle

[05] Talks in Athens between Greek and Albanian defense ministers rescheduled for Thursday

[06] NATO's SNMG2 ships sail into Piraeus port

[07] Ethics Committee to recommend that Mantouvalos stand trial

[08] Professor Spyros Flogaitis elected to the presidency of UN's Administrative Tribunal for 2006

[09] Roundtable discussion on UN in Greece to be held at foreign ministry

[10] Press strike still stands for Thursday

[11] International Journalists Federation expresses solidarity for 24-hour nationwide strike in media sector

[12] PM confers with FinMin

[13] Parliament passes Olympic Airlines amendment

[14] Recovery for industry in 2004 due to Olympics, analyst says

[15] PM meets representatives of Greek pensioners federation

[16] Greece, Oman seek closer cooperation

[17] Report sees better tourism year in 2006

[18] Greek, Saudi Arabian business groups sign protocol of cooperation

[19] European Mare Forum conference held under auspices of European Commission

[20] European Commission presents new maritime safety measures, study findings

[21] Sioufas kicks off epoline� conference in Athens

[22] Hellas Sat-2 teams up with Norway's armed forces

[23] Letter, not spirit of corporate governance followed in Greece

[24] IOBE releases study on employment and the labor market during 2004

[25] Report details number, ethnicity of foreign workers covered by social security funds

[26] Media Markt opens its first retail unit in Greece on Thursday

[27] PPC shows drop in 9M operating profit

[28] Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling reports improved nine-month results

[29] Court rejects appeal by bank workers against social insurance law

[30] Ergose GSM contract offered in open tender

[31] Bombardier opens Athens office

[32] Cultivation areas slightly down in 2005, report

[33] Eurobank to propose interim dividend 0.36 euro

[34] Minoan Lines reports improved nine-month results

[35] PPC workers start rolling 24-hour strikes

[36] Greece joins world shopping boycott on Saturday

[37] Foreign Exchange Rates: Thursday

[38] Air traffic disrupted due to prevailing bad weather

[39] Greece to seek Italy's aid in retrieving antiquities at Getty

[40] Exhibition of ancient Greek games in Chile

[41] Transport minister attends Electric Railway Museum inauguration

[42] Security Studies Centre holds first meeting

[43] European Youth Week events in Greece

[44] Honorary president of 'Alexandros A. Onassis' foundation dies

[45] Two N. Korea-flag merchant ships issue distress signal in Greek waters

[46] Olympiakos draws 1-1 with Rosenborg in Champions League match in Trondheim

[47] Cyprus government sees no change in ECHR position

[48] Cypriot President expresses sorrow over the death of T/C politician

[01] FM briefs Parliamentary Committee on current foreign policy issues

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Molyviatis said that any new effort on the issue of Cyprus must be "well prepared, without suffocating time limits. There should be no other failure", adding that "if a solution to the issue of Cyprus is not found, Turkey will be obliged to recognize the current Republic of Cyprus. Therefore, it has an incentive to contribute to a solution so as to recognize the product of the solution and not the present state."

According to the foreign minister, the decisions of October 3 regarding the accession course of Turkey, as well as of the rest of the Balkan countries, constitute a positive framework, both for Greece and the wider region.

"Our support for the European course of Turkey is sincere, but it does not constitute a carte blanche. Turkey has the right to full accession when it will have fully responded to European criteria, principles, rules. Turkey's full response is the only path," he said.

Referring to the issue of Kosovo, Molyviatis said that "we believe that the solution must be the result of substantive negotiations without timetables and it must not be the product of imposition. It must respect international legality, include regional stability and security, it must be compatible with the principles and the values of the EU. The solution must be a European one" and that "our aim is a safe multinational and multicultural Kosovo."

On the question of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the foreign minister spoke of "an issue also linked to extremist cries and cries of irredentism."

He stressed that "also following the recent proposals by (UN special mediator Matthew) Nimetz, our message is clear:We desire a mutually acceptable solution in the framework of the UN process. We have taken a bold step. If the intransigence of the other side continues, we fully retain our right not to permit its entry to international organizations with any other name other than that of FYROM."

Opposition party speakers observed a critical approach to foreign policy.

Main opposition PASOK party cadre Petros Efthymiou said "we do not have the feeling that things are going well" and accused the government "of hanging Greece unilaterally on the strategies of the United States in the Balkans."

Efthymiou also said that the government is putting "to a depth of time" the handling of crucial options regarding Turkey, without benefits of course, while in relation to Kosovo he said that Greece's opposition to the possibility of a change in borders is not clear.

Speaking on behalf of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Orestis Kolozov said that the government, both on the issue of the European constitution and the handling of Balkan issues "is leading the country to further dependence on imperialist institutions."

Kolozov also said that "you cannot go to Kosovo as a negotiator as if our country has no position, just for a compromise solution to be found. A compromise solution with a change in borders will be a bomb for the Balkans."

Former Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party leader Nikos Constantopoulos, speaking on behalf of his party, said "we are continuing to be behind developments. It is inconceivable that the provocations of Turkey are not backing down in the least. The United States is before us on all fronts. The conception that the EU is our decisive support is being put to the test (if not denied) and Euro-Atlantic conceptions are prevailing. We must preoccupy ourselves with this fact so as not to be led to a feeling of isolation."

[02] Rehn tells Turkey there are no shortcuts to Europe

BRUSSELS 24/11/2005 (ANA/ V.Demiris /CNA)

He said this applies in particular to the crucial issue of the ratification and full implementation of the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, including the lifting of restrictions on Cypriot vessels docking at Turkish ports.

Rehn further called on Turkey to support efforts in view of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework. In a speech titled ''Accession negotiations with Turkey: The time for celebration is over, now comes the time for delivery'' before the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, Rehn said ''you are meeting at an important juncture.''

''The decision of 3 October to begin accession negotiations with Turkey is an historic milestone. Thus, the accession process entered a new stage,'' he said.

''As a first step the Commission and Turkey analyze in detail the laws and policies of the EU and compare them with the legislation of Turkey,'' he added.

Rehn said that ''it is worth noting that the accession negotiations are about determining how and when Turkey will adopt the EU acquis.''

However, he noted, that ''the process is not on whether Turkey will adopt it.''

''Let me be clear on one thing to avoid any future misunderstanding: I have no doubt that Turkey is a great nation. But in the accession negotiations we apply the approach of a former President of a small nation who once said that 'there is no such thing as a small nation'.

For us in the negotiations, there are no large or small nations. Each and every country must meet the criteria to the letter. There are no shortcuts to Europe, only the regular route,'' he said.

He noted that ''by opening accession negotiations, the EU kept its word and respected its commitment.''

''Now we expect Turkey to honor its commitments; to begin with, as mentioned in the Accession Partnership, Turkey must ensure the implementation of commitments undertaken under the Association Agreement, including the Customs union. This applies in particular to the crucial issue of the ratification and full implementation of the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement, including the lifting of restrictions on Cypriot vessels docking at Turkish ports,'' he said.

Rehn noted that ''the sooner we have the Protocol ratified and in force, the better conditions we create for progress on the negotiations.''

Remaining on Cyprus, Rehn said that ''the Accession partnership adopted on 9 November also refers to the need for Turkey to undertake steps towards normalization of bilateral relations between Turkey and Cyprus.''

''At the same time, it is important that Turkey continues to support efforts in view of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the UN framework,'' he said.

Referring to the Progress Report published on 9 November, Rehn said the Commission concluded that political transition is ongoing in Turkey, and the country continues to sufficiently fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria. Noting that Turkey has conducted bold and significant legislative reforms in the last years, ''it is unfortunately as fair and frank to say that the pace of changes has slowed in 2005 and the

Implementation of the reforms remains uneven, to say the least.''

Regarding the philosophy and approach of accession negotiations, Rehn said they proceed on two parallel tracks, and there must be serious progress on both of them.

'We need to see concrete progress early on in the negotiations on the short term priorities under the political criteria, to be able to make meaningful progress in the technical negotiations on the acquis communautaire,'' Rehn noted.

''For opening the accession negotiations it was enough to meet sufficiently the political criteria, but in order to become a member state it is necessary to meet them fully. Let me again underline that we expect substantial progress in this regard early on during the process,'' he said.

Rehn noted that ''by starting accession negotiations with Turkey the EU kept its word and laid its trust on the continuation of the transformation of Turkey,'' adding that ''it is now up to Turkey to demonstrate a real sense of ownership of the reforms'' and that ''it should not only be the result of outside pressures or rulings by the European Court of Human Rights.''

''It is in our mutual interest that this process is framed into clear and rigorous principles based on the values of the EU. This is the best guarantee for success. This is now in the hands of Turkey, Minister Babacan and Dear Members of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. The ball is in your court, and I trust that you will play it wisely,'' he concluded.

[03] Gov't dismisses PASOK leader's comments over 'early elections'

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Spokesman Evangelos Antonaros reiterated that the government has been elected to a four-year term and will implement its program over a four-year course.

In statements PASOK deputies this week, Papandreou said the government would lose the next elections.

[04] Interior minister on severe weather, gov't policy and cabinet reshuffle

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Regarding the bad weather affecting most of the country, which is less severe than forecast, Pavlopoulos said, "the meteorological service gave us information that made imperative the state's readiness; it's preferable that the state mechanism is on standby rather than trying to react as was the case in the past."

On judicial clean-up and expelling corrupt officials from the system, the minister stressed that "the government will not cover for anyone," but declined to make any predictions as to how far-reaching the clean-up will be, saying that it was an internal process of the judiciary.

Asked whether a cabinet reshuffle will be carried out shortly, Pavlopoulos emphasized that it was an issue that concerned Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

"No minister, in my personal opinion, (...) has the right to judge or to want. If the prime minister deems it necessary - and it is up to him - whether I should go elsewhere or go home then I will go elsewhere or home. The prime minister will be the judge of that," he said.

Concluding, Pavlopoulos referred to the government's achievements to date, saying that Karamanlis' advice is that "we should never be satisfied with what we do. (...) Things have been done that hadn't been done in the past decade in many sectors and especially at the interior ministry, but of course I am not satisfied, and I shouldn't be, since a lot more could have been done."

[05] Talks in Athens between Greek and Albanian defense ministers rescheduled for Thursday

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The National Defense Ministry in a press release on Wednesday evening said that "the talks have been postponed for tomorrow due to a two-hour delay in the arrival in Athens of the Albanian minister."

[06] NATO's SNMG2 ships sail into Piraeus port

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The SNMG2 comprises ships from Britain (HMS MANCHESTER (D-95)), Greece HS KANARIS (F-464)), the United States (USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG-51)), Spain (SPS NAVARRA (F-85)), Italy (ITS ESPERO (F-576)), and Turkey (TCG GOKOVA (F-496)).

The SNMG2's Commander is Spanish Rear Admiral Teodoro Lopez Calderon who is on board the ship SPS NAVARRA (F-85).

The Commander of USS ARLEIGH BURKE, Charles L. Stuppard, visits Greece for the first time. The SNMG2 will depart from Piraeus on November 26.

[07] Ethics Committee to recommend that Mantouvalos stand trial

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Committee members said the decision was unanimous and also strenuously sought by Mantouvalos himself, who said he needed an opportunity to clear his name.

Concern was voiced by members, however, at the delay in sending the case file to Parliament, since only 12 days remain before the statute of limitations on the bribery charge expires, regardless of when Parliament makes its final decision.

According to main opposition PASOK MP Andreas Loverdos, investigating authorities showed "suspicious negligence" in ensuring that the request to lift the MP's immunity was sent promptly to Parliament.

All the members of the committee agreed, meanwhile, that the investigating magistrates had erred in opening the MP's bank accounts without Parliament's permission, while Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki said she intended to protest to the Supreme Court.

The evidence against Mantouvalos implicates him in the possible bribery of judge Evangelos Kalousis, who also faces outstanding charges of corruption, and suspected money-laundering.

A former deputy with ruling New Democracy, Mantouvalos unexpectedly resigned from the party's Parliamentary group last month in the wake of press reports linking him to the scandal and was shortly afterwards expelled from the party. He retained his seat in Parliament as an independent MP.

[08] Professor Spyros Flogaitis elected to the presidency of UN's Administrative Tribunal for 2006

NEW YORK 24/11/2005 (ANA/P. Panagiotou)

The election was made during Tuesday's latest session of the plenum of the seven-member UN Administrative Tribunal.

Specifically, for the year 2006, elected were: president, Spyros Flogaitis from Greece, 1st vice-president, J.R. Scott from the United States and 2nd vice-president, D.S. Wijiwardane from Sri Lanka.

[09] Roundtable discussion on UN in Greece to be held at foreign ministry

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The event is being organized by the Society of UN Cadres, the Greek International Law and International Relations Society and the International Law Union.

Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis will be making an address.

[10] Press strike still stands for Thursday

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Other demands include payment of outstanding wages by certain media outlets, adherence to collective bargaining agreements by management, safeguarding pension rights as well as what unions termed measures for transparency in media ownership.

[11] International Journalists Federation expresses solidarity for 24-hour nationwide strike in media sector

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

"The IJF and its European sector, the European Journalists Federation, declare their full support today (Wednesday) for the universal 24-hour strike called for tomorrow (Thursday) by the journalists and staff in the mass media, demanding protection for jobs and the urgent payment of outstanding amounts owed to employees. The unions of mass media employees, the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists Unions and the Panhellenic Federation of Press and Mass Media Staff Unions called the strike to stress the scandalous conditions surrounding work in the media," the announcement said.

[12] PM confers with FinMin

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

According to ministry sources, a bill on the DEKO public utilities and organizations was likely to be unveiled next week, while a bill introducing a 19 percent VAT on real estate was also due to be tabled in parliament in the coming days, and possibly within the current week.

Alogoskoufis made no comments to the press after the meeting.

[13] Parliament passes Olympic Airlines amendment

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The amendment was appended to a law on money laundering, which will soon become law.

"Olympic cannot fly under the present regime (under EU rules), and this cannot be allowed," Deputy Transport Minister Anastasios Neratzis told parliament.

"The amendment only states the vehicle for the company's new form," Neratzis said.

Further detail would be contained in the firm's business plan that was being processed by Amber, a consultancy firm, he added.

[14] Recovery for industry in 2004 due to Olympics, analyst says

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The volume of industrial production in 2004 rose by 1.2% due to a sharp rise in the first half of the year due to the Olympics, which offset a decline in the second half, the report said.

Domestic industry may show slight improvement in the near future, but it will remain at levels lower than the beginning of 2004, which were especially high.

In 2004, shareholders' equity in industry rose by 8.4% versus a year earlier; total debts rose by 7.0%; and total assets increased by 7.4%, Kantor said.

[15] PM meets representatives of Greek pensioners federation

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Karamanlis stressed that the economy was facing serious fiscal problems inherited from the past that had to be dealt with, in order to lay strong foundations for growth, boost employment and increase social cohesion.

"Policies that ignore reality and don't take tomorrow into account harbor even greater problems for those with the greatest needs, such as the unemployed, low-paid and pensioners," he stressed.

Karamanlis noted that the government put priority on the problems of pensioners and said that the utmost would be done within the limits of the budget in order to give pension increases that comfortably covered inflation and to further boost those on low pensions.

He also noted that payments of refunds to pensioners for the illegally withheld LAFKA levy would begin in 2006, pointing out that this was yet another boost to pensioners' incomes and one of the many problems from the past that was now being solved. He said the total amount going to pensioners through the refund was between 750-800 million euros.

According to the president of the IKA pensioners union Diamantis Mavrodoglou, however, the prime minister had said that the government would only look into pensioners demands after 2007 and would satisfy them based on the performance of the measures taken to improve the economy.

[16] Greece, Oman seek closer cooperation

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The Greek minister conveyed a message by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to Sultan Sayyid Thuwainy Bin Shihab and met with government officials.

The meetings reaffirmed the Sultanate's interest for closer cooperation with Greece. Oman is playing a leading role in the Emirates and presents a rapidly growing economy. The meetings agreed to hold a forum in Oman, with the participation of investors from both countries in the fields of tourism and construction. Avramopoulos invited Oman's Tourism minister to visit Greece during an annual meeting of the World Travel and Tourism Council, to be held in Greece February 18, 2006.

The Greek minister was accompanied by Finance Deputy Minister Petros Doukas, National Tourism Organization Aristides Kalogeropoulos-Stratis and other government officials.

Avramopoulos will next visit China for the 7th International Travel Mart Fair to be held in the city of Kumming. He will also visit Beijing for talks with Chinese government ministers.

[17] Report sees better tourism year in 2006

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The report said the reversal of a negative climate was attributed to the unprecedented mobilization of tourism authorities with advertising campaigns during 2005. ITEP, however, noted that with the exception of the two large urban centers and surrounding areas in Greece, the tourist season was not very satisfactory in regional Greece, with Ionian islands (with the exception of Corfu, +3.3 pct), reporting declines (Kephalonia -7.4 pct, Zakynthos -5.1 pct) in the January-October period. Islands in Eastern Aegean also reported declines (Samos -16.9 pct, Mytilene -4.7 pct).

Rhodes reported a 4.3 percent increase in tourist arrivals in the first 10 months of the year, compared with the same period in 2004, while the island of Kos a decline of 3.2 pct. The situation was better in Crete, with Heraclion and Chania reporting increases of 6.3 pct and 4.3 pct over the same period, respectively.

ITEP said it expected a good tourism year in 2006 and predicted higher figures in tourist arrivals compared with the current year. The report said that Spain, Croatia and Turkey reported strong growth numbers this year, ranging from 6.3 pct in Spain to 23 pct in Turkey, while Italy and France were recovering with growth rates of 4-5 pct and 2.5 pct, respectively.

[18] Greek, Saudi Arabian business groups sign protocol of cooperation

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The protocol was signed during a visit of a Greek business delegation to Riyadh organized by the Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and SEB.

The protocol agreement envisages the creation of an institutional framework to boost cooperation between the two countries and further strengthen the presence of Greek exporting companies, investments and joint ventures in a big market constantly growth with high available income.

Greece suffers a significant deficit in its trade transactions with Saudi Arabia, with Greek exports totalling 64 mln US dollars and imports totalling 1.6 bln dollars, of which 95 pct oil and oil product supplies.

Greek activity in the constructions sector has slowed down in recent years despite an impressive growth of the country in the construction, know-how, consultancy, management and supervision of projects.

The Saudi Arabian chamber said a large number of infrastructure projects in the country, such as building a national railway network, expanding electricity grid, upgrading port facilities, airports and refineries, along with increasing building activity in urban areas, offered opportunities to Greek companies. The two countries have agreed to sign a bilateral agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments.

Saudi Arabia's entry in the World Trade Organization and a gradual opening of its economy through reforms and privatization are creating a favorable climate for foreign investments in the country.

The Greek side asked for lower taxes on certain products imported in Saudi Arabia, while Riyadh asked for more attractive packages for Greek destinations for Saudi Arabian tourists, and know-how on organizing its domestic religious tourism.

Saudi Arabian businesses also urged for simpler visa procedures and the restart of direct flights between the two countries. The Chambers of Commerce of Jeddah and Riyadh agreed to host a "Days of Greek Products" even in 2006.

The Greek business delegation, the first after 11 years, included enterprises from the food, textile, electrical equipment, building material, steel, metallurgical, machinery, chemicals, and tourism sectors.

[19] European Mare Forum conference held under auspices of European Commission

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The conference focused on the challenges and opportunities presented by the need to implement an integrated European maritime policy in light of the "Green Paper", whose main points are strengthening European shipping's competition policies, combined with sustainable development.

European Commission President Jose Barroso declared the opening of the conference which was attended by over 250 delegates.

Addressing the event, Tzoannos opposed the prospect of the EU not being represented in a united fashion at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a position vindicated by the European Commission's final decision to withdraw its candidacy as an IMO member.

[20] European Commission presents new maritime safety measures, study findings

BRUSSELS 24/11/2005 (ANA/V. Demiris)

"The third maritime safety package contains seven proposals structured around two major themes," the Commission said in a statement, that is improved accident and pollution prevention and dealing with the aftermath of accidents.

"The quality of maritime services offered by operators is the key to competitiveness in the sector, and in that context, the ability to provide a safe and environmentally-friendly service is of utmost importance," the Commission's Vice President, Jacques Barrot, said.

"Introducing stricter requirements for unscrupulous operators who distort competition, and maintaining high-performing maritime administrations and classification societies will also ensure the high quality of maritime transport," he added.

According to the study the Commission presented, 1,054 500-tonnage commercial ships flew a Greek flag in 2004, while 515 inspections carried out at member state ports concerned Greek ships.

In 27 cases (5.2%) the ships were detained because they were found to violate EU maritime safety directives.

Furthermore, the study found that the UK appears to have the largest commercial fleet, which comprises 1,425 commercial ships.

Of the 494 inspections carried out on British ships, five resulted in the ship's detainment due to non-compliance with EU maritime safety directives.

The study also found that Greece was among the member states that carried out the most inspections of ships in 2004 (regardless of flag). Germany ranked first, inspecting 37.80% of ships docking at its ports; followed by Spain with 37.61% and Greece with 34.28%.

According to current EU legislation, member states have to inspect at least 25% of ships docked at their ports.

[21] Sioufas kicks off epoline� conference in Athens

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

According to the EPO, this year's annual conference provides an opportunity to learn about its online products and services, such as epoline� and esp@cenet�, and hear specialist speakers talking on the theme 'The future of the IP infrastructure in Europe'.

Sioufas underlined that the government is working steadily to develop innovation and stressed that Greece appreciates both inventions and inventors. He said that the Greek OBI was working to promote patents on a national and European level, as demanded by the new age and modern society.

He also referred to the role of the EPO as the foremost factor for promoting and regulating innovation in Europe, noting that its operation had a profound influence on the future of development and Europe's future position in the world.

Speaking after Sioufas, EPO President Alain Pompidou opened the conference with a call for a European patents court, insisting that its lack created a big gap for the European patent system and the legal protection of the patents it issued.

Pointing out that the EPO had issues more than 700,000 patents during its 30 years of operation and that most of these were still valid, he stressed that the lack of a specialized patent court was a serious weakness, since it ruled out all possibility of filing a suit in order to protect rights arising from patents before a European court competent to try industrial property issues.

The EPO president also referred to the different attitudes concerning the need to protect patents from country to country within Europe, where he said the use of patents was still incomplete and many inventions were not protected any patent at all.

According to Pompidou, one disincentive to establishing patents was the cost and he quoted a recent study by the Roland Berger Institute, which said that an average European patent valid for six countries had to be translated four times, as a rule, and that the cost of these translations accounted for one fifth of the total cost of the patent.

He said that Europe had the most dynamic regional system for the issue of patents, allowing companies to cover 31 countries and 500 million people with a single patent application at the European Patent Office.

The EPO is expecting to receive a total of 190,000 applications for patents and to issue about 53,000 European patent licenses in 2005, he added.

The conference was also addressed by OBI Chairman Prof. Athanassios Kaissis, who said that the OBI had received 514 patent applications in 2004. Though conceding that the number was small in comparison to patent offices in larger European countries, such as Germany, Kaissis said that the ratio of applications to inhabitants in Greece was not so disappointing.

On his part, OBI Director General Serafim Stasinos said the OBI was not receiving as many patent applications as one might expect from Greek universities and research centers. He also announced that the OBI would soon begin operating a one-stop-shop service, where companies could apply and avoid red tape.

Other speakers on Wednesday included Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who presented a unified strategy for "Europe in a world of innovation and growth", while BBC World journalist Tim Sebastian moderated a discussion reviewing the epoline achievements in 2004-2005.

The conference continues on Thursday, with a keynote presentation by EPO vice-president Manuel Desantes who will speak on the theme "Encouraging innovation through the development of local industrial property infrastructures in Europe".

There will also be a number of presentations, workshops and seminars over the two days on the use of epoline products and services by companies and individuals.

EPO is the executive arm of the European Patent Organization, and the Office's task is to grant European patents, while epoline� is the brand name given to the range of online products and services designed and developed by the European Patent Office (EPO) for users of the European patent system, to allow patent applicants, attorneys and other users to conduct their business with the EPO electronically in a state-of-the-art secure environment.

[22] Hellas Sat-2 teams up with Norway's armed forces

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Hellas Sat-2 was chosen over Intelsat in an international tender.

Further, the company announced that the US Department of Defense has invited the company to present its services.

According to sources, the US is interested in using Hellas Sat-2's services for the US armed forces in Iraq.

[23] Letter, not spirit of corporate governance followed in Greece

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

Although firms implement provisions of Law 3016/2002 on governance, most do not offer further information on the practices and procedures they follow, and do not explain the reasons for any deviation from the statutory framework.

Three out of every ten companies maintain they fully adhere to guidelines and recommendations; seven out of ten assert they explain the reasons for deviation from optimum practices; but only two in ten publish a compliance report, the survey showed.

[24] IOBE releases study on employment and the labor market during 2004

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

According to the research, the great majority of the working people in Greece are fully employed (more than 90 per cent) given that part-time employment (8.7 per cent) lags behind the corresponding European Union average.

However, it must be noted that in Greece, the percentage of temporary employment is relatively high with 10.3 per cent. Particularly in industry, temporary employment (10.8 per cent) is higher than the European average (seven per cent).

The medium-term forecasts by businesses regarding employment appear reservedly optimistic. Fifty-three per cent of businesses forecast that the number of their personnel will remain stable, 30 percent that there will be an increase and 17 per cent that there will be a decrease of those employed.

The section of businesses which forecast that it will reduce the number employed attribute the main causes to the pressure of international and national competition but also to the high cost of production.

Speaking at the presentation of the research, Labor and Social Protection Minister Panos Panayiotopoulos welcomed IOBE's study "as it confirms the interventions made in the meantime by the government."

The labor minister underlined that "the government remains completely orientated to the challenges of the era, without abandoning, however, the social characteristics in its policy."

Panayiotopoulos noted that "the majority of public opinion approves the reforms we are advancing regarding the budget," adding that "nobody in the government feels happy that it cannot give more to the vulnerable social groups." He concluded by saying that "the government's work will be judged overall at the end of the four-year term."

[25] Report details number, ethnicity of foreign workers covered by social security funds

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

IKA, the country's largest social insurance fund, noted however, that certain categories of insured workers, such as maids, were not included in the figure.

Additionally, IKA reported that 34.6 percent of foreign nationals that it covers are employed in the construction sector; 21.3 percent in the manufacturing sector; 13.5 percent in the retail and wholesale sector; 10.1 percent in the restaurant and hotel industry, and 7.5 percent are employed in households.

Albanian nationals, at 6.9 percent of the overall total, comprise the largest foreign ethnic group amongst workers covered by IKA.

In comparison with 2003 figures, the number of insured foreign nationals dropped by 7.3 percent; the figure for insured Greek workers decreased by 2.7 percent.

The social security organization for self-employed individuals, TEBE, said it covered 570,000 individuals in 2004, of which 13,725 (2.4 percent) listed as foreign nationals.

Of the latter, 4,697 are Albanian nationals; 860 are UK citizens, followed by Germans, 566; Cypriots, 529; Bulgarians, 511, and Italians, 449.

Finally, the farm sector social security fund, OGA, listed a total of roughly 42,000 foreign nationals on its register, of which 79 percent are Albanian nationals. In further breaking down the figure, OGA said 82 percent of foreign nationals are men, with 31 percent under the age of 30 and 70 percent under the age of 40. Only 1 percent of OGA-covered foreign nationals are over the age of 60.

The report was presented by the Athens-based Immigration Policy Institute's (I.ME.PO) president, Alexandros Zavos.

[26] Media Markt opens its first retail unit in Greece on Thursday

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

The company, a member of Media-Saturn Holding Group, plans to open a second unit in Thessaloniki early next year and a third shop in a southern suburb of Athens in spring 2006.

Patrick Vogel, Media Markt's general manager and chairman of the board, speaking to reporters said Greek consumers would find more than 120,000 brand electronic products in low prices. Vogel said Metro AG, a German-listed company and parent of Media Markt, is expected to announce details over the company's investment in Greece next week.

Media-Saturn Holding is the largest electric goods retailer in Europe, with a net revenue of 12.2 billion euros and a workforce of 32,932 in 2004. The Group operated a network of 503 retail units in 11 European countries in 2004.

[27] PPC shows drop in 9M operating profit

Athens 24/11/2005 (ANA)

A sustained rise in oil and natural gas prices in the 3rd quarter of 2005 combined with a further increase in expenditure related to CO2 emission rights led to the earnings decline, despite a revenue increase of 5.2%, management said in a statement.

"The profitability of the Company for the first 9 months of 2005 was reduced, mainly due to external factors. The sales increase as well as the small adjustment of tariffs (started 1st September 2005), was not enough to counterbalance the negative consequences of the crude oil and natural gas price increases as well as the environmental costs that was imposed to the Company for purchasing CO2 emissions rights," PPC's chief executive, Dimitris Maniatakis, said.

Net income decreased to � 155.1 million, a reduction of 39.5%, from � 256.3 million in 9M 2004; and capital expenditure totalled � 534.4 million compared to � 537.1 m in 9M 2004.

Total revenue, which amounted to � 3,239.4 million, grew by 5,2% as a result mainly of a modest increase in sales coupled with an increase in tariffs of 2.5% in November 2004. The weighted average tariff increase by 3.19% effective 1.9.2005 did not impact substantially on revenues for 9M 2005, the statement said.

According to management, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased to � 719.1 million, a reduction of 22.6% compared to 9M 2004. The reduction was mainly due to the following factors: