Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 05-12-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Revenue-collection drive starting to pay off, finmin says

[02] Deputy FM Valinakis discusses EU's fiscal prospects with French counterpart Colonna

[03] Hungarian minister meets Molyviatis, transport minister; Kosovo discussed

[04] President briefed by foreign minister, receives Hungary's Somogyi

[05] The time has come for Serbs and Albanians to shake hands in Kosovo, PASOK leader says

[06] PPC head resigns after failing to disclose evidence of corruption

[07] Gov't spokesman fields questions focusing on PPC president Paleokrassas

[08] Public order minister on EU anti-terrorism, immigration policies

[09] Foreign ministry spokesman on UNFICYP mandate renewal

[10] Ecumenical Patriarchate will not become a Vatican, Vartholomeos tells Turkish daily

[11] Int'l conference focusing on western Balkans begins in Skopje

[12] PM meets ND Parliamentary group secretary

[13] PM to meet Athens journalists' union on Friday

[14] Draft bill for local government to be tabled by end of year

[15] Greek and Bulgarian public administration agencies sign memorandum of cooperation

[16] KKE leader rules out cooperation with ND, PASOK and Coalition party in prefectural and municipal elections

[17] KKE, Coalition of the Left stress need for segregation of state and Church

[18] PM discusses DEKO reform bill with employment minister, party secretary

[19] DEKO bill the greatest reform ever for Greece, finmin says

[20] Commerce welcomes government bill to shape up public firms

[21] Gov't action plan to benefit over 2,000 jobless

[22] Greek-Chinese business forum successful

[23] Chinese firms eager to see cargo transit centre on Crete

[24] EU Financial Perspectives 2007-13

[25] Transport Minister on rail transport development

[26] Public works minister presents proposal on new Athens Metro line

[27] Agriculture minister visits agriculturalists university

[28] Athens airport launches incentives for cargo operators

[29] Authorities to probe Wednesday's bourse trade

[30] Stocks rise

[31] U.S. pledges to keep up fight against AIDS in World AIDS Day message

[32] Messages for World AIDS Day

[33] ELIAMEP proposal for Kosovo's Orthodox monasteries, historical sites

[34] Parliament president inaugurates new building of Eleftherios Venizelos Foundation

[35] COPD cases doubled in Greece in last decades

[36] Anabolic pills confiscated in Thessaloniki

[37] EP adopts Olympic Truce resolution ahead of 2006 Games

[38] Sports ministers of SE Europe to hold conference in Thessaloniki

[39] UN Secretary General says UNFICYP presence still necessary in Cyprus

[40] US support UNFICYP administering buffer zone

[41] Britain disappointed with obstacles in reopening Ledra Street

[42] Overseas Cypriots complain to London Mayor

[01] Revenue-collection drive starting to pay off, finmin says

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

"There is a discernible improvement in state revenue according to an initial processing of data," the minister told parliament's economics committee in a discussion of the 2006 budget, which is due for vote in the house before Christmas.

In November, revenue collected by tax offices and customs rose by 9.1%, bringing the average for 11-month 2005 to 5.4%, he said.

"The 2005 budget anticipated an increase of 5.0%, and, if the current trend is maintained, then we will top the revenue target, and the deficit is likely to be lower than 4.3%," the minister noted.

Income from Value Added Tax in November grew by 11.6%, and in October by 9.3%.

"These trends support budgetary forecasts. The improvement in public revenue is discernible," Alogoskoufis said.

The budget for 2006 includes a decline in the fiscal deficit to 2.6% of gross domestic product, a further decline in the public debt, and a strengthening of development and social cohesion.

"At the same time, the fiscal problems we inherited remain major. And the basic reason for these problems, which grew and took root under (the previous) PASOK (government), require a steady and consistent approach," the minister stated.

"The public debt has the highest ratio to GDP in the whole of the eurozone, and tax evasion is also high. The government is determined to apply the law and make use of opportunities afforded by new technologies to tackle tax evasion," he added.

Finally, Alogoskoufis called on opposition parties to back the government's drive to boost revenue and reduce tax evasion.

[02] Deputy FM Valinakis discusses EU's fiscal prospects with French counterpart Colonna

PARIS, 2/12/2005 (ANA/O. Tsipira)

The European Union's fiscal prospects for the 2007-2013 period was the main topic which the two politicians discussed, in light of the forthcoming EU Summit on December 15.

Following their meeting, which lasted for more than an hour, Valinakis told journalists that the discussion which he had with his French counterpart Colonna was particularly "interesting and constructive."

The Greek deputy foreign minister added:" We had expected that the British (EU) Presidency would have already given its own proposals on which we could have worked on in order for there to be a good agreement this December. Unfortunately, these proposals have not yet been submitted and consequently we are cooperating in an effort to find a solution."

Valinakis explained that for Greece, "it is important for a decision to be reached at the coming Summit, a decision, however, which will include a good agreement."

For the Greek minister a "good agreement" must not be very much distant from those which were agreed on last July by the Luxembourg EU Presidency.

He said "we want the burden from the (EU) enlargement to be distributed fairly between the member-states, and not certain, and particularly the poorer, to pay more."

[03] Hungarian minister meets Molyviatis, transport minister; Kosovo discussed

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Both ministers made a special reference to the situation in Kosovo and the Balkans, stressing that mistaken handling of the process could destabilize the entire region.

"The solution that is found must contribute to the stability of the wider region, since potential mistakes in the process could have consequences for neighboring states," Somogyi stressed.

He said the final status of Kosovo should be based on specific parameters that will allow its viability, referring specifically to public administration, dealing with corruption and smuggling and respect for the rights of minorities.

Molyviatis underlined that the end of the process should leave Kosovo a multi-ethnic and multicultural area that respected human rights and minorities, while it must ensure that "stability in Kosovo does not bring destabilization for the surrounding region".

Earlier in the day, Somogyi met Greek Transport Minister Mihalis Liapis to discuss co-operation in the railroad and combined transport sectors and "PanEuropean Axis 10" that will start in Athens, crossing Yugoslavia and Hungary to reach the heart of central Europe.

During the meeting, the Hungarian minister asked the Greek side to take Hungarian companies into account when ordering new train carriages and buses. Liapis pointed out that these contracts were usually awarded through international tenders whose terms were set by the European Union, noting that Hungarian companies were free to bid if they fulfilled the necessary criteria and would be evaluated in the same way as all other bidders.

[04] President briefed by foreign minister, receives Hungary's Somogyi

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Molyviatis told reporters after the meeting that he briefed the President on the outcome of the Euro-Mediterranean conference in Barcelona, and on his upcoming visit to Kosovo next week, together with the foreign ministers of Romania and Croatia as an informal "troika" representing the Inter-Balkan Cooperation group.

Afterwards, the president received visiting Hungarian Foreign Minister Ferenc Somogyi who is carrying out an official visit to Greece, and the board of Gefyra SA, the company operating the Rio-Antirrio bridge spanning the entrance to the Corinthian Gulf.

[05] The time has come for Serbs and Albanians to shake hands in Kosovo, PASOK leader says

SOFIA, 2/12/2005 (ANA/B. Borisov)

The proposal contained the essence of the mediatory initiative of the Socialist International in support of international efforts to arrange the status quo in Kosovo, he said.

Important political personalities with influence in the region sat at the same table for the first time in the framework of the meeting, according to an announcement made during the joint press conference held between Papandreou, Socialist International Secretary General Luis Ayala and the President of the Bulgarian Socialist Party and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanisev.

"An important characteristic of our meeting was that all sides realized that whatever solution must be mutually acceptable. When the two sides, Pristina and Belgrade, shake hands and say 'yes, this is the decision', all of us will have the solution we desire. A solution that will open a new era in relations between the Serbs and Albanians of Kosovo and will constitute the best guarantee that no new conflicts will arise. Also, that no precedents will be created, negative precedents for the entire region," Papandreou said.

He termed the meeting a "historic moment for the Balkans", adding that the initiative "proved that the progressive forces of the wider region are in a position to discuss important issues of mutual interest together and not compulsorily under the auspices of some major power, as was frequently the case in the past."

Papandreou indicated that the meeting in Sofia produced "an honorable, open and very useful exchange of views" and expressed his conviction that the Socialist International will continue to address the issue during the upcoming meeting in Athens in January.

Papandreou held talks with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov on the main sectors for widening the excellent Greek-Bulgarian relations. Papandreou also held talks with the President of the Social Democrat Union (SDSM) and Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Vlado Buckovski and agreed to the strengthening of cooperation between PASOK and the SDSM with the purpose of deepening relations between the two countries.

[06] PPC head resigns after failing to disclose evidence of corruption

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Yiannis Paleokrassas tendered his verbal resignation in a brief telephone call with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who had reportedly asked him through the development minister to step down if evidence of his allegations of mismanagement and collusion among senior executives was not sent to a public prosecutor by 1800 hours.

According to sources, the premier also turned down Paleokrassas' request for a face-to-face meeting hours after government and opposition officials complained of the absence of documentation for the claims. Among them were Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos.

The resignation followed a meeting with Sioufas, who supervises PPC, about alleged corruption in the large state-run utility, a heavily traded share on the bourse.

"Mr. Paleokrassas has told me that his statement yesterday (Wednesday) did not refer to (current) government officials, and that all of his statements referred to the past, just as the government spokesman said on Monday," Sioufas said.

Asked on Thursday about Paleokrassas' claims, the government spokesman repeated the prime minister's policy of asking for evidence to be sent to judicial authorities in any alleged corruption.

"Therefore, since he (Paleokrassas) says these allegations refer to the present, I am certain that if he had something he would seek recourse in the judicial system," Roussopoulos said.

[07] Gov't spokesman fields questions focusing on PPC president Paleokrassas

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Paleokrassas, who has been outspoken in describing the condition at Greece's power monopoly, has been targeted for criticism by the opposition, some members of the ruling party and the press.

Asked about the PPC president's comments on Wednesday, the government spokesman echoed a well-known phrase by the prime minister, namely, that whoever has evidence of corruption and collusion should submit it to the prosecutor.

"Therefore, since he says these allegations deal with the present, I am certain that if he had something he would take recourse to the justice system," spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said.

Moreover, the spokesman rejected any notion, aired by a portion of the Athens press, that Paleokrassas has become embattled because he is expressing the state's interest in the domestic energy market, whereas certain ministers are promoting private sector interests.

Initially, the spokesman declined to answer a press question on whether the PPC president enjoys the prime minister's confidence.

PASOK spokesman on Paleokrassas affair: Main opposition PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis called the Paleokrassas affair "tragicomic" in comments he made before the official announcement of Public Power Corporation Chairman Yiannis Paleokrassas' resignation on Thursday.

Aside from accusing Paleokrassas and responsible ministers for developments, Athanassakis also criticized Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who appointed Paleokrassas as PPC chairman.

He added that the situation at PPC is "unacceptable and dangerous" and unfolding at the expense of Greek citizens.

Athanassakis also called the situation tragic since it concerns the country's largest enterprise, which posted a 48% drop in profits in the first nine months of 2005.

PASOK's spokesman said that Paleokrassas should have left the post a long time ago and called the manner of his appointment to the position "unorthodox", accusing him of running PPC into the ground.

Paleokrassas resigned after failing to provide evidence by a government-ordained deadline on Thursday of corruption he has alleged is rampant in the state power utility.

He tendered his verbal resignation in a brief telephone call with Karamanlis, who had reportedly asked him through the Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas to step down if evidence of his allegations of mismanagement and collusion among senior executives was not sent to a public prosecutor by 1800 hours.

[08] Public order minister on EU anti-terrorism, immigration policies

BRUSSELS, 2/12/2005 (ANA/V. Demiris)

Regarding the fight against terrorism, Greece insists that it should not be carried out at the expense of citizens' constitutional rights and civil liberties, Voulgarakis said.

He also emphasized Greece's support, along with that of several member states, for the creation of a support centre aimed at helping victims of terrorism.

On the issue of immigration, the minister said that Greece submitted a proposal for the harmonization of procedures that grant illegal immigrants legal status.

Greece is in favor of creating a standard mechanism that will treat all 'candidate European citizens,' as Voulgarakis called them, equally.

To this end, Franco Frattini, the European Commission's Vice President and Justice Commissioner, is planning to visit Greece in order to further discuss this idea as well as to examine cooperation-related issues in the broader Mediterranean region.

Finally, Voulgarakis expressed satisfaction that a Greek recommendation suggesting that the EU focuses not only in immigration from North Africa but from the entire Mediterranean region, was adopted by the council in its conclusions.

The council meeting concludes on Friday.

[09] Foreign ministry spokesman on UNFICYP mandate renewal

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Koumoutsakos said that the renewal of the UNFICYP mandate was to be decided next week, referring to the UN Security Council's scheduled vote on whether to extend the force's mandate for a new six-month period, as it has regularly done.

The spokesman said that both Athens and Nicosia were aspiring to "the UNFICYP remaining unaltered, with respect to both form and its arithmetic force".

"The status quo has not changed, and the situation, with the presence of 50,000 Turkish occupation troops on the island, does not allow for a change of the peacekeeping force's mandate at this stage," Koumoutsakos said.

[10] Ecumenical Patriarchate will not become a Vatican, Vartholomeos tells Turkish daily

ISTANBUL, 2/12/2005 (ANA/A. Kourkoulas)

Vartholomeos explained that endowing the patriarchate with secular power goes against Orthodox tradition.

"We would reject this even if the Turkish Republic proposed it to us," he said.

In other comments, Vartholomeos said that the Turkish foreign ministry, with an order drafted by Istanbul Prefect Erol Tsakir three years ago, forbade the patriarch from using the term "ecumenical".

Vartholomeos had responded that this was not in line with the Lausanne Treaty and reminded Tsakir that the treaty provides for rights and freedoms which the Turkish government is denying both the patriarchate and the Greek minority.

[11] Int'l conference focusing on western Balkans begins in Skopje

SKOPJE, 2/12/2005 (ANA - N. Frangopoulos)

In inaugurating the conference, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) President Branko Crvenkovski stressed that there is no more margin for errors and inactivity in the region.

Moreover, he reminded that the entire region along with the international community are entering a particularly crucial period, given the upcoming resolution of a handful of thorny regional issues. Chief among those, he said, was Kosovo, reiterating his government's position of a solution that will aid stability and security for the entire area.

The general director of the Athens-based Institute for Democracy Constantine Karamanlis, Constantinos Arvanitopoulos, noted that Greece is particularly interested in the region's economic development and its inclusion in European institutions.

[12] PM meets ND Parliamentary group secretary

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Emerging from the meeting, Stavrou announced that there would be a meeting by ND MPs next Thursday to discuss the budget.

[13] PM to meet Athens journalists' union on Friday

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

[14] Draft bill for local government to be tabled by end of year

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos said the bill would introduce radical reforms for local government, particularly the enterprises run by municipal authorities.

He added that dialogue on the administrative organization of the country would begin after the bill was passed.

[15] Greek and Bulgarian public administration agencies sign memorandum of cooperation

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

The agreement was signed by EKDDA general secretary George Voutsinos and IPAEI executive director Dimitar Penkov.

This initiative further strengthens cooperation between the two agencies on organizational and training issues, with particular weight in the preparation of Bulgaria's public administration personnel, in light of the pending accession of the neighboring country to the European Union.

[16] KKE leader rules out cooperation with ND, PASOK and Coalition party in prefectural and municipal elections

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Papariga called on citizens to "give a vote of condemnation" for the two mainstream parties, adding that they "must lose as many municipalities and prefectures as possible and that the people's organized counterattack must begin."

The KKE leader, who visited the city to address an open party event, said that this target is feasible because it appears that 50 percent of people are dissatisfied with the policies of both ND and PASOK.

[17] KKE, Coalition of the Left stress need for segregation of state and Church

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

"The segregation of the Church from the state in no way harms the rights of religious people to exercise their religious duties as necessitated by their faith," he said.

Kolozov said that the bond linking the Church and the state must be resolved in a stable and clear-cut way, adding that the KKE "always stood with respect for the religious feeling and the traditions of our people and never separated working people in accordance with their beliefs to religious and non-religious people."

He further said that KKE believes that what is necessary for this issue to move forward are changes in the country's constitution, which could possibly take place with the next revision of the constitution whenever it may take place.

In another development, the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party tabled a proposal in Parliament on Thursday on the reforming of relations between the state and the Church.

The Coalition party's proposal refers to the citizens' free exercising of all their religious beliefs and the conversion of the Church of Greece and of ecclesiastical foundations to legal entities of private law, the abolition of religious vows in courts, the rendering of civil weddings compulsory, the abolition of special legal handling for religious functionaries and to the forbidding of religion being registered in public documents.

[18] PM discusses DEKO reform bill with employment minister, party secretary

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

After the meeting, Panagiotopoulos stressed that the government was open to dialogue concerning the bill and expected suggestions for its improvement, while at the same time underlining the government's determination to press ahead with reforms.

"We want to give private competition new wings and we have come to create a new working environment for those who are hired by DEKO in the future that will be equivalent to the private sector," he said.

The minister also argued that there had been inequalities between terms of employment in the private sector and the wider public sector up until now, stressing that those working in the private sector were not "children of a lesser god" nor "second-class citizens".

The debate on job permanency, he added, was offensive for the vast majority of public opinion and an anachronism that belonged to the past century, which should be replaced by demands for steady and continuous employment.

Concerning the controversial article 14, which allows the management of loss-making public enterprises to impose new terms and conditions on staff without the consent of trade unions by passing them as a law, Panagiotopoulos said that this had been drawn up for reasons of revenue-raising policy.

He also stressed that a loss-making state enterprise could not justifiably hand out bonuses and other perks to its staff.

"Society understands that the government's reform effort is for the good of the country. There is some cost but to govern means to undertake the cost and to persuade about the truth," he said.

Meimarakis, on his part, underlined that the government's reforms had the full support of New Democracy.

He said the draft bill would overcome many of the current distortions in the operation of state enterprises.

[19] DEKO bill the greatest reform ever for Greece, finmin says

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Emerging from a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, Alogoskoufis said that a new era is dawning for the public sector and the economy.

The minister stressed that the bill concerned the refoundation of the state and the rationalization of the public sector, which could not continue to enjoy privileges that did not exist in the rest of the economy.

The debate on the draft bill will begin in Parliament next week and it would be voted on before the budget, he added.

[20] Commerce welcomes government bill to shape up public firms

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

"Finally, an attempt is being made to lift incomprehensible privileges enjoyed by the few in order to benefit the many," confederation president Dimitris Armenakis said in a statement.

"An especially favorable development is the fact that the government has taken an initiative to modernize the business environment in state companies. They will thus become competitive and attractive to domestic and foreign investors, which the country and its growth are in need of," Armenakis noted.

[21] Gov't action plan to benefit over 2,000 jobless

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

The bulk of measures, which are backed by the finance minister and account for more than 15 million euros of the total, will support young people who wish to start their own small telecoms or telematics businesses on a self-employed basis as part of the information society program.

Remaining measures are for unemployed people aged 22-40 to gain vocational experience in finance ministry services.

[22] Greek-Chinese business forum successful

BEIJING, 2/12/2005 (ANA/N. Melissova)

On a political level, the outcome was "absolutely successful" regarding preparations ahead of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' visit to China on January 19.

Additionally, China pledged its participation at next year's Thessaloniki International Trade Fair.

A Greek delegation, headed by Stylianidis, has been visiting China since earlier this week.

One business forum was held in Beijing on Tuesday and a second in Shanghai on Wednesday.

With the signing of a joint declaration by Stylianidis and Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce Yu Guangzhou after the 9th Greece-China Interministerial Committee meeting on Tuesday, the two sides laid the foundation for bilateral cooperation.

[23] Chinese firms eager to see cargo transit centre on Crete

2/12/2005 (ANA)

"There is intense interest from China and from Chinese companies for the development of a joint investment with Greece and the creation of a new port station in Crete, which would have the size of Piraeus," Kefaloyiannis said. "About one million containers will arrive at the port annually."

Recently, the chairman of the China Shipping Group, Li Ke Lin, wrote to the government after a tour of the southern Aegean island and other Mediterranean and European countries, saying that Crete would make an excellent location for a centre to cover eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Adriatic, due to its location.

"The investment will proceed immediately, and we are studying the possibility of making it through a cross-state agreement between Greece and China...The port will be in Tymbaki, on the southern coast of Crete," the minister said.

Ke Lin, who headed the nine-member delegation to sound out Crete for a port, is also deputy president of China Shipping Container Line Co Ltd.

"Due to a dizzying rise in the volume of China Shipping's containers, and in the company's services based in the Far East and the Mediterranean, creation of a transit centre in the Mediterranean is an item on our agenda," Ke Lin said in his recent letter to Kefaloyiannis and released by the ministry.

Also taking part in the trip were the chairman of China Shipping Europe (Holding) Co Ltd, Yu Zenggang; the head of the China Shipping Group's Mediterranean office, Zhu Jinze; and executives of the Hong Kong International Terminal.

[24] EU Financial Perspectives 2007-13

2/12/2005 (ANA)

"Greece backs the settlement of outstanding matters created within the EU on the issue of the Financial Perspectives for the period 2007-2013, but it is not willing to accept any price in order for consensus to be achieved," Koumoutsakos said Thursday, replying to questions during a regular press briefing.

Koumoutsakos said that his outstanding matter, which created introversion and a paralytic atmosphere, to a degree, in the function of the EU, could not continue, but added that "the solution that will be adopted cannot, however, result in a disproportionate and unbearable weight or losses for the old cohesion members, among which is Greece".

Given the above, he said, Athens considered that the compromise proposal tabled in June by the Luxembourg EU presidency was an adequate and satisfactory basis for a new consensus.

[25] Transport Minister on rail transport development

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Liapis gave an overview of the sector's recent history, beginning from its decline over past decades in Greece, but also throughout Europe.

He then referred to related works completed in Greece aimed at upgrading this means of transport, which deserves to play a more active role in the transportation network since it is environmentally-friendly and of large capacity.

According to data he presented, only 8% of goods are transported by rail in the EU, while in the 1970s the corresponding figure exceeded 20%. In the US today, 40% of goods are transported by rail.

In Greece, these figures are significantly lower, Liapis admitted.

The government's plans to develop rail transport include restructuring the state-run Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) by unbundling its infrastructure and operations divisions.

By creating several companies, the government hopes to reduce costs and increase the network's competitiveness.

He announced that within the next four years, the electricity-powered, double track railroad link between Kiato and Thessaloniki will be completed, with the exception of the Tithorea-Domokos section.

Additionally, the new legislative framework regarding the establishment and operation of commercial centers in strategic locations is also important in terms of rail network development.

[26] Public works minister presents proposal on new Athens Metro line

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

The new line, whose studies can be ready in 5-6 years time according to estimates by the Attiko Metro company, will pass from the regions of Kypseli, the Court houses, the University, Kolonaki, Evangelismos, Kaisariani, Zografou, Katehaki, Filothei and the Olympic Stadium.

Revenues for the new project will be obtained from the conversion of future revenues into securities from the exploitation of the Attica Motorway.

[27] Agriculture minister visits agriculturalists university

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

The minister was briefed by the university's authorities on issues concerning the university and exchanged views on prospects appearing in the framework of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

He also reassured the university's authorities of an exchange of views in determining measures to support farmers' income and the best possible utilization of its graduates. The joint effort to modernize agriculture will be assisted in this way, as well as its adjustment to the new competitive environment being shaped.

The minister expressed his satisfaction with the tutorial, scientific and research work being carried out at the university and reiterated to the university's authorities that he is awaiting their analytical proposals for the most substantive and productive cooperation possible between the ministry and the university for the benefit of Greek farmers and the Greek agricultural economy in general.

[28] Athens airport launches incentives for cargo operators

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

By offering discounts on airport charges, AIA said in a statement it was inviting airlines to introduce new or additional international cargo services to Athens from September 2005.

In line with the incentive policy applied to passenger flights, AIA increased the validity of the incentive for international cargo flights to a three-year period. The incentives in the form of a reduction in landing and parking charges are as follows:

�� Year 1: -50.0%

�� Year 2: -37.5%

�� Year 3: -25.0%

[29] Authorities to probe Wednesday's bourse trade

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

Data on the last fifteen minutes of trade will be submitted by bourse authorities following major pressure on several high capitalization stocks as closing prices were set.

As an example, authorities cited Coca-Cola HBC, which stood at 23.46 euros at 16:30 but had slumped 5.6% to 22.12 euros at 16:45.

At the same time, the volatility may have been turn to heavy last-minute trading orders, authorities added.

[30] Stocks rise

ATHENS, 2/12/2005 (ANA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.09% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.73% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.53% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 133 to 124 with 66 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: