Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-02-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government to propose Fact-finding Committee on phone-tapping issue, spokesman says

[02] Mobile phone operator Vodafone to brief Communications Confidentiality Protection Authority on phone-tapping case

[03] Greeks fear widespread phone-tapping

[04] Russian foreign minister beginning two-day working visit to Athens on Monday

[05] FM Petros Molyviatis gives interview to Russian Ria-Novosti news agency

[06] DM attends Munich conference on security

[07] Interior minister inaugurates regional civil servants training center

[08] PM sends letter of condolences to Egyptian counterpart for shipwreck

[09] Director of 'Flash' radio station dies

[10] Serb President Boris Tadic warns of possible violence in Balkans

[11] Procedures for establishing Greek-Turkish 'Aegean Business Bank' entering final stretch

[12] Gov't lays emphasis on quality farm products

[13] Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council ends four-day events on constitutional amendment

[14] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

[15] President Karolos Papoulias gives honorary awards to pupils of the Aegean

[16] Patras launches Carnival with spectacular show

[17] Italy to extradite convicted felon to Greece

[18] Athens mayor in drive to save strays

[19] Man arrested for human trafficking due to appear before public prosecutor on Saturday

[20] New church burglary in southern Albania

[21] Albanian arrested for dousing seven foreigners with scathing fluid

[22] Professional soldier found dead in frigate

[23] Cyprus to help and support Baghdatis, President Papadopoulos assures

[24] Cyprus President sends message of condolences to Mubarak

[01] Government to propose Fact-finding Committee on phone-tapping issue, spokesman says

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Roussopoulos added that the Fact-finding Committee will investigate all the aspects of the issue and will formulate its proposals in the consensual climate necessitated by the seriousness of the issue, as regards both shielding the country and protecting individual rights.

The minister of state criticized the main opposition PASOK party for what he said were "repeated irresponsible accusations by many members of PASOK, even by its president, on the phone-tapping issue", saying that "PASOK is attempting to attribute to the government intentions and practices which had branded, for decades, its own options, ultimately rendering it synonymous with unaccountability, intransparency, covering up and the country's international downgrading."

Roussopoulos went on to say that the government has handled and is handling the phone-tapping case with all due seriousness and with the responsibility required.

"The government has moved and is moving exclusively within the institutional framework which guarantees the extensive probing and the full clarification of the case," he added.

Lastly, Roussopoulos stressed that seriousness and responsibility is required of all at the moment, to allow justice to complete its work unimpeded and without obstacles.

PASOK party spokesman replies to government spokesman on phone-tapping issue: Main opposition PASOK party spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, replying on Sunday to statements made on the phone-tapping issue by government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, said that "the ND government is continuing to handle this major issue as well with communication terms and evidently erroneously."

Athanassakis added that "it is seriously exposed and it is continuing to be exposed with every new move it makes, only succeeding in aggravating the climate of insecurity that it is creating itself with its options."

The PASOK party spokesman further said that "the fact alone that a few days after the staged performance by three ministers, the government feels the need to return with a latest announcement confirms that it is not interested in essence but in the petty-party management of the whole issue."

KKE places responsibility on both ND and PASOK: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) places responsibility on both the government of the New Democracy party and the main opposition PASOK party for the phone-tapping case that surfaced earlier this week.

"The government is not absolved of its responsibilities in referring the phone-tapping issue to justice. The fact alone that it remained silent for 11 months makes it accountable," said an announcement issued by KKE's Central Committee.

"The row between ND and PASOK regarding phone-tapping does not concern the people. ND and PASOK have signed dozens of agreements with the EU and the U.S. on surveillance. The popular movement must target these and anti-popular policy in general so as to have them abolished," the announcement added.

Opposition party blasts Vodafone, government: The Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology on Sunday blasted both the government and mobile phone operator Vodafone in the wake of a wire-tapping scandal in which calls by the prime minister, ministers, security officials and private citizens were monitored through software that the company said had been illegally installed in its system.

"Each passing day increasingly shows the massive political responsibility borne by the government for covering up the phone-tapping affair," party spokesman Panayiotis Lafazanis said in a statement. In addition, Vodafone's operating license should be withdrawn, and criminal proceedings should be brought against the company and its managing director.

Lafazanis called for the public release of details of phone-tapping arrangements made by the New Democracy government and its PASOK predecessor for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

"Let them state whose calls were being tracked before and during the Olympics, and their names. The cover given by the ND government to Vodafone over the wire-tapping is tantamount to a cover-up of the whole affair," the spokesman said.

Finally, Lafazanis stated that a full list of names should be publicly released of people whose mobile and fixed-line phones are tapped by Vodafone and the country's other mobile phone operators; and that Greece should not adopt a European Union directive allowing wire-tapping of citizens as breach of human rights and the country's constitution.

Minister on wire-tapping affair: Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras stated that there was more than one possible scenario concerning the perpetrators of a wire-tapping operation that recorded calls by the prime minister, a number of ministers, security officials and journalists.

In addition, an act of provocation could not be ruled out, Papaligouras told the Sunday Vima newspaper in an interview.

Last week, the government said mobile operator Vodafone had reported in March 2005 that software had illicitly been planted in its system that tracked the calls; and that Vodafone had disabled the intruding software on discovery. Authorities have since been conducting a secret enquiry.

Although declining to speculate on Vodafone's liability in the case, the minister noted: "The judicial process will allocate any blame. In any case, if at the time that we were informed the wire-tapping devices were still 'active', the chances of finding who did the tapping would have been greater."

He also rejected accusations by the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement that it was not informed at the time whether one of its senior officials was being tapped.

"Total secrecy was essential about a scandal that involved national security," Papaligouras said.

[02] Mobile phone operator Vodafone to brief Communications Confidentiality Protection Authority on phone-tapping case

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

According to reports, company officials will visit the offices of ADAE, in the Athens suburb of Maroussi, at 11 a.m. on February 9 to deliver all evidence that they have on the case and to give a briefing on the company's actions immediately after the discovery of software in Vodafone's network with which the mobile phones of leading politicians and of citizens were being tapped.

[03] Greeks fear widespread phone-tapping

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Last week, the government said mobile operator Vodafone had reported in March 2005 that software had illicitly been planted in its system that tracked phone calls by the prime minister, a number of his ministers, security officials and members of the public; and the intruding software was disabled on discovery. Authorities have since been conducting a secret enquiry.

In the survey commissioned by the Eleftherotypia daily newspaper, 80% of respondents said that they felt their telephone calls were not secure, while 77% believed that a wire-tapping affair that came to light last week also involved other companies.

In addition, 62% of respondents said they did not think that a judicial enquiry underway would find the culprits, according to the nationwide telephone poll conducted by VPRC on February 3.

Of people polled, 73% believed that the government had not revealed all aspects of the affair with 31% saying the government had correctly handled the crisis, 39% viewing it as incorrectly handled, and 25% declining to take a stand.

To blame for the phone-tapping were secret services, according to 25% of respondents, with 23% charging foreign governments and embassies, 13% private vested interests, and 10% other domestic interests, and 8% the Greek secret services.

Another 8% said that all the above would have an interest in organizing the eavesdropping network.

[04] Russian foreign minister beginning two-day working visit to Athens on Monday

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

The visit comes in the wake of the visit recently made to Moscow by Molyviatis.

A foreign ministry announcement said that the agenda of talks between Molyviatis and Lavrov will include bilateral relations between Greece and Russia, issues of regional interest with emphasis on the Balkans, developments in Kosovo, the issue of Cyprus, relations between the European Union and Russia, the Middle East question and latest developments concerning Iran's nuclear program.

A joint press conference will follow the talks between the two ministers and then Molyviatis will offer a working luncheon for his Russian counterpart.

[05] FM Petros Molyviatis gives interview to Russian Ria-Novosti news agency

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Molyviatis said that during Lavrov's visit they will have the opportunity of "making a review of our bilateral relations, our excellent, in any case, bilateral relations, always in view of their further strengthening and deepening. We will also be preoccupied, of course, with issues of wider interest as well, such as developments in the Balkans, relations between Russia and the European Union, the Middle East question and our cooperation in the Black Sea region. It is logical, anyway, that developments on the issue of Cyprus and prospects on the issue of the future status quo of Kosovo will be issues to which we will devote a considerable part of our discussions, since the particular interest of our two countries in these issues is known."

Referring to the issue of Kosovo, Molyviatis said "the positions of Greece are already known. It is stressed that whatever solution must constitute the product of negotiating and not imposing, ruling out the use of force and unilateral actions. The creation through dialogue of a democratic, multinational society is a substantive precondition for the future of Kosovo."

On the question of Iran, the foreign minister said that Greece believes that the diplomatic path is a basic priority for achieving a mutually acceptable solution and it is expedient to support every initiative in this direction.

As regards the energy sector, Molyviatis said that the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli oil pipeline is a project of particular significance for all the sides participating in it. The strong will of the two countries for its implementation was reconfirmed with the Protocol of the 5th Joint Interministerial Committee held in Moscow on September 27-30, 2005. At the same time, in the framework of Greek-Russian energy dialogue, the particular interest presented by bilateral cooperation in the sectors of natural gas and electric power is worth stressing."

[06] DM attends Munich conference on security

6/2/2006 (ANA)

On the sidelines of the conference, the defense minister had the opportunity of meeting NATO Secretary General Japp de Houp Scheffer, Russian Vice President and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Germany's new Defense Minister Franz Jung.

Spiliotopoulos also met his counterparts from Georgia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), at their request, and discussed issues concerning bilateral military cooperation.

[07] Interior minister inaugurates regional civil servants training center

6/2/2006 (ANA)

Pavlopoulos said that criticism of public functionaries for inflexibility was unfair and, referring to constitutional reform in the civil servants sector said that it is a duty under the present circumstances.

"We have a duty to make arrangements for all these people who are public administration cadres and who are working with contracts of an indeterminable duration to enable them to have their advancement in the sector," the minister said.

Pavlopoulos repeated many times that "all this has nothing to do with the permanent status of employees", adding that "we will not get tired of saying that permanent status will not be harmed in any way" and blaming "all those who, for their own reasons, have turned a non-existent matter into a main issue."

The minister also said that the network of regional training centers will be completed soon to enable civil servants to obtain the additional training that is so essential for them.

[08] PM sends letter of condolences to Egyptian counterpart for shipwreck

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

"On behalf of the Greek government, I would like to express my most sincere condolences for the victims of the sinking of the cruise ship 'Al Salam Boccaccio'. Please convey to the families affected by this tragedy my profound sorrow and sympathy. In these difficult moments, our thoughts are with you," the letter said.

[09] Director of 'Flash' radio station dies

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on Sunday extended his condolences to the family of Nenia Glipti.

"News of the untimely and premature death of Nenia Glipti filled the family of journalism with sorrow, as well as all of us who had known her personally. Her contribution to information for the citizen remains evidence of her ethics and character," he said.

[10] Serb President Boris Tadic warns of possible violence in Balkans

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

President Tadic expressed the hope that the region's final status quo will be determined by early 2007 at the latest.

The Serb president described the tragic living conditions of the Serbs in Kosovo and called for the promotion of decentralization, the unity of municipalities having a Serb majority, their institutional linking to Belgrade and the real participation of the Serbs in Kosovo's main institutions.

[11] Procedures for establishing Greek-Turkish 'Aegean Business Bank' entering final stretch

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Speaking to the Athens News Agency-Macedonia Press Agency (ANA-MPA), Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Panayiotis Koutsikos said that 26 branch offices will operate over the first five years, while 13 of them will be in Greece (Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki and elsewhere) and an equal number will be located in the neighboring country.

"What would be ideal would be for the same number of shareholders from both countries to participate (50 percent from Greece and 50 percent from Turkey). However, we are estimating that their number will amount to 400 to 450," he said.

[12] Gov't lays emphasis on quality farm products

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Salagoudis was visiting the Agrotica trade fair in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, arranged by Helexpo, the state trade fair organizer.

[13] Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council ends four-day events on constitutional amendment

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

During the events ADEDY promoted its views on the constitutional safeguarding of labor and social rights, as well as on permanence in public sector employment.

ADEDY's Executive Committee and federation administrations from the public sector will convene on Monday, while decisions concerning labor union tactics in the public sector will be revealed on Tuesday.

[14] Foreign Exchange Rates: Monday

by the European Central Bank

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Pound sterling 0.684

Danish kroner 7.524

Swedish kroner 9.352

Japanese yen 144.1

Swiss franc 1.567

Norwegian kroner 8.086

Cyprus pound 0.578

Canadian dollar 1.393

Australian dollar 1.616

[15] President Karolos Papoulias gives honorary awards to pupils of the Aegean

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

The event was attended by Minister of the Aegean Aristotelis Pavlidis, Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou, former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, deputies, local administration officials and parents.

Addressing the pupils, President Papoulias said "I congratulate you because you are proving the strength hidden inside insular Hellenism. Because you are showing to all of us the responsibilities we have towards you. And I also thank you for the pride you are making us feel. I am confident that you will lead your lives with the same determination and will with which you achieved your awards and you will support our country and the small but valuable societies you come from."

The minister of the Aegean said in his address "insular Greece has needs which still remain" and underlined the great interest of President Papoulias and of the government which embraces the islands.

The coach of the Greek national basketball team Panayiotis Yiannakis placed emphasis on the great importance of education for athletes, saying that "the educated athlete is superior in decision-making, both in the team and in his life."

President attends Epirot cake-cutting ceremony

The president of the republic, Karolos Papoulias, on Sunday attended a New Year cake-cutting ceremony in Athens arranged by the Panepirotic Confederation of Greece.

"Epirus is not only my place of origin, but it also represents a way of seeing life, in which the individual bows to the collective," Papoulias told the event attended by about 4,000 Epirots.

"Albania's road to Europe passes through the rights of the Greek ethnic minority there," he added.

Also attending were the leader of the Communist Party of Greece, Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and All Greece, and cabinet ministers.

[16] Patras launches Carnival with spectacular show

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

At the opening of the season's traditionally largest and most flamboyant festivity in Greece, actor Dimitris Piatas embodied the Spirit of the Carnival on Saturday, re-living the event's colorful history before teeming crowds.

Based on "The Carnival of Patras" by writer Nikos Politis, the performance recalled the event's highlights from the liberation of Patras in 1829 until the present; and in an accompanying musical drama, more than 100 dancers brought out the spirit of each epoch.

Visitors and inhabitants of the western port city were treated to an array of concerts, and the sight of a giant figure of Leonardo da Vinci, whose machines are featured in an interactive exhibition.

Patras Mayor Andreas Karavolas launched the Carnival, whose opening ceremony ended with a giant firework display and open-air party.

[17] Italy to extradite convicted felon to Greece

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Drug dealer Vavylis, who is expected to return to Greece in coming weeks, was a former aide of ousted former Jerusalem Patriarch Irineos, who appeared at the centre of a Church scandal last year.

Greek charges against Vavylis include repeated counts of violating state secrets, repeated counts of forgery, fraud, repeated counts of embezzling valuable objects, theft, harboring a criminal, libel and perjury.

The charges concern his activities in Greece, Israel and Italy.

Vavylis, whose career included stints as a police informant, a law enforcement equipment sales representative and a monk, is currently serving a seven-year sentence in a Bologna jail after being found guilty of drug-trafficking.

[18] Athens mayor in drive to save strays

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

In a public information session for adults and children, Bakoyianni outlined the plight of strays and the need for adoption, also publicizing action the municipality has taken.

"For the last two years, the municipality has followed a very concrete policy of protecting strays, sensitizing the public, and conducting an adoption program, which is going well," Bakoyianni told the event.

"An animal is not a doll. It has its own life, and it is a pity to take one to give to our children only to throw it out on the streets a few months later when it has grown," she underlined.

The mayor also distributed free poop-scoops and disposal bags in a bid to encourage dog-owners to keep streets and parks clean; and welcomed valuable work performed by volunteers for the city's community of strays.

[19] Man arrested for human trafficking due to appear before public prosecutor on Saturday

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

The illegal immigrants, 12 Afghanis and one Mauritanian, had disembarked in the region of Agia Paraskevi on the Aegean island of Samos. The human trafficker, however, was unable to escape since bad weather slowed his boat down and a coast guard vessel managed to intercept him.

The Turkish national admitted his activities during interrogation, while the Afghanis who were picked up by police on the island also recognized him. The illegal immigrants are being kept at a special immigrants centre until a series of medical tests will be completed.

[20] New church burglary in southern Albania

TIRANA, 6/2/2006 (ANA-MPA - I. Patso)

The church, one of the oldest and one of historic and religious importance, was built in 1785. The burglars stole valuable items of historic value, according to the Albanian press, but no arrests have been made so far.

Another church had been broken into last Thursday. It was the church of Saint George in the community of Libofskia, located about 15 kilometers away from the church burglarized on Friday.

Many churches, mostly in the south of the country, as well as mosques, have been targeted by burglars in past weeks, who steal money and items of value.

[21] Albanian arrested for dousing seven foreigners with scathing fluid

6/2/2006 (ANA)

The Albanian went to the coffee shop and started a discussion with six Bulgarians and a Romanian on wages paid to farm workers. Views on the issue did not converge and when a quarrel broke out, the Albanian left the coffee shop and came back shortly afterwards with a bottle containing a scathing fluid and doused his interlocutors with it.

Three of the foreigners were treated for minor burns at a local hospital, while the remaining four were sent to a hospital in the city of Iraklio for more extensive treatment as their burns were more serious.

Police arriving at the scene of the quarrel arrested the Albanian, who will be brought before a public prosecutor on Monday.

[22] Professional soldier found dead in frigate

ATHENS, 6/2/2006 (ANA)

Immediately after the body was found, the frigate sailed back to the naval station in Crete.

According to an announcement by the Navy General Staff, "the causes of the death of the above professional soldier are being investigated by the relevant authorities."

Soccer

Results of the first division soccer championship matches played over the weekend:

Egaleo Athens - AEK Athens 0-2

Panathinaikos Athens - Levadiakos Livadia 2-0

OFI Crete - Atromitos Athens 0-0

Larissa - Akratitos Athens 2-1

Apollon Kalamaria - Xanthi 2-1

Ionikos Piraeus - Panionios Athens 0-1

PAOK Thessaloniki - Iraklis Thessaloniki 1-0

Olympiakos Piraeus - Kallithea Athens

(Match to be played on Monday February 6)

The standings after 18 games:

Olympiakos 45 (17 matches)

AEK 42

Panathinaikos 36

PAOK 30

Iraklis 28

Xanthi 26

Egaleo 25

Atromitos 25

Larissa 23

Ionikos 22

Apollon Kalamaria 22

Levadiakos 17

Panionios 15

OFI 14

Kallithea 12 (17 matches)

Akratitos 10

[23] Cyprus to help and support Baghdatis, President Papadopoulos assures

NiCOSIA, 6/2/2006 (CNA/ANA)

President Papadopoulos received on Sunday Baghdatis and had a one hour meeting with him at his residence.

Papadopoulos welcomed Baghdatis at the entrance of his residence where Marcos was offered flowers and the photographers had the opportunity to capture the moment.

In statements after the meeting, Undersecretary to the President Christodoulos Pasiardis said President Papadopoulos expressed his warmest congratulations to the excellent athlete for his consecutive successes at the Australian Open and for promoting Cyprus in the international arena.

Asked if the issue of Baghdatis' military service was brought up, Pasiardis said the issue was discussed.

''Marcos expressed his fervent wish to serve at the National Guard'', he said, adding that ''he did not ask exemption from military service as a favor or in return for what he has offered to Cyprus''.

Pasiardis said that he only asked for suspension of his service and President Papadopoulos assured him he will have as many suspensions he asks for.

Baghdatis thanked President Papadopoulos, who received him. ''I want to say a big thank you for the help he is going to offer me, and the only thing I can assure is that I am always going to fight for my country with my racket''.

He noted that the hard work, the sacrifices of his parents and himself have started paying off and he is happy for that.

Asked about his military service, Baghdatis pointed out he wants to serve in the National Guard but needs time to move on with his career which is very important to him.

He also said he is always going to play for his homeland, Cyprus. Marcos Baghdatis became the highlight of the Australian Open when he reached the final after beating top players, second seed Andy Roddick, fourth seed David Nalbandian and seventh Ivan Ljubicic. He was defeated in the final by number one seed Roger Federer.

[24] Cyprus President sends message of condolences to Mubarak

NICOSIA, 6/2/2006 (CNA/ANA)

"It was with deep sorrow that I have been informed about the loss of so many human lives caused by the sinking of Ferry Al Salaam 98 carrying nearly 1300 passengers, mainly Egyptians, in the Red Sea'', Papadopoulos said.

''On behalf of the people and the government of the Republic of Cyprus, as well as on my own behalf, I convey to Your Excellency, to the people of the Arab Republic of Egypt and to the bereaved families of the victims our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy'', he added.

''Please accept Your Excellency the assurances of my highest consideration'', Papadopoulos concluded.

House President Demetrios Christofias also sent a message of condolences to President Mubarak as well as to the Speaker of Egypt's People's Assembly Ahmed Fathi Sorour.

Christofias expressed his profound grief for the unprecedented tragedy.

''On behalf of all the Members of the House of Representatives and myself, I express our wholehearted condolences to the relatives of the hundreds of victims, the Government and the Parliament of your country, as well as to the Egyptian People in its whole, sharing the pain you are feeling,'' he said.

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