Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] Gov't will strengthen laws for telecoms security, PM stresses

[02] Six opposition party deputies request more testimonies in phone-tapping case

[03] MEP discusses phone-tapping affair in European Parliament, criticizes gov't

[04] Former Coalition leader meets Supreme Court prosecutor over phone-tapping affair

[05] Former Prime Minister Costas Simitis addresses conference on globalization and European unification

[06] Family submits new evidence concerning Vodafone exec's death

[07] Authorities step up efforts to detect 'bird flu' instances

[08] Dead wild goose on Skyros checked positive for H5N1 virus

[09] Bird flu cases will not affect Greek tourism, ministry says

[10] SYN leader on bird flu

[11] Athens schoolchildren to be briefed on bird flu issue on Tuesday

[12] Israeli president arrives on official visit to Greece

[13] Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee ratifies cooperation protocol between Greece and NATO

[14] New U.S. 'Consular Information Sheet' for Greece

[15] PASOK party leader holds talks with European Commission president

[16] Parliament president meets with envoys of three Arab countries

[17] Alavanos meets with Palestinian envoy

[18] Ecumenical Patriarch wraps up visit to Mexico

[19] File on prison security systems referred to Parliament

[20] European Commission urges pension reform

[21] Greece to seek consensus on social insurance reform

[22] Full cost of OTE early retirement scheme to reach 696.7 mln euros

[23] Gov't welcomes first reading of EU services directive

[24] Coalition leader underlines opposition to 'Bolkestein' directive

[25] Creation of Aegean Bank discussed during Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce event

[26] Sistema to buy Intracom Telecom for 120 million euros

[27] Bidders named in metro extension project

[28] Average cost of living up 16.3 pct in 2005, report

[29] Decrease in number of unemployed registered with Manpower Employment Organization

[30] Louis Cruise Lines to buy ship

[31] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks decline in high-cap selling

[32] Gov't determined to support new technologies

[33] Crete university develops transgenic olive fly

[34] Greek business, culture exhibition in UK

[35] Man and woman found slightly injured in telephone company's van

[36] Shooting in region of Renti an attempted robbery, police say

[37] Seminar on television held in Athens

[38] Greek soccer results

[39] Snowy on Tuesday

[01] Gov't will strengthen laws for telecoms security, PM stresses

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

The public can now feel that the time of cover-ups is gone and would never return, Karamanlis added.

The meeting was held to discuss the implications of a mobile phone-tapping conspiracy recently disclosed by the government, to which it had been alerted nearly a year ago. At that time the affair had been kept secret and an unsuccessful 11-month investigation was launched to find those responsible.

The premier said that improvements to the existing regulatory framework required further strengthening laws and giving the country's independent authorities the staff and means that they need in order to operate in the most effective way, as well as systematic and intensive checking and a series of tougher penalty for those involved in such offences and those using the products of these crimes.

According to Karamanlis, the task of upgrading telecoms security was a matter for Parliament's Institutions and Transparency committee, to which the independent telecoms authorities were answerable.

Underlining that the "state will be implacable and the government's will is given, strong and unyielding," Karamanlis stressed that the citizens were being informed, their rights protected, the laws were being strengthened, the state fortified and the country's security upgraded.

He also made an appeal for unity and a joining of forces and efforts by the political parties on this issue, noting that it was a question of national security that "has no room for petty party politics and irresponsibility".

Karamanlis noted that the government had revealed and faced a criminal action targeting the country, the citizens and itself and that the country now faced an issue of major importance that demanded from all a sense of seriousness and responsibility and "non-negotiable dedication to the interests of the country and the rights of the citizens".

Pointing out that investigation of the case had been in the hands of justice from the start, the premier said that this investigation was now in a new decisive phase and that "everything is being investigated in all directions".

Underlining the government's trust and support for justice, meanwhile, he said the government would not flinch from holding those responsible to account.

Karamanlis made the announcements after a meeting with ADAE president Andreas Lambrinopoulos and EETT president Nikitas Alexandridis, also attended by Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras and Transport and Communications Minister Mihalis Liapis, and a separate meeting with legal experts Dimitris Tsatsos, Antonis Manitakis, Christos Kapsalis and Panagiotis Tsanakas, also attended by the two ministers.

During the last meeting, a committee was set up to assist state agencies and bodies in strengthening the legal framework for telecommunications privacy and security, which will be made up of the four men attending the meeting in addition to Nikos Androulakis and Giannis Manoledakis, who were absent.

In a statement afterwards, Tsatsos said the committee would be able to make its recommendations regarding further improvements to laws in about 10 days.

Opposition reactions: In reaction to Karamanlis' statements, a PASOK party spokesman later charged that "after 11 months of deafening silence and a cover-up, Mr. Karamanlis appeared today to speak as an uninvolved third party and not as the responsible premier of the country".

Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis also criticized the prime minister for his hypocritical stance, as he called it, saying that the leaderships of two independent watchdog authorities were only briefed Monday, 11 months after the mobile phone tapping conspiracy was discovered.

"A crime against the country's security and citizens' rights took place, as well as a second crime of political irresponsibility with the government's handling of the affair..." Athanassakis said.

Asked if main opposition PASOK will heed a call for consensus on the issue of strengthening the legal framework to ensure citizens' privacy, Athanassakis said consensus is impossible in a "case of cover-up".

"The people want the truth, and what we demand is the truth," he said, adding however, that each party can table its contributions if there is a gap in the institutional framework.

On its part, the Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) press office noted that the premier's statements added nothing to clearing up the furor, "therefore, the government's responsibilities are significant".

"The truth will not be known, this is to be expected, as the guilt of countries, companies, governments, intelligence services and other apparatuses of imperialism have worked to keep it (truth) a secret. The ND government is involved and participating in this menagerie, as were the PASOK governments," the KKE press release reads.

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party leader Alekos Alavanos urged Karamanlis to "give up his policy of reassurances and good intentions that are not borne out by reality" and to release any evidence that exists concerning the involvement of both foreign and Greek secret services in the phone-tapping affair and the Pakistani abductions case.

Alavanos called on the government to brief the parties on a National Intelligence Services (EYP) document that was sent to all mobile phone providers earlier this month and makes plans for the installation of a special facility for the monitoring and tapping of more than 30,000 phones by mobile phone companies.

According to the Coalition's president, the plan is taking place in preparation for implementing an EU directive on monitoring telecommunications but actually exceeds the remit of the directive, which just calls for recording calls made, whereas the systems being installed are for monitoring their content.

He also accused EYP of violating laws concerning telephone surveillance by tapping phones without a warrant from an appeal court public prosecutor.

Synaspismos member Nikos Hountis, meanwhile, dismissed the premier's announcements as spin and said the government was simply trying to 'manage' the phone-tapping issue "without providing answers over the specific case, or in dealing with the problem".

Unveiling one of the severest proposals to date, Hountis called for the revocation of mobile phone operator Vodafone's license.

[02] Six opposition party deputies request more testimonies in phone-tapping case

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

The deputies, who are members of the Institutions Committee, are Apostolos Kaklamanis, Evangelos Venizelos, Filippos Petsalnikos and Miltiades Papaioannou from the main opposition PASAOK party, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) representative Liana Kanelli and Fotis Kouvelis from the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party (Synaspismos) who have addressed a relevant letter to the president of the Institutions Committee.

In addition, the deputies Miltiades Papaioannou from PASOK and Nikos Konstantopoulos from the Coalition party resubmitted questions to the prime minister on Monday on the phone-tapping issue and requested, among other things, that the prime minister should brief Parliament himself.

[03] MEP discusses phone-tapping affair in European Parliament, criticizes gov't

STRASBOURG, 14/2/2006 (ANA-MPA/O. Tsipira)

Lambrinidis, PASOK MEP and Vice President of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee, criticized the Greek government over the handling of the phone-tapping affair and said that the political issue that has resulted is major and concerns European Parliament as well.

Specifically, he criticized ruling New Democracy for reportedly not informing the European Commission or European Council on the matter; for not informing other member states in order to protect citizens who may be Vodafone or Ericsson customers in other countries; for not informing the Greek authority on telecommunications confidentiality and privacy ADAE; and for not informing those targeted in the phone tap.

Supreme Court prosecutor makes phone-tap investigation top priority: Supreme Court Prosecutor Dimitris Linos ordered magistrate George Aktypis and First Instance Prosecutor Ioannis Diotis to give top priority to questioning regarding the phone-tapping affair and the suicide of Vodafone Greece executive Costas Tsalilkidis.

Linos' order came after Justice Minister Anastasios Papaligouras had made a similar request of Linos.

[04] Former Coalition leader meets Supreme Court prosecutor over phone-tapping affair

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Afterwards, Constantopoulos described the phone-tapping case was one of the "most serious instances of undermining democracy and destabilizing our political system".

"It is clear that, over Greek democracy, hovers so-called Internet terrorism. The 'shadow' telephones (used by phone-tappers in their monitoring system) are a symbol of the "shadow democracy" to which we are being led by the agreements that are signed by nations and governments with other nations, whether within Europe or the United States, but also with private companies. 'Big Brother' has a name," Constantopoulos said.

[05] Former Prime Minister Costas Simitis addresses conference on globalization and European unification

THESSALONIKI, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

"The government faced and is facing the phone-tapping issue as a spectator. It is referring to judicial processes which it had announced in advance itself that in no way would produce results," Simitis said.

"It is a shame that about 12 months after the fact was ascertained there is no action showing that the country is defending itself effectively. That the country is reacting immediately and is seeking responsibilities from those who are not carrying out their duty," he added.

The former prime minister went on to say that the country's downgrading on an international level in this way is being accepted fatalistically by the government. He added that the issue concerns all since it concerns the country, its laws and the way with which they are applied, stressing that Greece cannot be a country in which intelligence services of foreign countries act unimpeded and with great audacity.

[06] Family submits new evidence concerning Vodafone exec's death

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Tsalikidis was found hanged last year shortly after the discovery of a security breach in the mobile phone provider's systems that had allowed unknown parties to tap the mobile phones of top-level government members, including the prime minister, senior state officials and the leadership of the police and armed forces, among others. An initial police investigation had attributed the death to suicide but had not linked it to the phone-tapping affair that was just recently made public.

According to the lawyer acting on behalf of Tsalikidis' family Themistokles Sofos, the new evidence showed that the last person to speak with Tsalikidis before he was found dead on March 9, 2005 was not his fianc�e Sara Galanopoulou, as previously believed.

Analysis of the dead man's mobile phone software showed that he also spoke with a person who has not yet been identified on the phone at 11:15 on the night of March 8, 2005 and that he had previously received a call that probably came from a Vodafone telephone. After the conversation at 11:15, there were two more calls to Tsalikidis' phone that he did not answer.

Sofos also gave public prosecutor Ioannis Diotis a second notebook belonging to Tsalikidis, in which he kept notes on technical issues between April 2004 and January 24, 2005.

Finally, he included an official request sent by Tsalikidis' family to the police last June, asking them to investigate the dead man's e-mail account and expressing doubts regarding the circumstances of his death.

In addition, Sofos included the phonebook listings from Tsalikidis' mobile and the entire contents of an e-mail sent to Vodafone by the deceased a few hours before his death.

The lawyer said the e-mail had been addressed to senior Vodafone executives and concerned issues that Tsalikidis' considered to be of the greatest importance and was related to work for improving Vodafone's network. In the e-mail, Tsalikidis had estimated that he would complete the actions that needed to be done from July until September 2005, at the latest.

[07] Authorities step up efforts to detect 'bird flu' instances

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Authorities in the greater Athens area were especially concentrating on taking samples from migratory water fowl -- ducks, geese etc. -- with a directive listing preventative measures sent to park officials and hunting clubs.

Authorities in the northeastern border prefecture of Evros, where the infected swans were found, also stepped up testing in the area and continued efforts to disinfect vehicles and trains entering the prefecture from neighboring Bulgaria and Turkey.

Good news, meanwhile, came from the northern city of Thessaloniki, where two individuals that had reportedly come into contact with sick birds over the recent period, before coming down with flu-like symptoms, tested negative for "avian influenza".

The first individual, a 29-year-old man, is a reportedly a duck hunter, while the second, a 15-year-old youth, brought an ailing bird into his home nine days ago. A second round of testing is pending.

[08] Dead wild goose on Skyros checked positive for H5N1 virus

BRUSSELS, 14/2/2006 (ANA-MPA - M. Aroni)

The representative added that the European Commission does not intend to issue an additional announcement on the issue, but stressed that protection and surveillance measures which must be taken in the region will be the same as those applied in Thessaloniki and Pieria.

[09] Bird flu cases will not affect Greek tourism, ministry says

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

A ministry announcement said it was stressing the fact that only migratory birds have been found infected with the virus so far in Greece.

The announcement noted that Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos' recent visit to the United States offered positive results and underlined an increasing trend of US tourists arriving to Greece this year. Greece-based sea cruises were also high in demand, the ministry said.

Avramopoulos addressed the 15th annual congress of the Greek-American Organization Leadership 100 in Florida on Sunday.

[10] SYN leader on bird flu

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Alavanos said that the bird flu virus "is taking on dimensions which no one can predict."

He suggested that all state and prefectural agencies be staffed with veterinarians and that an emergency support program be set up for poultry breeders.

Finally, Alavanos suggested that hunting be temporarily prohibited in order to protect hunters themselves.

[11] Athens schoolchildren to be briefed on bird flu issue on Tuesday

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou, replying to questions by the press on information provided for pupils, said that biology teachers who will be entrusted with the task will be briefing the children.

The minister added that panic must not be created, but it is advisable that we should learn through such procedures how to behave in general to protect our health.

[12] Israeli president arrives on official visit to Greece

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

During his visit, Katzav will also make a stop in Thessaloniki to address the local Jewish community in the city.

The Israeli president is scheduled to meet President Papoulias on Tuesday morning for talks on bilateral Greek-Israeli relations and international current affairs, particularly events in the Middle East following the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections.

The meeting will conclude with the signature of a bilateral agreement for cooperation in industrial research and development by Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas and Israel's Infrastructure, Science and Technology Minister Roni Bar-On.

Katzav will then call on Parliament President Anna Psarouda Benaki, pay a visit to the National Archaeological Museum and visit Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni, who will award him the City of Athens' Gold Medal of Worthy.

On Wednesday, the Israeli president will have successive meetings with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou, Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga and the president of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party Alekos Alavanos.

He will depart for Thessaloniki on Thursday, where he will lay a wreath at the Holocaust memorial, visit the Royal Tombs and museum at Vergina and speak at the Thessaloniki Synagogue.

[13] Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee ratifies cooperation protocol between Greece and NATO

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

The protocol was ratified by the deputies of the ruling New Democracy party, but was voted against by all opposition deputies on grounds that the country's sovereign rights were being circumvented.

Attending Deputy Defense Minister Yiannis Lambropoulos, replying to doubts raised by opposition deputies, reassured that the country's right to object in the event its interests are not satisfied will not be removed.

Among other things, the protocol allows for the movement of NATO helicopters, aircraft or ships for NATO's operations without flight plans being submitted.

[14] New U.S. 'Consular Information Sheet' for Greece

The U.S. State Department has renewed the Consular Information Sheet directed to American citizens traveling to Greece, replacing the previous one which was issued on September 14, 2005, it was disclosed on Monday.

The new Sheet is different to the previous one on the sector of security, given that it withdrew from the section on security that Greece, like the other countries in the world after September 11, 2001, faced increased threats of Islamic terrorism.

Like the previous Sheet, it recommended to visitors to avoid demonstrations in central Athens and Thessaloniki. The new Sheet further added that political unrest in Greece is rare.

[15] PASOK party leader holds talks with European Commission president

Main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou held talks with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso here on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the PASOK party leader participated in a meeting of the "Barroso Committee" on "The future of Europe in the world", following an invitation by the Committee's president, to explain his positions on the effectiveness of the European Union's foreign policy.

Speaking to reporters, Papandreou said that in his address he stressed the need for the implementation of decisions taken at the Halkidiki summit, during the Greek EU presidency, regarding the promotion of the European prospects of western Balkan countries.

Papandreou added that the EU's role in efforts to solve the issue of Cyprus, Turkey's European prospects, the Middle East question in the wake of the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections and latest developments concerning the handling of the bird flu issue were examined during his meeting with Barroso.

Lastly, referring to the issue created with the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, Papandreou focused on the need for freedom of expression and respect for the convictions of the Moslem world.

[16] Parliament president meets with envoys of three Arab countries

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Issues discussed ranged from bilateral relations to the possibility for strengthening parliamentary ties, as well as cooperation within the Euro-Mediterranean parliamentary assembly with Tunisia and Egypt.

[17] Alavanos meets with Palestinian envoy

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

According to a Synaspismos press release, Ghazaleh said that despite the difficult conditions endured by the Palestinian people, the recent elections were an example of democracy and a milestone in Palestinian history. He also said that the result, an election victory by Hamas, should be respected by the international community.

On his part, Alavanos expressed his party's support for the Palestinian people's just struggle, as he noted, while reiterating that the party backs the process for a solution to the issue via the immediate resumption of peace negotiations.

[18] Ecumenical Patriarch wraps up visit to Mexico

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos wrapped up his official visit to Mexico on Monday.

During his visit, he met with religious and political leaders, including Mexican President Vicente Fox.

On Saturday, he attended the Inter-Religious Meeting in Mexico City and called for tolerance and peaceful coexistence between religious groups.

"This meeting is proof that we respect each other's faith, which is of particular importance given the various improprieties taking place and the insults made against the faith of others which only leads to more violence and extreme behavior," he said.

Vartholomeos is due to depart for New York on Monday afternoon local time, and for Istanbul on Tuesday.

[19] File on prison security systems referred to Parliament

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

An investigation conducted by a public prosecutor has reportedly attributed responsibilities to former deputy public order minister Christos Markoyiannakis.

[20] European Commission urges pension reform

European Union member states will have to step up pension reforms if they are to deal effectively with ageing populations, according to a report prepared by the European Commission and the Economic Policy Committee and released on Monday.

The report, submitted to EU finance ministers, provides projections on the economic and budgetary costs for all member states up to 2050.

Life expectancy is projected to increase over upcoming decades in Greece and in the majority of EU member states, the report said, making it imperative for measures to be taken since "Europe will go from having four to only two people of working age for every elderly citizen (...) With unchanged policies, EU potential growth rates will be almost cut in half by 2030."

According to the report, Greece's population is expected to decline from a current 11 million to 10.7 million by 2050, while life expectancy is expected to increase from a current 76.4 years for men to 81.1 years by 2050 and from 81.4 years for women to 85.9 years.

At the same time, Greece's working age population (15-64 years) is expected to decrease from a current 67.7% of the total population to 54.7% by 2050, while the elderly (over the age of 65) are expected to represent 33.1% of the total population compared with 17.9% today.

"Public finances will come under severe strain due to increased spending on pensions, health care and long-term care," the report said.

[21] Greece to seek consensus on social insurance reform

Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis said on Monday that the government would put its planned overhaul of the country's social insurance system to public debate.

"Reshaping the social insurance system will happen after an in-depth, frank dialogue among the parties involved," Alogoskoufis told reporters in the Belgian capital.

He was responding to a journalist's question on a report on pensions by the European Union's executive Commission and the bloc's economic policy committee released earlier in the day

The minister was due to attend a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Monday and a session of EU finance ministers on Tuesday.

[22] Full cost of OTE early retirement scheme to reach 696.7 mln euros

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

A ministry announcement said the cost estimate was the result of a survey made by a research company and noted that of the total 696.7 million euros, 567 million will cover main pension costs, 104.1 million euros will cover additional pension costs and 25.6 million euros will cover one-off financial payment.

The ministry stressed that the cost estimate did not include the cost of additional incentives offered by OTE to promote an early retirement scheme.

[23] Gov't welcomes first reading of EU services directive

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

"Compromise solutions submitted and amended by euro-deputies from all parties in a bid to achieve agreement on the proposed directive's controversial points have led to a different and discernibly better text," the ministry said in a statement.

"This new proposed directive bears no relation to what was known as the Bolkestein directive. Our demands have largely been met in the amended text that will be put to a vote in the Europarliament on February 14-16," the statement added.

[24] Coalition leader underlines opposition to 'Bolkestein' directive

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

"Right from the start, when EU agencies started to discuss a directive for deregulating the services market in the EU, we and all the other parties of the Left, with the trade unions and the European Social Forum have named it the 'Frankenstein' Directive and asked for its immediate withdrawal," he noted.

Alavanos said the directive contained dangerous measures that led to a violent "downward" leveling of all social conditions, including levels of pay, insurance, taxes and work relations.

He called on MEPs of all parties to vote against it during Tuesday's and Wednesday's discussion at the European Parliament.

[25] Creation of Aegean Bank discussed during Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce event

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

Best wishes for the new year were exchanged with the business world by President Panayiotis Koutsikos and the members of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce.

Addressing the event, the president of the Greek-Turkish Chamber of Commerce underlined the role and the significance of the creation of the first Greek-Turkish Bank whose aim is to strengthen and widen possibilities of developing bilateral and multilateral business cooperation, both between the two countries and the wider region of the Balkans, central Asia and the Black Sea cooperation countries.

[26] Sistema to buy Intracom Telecom for 120 million euros

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

A joint announcement said finalization of the agreement is based on specific terms and preconditions, such as completion of audit and legal inspections, a re-negotiation on the contract for the purchase of shares and a shareholders' pact and obtaining the necessary corporate and authority approvals.

Intracom Telecom is a 100 percent subsidiary of Intracom Holdings with its main activity being integrated telecommunications solutions and services in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. Intracom Telecom, through its research programs, has developed and produces a wide range of products in broadband wire and wireless systems, along with systems of distributing IPTV and triple-play data.

Concern Sitronics will integrate the company into its Infocommunications sector, with activities in digital telecom centers, billing systems and next generation networks, aiming to achieve synergies, system integration and boost its customer base.

Sistema is the largest private company in the services sector in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with more than 50 million customers. Its sales totaled 5.4 billion US dollars in the first nine months of 2005 with a turnover of 12.1 billion.

Sistema's shares are listed in the London Stock Exchange in the Russian Trade System (RTS) and the Moscow Stock Exchange

[27] Bidders named in metro extension project

ATHENS, 14/2/2006 (ANA)

The ministry said in a statement that the consortiums bidding for the 97.6 million-euro project were as follows: