Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-03-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM meets with Serbian leaders during Balkan tour

[02] Sarajevo visit

[03] Gov't insists it told all as Kiesling article fires up phone-tap controversy

[04] PM meets education minister, EU court president

[05] Dep. foreign minister, UNAIDS director discuss fight against AIDS

[06] Health minister, UNAIDS director discuss major problem of AIDS

[07] Alogoskoufis to attend Greece-UK investment conference in London

[08] Papandreou renews attack: 'PM and government untrustworthy'

[09] PASOK requests Parliament debate on gov't's economic policy

[10] Main opposition PASOK highlights price hikes

[11] Ukraine's FM visits Ecumenical Patriarchate

[12] DM receives ministry's Civil Employee Federation directorates

[13] Public order minister comments on change in Greek Police leadership

[14] Voulgarakis visits Patra, Cultural Capital of Europe for 2006

[15] New ND Secretary Zagoritis meets Parliament President

[16] SYN demands explanations over phone-tap affair

[17] Deputy FM Kassimis meets SAE President Athens

[18] Kassimis in Istanbul on Friday

[19] Papoulias visits island of Psara

[20] Labour confederation condemns firebomb attack on its building

[21] Government, main opposition condemn attack on GSEE building

[22] Order issued for seizure of former investigating magistrate's home

[23] Antonaros on state of the economy

[24] Gov't rejects talk of rampant consumer prices, unions disagree

[25] ECB rise seen having impact on mortgages

[26] Opposition party blasts ECB rate rise

[27] Govt will not get involved in collective labor talks, FinMin says

[28] Interior minister addresses Greek Businessmen's Union

[29] Gov't likely to keep early retirement for women in state sector

[30] Govt unveils 210-mln-euro programme to support SMEs

[31] Gov't presents draft bill to promote 'business parks'

[32] Greece exports more olive oil products to Romania

[33] Presentation of Germany as a tourism destination

[34] Arab-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and Development organizing business mission to Lebanon

[35] Thessaloniki officials announce interest in hosting int'l powerboat race

[36] Halkidiki farmers discuss their debts to the PPC with Sioufas

[37] Seamen's training bill voted in principle

[38] Central bank workers stage strike over suspensions

[39] No agreement in power company pay talks

[40] Linking gender equality to work opportunities 'big step', Tsoumani says

[41] Greek, Italian citizens awarded for achievements

[42] EU transport ministers ascertain improvement of road safety

[43] Church opposed to cremation, Archbishop says

[44] Komotini hospital proposes cross-border cooperation with Bulgarian facility

[45] Earthquake jolts Halkidiki

[46] Arsonists torch bank in Peristeri

[47] Four injured in accident involving military minibus in Rodopi

[48] Government: Meeting in Paris signified mobility on Cyprus talks

[49] UN official in Washington for Cyprus talks

[50] Cypriot MPs hold contacts in Libya

[01] FM meets with Serbian leaders during Balkan tour

BELGRADE, 03/03/2006 (ANA-MPA/F.Karaviti)

During their meeting, Tandic expressed his country's willingness to cooperate with the International Criminal Court regarding the crimes committed in former Yugoslavia.

Regarding Kosovo, he reiterated Serbia's opposition to the region's fragmentation. Instead, Serbia is in favor of preserving the territorial integrity, protecting the rights of the Serbian minority and Serbian monuments, he said.

Tandic also commented on the newly-elected President of Kosovo, Agim Ceku, former leader of UCK, saying that while there is no reason to have so many generals in politics, nonetheless Serbia does not judge Albania's choices and is willing to negotiate.

However, he did say that for negotiations to proceed Serbia wishes to negotiate directly with the Albanian side.

Referring to the upcoming referendum regarding the fate of Serbia-Montenegro, Tandic requested that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) be present to ensure that the democratic process is followed and that all political forces will respect the outcome regardless what it is.

On her part, Bakoyannis expressed Greece's support for Serbia-Montenegro's EU prospects.

As for Kosovo, she said that Athens views it within the context of trying to maintain peace and security in the region.

She also stressed the need for a solution agreed upon by both sides, adding that "history has proven that imposed solutions are not viable."

Furthermore, Bakoyannis said she disagreed with the tight deadlines imposed for finding a solution and said that protection of minority rights should go without saying.

The Greek minister hailed the agreement for Montenegro's referendum stressing the need for the democratic process to be safeguarded and that it should be conducted under the EU's supervision so that the outcome is not disputed.

She also underscored the fact that Greece can contribute effectively to security and stability in the region.

During her meeting with Draskovic, Bakoyannis reiterated Greece's support for the country's EU aspirations, adding that an EU future means stability and economic prosperity for the peoples of the West Balkans.

On his part, Draskovic said that his country needs to work towards overcoming the obstacles as it tries to join the EU and reiterated the need for the legal rights of the Serbian minority in Kosovo to be safeguarded.

While in Belgrade, Bakoyannis also met with President of Serbia-Montenegro Svetozar Marovic and Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

The Greek minister will be visiting Kosovo on Friday.

[02] Sarajevo visit

BELGRADE, 03/03/2006 (ANA-MPA/F. Karaviti)

"It is not by chance that I chose that my first official bilateral contacts take place in the region," she said after meeting the Foreign Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina Mladen Ivanic, adding that many possibilities exist for widening bilateral economic cooperation.

Bakoyiannis also referred to the Greek programme for supporting Bosnia-Herzegovina, amounting to 35 million euros over the next two years.

Regarding the issue of visas, she said that unimpeded contact between students, academics and businessmen in the region is important.

Ivanic expressed his satisfaction over support offered to his country by Greece and spoke warmly about the decision taken by the European Council in Thessaloniki on the European course of the western Balkans.

"Greece has offered a great deal to Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the greatest contribution being the paving of the way to the European Union during the Greek Presidency," Ivanic said.

The two foreign ministers further spoke of prospects of developing economic cooperation and, referring to the economic forum to be organized in Sarajevo shortly with the participation of Greek businessmen, they expressed the hope that possibilities of new investments will be ascertained.

Later on, the foreign minister held successive meetings with the President of the Ministerial Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina Adnan Terzic and with the representative of the EU Cristian Schwarz-Schilling, while also visiting the building of "common institutions" which is being renovated with development aid funds of the Greek foreign ministry.

Replying to questions by the press on recent developments concerning the issue of Cyprus, Bakoyiannis spoke of "developments in which she discerns a positive prospect" and on the occasion she wished a speedy recovery for Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat regarding the state of his health.

[03] Gov't insists it told all as Kiesling article fires up phone-tap controversy

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

"The Greek government said all it has to say about the phone-taps to justice and then made all the evidence at its disposal public," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros stressed.

The spokesman was replying to questions about an article in the Greek daily "Eleftherotypia" - which in turn cited an article written by former U.S. diplomat John Brady Kiesling in the American political review "The Nation". According to Kiesling, the illegal phone-taps have all the hallmarks of a CIA operation, while he surmises that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Tom Miller was forced to go along with what was presented as a covert operation to prevent terrorism.

At another point, Kiesling also suggests that the Greek government knows who was responsible but is not anxious to trigger an open rift with Washington.

The government spokesman, on his part, said that there was no need for the Greek government to take a position concerning Kiesling's article, given that "the American diplomat in question was not an employee of the Greek government."

Kiesling was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Greece when he retired in 2003, in protest over the U.S. war on Iraq.

"The investigation is ongoing and is being carried out in depth," the spokesman noted in response to other questions.

"There is no doubt that the target of the phone taps was the prime minister and top members of the government. This is indisputable. And the government has done what is required by the Constitution, the laws and its duty," Antonaros stressed.

In early February, the Greek government had revealed that some 100 mobile phones, including those of the prime minister and five members of cabinet, as well as top echelons of the police and armed forces, had been illegally tapped for nearly a year before the surveillance was discovered and that a subsequent 11-month investigation had failed to trace the culprits responsible.

[04] PM meets education minister, EU court president

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

After the meeting, Yannakou said the talks covered a series of legislative changes that will establish the National Council of Education, draft bills on university education and for vocational and professional training that had already been approved by the cabinet.

She said the government was seeking to replace current Technical Education Schools, which currently did not give those attending a chance to get into university, with a "technical and professional education along the lines of the best education systems in Europe, which give children alternative solutions."

Later on Thursday, Karamanlis met European Court of Justice President Vassilios Skouris, who briefed him on the work and issues he is handling for the EU court.

[05] Dep. foreign minister, UNAIDS director discuss fight against AIDS

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

Piot noted that the problem is worst in sub-Saharan Africa but the disease is also spreading rapidly in the Balkans and Black Sea - despite being at relatively low levels - due to poverty and illegal migration. He said this trend is most evident in Eastern Europe, especially Russia and the Ukraine.

The Greek side presented figures showing that incidents of AIDS had increased 25 per cent in 2005 relative to 2004.

Stylianidis also stressed that Greece has given � 3.5 million to the global fight against AIDS in the past six years, while a further � 600,000 is scheduled to be spent in 2006 that will be given via UNAIDS.

[06] Health minister, UNAIDS director discuss major problem of AIDS

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The health minister said that Greece, as also stated by Piot, merits distinction for the manner in which it is dealing with this great problem.

Avramopoulos presented Greece's policies and actions and noted that "health does not know any borders and constitutes one of the top priorities in the world's political agenda and requires political decisions so that these programmes be implemented and this disease be placed under control, which unfortunately continues to escalate menacingly throughout the planet."

Piot said that 2006 is a crucial year for AIDS, given that up to the present, 65 million people have been infected all over the world. The UNAIDS executive director added that "AIDS is developing into one of the greatest problems which humanity is facing today," noting that the virus "has rapidly spread to Eastern Europe," even though Africa is the continent which continues to be mostly affected.

[07] Alogoskoufis to attend Greece-UK investment conference in London

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The Greek delegation is headed by Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis, while other top ministers at the conference expected to attend the conference are Education Minister Marietta Yiannakou and Deputy Foreign Minister Evripides Stylianidis.

Economic cooperation between Greece and the UK, the Greek economy's prospects, major works and investment opportunities in Greece and the wider region in the sectors of energy, transports and tourism are expected to dominate the conference's agenda.

The event will be held under the auspices of the British ambassador in Athens, Simon Gass.

[08] Papandreou renews attack: 'PM and government untrustworthy'

SITIA, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

"We do not trust the prime minister and the government. We trust the people and with them we will govern," he said, asking those present to put their trust in main opposition PASOK when elections were next held.

Papandreou said that the prime minister had failed to make good on the many promises he made before the elections, while calling on him "to tell the truth so that we have transparency".

Turning to labor and economic issues, Papandreou praised the Sitia cooperatives for the strong export record and talked of the difficulties that exist in the global market.

"In the face of these difficulties, there are two approaches: One is that of joint services and cheap labor, which is the right wing approach that will destroy the country if it prevails, creating division and placing the burden on citizens. This is the logic followed by the government and Karamanlis. The second approach is investment in quality and value and creating products that will be competitive throughout the world," he said.

He warned that the battle would be hard and that support from the state was needed for it to have a good outcome.

Finally, Papandreou stressed the need to rejuvenate and renew farming cooperatives and their unions to make them stronger.

Before arriving in Sitia, PASOK's leader stopped at Makrygialos, where he talked with local residents and was briefed on the area's problems.

According to Papandreou, many of these problems were the result of the central government cutting back resources to local authorities and he stressed that PASOK would restore the original Kapodistrias plan for municipal government and extend it even further in Kapodistrias 2.

Criticizing the government's recent changes to the Kapodistrias plan, Papandreou underlined the need for strong municipalities and regional authorities in order to create necessary infrastructure.

[09] PASOK requests Parliament debate on gov't's economic policy

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The request is included in a letter sent this week by PASOK president George Papandreou to Parliament President Anna Psarouda-Benaki, in which the latter charges that the Greek economy's growth rate is slowing down, that national wealth is being "redistributed" in favor of the few to the detriment of the many, and that inflation is eating away at the incomes of wage-earners and pensioners.

Along those lines, he cited what he called a "dramatic increase" in banks' and big companies' profits.

Papandreou again criticized the government's high-profile reforms agenda, saying that such reforms "eliminate workers' rights and support lawlessness in the job market..."

[10] Main opposition PASOK highlights price hikes

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

PASOK Parliamentary Group coordinator for production and trade Rodoula Zissi, and deputy coordinator Christos Papoutsis, accused the development ministry of "celebrating" when up to 4,000 products had increased in price since the start of the year and Greece was "top" for high prices in Europe.

Zissi and Papoutsis also accused the ministers of not having read a document issued by Greece's Economic and Social Committee, which notes that an increasing number of Greek households are struggling to keep pace with rising prices and that the convergence of prices with those in Europe was accelerating when levels of pay in Greece were actually diverging for the EU average.

[11] Ukraine's FM visits Ecumenical Patriarchate

ISTANBUL, 03/02/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Kourkoulas)

Tarasyuk thanked Vartholomeos for his efforts to bring unity within the Church of Ukraine and conveyed the personal greetings of Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his gratitude.

On his part, Vartholomeos assured Tarasyuk that the Patriarchate will continue making efforts in this direction as is the Patriarchate's duty to do so.

"We will never stop praying and working towards this end," Vartholomeos said.

Finally, Tarasyuk delivered a letter to Vartholomeos congratulating him on his birthday and his efforts regarding human rights.

[12] DM receives ministry's Civil Employee Federation directorates

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The meeting focused on issues concerning the reorganizing of the defense ministry that is already under way.

[13] Public order minister comments on change in Greek Police leadership

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The minister said that between the worthy and with the hand on one's heart Anastasios Dimoschakis was chosen, "the man from the North", as he called him, to succeed George Angelakos.

Polydoras thanked outgoing Greek Police chief Angelakos for his character and the effort he showed in carrying out his duties.

The new Greek Police chief Dimoschakis said in his address that he is assuming his new duties with great emotion and with a high sense of responsibility.

Dimoschakis thanked the prime minister, the members of the Government Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) and the public order minister in particular and promised to make every effort possible in carrying out his duties.

Angelakos said on his part that he found difficulty in describing his emotion and his feelings and wished every success to his successor, while also referring to the work of the Greek Police in the sectors of security, stability, development, crime and organizing planning during his period of office.

A similar spirit also prevailed during the handing over ceremony for the Fire Brigade, where Christos Smetis was succeeded by Andreas Kois.

[14] Voulgarakis visits Patra, Cultural Capital of Europe for 2006

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

Patra is the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2006.

The culture minister said that "the hosting of a European institution of such a range in the time limits which had remained until today is a great feat."

Voulgarakis announced the participation of internationally renowned artists and the hosting in the city of the Southeast Europe Culture Ministers conference.

The minister said that taking part in the Cultural Capital of Europe events in Patra will be opera singer Dame Kiri de Kanawa, choreographer Sasha Waltz from Berlin, French actor Jean Louis Trintignant, who will come to Greece for the first time, and Italian artist Eros Ramazzotti who returns to Greece after many years to perform a unique concert at the Panpeloponnesian Stadium of Patra.

Voulgarakis said that the Southeast Europe Culture Ministers conference will take place in Patra from April 14-15.

Taking part in the conference will be Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Croatia, Serbia, Turkey, Romania and Moldova as country-observer.

[15] New ND Secretary Zagoritis meets Parliament President

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

Zagoritis told the Parliament President:" I'm here in my new capacity so as to express my respect to your office as Parliament President and to you personally. You know how much I hold you in esteem. I would like to assure you that you will have our cooperation and our effort for the parliamentary dialogue to be on a good level. This is what is important, for the citizens, but also for the functioning of Parliament, which I believe you serve in an admirable way."

On her part, the Parliament President congratulated Zagoritis on his election in his new post as ND Secretary. "The parties are an institution of the republic, are based on the Constitution and they anyway determine the level of discussions in Parliament," she said.

[16] SYN demands explanations over phone-tap affair

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

The US diplomat, John Brady Kiesling who was stationed at the US embassy in Athens until 2003 when he retired, also alleges in his article, appearing in The Nation, that the Greek government knows who was involved in the phone-tapping.

Alavanos called on the government to disclose all evidence regarding the case and to implement measures necessary to 'clean up' the country's political landscape.

[17] Deputy FM Kassimis meets SAE President Athens

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

According to a foreign ministry press release, the two men discussed issues concerning the operation of SAE and the forthcoming meeting of SAE's Presidium.

[18] Kassimis in Istanbul on Friday

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

In the afternoon, Kassimis will tour a hospital and three schools operated by the ethnic Greek community in the Bosporus metropolis.

[19] Papoulias visits island of Psara

PSARA, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

Following a wreath-laying ceremony at the island's War of Independence memorial, Papoulias referred to a need for abolishing what he called the "dividing lines" between the provinces and Athens.

The Greek president was also declared an honorary resident of the island.

[20] Labour confederation condemns firebomb attack on its building

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

"We declare categorically that no force will terrorize us and daunt us and lead us to taking down the flag of our struggles to protect and safeguard the interests of working people," the announcement said.

The firebombs hurled by unidentified hooded assailants against the building housing the offices of GSEE drew condemnation from labor unionists who believe that it is a second attack on the labor union movement, following the recent assault against GSEE President Christos Polyzogopoulos, who had been attacked with stones and sticks while driving his car in downtown Athens.

"The responsible agencies of the state have great responsibilities because they allow a small group of 'known-unknown people' to terrorize citizens and to place life in direct danger, to destroy property and, in general, to threaten security and the functioning of institutions," it added.

Immediately after the attack on the building, ruling New Democracy party Central Committee Secretary Lefteris Zagoritis, accompanied by the party's Labor Union Secretary Costas Kollias, met with the confederation's directorate.

"We came here immediately after we heard of the attack. We are standing by working people, we honor the labor union movement and its representatives and we condemn any act of violence from wherever it may come. Such phenomena, these people who do such acts must be isolated from society as well. The citizen's security is our priority," Zagoritis said afterwards.

[21] Government, main opposition condemn attack on GSEE building

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

"The government expressedly condemns the arson attack against the GSEE building. The relevant authorities are investigating the incident," Roussopoulos said.

Main opposition PASOK Spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, condemning the attack, said: "It is the second time in a short period of time that the trade union movement suffers a blow and during crucial circumstances for workers' rights...The government and the public order ministry have the obvious responsibility to shed light on the issue."

[22] Order issued for seizure of former investigating magistrate's home

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

Bourboulia had left the country and went to France where she was arrested, while her extradition to Greece was decided earlier this week.

The order concerns the defendant's maisonette in the northern Athens suburb of Nea Erithrea.

The magistrates based the seizure order on the law concerning the legalization of revenues resulting from illegal activities, which allows the seizure of property belonging to defendants.

[23] Antonaros on state of the economy

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

He added that "the increase of revenues and the reduction of expenditures are in a good orbit."

Antonaros was responding to reporters' questions, due to the fact that a surplus was marked last month, whether the government was examining the possibility of exercising "a more popular policy."

The alternate government spokesman said that "in January 2006 there was a surplus of 844 million euros against a deficit of 436 million euros in the corresponding period of 2005."

He said that "this means that the regular revenues increased by 17.7 per cent against 2005 and the net revenues by 19.5 per cent, greatly surpassing the annual target."

[24] Gov't rejects talk of rampant consumer prices, unions disagree

ATHENS, 03/02/2006 (ANA)

"The extent of high prices in Greece is less than is often stated. Neither are there excessive differentials in the prices of products in Greece and Europe," Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas said in a statement.

"Over the last 22 months, inflation has remained at almost the lowest levels of the last four years, despite the record impact of international fuel prices," Sioufas noted.

He cited data from three sources to back up his case: