Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-03-21

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM, transport minister discuss OA

[02] Justice minister briefs premier

[03] Bakoyannis calls for 'cautious targets' at upcoming EU summit

[04] OECD-DAC chairman briefed on Greek aid program

[05] DM gives joint press conference with Bulgarian counterpart

[06] Public Order Minister on the Balkans

[07] Government replies to Papandreou on youth unemployment

[08] Papandreou: Next elections will bring PASOK to power

[09] Cyprus House of Representatives Speaker in Athens on Tuesday

[10] Doctors of the World protest building of West Bank wall

[11] European Commission responds to request for support of poultry markets

[12] Gov't ministers discuss port improvement projects

[13] Greek statistical data significantly improved, Commission spokeswoman says

[14] Poll shows Greek workers disapprove of govt, employers' moves

[15] Rise in French tourists to Greece

[16] Greek chemicals sector rapidly growing, report

[17] Intralot signs new contract in Moldova

[18] Exports promotion board to focus on quality

[19] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise on smaller cap buying

[20] U.S. President George W. Bush issues proclamation on Greece's March 25 national anniversary

[21] Asylum applications to Greece on the rise, UN reports

[22] President Karolos Papoulias visits dam in central Greece

[23] Thessaloniki prefecture to close in protest on Wednesday

[24] Less educated people threatened by poverty, report

[25] New CAT scan unveiled at Church-run medical centre in Tirana

[26] Red Cross program again to host children from former Yugoslavia

[27] Visitors throng to Kastellorizo for total solar eclipse

[28] Another Turkish migrant smuggler nabbed on Samos

[29] Event to mark World Water Day at Syntagma Square

[30] Soccer: Greek soccer results

[31] Cypriot government ready to implement Paris agreement

[32] US not to recognize illegal regime, says Cyprus Spokesman

[33] Cypriot government questions Soyer's motives during enclaved visit

[34] Spokesman: EU aid regulation defines way to channel money to TCs

[01] PM, transport minister discuss OA

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Afterwards, Liapis told reporters that the government is again considering the creation of a new company for beleaguered OA, a new company able to operate under private sector criteria and management. He added that a draft proposal will soon be tabled with the European Commission.

The European Court of Justice in February 2005 ruled that Greece had not taken all measures necessary to secure repayment of aid granted to Olympic Airways over several years in the 1990s, while also noting that such aid was incompatible with the common market -- a ruling that concluded a case brought by the European Commission against Athens. The ruling subsequently added urgency to efforts by the new Karamanlis government to end years of loss-making performances by the bloated national carrier.

The case stemmed from a European Commission decision in 1998 approving aid granted by a PASOK government under Costas Simitis for OA's restructuring between 1998-2002.

In 2002 the Commission initiated a further procedure on grounds that the restructuring plan had been applied and that certain conditions envisaged in the decision approving the aid had not been met. As the information supplied by Greece was judged as inadequate, the Commission then pointed to an infringement, claiming, furthermore, that more aid being pumped into the state-run airline company.

Regarding the DEKO law, Liapis said the government will soon begin talks with relevant employees' unions in order to begin reforms, while he stressed that whatever changes aren't aimed chipping away at employees' rights or benefits but at improving conditions and especially state-run companies' often dire finances.

Finally, he said a report by an ad hoc committee of university professors regarding telecoms security will be released this week.

[02] Justice minister briefs premier

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Papaligouras referred to the extradition of Apostolos Vavylis, a convicted drug smuggler that later surfaced in 2000 in Jerusalem as an aide and supporter of Irineos. The latter was deposed in June 2005, following serious charges of financial mismanagement, particularly the alleged covert long-term leasing of several Patriarchate properties in east Jerusalem to Israeli interests.

The minister made the statement after exiting a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Papaligouras also noted that a cashiered former judicial magistrate implicated in an unprecedented trial-fixing scheme cannot remain in hiding forever. His comments referred to fugitive Antonia Ilia.

Regarding another former fugitive charged in the same more-or-less case, Constantina Bourboulia, the minister said he believed the latter would soon realize that it was in her best interests to cooperate with judicial investigators.

Bourboulia, cashiered as a judicial magistrate following charges that she accepted bribes to scuttle numerous probes into millions of euros worth of illegal stock market transactions during the heyday of the Athens Stock Exchange's bubble in the late 1990s, fled to France, from where she was extradited to Greece earlier in the month. She currently remains jailed without bond pending trial.

Regarding his meeting with the premier, Papaligouras said he briefed Karamanlis on a draft bill aimed at combating domestic violence, a draft bill on speeding up the judicial process in administrative courts as well as a draft bill envisioning the creation of a judicial law enforcement corps.

36 judges face possibility of suspension: The Supreme Court's Highest Judiciary Council will decide on Thursday whether or not to suspend 36 judges and officials of the prosecutor's office for either failing to submit means statements or for their involvement in judiciary corruption.

[03] Bakoyannis calls for 'cautious targets' at upcoming EU summit

BRUSSELS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA )

Specifically, Bakoyannis said that it would be better not to set "quantitative targets" which might be difficult to implement immediately.

She also noted that there was currently no agreement between EU member-states on this issue, while expressing hope that a "golden mean" for achieving agreement might be found at the Summit.

Regarding the European prospects of the western Balkans, which were discussed by EU foreign ministers on Monday, Bakoyannis stressed that the message sent by the EU must be clear:

"Serbia needs the support of the EU, so that positive messages for the future will be written in the new page that is now turning," the Greek minister told the Council, while underlining that there could be no stability in the Balkans if Serbia was unstable.

Regarding the situation in Kosovo, Bakoyannis stressed the need for a policy that provided protection for minorities.

She also noted Greece's support for the liberalization of EU visa policies for western Balkan countries that is supported by EU enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.

Stressing that this was more a political than technical issue, Bakoyannis said that the EU should open avenues of communication with the people of western Balkan states.

On the sidelines of the ministers' council, Bakoyannis held meetings with EU Commissioner for the environment Stavros Dimas and the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs, Audit and Anti-Fraud Siim Kallas, in order to discuss the promotion of Greek candidates to the higher echelons of Community hierarchy.

"The Greek presence in the EU is excellent from the point of view of quality," Bakoyannis noted, while stressing that the Greek foreign ministry will do its utmost to support the chances of able Greeks to take over higher positions within the EU.

[04] OECD-DAC chairman briefed on Greek aid program

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Meeting Deputy Foreign Minister Evripidis Stylianidis, Manning noted that Greece had notable developmental activity in its immediate neighborhood, the Balkans and the Black Sea that is viewed positively by the DAC.

Stylianidis said that Greece has granted developmental aid to 46 countries, with the associated spending approaching 0.23 percent of GDP - which was the European rate - or � 464 million per year.

"The meeting with Mr. Manning gave us the opportunity to present the Greek contribution and plan new initiatives with the DAC, which will allow us to express our humanity to countries in need," Stylianidis later told reporters.

After meeting Stylianidis, Manning had a meeting with ministry staff and representatives of non-governmental organizations. The meeting was also attended by the foreign ministry's newly appointed General Secretary for International Economic Relations and Developmental Cooperation Theodoros Skylakakis, who made his first official appearance in his new post.

Manning, on his part, stressed the need for effective management of international developmental aid, stressing the special role that can be played by the local institutions within the aid-receiving country and calling for best possible coordination between aid donors and receivers.

Monday's briefing was part of a procedure to monitor Greece's implementation of the commitments it undertook in the developmental aid sector leading up to November, when Greece will be subjected to a Peer Review in 2004 and 2005 in Paris, which this year will be carried out by New Zealand and Luxembourg. This is the second Peer Review for Greece since it joined the DAC.

[05] DM gives joint press conference with Bulgarian counterpart

SOFIA, 21/3/2006 (ANA-MPA)

The Bulgarian minister stressed the importance given by his country in participating in the European formation. Bliznakov said it is a new considerable direction in traditional defense cooperation between the two countries which has been continuing successfully for 20 years.

Bliznakov also expressed his country's appreciation for Greece's steadfast support for Bulgaria's accession to NATO and the European Union, pointing out that Greece was among the first member-states to ratify the Accession Treaty of Bulgaria and Romania.

Meimarakis said he was pleased with the very good level of bilateral relations and with dynamic defense cooperation, adding that the bilateral program being carried out by the two ministries this year is the widest that Greece is implementing with another country.

Replying to a question on the plan to purchase 30 new combat aircraft, Meimarakis said the government will be examining both the defense and economic parameters before taking its final decision.

"According to the laws of our country and serving our defense potential and after we examine all parameters and following the proposal by the air force general staff, we will hold discussions at the collective government bodies and take the final decision. Always with national interest as the criterion, as every country does," Meimarakis said.

[06] Public Order Minister on the Balkans

SOFIA, 21/3/2006 (ANA-MPA)

Polydoras, who is currently in Bulgaria on occasion of the informal regional meeting of southeast European ministers of the interior, security and public order, said he was pleased that Bulgaria and Romania will soon become equal EU partners, adding that Greece has ratified their accession treaties.

He noted that the EU fully encourages coordination of action among Balkan countries in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.

Referring to the informal ministerial meeting, Polydoras said that both issues - terrorism and organized crime - were discussed, as was the political volition of southeast European countries to solve these problems in order to secure economic development, peace, citizens' prosperity and their EU accession prospects.

Finally, the minister also referred to the strengthening of relations both on a bilateral and regional level, strengthening commercial cooperation, and harmonizing national legislation with EU laws and furthering cooperation in police training issues.

[07] Government replies to Papandreou on youth unemployment

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

"To dispel all attempts to distort the truth, Papandreou in Lavrio on January 20, 2004 had said that all young people aged up to 25, that were high-school or technical school graduates, should be able to be hired by any sort of business, without either the businesses or the young people themselves having to pay social insurance contributions. For university and technical college leavers, the age limit could be 29 years," Roussopoulos said.

"These things were not said by Mr. De Villepin (the French premier backing the unpopular youth employment bill in France) nor the president of the Union of Greek Industry (SEB). They were said by the president of PASOK, who in a display of political surrealism is now calling on young people to rebel against him," the spokesman added.

Noting that the government "was telling the Greek people the truth, tidying up fiscal indices with the smallest possible cost and had reduced unemployment below 10 percent while maintaining steadily high rates of growth and establishing conditions for a true increase in the income of Greeks," Roussopoulos drew unfavorable comparisons with PASOK, "which as government for 20 years had vastly exacerbated the current crucial problems of the economy and society and systematically lied to the voters and the country's European partners".

In response to questions, the spokesman said that Papandreou was trying to "remove inalienable rights" that had been won with hard battles in previous centuries and could not just be scrubbed out in the 21st century.

"I realize that PASOK is trying to correct its pre-election gaffe, which Papandreou recently repeated in Parliament. I do not think it can be corrected. He must come out and plainly state that he was wrong," Roussopoulos noted.

He also referred to government measures to alleviate the plight of debtors who had fallen behind with loans saddled with very high interest payments, noting that the measures had benefited 63,220 debtors, of which 54,000 were farmers.

Of these, debt write-offs came to � 1.8 billion, of which � 1.1 billion were farmers' debts, and the percentage of debts written off came to 70 per cent of the total, on average, the spokesman said.

[08] Papandreou: Next elections will bring PASOK to power

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Papandreou also referred to the problems faced by tobacco-growers - a key crop in the area - and accused the government of not having carried out any negotiations to support tobacco growers at the European Union, , thus losing � 150 million "overnight".

More generally, he accused Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of not making any effort to boost the agricultural sector during negotiations for the 4th Community Support Framework, unlike Portugal, so that Greece ended up losing funds for agriculture.

Government spokesman: Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos, commenting on Monday on the speech made by main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou in Amfilohia, central Greece, said that "they are mistaken in PASOK if they think that inaccuracies, the distortion of the truth and black propaganda, to which they are resorting to lately, will remain without a reply."

The spokesman added that "Mr. Papandreou must realize that those who linked 20 years of governance to the lack of transparency and to serving interests, those who nursed the parasitical economy, the oligarchy and middlemen will not succeed in transferring the historic responsibilities placed on them elsewhere."

Roussopoulos concluded by saying that "Mr. Papandreou and his party must realize, at last, that you can deceive some for a short while but you cannot deceive everyone continuously."

[09] Cyprus House of Representatives Speaker in Athens on Tuesday

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Christofias is scheduled to meet with President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, Parliament President Anna Psarouda Benaki, Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis and opposition leaders.

He will also be addressing Cypriot students of the University of Athens, while on Thursday he will travel to Thessaloniki where he will give a lecture at the University of Macedonia.

[10] Doctors of the World protest building of West Bank wall

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The "Doctors of the World" said they were voicing their sensitivity, resulting from their experience, and highlighting problems arising from the wall the Israelis began to build in 2002.

The length of the wall is expected to exceed 622 kilometers, while 308 kilometers have been completed so far and it has been estimated that its length will be double that of the "green line" separating the West Bank from the state of Israel.

[11] European Commission responds to request for support of poultry markets

BRUSSELS, 21/3/2006 (ANA-MPA)

According to Minister of Agricultural Development and Foods Evangelos Bassiakos, European Commissioner responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel said during the meeting that she will be able to propose specific measures when the Council next convenes in April.

The support measures Greece requested also include an awareness campaign to help consumers regain their confidence in the poultry sector. Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos has made a related request to Margot Wallstrom, the European Commission's Vice President for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy.

Bassiakos met with Boel, at which time he discussed issues related to the implementation of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

During his meetings with EU counterparts, the Greek minister discussed addressing the crisis currently facing the poultry sector.

[12] Gov't ministers discuss port improvement projects

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

[13] Greek statistical data significantly improved, Commission spokeswoman says

21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Mrs Torres said she did not wish to be involved in a political confrontation in Greece on whether the country fulfilled the necessary economic criteria to enter the euro currency, but stressed that everyone knew the significant reviews of Greek statistical data made in the past.

"Today, however, the situation has improved significantly," Mrs Torres said, adding that community and Greek authorities were still in consultations over certain statistical data of local authorities and pension funds.

The Commissioners' spokeswoman also reminded that since the first problems with Greek economic data were noticed, the European Union has adopted a wide strategy both in European and national level, such as higher authorities to Eurostat -the EU executive's statistics agency- so to be in a position to identify faster and more effectively any such problems in the future, along with decisions taken by an EU Ministers' Council to boost the credibility of national statistics services.

Mrs Torres said Greece's accession in the euro currency was agreed by EU heads of state on the recommendations made by the European Central Bank and the European Commission. These recommendations were based on economic data submitted by the Greek authorities.

"What is important now, is that Greek statistical data's quality has improved significantly," the Commission's spokeswoman said, adding that the foundations have been placed to prevent any similar problems in the future.

[14] Poll shows Greek workers disapprove of govt, employers' moves

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The poll, conducted by Metron Analysis, showed that 61.9 pct of workers disapproved of the government's offer to raise pensions, 64.5 pct were negative on pay offers for wages, 64.3 pct disapproved measures to combat price increases in domestic markets, 66.5 pct were against measures to combat unemployment and 59.3 pct disapproved measures to reform the pension system.

The poll showed that 67.8 pct of workers said the government's new legislation favored mainly employers, and only 6.4 pct said they favored workers.

Only 4.1 pct of responding people said employers' proposals to abolish a national collective labor agreement was a positive move while only 6.9 pct said they were in favor of abolishing sector labor agreements.

A 83.7 pct of respondents said the best policy to combat unemployment in crisis-hit regions was the raise public and private investments, while only 2.3 pct said an employers' proposal to freeze wages and to abolish collective labor agreements were positive moves.

Commenting on a recent massive wave of mobilizations in France, Polyzogopoulos reiterated that Greek workers' unions supported French workers' demands and stressed that Greek workers would not accept any negative moves on the labor, economic and pension rights of young workers.

Polyzogopoulos said that if employers adopted the proposals made by SEB's president Odyseas Kyriakopoulos at the two sides' next meeting on Wednesday, then a clash would be inevitable.

[15] Rise in French tourists to Greece

PARIS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/O Tsipiras)

In 2005, 730,000 French visitors came to Greece, up from 650,000 in 2004, and the target for 2006 was 800,000, Mavrokordatos noted.

A key target was to show Greece as a holiday destination for all seasons, not merely the summer, he added.

On Sunday, an international tourism trade fair directed at the public ended in Paris. Greece participated with about 300 square meters.

[16] Greek chemicals sector rapidly growing, report

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Exports of chemical products totaled 1.68 billion euros in the first 10 months of 2005, up 23.92 pct from the same period in 2004, contributing a 15 percent to the final value of Greek exports, Hellas tat said in its report.

The Greek chemical product market's value grew by 14.3 pct in 2004 and 12.8 pct in 2003, based on an analysis of the results by the sector's 294 enterprises. Concentration in the sector is limited, with the top 10 enterprises accounting for 29.5 pct of total revenues, while enterprises with revenues above 3.0 million euros recording strong growth rates in the period 2002-2004.

The year 2004 was a period of strong growth for the sector. Hellastat said the 294 companies reported revenues totaling 1.5 billion euros, up 14.34 percent from 2003. Earnings totaled 78.24 million euros, up 14.3 pct, with 85 pct of companies in the sector reporting profits, 40.5 pct reporting improved results, and 33 pct lower results.

[17] Intralot signs new contract in Moldova

21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The contract envisages offering of Lotto game services using SMS in mobile telephony in Moldova.

Intralot said it has successfully operated a similar project with Voxtel, Moldova's leading mobile telephony operator owing 64 percent of the market. The number of mobile telephony subscribers in Moldova reached 900,000.

[18] Exports promotion board to focus on quality

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The move was to attract interest in Greek products abroad, the export board's deputy director in Thessaloniki, George Papasteryiopoulos, said in the northern port city.

A key issue was packaging, which needed to be upgraded to compete with similar foreign products, Papasteryiopoulos noted.

Other priorities were participation in trade fair and business delegations, accompanied by a program named Kerasma to link Greek foods through the country's cuisine and tourism, he added.

[19] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise on smaller cap buying

ATHENS, 21/3/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.27% up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 3.02% higher; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 3.55% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 216 to 61 with 48 remaining unchanged.

The stocks with the highest turnover were Alpha Bank, Piraeus Bank, OPAP, Emboriki Bank, and National Bank of Greece.

Derivatives Market Close: Intracom top in stock futures trade

Equity Index Futures: