Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-04-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Secretary of State Rice visits Athens

[02] U.S. secretary of state gives interview to ANA and four Athens newspapers

[03] Greek-US relations 'strongest in a decade and a half", Bryza says

[04] Visit by U.S. secretary of state brought greater concern for Greek people, PASOK foreign policy chief says

[05] Anti-war rallies held in Athens as Condoleezza Rice visits Greek capital

[06] Greek Social Forum protests against US foreign policy

[07] Bakoyannis briefs Cyprus president on Rice's visit

[08] Cyprus House of Representatives speaker comments on Condoleezza Rice's Athens visit

[09] Cabinet discusses draft bill on media licensing

[10] Greek gov't expresses condolences over victims in Dahab

[11] French anti-aircraft defense frigate arrives in Thessaloniki

[12] EU farm ministers approve support measures for poultry sector

[13] Investments of 1bln euros in energy transmission

[14] Budget revenue up 18.6%

[15] Pilots' school to operate in Kavala

[16] Greek jewellery sector urges for gov't support

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop

[18] Cypriot President condemns attacks in Dahab

[19] EP's Committee approves 138 million euros for Turkish Cypriots

[01] Secretary of State Rice visits Athens

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

During a press conference afterwards, Rice said that all options regarding Iran remain on the table but stressed that Washington's priority at this time was to intensify diplomatic efforts.

On her part, Bakoyannis underlined Greece's preoccupation with Iran's nuclear program and stressed the need for EU coordination and that decisions be made within the framework of the UN Security Council.

"We are in the midst of a diplomatic effort that still has some tools to use in order to become effective," Bakoyannis said, while urging Tehran to avoid statements that increased the distrust of the international community.

According to Bakoyannis, relations between Greece and the United States were now at their best level for many years. She said the two countries had an established strategic relationship as well as traditional ties of friendship and cooperation.

"Our objectives are in general identical, but as it is to be expected for democratic countries, for countries where the freedom of opinion prevails, we're not always identical as to how these objectives can be achieved. And that is why we collaborate systematically. We aim at the best possible coordination and promotion of our bilateral relations, politically and economically, to our mutual benefit" the Greek foreign minister said.

The two officials also discussed the situation in the Balkans - noting that a solution to the Kosovo issue should safeguard the region's stability - the Middle East, the war against terror and guarantees for the safety of energy sources.

Establishing stability and progress in southeastern Europe, fighting poverty, averting the proliferation of nuclear weapons, dealing with natural disasters and eliminating international terrorism were later listed by Bakoyannis as areas for political cooperation between Greece and the US.

Diplomacy still the US priority for Iran crisis: Answering questions about Iran, the US Secretary of State pointed out that Washington was "understands and believes that Iran is not Iraq" but stressed that "the US President doesn't take any options off the table".

"Our priority is to reinforce our diplomatic efforts....At this time it is essential to persuade Iran to comply using diplomatic means," she said.

Asked if the US was contemplating sanctions against Iran, Rice stressed that her country had no argument with the Iranian people:

"They deserve better than they are currently seeing from their government, because the actions of their government are isolating Iran further and further. The Iranian regime has said that it wants civil nuclear power. It can have civil nuclear power. But no one, given Iran's past behavior, is prepared to allow Iran under cover of a civil nuclear program to acquire the technologies that could lead to a nuclear weapon. And so that's the issue. It is not about Iran's right to civil nuclear power. It is about past behaviors that have convinced the international community that there need to be objective guarantees that this is not going to be a nuclear weapons program. And that means that these technologies cannot be available on Iranian soil", she said.

The US State Secretary said that there would be a return to the UN Security Council after the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) report to decide what the next steps would be but warned that there " we can't have another presidential statement, particularly in light of Iran's continued defiance of the international norms."

Cyprus and Turkish EU accession: Turning to the Cyprus issue and Turkey's efforts to join the European Union, Rice stressed that when the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU as a still-divided island, there had been an "understanding" that Nicosia would not subsequently hinder Turkey's EU accession but would even actively assist this if the EU so decided.

Stressing that Turkey "should have this European perspective", the US official underlined that the U.S. encouraged both the EU and Turkey because "Turkey is a European country."

At the same time, she conceded that " there is considerable work that remains to be done and, of course, issues concerning Cyprus are among the work that needs to be done".

" We do believe that there needs to be goodwill and effort by Turkey, but there also needs to be goodwill and effort by Cyprus. " Rice noted.

She added that Turkey should "do what it must on the outstanding Cyprus issues", while Cyprus should do what it can to "ease the isolation of northern Cyprus" (i.e the Turkish occupied area of the island) and "act responsibly" with respect to Turkey's efforts to join the European Union.

The US official also praised the "constructive attitude that Greece has taken concerning Turkey's European perspective."

The Greek foreign minister, on her part, expressed support for Turkey's European course but underlined that full EU membership should come "as the culmination of the full compliance of Turkey to its European course which they have chosen to follow."

Bakoyannis also stressed the need to ensure the unobstructed operation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul and underlined that Greece had taken courageous political and economic decisions with regard to Turkey.

"We are looking forward to our neighboring country's due response and we are stating today that this response is not the proper one. On the contrary, unfortunately, we are often faced with provocations that are not consistent with the spirit of good neighborly relations nor with the EU membership sought by Turkey," Bakoyannis underlined.

Regarding Cyprus, the Greek foreign minister called for a just, viable and functional solution and said that all sides should take advantage of the new momentum recently seen on this issue.

"We must create the conditions that will lead to a new effort in the framework of the UN. An effort that will offer serious guarantees of success. No one can stand another failure. Greece, always in cooperation with the Cyprus Republic, is working decisively and substantially in this direction," Bakoyannis said.

Energy security: In response to a question concerning energy security, both Rice and Bakoyannis stressed the need to provide guarantees for their safety.

Rice noted that this was an issue that concerned the EU as much as the US and that Washington supported ideas for alternative pipelines, without limiting its concern to the Russian monopoly.

Bakoyannis referred to Greek fuel pipeline projects and plans to make Greece an energy "hub" for the region. She said the Greek government thought the existence of varied energy sources important and stressed the important role of Greek shipping, which had a modern fleet of oil and gas tankers.

"Both in Greece and in the rest of Europe there is an effort to have energy sources from different locations, always in relation with the price of energy that we consume on a local level," she said.

After her meeting with the Greek foreign minister, Rice was received by Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis for a 35-minute meeting, accompanied by Bakoyannis. Immediately afterward, she left Greece for a visit to Turkey.

[02] U.S. secretary of state gives interview to ANA and four Athens newspapers

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Referring to the crisis with Iran, Rice reassured that "the time of diplomacy has certainly not finished", placing emphasis on discussions in the framework of the Security Council and the role of Greece which "being a non-permanent member of the Council during this period will have an extremely important voice at this stage."

The U.S. secretary of state also stressed that the international community is prepared to accept the possibility of Iran to have conventional nuclear energy, but she was categorical in that "we shall not allow Iran to obtain the technology required for making nuclear weapons."

She appeared reservedly optimistic over the possibilities of a unified position being adopted by the Security Council, making it clear that if this is not possible all countries wishing this must send a strict message to Iran in the framework of an "Alliance of the Willing."

Rice added that an "Alliance of the Willing does not mean an alliance for us to undertake military action. It means if we do not succeed in agreeing on certain logical steps at the Security Council to increase pressure on Iran certain countries wanting this will be able to do it."

Asked about Greece's role in the management of this crisis, she referred repeatedly to the significance of Greece's participation in the Security Council "that we will be taking decisions on this issue very soon."

Commenting on whether the possibility of military action can be ruled out, the secretary of state referred to a recent statement by President George W. Bush according to which all options are on the table.

In parallel, she reiterated in many cases that what is underway is a diplomatic process, pointing out that "Iran is not like North Korea, or like Iraq."

According to Rice, Iran is a country familiarized with diplomacy, which has diplomatic and economic relations with many countries which, in her view, the Iranian regime is placing in great danger with the stance it is following, leading the country to international isolation.

Questioned about Greece's role in the Balkans, the secretary of state said that Greece "has certainly played a constructive role", underlining that if we compare the present situation in the Balkans with that prevailing 15 years ago we shall see that it is "day and night", without this meaning that certain open issues do not still exist.

In her view, what is of decisive significance for the future of the Balkans is the continuation of the democratization process, as well as the European prospects of countries in the region in which, as she said, Greece has a very important role to play.

Asked whether Ankara can continue its European course without opening its ports and airports to the Republic of Cyprus, Rice said that "I would like to examine both here and in Turkey whether indeed there is a basis, and if yes what it is composed of, for a new effort to settle the issue of Cyprus. We must indeed see whether there is a basis. I do not think that we want to enter a process again of a coordinated and intensive international effort which will be led (again) to failure."

Rice also expressed the hope that the Greek Cypriots "who are, in any case, full members of the EU will use this participation of theirs to help in smoothing the accession of Turkey and not to block it. And this is so because a basic concern, when Cyprus was accepted at the European Union as a divided island, was that it would try to use this 'platform' to make Turkish accession difficult. Cyprus had always said that this was not the policy it would follow and, therefore, it must act today in precisely this direction."

[03] Greek-US relations 'strongest in a decade and a half", Bryza says

WASHINGTON, 25/4/2006 (ANA-MPA/A. Ellis)

According to Bryza, Rice intends to build on the hard work carried out by former Greek foreign minister Petros Molyviatis and current Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

The focus of talks while in Athens will be on the Balkans, with particular emphasis on Kosovo; cooperation in the broader Middle Eastern region where Greece hopes to play a more active role; Greek-Turkish relations; Turkey's EU accession; the Cyprus issue and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Bryza said.

Asked why Rice's program does not include a meeting with main opposition PASOK President George Papandreou, Bryza replied that the State Secretary's schedule is finalized on the spot, adding that Papandreou is well respected in Washington.

Regarding the Cyprus issue, Bryza said he hopes that Rice will have the opportunity to discuss in both Athens and Ankara how negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan can resume. He also said that he expects Rice to discuss the extension of the customs agreement between Turkey and the EU to include the Republic of Cyprus, an obligation Ankara must fulfill.

Asked about Turkey's reforms and its fulfillment of EU accession criteria, Bryza said that he would not be surprised if Rice were to bring up the issues of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Theological School of Chalki - which the US would very much like to see re-opened - as well as religious freedom in general, during her talks in Ankara.

[04] Visit by U.S. secretary of state brought greater concern for Greek people, PASOK foreign policy chief says

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Papoutsis added that Rice's "reference to 'northern Cyprus' is unacceptable to say the least" and noted that "unfortunately, it went without any comment and reaction by Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis who was present."

Referring to the issue of Iran, PASOK's representative said that "we are opposed to every prospect of war" and called on the government "to brief the Greek people with clarity on the positions it intends to take in the crucial decisions of the UN Security Council, the European Union and NATO."

KKE, Coalition parties criticize visit by Condoleezza Rice: The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) party on Tuesday criticized the visit to Greece by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

KKE hailed the participation of what it said was thousands of demonstrators in Tuesday's rallies against Rice's visit to Athens, adding that the joint press conference between the U.S. secretary of state and her Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis "confirms that the visit by Mrs. Rice does not forebode anything good for the Greek people and the peoples of the Balkans and the region of the Middle East."

The Communist Party further said that "the representative of the U.S. placed the victimizer and the victim in the same sack, Turkey and Cyprus, since she called on Cyprus to proceed with measures which will facilitate 'northern Cyprus'" and pointed out that "it is obvious that the people of Cyprus cannot be optimistic about the 'solution' being prepared on the issue of Cyprus."

Referring to the statement by Bakoyannis that the U.S. and Greece are strategic partners, KKE said that this "once again proves the class-oriented and anti-popular nature of ND's foreign policy as well."

Coalition party secretary Nikos Hountis denounced the attack carried out by riot police during Tuesday's anti-war protest by the Greek Social Forum, saying that "the teargas and the police rule in the capital cannot stop the wrath and indignation of Greek citizens over the bellicose and adventurous policy of the U.S. which Mrs. Rice is representing and promoting."

Hountis also said that "there is no excuse for Greece to align itself with those 'willing' for a new war in Iran which the U.S. is preparing."

[05] Anti-war rallies held in Athens as Condoleezza Rice visits Greek capital

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

One of the detainees, a 17-year-old boy, was caught holding a fire bomb and will be brought before a public prosecutor on Wednesday.

The incidents occurred when demonstrators tried to break police cordons at the intersections of Stadiou and Amerikis streets and Panepistimiou and Amerikis streets, but police intercepted them with the use of teargas and other chemicals.

They began when a group of hooded men, walking behind one of the rallies in Stadiou Street began to throw fire bombs and other objects against police who chased all the demonstrators in the direction of Omonia Square.

During the chase, the youths who started the incidents damaged 10 shops in Stadiou Street and looted a jewellery store. They also used fire bombs to destroy two foreign ministry cars and one belonging to a private security company.

[06] Greek Social Forum protests against US foreign policy

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Protestors gathered early on Tuesday at Klafthmonos Square in downtown Athens, chanting slogans such as "Hands off Iran" and "Greeks are not eager", expressing their opposition to US foreign policy.

Minor incidents were reported at the Panepistimiou Avenue and Amerikis Street intersection when some protestors tried to break through the police blockade interrupting their march towards Syntagma Square.

Police used tear gas forcing protestors to head towards Academias Street.

The Greek Social Forum demonstration, as well as the one organized by the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), ended on Tuesday afternoon.

[07] Bakoyannis briefs Cyprus president on Rice's visit

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Diplomatic sources said that Bakoyannis made the call immediately after the end of her meeting with Rice, who stopped briefly in Greece on Tuesday on a tour that will also take in Turkey and Bulgaria.

The same sources said there might be an additional brief meeting between Rice and Bakoyannis in Sofia, on the sidelines of a NATO ministers' meeting on April 27-28.

[08] Cyprus House of Representatives speaker comments on Condoleezza Rice's Athens visit

NICOSIA, 26/4/2006 (ANA-MPA/A.Viketos)

Commenting on contacts held in Athens by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Christofias said that "Washington cannot monopolies whatever efforts are being made on the issue of Cyprus."

He further said that interventions must have a collective nature with not only the participation of the Anglo-American factor but of the Security Council as well.

[09] Cabinet discusses draft bill on media licensing

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Minister of State Theodoros Roussopoulos noted afterward that dialogue concerning the bill had been underway since December and was now completed.

"Today I presented to the cabinet the basic proposals as these were formulated through public dialogue in which about 50 bodies throughout Greece participated, as well as the main opposition party and the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology, while the Communist Party of Greece has outlined its positions in Parliament," Roussopoulos told reporters.

He said the government had also taken into account a discussion that took place at the beginning of April at Parliament's institutions and transparency committee, while talks were also underway with the European Commission on matters related to competition and Community regulations that must be incorporated into Greek law.

According to Roussopoulos, the draft bill will be tabled and passed into law before the end of the present Parliament breaks up for the summer and that there would be another discussion by the cabinet when it was ready to be tabled in Parliament.

PASOK spokesman calls for timely presentation of mass media concentration bill: Main opposition PASOK party spokesman Nikos Athanassakis, commenting on Tuesday on statements by Minister of State and government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos on the bill regarding mass media concentration, said "we are expecting the minister of state to present the bill on mass media concentration in time, after its form has been finalized, to enable the possibility of a substantive discussion on specific arrangements."

Athanassakis also said that "the dialogue invoked by Mr. Roussopoulos refers to general basic principles for which agreements and disagreements might exist and have been set out. They must, however, take on the form of specific terms for there to be responsible positioning. The same applies, in any case, to announcements he made today as well, after the inner cabinet meeting."

The spokesman pointed out that "in this framework, PASOK has set out its views in both meetings with the minister of state and at the relevant meeting of the Institutions and Transparency Committee, having, at the same time, expressed its reservations for as long as the government does not present the text of the bill."

[10] Greek gov't expresses condolences over victims in Dahab

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis sent a letter to Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif expressing his condolences for the victims of the attack and assuring him that Greece categorically condemns all acts of violence, whatever their origin.

An announcement condemning the attack was also made by the Greek foreign ministry.

"We unequivocally condemn yesterday's [Monday's] terrorist act at Egypt's Dahab resort that took lives and resulted in the injury of a large number of innocent people," foreign ministry Spokesman George Koumoutsakos said.

"The entire international community is disgusted and saddened by this unacceptable and cowardly criminal act of random violence," he added.

Main opposition PASOK President George Papandreou sent a letter to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak expressing his condemnation for the criminal terrorist actions and his condolences to the Egyptian government and the Egyptian people.

[11] French anti-aircraft defense frigate arrives in Thessaloniki

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Speaking at a press conference, the captain said it was a French mission in which other NATO countries had participated. Before arriving in Thessaloniki, the frigate had also visited the ports of Souda, Valetta, Tripoli, Constanta, Odessa and Istanbul.

The vessel's crew is composed of 250 people having 60 different specialties and an average age of 27 years.

French consul Paul Ortolan spoke on his part of the "excellent relations" existing between France and the city of Thessaloniki.

The crew will be attending a memorial service at the allied cemetery of "Zeidelik" at 10.30 on Wednesday, while the frigate will be sailing for Toulon in France on April 28.

[12] EU farm ministers approve support measures for poultry sector

26/4/2006 (ANA)

This measure, introduced because of the negative market impact of the avian flu crisis, will allow the co-financing of 50 percent of the cost of market support measures linked to a drop in consumption and prices of eggs and poultry. Once it has been published in the EU's official journal in the coming days, member states will be able to submit proposed market support measures to the Commission for approval, subject to a vote in the management committee for eggs and poultry.

"I would like to thank agriculture ministers and the European Parliament for approving this proposal so quickly," said Mariann Fischer Boel, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. "Some countries have suffered a serious drop in consumption and prices in the poultry sector which could not be adequately compensated with the existing tools. Thanks to today's agreement, member states that so wish will be able to design measures best suited to their own particular situation. I hope these measures will be proportionate to the problems they face. In my view, the most sensible approach would be to compensate farmers for measures which temporarily reduce production."

Greek Agricultural Development and Foods Minister Evangelos Basiakos, addressing the council, urged EU ministers to withdraw all inventories of meat, poultry and eggs from European markets and for support measures to be offered to poultry producers throughout the production procedure and to agree to measure counterbalancing damages suffered by poultry producers during the avian flu crisis. The Greek minister also called for the immediate launch of a pan-European information campaign aimed to restore consumer confidence in poultry products. Basiakos also urged for measures to support fishermen suffering from an increasing cost of fuel.

[13] Investments of 1bln euros in energy transmission

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

The investments will be made primarily by Athens-quoted Public Power Corporation, and also by the national Electricity System Manager, Sioufas told a news conference.

Under a new development plan for the electricity transmission sector, key projects will be carried out in the country's central mainland, Attica, the Peloponnese and the Cyclades islands.

"The projects will make a substantial contribution to meeting ever increasing energy needs in the wider area," the minister noted.

Among the schemes are to dismantle aerial high-tension electricity transmission cables in western Attica, improving the quality of life for residents, he added.

[14] Budget revenue up 18.6%

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

The figures were above a target of a 10.3% increase, the ministry said in a statement.

Regular revenue grew by 11.2% in the same period against a target of 6.5%. Spending fell by 2.9% versus a targeted increase of 4.4%.

Primary spending rose by 2.8% against a target of 6.0%. Spending on interest fell by 23.8% versus a target of 1.8% down, the statement noted.

Revenue in the public investment program fell by 1.0% against a targeted increase of 26.2%. Spending under the program fell by 6.1% versus an 11.7% rise.

As a result the state budget deficit narrowed by 80.2% in the first quarter to total 489 million euros, the ministry said.

[15] Pilots' school to operate in Kavala

26/4/2006 (ANA)

According to statements by Kavala airport director Miltiades Papamiltiadis "the program which has begun to be applied in cooperation with a company abroad is now in an implementation orbit. The investments program, as well as interventions being made in the spaces to be used by the school's members have already started and at are a very good point. There are, of course, quite a few bureaucratic procedures. However, I believe that we will be consistent with the timetables set from the beginning and the school will operate within the time limit set."

The issue concerns an investment by Greek businessmen who have been active abroad for several years. According to initial planning, 75 percent of the clients of the school, which will issue officially certified pilots' degrees, will come from Britain, while it is predicted that 15 percent of clients will come from Arab countries and the Middle East, 10 percent from Balkan countries and 5 percent from Greece.

The school will offer all three types of degrees, as well as the final professional degree with all the essential preconditions set by airline companies and international standards.

According to the operational plan, the school will employ 25 people as staff, while the company's initial share capital will amount to 300,000 euros.

[16] Greek jewellery sector urges for gov't support

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

Only 17 percent of manufacturing enterprises in the sector, totaling 7,500 enterprises, reported exports and expects support from the state.

Vassilis Ioannou, president of the Athens Club of Jewell Manufacturers, in an interview with ANA-MPA, stressed that the industry should gain access to a Third and Fourth Community Support Framework programs to effectively deal with modern demands.

"Informal trade, non-export orientation, lack of training, incentives and tax counter-incentives are some of the most serious problems facing the sector," Ioannou said, adding that "after 1985, the sector was left without any state support to meet a deregulation of international markets, globalization and international competition".

Greek enterprises accounted for 0.5 pct of global production (down from 1.0 percent a few years ago). Greek enterprises employed an average three workers.

Ioannou urged the government to include the jewellery manufacturing sector to advertising campaigns organized by the Greek Tourism ministry abroad.

[17] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks drop

ATHENS, 26/4/2006 (ANA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 1.39% down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks closed 0.31% lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 1.57% down.

Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 214 to 57 with 42 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: