Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-07-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece urges Iran to accept incentives deal offered by major powers

[02] Greece endorses Security Council resolution vetoed by US calling for end to Israeli offensive in Gaza

[03] Special telephone centre at foreign ministry for Lebanon

[04] Deputy FM Theodoros Kasimis makes statement on return of Greek citizens from Lebanon

[05] Iranian foreign minister calls for intervention of int'l community and UN in Mideast crisis

[06] PASOK leader contacts Solana, Prodi and Arab League SG on Middle East crisis

[07] KKE accuses main parties of 'indifference' to plight of Palestinians

[08] Alavanos calls for government intervention to stop Middle East violence

[09] PM addresses ND party youth group festival in Lefkada

[10] Deputy FM Yiannis Valynakis holds talks with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

[11] Greek Armed Forces chief to visit Turkey

[12] PASOK's Papoutsis meets Cyprus FM, House president

[13] FinMin confers with deputy FM

[14] Alogoskoufis-Meimarakis discuss defense ministry budget

[15] Gov't, PASOK trade criticism over F/B routes, coastal shipping sector

[16] PASOK 'easing' into position of support for Emporiki privatization, SYN claims

[17] Tourism minister in Lefkas

[18] The 9th Symi Symposium opens on Samos on Sunday

[19] KKE leader Aleka Papariga addresses party rally in Volos

[20] Employment minister announces creation of 2,000 new jobs

[21] Greek electricity prices lowest in EU, Eurostat

[22] Greek exports to Turkey up 62.9 pct in Jan-May, yr/yr

[23] Drought not to affect Greek crop yields, Commission finds

[24] Bank of Greece governor meets Bulgarian counterpart

[25] Newspaper publisher Grigoris Michalopoulos back in prison

[26] Archbishop Christodoulos opens Balkan Byzantology conference in Prespes

[27] 66 illegal immigrants found in truck

[28] Fire at Thessaloniki landfill under control

[29] National Council deems as positive the agreement on technical committees

[30] Russia says Gambaris' visit to Cyprus was constructive

[31] Cyprus evacuated Cypriot and other nationals from Lebanon

[01] Greece urges Iran to accept incentives deal offered by major powers

Greece urges Iran to accept the incentives deal offered by the six major powers on the U.N. Security Council in exchange for Tehran giving up plans for uranium enrichment, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valinakis said on Friday after a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki in Athens.

He was referring to a package of energy and economic incentives offered to Iran by the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain, which went to the 15-nation Security Council on Thursday.

"Greece, as a member-state of the European Union and of the U.N. Security Council is interested and expects that the package of proposals submitted by the 'six' at the start of June will be clearly accepted by Iran so that negotiations might begin. We consider that Iran must, for its own part, open the prospect for negotiations through its answer and that the issue should leave the Security Council," Valinakis said.

His talks with Motaki had also covered the prospect of improving Greek-Iranian bilateral relations, especially in the economic and trade sectors, he added.

Regarding the renewed fighting in the Middle East, the deputy minister repeated Greece's position for "an end to the vicious circle of violence".

"Violence cannot solve any of the problems, it can only exacerbate and magnify them. Our position is that there must be self-restraint by all sides so that this vicious circle of violence does not continue," Valinakis stressed.

Regarding attempts to evacuate Greeks in Lebanon, the minister said that an Olympic Airlines plane was standing by in nearby Syria to assist in bringing home Greeks that were either already there or were on their way.

Athens on Friday again called for self-restraint by all sides amid the latest unsettling crisis in the Middle East, with Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis warning that "unrestricted military action" over the past few days in Lebanon has dramatically escalated the already tense situation.

Bakoyannis stressed that such unrestricted military action should be avoided, "along with an excessive reaction, strikes against civilians and against infrastructure used primarily by them (civilians)".

Moreover, she echoed other Greek officials in stressing that the ongoing situation causes distress in Athens and heightened concern within the international community -- "these reactions in tandem with the abductions of Israeli soldiers that preceded, as well as military strikes against Israeli regions, exacerbate the impasse in the Middle East."

Meanwhile, the foreign ministry announced that additional Olympic Airways planes have been made available for flights to Amman, Jordan and Damascus, Syria, if necessary, to airlift Greek or European nationals from the area. Some 50 Greek nationals in Lebanon have already requested their repatriation, whereas the Cyprus government has also made a relevant request for the transport of its citizens.

[02] Greece endorses Security Council resolution vetoed by US calling for end to Israeli offensive in Gaza

Greece and nine other countries voted in favor Thursday night of a Qatar-introduced resolution at the UN Security Council demanding that Israel halt its military offensive against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and that it releases the Palestinian officials it has arrested, the adoption of which, however, was blocked by a veto by the US, while the four other member countries on the 15-member Security Council abstained.

Ten countries voted in favor of the draft resolution, which was sponsored by Qatar on behalf of other Arab countries, namely Argentina, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Greece, Japan, Qatar, Russia and Tanzania, while Denmark, the UK, Peru and Slovakia abstained.

The final draft, which was repeatedly reworked to iron out concerns that it was biased against Israel -- including the addition of a call for the immediate and unconditional release of a 19-year-old soldier Israeli soldier captured by armed Palestinian groups on June 15 and a call on the Palestinians to stop firing rockets at Israel -- accused Israel of a "disproportionate use of force" that endangered Palestinian civilians, and demanded that Israel withdraw its troops from Gaza.

The resolution further called on Israel and the Palestinians to "take immediate steps to create the necessary conditions for the resumption of negotiations and restarting the peace process", while it urged all parties to help alleviate the "dire humanitarian situation" faced by Palestinians.

Despite the additions, US representative to the UN, Ambassador John Bolton, claimed that the draft was "still unacceptable" because it had been "overtaken" by events in the region, including the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah militants on Wednesday, and "unbalanced".

This was the first veto at the UN Security Council in nearly four years. The last veto, also cast by the US, blocked a resolution in October 2004 condemning another Israeli operation in Gaza. Eight of the last nine vetoes in the Security Council have been cast by the US, seven of which concerned the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Security Council will be holding another urgent session on Friday, to discuss the situation in the Middle East, at the request of the government of Lebanon.

[03] Special telephone centre at foreign ministry for Lebanon

The special telephone centre with the foreign ministry's Crises Management Committee has become operational as of 17:00 hours on Friday, with which citizens having a particular interest in Greek nationals in Lebanon can communicate.

The telephone centre's number is 210-3681912 (12 lines).

[04] Deputy FM Theodoros Kasimis makes statement on return of Greek citizens from Lebanon

Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kasimis made a statement on Friday evening, explaining arrangements made by the Greek government to enable Greek citizens in Lebanon to return home safely.

"We have completed consultations with all the governments involved, we have sent relevant documents and two coaches with Greek flags have already left our embassy in Beirut, ahead of which is a car of the Lebanese police. The coaches will be led to the borders with Syria where they will be received by diplomats of ours on Syrian territory and they will be led to the airport of Damascus. There, the boarding will follow of an Olympic Airlines aircraft that will leave Athens at 23:00 with officials of the foreign ministry. The group on board the coaches is comprised of 83 people, of which one is a Czech, six French and about 30 Cypriots, while the rest are Greeks. It was requested by the government of Cyprus that during the return the aircraft should land at Larnaca airport to disembark the Cypriots it will be carrying and then it will come to Athens," Kasimis said.

"This is what we intend to do at the moment. The flight plan has been agreed with the governments that are involved, we have received all the permissions, all governments have been notified and we believe that everything will be fine," the deputy minister added.

[05] Iranian foreign minister calls for intervention of int'l community and UN in Mideast crisis

Iran's visiting Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki called for the intervention of the international community and the United Nations to "stop this crime", referring to the situation in the Middle East, in statements he made after meetings he had in Athens on Friday with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Valinakis.

Motaki said that in the meetings he had, held in consideration of Greece's very good standing with the Middle East countries, discussions centered on the need for all sides to make the necessary moves to ease the tension.

Responding to a question on whether Iran backs the Hezbollah organization, as charged by Israel, and whether the seized Israeli soldiers were being held in Iran, the Iranian foreign minister said that Israel always accuses others for its own actions. He added that Israel should give an answer regarding the abduction and disappearance of Iranian diplomats 25 years ago, pointing out that both and Palestinians and the Lebanese have stated that they are ready to proceed with a prisoner exchange. He concluded that the most reasonable solution will be to listen to the reasonable and just voices of the Palestinians and the Lebanese, as it had been pledged by the "Zionist regime".

Referring to the latest developments in the Middle East, Motaki said that the situation is alarming and dangerous adding that the latest Israeli attacks on Palestinians, the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, the attacks against Lebanon, have caused great concern in all Islamic countries.

He said that Israel has proven once again that it does not meet its international commitments and particularly, the commitment it has undertaken since April 1996 that it will refrain from attacks on populated areas and cooperate for the exchange of prisoners. He added that over 10,500 Palestinians are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails and hundreds of Lebanese are in those jails too, some of them for decades.

The Iranian foreign minister also stressed that in the meeting he had with the prime minister they discussed bilateral relations, and regional cooperation.

[06] PASOK leader contacts Solana, Prodi and Arab League SG on Middle East crisis

Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader and Socialist International (SI) President George Papandreou had separate telephone conversations on Friday with European Union High Commissioner for Foreign Policy, Security and Defense Javier Solana, the Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on the Middle East crisis, a party press release said.

Papandreou's contacts fall within the framework of the initiative undertaken by him and the SI for the Middle East and Iran's nuclear program, the press release said.

Papandreou's telephone conversation with the Italian prime minister was made in light of the latter's participation in the G8 Summit in Saint Petersburg. Prodi informed the SI president on his own telephone conversation with the prime minister of Lebanon while a contact between Prodi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was also deemed useful, the PASOK announcement concluded.

[07] KKE accuses main parties of 'indifference' to plight of Palestinians

The leader of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Aleka Papariga on Friday accused the government and the main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) of showing indifference to the plight of the Palestinians and to the latest flare-up of violence in Lebanon.

"The fact is the war in Lebanon is starting to spread and we don't know where it is going," Papariga stressed.

"For them to talk about dialogue and make recommendations to the two sides is a crime. There is only one issue. Israel must stop the attack and the occupation of Palestinian territories. This is what is required. And the rallying point must be exclusively and only around the rights of the Palestinian people and nothing else," she said.

Commenting on the upcoming local government elections, meanwhile, the KKE general secretary pointed out that these were once again dominated by the political parties and that the local election vote was therefore also a political vote.

[08] Alavanos calls for government intervention to stop Middle East violence

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) leader Alekos Alavanos on Friday called for intervention by the Greek government to stop the violence in the Middle East and to condemn Israel's policies, after a meeting with a delegation representing Arabs in Greece.

He also stressed the importance of an initiative undertaken by the Committee of Representatives of Social Organizations from Arab countries in Greece, who are seeking to create a local Arab Association that will help the Arab community in Greece deal with their particular problems and highlight the cultural links between Greeks and Arabs.

Alavanos called on the government to adopt a clearcut stance, demanding an end to attacks and barbarous acts by Israel in the Gaza Strip, West Bank and Lebanon and for a resumption of the process for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian problem and the Middle East problem based on the resolutions of the United Nations.

[09] PM addresses ND party youth group festival in Lefkada

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Friday addressed the festival of the ruling New Democracy party's youth group ONNED on the Ionian island of Lefkada.

"The upgrading of education, the upgrading of the public university is the basic priority of the government over the coming period," the prime minister said.

"We are promoting reforms that strengthen the social role of higher education, that guarantee more opportunities, secure degrees for work, success, social and professional accomplishment, degrees that will have an upgraded value both in our country and in European and world competition," he added.

Karamanlis further said that "we are working and cooperating to enable all of us to build together a qualitative and productive education that will help young women and young men to gain the opportunities that appear and achieve their targets, to realize your dreams."

The prime minister pointed out that changes are necessary "because no educational system can be surpassed by the continuous production of knowledge, it cannot remain distant from what is taking place on the international scene, it cannot remain static and produce unemployed people with degrees".

"We have set high targets and we are achieving them one by one," the prime minister underlined.

Karamanlis said that the traditional advantages of the country are becoming more competitive, Greece is becoming an international energy corridor and the centre of high quality services in tourism, trade, transport, shipping, health, education and culture. "The government's policies are already producing tangible results," he said.

"The dramatic deficits of the past are being limited drastically. Growth is proceeding at rates that are more than double the eurozone average, the competitiveness of the economy, following many years of recession, has already gained eight positions in the international ranking in the past year, the extroversion of the economy is becoming a reality, exports are increasing at unprecedented rates, the tourist industry is re-cording a considerable improvement, unemployment has begun to decrease, employment is increasing, the climate is improving all over the country and Greece is in a new growth orbit," the prime minister stressed.

Karamanlis also said that the policy of separation into "two Greeces has been left to the past and the conception of the one and the other Greece has been brushed aside."

Earlier, the prime minister visited the museum at the Panagia Faneromeni Monastery in Lefkada, while on Saturday morning he will be visiting the island's prefecture.

[10] Deputy FM Yiannis Valynakis holds talks with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

Visiting U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Euroasian Affairs Matthew Bryza, speaking after talks on Friday with Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis, said he was satisfied with the outcome of talks between Alternate UN Secretary General Ibrahim Gampari and Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

"We are very satisfied alone that President Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat met. We are also pleased that they agreed to meet regularly, to begin technical talks and prepare an agenda on issues of substance. This is very good. Who knows, however, where it will lead to. I also stressed our support for a process for an overall solution under the guidance of the secretary general. Our policy is for us to pursue the reunification of the island in a bizonal, bicommunal federation and I underlined that every step taken by the U.S. for Cyprus aims at facilitating reunification," Bryza said.

The American diplomat also spoke of a "creative and constructive meeting during which it was pointed out that the strategic orientations of the two countries are aligned."

Valynakis said on his part that he and Bryza discussed "the prospects for the restarting of the process (on Cyprus), provided that it has been prepared seriously and can lead to a solution that will be just, viable and workable in accordance with the resolutions of the UN and taking into consideration that Cyprus is a member of the European Union."

As regards the European course of Turkey and the Western Balkans, Valynakis said that "Greece supports the European adjustment of Turkey and the Western Balkans, on condition always that these countries fulfill the criteria and the preconditions set by the European Union" and explained that "the course towards Europe is a course of adjustment and of fulfillment of criteria set by the European Union."

Valynakis also said that he had a telephone conversation with European Union High Commissioner for Foreign Policy Javier Solana whom he briefed on contacts that have already taken place from Greece's side concerning the situation in the Middle East.

[11] Greek Armed Forces chief to visit Turkey

Hellenic National Defense General Staff Chief Admiral Panagiotis Hinofotis will visit Turkey on July 26-28 at the invitation of Commander-in-Chief of Turkey's armed forces General Hilmi Ozkok, according to a statement issued by the Greek National Defense General Staff.

The two armed forces' chiefs will exchange views on issues of mutual interest and consider ways to boost mutual trust and understanding.

[12] PASOK's Papoutsis meets Cyprus FM, House president

Christos Papoutsis, responsible for foreign policy, security and defense of the main opposition PASOK party, held separate talks here on Friday with Cyprus Foreign Minister George Lillikas and President of the House of Representatives Demetris Christofias focusing, apart from the Cyprus issue, on the current Middle East crisis.

Papoutsis expressed his deep concern over developments and wondered why the UN Security Council "has not yet taken any initiative for peace and the ending of violence and bloodshed."

"Greece and Cyprus must follow closely the situation and contribute to every effort aiming at security and peace in the region," he added.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Papoutsis termed as a "positive development" the agreement reached last Saturday between Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the presence of UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari, and noted the need for "a new approach and a safe framework for the resolution of the Cyprus problem."

"This framework," he added "should be defined by the UN resolutions, the European Union treaty and the acquis communautaire, that is why the EU Commission should be proximately involved in the efforts for a solution."

"PASOK encourages every effort for a just solution on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation which will open the way for a common European future between Greek and Turksih Cypriots," the PASOK official concluded.

Papoutsis is on the island republic at the invitation of the Socialist EDEK party to participate in events commemorating the 1974 coup d'etat and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus that followed. Later in the evening he addressed, together with EDEK President Yiannakis Omirou a public meeting on the same occasion.

[13] FinMin confers with deputy FM

Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis met with Deputy Foreign Minister Theodoros Kassimis on Friday and discussed issues concerning the Greeks living abroad.

[14] Alogoskoufis-Meimarakis discuss defense ministry budget

Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Defense Minister Vangelis Meimarakis discussed the defense ministry budget in a meeting they had on Friday.

The two ministers concluded that the defense ministry budget is being implemented at a satisfactory pace.

[15] Gov't, PASOK trade criticism over F/B routes, coastal shipping sector

The government on Friday flatly dismissed recent comments by a top main opposition PASOK deputy over the current situation with ferryboat connections and port services in the country, a heated issue that often arises during the height of the summer tourism season when tens of thousands of holidaymakers head for the east Mediterranean country's numerous islands.

"Whoever impersonates the role of a tardy critic for petty partisan reasons simply demolishes the work of people in the coastal shipping sector, ridiculing the country abroad and hurting the tourism sector," alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said in response to same-day criticism by top PASOK MP and former minister Theodoros Pangalos.

"They (PASOK) left coastal shipping vulnerable to vested interests for many years. They should now, at least, display a bare minimum of responsibility," the spokesman said.

Earlier, Pangalos, during a press conference, took the government to task for a series of problems recorded over recent weeks in ferryboat connection to and from the port of Piraeus (greater Athens area) to various islands.

Among others, Pangalos said the recent deregulation of fares merely increased prices instead of boosting competitiveness, while calling on the government to clearly state whether it will lift a 30-year maximum age limit for Greek-flagged ferry boats.

Asked about proposals, mainly from leftist and communist MPs and cadres, for a "state-run" or nationalized ferry boat fleet to service the islands, Pangalos stressed:

"We're fanatical adversaries of state control ... the experiment with a 'people's fleet' has failed. I am adamant in my position that when a vital and basic public need is not covered by the private sector, then the state must intervene," Pangalos said, while adding: "I do not know the way, there is an entire gamut of interventions (the state could take), one could be a better policy regarding bank borrowing; it could be a relationship between ferry boat operators and banks; it could mean foreign-flagged ship," he said.

[16] PASOK 'easing' into position of support for Emporiki privatization, SYN claims

The main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) was easing itself into a position of support for the privatization of state-owned Emporiki Bank, Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party Political Bureau member Panagiotis Lafazanis asserted on Friday.

Commenting on a meeting earlier that day between PASOK Secretary Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou and the Emporiki Bank employee association, the head of SYN's economic and social policy sector stressed that references to the bank's privatization had been conspicuously absent from the statements made afterwards by Xenoyiannakopoulou.

"PASOK is aiming to become an accomplice in the government's political crime of selling off Emporiki. The consensual promotion of privatizations, especially in strategic areas of the economy, are converting our country into a 'banana republic' or neoliberal globalization," Lafazanis said.

In her statements, Xenoyiannakopoulou had chiefly underlined PASOK's opposition to any measures or developments that would impinge on the rights of the bank's staff or lead to the sale of the 21 percent of stock owned by social insurance funds.

[17] Tourism minister in Lefkas

Tourism Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia arrived on the Ionian island of Lefkas on Friday in order to participate in a three-day festival organized on the island by ruling New Democracy's youth group ONNED.

Petralia will deliver the keynote address during a political debate on Saturday on "Regional and Tourist development in Greece - the role of youth".

While on Lefkas, the minister will visit its tourist marina and meet local tourist bodies.

On Sunday, she will tour the nearby islands of Ithaki and Kefallonia to inspect infrastructure works, meeting local government and tourist body officials.

[18] The 9th Symi Symposium opens on Samos on Sunday

Main opposition party PASOK leader George Papandreou will open the proceedings of the 9th Symi Symposium on Sunday. The symposium is organized by the Andreas G. Papandreou Foundation and will take place on July 16-22 on the east Aegean island of Samos.

The principle theme of this year's Symposium is 'Creative Cities in the 21st Century: How to Nurture Change, Growth and Sustainable Development.'

Participants will explore issues such as encouraging citizens to participate in civic governance; creating pluralistic communities; the impact of technology and migration on urban environment; and how urban planning affects development, the environment, and quality of life on both a local and global level.

The Symi Symposium, named after the island of Symi, brings together progressive politicians, academics, activists, and entrepreneurs to exchange views on some of the most important issues on the global agenda.

The symposium proceedings will be completed on Friday, July 21 with the presentation of its conclusions by the president of PASOK.

Among this year's participants are, Socialist International Secretary Luis Ayala, UNDP administrator Kemal Dervis, Sweden's Education Minister Leif Pagrotsky, 1998 Economics Nobel Prize winner professor Amartya K. Sen, Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.

[19] KKE leader Aleka Papariga addresses party rally in Volos

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga addressed a party rally in the city of Volos, central-eastern Greece, on Friday, urging working people to abandon the two mainstream parties of ruling New Democracy and PASOK.

"The issue that we now raise is one and only:until when will such a large percentage of working people who are really suffering, whose standard of living has visibly declined will allow time to pass without immediately and here and now not making the most realistic and determined step that is necessary, meaning to turn their backs on ND and PASOK once and for all, to punish them, to break away from sentimentalities and utopian hopes that at some time they will be heard and things will get better," she said.

"Condemnation must take place with struggles and through struggles, with the vote and through every election process, from the election of an administration at a union and society, up to political elections, immediately in the elections for the municipalities and the prefectures," Papariga added.

The KKE leader further said that working people "must begin to probe the alternative solution that they need, to become acquainted with the positions of KKE on the creation of the Front, for the struggle for a people's power and economy."

[20] Employment minister announces creation of 2,000 new jobs

Employment and Social Solidarity Minister Savvas Tsitouridis said on Friday that 2,000 new jobs will be created through the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) and programs, as well as through the subsidization of 300 new free professions with 12,000 euros.

The minister also announced that 500 new jobs will be created in the prefecture of Ilia, in the Peloponnese, and another 150 that will concern the prefecture's northern regions.

Referring to protection for the unemployed, Tsitouridis announced the creation of a Social Solidarity Fund with a law that will be tabled in Parliament in September.

To be included in this fund, and after all possible intervention has been exhausted, will be regions of high unemployment, sectors that are declining and unemployed people over the age of 50 who will be receiving benefits either until they reach pensioning limits or until they find new employment.

As regards the social insurance issue, Tsitouridis stressed that pensioning age limits will not be increased, or insurance time or pensioning contributions.

[21] Greek electricity prices lowest in EU, Eurostat

Greece recorded the lower electricity prices, including all taxes, for households in the European Union in January, Eurostat said on Friday, with Greek electricity prices half the EU-25 average price.

Household electricity prices with an average consumption of 3,500 KWh per year totalled 7.01 euros per 100 KWh in Greece, followed by Lithuania (7.18 euros), Estonia (7.31 pct), Latvia (8.29). The highest prices were recorded in Denmark (23.62 euros), Italy (21.08), Holland (20.87) and Germany (18.32). The EU-25 average price was 14.16 euros in January

Greece also recorded the lowest electricity price in the EU, based on purchasing power units per 100 KWh (8.01), followed by the UK (9.05), Finland (9.38), France (10.92), while the highest prices were recorded in Slovakia (24.48), Italy (20.23), Poland (20.05) and Holland (19.15).

Eurostat said household electricity prices rose 1.9 pct in January, compared with the same month last year, while prices in the EU-25 rose an average 4.6 pct over the same period. Austria (5.2 pct) and Belgium (2.6 pct) recorded the biggest price declines, while Cyprus (31.4 pct), Malta (23.2 pct) and the UK (14.2 pct) recorded the biggest percentage increases.

Greece also recorded one of the lowest electricity prices for industrial use. Electricity price for an average consumption of 2,000 MWh totalled 6.68 euros per 100 KWh in January, compared with 8.63 euros in the EU-25. Italy (12.08) and Cyprus (11.36) recorded the biggest prices in January, while Latvia (4.09) and Lithuania (4.98) the lowest prices.

[22] Greek exports to Turkey up 62.9 pct in Jan-May, yr/yr

Greece's trade deficit with Turkey shrank in the first five months of 2006, with Greek exports rising 62.9 pct to 436.1 million US dollars, from 267.7 million in the same period last year, raising the share in the Turkish import market to 0.8 pct from 0.6 pct over the same period, respectively.

Turkish exports to Greece rose 12 percent to 546.1 million euros in the January-May period, from 487.4 million US dollars last year, totaling 1.7 pct of Turkish exports, while the volume of bilateral trade rose 30 percent in the five-month period to 982.2 million US dollars, from 755.1 million dollars in 2005.

[23] Drought not to affect Greek crop yields, Commission finds

Low rainfall in southern Europe this year is not expected to have an appreciable impact on Greek crop yields, according to a survey released on Friday by the European Commission.

These are expected to stay roughly the same levels as last year and to be significantly higher than average crop yields in the past five years, except for maize production, which is expected to be about 2.9 percent lower than the five-year average and 0.3 percent less than last year.

Crop yields throughout the EU are also expected to remain high, with a 2.3 percent reduction for hard wheat and a 4.4 percent reduction for spring barley.

The Commission issued a warning, however, over low water reserves in areas that have been repeatedly stricken by drought in the past 15 years, including the south of France, Catalonia in Spain, Sardinia and central and northwest Italy.

[24] Bank of Greece governor meets Bulgarian counterpart

Bank of Greece Governor Nikolaos Garganas met on Friday with his Bulgarian counterpart Ivan Iskrov.

On the occasion of his visit to Athens, Iskrov gave a lecture at the central bank's headquarters on "The Bulgarian Economy on the way towards European Economic and Monetary Union".

In his speech, the Bulgarian official referred to the "important progress achieved" by his country during recent years in implementing structural reforms, aiming at macroeconomic stability and strengthening the country's credit system. Iskrov also referred to Greek firms' and banks' contribution to the growth of the neighboring country's economy and banking system.

[25] Newspaper publisher Grigoris Michalopoulos back in prison

Newspaper publisher Grigoris Michalopoulos was led back to prison on Friday after a court of appeals sentenced him to serve nine years in prison for forgery and attempted blackmail of the families of tycoons Latsis and Angelopoulos. A first instance court had sentenced Grigoris Michalopoulos to an 18-year prison term.

Also, the court of appeals acquitted him of charges concerning the blackmail of Vouliagmeni mayor Vasilis Kasidokostas.

Michalopoulos requested the suspension of his sentence but the court rejected his request, suggesting to him to appeal to the responsible prosecutor.

About three years ago, the publisher of the Athens daily Eleftheri Ora faced criminal charges for blackmail and attempted fraud for attempting to extort money from leading industrialists and churchmen, several of whom he allegedly threatened with execution by the November 17 terrorist group.

[26] Archbishop Christodoulos opens Balkan Byzantology conference in Prespes

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos on Friday declared the official opening of the first Balkan Byzantology Conference organized by the Florina diocese and Prespes Municipality.

The conference is on "Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Prespa" and is taking place within Prespes lake district, an important wildlife reserve and an area noted for both its unique natural beauty and its rich Byzantine heritage.

[27] 66 illegal immigrants found in truck

A Greek man was arrested on migrant smuggling charges in the village of Mandra, near the city of Didimoticho, northeastern Greece, when border police found a total of 66 illegal immigrants hidden in his truck, police said on Friday.

The driver, who faces charges of trafficking in persons and facilitating illegal immigration, and the 66 illegal migrants are due to appear before a public prosecutor.

[28] Fire at Thessaloniki landfill under control

A fire that broke out on Friday at a landfill in Tagarades, Thessaloniki was now under control, the fire department said.

Local authority officials stressed that the fire was confined to a small area of the landfill and that there was no risk of it spreading. The fire was caused by accumulated methane gases generated by buried organic refuse, which ignited under pressure.

A ground shift caused by the fire had also allowed leachate to escape the boundaries of the landfill, they said, stressing that leachate was not dangerous though possibly burdened with toxic chemicals.

Local authority staff also underlined the need to complete infrastructure works at the landfill and that bids for the construction of a leachate purifying plant will be opened next week.

[29] National Council deems as positive the agreement on technical committees

The National Council, top advisory body to the President of Cyprus regarding the Cyprus question, deems as positive the agreement reached last Saturday between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, in the presence of UN Undersecretary General for political affairs Ibrahim Gambari.

The National Council, which convened Friday under President Tassos Papadopoulos, assessed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, reaffirming its political will to contribute to the effective implementation of the agreement, Government Spokes-man Christodoulos Pashiardis said after the four-hour meeting of the Council.

He added that President Papadopoulos briefed the members of the Council on his meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat for the missing persons issue, on the talks he held with Gambari, on the common meeting with Talat in the presence of Gambari, as well as on his trip to Athens, where he held meetings with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias and the leaders of the political parties in Greece.

In a statement after the National Council meeting, Pashiardis said that President Papadopoulos informed the Council about the issues concerning Cyprus in the European Union and the Euro-Turkish relations, and expressed his views regarding the developments and the prospects of the Cyprus problem.

''The members of the National Council deem that the common meeting with Talat and the agreement reached constitute a positive step, which we hope will lead to substantive negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem,'' Pashiardis said, adding that the Council ''reaffirmed the political will of the Greek Cypriot side to contribute to the effective implementation of the agreement.''

Pashiardis said that the members of the National Council expressed their views and projections regarding developments in the Cyprus issue, and exchanged views on the further handling of the Cyprus problem.

Asked whether the members of the Council exchanged views as to the prospects of implementing the agreement, Pashiardis said ''they expressed the common position of our side that we will do our utmost so that the agreement is effective.''

''Our side would like to see the agreement being implemented with the goal to pave the way for substantive negotiations leading to a mutually agreed solution of the Cyprus problem,'' he pointed out.

Asked whether there was a coincidence of views among the parties on the handling of the Cyprus problem, he said ''there was consensus and common understanding.''

Pashiardis noted that, according to the agreement reached between President Papadopoulos and Talat, by the end of July both sides have to prepare a list with issues to be discussed at the technical committees regarding day-to-day issues, as well as issues of substance.

''Our side has started to commit to paper the day-to-day issues and the issues regarding the substance of the Cyprus problem. We are also in contact with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus, Michael Moller,'' he said.

Pashiardis urged main opposition party Democratic Rally (DISY), which decided to suspend its participation in the National Council, ''not to scarify the substance for the procedure.''

DISY has stated that the main reasons for suspending its participation in the National Council are functional weaknesses and cover-up of dysfunctions of the Council.

[30] Russia says Gambaris' visit to Cyprus was constructive

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs sees the recent visit of UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari to Cyprus as constructive and believes it will contribute to resuming efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In a statement to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, given on the eve of the G8 meeting in Saint Petersburg, the Ministry's Spokesman Mikhail Kaminin said Russia is actively participating in international efforts aiming at a Cyprus settlement and continues on a permanent basis to follow developments on and regarding the island.

Referring to the meeting Gambari had with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Kaminin pointed out that the leaders of the two communities on the island showed a constructive approach and will to secure the necessary dynamic in preparing and carrying out bicommunal talks.

Kaminin reiterated Russia's position that a settlement could be viable only if the two sides agree on all its aspects.

[31] Cyprus evacuated Cypriot and other nationals from Lebanon

Cypriot authorities evacuated from Lebanon early Friday morning, via Damascus, a total of 115 persons, after Israel launched an air, land and sea blockade on Beirut.

A jet chartered by the Cypriot government arrived in Larnaca at 0630 (0330 GMT) carrying 102 Cypriots, six English, four Czechs, two French and one American citizen from Beirut.

Speaking to CNA, Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary Ambassador Sotos Zakheos expressed satisfaction with the all-night long coordinated efforts by the ministry's crisis team to facilitate the safe return of Cypriot and other nationals from Lebanon.

Zakheos said that the aircraft arrived in Cyprus after a six-hour delay because the buses carrying Cypriot and other nationals had to change route on their way to Damascus.

''The journey was very long and it took a lot of effort to ensure that these persons would be taken safely to Damascus, since the roads linking the Syrian capital with Beirut were extremely busy,'' Zakheos noted.

The Cypriot official also said that the foreign ministry is trying to evacuate some five Cypriots in southern Lebanon.

''We will continue efforts to see how we can get them out of a very difficult situation, since the area is cut off with battered roads and bridges,'' Zakheos added.

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