Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 06-08-24

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

CONTENTS

[01] FM Dora Bakoyannis arrives in Beirut, meets Lebanese counterpart

[02] FM Bakoyannis meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

[03] Tripartite meeting between Greek, Russian and Bulgarian leaders on September 4

[04] PM confers with Nat'l Education Council chief on reforms

[05] PASOK leader launches scathing attack on gov't

[06] Government sending team of ministers to fire-stricken Chalkidiki

[07] No risk for tourists in Chalkidiki, minister tells consuls in Thessaloniki

[08] Government earmarks €1.0 million for emergency fire relief in Macedonia

[09] Deputy foreign minister Kassimis to visit Australia next week

[10] Peace, anti-globalization groups announce rallies next month over Mideast issue

[11] PM hosts dinner for ND deputies

[12] Yennimata-Skandalidis meeting

[13] Main opposition tables draft bill for income-linked heating subsidy

[14] OA ground equipment handlers threaten strike

[15] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks flat

[16] Firefighters continue to battle blaze in Kassandra, volunteer reforestation campaign launched

[17] Forest fire will not affect tourism in Chalkidiki, hoteliers say

[18] Fires still raging in Laconia, Arcadia

[19] Returned artifacts from Getty Museum on display here next week

[20] Greek participation in 10th Venice International Architectural Biennale

[21] Joint initiative by Church, Dodecanese prefecture to host children from Lebanon

[22] Greece beats Brazil 91-80 in World Basketball Cup match

[23] President Papadopoulos opens overseas Cypriots' conference

[24] President hopes Turkish Cypriots will cooperate to prepare talks

[25] Cypriot FM Lillikas to attend EU FMs session on Lebanon

[01] FM Dora Bakoyannis arrives in Beirut, meets Lebanese counterpart

BEIRUT, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

After their meeting, Salloukh warmly praised Greece's stance during Israel's attack against Lebanon, saying that Greece took decisions "that deserve credit" and had asked for a ceasefire as soon as the war began.

"There would not be so many dead, or such great destruction of infrastructure, if it had been heard," he added.

He asked for Greece to support the lifting of the blockade against Lebanon, the cessation of hostilities that are still continuing and to intercede with Israel so that it implemented UN Security Council resolution 1701.

Bakoyannis expressed condolences for the many Lebanese civilians killed in the fighting and arranged to meet her Lebanese counterpart in Beirut again "in a new era of peace".

In addition to Salloukh, the Greek foreign minister had successive meetings with Lebanese Parliament Speaker and leader of the Shiite party Nabih Berri, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Beirut's Orthodox Metropolitan Ilias.

Wrapping up her meetings in Beirut, Bakoyannis stressed that it had been a "particularly interesting visit from which a clear message emerged: that implementation of the Security Council resolution will be difficult but must take place in order for the necessary steps of progress to follow."

She also expressed satisfaction that Greece's contribution both during the crisis and in the process for preserving the peace had been recognized.

The first stop of Bakoyannis’ three-day tour of the Middle East, carried out in preparation for Greece's assumption of the rotating monthly UN Security Council presidency on September 1, was in Cyprus.

Bakoyannis arrived in Nicosia on Tuesday afternoon and departed Wednesday morning for Lebanon, while her next stops are Jordan and Israel.

She departed Beirut for Amman on Wednesday afternoon, where she is scheduled to meet with Jordanian officials as well as Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas, who is currently on a visit there.

While in Cyprus, she noted that the country played an "exceptional, important and strategic role" in the recent Middle East crisis. She stressed the Cypriot people's humanitarian response and hospitality in responding to the needs that arose from the crisis in Lebanon, while highlighting the swift reaction of both Greece and Cyprus to the crisis and their contribution to the evacuation of local residents and foreign nationals fleeing the war zone.

"Greece and Cyprus were and are present, responding to the sentiments of their peoples," Bakoyannis said, adding that her Middle East tour sought to "examine the situation at first-hand".

During a working dinner hosted by Cyprus president Tassos Papadopoulos on Tuesday night, the two officials exchanged views on and reviewed developments in the Middle East, the Cyprus issue, and EU-Turkey relations, in view of the EU progress report for Turkey to be issued in October.

Bakoyannis will seek to contribute to diplomatic efforts for the full implementation of UNSCR 1701 during her meetings with Middle East government officials and will also press for full respect of the fragile truce recently agreed, in order to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid.

Other goals of the trip include the support and reinforcement of the Lebanese government, understanding Israel's security concerns, attempting to establish a permanent and lasting solution for the Palestinian problem, and promoting efforts for peace.

[02] FM Bakoyannis meets Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

AMMAN, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

In statements after their meeting, the Greek foreign minister referred to the long-time relations between Greece and the Palestinian Territories and to the talks she had with the Palestinian leader, during which Abbas emphasized his efforts to set up a new government and expressed his views on the crisis in Lebanon.

"Greece is undertaking the presidency the UN Security Council next month and consequently, we are interested in these views as we wish to coordinate our efforts," said Bakoyannis. She further noted the European Union's steadfast position for active participation in the Palestinian issue.

Bakoyannis was due on Wednesday evening to attend a dinner hosted by her Jordanian counterpart Abdelah Al-Khatib.

On Thursday morning, Bakoyannis will be received by King Abdullah II and by Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit.

[03] Tripartite meeting between Greek, Russian and Bulgarian leaders on September 4

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The meeting, according to the announcement, concerns cooperation between the three countries in the energy sector and, mainly, the implementation of the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline construction project.

The announcement added that bilateral meetings will also be held between the three leaders on bilateral and international issues.

[04] PM confers with Nat'l Education Council chief on reforms

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Veremis told reporters after the meeting that he had sought the discussion with the prime minister in order to outline his views on the reform, and reiterated his position that the election of the university Rectors should be through 'universal vote', in other words with the participation of all the students and not only by their "political party-affiliated" representatives, as is presently the case.

Veremis said that "those who have nothing to do with the parties, and chiefly the students who are attending the classes, come and protest, and they, too, must express themselves".

He said that the prime minister is determined to proceed with the reform, but added that Karamanlis did not express his intentions with respect to the timing during their meeting.

Veremis said that the prime minister agreed in principle with the education ministry's preliminary draft that was released earlier in the summer, adding that Karamanlis had not expressed any view on prospective changes, while he also passed off as "ridiculous" the calls for dialogue from a zero basis since "we have been discussing for two years".

He further said that many people who did not belong, politically, to the ruling New Democracy party also desired and wanted the reforms to proceed.

"Even if only half the reforms are advanced, it will be a gain," Veremis said.

[05] PASOK leader launches scathing attack on gov't

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Papandreou opened his address saying that "our thoughts are with the thousands of our compatriots and foreign visitors living through a real tragedy due to the fires in Chalkidiki, Mani and Arcadia", adding that "the Greek family has suffered through a hot summer of high prices, and then the real fires came to prove that the Right-wing re-establishment of the State was the dissolution of the State".

He said the ND government was incapable of guaranteeing the safety of the citizens, the common wealth and the ecological tradition and history of the country, whereas the preceding PASOK governments had also faced immense problems with the fires, but had proceed with a full reorganization of the Fire Brigade, the organization of firefighting, equipping the Brigade ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, and the acquisition of the biggest airborne firefighting fleet in Europe, "the biggest part of which, however, today remains riveted on the ground".

He accused the government of slow reaction in confronting the fires, and called for responsibilities to be attributed, where they existed, for inadequacy, faulty estimation of the situation, delayed reaction, lack of coordination among the State services, unacceptable management of the airborne fleet, bad programming and maintenance of the aircraft, and lack of adequate dissemination of the aircraft.

Papandreou charged that there were deficiencies in the Fire Brigade staff due to partisanship, the retirement of capable officials on party criteria, and promotions of unqualified 'political friends', and also criticized ministers of refusing to assume the responsibilities.

The main opposition leader further accused Karamanlis of being "nowhere to be seen" because he was a prime minister who is afraid of difficulties, adding that the ecological destruction sent a message, in view of the planned revision of the Constitution, against the downgrading of the environment through amendment of the relevant Article.

Papandreou further said that this summer has been exceptionally difficult for the Greek households, as many citizens were unable to go on summer holiday due to their financial situation, while those who were able to go on vacation were faced with the unprecedented inability and irresponsibility of the government in guaranteeing basic services such as transport to tourism destinations, and referred to what he called the unacceptable isolation, by sea, of many islands and even of Thessaloniki.

He said the government had acted "like a burglar" in the middle of the summer, imposing new taxes on real estate, fuel and electricity rates, while it was at the same time unable to confer with the social agencies. "The Greek family is seeing a further reduction in its buying power, unprecedented high prices, and is facing an overborrowing that is bringing immense profits to the banks," Papandreou said.

The PASOK leader called on his cadres to engage in systematic work and coordinated action so as to "win the confidence of the citizens, confront the tragic policies of ND, win the electoral battles we have ahead, so as to pave the way for a course of development with social cohesion, justice and solidarity".

[06] Government sending team of ministers to fire-stricken Chalkidiki

24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Making up the government team are Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia, Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Kalatzis, Deputy Agricultural Development Minister Alexandros Kontos, Deputy Health Minister Thanassis Yiannopoulos and Deputy Environment Minister Themistokles Xanthopoulos.

Roussopoulos also repeated that state services had not been lax or lacking in coordination in their response to the fire, while congratulating fire-fighters and ordinary citizens that had assisted in the battle against the blaze.

Regarding the country's fleet of fire-fighting aircraft, several of which were out of service for repairs and maintenance when the fire broke out, Roussopoulos confirmed that the public order ministry was concerned and had begun processes for renewal of the fleet.

A similar government team will also be visiting the other major fire that broke out during the height of the heatwave in Lakonia, the spokesman added.

As the fire raged on for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, firefighting efforts were now concentrated in an inaccessible forested area on the southwestern tip of Kassandra. The massive forest fire that broke out Monday afternoon has already devastated 40,000 stremma (10,000 acres) of virgin pine and fir forest and olive groves, while hundreds of firemen, backed by 75 fire engines, 20 water trucks and firefighting planes and helicopters continue to battle the flames.

According to firefighters, one of the fronts extinguished on Tuesday, between the villages of Mola Kalyva and Aghia Paraskevi, was rekindled at about 3:00 a.m. Wednesday as wind velocity increased once again, leading to the evacuation of two hotels in the area for precautionary reasons.

A strong land force succeeded in containing the fire, while four Canadair planes and two helicopters resumed water-dropping operations at the first light of day.

The front, which extended an estimated three kilometers, was constantly changing direction due to the wind, hampering the firefighting effort, but Fire Department officials were optimistic that the fire would be substantially contained during the day if wind velocity did not increase further.

[07] No risk for tourists in Chalkidiki, minister tells consuls in Thessaloniki

24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Kalantzis held meetings with UK Ambassador to Athens Simon Gass and the consuls of the United States, Russia, France, Germany, the Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Cyprus, Romania and Albania, briefing them on the progress of fire-fighting efforts.

He said that tourists could continue their stay in Kassandra without fear, because the fire department was able to intervene promptly when the fire rekindled in any location.

The minister said that the government's top priority had been to protect human life during the crisis, by order of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. He also conveyed the prime minister's deepest condolences to the German government and the family of the unlucky German tourist that drowned while being taken off a beach threatened by the advancing fire.

Kalantzis said that the state's swift mobilization and prompt evacuation of hotels, camps and houses had avoided further human casualties from the fire, which has destroyed 4,000 hectares of pine forest, farmland and livestock, as well as some buildings, since Monday.

The minister said that local state services had orders to assist consular authorities in Thessaloniki in every way to better serve foreign tourists holidaying in the area.

[08] Government earmarks €1.0 million for emergency fire relief in Macedonia

24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The decision was signed by Deputy Finance Minister Christos Folias, following a meeting with Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis earlier the same day.

Folias said the government would support the area's inhabitants and provide all additional funds needed to restore damage caused by the disaster, following consultation with the ministries and other bodies involved.

[09] Deputy foreign minister Kassimis to visit Australia next week

MELBOURNE, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

His official contacts will begin on Friday, when he is scheduled to meet the local archbishop, Melbourne's Lord Mayor Joe So and attend a dinner given in his honour by Greek-Australian MPs and senators at the Melbourne State Parliament.

During the rest of his visit, Kassimis will visit Greek community schools and organizations, visit the National Centre of Greek Studies and Research and hold talks with representatives of the Greek-Australian community.

[10] Peace, anti-globalization groups announce rallies next month over Mideast issue

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

In particular, the activists said the last week of September has been selected to "celebrate the victory of the Lebanese resistance and Hizbollah", while at the same time the mostly leftist peace groups said they will protest the dispatch of a UN peacekeeping force to southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, a delegation of activists from the "Stop the War" group, the "Genova Initiative 2001" and even a local labor leader, bank employees' union (OTOE) head Dimitris Tsoukalas, briefed reporters on damage they witnessed during a tour of southern Lebanon.

A first rally comes on Thursday outside the foreign ministry in Athens to protest Greece’s participation in the UN force, while another demonstration was called for Sept. 30.

[11] PM hosts dinner for ND deputies

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Invited at the dinner were, in alphabetical order, the first 36 deputies of the party's Parliamentary Group.

The prime minister's discussion with the deputies centered on the recent forest fires in the country and on the local government elections in October.

Karamanlis wished Athens mayoral candidate Nikitas Kaklamanis, who attended the dinner, good luck in the local government elections.

ND Parliamentary Group Secretary Apostolos Stavrou said that three more similar dinners will be held so that all the deputies of the party's Parliamentary Group can attend.

[12] Yennimata-Skandalidis meeting

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

Yennimata, who is also an incumbent for the post, and Skandalidis are both backed by main opposition PASOK.

[13] Main opposition tables draft bill for income-linked heating subsidy

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The bill was actually tabled twice, one time with the signature of independent MP Yiannos Papantoniou who was ousted from the PASOK party for statements in conflict with party policy, and once without.

Those proposing the bill say the heating benefit will counterbalance a sharp rise in heating costs due to rising oil prices in the coming winter, which will hit those on low incomes the hardest.

They also point out that the state's revenue from taxation of oil has increased by hundreds of millions of euros. The size of the benefit is also linked to geographic area, with the country divided into three zones according to latitude.

[14] OA ground equipment handlers threaten strike

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

According to reports, ministry officials told union leaders that a specific plan will be unveiled by October to grant permanent status contract workers, the union’s primary demand.

Conversely, trade unionists referred to a "deferral" of action merely to "ride out" the summer season. They also said of the 280 members of the specific sub-union, 85 enjoy permanent status.

[15] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks flat

ATHENS, 24/8/2006 (ANA/MPA)

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for high capitalization shares ended 0.09% down; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium cap stocks had marginal gains of 0.06%; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap shares finished 0.23% up.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 142 to 99 with 73 remaining unchanged.

Stock Futures: