Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 07-10-06

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 Karamanlis confers with Merchant Marine minister, IMO chief

[02] US Congressional journal hosts entry on the FYROM 'name issue'

[03] Bill Clinton outlines views on 21st century challenges at Athens event; refers to Imia incident

[04] Parliament chief confers with ex PMs on upgrading House

[05] PASOK National Council convenes over weekend

[06] Haralambopoulos backs Papandreou in PASOK leadership race

[07] Communist Party of Greece delegation visits fire-ravaged areas

[08] SYRIZA leader Alekos Alavanos tours Iraklio

[09] Education Minister comments on World Teachers' Day

[10] Antonaros on Souflias' country house issue

[11] House President Sioufas meets Holy Synod members

[12] SYN denies seeking special media treatment for member's son

[13] Analytis report on pension reform submitted amid reactions

[14] FinMin-Employment minister joint statement

[15] OTE purchases new package of Cosmote shares

[16] Athens ranks 50th and 26th in EU for finding work, housing

[17] Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry president addresses Athens University entrepreneurship conference

[18] Balkans lag behing in attracting R&D capital, report

[19] New car registrations up 5.5 percent in September

[20] Filippidis proposed as head of Post Savings Bank

[21] Duty Free Shops buys 51.84 pct in Elmec Sport for 115 mln euros

[22] Greek stocks jump to fresh 91-month highs

[23] ADEX closing report

[24] Greek bond market closing report

[25] Foreign Exchange Rates - Saturday/Monday

[26] Environment ministry holds meeting on Asopos River pollution

[27] President Papoulias to visit Elassona on Saturday

[28] Culture Minister meets chairman of 'Parthenon International'

[29] Conference on Greek language in Rome

[30] Australian Federal Court rules against Mokbel's appeal

[31] Greek pilot injured during firefighting aircraft crash being treated in Istanbul hospital

[32] Europarliament adopts ND MEP Trakatelis proposal updating EU cancer prevention strategies

[33] National School of Local Government hands out first 85 degrees

[34] Arcturos campaigning against circuses using animals in Greece

[35] Square on Lycabettus Hill renamed

[36] Fire on Samos under partial control

[37] The Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

[38] 'Nikiforos' military manoeuvre to take place

[39] MEPs to visit Famagusta following a petition by the Refugees' Movement Politics

[01] PM Karamanlis confers with Merchant Marine minister, IMO chief

Voulgarakis told reporters that it was a special honour for Greece that the IMO chief was a Greek, adding that they had a constructive meeting with the prime minister, during which the discussed international maritime issues.

PM meets with development minister

Prime minister Costas Karamanlis met Friday with develop-ent minister Christos Folias.

No statements were made after the meeting.

[02] US Congressional journal hosts entry on the FYROM 'name issue'

A full-page entry by the National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, published in the US Congress newspaper "The Hill", expresses support for a resolution calling on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to stop using propaganda "constituting hostile action against Greece" in violation of the interim agreement between FYROM and Greece.

FYROM is also called on to cooperate with the United Nations and Greece to meet the long-standing political goals set out by the UN and the United States with regard to reaching an agreement on a mutually acceptable name.

The resolution, tabled by the chairman of the US House Subcommittee on Europe, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) and committee member Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), is signed by 77 US House Representatives.

The publication mentions that on September 25, FYROM officials ignored UN Security Council Resolution 817, according to which FYROM should be addressed in the UN as "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", stressing that this fact justifies Greece's position that FYROM cannot become a member of NATO unless a mutually acceptable solution is reached on the name issue.

A similar resolution was tabled in the US Senate by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), cosigned by US Senate Subcommittee on Europe Chairman and presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).

[03] Bill Clinton outlines views on 21st century challenges at Athens event; refers to Imia incident

Less than a day after defining a personal role for himself in a possible future Hillary Clinton administration -- namely, to restore America's standing overseas, as he said -- the charismatic leader detailed his outlook on the challenges humanity will face in the coming 50 years. Clinton, 61, also outlined his leitmotif approach of "partnerships" between philanthropists, governments and the private sector around the world to tackle monumental problems, i.e. AIDS treatment and childhood diseases in the Third World.

True to form, the former US president and husband of top Democratic contender Sen. Hillary Clinton ticked off climate change, loss of resources and population explosion in the coming decades as the ecumenical challenges facing the world. However, he devoted a good portion of his address to the issue of "identity" as a source of numerous and intricate crises plaguing humanity, noting that this issue, in a sense, is behind global Islamic terror.

He said the issue of "identity", beyond whatever legitimate problems and differences, dominates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; played a elemental role in the break-up and subsequent clashes in the former Yugoslavia, and today is evident in the grumbling, for instance, between Turkey and Iraq's Kurds. He also mentioned the Cyprus problem as containing the issue of "identity" as well as thorny Greece-Turkey ties.

In fact, Clinton said the 1996 Imia incident - which almost resulted in an armed conflict between Greece and Turkey over an uninhabited rock islet in the eastern Aegean - actually made him a better president. Clinton said he realised the graveness of the incident, which was initially deemed as inconsequential by outsiders, after being briefed in detail by experts on Greek-Turkish relations.

Finally, he cited rapprochement between Athens and Ankara following the mutual assistance provided by each government when both countries experienced major earthquakes in the late 1990s.

Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will receive Clinton at his Maximos Mansion office on Saturday, while the popular Arkansas statesman will tour the Acropolis the same day. He was due to attend a dinner with main opposition PASOK leader and former Greek foreign minister George Papandreou on Friday night.

The event was jointly organised by the Capital Forum group and the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce.

[04] Parliament chief confers with ex PMs on upgrading House

In his talks with Mitsotakis, Sioufas placed emphasis on the former prime minister's parliamentary experience, which he said was invaluable, while Mitsotakis also praised Sioufas' long parliamentary career and his love for the parliament.

Sioufas also discussed matters concerning the upgrading of parliament during his call on Simitis, as well. He noted that Greece had joined the EU's economic and monetary union (EMU) under Simitis' premiership, adding that his thoughts were particularly useful in the effort to upgrade parliament, while Simitis said he was prepared to do everything in his power for the better operation of parliament and its advancement of democracy, adding that he would back this cooperation aimed at a better result.

[05] PASOK National Council convenes over weekend

The session will be inaugurated by PASOK leader George Papandreou, who will be followed at the podium by Secretary Nikos Athanasakis, Evangelos Venizelos and Costas Skandalidis.

Papandreou, Venizelos and Skandalidis, who have declared their candidacies for the party's leadership, and being members of the Political Council will not have to collect signatures in support of their candidacy, but this will be taking place by members of the National Council with a show of hands.

[06] Haralambopoulos backs Papandreou in PASOK leadership race

Haralambopoulos stressed that he agrees with Papandreou's declared positions, adding that the party's ideological and political autonomy must be safeguarded at any cost, while its distinct profile and unbroken unity should be preserved.

In his statement, he also expressed satisfaction over the PASOK Political Council's unanimous decision concerning the procedures to be followed for the election of the new party leadership.

[07] Communist Party of Greece delegation visits fire-ravaged areas

In statements afterward, Mavrikos said that the real repercussions for fire victims had not yet become apparent.

As the days passed, the "state will begin to forget fire victims and this is why the KKE's role is crucial," he added.

In addition to moral support, the party also expressed the need to cover the needs of the fire-stricken for losses in livestock and plants.

[08] SYRIZA leader Alekos Alavanos tours Iraklio

Alavanos spoke of "a great crisis" in the farm economy which "is linked to international developments, with the deregulation of markets and new low-cost farm production countries, while also being the result of the lack of a sustained and programmed policy in the country."

The SYRIZA party leader further said that an overall programme should be shaped to prevent a considerable part of Iraklio expecting to live from charity and from social measures.

Referring to crime, Alavanos stressed the need for the full restructuring of the public order model in Crete, which is not producing results.

Alavanos pointed out that increased crime is creating great concern and, in order to highlight the size of the problem, noted that "soon, our prefecture will be playing a leading role in a film."

Alavanos was elected deputy in the Iraklio prefecture in the September 16 general elections.

[09] Education Minister comments on World Teachers' Day

"The role of the teacher has changed in the light of new conclusions by educational science. What, however, remains unchanged over the years is the teacher's central place in the educational process. The teacher, as the main mediator between the good of education and the student is the 'encourager' of education, the person who with their knowledge and experience accompanies and guides students on the often difficult paths of knowledge," Stylianidis said, stressing the debt of gratitude owed to teachers for all they had offered and continued to give.

In central Athens, meanwhile, students from Greek musical high schools gathered with their parents and teachers to protest about delays in appointing teachers and a lack of books and musical instruments in these special schools, which had led to many lost class hours.

[10] Antonaros on Souflias' country house issue

Antonaros made the statement in response to a question by a member of the press on whether the explanations given by Souflias in response to press reports that he was erecting a building without a proper permit were fully satisfactory.

Souflias on Thursday clarified that a country home he is building in the Palea Fokia district of southeastern coastal Attica prefecture (the greater Athens area) has a legal building permit, while he refuted press reports citing the opposite.

[11] House President Sioufas meets Holy Synod members

Synod hierarchs focused during their meeting on current issues, while the creation and operation of an Ecclesiastical Foundation was decided under the title of General Poor Fund of the Holy Metropolis of Gortynia and Megalopoli, as well as an Ecclesiastical Foundation under the title of Ecclesiastical Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Gortynia and Megalopoli.

[12] SYN denies seeking special media treatment for member's son

"We stress that we did not ask for the scenes recorded by the bank's CCTV system not to be broadcast, nor favourable treatment, but for observance of the laws concerning the rights of defendants. This is something, in any case, that we have done consistently and steadily across time for every accused person, regardless of the crime for which they are accused," the announcement said.

It also quoted statements made by party leader Alekos Alavanos on Thursday regarding the party's standing condemnation of violence and the lack of any "family or collective responsibility" for the incident.

Financial News

[13] Analytis report on pension reform submitted amid reactions

In their statement, they stressed that the government had already outlined the main ways in which it intended to address the problem of social insurance reform and that these, along with others that might be proposed, would form the basis for a wide-ranging, sincere and methodical dialogue on this issue.

The two ministers also stressed that the Analytis report would be just one of many elements that would be evaluated in this context.

The joint statement came amid a flurry of reactions from parties and trade unions regarding the Analytis report, an outline of which had appeared in Friday's edition of the newspaper "Kathimerini".

The reactions included a statement by the head of the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) Giannis Panagopoulos, who heads Greece's largest umbrella trade union group and represents a large proportion of private sector workers. According to Panagopoulos, the press reports regarding the Analytis report proposals fully vindicated the objections raised by GSEE and its refusal to participate in the expert committee.

Pointing out that the proposals included harsh cutbacks in pension rights that affected both retirement age and the amount of pensions that amounted to a reversal of the nature of state insurance, he underlined that "this sort of approach can on no account form the basis for discussion and negotiation".

According to the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party, which forms part of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) group in Parliament, the contents of the report revealed why the government had studiously avoided its release before the elections. Senior SYN member Dimitris Stratoulis accused the government of using the report to create a "climate of social-insurance related terror" and prepare public opinion for major cutbacks in the social insurance rights of today's 30- and 40-year-olds and of women.

According to alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, however, the ministers' joint statement was clear and the Analytis report "formed part of more general considerations that will be covered in the dialogue".

He also underlined that the outline of the government's positions had been given in detail by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in his speech to ruling New Democracy's Central Committee on August 23 and that these and other proposals that will be submitted would be the subject of dialogue, whose aim was to create a social insurance system that was viable in the long term.

He also underlined that the government's positions on the areas that would not be affected were "straightforward, clear and remained the same".

[14] FinMin-Employment minister joint statement

In a joint statement issued on Friday, Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis and Employment Minister Vassilis Magginas also said that the preliminary report prepared by Nikos Analytis, chairman of a government-appointed committee of experts, will be among the elements taken under consideration in the social insurance sector reform.

[15] OTE purchases new package of Cosmote shares

An announcement by the Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications SA company said that OTE purchased 1,705,997 common nominal shares of the company on October 3, 2007, valued at 41,965,427 euros.

[16] Athens ranks 50th and 26th in EU for finding work, housing

The Greek capital ranks 50th among 75 European Union cities in terms of the ease of finding employment and 26th in terms of finding reasonably-priced lodgings, according to figures released on Friday by the EU statistics agency Eurostat.

Answering the question "Do you agree that someone can easily find work in your city", 29 percent of Athenians replied affirmatively. By contrast, the same question received an affirmative reply from 45 percent of Iraklio residents, so that the city ranked 26th among 75 in this category.

The highest-ranking cities according to this measure were Prague (75 percent), Copenhagen (74 percent), Dublin (70 percent), Aalborg (62 percent) and Antwerp (62 percent). Lowest-ranking were Palermo and Naples (3 percent), Frankfurt (3 percent), Miskolc in Hungary (11 percent) and Byalistok in Poland (11 percent).

To a question on whether they could find a place to stay at a reasonable price, 28 percent of Athenians and 36 percent of Iraklio residents replied affirmatively. This placed Athens 26th and Iraklio 21st among 75 European cities.

Highest-ranking on this score were Leipzig in Germany (78 percent), Aalborg in Denmark (71 percent) and Braga in Portugal (68 percent) while the lowest-scoring cities were Paris (3 percent), Luxembourg (5 percent), Dublin (6 percent), Bucharest (7 percent) and Bratislava (8 percent).

In terms of work for women, the rate of employment for women on Crete is 54 percent and is among the highest among 268 regions in the EU. By contrast, employment among women in Western Macedonia is just 37 percent and is among the lowest.

According to Eurostat's figures, employment among women is above 70 percent in 15 EU regions, seven of which are in the UK and four in Sweden.

[17] Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry president addresses Athens University entrepreneurship conference

Mihalos added this has mainly to do with the lack of funding for their plans or with the fear of the entrepreneurial risk and pointed out that modern funding apparatuses, as well as for the absorption of the entrepreneurial risk must be created, such as the "business angels."

He further said that networks need backing and encouragement to enable small businesses to be able to acquire access to research data and to utilise new technologies and methods for the promotion of their products.

Mihalos also referred to the need for the restructuring of the social security system to forge ahead and to the need for a speedup in efforts in the sector of digital convergence, while adding that investing in the country's human potential must be systematic.

"We must also at last, seriously and with the responsibility falling on each of us, shape a modern educational system," he concluded.

[18] Balkans lag behing in attracting R&D capital, report

Addressing the 13th international information conference, in the framework of the 21st Infosystem, the Greek professor said that Greek and other Balkan countries, such as Bulgaria and Romania, belong to the low performance group in the EU's composite innovation index for the period 2000-2006.

Komninos said that Balkan states significantly lagged behind the rest of Europe in intellectual rights, with only 5 percent of the European average, along with significant gaps in the implementation of innovation and employment in the sector.

A survey by "Booz Allen Hamilton" on 1,000 enterprises around the world, with the highest spending on research and development, Asia, North American and Oceania are the most attractive destinations for investment funds. Corporate spending on R&D in the Europe grew by 2.3 pct in 2005, by 3.8 pct in Japan, 5.2 pct in North America, 17 pct in India and China and by 20 pct in Australia, Brazil, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

R&D investment capital focused on information technology and communications (26 pct of total), healthcare (22 pct) and auto industry (17 pct), the Greek professor said citing a survey by ADL.

[19] New car registrations up 5.5 percent in September

Toyota remained at the top of the list in the nine-month period with 22,816 sales and a market share of 10 percent in the Greek car market, followed by Opel (19,722 sales), VW (18,295), Ford (15,820) and Hyundai (14,430).

[20] Filippidis proposed as head of Post Savings Bank

[21] Duty Free Shops buys 51.84 pct in Elmec Sport for 115 mln euros

Duty Free Shops said that following the purchase it will proceed with a public offer to acquire the remaining equity stake in Elmec Sport.

[22] Greek stocks jump to fresh 91-month highs

Most sectors moved up, with the Media (2.95 pct), Banks (2.19 pct) and Travel (1.56 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Utilities (1.80 pct), Telecommunications (1.14 pct) and Food/Beverage (0.81 pct) suffered losses.

The Big Cap index rose 1.35 pct, the Mid Cap index ended 0.61 pct higher and the Small Cap index rose 0.53 percent. Ideal (12.12 pct), Tegopoulos (6.29 pct) and Tria Alpha (6.27 pct) were top gainers, while Desmos (9.09 pct), Eurobrokers (6.07 pct) and Viosol (5.71 pct) were top losers.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 137 to 112 with another 51 issues unchanged.

Sector indices ended as follows:

Insurance: -0.04%

Industrials: +0.04%

Commercial: -0.18%

Construction: +0.45%

Media: +2.95%

Oil & Gas: +0.35%

Personal & Household: +1.51%

Raw Materials: -0.37%

Travel & Leisure: +1.56%

Technology: +0.37%

Telecoms: -1.14%

Banks: +2.19%

Food & Beverages: -0.81%

Health: +1.41%

Utilities: -1.80%

Chemicals: -0.30%

Financial Services: +0.71%

The stocks with the highest turnover were Elmec Sport, OTE, National Bank and Bank of Cyprus.

Selected shares from the FTSE/ASE-20 index closed in euros as follows:

Alpha Bank: 25.10

ATEbank: 4.02

Public Power Corp (PPC): 26.90

HBC Coca Cola: 40.50

Hellenic Petroleum: 11.34

Emporiki Bank: 20.42

National Bank of Greece: 45.30

EFG Eurobank Ergasias: 25.74

Intralot: 29.16

Cosmote: 24.68

OPAP: 27.20

OTE: 25.32

Titan Cement Company: 35.92

[23] ADEX closing report

Volume in futures contracts on the FTSE 20 index totaled 8,130 contracts worth 90.038 million euros, with 33,355 open positions in the market, while on the FTSE 40 index volume was 560 contracts worth 16.734 million euros, with 1,521 open positions.

Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 9,960 contracts worth 15.962 million euros, with investment interest focusing on Eurobank's contracts (1,383), followed by Marfin Investment Group (704), OTE (413), PPC (379), Piraeus Bank (1,038), National Bank (894), Alpha Bank (602), Intracom (354), GEK (384), Cyprus Bank (827) and ATEbank (704).

[24] Greek bond market closing report

In the domestic interbank market, interest rates were mixed. National Bank's overnight rate rose to 3.90 percent from 3.85 pct on Thursday, the two-day rate also rose to 3.90 percent from 3.85 percent, the one-month rate was 4.36 percent and the 12-month rate 4.70 percent.

[25] Foreign Exchange Rates - Saturday/Monday

U.S. dollar 1.424

Pound sterling 0.698

Danish kroner 7.511

Swedish kroner 9.258

Japanese yen 165.92

Swiss franc 1.675

Norwegian kroner 7.714

Cyprus pound 0.588

Canadian dollar 1.405

Australian dollar 1.597

General News

[26] Environment ministry holds meeting on Asopos River pollution

Souflias described the river's condition as "tragic", based on reports by environmental inspectors who last week found eight pipelines dumping waste into the river where there should have been only one, including one that was pouring untreated industrial waste into a borehole.

The minister announced the immediate construction of a central pipeline for wastes that will be equipped with a special system for checking waste toxicity. The quality of the wastes produced will also be monitored regularly by environment ministry services, rather than those of the regional authority or prefectures.

In the meantime, the municipalities of Oinophyta, Tanagra, Schimatari and Avlida will be linked up to the Athens water grid supplied by EYDAP in order to supply clean drinking water to the area after depleted chromium was found in irrigation boreholes in the region, while ways are being sought to clean up the contaminated water table.

Souflias also announced that the delineation of the Asopos River would begin at once and tougher environmental terms introduced for the construction and operation of industrial units along its length.

He stressed that all industrial plants not conforming to the new guidelines would be liable for sanctions, while the ministry was also considering the possibility of not renewing the operating licence for those that were proven to pollute and refused to comply.

Finally, the minister announced that air pollution monitoring stations will be set up at Oinophyta and east Attica, while industrial plants in the area will continue to be subjected to frequent inspections by environmental inspectors.

[27] President Papoulias to visit Elassona on Saturday

Papoulias is expected to arrive in the city of Larissa in central Greece early on Saturday morning, from where he will make his way to Elassona in order to attend a mass at Aghios Demetrios Cathedral and watch a parade.

During the visit, he will also be declared an honorary citizen of Elassona and will attend a dinner given in his honour by Elassona Metropolitan Vassilios at the historic Sparmos Monastery on the foothills of Mount Olympus.

[28] Culture Minister meets chairman of 'Parthenon International'

According to Liapis, the transfer of the sculptures currently held in the old museum on the Acropolis citadel to the new Acropolis Museum created a new hopeful, prospect regarding the return of the sculptures now held by the British Museum in London, while stressing that this was "a lasting historic debt".

[29] Conference on Greek language in Rome

The 2nd international conference organised by the Federation of Greek Communities and Brotherhoods of Italy on the theme of "The teaching and spreading of Modern Greek in Italy" began in Rome on Friday.

The conference is taking place at the events hall of the Philosophical School of "La Sapienza" university, under the supervision of professor Paola Maria Minucci.

The purpose of the conference is to highlight problems appearing in the teaching and spreading of the Greek language in Italy and to propose ways of resolving them.

The inauguration of the conference was declared by Greek Ambassador to Rome Haralambos Rokanas, who stressed that the first conference, held in Palermo in 2004, registered and focused on issues arising during the implementation of the teaching and spreading of the Greek language in Italy.

He added that Greek culture was, "from the time of its creation, something more than the simple addition of its achievements. It was from the beginning a culture focusing on man, as well as being humanitarian. This love of the Greek way for man, registered throughout the entire course of Greek history, also leads us today in our efforts to spread the Greek language."

The conference's work will be televised directly through the Internet by the ANA-MPA.

[30] Australian Federal Court rules against Mokbel's appeal

The Australian Federal Court has ruled against an appeal filed by Australian fugitive Tony Mokbel to block his extradition from Greece, it was made known on Friday.

The attorneys of Mokbel, who is currently incarcerated in Korydallos Prison, near Piraeus, had maintained that due process was not followed in the extradition request made to the Greek authorities.

Antonio Sajih Mokbel, 41, a prominent figure in the Australian underworld and one of Australia's most wanted criminals with outstanding warrants and convictions in serious drugs and homicide cases, was arrested in the Athens seaside suburb of Glyfada on June 5 on charges of holding fake documents. His arrest was made 15 months after skipping bail on March 19, 2006 just before being sentenced to a 12-year prison term -- in absentia -- by a Melbourne court for cocaine trafficking.

Mokbel, who received a 12-month sentence by an Athens court in September for holding fake documents, denies accusations by Victoria State police that he has murdered two members of the Australian underworld.

Australia requested his extradition to be tried on two counts of murder and drug trafficking charges.

Lebanon has also requested his extradition, a move most likely instigated by Mokbel himself to avoid being returned to Australia.

[31] Greek pilot injured during firefighting aircraft crash being treated in Istanbul hospital

Greek pilot Vassilis Papanastasiou, who was injured together with an Italian pilot and a Turkish employee during the crashing of a CL-215 firefighting aircraft that was carrying out training flights in lake Terkoz in Istanbul on Friday, is being treated at a downtown Istanbul hospital.

According to reports, Papanastasiou has five fractures in the left leg and wounds on the head. His condition is stable and he has no internal haemorrhage.

The Italian pilot is also being treated at a downtown hospital, while the Turkish employee was seriously injured, according to reports. The causes of the crash have not yet been clarified.

The aircraft had been rented at the beginning of the summer by the Turkish Forestry Ministry and, following the expiry of the contract, it had been trasferred to Istanbul for training flights. The aircraft belongs to the Italian Sorem S.P.A. company and was built in Canada.

The Municipality oif Istanbul expressed its regret to the families of the Greek and Italian pilots over the accident.

[32] Europarliament adopts ND MEP Trakatelis proposal updating EU cancer prevention strategies

Based on available figures, cancer is the main cause of death in the EU with 187 cases per 100,000 people, while a total of roughly 900,000 Europeans die each year from cancer-related illnesses.

According to Trakatelis, the fatal cancer cases recorded annually can drop to 300,000 considering that 300,000 cancer incidents can be prevented while an additional 300,000 can be diagnosed early allowing for effective treatment.

[33] National School of Local Government hands out first 85 degrees

These were the first class of students to specialise in public administration for local government, in the course that began in 2006, in a bid to better train staff manning Greece's public sector and local government services.

[34] Arcturos campaigning against circuses using animals in Greece

The non-governmental organisation has also sent letters to all state services on the issue, noting that more than 1,000 people had signed the website arcturos.wordpress.com in the first 24 hours.

[35] Square on Lycabettus Hill renamed

[36] Fire on Samos under partial control

[37] The Friday edition of Athens' dailies at a glance

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Are they 'covering up' the hooded robber? Who is intervening to keep the information of the crime under wraps?"

APOGEVMATINI: "Chaos in PASOK Political Council - What was said Thursday behind closed doors - Acrimony, but also side-splitting dialogues".

AVGHI: "Healthcare and pensions in a knot - Plan to break up IKA (state Social Insurance Foundation) - They're leaving it without on-premise doctor services".

AVRIANI: The main front-page article focused on the ongoing crisis in the main opposition PASOK party.

ELEFTHEROS: "Venizelos (high-profile PASOK MP and party leader George Papandreou's leading opponent for the party leadership) seeking excuses to avoid the (internal party) elections by charging rigging".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "They agreed that they disagree - PASOK Political Council meeting".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Open wounds" at PASOK Political Council meeting.

ESTIA: "(General) Elections probable in Spring 2009 - The 152-seat majority (in the 300-member parliament) does not have a four-year horizon".

ETHNOS: "George (Papandreou) and Evanglos (Venizelos) agreed on the...procedure, left the difficult issues to the (PASOK) National Council".

KATHIMERINI: "The entire Analytis report on the social insurance funds - Drastic interventions proposed".

LOGOS: "Summit agreement...at PASOK political council - Radically differing positions on the causes of the (electoral) defeat".

NIKI: "The swept the causes behind the carpet - Not a word on the electoral defeat" in the Political Council meeting.

PARASKEVI+13 (weekly): "The Simitis (preceding prime minister and Papandreou's predecessor in the PASOK leadership) plan failed - George Papandreou gaining ground".

PARASKINIO (weekly): "Balance of terror in PASOK - Clashes and apologies at the Political Council meeting".

RIZOSPASTIS: "(KKE-affiliated KNE Youth Organisation) Youth festival marks commencement of (new) struggle after the elections - Sunday, 7pm. at Peace and Friendship Stadium".

TA NEA: "48-hour truce on the causes of the defeat (in the September 16 general elections) - Unanimous deflation (of tension) over the (internal party) election procedure".

TO VIMA: "They decided deep changes in health sector in tandem with social insurance system reforms".

VRADYNI: "14,500 vacancies in health sector being filled - 2008 budget contains 9.3 percent increase in health spending".

Cyprus Affairs

[38] 'Nikiforos' military manoeuvre to take place

National Guard Commander, Lieutenant General Constantinos Bisbikas, assured on Friday that he will continue to work tirelessly and modestly to increase the operational readiness of the National Guard.

Bisbikas made the statement while announcing that the National Guard (Cyprus army) annual military manoeuvres, code-named ''Nikiforos'', will be held from 9-14 October.

'Nikiforos' is a wide-scale manoeuvre, directed by the General Command of the National Guard. Formations and all groups of the National Guard participate in the manouevres as well as thousands of reservists and militiamen.

The manoeuvres will be conducted throughout the territory, sea and airspace of the government controlled areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Speaking during a press conference, Bisbikas said the abilities of the weaponry system will be put to a test as well as the level of responsibility and training of the staff, officers and soldiers.

He also said that from 10-14 October there will be defensive and offensive scenarios aiming to train staff during conditions of war while weather conditions will not affect the exercises.

Regarding the Joint Defence Pact between Greece and Cyprus, Bisbikas said that it is an everyday activity and it is continuously improved.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37 percent of the island�s territory.

[39] MEPs to visit Famagusta following a petition by the Refugees' Movement

The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions has discussed a petition by the Famagusta Refugees' Movement to be allowed to return to the Cypriot town of Famagusta, occupied by the Turkish army since 1974.

The EP Committee intents to send a delegation of MEPs to visit Famagusta and the fenced off city of Varosha between November 25-28 provided that the Turkish army gives its consent.

The Famagusta Refugees' Movement demands the return of their home town to its lawful inhabitants and stresses that although being European Union citizens, they are still deprived from their fundamental right to return to Famagusta.

During the discussion, Cypriot MEP Yiannakis Matsis (EPP) said that the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants would contribute to the creation of a better climate between the two communities in Cyprus (Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot) and would pave the way for a Cyprus solution.

Greek MEP Manolis Mavrommatis expressed the view that the MEP delegation to visit occupied Famagusta should only examine the petition of the Refugees' Movement so that the issue remains within the terms of mandate of the EP Committee.

According to the website of the Famagusta Refugees' Movement, the Movement has been established upon the initiative of certain personalities from Famagusta, following the length of time that has passed and Famagusta was still under occupation.

"Up to this day and although 30 years have passed, the standstill situation of the city of Famagusta constitutes perhaps the most dramatic aspect of the occupied land issue, since it still remains a Ghost Town. The extent of the damage caused is invaluable and it causes disgrace for the current European reality", the Movement's website says.

Turkey continues to occupy Famagusta, in defiance of numerous UN Security Council resolutions, calling for the return of the city to its lawful inhabitants.

Resolution 550 approved in 1984, ''considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people or other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN.

The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member state since 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana-mpa.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: GEORGE TAMBAKOPOULOS

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