Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-04-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Government accepts internal redistribution of funds with social security reform

[02] Trade tops talks between Greek, Ukrainian PMs; Yushchenko on Kiev debate

[03] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations and European affairs in Morocco

[04] Turkey's 'White Paper 2000' doubts Greek sovereign rights, Tsohatzopoulos says

[05] Greek and Turkish NATO representatives to continue talks on CBMs in May

[06] National defense minister says EU defense ministers to convene May 14-15

[07] FM says every European has particular sensitivity towards the imprisoned in Turkey

[08] PM and public order minister discuss terrorism and Olympic Games security

[09] Euro-MP calls for record of dependents on green cards

[10] ND leader mends bridges with Liapis in early-morning meeting

[11] Nicosia proposes lifting of all restrictions on Greece-Cyprus air routes

[12] FORTHnet secures first fixed telephony service license

[13] Greek gov’t extends deadline for Olympic Airways' bids

[14] Growth Investments to give no dividend on 2000 profits

[15] Domestic footwear industry seen rising in 2001

[16] EU's new directive on cotton farming secures Greece's production, minister says

[17] Complaints about banks to ombudsman show rise

[18] Social Security Foundation announces int'l tender for telecoms network

[19] Greek stocks continue losing ground

[20] Armenian communities organize events on 1915 genocide

[21] Greenpeace activists in takeover of fertilizer industry

[22] Nearly half a million Greeks in Australia, academic reports

[23] European Commission announces names of new EU ethics commission

[24] Hellenic Festival board appoints new general director

[25] Spokesman welcomes EU Commissioner's statements

[26] French foreign minister to pay two-day visit

[27] Turkish settlers outnumber Turkish Cypriots

[28] President awards Greek Chief of Staff

[01] Government accepts internal redistribution of funds with social security reform

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Speaking during a joint meeting of government ministers and PASOK party affiliated trade unionists, Skandalidis also said that the proposals of the government for the reform of the system did not constitute final decisions.

He said that dialogue would be based on the governments proposals, recognizing the fact, however, that some will benefit and others will lose out from the reform.

He called justified the demands of trade unionists that no pensions should be decreased, no contributions should increase, no age limits should increase, no cuts for the minimum pensions should take place and no more employees should be included in the new system.

On his part, Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis denied rumors that he was planning to resign and National Economy Minister Yiannos Papantoniou rejected the possibility of new taxes that would be levied to support the social security system.

About 40 PASOK Parliament deputies and another 40 high-ranking trade unionists were present at the meeting.

Labor ministry sources on Tuesday said the ministry rejects proposals made by trade unions on the social security issue two months ago, believing that they do not lead to a positive outcome, namely the effective handling of the risk of uncontrollable deficits being created in the system in coming years.

This was disclosed during a luncheon given on Tuesday by the labor ministry's leadership to journalists, which is considering a comfortable dialogue whose prospects go beyond the summer.

According to ministry sources, if the time for intervening in the social security issue is left to drag on, measures will be necessary in conditions of crisis for the system, probably around 2008.

On the other hand, if intervention takes place now there will be ground for the system's smooth adjustment, which can lead to benefits for the insured.

The sources said that Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis remains firmly indifferent to scenarios and reports on his possible resignation if proposals on the social security issue are not supported by the senior officials of the ruling PASOK party.

ND president meets GSEE leader General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) leader: Christos Polyzogopoulos on Tuesday met with main opposition New Democracy party president Costas Karamanlis to exchange views on planned reforms to Greece's social security system recently unveiled by the government.

After the meeting, Polyzogopoulos told reporters that although there were some differences of opinion with the main opposition party on the issue, he had nevertheless ascertained a "climate of acceptance" of the Confederation's positions by ND.

Polyzogopoulos said the positions held by GSEE were "fair" and embraced by the entire Greek society.

He said the working people would wage a strong fight so that the measures announced would not come to pass.

With respect to the dialogue on the planned reforms the government intended to hold with the unions, Polyzogopoulos said that in order for the dialogue to be of value, it should result in a containment of the social deficits and not limit the rights of the working people.

"We will not enter into a dialogue with the measures that have been presented by the government," the GSEE leader said.

Union sources told ANA that Karamanlis opined that the specific measures announced could not possibly be passed while, with respect to the protest action, he said that ND "does not send people out into the streets" but the trade union organizations "have the right to fight, and are right in doing so".

The same sources said that Karamanlis maintained that pensions should not be reduced to below the poverty level, that his party objected to calculating pensions on the basis of earnings during the last decade of work, and did not agree to raising the retirement age.

Coalition of the Left leader briefs President on party's views on social security issue: President Kostis Stephanopoulos on Tuesday received Coalition of the Left and Progress leader Nikos Constantopoulos who briefed him on the party's opposition to the government's measures on the social security issue and its concern over "social uncertainty and turmoil caused by the measures".

"I presented the Coalition's proposals on the social security issue to the president and I also outlined our proposal to him for a referendum to be held on this issue and after a substantive dialogue from the beginning comes first," he said.

Constantopoulos said the holding of the referendum would strengthen the institutional pluralism of democracy, while popular support will be expressed for solidarity among generations and a substantive commitment will be created for governments.

He said that with its proposals the government has torpedoed any possibility of social dialogue and social consensus, adding that his party has tabled integrated proposals on March 12.

Avramopoulos warns social security system on brink of collapse, accuses gov't of hasty moves: Newly-formed Movement of Free Citizens (KEP) party leader and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos on Tuesday warned that the country's social security and pension system was not only ailing but on the verge of collapse, and accused the government of "hasty moves and surprises" that close the door to agreement.

Presenting his party's proposals for the reform of the social security system, Avramopoulos said that the system "is not only ailing, but also it is on the brink of bankruptcy".

He accused the government, whose proposed reforms have drawn the wrath of trade unions and labor organizations, of hasty moves and surprises "which block off the paths to agreement" and warned that the situation was in danger of getting out of control, causing social unrest, political instability and irreparable damage to the economy, "threatening the very cohesion of society itself".

Avramopoulos further spoke of the "incalculable economic loss that has been brought about by all the governments to date to the social security system".

He said the issue was mainly a "political matter of society and not a fiscal one", and proposed that the government accept a "one-year moratorium" on proposals and decisions so that that time could be used "for a constructive and clearheaded dialogue from point zero, in which all the social agencies, the productive classes and the political parties will take part".

Avramopoulos said that the "creation of conditions of a sincere and constructive dialogue, rid of party clashes, and with full and objective briefing of all on reality" was necessary because "truth, regardless of how tough it is, contains elements for an exodus from the crisis".

He said the dialogue should take place on the basis of "tripartite financing and preservation of the public character of the system" and the "utilization of free market methods and practices, which ensure, at least partially, the capitalizing nature of the system".

The KEP leader further said that an independent supervising authority needed to be set up which would oversee the payment of contributions by all the agencies, the transparent use and movement of capital, protection of reserves from political exploitation, and the pension benefits of the system.

The pension system should have a "redistributive" character, with reinforcement of the lower pension brackets as active proof of a just social policy "because no one can live in dignity on an 80-100,000 drachma pension", he said.

Also, inter-party and trade union consensus was required for the consolidation of a viable social security system by the year 2050, Avramopoulos said, adding that the State must tackle the social security issue efficiently, place in within a new framework of economic policy that creates conditions conducive to private and public investments, rationalization and simplification of the taxation system, activation of policies against unemployment, and confrontation of the problem of uninsured illegal workers.

DHKKI leader refuses meeting to discuss social insurance reform: Democratic Social Movement (DHKKI) leader Dimitris Tsovolas has refused to meet with Labor Minister Tassos Yiannitsis, it was announced on Tuesday, following the latter's proposed meeting to brief Tsovolas on all aspects of social insurance reform and the government's proposals.

Meanwhile, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas denied that the Labor minister had expressed a wish to resign unless he was fully backed by the entire government, saying that Yiannitsis had the support of the Cabinet and the Executive Bureau, both of which had made the relevant decisions after debating the issues.

The spokesman also criticized PASOK state deputy Theodoros Tsoukatos for submitting his own proposals for social insurance reform, saying that individual MPs should participate in debate within parties and should not operate as independent units within the context of the wider dialogue. This dialogue, he added, should be structured to give a say to the trade unions and parties.

On the other hand, he added, Tsoukatos was right to show an interest in the issues and all political figures had a right to make proposals.

He also dismissed a statement by Deputy Social Insurance minister Nikos Farmakis, who was reported to have said that he "felt alone" on the social insurance issue, by saying that "no one feels alone".

Defense minister supports gov't social security/insurance policy: It was correct of the government to open discussions on the social security/ insurance system, Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said on Tuesday, stressing that it would have been unthinkable to delay it even for a moment.

He added that in a modern social security policy there are many parameters and it is not limited to covering fiscal deficits.

A social security policy deals with unemployment, health, pensions and old age, according to the proposals of the government the public character of the system is maintained, while contributions to the system are not increasing, Tsohatzopoulos said.

He stressed that part of the problem could be resolved by including in the system the foreign workers that live in Greece.

OA joins Thursday's labor strike over social security reforms, on flight per destination: National carrier Olympic Airways (OA) will be carrying out only one flight per destination on both domestic and international routes on Thursday as its employees join a 24-hour nationwide labor strike in protest over reforms to Greece's social security and pension system announced by the government.

The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) and the Civil Servants Supreme Administrative Council (ADEDY) have called a 24-hour nationwide general strike and mass rallies in Athens and other cities on April 26 in response to the government's positions on reforming the country's social security system.

The strike involves employees in both the private and public sectors, and also includes banks, seamen and the press and media.

[02] Trade tops talks between Greek, Ukrainian PMs; Yushchenko on Kiev debate

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

After meeting with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis for approximately an hour and a half, Yushchenko was asked by reporters about the deliberations occurring in the Ukrainian parliament - the Verkhovna Rada -- on whether to extend a vote of confidence to his Cabinet.

"The Ukrainian people have made their choice. Indeed, I can express my confidence that with the current government my country will emerge more robust from this crisis...

"Ukraine has solid democratic institutions; my government is firmly devoted to dialogue and democratic methods ... it will proceed unwaveringly towards resolving all the serious problems now preoccupying it," he told reporters after contacts with the Greek premier.

According to wire reports, Ukraine's Communist-dominated parliament on Tuesday spent hours in often-heated debate, including scuffles, on whether to oust Yushchenko's Cabinet, but unexpectedly decided to postpone a no-confidence vote for two days.

Yushchenko, a reform-minded former central banker, was named to lead the Kiev government in late 1999.

Bilateral ties: On his part, Simitis noted that Ukraine's large market offers a variety of opportunities for Greek firms and exporters, while citing Greek shippers' commissioning of several new vessels at Ukrainian shipyards as well as the purchase of hydrofoil transports by Greece's navy.

"We believe that the level of bilateral trade today can be further increased, and that's the direction we're working in," the Greek premier said.

Additionally, Simitis cited what he called a "living link" between the two countries in the form of some 200,000 ethnic Greeks in Ukraine, primarily in the Mariupol region.

He also lauded what he called the Ukraine's significant steps towards reforming its economy, saying this development allows for closer ties with the European Union.

Regarding Greek-Ukrainian political ties, Yushchenko termed them as "excellent".

"The greatest problem today is not market related; it's not a problem dealing with the organization of trade and economic relations. That's why our talks here today covered, to a large extent, the issue of expanding bilateral trade relations."

The Ukrainian premier expressed his satisfaction with Athens' positive evaluation over what he called his government's "significant progress" in terms of reform.

Yushchenko said a visit by a high-ranking delegation from the Athens-based Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Commerce to Kiev in June as well as incentives for Greek investments in the country will help increase trade.

Additionally, he said transportation - road, air and sea -- were also covered in the meeting, as Kiev appears ready to continue negotiations over the cost of transports, such as highway tolls, customs duties and port fees.

Finally, he said shipping matters and the issue of the ill-fated Chernobyl nuclear power plant were touched on.

"I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude for the technical and humanitarian aid provided by the Greek," Yushchenko said.

Ukrainian Transport Minister Leonid Kostyuchenko, Energy Minister Stanislav Staschevskiy and Kiev's ambassador to Athens, Viktor Kalnyk, among others, attended the talks.

Law enforcement cooperation: Meanwhile, Athens and Kiev also finalized a joint law enforcement cooperation that outlines efforts to combat organized crime and terrorism. Greek Public Order Minister Mihalis Chrysohoidis and Ukrainian Interior Undersecretary Mykola Dzyga signed the pact on behalf of the two countries.

UN meetings: In a related development, both the Ukrainian and Greek governments, in cooperation with the World Information Transfer (WIT), are sponsoring meetings at the United Nations over the next three days on subjects ranging from medicine and environmental sciences to oceanography and economics.

The meetings, which coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, will bring together leaders of various scientific fields, Hollywood celebrities and political leaders. The meetings are also co-sponsored by the Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund.

[03] FM Papandreou discusses bilateral relations and European affairs in Morocco

RABAT, 25/04/2001 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)

Greek-Moroccan talks also focused on Balkan developments and the situation in the Middle East, which Benaisa termed "very critical" and "dangerous" in reply to a question by the Athens News Agency (ANA).

Benaisa further said negotiation is a one-way path, in the Middle East everything is interdependent and the Palestinians should have a homeland and a capital.

The Moroccan foreign minister said Greece is important for his country and Papandreou's visit is a "very important milestone" both for Euro Mediterranean and bilateral relations.

On his part, Papandreou said bilateral relations are "very good and friendly" and acknowledged the possibility of further developing cooperation in the fisheries, Euro Mediterranean process, Greek investments in Morocco and cultural relations sectors, particularly in the framework of the "dialogue between civilizations" and in view of the 2004 Olympic Games and the "Olympic truce" Athens is promoting.

[04] Turkey's 'White Paper 2000' doubts Greek sovereign rights, Tsohatzopoulos says

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

A special chapter in the Turkish defense ministry's "White Paper 2000" on the Aegean and the Cyprus issue sets out Turkey's known views and claims doubting Greece's sovereign rights.

The chapter refers to the "width of territorial waters and the delineation of the continental shelf, airspace problems, primarily the bad use of responsibility concerning the Flight Information Region (FIR)", while the Greek islands' FIR is also being questioned, "the arming of islands in the eastern Aegean, contrary to regulations set out in international agreements, geographical formations, islands, islets and rocky islets not given to Greece with sovereignty agreements in the Aegean and the lack of an agreement defining sea borders in the Aegean between Turkey and Greece".

Turkey's "White Paper" is distributed all over the world, and registers for the first time claims while doubting Greece's sovereign rights, particularly regarding geographical formations in the Aegean which were not given to Greece through international agreements.

It also endorses the proposal by Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash for a confederation in Cyprus and that the island republic's EU accession course should be based on it.

Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that Greece supports Turkey's EU accession course because, through it, new prospects are presented for the Turkish people and conditions of good neighborliness and relations with Greece are shaped.

He said that Greece's aim through armaments is to safeguard its integrity and its sovereign rights in the Greek Aegean and impose respect for international law.

Tsohatzopoulos clarified that the issue of flights of unarmed aircraft in the Aegean in the framework of Confidence-Building Measures between Greece and Turkey is not being discussed.

Tsohatzopoulos to brief Parliament on Wednesday: National Defense Minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos announced on Tuesday that he will brief Parliament's defense affairs committee the next day over the armed forces' armaments programs, in light of a highly anticipated Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs (KYSEA) meeting next month.

He clarified, however, that his Parliament briefing is a customary procedure followed by the ministry to inform deputies over the procurement of weapons systems and other military-related issues.

Regarding the upcoming May 17 KYSEA meeting, Tsohatzopoulos said the session will focus on which armaments programs are priorities for the 2001-2006 period. Conversely, the government will also decide which programs will be postponed in order to funnel defense cuts into increased social spending.

Additionally, he reiterated that the ministry leadership is continuing its efforts to reduce operational costs within the armed forces, with a ministry target set at below 2 percent of GDP. He also pointed to a turnover of around 500 billion drachmas annually for domestic defense contractors from various armaments programs.

Last month's decision to postpone several pricey defense procurements in favor of increased social spending dominated a meeting last Friday between PM Costas Simitis and the defense minister.

In statements last week, Tsohatzopoulos reiterated that there is no "opposition" between social policy and defense, while adding that the decision to defer acquisition of the high-profile "Eurofighter" contract will be discussed, among others, at the KYSEA meeting.

On Tuesday, Tsohatzopoulos cited fiscal problems as necessitating a postponement in implementing the "Eurofighter" contract.

Tsohatzopoulos had initially distanced himself from the government decision late last month to cut Greece's defense expenditures in the 2001-2004 period in favor of heightened social spending.

The decision to re-allocate funds to boost social policy from the defense sector was decided on during an inner cabinet meeting, chaired by Simitis, in late March.

Procurement of the Eurofighter consortium's "Typhoon" warplanes to replace second- and third-generation aircraft in Greece's air force was the first victim of defense spending cuts, projected to free up more than 3 billion euros.

[05] Greek and Turkish NATO representatives to continue talks on CBMs in May

BRUSSELS, 25/04/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

The meeting was held under the sponsorship of NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson.

According to diplomatic sources, the talks, which resumed after a period of about two months, focused on a review and evaluation of the course of CBMs to date and both sides summed up their positions.

Greece and Turkey's ambassadors have already agreed to the need for mutual briefings regarding military exercises in the Aegean, while a decrease in the number of exercises and their extent follows in their agenda.

Substantive talks will be held during their next meeting in May.

[06] National defense minister says EU defense ministers to convene May 14-15

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The defense minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia will pay an official visit to Greece on May 17-18, in response to a visit made to Belgrade by his Greek counterpart. Tsohatzopoulos will be making official visits to the Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt in May.

The informal meeting of defense ministers from member-states of southeastern Europe's multinational brigade will be held in Thessaloniki on June 5-6 as a continuation of their meeting in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and to examine the way of utilizing the force for Balkan security. The meeting will be attended by the new US defense secretary.

The first meeting between the defense ministers of Greece and the US, to prepare Tsohatzopoulos' visit to Washington, will be held in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on June 6.

The spring session of NATO defense ministers will also be taking place in early June, which, as Tsohatzopoulos said, will examine the political option on the creation of cooperation conditions between the alliance and the EU.

Tsohatzopoulos also referred to Greece's leading role in the creation of the European army since it is considered the sixth country regarding the level of participation of forces.

[07] FM says every European has particular sensitivity towards the imprisoned in Turkey

RABAT, 25/04/2001 (ANA - D. Konstantakopoulos)

Papandreou said this issue is being discussed both in Europe and in Turkey, while Greece is present in this discussion and this issue is also subject to what is referred to as the "partnership relation" between the European Union and Turkey.

The hunger strike in Turkey has already caused dozens of deaths among strikers and their relatives and has caused irreparable harm to the health of hundreds more.

Papandreou is in Rabat on a two-day visit.

[08] PM and public order minister discuss terrorism and Olympic Games security

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Recent press reports revealed that evidence is being examined at British laboratories concerning the attack against the German ambassador's residence in Halandri and the assassination of British embassy military attache Stephen Saunders. The reports said findings are being probed which show that the same person participated in both attacks.

Immediately after his meeting with the prime minister, Chrysohoidis held talks with Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou.

[09] Euro-MP calls for record of dependents on green cards

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Karamanou points out that the holders of much-coveted "green cards" - which allow foreign nationals to live and work in Greece legally - also have the right to invite their families to join them. While these dependents cannot be deported under new immigration rules, which come into effect in two weeks time, they would not appear on any official document and would thus be unable to enter into transactions with Greek public services, creating a socially marginalized group with limited rights.

According to Karamanou, since the wives and children of green card holders are accorded the right to reside in Greece, they should also be listed on the cards.

Under a bill recently passed by the government, the process of legalizing a multitude of illegal immigrants currently living and working in Greece would begin in two weeks time.

[10] ND leader mends bridges with Liapis in early-morning meeting

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Liapis had distanced himself from the party after the elections, disgruntled by his replacement by the Political Planning Secretariat.

Following the meeting, it was announced that Liapis would take over the party's strategy and communications issues, possibly at the head of a new party secretariat within the party's new organizational structure, due to be announced by the central committee.

Meanwhile, ND cadres Angelos Moschonas and Lefteris Zagoritis resigned their posts as Organizational and Trade Union secretaries, respectively, to stand as candidates for a place on the party's political council, after Karamanlis said that party secretaries would have to first resign in order to stand.

[11] Nicosia proposes lifting of all restrictions on Greece-Cyprus air routes

NICOSIA, 25/04/2001 (ANA - G. Leonidas)

According to Cyprus' communications, public works and transport minister, Averof Neophytou, Nicosia favors a complete deregulation of both scheduled routes and charter flights from Cyprus to all Greek airports -- sans Athens and Thessaloniki -- beginning in November.

"From April 1, 2002 all flights from the Paphos airport towards Athens and Thessaloniki will be deregulated; June 1, 2002 from Larnaka airport," Neophytou said.

Along those lines, Cypriot transport ministry authorities are in the Greek capital this week for talks with their counterparts at the Greek ministry.

The Cypriot minister said the proposed deregulation essentially means that all flights from Cyprus to Greece, and vice-versa, will be carried out without restrictions -- "leading to improvement in provided services and an economic benefit to travelers," he emphasized.

[12] FORTHnet secures first fixed telephony service license

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The license was approved last Friday, 20 April, following examination of a visibility plan submitted by the company. Under the license fixed telephony users will have access to international and domestic phone calls through FORTHnet's network using a special four-digit code.

FORTHnet expects to complete the necessary infrastructure projects to achieve full country coverage by September 2001. Its services will be initially offered to businesses and by the end of the year to home users.

Fixed telephony services will be offered by FORTHnet using its wireless network, currently under construction after obtaining a license last December through its subsidiary MBA (owned 60 percent by Telecom Italia and 40 percent by FORTHnet).

Pantelis Tzortzakis, FORTHnet's chief executive officer, said obtaining a fixed telephony license the company was making another step towards offering a full range of telecommunications services.

[13] Greek govt extends deadline for Olympic Airways' bids

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The extension was approved in order to help candidates prepare their binding bids.

A CSFB statement said all other issues related to a privatization procedure remained as planned.

[14] Growth Investments to give no dividend on 2000 profits

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The firm has 85 percent of its assets invested in the Athens Stock Exchange, which performed poorly last year, with 50 percent of its total portfolio in the MSCI Greek index.

[15] Domestic footwear industry seen rising in 2001

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The same rate of growth on an average annual basis is seen holding steady in 2002-2003, the survey said.

[16] EU's new directive on cotton farming secures Greece's production, minister says

BRUSSELS, 25/04/2001 (ANA - G. Zitouniati)

"The basic provisions of the new Directive secure the future of cotton farming in our country, with the known special positive terms that were specified" by the system of subsidy payments in relation to the international prices of the product, Anomeritis said.

The penalties for over production were set at 0.5 per cent for every 1 per cent of over production based on the quota, same as it was before, he said.

[17] Complaints about banks to ombudsman show rise

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

The banking ombudsman's office said in a statement on Tuesday that written complaints in the first quarter totalled 157, with 131 falling under the department's jurisdiction, up from 82 complaints in writing in the same period of 2000.

Of the 83 cases that have so far been investigated, 80 percent were resolved in favor of the customer, including those that ended in compromise, the statement said.

The banking ombudsman received 1,100 complaints by phone, up 33 percent on 827 calls in the first quarter of 2000. Within the department' jurisdiction were 582 cases of the total, against 260 in the same period last year, the statement said.

[18] Social Security Foundation announces int'l tender for telecoms network

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

IKA said it was seeking to develop a technologically advanced integrated telecommunication network, covering voice, data and vision, to ensuring a full linking of all of its units and to offer more advanced services to its members.

IKA-NET, a system that will be based on ATM technology, is expected to cover 100 IKA's branches in the Attica and neighboring prefects by the end of the year. Under the plan, the system will cover the remaining area of Greece within 2002.

The project, worth 5 billion drachmas, includes the construction, management, maintenance and operation of a private network offering voice, vision and data telecommunications services.

[19] Greek stocks continue losing ground

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Blue chip stocks, like National Bank, Alpha Bank, Eurobank, led the market's decline with only the food and beverage sector scoring marginal gains.

Fitco saw its share price soaring 73.45 percent on the first day of trading in the market.

The general index ended 0.99 percent lower at 3,263.20 points, off the day's lows of 3,227.83 points. Turnover was a low 129.95 million euros, or 44.28 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 1.19 percent lower at 1,889.28 points, and the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.11 percent to 376.92 points.

Sector indices ended as follows: Banks: 6,925.27 -1.65% Telecoms: 1,087.62 -0.31% Insurance: 1,448.51 -0.45% Investment: 1,144.77 -1.45% Construction: 1,532.21 -1.10% Industrials: 1,937.54 -0.55% Holding: 3,686.44 -1.19% Base metals: 995.28 -0.60% Minerals: 1,088.92 -1.21% Publishing: 1,000.86 -0.15% Textiles: 1,161.28 -1.92% Retailing: 1,152.77 -0.53% IT: 1,085.04 -1.16% IT solutions: 999.76 -1.38% Wholesale: 951.80 -1.60% Food & Beverages: 907.64 +0.12%

The parallel market for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 324.06 points, off 1.38 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 278 to 50 with another 31 issues unchanged.

Kathimerini, Viosol, Macedonian Plastics, Microland, Desmos, Pavlidis, Egnatia Bank, Mohlos, Evrofarma and ETEM scored the biggest percentage gains, while Electra, Imaco, Parnassos, Korfil, Lambropoulos, Douros, Fintexport, Balafas, Fanco and Stabilton suffered the heaviest losses.

National Bank, Alpha Bank, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Hellenic Telecoms and Olympic Techniki were the most heavily traded stocks.

Leading shares' closing prices (in euros): National Bank: 42.92 Alpha Bank: 31.34 Commercial Bank: 53.92 Egnatia Bank: 5.52 Eurobank: 17.68 Piraeus Bank: 14.48 Lambrakis Press: 13.90 Altec: 7.02 Intrasoft: 11.62 Technodomiki: 7.74 Titan Cement: 42.44 Hellenic Telecoms: 16.38 Panafon: 7.18 Hellenic Petroleum: 9.46 Attica Enterprises: 8.72 Intracom: 21.32 Mytilineos: 8.22 Minoan Lines: 5.04 Viohalco: 11.02 Coca Cola HBC: 16.40

Equity futures end down, tracking Athens bourse: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished lower on Tuesday, in line with the bourse indices on which they are based, traders said.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 1.19 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 1.11 percent lower.

Traded were 5,351 contracts on turnover of 42.9 million euros.

Bond prices drop in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished lower in heavy trade in the wake of two rising sessions and three declines.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of around 5.43 percent, the same as a day earlier.

The yield spread over German bunds was around 51 basis points, also roughly the same as in the session before.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.0 billion euros (360 billion drachmas) from 1.08 billion euros (370 billion drachmas) a trading day earlier.

Sell orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[20] Armenian communities organize events on 1915 genocide

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Both communities organized rallies and marches in memory of the victims calling on Turkey to recognize and condemn the genocide that took place 86 years ago.

In Athens, Armenians gathered in the southern suburb of Nea Smyrni and held a memorial mass in the presence of Armenian Ambassador to Athens Armen Petrosyan, Nea Smyrni Mayor George Koutelakis, Mayor of the Armenian town Sisyan L. Sarkasyan and the representative of the Armenian community in Athens Grigor Kuyumtzian.

Later in the day the members of the National Committee for the Vindication of the Armenian Issue called for a rally in central Athens' Syntagma Square and marched to the Turkish embassy where they pinned up on the door a resolution calling on Turkey to reverse its policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue and to return the "Turkish occupied Armenian lands to their legal heir, the Armenian people."

Armenian youths attempted to reach the entrance of the Turkish embassy but were repelled by the strong police force present.

In Thessaloniki, a similar rally was held, the participants of which marched to the Turkish consulate of the northern Greek city, where members of the Armenian community also clashed with police in their attempt to reach the consulate's entrance.

The same resolution, as the one in Athens, was pinned on the door of the Turkish consulate, following the memorial events, during which Thessaloniki Prefect Kostas Papadopoulos spoke of the importance of this day of memory.

He said that April 24 was named, by the Greek Parliament, a day of remembrance of the Armenian genocide.

[21] Greenpeace activists in takeover of fertilizer industry

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Some 20 Greenpeace activists from Greece, Germany and Slovakia blocked all accesses to the Thessaloniki-based Phosphoric Fertilizers Industry's (BFL) units where chemical substances responsible for destabilization of the climate and the hole in ozone layer are produced.

They also climbed atop the units where the chemicals are produced and strung up three banners carrying the slogan: "Here they destroy the climate and ozone -Stop the climate-ozone killers".

Greenpeace is demanding the closure of the units producing the ozone- and climate- harming chemical substances.

Representatives of the activists will meet later with the company's management, which was currently in a meeting, to submit their demands.

The Greenpeace activists say they are determined to stay at the plant as long as necessary.

"We will leave only when the Phosphoric Fertilizers Industry publicly commits itself to stop the production of hazardous chemical substances," said Machi Sideridou, a spokeswoman for Greenpeace.

"We are determined to achieve our goal in the name of protection of the environment and the public health," she said.

[22] Nearly half a million Greeks in Australia, academic reports

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Tsamis derived this figure from data released by the Australian statistics service and noted that 50.8 of the Greek-Australian community lived in Melbourne.

He described this community as fragmented, however, noting that there were 1,500 Greek-Australian organizations throughout the country with no umbrella or coordinating body to represent them. He also acknowledged the active interest shown in the expatriate community by the Greek government.

[23] European Commission announces names of new EU ethics commission

BRUSSELS, 25/04/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

The 12-member commission will examine the ethics of the Union's policies in new technologies and the sciences. It will be composed by four legal experts, four scientists of different fields and four social scientist experts, each from a different member-state

The commission was established in 1997 and members are appointed to a four-year term.

[24] Hellenic Festival board appoints new general director

Athens, 25/04/2001 (ANA)

Beginning his career in 1976, Karachisaridis has directed up to 40 stage plays, working with the National Theatre, the National Opera, the Athens Concert Hall, regional and independent theatre companies. His latest work was a three-day co-production by the National Opera, State Theatre of Northern Greece and the Veria

Municipal Regional Theatre in 2000, in English, entitled "Follow the fellow who follows a dream".

He has also written screenplays and directed television series and documentaries, while since 1985 he has worked in an administrative capacity for various cultural organizations.

[25] Spokesman welcomes EU Commissioner's statements

NICOSIA, 25/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"Commissioner Verheugen has referred to certain new important elements in his remarks. He talks about accession prior to a political settlement and points out that Cyprus after a solution should be functioning effectively as a single state," government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said on Tuesday.

According to the Athens News Agency, Verheugen told the German review der Spiegel that the EU wants a unified Cyprus that would be in a position to function effectively in the framework of European decision taking mechanisms under difficult circumstances.

This position, the spokesman pointed out, essentially reaffirms that the EU "rejects Turkish approaches for a confederal Cyprus, which they fall short of reuniting the country."

Noting that there could be increased momentum in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem after May's parliamentary elections, the spokesman said unless Turkey and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash change their tune, any attempt to find a solution is bound to fail.

Denktash abandoned the UN-led proximity talks last year saying the process had come to an end and now demands state-to-state talks in a bid to gain recognition of his self-styled regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

The UN conducted five rounds of proximity talks between December 1999 and November 2000. They had hoped to continue in January this year but Denktash's position put an end to their plans.

[26] French foreign minister to pay two-day visit

NICOSIA, 25/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Bilateral relations, developments in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem and the Republic's bid to join the European Union will be at the center of the talks. After Cyprus Vedrine will visit Lebanon and Syria.

[27] Turkish settlers outnumber Turkish Cypriots

NICOSIA, 25/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

"Our information is that today the number of settlers in Turkish occupied Cyprus far outweighs the number of Turkish Cypriots and the majority of those living in the occupied areas is settlers," Papapetrou told his daily press briefing.

He said if the number of the Turkish occupation troops (about 30,000) is added onto the number of settlers, then Turkish nationals constitute a clear majority in occupied Cyprus.

He said the flight of Turkish Cypriots from the island has not only been curtailed but has worsened, adding that thousands of visa applications from Turkish Cypriots are pending at foreign embassies.

His comments come as the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is preparing to discuss the demographic change on the island. Assembly rapporteur Jaakko Laakso is preparing a report on the colonization of the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus by Turkish settlers.

An earlier report in 1992 on the demography structure of Cyprus said "the waves of migrants were particularly large in 1975 and 1977, even on the lowest estimates, they represented 10 per cent of the Turkish Cypriot population" and added "the aim of the Turkish Cypriot administration's policy regarding Turkish migrants has been to encourage their permanent settlement in the island."

Turkish Cypriots made up 18 per cent of the Republic's total population before the 1974 Turkish invasion. Estimates suggest that there are about 80,000 to 90,000 Turkish Cypriots in occupied Cyprus compared with just over 100,000 Turks, who came to the island illegally after the Turkish invasion.

[28] President awards Greek Chief of Staff

NICOSIA, 25/04/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Presenting the general with the award, the president said a joint memorandum on the handling of crisis, common arms acquisition programs, donations of military hardware to Cyprus worth over 400 million pounds (about 800 m. dollars) are some of the decisions taken and implemented in which the general has been involved.

The president praised the general's contribution to the excellent working relations between the two national military commands of Cyprus and Greece in all defense fields.

"Our defense capabilities have increased the sense of security among the people and have also given a boost to our diplomatic efforts to find a just, viable and workable solution, through peaceful means," the president said, adding that such a solution would serve political stability and security in the region on the basis of international law and human rights.

Receiving the award, the Greek general said he would continue to help boost the Republic's defenses and would do whatever the political leadership dictates towards a settlement.

"This award belongs to the Greek armed forces," he said, thanking the president for the honor he had bestowed on him.

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