Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-07-03

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

CONTENTS

[01] Positive response to Greek proposal for conference on FYROM

[02] First 'mad cow' instance in Greece reported

[03] Spokesman comments on VPRC poll results, Economy ministry report

[04] ND leader says visit to Chios and Psara 'trial for other model of governance'

[05] Turkey removes landmines from Greek border as bilateral relations improve, Turkish FM says

[06] Outgoing Greek military attache received by Turkish brass

[07] Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch visits Hellenic Navy vessel docked in Istanbul

[08] Greece's current accounts' deficit shrinks in Jan-April

[09] Greeks feel they're not well informed on euro, poll says

[10] EU Commission to approve draft announcement on social security issue on Tuesday

[11] PM calls for measures to deal with crippling IKA strike

[12] Thessaloniki mayor opposes bourse float for Helexpo

[13] National Bank of Greece sees growth staying robust

[14] Culture ministry to provide 161 billion drachmas for infrastructure in Thessaloniki

[15] Megalopolis in Habitat Agenda program

[16] Greek stocks find support at 2,700 level

[17] Greece's Onassis Foundation issues international music and choreography awards

[18] Overseas Greek students Theatre Festival opens

[19] Olympics organizers present foodstuff requirements for Games

[20] Gov't condemns illegal regime's terrorist methods

[01] Positive response to Greek proposal for conference on FYROM

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

Beglitis told a press briefing that the initiative was currently underway, and the proposal had already been discussed at length by foreign minister George Papandreou with his counterparts in France, Britain, the US and Russia.

The conference could likely be convened in Paris, at a time not yet decided, Beglitis said, adding that the Greek proposal had been well received by Greece's EU partners as well as the political forces in FYROM.

[02] First 'mad cow' instance in Greece reported

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

According to initial reports, authorities ordered the destruction of some 150 cattle from the same herd as the diseased animal, believed to have arrived at an abattoir in the town of Serres from neighboring Kilkis prefecture.

Agriculture Minister George Anomeritis reassured consumers that there was no danger to consumers as Greece's meet supply was thoroughly checked, stressing that since the beginning of the year 6,703 specimens of slaughtered animals were checked and were returned negative for BSE.

The Greek national scientific committee convened to discuss the problem, while the European Union was informed of the incident and measures taken in the Union began to be implemented in Greece as well.

Meanwhile opposition parties reacted to the news of the discovery of a "mad cow" disease in northern Greece and were led by main opposition New Democracy (ND) party's criticism of government "delays and inadequate controls".

ND agricultural sector spokesman and Parliament deputy Athanasios Nakos said that his party had criticized the governmental inaction, when the crisis hit Europe, adding that at that time his party tabled concrete measures to deal with the problem, preventing it from appearing in Greece.

He stressed that on May 2, ND announced that controls for "mad cow" disease in Greece were conducted to only 2,000 animals since the crisis, while during the same period there were 51,000 tests in Italy and 32,000 tests in Spain.

On its part, a Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) press release stressed the economic dimension of the problem, which will hit hard the beef producers of Greece, noting that the country cannot be named anymore among those "safe" from the disease.

[03] Spokesman comments on VPRC poll results, Economy ministry report

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

The poll published by the Greek newspaper 'Eleftherotypia' showed that the initiative to hold an earlier PASOK congress, moved forward at Simitis' insistence to October, enjoyed widespread support among PASOK voters.

"We need to clarify our policies and become the better government citizens demand," Reppas added.

Asked to comment on the National Economy ministry's report on the Greek economy, the spokesman said that the government's 2001 budget was being implemented correctly and successfully and that the course of the Greek economy was satisfactory and within the government's predictions.

He said that there were no plans for a meeting between Simitis and PASOK member Theodoros Pangalos.

Venizelos refers to PASOK congress after meeting Paschalidis: Moving forward is the way out for PASOK, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Monday, adding that the PASOK congress in October must be the springboard for this strategy. Commenting on a VPRC poll published over the weekend, which showed widespread backing for an earlier congress among PASOK voters, he said the government and ruling party still had the initiative and would make good use of this until the October congress.

Venizelos was speaking after a meeting with Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis in Thessaloniki to discuss EXPO 2007-2008 and the EU Summit in 2003.

Regarding the EXPO international trade fair, they said a tender for feasibility studies would begin on Monday. The initial plans call for the facilities of the Thessaloniki International Fair to form the nucleus for EXPO facilities.

The two ministers also said that the city would be ready to receive the EU leaders for the 2003 Summit, which they predicted would be one of the most successful held.

Reppas, Skandalidis comment on 'rush' to join PASOK: Commenting on reports of a 'rush' to join PASOK that has taken many political analysts by surprise, government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said on Monday that this was "natural and to be expected".

The spokesman also said that the large number of new members, reportedly as many as 83,000 since the party's congress was moved up to October, was not a problem.

Referring to the reports during a Monday press conference, meanwhile, PASOK Central Committee Secretary Costas Skandalidis attributed the increase in membership to greater activity within the party in view of the congress.

The press conference was held to present an event on Wednesday in honor of PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou.

Without mentioning any specific numbers, Skandalidis said that this phenomenon was observed every time the party was due to hold internal elections, either to choose congress delegates or candidates in municipal and prefectural elections.

He said, however, that the response this time was far greater than for PASOK's last elections to choose prefectural committees and their secretaries.

Predicting that the congress would have a successful outcome, Skandalidis said he would not be standing for another term as secretary to the party's central committee.

The late PASOK leader’s son Nikos presented details of the event in memory of Andreas Papandreou, which is being organized by the Papandreou Foundation.

According to Nikos Papandreou, the evening would differ from similar events along the same lines by attempting to explore the late leader's 'inner thoughts' by presenting documents dating from his time in exile that were being seen for the first time or had not been seen for many years.

Held at the 'Melina Mercouri Rock' theatre, the evening will also feature a musical program conducted by Ilias Andriopoulos.

[04] ND leader says visit to Chios and Psara 'trial for other model of governance'

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

In a meeting with local officials in Chios in the morning, Karamanlis said he came to listen, while the main issues brought to his attention were the transportation problem, the problem of inadequate water supply, rates of growth and unemployment.

Referring to regional issues, Karamanlis said the Aegean requires different handling, adding that "they are the lungs of Greece" and noting that his party's option is an integrated insular policy.

Karamanlis placed emphasis on the need for infrastructure projects to be carried out and said the lack of them "cannot be covered by any private initiative."

He referred to the need for a modern airport and port and focused on a solution to the water supply problem, saying that, apart from insular regions, it poses a huge problem elsewhere as well, such as in Thessaly, central Greece.

Karamanlis further said that support should be provided for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and added that top priority should be given to the radical reformation of the existing development law.

Commenting on the issues of agriculture and shipping, Karamanlis said an aggressive agricultural policy is necessary which will be based on the quality of products and went on to say that he does not believe that Greek shipping is on a downhill course of decline.

"It will be a crucial and a national strategic mistake for us to believe that the good times have gone for shipping and that we should not place the principal weight on it," he said.

[05] Turkey removes landmines from Greek border as bilateral relations improve, Turkish FM says

ISTANBUL, 03/07/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

"The danger of conflict and 'hot' incidents in the Aegean is reduced and we are removing landmines from the Greek-Turkish borders in Thrace," he said, stressing that great steps in improving relations between the two countries have been taken.

Speaking on Greek-Turkish difference of positions regarding the Aegean and the European Union call that the two countries take them to the International Court at the Hague by 2004, Cem said that his country is ready to discuss the resolution of problems with Greece based on the UN Charter Article 33, which does not require that the two countries seek recourse to the court, adding that "in 2004 a reassessment of the situation will take place".

Greece recognizes only one difference with Turkey in regards to the Aegean, that being the issue of continental shelf exploitation rights.

Speaking on Cyprus, Cem called Cyprus accession prospect to the European Union a "Pyrric victory", if it takes place before the resolution of the Cyprus problem, adding that Turkey's reaction to such an event will be without limits.

[06] Outgoing Greek military attache received by Turkish brass

ISTANBUL, 03/07/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Earlier, the deputy commanders of Turkey’s Navy, Air Force and Joint Chiefs of Staff command received the high-ranking Greek officer, Col. Frangos Frangoulis.

[07] Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch visits Hellenic Navy vessel docked in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, 03/07/2001 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

The Hellenic Navy vessel's crew of 50 visited the Patriarchate on Saturday and the Orthodox prelate returned the visit on Monday, as the ship was docked in the city's port.

"It is a special emotional moment for me, as the Patriarch of the nation, to bless in your presence and on your ship the whole fleet and all the armed forces of Greece," Vartholomeos said.

He wished to the crew "that it may never be needed for you to fight, that you may only employ your time with peaceful and training projects and that your visits to foreign ports of the globe may be visits of peace, friendship and love".

[08] Greece's current accounts' deficit shrinks in Jan-April

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

In its delayed report on the country's trade balance for the January-April period, the central bank attributed the improvement of the figures to a higher surplus in the services' balance, while both the trade deficit and the incomes' balance worsened in the four-month period.

The report said an increase by 120 million euros of the country's trade deficit in Jan-April, reflected by higher net fuel imports; whereas fuel is excluded, the trade deficit fell by 32 million euros, reflecting higher export revenues.

The services' balance recorded a surplus of 2.4 billion drachmas in the first four months of 2001, up from 1.4 billion last year, while the incomes' deficit rose to 682 million euros from 344 million, over the same period.

The financial services' surplus fell by around 1.0 billion euros due to lower direct investments in Greece.

The Bank of Greece said its foreign exchange reserves totalled 7.2 billion drachmas in April.

[09] Greeks feel they're not well informed on euro, poll says

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

The Eurobarometer poll conducted from the end of March to early April among 16,000 inhabitants of the EU's 15 member countries said that 47.8 percent of Greeks felt their level of information was average or poor on the euro. Another 25.5 percent saying they knew nothing at all about the matter.

The lowest level of knowledge about the euro was found among people above 55 years of age, with 36 percent of the group appearing to know nothing about the issue and only 16 percent feeling well informed.

Forty two percent of Greeks declaring a low income appeared not to have received any information on the single currency.

Of respondents who said they had received information on the euro, most said the source was the mass media, led by television, with 68.3 percent gaining their information from TV.

Four out 10 Greeks, or 38.6 percent of those polled, appeared not to be aware of the fact that Greece is a member of the eurozone, although the majority of respondents backed introduction of the single currency. Of respondents, 83.3 percent knew the year in which the euro would be introduced in Greece.

Concerning enlargement of the EU, 16.1 percent of Greeks felt relatively well informed.

Only 37.5 percent of Greeks appeared to know that Cyprus was a candidate for EU entry.

Finally, on the workings of the EU, 45.7 percent said they were not interested in taking part in public debates concerning the operation of the EU. Of Greeks polled, 83.3 percent felt that they did not know enough about the Community.

[10] EU Commission to approve draft announcement on social security issue on Tuesday

BRUSSELS, 03/07/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

According to the same sources, the program drafted at the initiative of Greek Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, who is responsible for the Union's social affairs, will mandate that member-states will be obliged to submit an annual report to the Commission on their strategy of reform for their pension fund systems.

Thus the Commission will be given the right to oversee the reforms of the pension systems in all member-states, as it will have the right to comment on developments and issue proposals, which will not be binding.

The first analysis of national strategies will be issued on 2002 in efforts to coordinate national policies, while this same report will be discussed by the informal European council in the spring of 2003, during Greece's EU presidency.

The same sources said that the draft's main points include directions for secure and viable pension funds, fiscal viability of pension funds both public and private and their modernization.

[11] PM calls for measures to deal with crippling IKA strike

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

Among others, IKA doctors what permanent status for a large number of their colleagues now employed on temporary contracts as well as pay raises.

In exiting the meeting, Labor Minister Tassos Giannitsis also clarified that there is no issue of declaring a mobilization of striking IKA doctors. The strike is set to last until Aug. 3.

According to reports on Monday, only skeleton crews were available to treat patients or fill out prescriptions at IKA clinics around the country.

Doctors at university teaching hospitals in Athens and Thessaloniki will also continue their walkout until July 6 in protest over a health ministry bill that includes the prohibition against physicians' simultaneous employment in private and public facilities.

[12] Thessaloniki mayor opposes bourse float for Helexpo

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

He called on Prime Minister Costas Simitis to handle the matter personally, and keep a promise he allegedly made in a recent letter to the mayor that the government was seeking cooperation with local bodies in Thessaloniki on modernization of the company.

The mayor also asked for an evaluation of Thessaloniki-based Helexpo that was made by EFG Eurobank Ergasias to be made public.

[13] National Bank of Greece sees growth staying robust

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

[14] Culture ministry to provide 161 billion drachmas for infrastructure in Thessaloniki

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Monday presented to representatives of agencies from Thessaloniki the program of culture and sports infrastructure projects, which will be funded by the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF), the "Greece 2004" program and national resources.

Venizelos said the EU has already approved the funding of culture projects for the 2000-2006 period, amounting to 50 billion drachmas, which will be provided by the 3rd CSF. Compared to the 2nd CSF, the increase amounts to 156 percent.

Regarding Olympic projects, Venizelos said sports and Olympic infrastructures worth 111.01 billion drachmas would be funded by the Greece 2004 program and national resources.

[15] Megalopolis in Habitat Agenda program

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

It said environment, town planning and public works ministry had informed the municipality that it had approved Megalopolis' application for participation in the Operational Program on the Environment that concerns projects incorporated under the new pilot program "Integrated Local Sustainable Development Programs for application of the Habitat Agenda at local level".

The Habitat Agenda is a global action plan for human settlements that was adopted at the world conference Habitat II in Istanbul in 1996.

Responding to a call by the ministry, Megalopolis Municipality submitted its own proposal for the protection, highlighting and utilization of important monuments, that will contribute to the economic and tourist growth of the municipality, thus creating new jobs which would halt the population decline of the region's mountain areas and the entire municipality in general, the Municipality said.

Some 9,000 participants from 183 countries converged on Istanbul for the UN's Habitat II conference in 1996 to work on a global plan of action designed to work out solutions to urban problems, including poverty, unemployment, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation, water shortage and pollution.

Last week, environment, town planning and public works minister Costas Laliotis announced that 60 municipalities had been selected for funding under the Habitat Agenda program out of a total 491 that had responded to the ministry's invitation for funding proposals, while efforts would be made to fund interesting proposals submitted by other municipalities through EU programs, such as LIFE, LEADER, SAVE, THERMIE, ALTENER and others.

A total of 7.5 billion dr. have been earmarked for the Habitat Agenda program under this year's national program for the environment.

[16] Greek stocks find support at 2,700 level

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

Traders said the market has found short-term support at the 2,700 level and noted that net turnover was one of the lowest this year at 25 billion drachmas.

The general index ended 0.20 percent lower at 2,735.66 points, off the day's highs of 2,744.64 and the day's lows of 2,709.69 points.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,578.46 points, off 0.11 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index dropped 1.11 percent to end at 301.98 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 848.08 points, down 0.20 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 256.71 points, off 0.45 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 213 to 100 with another 42 issues unchanged.

Equity futures drop in sell-oriented trade: Equity futures traded on the Athens Derivatives Exchange showed a discount of up to 0.5 percent on Monday with sellers calling the shots, despite selective buying at the end of the session in blue chip contracts.

The underlying FTSE/ASE 20 index closed 0.73 percent down, and the FTSE/ASE 40 ended 0.59 percent lower.

Traded were 5,941 contracts on turnover of 40.4 million euros.

Bond prices mixed in light to moderate trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Monday finished mixed in light to moderate trade.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.58 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 48 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 625 million euros (213.0 billion drachmas).

Sell orders accounted for about half of turnover.

[17] Greece's Onassis Foundation issues international music and choreography awards

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

The first prize for original dance music composition was not awarded, while the second, which carries a cash prize of 75,000 dollars was awarded to Christopher Lyndon-Gee from Great Britain for his "Chamber Symphony No1 - Il poeta muore" and to Ryan Caybuab from the Philippines for his "MISA 2000" composition.

The third prize carrying a 50,000-dollar award in that category was given to Pedro Navarrete from Spain for his "AONIA - El Tiempo de un Instante) and to Charels Uzor from Switzerland for his "GO" composition.

As in the music composition category, the foundation did not award a first prize for the category of original choreography, while the second, which carries a cash prize of 75,000 dollars was awarded Margarita Bali from Argentina for her "In vitro shipwreck" and the third prize carrying a 50,000-dollar award was given to Carmen Warner from Spain for the "El tiempo de un instante" work.

Smaller honor and awards were also announced.

The winners will be awarded during a ceremony in Athens on November 27, 2001.

[18] Overseas Greek students Theatre Festival opens

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

The purpose of the Festival, which runs to July 7, is to create and cultivate ties between local Greek students and overseas Greek students, the promotion of common interests, and familiarizing the overseas Greek students with modern Greece.

The Festival, taking place at the Rethymno University Campus, closes Saturday evening with the presentation of Awards and Citations to the participating troupes.

[19] Olympics organizers present foodstuff requirements for Games

Athens, 03/07/2001 (ANA)

The breakdown was presented to the Association of Greek Foodstuffs Industries by Spyros Kapralos, a consultant of the organizing committee, who said that catering would prove to be a key performance indicator for services provided during the games.

The committee would develop a close working relationship with the association in order to ensure optimum provisions, Kapralos added.

During the games, 15,800,000 meals will be provided, with three restaurants slated for the Olympic Village employing 250 cooks and 250 assistants. The village will provide 50,000 meals a day.

[20] Gov't condemns illegal regime's terrorist methods

NICOSIA, 03/07/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Papapetrou was commenting on obstacles put forward by the occupation regime to prevent a bicommunal festival organized jointly on Sunday by Greek and Turkish Cypriots in the mixed village of Pyla, claiming that such events serve the Greek Cypriot propaganda.

The occupation regime prevented Turkish Cypriots from attending the festival, which took place outside the village only with the participation of Greek Cypriots. Following Turkish threats UNFICYP had called for the postponement of this event fearing of incidents.

The festival was organized by the "Bicommunal Choir for Peace in Cyprus" with the assistance of the Cyprus - German Forum and the German Embassy in Nicosia.

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