Athens News Agency Daily Bulletin in English, 01-08-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Economy is thriving, Papantoniou says after meeting PM

[02] Greek Army chief visits Greek contingent in FYROM

[03] Comments on presidential decision by Mitsotakis

[04] Greek FM holds talks with Albanian Socialist Party leader

[05] Cypriot DM cites Turkish reaction to Euro-defense role

[06] Election booklets abolished, personal code envisioned

[07] KEDKE and local authorities discuss inter-municipal co-op

[08] 15 new radio licences for Athens area

[09] Coalition leader slams regional imbalances in Tripoli speech

[10] Sociology to be reintroduced in third year in lyceums

[11] Minister reports progress in northern energy projects

[12] Consumer group sets up euro information centers

[13] Tuition fees for private schools up 3.5 percent

[14] Hellenic Telecom shows rise in profit, revenue in first half

[15] Morgan Stanley's report push Greek stocks lower

[16] Equity futures outperform indices

[17] Luxembourg radio show dedicated to Mikis Theodorakis

[18] Violent clash between Greek & Albanian youths on Rhodes

[19] UN envoy de Soto says he expects cooperation from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides

[20] Government protests illegal archaeological excavations in Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus

[01] Economy is thriving, Papantoniou says after meeting PM

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The meeting focused on the Greek economy's performance, which Papantoniou said was good. Specifically, he said the rate of growth in Greece for 2002 was expected to be twice the EU average, while public debt was expected to shrink and inflation to stay low.

With respect to a package of social and welfare measures planned by the government, Papantoniou said final decisions on this would be made when the cabinet met next Tuesday.

Budget revenues' growth exceed target: Greece's budget revenues growth exceeded the official target in the first seven months of the year, with state revenues increasing by 9.0 percent compared with an 8.0 percent growth target, or a surplus of 71 billion drachmas.

The regular budget's primary spending rose 7.7 percent in the January-July period, remaining within the official target for a 7.9 percent increase for the seventh consecutive month. Net primary spending also rose 7.3 percent over the same period.

Spending for servicing the public debt, however, rose 0.1 percent in the first seven months of the year, compared with an annual target for a 2.1 percent decrease. Deputy Finance Minister George Drys said that interest spending was significantly lower com-pared with previous months and said he was confident that the budget target for the year would be met.

The average absorption rate by the government's ministries was 54 percent in the January-July period, while the Public Investments Program also trailed behind targets both in revenues and spending (-10.5 percent) due to accounting problems with inflows, worth 600 billion drachmas, from community funds.

Drys said that next year's draft budget would be submitted to parliament in the first Tuesday of October along with a fiscal plan for public spending in the years 2003 and 2004.

[02] Greek Army chief visits Greek contingent in FYROM

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Antonakopoulos inspected the areas where the Albanian extremists are handing over their weapons to the other NATO forces. According to assessments, a great part of the equipment, which was handed over, were in good condition.

Antonakopoulos ascertained the stringent security measures, which have been taken, and the good living conditions of the 411 Greek troops who are based at the Krivolak camp, given the fact that they had set camp there only five days ago.

Antonakopoulos described the Greek troops as ambassadors of their country in FYROM and lauded their high morale.

The Greek Chief of the Army General Staff met with his FYROM counterpart who was at the Krivolak camp. According to sources, FYROM's Chief of the Army General Staff thanked Greece for its help and noted the high level of training of the Greek troops. According to sources, he appeared however reserved with regard the development of the NATO operation.

On his part, Antonakopoulos reiterated the firm Greek positions for the inviolability and respect of the Balkan borders.

Antonakopoulos returned to Athens on Thursday afternoon.

[03] Comments on presidential decision by Mitsotakis

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The head of the Greek Orthodox Church, to which the vast majority of Greeks belong, told the gathered congregation that the people were behind the Church and that "the more some quarters attack it, the more it grows".

Archbishop Christodoulos had a 45-minute meeting with the president on Wednesday, in which he presented 3,008,901 signatures supporting the Church's call for a referendum to decide the issue.

The Church objects to a government decision, in force since mid-2000, to abolish all record of the holder's religion on police-issued identity cards to conform to privacy and personal data laws. It wants a nationwide referendum to decide whether record of religion should be allowed on an optional basis.

In a statement issued after the meeting, however, Stephanopoulos stressed that the prerequisites for holding such a referendum did not exist and that all sides had to adhere to the rules of law.

...the collection of signatures outside the margins of the stated legal procedure cannot possibly reverse the Constitutions provisions, the statement said.

The record of religion on IDs, either optionally or otherwise, has also been ruled unconstitutional under current laws by the Council of State, Greece's supreme administrative court. In statements on Tuesday, Christodoulos hinted that he might seek to have the ruling reversed by the European Court of Justice.

The government, meanwhile, has refused to budge from its positions on the basis of the Council of State ruling, which it claims settled the ID-card issue once and for all.

Constantine Mitsotakis: New Democracy honorary president Constantine Mitsotakis, who has criticized the government's handling of the affair, ex-pressed sorrow at the president's stance on Thursday, saying that Stephanopoulos had further inflamed the contentious dispute.

"Instead of using his personal and institutional prestige to defuse the crisis and facilitate dialogue...he triggered a new round of tension, which has been accompanied by vile attacks on the Archbishop," Mitsotakis said.

On Wednesday, Mitsotakis had attacked Prime Minister Costas Simitis for refusing to talk to the Church and for not allowing the issue to be settled either through a referendum or by Parliament.

The call for dialogue was also supported later on Wednesday by ND leader Costas Karamanlis, after a meeting with a delegation of high-ranking clerics on the issue.

Karamanlis accused the prime minister of following a slippery road of fanaticism and division and said his party was in favor of a change in legislation to resolve the issue.

Former PM praises president on his stance on ID issue: Former prime minister George Rallis on Thursday spoke to the President of the Republic Constantine Stephanopoulos by telephone and praised him over the stance he took during his meeting with Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos the day before on the issue on the listing of religious affiliation on police identity cards.

[04] Greek FM holds talks with Albanian Socialist Party leader

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Papandreou and Nano exchanged views on developments in Albania, in light of the election of the new prime minister, and the general developments in the region, particularly in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Papandreou described as constructive his meeting with Nano with whom he also spoke on Balkan developments, bilateral relations and the Greek minority in Albania.

On his part, Nano stressed the close cooperation and the common objectives of the two governments and also of the two socialist parties of Greece and Albania in support of the European prospects of the Balkan countries.

[05] Cypriot DM cites Turkish reaction to Euro-defense role

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The Athens meeting comes in light of an announcement that proximity talks between the two sides on the divided island of Cyprus will soon resume.

We expressed our concerns over Turkeys stance and its re-actions to Cyprus equal participation in (shaping) European security and defense, Hasikos said afterwards.

The Cypriot minister added that Ankara has apparently failed to promote its position of forcing the Europeans to exclude Cyprus and the Aegean from their defense planning.

Hasikos will meet with Greek FM George Papandreou on Friday morning.

[06] Election booklets abolished, personal code envisioned

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Those elections will be the first in which Greek citizens will also vote in the municipality where they reside, instead of where they retain voting rights, i.e. their hometown.

According to the interior ministry, election booklets will be replaced by the end of the year with a 13-digit personal code for each voter. Voters will be subsequently informed of their new voting precinct two months before the election.

Interior Minister Vasso Papandreou said 774 out of the 1,033 municipalities and communities in the country have sent their new voter lists to the ministry. Athens is one of the 259 municipalities that havent, however, although officials in the countrys largest city promised to process their voter lists by Oct. 10.

[07] KEDKE and local authorities discuss inter-municipal co-op

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The issue, which is going to be further discussed next Wednesday when it will dominate a parliamentary session, concerns the proposal of a new draft law that focuses on three axes.

The first point deals with inter-municipal collaboration and man-dates that it must be on a volunteer basis, however, islands are exempted from this ruling.

Secondly, further financing for new services from state funds is also stated and finally the proper staffing with skilled individuals was also noted.

[08] 15 new radio licences for Athens area

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Instead, three criteria will be employed by ERS to grant the added licences, namely, program capacity, total investments, and the number of proven staff.

A government decision in late March to finally issue a total of 28 radio station licences with transmitters shifted from Mount Hymettus to Mount Parnitha and to shutdown the broadcasts of stations without a license caused a veritable furor over the airwaves. Police raids on a transmitter park atop Mount Hymettus, overlooking Athens from the east, were also timed with the opening of the new Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

ERS had initially approved a maximum of 28 radio frequencies to allow for the unimpeded operation of the new airport, whereas more than 70 stations, many without any legal standing, had been broadcasting over the airwaves in the Greek capital until March.

Conversely, the managements of several high-profile stations that were "axed" vehemently charged that criteria used by the ERS board to grant licenses was faulty and capricious, as well as politically motivated.

[09] Coalition leader slams regional imbalances in Tripoli speech

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Speaking on Wednesday night during a meeting of Coalition prefecture committees from the Peloponnese, Constantopoulos called for greater powers and responsibilities to be given to local authorities and bodies, giving the provinces enough autonomy to "break free" of central government.

Referring to the Peloponnese, in particular, Constantopoulos listed problems such as the slow rise of development indices, lack of a Land Registry, insufficient water, shrinking farming populations and, especially, unemployment.

[10] Sociology to be reintroduced in third year in lyceums

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Education Minister Petros Efthymiou reached the decision as sociology broadens the spiritual horizons of the students, en-riches their knowledge and helps them to understand the functioning of society.

[11] Minister reports progress in northern energy projects

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Christodoulakis was speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis, who will visit the northern port city in September to make the premier's annual economic policy speech at the start of the city's international trade fair.

[12] Consumer group sets up euro information centers

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The INKA group said in a statement that the centers in Athens, Thessaloniki and the regions were supplemented by mobile units that traveled round the country informing the public of the switch in currency.

Consumers may also phone 1721 for information on the euro, the statement added.

[13] Tuition fees for private schools up 3.5 percent

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Apostolaki also called on representatives in the sector of school stationary to maintain stable prices so as to protect the income of consumers from unjustified price hikes.

[14] Hellenic Telecom shows rise in profit, revenue in first half

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Consolidated revenue in the first half totalled 675.6 billion drachmas, up 14.4 percent on same-period 2000, OTE said in a statement.

Making a robust contribution to sales were the company's mobile phone subsidiary, Cosmote, and new high technology services, representing 23.7 percent of sales against 16.2 percent in first half of last year, the statement said.

The contribution to sales of domestic phone connections in the first half fell from 57 percent a year ago to 54.8 percent, in line with trends abroad, it added.

Dividend returns per share rose by 9.8 percent, higher than a growth rate of 7.6 percent in net profits after tax due to a share buyback scheme being implemented by the company.

The cost of services rose by 6.1 percent, an improvement on the first half of 2000, due in part to a policy of restraint in wage rises, the statement said.

The OTE Group's mobile phone services showed a rise in revenue of 100.2 percent against the first half of last year to total 98.7 billion drachmas, it added.

[15] Morgan Stanley's report push Greek stocks lower

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

A decision by the European Central Bank to lower its rates by 25 basis points came too late to reverse the trend in the Greek bourse.

The US investment bank lowered its forecasts for Greek banks' profits in the next few years until 2003 and said it was retaining its neutral recommendation for National Bank and Alpha Bank, with a fair value at 33.5 euros and 23 euros per share, respectively.

The general index ended 0.24 percent lower at 2,769.02 points, off the day's lows of 2,755.78 points, with turnover a disappointing 110.94 million euros, or 37.8 billion drachmas.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended at 1,547.63 points, off 0.01 percent, the FTSE/ASE 40 index eased 0.83 percent to 311.97 points, and the FTSE/ASE SMALLCAP 80 index ended at 927.49 points, off 0.52 percent.

The parallel market index for smaller capitalization stocks ended at 275.51 points, up 0.12 percent.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 248 to 93 with another 22 issues unchanged.

Prices end higher, ECB cuts rate: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Thursday finished higher in heavy trade, in the wake of an announcement by the European Central Bank that the base intervention rate in the euro will drop by a quarter point on September 5 to 4.25 percent.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.26 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 47 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.5 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for just over half of turnover.

[16] Equity futures outperform indices

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Changing hands were 5,191 contracts on turnover of 36.4 million euros, traders said.

[17] Luxembourg radio show dedicated to Mikis Theodorakis

LUXEMBOURG, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

The show, which included the participation of celebrated Finnish singer Arja Saujonmaa, and was hosted by broadcaster and journalist Guy Wagner, is part of a series of productions 170 that began being aired on May 6, 1999 and are to wrap up on December 26th, 2002.

Guy Wagner dispatched Theodorakis biography in the German language in 1995 and re-dispatched a second complete version last year in the French language. The anticipated novel is expected to make its way to Greek bookstores in September.

It should be noted that Wagner established and is current president of the International Foundation Mikis Theodorakis FILIKI which has as its objective to project the works of this celebrated Greek artist.

[18] Violent clash between Greek & Albanian youths on Rhodes

Athens, 31/08/2001 (ANA)

Rhodes authorities said the incident started on Wednesday evening in the Ialisos municipality when a handful of Greek and Albanian nationals clashed with one another for unknown reasons.

Notwithstanding, local police officials did reveal that several other similar incidences have occurred, the motive of which involved a young local girl.

The Ialisos youngsters, on their part, maintain that they were for no reason attacked by the group of Albanians who they further claim notified their accomplices by cellular phone to join the clash.

Rhodes officials have beefed up patrol measures in the Ialisos municipality in fear of new gang clashes.

[19] UN envoy de Soto says he expects cooperation from the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides

NICOSIA 31/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

De Soto, on the island for a series of separate meetings with Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, had a working breakfast here on Thursday with the president. On Friday he will meet separately both Denktash and Clerides.

After his arrival on Wednesday, de Soto met with the president for nearly an hour in what was described as a "courtesy call."

Invited to say what his feeling was after his first meetings here, de Soto said he had not seen Denktash yet but would see him on Friday.

Invited to say what he expects from Denktash, de Soto said: "The same thing that I am expecting from both sides, which is cooperation and good talks, leading to a comprehensive settlement."

De Soto will give a press conference, prior to his departure on September 5.

UN-led proximity talks that started in December 1999 were interrupted last year, when Denktash, backed by Ankara, withdrew from them, demanding recognition of his self-styled regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

[20] Government protests illegal archaeological excavations in Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus

NICOSIA 31/08/2001 (CNA/ANA)

In a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Vikis said that the illegal excavations first started in August 1999 at the Salamis area, adding that the Cyprus Department of Antiquities has been prevented from carrying our any excavations at Salamis or at any other site in the occupied areas of the Republic.

The Cyprus government "holds the government of Turkey responsible for all illegal archeological excavations carried out in the occupied area of Cyprus", the letter said, pointing out that "such excavations have an adverse and destructive effect on the cultural heritage of Cyprus and are contrary to the legitimate interests of the people of Cyprus."

In a second letter to Robinson, Vikis brings to her attention a Decision on Cyprus that the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination adopted on 13 August 2001 by which it reaffirms the importance of putting an end to Cyprus' occupation.

In its Decision, the Committee "requests from the UN Secretary General to call the attention of the Security Council, the General Assembly and other appropriate bodies of the UN to this decision, in the earnest hope that they will take the measures required for the implementation of their relevant resolutions and decisions" on Cyprus.

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