Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-10-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] Christodoulakis unveils economic policy targets

[02] US envoy meets new economy minister in Athens

[03] Authorities of alternate, deputy ministers at Foreign Ministry delineated

[04] DM calls for investment in security of information systems

[05] Transport minister comments on Barnier letter

[06] New press minister to meet with journalists' trade unions

[07] Gov't on migrant legalization process

[08] 2-day Athens seminar focuses on anti-terrorism initiatives

[09] Census data to be unveiled in early 2002

[10] Piraeus Bank buys ETBAbank for Dr 173 billion

[11] Greek exports continue their downward trend

[12] 14 consortiums vie for Athens' marinas in privatization tender

[13] ELBO receives TUV CERT

[14] Hospital managers introduced by new health system to start work in Attica

[15] Cost of telephone calls to be reduced by the end of the year

[16] Greek stocks end off lows on Tuesday

[17] Olympics a top priority for Athens, PM says

[18] ND section coordinators discuss Olympics preparations

[19] Eurostat statistics on Greek regions

[20] US aircraft carrier 'Enterprise' at NATO base on Crete

[21] Anthrax prevention measures flier released by Greek Parliament

[22] FM Kasoulides, MEP Poos discuss Cyprus' EU accession course

[01] Christodoulakis unveils economic policy targets

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

"The government's top criterion - in contrast to other parties - is to ensure jobs even through a privatization process, because boosting economic activity creates new job positions and increases employment," he said.

Commenting on a privatization drive, Christodoulakis said the state was not a businessman and announced the creation of a new evaluation system for enterprises in the wider public sector using investment consultants, domestic and foreign.

The government will submit its budget to parliament on Wednesday, 21 November, Christodoulakis said.

Drafting of next year's budget was determined by two fundamental factors: a procedure for a full integration in the eurozone. "We must always look for improving competitiveness through the creation of infrastructure, reducing production cost and upgrading human workforce. This policy will help in improving the country's trade balance and completing deregulation of markets."

"There are signs of recession in the world economy," Christodoulakis said and predicted a recomposition of international investments. "We must be in constant alter to pursue growth. All policies must aim in strengthening business activity and creating new jobs," he said.

The government will promote privatization and strategic alliances in the domestic banking sector and create a new framework for the operation of the housing credit market.

Christodoulakis said that the country's cooperative banks were suffering both from lack of liquidity and targets to ensure depositors.

He said that the government would enhance the supervision of the country's capital markets and would offer incentives and rationalize investment behavior. Christodoulakis also announced a state intervention in the domestic insurance market.

He declined to make any predictions on the stock market saying that "markets know better the course of the stock exchange. The government's work is to promote policies for economic growth. The stock market is a development tool but the government cannot make predictions."

[02] US envoy meets new economy minister in Athens

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

Miller said that Christodoulakis had filled him in regarding the state of the Greek economy, while adding that it appeared to be in much better shape than during his last visit in 1995.

Responding to questions regarding the response by the United States to the terrorist attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon and the homegrown terrorist organization 'November 17', the US envoy noted that terrorism was now an issue that concerned everyone.

"The terrorist strikes on Sept. 11 threaten the way of life of all of us...the question is what we intend to do about it," he said. The reaction to the terrorist strikes in the US had been immediate he added, with arrests made and suspects brought in for questioning soon afterward. Miller noted that in Greece, by contrast, no arrest had yet been made in response to attacks by November 17.

[03] Authorities of alternate, deputy ministers at Foreign Ministry delineated

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

Giannitsis would assume the portfolio of EU affairs and issues, Zaphiropoulos would be responsible for matters of international developmental cooperation, and Magriotis would undertake Hellenes Abroad issues, Papandreou announced.

After a meeting on the distribution of responsibilities, Papandreou told reporters that the political leadership, together with all the diplomats and staff members of the ministry, would share the ministry's work which "contains vision, action and challenges".

He described as a "landmark" Greece's upcoming assumption of the rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2003 which would deal with matters concerning enlargement, European defense, and the EU's competitiveness, adding that the target of the ministry's activity and the Greek EU presidency was to "elevate Greece's international role".

Giannitsis, who was undertaking EU issues, had dealt with this sector in the past as advisor to both Andreas Papandreou and Costas Simitis and had "extensive knowledge and experience" on European issues, Papandreou told the press.

Turning to Zaphiropoulos, who takes over the helm of the ministry's international developmental cooperation, Papandreou said this area was "important and timely" in order for Greece to contribute to the reconstruction of the Balkans.

Magriotis, as the head of Hellenes Abroad issues, also had worthwhile experience in this area, having dealt with such issues both as an MP and as minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Papandreou continued.

Papandreou described his new alternate and deputies as very capable individuals, and thanked their predecessors Elisavet Papazoi and Grigoris Niotis for their contribution.

Giannitsis described the team at the helm of the foreign ministry as a "creative, dynamic team that can play a role in an important period", and praised Papandreou's "very important contribution to foreign policy, especially in a period of tension".

Zaphiropoulos praised the prime minister's decision to move the departments dealing with international developmental cooperation at the national economy ministry to the foreign ministry, saying this created a new framework for exercising foreign policy.

Magriotis called the foreign ministry the "mirror of the reality of the Greeks", noting that Greece stood out in the "new global map" due to the initiatives it has undertaken.

[04] DM calls for investment in security of information systems

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

Speaking at a conference on "Cyberspace Security and Network Piracy" organized for the first time by the Army General Staff in collaboration with the National University of Athens, Papantoniou said investment in cyber security was mandatory to confront the "immense risk" to information systems due to "the ability of anyone to break into them", as well as for Greece to keep in step with the rapid developments in cyberspace.

Papantoniou opined that threats against and attacks on information systems that could be of terrorist origin "are more probable, or, less improbable, after the inhuman September 11 attack in the United States".

Noting that information technology was a necessary element for improving the efficiency of public administration in general, Papantoniou called for reliable solutions on the part of the appropriate authorities so as to create an "integrated security umbrella for information systems".

Pointing out that "all together we created a strong Greece and formulated a strong economy", the minister stressed the need for everyone to rally together for a strong and efficient Armed Forces, adding that a "main component of their strength is security".

[05] Transport minister comments on Barnier letter

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

Verelis was commenting on press reports regarding a letter sent to the transport ministry from European Commissioner for regional policy Michel Barnier at the end of July, which referred to projects for improving the Greek railway network.

The transport ministry and EU services were working together closely and successfully handling all problems that had arisen through meetings and in written communications with the EU Commissioner, Verelis said.

The minister said the July 2001 letter had merely noted whether certain agreements had been carried out, such as the organizational changes to the operation of ERGOSE after 2000, and referred to details concerning a railway line under construction between Lianokladi and Domokos.

With respect to the latter, he added, a solution to technical aspects of the project costing about 200 billion drachmas had been finalized and approved by the EU on Tuesday.

Technical problems that had arisen with the Thriasio-Elefsina-Corinth projects due to seismic activity in Kakia Skala had been solved, Verelis told reporters.

The Greek government had come in for criticism over the problems that arose in upgrading the Evangelismos-Leptokarya line, the transport minister said, which were linked to increasing the speed of trains from 200 km/hour to 250 km/hour. The EU Commissioner had blamed these on the failure to implement a specific and comprehensive policy for railway works.

Greece had been called to answer questions regarding this project, following a check carried out by a European monitoring body, and was now awaiting the Commission's final conclusion, Verelis added.

Complete and comprehensive plans for a Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki-Eidomeni railway link had also been completed and sent to the economy ministry as of October 10, the minister said.

Railways' ERGOSE management denies responsibilities for delays of projects: Hellenic Railways Organization's (OSE) subsidiary construction firm ERGOSE announced on Tuesday that it was not responsible for the delays in the construction of the new rail lines in Greece.

According to statements by ERGOSE's management during a press conference, the delays in construction were due to lack of technical know-how of OSE, which led in 1997 to the creation of ERGOSE.

Responding to relevant communication between the Greek Transport Minister Christos Verelis and European Commissioner Michel Barnier, the management of ERGOSE added that many delays appeared in the construction of projects as there were problems with land expropriation, entanglement of locals and findings of archaeological value.

ERGOSE General Director Christos Tsitouras, however noted that projects would be completed by 2008, leading to faster trains and cheaper transport.

[06] New press minister to meet with journalists' trade unions

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

On Wednesday, he will meet with the presidium of the Foreign Press Association and later in the day he will visit the head-quarters of the Athens' Journalists' Union (ESHEA), while on Friday he will participate in a conference organized by National Federation of Journalists' Unions (POESY).

[07] Gov't on migrant legalization process

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

"Some 367,000 people are being legalized, as the process hasn't been completed as yet, on top of the 200,000 to 220,000 requests for a green card that have already been approved during the first phase of this procedure," government spokesman Christos Proto-papas said in answer to a question during a regular press briefing in Athens.

Protopapas added, however, that the government does have an exact figure for the number of non-EU foreign nationals in the country, whereas he warned, "whoever isn't in the country legally cannot work legally."

Asked by a reporter if deportations would be used, the spokes-man replied: "We are determined to observe the existing legislation".

[08] 2-day Athens seminar focuses on anti-terrorism initiatives

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

He quickly followed: "I think there is another reason, because in less than three years we are hosing the 2004 Olympic Games, and it's in this direction that we've begun a very serious preparation to win a major wager: holding a safe Olympiad."

In pointing to one of the institutional innovations already implemented vis-a-vis the upcoming Games' security, Chrysohoidis referred to the unprecedented seven-country consulting group established by Athens to work with Greek authorities on the sensitive issue of anti-terrorism measures and strategy.

This week's seminar includes participation of experts from those seven countries -- the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Israel and Spain.

On his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Magriotis - appearing in place of Foreign Minister George Papandreou -- reiterated Athens' condolences for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the Greek people's solidarity towards the American nation, while saying that Athens is determined to combat, relentlessly and effectively, every instance of terrorism.

[09] Census data to be unveiled in early 2002

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

[10] Piraeus Bank buys ETBAbank for Dr 173 billion

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

Under the agreed terms of the deal, the Greek state will sell its 57.8 percent equity stake, or 100 million shares, in ETBAbank to Piraeus Bank for 173.8 billion drachmas in cash, or 5.10 euros per share.

Another 7.8 percent stake, or 13.5 million shares, will be offered to Piraeus Bank at the same price (5.10 euros per share) through a share swap. The exchange ratio will be set on the weighed daily closing price of Piraeus Bank from October 10 until the day before a general shareholders' meeting to approve the merger deal.

Merger procedures will begin after completing the transfer of the Greek state's 57.8 percent equity stake in the bank to Piraeus Bank. The same exchange ratio will cover ETBAbank's small investors also.

Based on the selling price of 5.10 euros per share and the share swap the value of the deal totals 300.8 billion drachmas, equal-ling ETBAbank's market value (Tuesday's share price) and within the value range set by JP Morgan.

Piraeus Bank also agreed to respect all employees' rights, labor contracts and contributions to ETBAbank's pension and health funds. Piraeus Bank also pledged not to cut salaries or to decide on employees transfer before consulting with unions first.

[11] Greek exports continue their downward trend

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

This was stated at a meeting held in Thessaloniki on Tuesday in preparation for the 3rd Conference on the Development of Exports in Athens from December 12-14 in Athens, which will be organized by the Association of Exporters of Northern Greece (SEBE) and the Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Thessaloniki (EBETH).

Addressing the meeting, Macedonia-Thrace Minister George Paschalidis said that what was needed was the establishment of a National Strategy for Exports.

He noted that "if all the sides involved (state, agencies, businesses) do not comprehend the great importance and the first priority for the necessity of increasing exports, we will not have positive results."

He said that factors which must be taken into consideration include the competitiveness of products, the proper briefing on foreign markets and the acceptance of risks.

EBETH President Dimitris Bakatselos noted that during the first seven months of 2001 Greek exports decreased by 10 per cent while imports decreased by one per cent.

[12] 14 consortiums vie for Athens' marinas in privatization tender

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

According to GNTO 50 companies in 14 consortiums submitted tenders to acquire the marinas. GNTO announced that it expects the process to be completed by March 2002.

The tenders will be handed over to Fuji Bank, the financial consultant that undertook the privatization effort, which entails the long term leasing of the marinas.

The consortiums are as follows:

-Alpha Astika Akinita

-TEGK SA - Dynamic SA - Polembros Maritime

-Apollonios Marina Alimos Group, which includes AEGEK, J&P construction, Vioter, Vernikos, Goldair.

-Alfa Hellenic Marines, which includes Alfa Alfa Holdings, Agricultural Bank of Greece and KAE SA

-Mega Maritime Alimos, which includes Piraeus Bank, Themeliodomi, Cretan Domiki, Goldenport etc.

-Marines Saronikou Investment Consortium, which includes Monaco Marine, Sun Gestion, European Techniki ect.

-Marines Attikis Consortium, which includes GEKAT, Prometheus GAS, Kyriakoulis, Gnomon SA etc.

-Marines Saronikou Group, which includes Diekat, Athena SA, Cybarco and Eladi Balletbo

-GENER-ALMA-ATERMON

-Elliniki Technodomiki SA with Cosmos Yachting Hellas

-Lamda Development, which includes Techniki Olympiaki, Porto Karras etc.

-Archirodon Hellas SA consortium, which includes Aktis SA, Olympios SA, Hellenic Ports and L. Vassilias

-Elimnia-Hellenic Marinas, which includes Themeli, Vistomis, MDL etc

-Saronic Marine, which includes Flotin SA, Kyromiti Bros. SA.

[13] ELBO receives TUV CERT

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

A certification for quality manufacturing is required by most international tenders, for specialty, military and civilian vehicles.

[14] Hospital managers introduced by new health system to start work in Attica

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The hospital managers were an innovation introduced by Papadopoulos' bill for reforming the Greek national health system. Under the provisions of the bill their performance is to be checked every 18 months and if it is unsatisfactory they must be removed from their post.

The new managers will chiefly be in charge of supplies and the administrative organization of hospitals to cut down on waste and the general management and upkeep of the building and grounds.

The managers starting work next week will all be stationed at Attica regional health authority hospitals, while the equivalent posts in hospitals throughout the rest of the country are expected to be filled by the end of the year.

[15] Cost of telephone calls to be reduced by the end of the year

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

By the end of the year the urban unit will be reduced from 10.50 drachmas to 9 drachmas. The long distance unit will cost 22 drachmas from 28 drachmas at present.

The cost of international phone calls will remain at 94 drachmas.

The monthly access fees will increase from 2,800 drachmas to 3,400 drachmas.

However, the National Committee of Telecommunications and Post Offices will have the final word on these decreases, which will examine if these prices are to the benefit of the consumer and whether there is unfair competition with other similar companies.

[16] Greek stocks end off lows on Tuesday

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.25 percent lower at 2,382.73 points, off the day's lows, with turnover remaining at disappointing low levels of 27 billion drachmas or 79.3 million euros.

The Textiles and Cement sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses (1.76 percent and 1.27 percent, respectively), while the Retail and Telecoms sectors scored gains (0.46 percent and 0.36 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.39 percent lower, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index fell 0.74 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.81 percent down.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 238 to 74 with another 42 issues unchanged.

Equity futures end at discount: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Friday ended in negative territory, with contracts on the FTSE/ASE-20 narrowing their discount to under 1.0 percent, traders said.

Changing hands were 4,585 contracts on turnover of 26.6 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips dropped by 0.39 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks dropped by 0.74 percent.

Bond prices rise in brisk trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Tuesday finished higher in heavy trade focusing on 10-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 4.89 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 41 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 1.1 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[17] Olympics a top priority for Athens, PM says

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The changes upgrade the role of the culture ministry in the operation of the government's Olympics committee, in which all ministers involved in Olympics preparations participate.

The announcement was made after a meeting of the committee and all officials involved, including the head of the Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC) Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, at the prime minister's official residence.

It was decided that all ministers on the committee would participate in its future meetings, but each meeting would focus on issues involving one or at most two ministries.

They also decided to hold bimonthly meetings in which there would be a detailed examination of ATHOC's progress and budget report.

A key role is to be played by the Works Monitoring Group under Deputy Culture Minister for the Olympics Nasos Alevras, which will henceforth meet on a daily basis with the participation of senior ministry staff, a technical advisor to the prime minister and a representative of ATHOC. One of the main duties of the group will be to prepare the meetings between ministers on the government's Olympics committee.

Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said his ministry would now be responsible for coordinating the government's efforts and representing the country at the International Olympics Committee (IOC).

During the meeting, the ministers also exchanged views regarding an upcoming visit by the IOC Coordinating Committee on November 21, which committee chief Denis Oswald had hinted could be crucial for Athens a month ago, when he was last in Greece.

[18] ND section coordinators discuss Olympics preparations

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The ND meeting, which was chaired by party leader Costas Karamanlis, coincided with that of a government committee for Olympics issues chaired by Prime Minister Costas Simitis, which was also held on Tuesday.

During the meeting, Karamanlis noted that the Olympics were a major issue for the country but one plagued by countless organizational problems.

"We support the effort," Karamanlis said, "since we, New Democracy, will be hosting the Games," - implying that the government would lose the next elections.

He said the government would come in for strong criticism from his party and noted that the cost of the Games had doubled, while ND spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos told reporters that each Greek family would now be called to pay "a ticket of 600,000 drachmas" to cover the cost of the Olympiad.

The spokesman also criticized the government for "bickering" over how responsibilities for organizing the Games would be divided, urging them to make up their minds and get down to work, while he said there was nothing to announce regarding an upcoming meeting between Karamanlis and the head of the Athens 2004 Olympics Organizing Committee (ATHOC), Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki.

[19] Eurostat statistics on Greek regions

BRUSSELS, 31/10/2001 (ANA - B. Demiris)

This was stated in the annual Eurostat report on the economic and social situation in the regions of the European Union member-countries, which was made public here on Tuesday.

In 1998 Attica was the Greek region with the highest decrease of the population (-1.1 inhabitants per 1,000 inhabitants), while the greatest domestic migration tide in Greece is observed towards the Ionian islands (+8.6 inhabitants per 1,000 inhabitants).

In 1999, among the unemployed in Greece, the greatest number of unemployed is in Epirus (64.6 per cent), while the lowest number in the southern Aegean (25.3 per cent).

In 1998 in Greece the fewest traffic fatalities were in Attica (131 dead per one million inhabitants) and the most in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (342 dead per one million).

[20] US aircraft carrier 'Enterprise' at NATO base on Crete

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The "Enterprise" arrived at Souda on Monday night after travel-ling up from the Suez Canal.

The aircraft carrier had been in the Persian Gulf, where it had taken part in US military operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

[21] Anthrax prevention measures flier released by Greek Parliament

Athens, 31/10/2001 (ANA)

The flier includes information provided by the center for special contagious disease control, which can be found at the internet address www.keel.org.gr and aims at helping citizens maintain their calm, in face of recent developments.

One of the basic focuses of the flier is its notation that anthrax is not contracted from another person who has the disease and that it can be remedied in its early stages by existing medication.

The flier also provided information on how to handle possible means of infection from mail, stamps or other means of spreading the disease.

[22] FM Kasoulides, MEP Poos discuss Cyprus' EU accession course

NICOSIA, 31/10/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Speaking to the press after a working lunch with Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides, Poos, who is on a five day visit to Cyprus, said that the EU hopes that the accession negotiations act as a catalyst "to those who refuse to meet with UN the Secretary General to look for a solution". "Our desire is that this occurs. If not, Cyprus will be accepted without a solution," he added.

"We need the contribution of the Turkish Cypriot side for the reunification of the island," Poos said, adding that the window for a solution to the Cyprus problem remains open until the end of the year, when the Treaty of accession is signed.

"Those who close the window already today, they don't want fresh air to come through this window", Poos noted, adding that "the Republic of Cyprus must remain interested in the political solution, but you need two to tango".

In his comments after the meeting, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides added to this point that after the accession of Cyprus to the EU, "another window will open for a settlement".

During the meeting the two men discussed Cyprus' accession course as well as the latest developments in the international environment as a result of the terrorist attacks in the USA.

"The EU decided to push forward the enlargement process and this is our contribution to bring peace and stability to the world," Poos said.

The EU official advised the Cypriot government to continue the negotiations and push for the closing of the rest of the chapters of negotiations as well as to remain interested in finding a political solution "as soon as possible". Poos leaves Cyprus on Thursday.

Cyprus opened accession negotiations with the EU in 1998 and has provisionally closed 23 out of 29 chapters and is the front-runner among EU candidates for accession.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, backed by Ankara, withdrew from the UN peace talks on Cyprus last year and in early September he rejected an invitation to talks in New York, claiming the ground was not prepared and demanding recognition of his illegal regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus.

The UN Security Council said the response of the Turkish side was unjustified and expressed disappointment that the talks did not resume.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and since then occupy 37 per cent of its territory.

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