Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-11-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Budget revenues' growth exceed target in Jan-Oct

[02] PM fields ND questions on farming policy in Parliament

[03] PM and Environment minister discuss ministry issues

[04] Political leaders comment on Polytechnic anniversary

[05] Deputy FM back from WTO meeting in Qatar

[06] EU justice ministers examine terrorism

[07] European Commission on illegal immigration policies

[08] Athens to host Euro-Mediterranean environment conference

[09] Bill on use of coastal areas will be changed, Protopappas says

[10] Floridis says family benefits measure to take effect from July 1 2002

[11] Gov't: 14 UK, Dutch tourists charged for espionage

[12] Proposal for German reparations cases to be tried in Germany

[13] NATO general visits Tyrnavos headquarters

[14] ND's 'Policy Analysis Group' holds first ever meeting

[15] KEP leader rules out cooperation with PASOK in next elections

[16] Greek economy shows great endurance despite world's slowdown

[17] Greek economic weekly review

[18] Power plant to be built on Greece's southern outpost

[19] Greek stocks end week sharply higher

[20] Commemorative pin for 1,000 days before Athens Olympiad

[21] Greek-Spanish conference on Greek presence in Mediterranean

[22] CD-ROM 'Melina Mercouri' wins special award in Beijing

[23] Greece and Turkey agree to joint 2008 Eurosoccer candidacy

[24] Ambassador says US would support a Clerides-Denktash meeting

[25] OIC foreign ministers issue communique on Cyprus

[01] Budget revenues' growth exceed target in Jan-Oct

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

A ministry report said that the budget's revenue surplus totalled 30 billion drachmas in October and predicted slightly slower revenue growth in the last three months of 2001, reflecting a slower GDP growth rate because of a global economic slowdown.

Tax agency revenues rose 2.0 percent in October for an increase of 6.7 percent in the first 10 months of the year, non-tax revenues jumped 38.3 percent in October for an increase of 42.4 percent in the January-October period, and value added tax revenues increased by 10.7 percent in October and 10.6 percent in the first 10 months of 2001.

[02] PM fields ND questions on farming policy in Parliament

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

Simitis was responding to questions put by main opposition New Democracy MP Miltiades Evert, who said the state needed to take measures to reduce the cost of farming production and alter crops.

Saying that farmers' incomes had increased by more than the European Union average under PASOK governments, Simitis admitted that agriculture was currently facing difficulties as it adapted to EU and international markets.

Evert, on the other hand, accused the prime minister of being out of touch with reality and said that PASOK ministers had shown indifference to the problems faced by farmers.

Presenting figures released by the statistics service for the period 1996-2000, Evert noted that prices for farmers' products had increased by just 2.7 per cent, while the cost of consumables and capital had increased by 11.9 per cent.

"Farmers are not mobilizing just because they feel like it but because there are real problems and you're not telling the truth," he said.

Simitis defended the government's record, saying that it had succeeded in securing one trillion drachmas (2.93 billion euros) a year in subsidies and support for agriculture until 2006.

Agriculture minister urges farmers to agree to dialogue: Agriculture Minister George Drys, addressing a press conference on Friday, urged farmers currently in a state of mobilization to agree to a dialogue.

He added that ever since he has assumed his duties none of the bodies representing them requested a meeting with him to discuss real problems and their solution.

Drys will leave for Brussels on Monday to participate in the Agriculture Ministers Council which will primarily be examining stockbreeding and veterinary issues.

In another development, an estimated 1,000 farmers with 700 tractors rallied in the town of Farsala, central Greece, on Friday and paralyzed the town for about two hours.

Just as in the case of the rally in the town of Karditsa last Wednesday the prospect of blocking the national motorway was highlighted as a possibility in the framework of farmers' mobilization, while the focal point of their demands was once again cotton and other farm products.

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Eurodeputy Yiannis Patakis, trade union leaders and other speakers criticized the government's agricultural policy, as well as that of the European Union.

The seriousness of the cotton problem was underlined and once again the claim was made for the abolition of what they termed the EU's new disastrous regulation on the specific product.

[03] PM and Environment minister discuss ministry issues

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

Asked by reporters whether there were delays in other environment ministry projects apart from those relating to the Olympics, Papandreou said only that everything was proceeding normally but that "this did not mean that there weren't problems."

[04] Political leaders comment on Polytechnic anniversary

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

Prime Minister Costas Simitis visited an elementary school in the working-class district of Keratsini, north of Piraeus, in the morning to attend a pupils' celebration on the eve of the anniversary of the students' uprising.

In brief statements to the pupils and teachers, the prime minister said the commemoration of the Polytechnic uprising against the seven-year junta (1967-74) is a day of remembrance for the uprising's victims and one of due respect for those involved in the anti-dictatorship struggle.

Education Minister Petros Efthymiou greeted Simitis at the school

"Today we honor those that struggled for human dignity. We're meeting society's call for common struggles in the same direction; we're building the widest possible unity, revolving around common values and our people's ideals," main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis said.

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE), meanwhile, said in its message that the Polytechnic's message is as current today as it was in 1973.

KKE also emphasized that the "imperialist war against Afghanistan and additional measures against popular sovereignty and peoples' freedom, under the pretense of terrorism, necessitate that we clash with fatalism, compromise, anti-popular politics and employers' rights..."

On its part, a statement by ruling PASOK's executive bureau noted that "the Polytechnic guides us always. The struggle for progress, democracy and social justice continues".

In referring to the shocking Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, the PASOK message reads:

"International terrorism has no excuse in the minds of citizens, and it has no place in the new era and the 21st century," while adding that the attacks accentuate the need for international cooperation by progressive forces.

Earlier, Efthymiou and PASOK secretary Costas Laliotis laid wreaths at the Polytechnic, in central Athens, amid a brief spat of protests by a KKE-affiliated youth group.

Deputy Defense Minister Loukas Apostolidis, at the head of a high-ranking delegation of armed forces chiefs, also laid a wreath at the Polytechnic.

Furthermore, Parliament held a moment's silence to honor those that struggled in the Polytechnic uprising, during a special ceremony complete with addresses by representatives from all the parties.

[05] Deputy FM back from WTO meeting in Qatar

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

A foreign ministry announcement said that the meeting had decided on the start of a new round of negotiations for freeing global trade that would end in 2005.

In his address to the WTO conference, Zafeiropoulos outlined Greek positions and stressed that after the Sept. 11 terror attacks the WTO had to prepare the way for a better future, and strive to redress the economic inequalities between the countries of the world that helped to breed terrorism.

[06] EU justice ministers examine terrorism

BRUSSELS, 17/11/2001 (ANA - Y. Zitouniati)

However, they have been unable to agree to the degree of seriousness attributed to a crime in order to enable the European arrest warrant to be applied automatically. Late on Friday night, Italy and Ireland expressed their reservations threatening an agreement with collapse.

Offences mentioned in the relevant list calling for the implementation of the European arrest warrant and allowing for the extradition of a suspect to whatever EU country, begin from "the intimidation of the population" and "destabilization or the destruction of a country's political and economic structures" and reach the causing of fires.

The list includes the coercion of public authorities or an international organization to carry out whatever act or to abstain from carrying it out, an offence against the life or corporal integrity of a person, abduction and the commandeering of aircraft, ships or other means of public transport.

In addition, the list of crimes contains the causing of considerable damage to government or public installations, transport systems, infrastructure installations, including informatics systems, fixed rigs located on the continental shelf and public locations or private property capable of causing mass damage to these locations with considerable economic losses.

Meanwhile, a compromise solution by Luxembourg met with a positive response. The proposal, supported by Greece which was represented by Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, anticipates the implementation of the warrant for offences drawing sentences of over four years in the extraditing country.

[07] European Commission on illegal immigration policies

BRUSSELS, 17/11/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

The European Commission, among other things, proposes to member-states to mind that every measure for handling illegal immigration should be based on respect for EU policies on the protection of human rights.

In addition, member-states should improve their statistical data on illegal immigration and penalties on tackling migrant trafficking should be harmonized.

Furthermore, "black market labor" should be handled in such a way that the hiring of illegal immigrants will be unprofitable and dangerous for employers.

[08] Athens to host Euro-Mediterranean environment conference

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The issues which the ministerial meeting dealt with included the report of the sessions of the Mediterranean Committee for Viable Development, the budget of the Mediterranean Action Plan for the next two years, the linkage of the Mediterranean Action Plan and of the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation and the contribution of the Mediterranean Action Plan in the World Conference on Viable Development which will be held in Johannesburg in September 2002.

All the countries expressed their great satisfaction that Greece has undertaken the initiative to host the second Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on the Environment in Athens early in July 2002. The conference in Athens will discuss the promotion of the implementation of the strategies for viable development in the Mediterranean region.

Zisi was elected Vice-President of the Mediterranean Action Plan's Executive Bureau for the next two years.

[09] Bill on use of coastal areas will be changed, Protopappas says

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The bill was strongly questioned by opposition party deputies but also ruling PASOK MPs for the second consecutive day on Thursday during the discussion in Parliament.

The debate was interrupted late in the afternoon, when main opposition New Democracy called for a roll-call vote.

Objections to the bill were focused on the second article, which allowed the use of coastal areas and beaches for environmental public benefit and the facilitation of the "superior public interest", while it called for the protection of the free and unhindered use of the beach areas by everyone.

The same article also forbade the construction of structures on beaches, except in cases where the aforementioned aims call for structures to be built.

[10] Floridis says family benefits measure to take effect from July 1 2002

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

Responding to questions by main opposition New Democracy MP Dimitris Sioufas, Floridis reiterated an earlier statement by Prime Minister Costas Simitis regarding family benefit and said that the cost of the measure had been incorporated in the 2002 budget.

With regard to benefits for large families, Floridis said the government was preparing an amendment that complied with a ruling on the issue by the Council of State, which found the benefits should not be linked to family income.

The government would seek to have the specific amendment discussed alongside the bill on the use of coastal areas, he said.

The amendment will allow third-child benefits, large-family benefits and pension benefits for mothers of large families to be paid to all those qualifying, regardless of their family's income, from January 1 2002.

[11] Gov't: 14 UK, Dutch tourists charged for espionage

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

According to government spokesman Christos Protopappas, the 14 individuals have been charged and they have been remanded in custody by the competent authorities. "From there on, we will keep you informed on further developments," Protopappas told reporters in his daily briefing.

The 14 were remanded in custody earlier in the week after being arrested on espionage charges last week in the SW Peloponnese city of Kalamata for taking pictures of a nearby military airbase.

Intelligence service officials spent this week evaluating the photographs taken by the 14, members of UK-based aviation enthusiasts club.

The 14 were arrested on Thursday, Nov. 8, the same day as the annual feast day of Michael and Gabriel, patron saints of Greece's air force. Military air bases are usually open to the public on that day or the following weekend.

However, photographing or videotaping military bases is prohibited, with a few arrests reported from time to time.

Four Israeli citizens were arrested and released last month on Crete after they were caught videotaping a naval base.

[12] Proposal for German reparations cases to be tried in Germany

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

In parallel, Christoforos will propose the issuing of a prejudicial verdict to enable evidence to be collected by international organizations, etc, while a finalized verdict can be reached by the Supreme Special Court later on.

[13] NATO general visits Tyrnavos headquarters

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The announcement said that the visit took place in the framework of the annual NATO program for the exchange of courtesy calls. It added that during his visit to the headquarters Stockmann was briefed on issues concerning its mission and operational activities and was given a guided tour of its installations.

The visit was concluded with an official dinner given in his honor by its Commander Lieutenant General Panayiotis Harvalas at the headquarters installations.

[14] ND's 'Policy Analysis Group' holds first ever meeting

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The informal group, which will act in an advisory rather than decision-making capacity, will henceforth meet every Monday afternoon. It will focus mainly on long-term and medium-term policy, seeking to make suggestions to the party and president that will help it to function more effectively.

[15] KEP leader rules out cooperation with PASOK in next elections

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

KEP's leader did not rule out cooperation between the two par-ties after the elections were over, however.

During the meeting, Avramopoulos proposed that electoral law for the municipal elections be changed so that there were separate ballots for electing a mayor and electing municipal councilors.

He also announced that he would ask to meet political party leaders after his party's founding congress on November 24.

In his statements during a joint press conference, Laliotis said that dialogue with other parties was a strategic goal for PASOK.

"We cannot be opponents of everyone over everything. We are not enemies," he said.

[16] Greek economy shows great endurance despite world's slowdown

BRUSSELS, 17/11/2001 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)

According to existing information, the GDP in Greece is expected to amount to 4.1 percent in 2001, 3.5 percent in 2002 and 4.2 percent in 2003.

Inflation will reach 3.1 percent in 2001, 3 percent in 2002 and 2.8 percent in 2003, while unemployment will be 10.6 percent in 2001, 10.1 percent in 2002 and 9.6 percent in 2003.

The public debt will correspond to 99.8 percent of GDP in 2001, 98.5 percent in 2002 and 95.1 percent in 2003, while the fiscal deficit will disappear in 2001 and in 2002 and 2003 there will be a fiscal surplus of 0.3 and 0.8 percent of GDP respectively.

[17] Greek economic weekly review

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The tax cuts will cover 2002 incomes and will aim to boost workers' available income, to strengthen business competitive-ness, to create incentives to boost employment and to combat bureaucracy for citizens, Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said.

The measures included a 20 percent increase in the tax free income for all taxpayers, a cut in the tax factor on business profit for businesses creating new jobs, abolishing payment of a stamp duty on most transactions (except house rents and contracts) and reducing tax on heating oil for businesses.

Mr. Christodoulakis said the government would submit its 2002 budget to parliament next Wednesday, November 21. The new budget envisages a growth rate of 3.8 percent. Economy minister said that Greek economy was affected much less compared with other eurozone countries from a climate of international economic uncertainty that worsened in the wake of the September 11 tragic events in the US.

National Bank and Alpha Bank will hold a joint news conference on Tuesday, November 20, to unveil details of the merger plan. Meanwhile, National Bank's subsidiary in the US, Atlantic Bank, announced the takeover of Yonkers Financial Corporation, a Nasdaq-listed financial company. The bank operates a network of nine branches, with assets of 571 million US dollars and deposits of 389 million dollars.

General Bank also announced the takeover of ABN Amro Securities for an undisclosed sum.

Hellenic Telecommunications Organization announced an 11 percent cut in local telephone calls, the abolition of reduced night and weekend calls and an increase in fixed charges.

The Greek Society of Traffic Engineers warned that the country's air transport and tourism sectors would be severely hit by a prevailing negative climate in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US.

The Greek aluminum market increased by 9.0 percent in 2000, official figures showed on Friday. Domestic sales totalled 126,000 tons, up 9.0 percent in 2000, while exports totalled 151,000 tons, up 7.0 percent. The European Union market accounted for 54 percent of Greek aluminum exports.

[18] Power plant to be built on Greece's southern outpost

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The project also includes construction of a medium and high tension electricity distribution network, company officials said.

The power company, which is slated for listing on the Athens Stock Exchange, is also updating its network in tourist spots on Crete, the officials added.

[19] Greek stocks end week sharply higher

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The general index ended 2.05 percent higher at 2,763.30 points, with turnover a moderate 64 billion drachmas, or 187.9 million euros. The general index ended the week with a net gain of 4.08 percent and is now 31.23 percent up from the low levels of September 21.

The Publications, Textiles and Banks sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (3.61 percent, 3.23 percent and 3.03 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 2.33 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index rose 1.45 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 2.05 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 285 to 46 with another 32 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares were Naoussa Spinning Mills, Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, Alpha Bank, Klonatex and Cosmote.

Derivatives Market Close: Equity futures steady in higher turnover: Equity futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Friday held steady in range bound trade, with turnover sharply up.

Changing hands were 11,985 contracts on turnover of 82.8 million euros from about 60 million euros in the previous session.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 2.33% percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks rose by 1.45 percent.

Bond Market Close: Prices rise in heavy trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Friday finished higher in heavy trade focusing on 20-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 4.95 percent, and the yield spread over German bunds was 42 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system totalled 4.1 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of turnover.

[20] Commemorative pin for 1,000 days before Athens Olympiad

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The collection of Olympic Pins is an integral part of the Olympic Games and constitutes "The spectators' event", as it has become known, and a noble struggle linked to the course of preparation", according to an announcement by the Organizing Committee.

Olympic Pins, as well as the other Olympic products, are available at the Olympic Store, the Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport and at selected outlets all over the country.

[21] Greek-Spanish conference on Greek presence in Mediterranean

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The conference will be attended by archaeologists from the Komotini Department of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities who will present the results of their research on Greek colonies on the shores of Thrace and Spanish archaeologists who will present new evidence on the presence of Greeks and Greek colonies on the shores of the Iberian peninsula.

The venue of the conference was selected because Adra is built on the location of an ancient city.

[22] CD-ROM 'Melina Mercouri' wins special award in Beijing

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

The CD-ROM, which has already been in circulation in the Greek market for the past 15 months, constitutes a production of the Melina Mercouri Foundation and was produced with the financing of the Culture Ministry.

The CD-ROM "Melina Mercouri" was acclaimed by the judging committee in Beijing for the quality of its production as well as for the complex personality of Mercouri.

Great interest was shown for its distribution in China and the United States. The English version of the CD-ROM will go into circulation by the end of the year.

The Mobius International Committee decided that the next international Mobius competition be held in Greece in 2003.

2002 is the 30th anniversary of Greek-Chinese diplomatic relations, within the framework of which the Greek Embassy in Beijing will organize a special week dedicated to Melina Mercouri.

[23] Greece and Turkey agree to joint 2008 Eurosoccer candidacy

Athens, 17/11/2001 (ANA)

Relevant talks between Greek and Turkish soccer officials came to an end in Istanbul, Turkey, on Friday and the two sides agreed that the championship's final will be held in Athens and the opening match in Istanbul.

It was also agreed that the study and planning of the candidacy file will be awarded, following an international tender, to a service having experience in similar processes.

In a related development and responding to a question by the press, Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos reiterated on Friday that the Greek government supports the joint Greek-Turkish candidacy to host the 2008 European soccer championship.

"It is something which is supported by both governments and it is a measure moving at the level of low, as we say, politics. It does not concern sovereignty issues, it reconciles the two peoples and it is an activity sending many important international messages. I had the opportunity of briefing my EU counterparts on this initiative which created a very positive impression," he said.

Venizelos also said that "I believe that an arrangement has been reached between the two (soccer) federations which is very balanced and I should say it is positive for the Greek side, since the final will be held on Greek soil."

[24] Ambassador says US would support a Clerides-Denktash meeting

NICOSIA, 17/11/2001 (CNA/ANA)

Invited to say how the US face the Turkish premier's threats for annexation of Turkish occupied Cyprus to mainland Turkey, Bandler said that the US did not think it was "particularly useful for any of the parties to react to possible future developments", adding that the US hope "that all parties would be very concentrated on the task to get a settlement", that would be "good for Cyprus, the Greek-Turkish developments, good for Greece and Turkey and the EU."

"We favor UN Secretary General's good offices mission and in that context if there is an agreement between the two gentlemen (President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash) to meet as part of the good offices mission we would support it," Bandler said after a meeting he had on Friday with Social Democrats Movement leader Yiannakis Omirou.

He noted that he discussed with Omirou developments in the Cyprus question, the international situation after the terrorist attacks against the US and Cyprus' role in the efforts to combat terrorism, and the forthcoming local authorities elections on the island.

[25] OIC foreign ministers issue communique on Cyprus

NEW YORK, 17/11/2001 (CNA/ANA)

The meeting of OIC foreign ministers expressed "its firm support for the rightful cause of the Turkish Muslim people of Cyprus and reaffirmed its resolutions and declarations on Cyprus," while it repeated its call for a "just and negotiated settlement that would respect their legitimate aspirations."

The meeting welcomed a UN statement of 12 September 2000, which said "the equal status of the two parties must and should be recognized explicitly in the comprehensive settlement which will embody the results of the detailed negotiations required to translate this concept into clear and practical provisions."

The communique notes that the meeting was addressed by "the representative of the Turkish Muslim community in Cyprus."

Turkey had submitted a draft which referred to the people of its puppet regime in the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus, which no state except Turkey, recognizes. The United Nations has branded it "legally invalid".

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