Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 01-12-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greece to give developmental aid to Balkans, Middle East

[02] Papantoniou briefs PM; sees new period of tension with Turkey

[03] Foreign ministry mission returns after delivering aid for Afghan refugees

[04] Cypriot media claim Simitis may visit Cyprus in January

[05] Greek deputy defense minister to visit Bosnia

[06] Latest poll shows ND, Simitis lead

[07] Athens urged Israel to allow Xmas visit by Arafat to Bethlehem

[08] Greek unemployment rate falls to 10.9 percent Jan-March

[09] Bank of Piraeus, ING announce strategic alliance

[10] Bad weather blamed for retail sales slump in northeast Greece

[11] ASE announces agreement with Belgrade bourse

[12] Christmas spirit lifts ASE higher

[13] Culture minister attends event for gypsy children organized by ministry, church

[14] Power plant fire causes extensive blackout on Christmas Day

[15] Christmas Eve quake shakes W. Greece

[16] President Clerides will dine with Denktash on December 29

[01] Greece to give developmental aid to Balkans, Middle East

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The money is for the implementation of specific programs in these countries to set up social and financial infrastructure, services and institutional frameworks.

More specifically, Yugoslavia is to receive 1.8 million euros for modernizing an electronic system for the Belgrade bourse - by installing the system used by the Athens bourse - and 2.0 million euros for repairs to school buildings in Serbia and modernizing the education system.

FYROM is to receive 2.0 million euros for the construction of a sewage treatment plant, which will help prevent pollution of the Axios River running through Greece.

Some 2.5 million euros are to be spent on building a national theatre in Albania's capital Tirana, while an additional 1.5 million euros will be spent on small-scale projects that will help develop southern Albanian areas near the border with Greece.

The money given to Romania (1.33 million euros) is destined for a final study and the purchase of equipment for a wing at the Bucharest hospital for emergency treatment.

In the Palestinian areas, 1.5 million euros will be spent on a center in Ramallah that will help deal with a form of anemia that is an acute problem for the area.

[02] Papantoniou briefs PM; sees new period of tension with Turkey

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

During the meeting, Papantoniou briefed the prime minister on the results of a southeast European defense ministers' meeting in neighboring Turkey and on his Sunday visit to Kosovo.

The climate between Greece and Turkey had improved, the defense minister told reporters, but problems still remained, while he noted that Greece was used to an atmosphere of heightened tension.

He also announced that 100 Greek troops would be leaving for Afghanistan within January to take part in a multinational peacekeeping force sent by the European Union to that country.

Finally, Papantoniou said that the government council for foreign affairs and defense (KYSEA) would meet on January 15 to appoint new chiefs of staff for the army and air force.

[03] Foreign ministry mission returns after delivering aid for Afghan refugees

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The 14-member mission headed by a Greek foreign ministry diplomat left on a C-130 military transport plane about a week ago with a cargo of medicine, blankets, tents and milk. The mission formed part of an ongoing government policy for a more prominent Greek role in international humanitarian aid efforts.

There are currently some three million refugees in Iran, including 500,000 Shiite Muslims expelled from Iraq by Saddam Hussein and 2.5 million Afghans, of which 1.5 million are living in camps and cost Iran 600 million drachmas a year.

Greece already had a presence in the area through the non-governmental aid organization Hellenic Association for International Development (HAID), which had been working together with Moslem aid organizations to tackle a water shortage in the district.

The Greek foreign ministry has also given 140,000 US dollars toward food and water supplies for two camps in the area for five months.

A member of HAID met the Greek mission on its arrival and was given part of the aid consignment, while the rest was picked up by the UN High Commission for Refugees.

According to Costas Georgiou, the diplomat accompanying the Greek mission, the Greek foreign ministry has spent nine billion drachmas in the last two years on humanitarian aid sent to 42 countries.

In Afghanistan, particularly, Greece has so far donated 500,000 US dollars to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, sent two plane-loads of aid to countries bordering Afghanistan (Pakistan and Iran) and provided financial support to four Greek NGOs active in the area, Doctors of the World, KESSA Dimitra, AXION AID Hellas and HAID.

Georgiou also said the government was considering setting up a central ministerial body under the guidance of the foreign ministry to coordinate and organize humanitarian, food and developmental aid efforts by Greece.

[04] Cypriot media claim Simitis may visit Cyprus in January

NICOSIA, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The newspaper names as its source a high-ranking Greek foreign ministry official, who is quoted as saying that the visit will depend on the results of meetings between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash beginning on January 16.

The Cypriot "Antenna TV" placed the visit at the end of January.

[05] Greek deputy defense minister to visit Bosnia

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

According to a defense ministry announcement on Wednesday, the minister is scheduled to meet SFOR commander Lieut. General John Sylvester on Thursday in Sarajevo followed by a meeting with his federal Bosnian counterpart Ferid Buljubasic to sign a protocol of military cooperation and training for next year.

Apostolidis will then travel to the Bosnian Serb republic, where he will pay a visit to the Kasido hospital, which is being rebuilt and equipped with funds from the Greek defense ministry.

On Friday morning, Apostolidis is due in Banja Luka for a meeting with Bosnian Serb Defense Minister Slobodan Bilic, with whom he will sign a program of military cooperation for next year.

This will be followed by a meeting with the Bosnian Serb republic's leadership, including President Mirko Sarovic, Vice-President Dragan Cavic, Prime Minister Mladen Ivanic and Parliament speaker Dragan Kalinic.

Apostolidis will be accompanied on his trip, which ends on Friday, by the head of the Greek army and representatives of the other branches of the armed forces.

[06] Latest poll shows ND, Simitis lead

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

According to results published in the Athens morning daily "To Vima", ND was picked by 36.6 percent of respondents in the survey conduced by the firm Kappa Research. Ruling PASOK followed with 31.3 percent.

The figures unveiled by the same firm in a September poll had ND at 36.1 percent to PASOK's 30.7 percent, a development that apparently shows the two major parties in the country continuing to dominate the political scene.

Along those lines, the country's smaller political parties failed to attract more support by respondents' in Kappa Research's December poll. Specifically, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) garnered 5.6 percent of those polled; 3.1 percent for the Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos); 5.5 percent for newly founded Free Citizens' Movement (KEP) and only 1.7 percent for DHKKI.

Only KKE and Synaspismos are represented in Parliament.

In terms of the "better suited for premier" question, 36.2 percent of respondents picked Simitis - up from 34.3 last September - whereas Karamanlis garnered 34.3 percent (33.6 in September).

KEP's leader and Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos came in a distant third with 7.1 percent; KKE general secretary Aleka Papariga and Synaspismos president Nikos Constantopoulos each polled 2.3 percent of respondents.

Finally, 13.9 percent of those polled answered that none of the above is best suited for the premiership.

ND pleased over results of latest opinion poll: The main opposition New Democracy (ND) Party in an announcement on Wednesday expressed satisfaction over the results of a latest opinion poll commissioned and published by an Athens daily on Tuesday, Christmas Day.

Results of the poll, conducted by the Kappa Research firm, continued to show a lead for ND in respondents' preference over ruling PASOK.

The ND's Secretariat on Policy Planning and Program in its announcement said that the poll reconfirmed the picture portrayed over the past months. It noted that ND led PASOK by 5.3 percent compared 5.4 per cent in the previous poll conducted by the same firm.

Although the poll showed that Prime Minister Costas Simitis maintained his edge over ND leader Costas Karamanlis, the ND said that this "is marginal and remains on the margins of statistical error." The ND in its announcement added that the Kappa Research poll revealed the highest margin of public support for the main opposition party and that Simitis' popularity as prime minister "ceased to be his trump card."

[07] Athens urged Israel to allow Xmas visit by Arafat to Bethlehem

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

Beglitis said that Belgium foreign minister Louis Michel, current president of the EU foreign ministers' council, had already made statements on this issue.

The spokesman said that Athens had called on the Israeli government to lift the ban and allow the Palestinian leader to visit the city of Bethlehem on the West Bank during the Christmas holiday.

"During these particularly critical days for developments in the Middle East and the Palestinian issue, a symbolic act on the part of the Israeli government would have, we believe, a positive effect on the peace process," he said.

[08] Greek unemployment rate falls to 10.9 percent Jan-March

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The number of unemployed totalled 476,600 in the January-March period, down 10.8 percent from the same period in 2000.

Employment rose 0.1 percent over the same period, the NSS said in a report.

The unemployment rate fell more quickly for women (1.9 percent) that men (0.7 percent), the report said.

Greek workers continue seeking full-time jobs (207,700 or 43.6 percent), compared with only 9,200 or 1.9 percent seeking part-time jobs.

The number of new unemployed fell to 214,900 in the first quarter of 2001 from 229,200 last year, the NSS said.

The south Aegean, Crete and Attica regions recorded the biggest decline in the unemployment rate in the January-March period.

[09] Bank of Piraeus, ING announce strategic alliance

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

A joint statement said the agreement envisages a strategic alliance through the creation of joint venture companies in the bank assurance, asset management and employee benefits sectors, combining Bank of Piraeus' branch network and Nationale Nederlanden's sales network (a member of ING Group) totalling 300 branches and 2,500 insurance consultants.

ING Group will have a majority stake (50.1 percent) in the new companies, with Bank of Piraeus the remaining 49.9 percent. All products will carry the name ING (lion)-Piraeus.

The strategic alliance between the two banking groups will be sealed with a mutual equity holding to be completed between ING/NN Greece and Bank of Piraeus after completion of a takeover deal of ETBAbank by Bank of Piraeus.

Final details of the organization structure of the new companies and of equity holding are expected to be completed by January 31, 2002.

The two banks expressed their optimism for the prospects of their strategic alliance, expected to create a leader in the bank assurance market in Greece.

ING/NN has a 14 percent stake in the domestic life insurance market, Bank of Piraeus has an 8.0 percent market share in the domestic banking sector, while both companies represent more than 8.0 percent of the country's asset management market.

[10] Bad weather blamed for retail sales slump in northeast Greece

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

Retailers in Kavala, for example, have reported reduced sales compared to the holiday season last year, while they are hoping that improved weather will bring shoppers out in time for the New Year.

The reduction in retail sales and turnover seems to be following a trend evident in northeast Greece since the end of the summer, with consumers much less inclined to spend on non-essentials.

The Kavala Merchants Association on Wednesday attributed the low sales to bad weather and poor conditions on the roads, which have prevented consumers from more remote areas, in particular, from getting to the shops.

An improvement in the weather is not an immediate prospect, however, with the weather service warning of yet more heavy rain, storms and snow on Thursday and Friday.

Authorities in the northern Greek prefecture of Evros, meanwhile, reported some 30cm of snow in the northern part of the prefecture on Wednesday, which hampered travel on local roads, while traffic police in the district have cautioned drivers to be on the lookout for black ice and other hazards.

[11] ASE announces agreement with Belgrade bourse

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

During the first phase of the agreement, the Athens Stock Exchange will install its OASHS electronic trading system in the Belgrade market while the Serbian bourse will also adopt a regulatory framework aiming to create a modern environment of stock trading and settlement in Belgrade.

The agreement will benefit both markets, an ASE statement said, expanding the Greek market's activities in the Serbian market as part of a strategic plan to expand in southeastern Europe.

Negotiations between the two markets begun in late 2000. ASE aims to expand this agreement to include markets from other neighboring countries in an effort to consolidate liquidity in Balkan markets.

ASE said that negotiations continued with the Istanbul Stock Exchange to complete a partnership agreement by 2002, envisaging real-time monitoring and share transactions between the two markets.

The deal is expected to be completed by end February 2002.

[12] Christmas spirit lifts ASE higher

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The general index ended 0.73 percent higher at 2,583.03 points, with turnover an improved Dr 67.2 billion or 197 million euros.

The Minerals and Cement, Construction and IT Solutions sectors scored the biggest percentage gains (2.42 percent, 2.41 percent and 1.49 percent, respectively).

On the other hand, the Insurance, Investment and Food sectors suffered the heaviest losses (0.95 percent, 0.42 percent and 0.40 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks ended 0.66 percent higher, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 0.88 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index jumped 1.29 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 195 to 111 with another 51 issues unchanged.

[13] Culture minister attends event for gypsy children organized by ministry, church

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

This is the third consecutive year that the dinner for the gypsy children has been organized, and is held at a church hall in Evosmos.

In a message after the event, Venizelos stressed the need to ensure social cohesion and unity in the country and to overcome social inequalities, wherever these might exist.

[14] Power plant fire causes extensive blackout on Christmas Day

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

The fire was caused by a malfunction in a central switch on the first floor of the installation, cutting off the power supply to several prefectures in Greece.

Power was restored to the areas affected shortly afterwards, with the power stations of Amyntaios and Kardia covering the shortfall.

[15] Christmas Eve quake shakes W. Greece

Athens, 26/12/2001 (ANA)

According to a press release issued by the geodynamic institute at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, the quake was recorded at 11:10 p.m. and centered in the Patraikos Gulf off west-central Greece.

Authorities said the tremor was felt throughout Achaia prefecture, southwest of Athens, while no damages were reported.

[16] President Clerides will dine with Denktash on December 29

NICOSIA, 26/12/2001 (CNA/ ANA)

Clerides said that during Saturday's dinner he would raise the issue of missing persons as he had pledged to their relatives, adding that direct talks, scheduled to begin between him and Denktash in mid-January aim at reaching a settlement of the Cyprus question.

Clerides repays a dinner invitation from Denktash. Earlier this month he had dined with Denktash at the latter's residence in Nicosia's occupied part. UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto also attended that dinner, held on December 5.

Denktash said Monday, according to AFP, he would cross Saturday December 29 the UN-manned buffer zone, dividing the island since 1974, to dine with Clerides.

President Clerides and Denktash had their first face-to-face meeting in four years December 4 in Nicosia after which de Soto, who attended the meeting announced direct talks with no preconditions, all issues on the table, negotiations until a comprehensive settlement is achieved and no agreement until everything is agreed.

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