Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-04-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] EU Commission forecasts higher growth, inflation in Greece

[02] PM chairs PASOK Executive Bureau meeting, comments on French elections

[03] FM Papandreou meets Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos

[04] Turkish FM expresses importance of visit to Israel with his Greek counterpart

[05] Turkish press lauds Papandreou-Cem Mideast visit

[06] Israel opposes Greek humanitarian mission for West Bank

[07] State Dept.'s coordinator for Cyprus issue in Athens this week

[08] Bulgarian defense minister thanks Greece for its support in NATO candidacy issue

[09] Campaign finance reform bill approved in principle by Parliament committee

[10] Athens candidate Bakoyianni meets with out-going mayor Avramopoulos

[11] Rally outside Turkish embassy in Athens marks 1915 Armenian genocide

[12] Simitis says Papademos' ECB election ''great honor for Greece"

[13] Unemployment falling labor minister says after meeting PM

[14] Opposition parties criticize Olympic Real Estate bill, gov't defends policy

[15] Intralot announces subsidiary in the US

[16] Merchant Marine minister unveils summer passenger shipping program

[17] Transport ministry and EU officials discuss Olympic Airways

[18] Karatzas re-elected as National Bank governor

[19] Disagreement in GSEE labor union over social security issue

[20] Gov't publicizes 600-mln euro information society package

[21] Greek tourism firms see no revival in travel to Greece

[22] Athens bourse overhauls index composition

[23] Greek stocks end higher on Wednesday

[24] New Greek Radio & Television boss sets goals in light of Olympic Games

[25] New case of pericarditis on Crete

[26] Conference on return of Parthenon Marbles to be held at Missouri University

[27] Stiffer penalties aimed at forced prostitution, child porn

[28] New museum hours announced

[29] May Day holiday transferred to May 7

[30] Greece wins three gold, three silver medals in Weightlifting Championship

[31] Kasoulides says following months most crucial for Cyprus

[32] Verheugen says accession timetable not to be pushed back

[33] President Clerides celebrates his 83rd birthday

[01] EU Commission forecasts higher growth, inflation in Greece

BRUSSELS, 25/04/2002 (ANA - Â. Demiris)

According to the EU's executive's spring forecasts, Greek economic growth is expected to reach 3.7 percent in 2002, from a 3.5 percent forecast made last November, more than double the EU average growth rate (1.5 percent in the EU-15 and 1.4 percent in the eurozone). Growth rate is expected to accelerate to 4.2 percent in 2003, still the highest rate in the European Union. The growth rate in the EU-15 will be 2.9 percent in 2003, the report said.

The Commission's report said that investments would be the driving force of the rapid growth rates in Greece in 2002 and 2003, especially in the construction sector because of large infrastructure projects expected to be completed ahead of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. The report also noted that private investments would also get a boost by the low interest rate environment in the country, while public investments were expected to increase significantly with the help of the EU's structural funds.

The European Commission predicted that the inflation rate would rise to 3.6 percent in 2002, falling to 3.2 percent in 2003. The new forecasts were higher compared both with November's forecasts (2.7 percent for 2002 and 2.9 percent for 2003), and with the country's updated stability program (2.8 percent and 2.7 percent, respectively).

The inflation rate is expected to reach 2.1 percent in the EU-15 this year, dropping to 1.9 percent in 2003 and 2.2 percent and 2.0 percent in the eurozone, over the same period.

The EU's executive's forecasts reaffirmed that Greece not longer suffered by fiscal deficits since 2001. The report forecasts that Greece would show a surplus of 0.3 percent as a percentage of GDP in 2002, rising to 0.8 percent in 2003. EU-15 budgets are expected to show an 1.1 percent deficit in 2002 and a shortfall of 0.9 percent of GDP in 2003. Budget deficits are projected at 1.4 percent and 1.2 percent over the same period in the eurozone.

Greek public debt is expected to continue falling in 2002 and 2003. The report forecasts that the country's public debt will fall to 97.9 percent of GDP this year and to 95.2 percent in 2003, compared with November's forecasts of 98.5 percent and 95.1 percent.

Unemployment is expected to continue falling in the period 2002-2003, although it will remain above EU's average levels, the report said. The Commission's spring forecasts, however, were more encouraging from November's forecasts. Unemployment is expected to fall to 9.9 percent of the country's workforce this year, down from a 10.1 percent forecast in November), and to 9.3 percent in 2003 (from 9.6 percent in November). Unemployment is expected to fall to 7.8 percent in 2002 and 7.5 percent in 2003 in the EU-15, and to 8.5 percent and 8.1 percent over the same period in the eurozone.

The European Commission noted that the condition in the country's employment sector has improved, although more slowly than anticipated.

[02] PM chairs PASOK Executive Bureau meeting, comments on French elections

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

''Examining the French elections at the Executive Bureau we agreed on two basic ascertainments: Firstly, disdain for politics creeping everywhere is muddling the situation, weakening values and annulling all efforts to promote democratic work," Simitis told reporters.

''Secondly, the common course of the democratic forces can lead to the future with stability. Otherwise, a climate of dissolution is created from which the conservative right, as well as far-right powers benefit, which either function independently or hide in conservative parties,'' he said.

Simitis said arbitrary comparisons are being attempted in Greece and ''similarities are gleefully being noted".

''However, Greece has particular characteristics. The Greek people honor struggles, do not turn back and do not allow others to turn the country back. In any case, the negative significance of the results has already been realized in France and a positive mobilization has already been manifested,'' he added.

Referring to the consequences of globalization, Simitis said there is the neo-liberal view "which accepts globalization unconditionally because the market is everything. On the other hand there is a movement promoting the renationalization of policies and which sometimes supports leftist models which no longer exist".

Simitis went on to say that there is another path leading to solutions, combining growth with social justice and prosperity for all and which moves ahead checking and intervening.

''This is the way we should pave, with difficulties of adjustment to the new reality and also support that section of society which has difficulty in following developments,'' he said.

Simitis said that a bold policy is necessary to reverse this trend, as well as rallying, adding that PASOK has increased social expenditures, waged a successful struggle against unemployment and is promoting convergence in all fields with tangible results.

''However, apart from these efforts at national level, we must see that the cause of these problems is often supranational. Immigration, international recession, the price of oil are supranational phenomena. Consequently, the replies to the problems are supranational. The unification of Europe is therefore necessary for society's cohesion and solidarity. There are permanent targets and priorities of ours. We are struggling for stability, prosperity, more security and hope,'' Simitis concluded.

[03] FM Papandreou meets Patriarch of Jerusalem Irineos

JERUSALEM, 25/04/2002 (ANA - A. Podimata)

Papandreou, who arrived in Israel earlier in the day, is due, along with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem, to meet on Thursday with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah and later with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Tel Aviv.

Papandreou conveyed best wishes to Patriarch Irineos on behalf of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Parliament President Apostolos Kaklamanis and the political party leaders, assuring that the Greek people were observing his intense efforts for peace.

The Greek foreign minister expressed his gratitude to Irineos for his contribution to peace and for the efforts he is making in the ongoing sensitive negotiations for an end to the siege of the Church of Nativity.

On his part, Irineos told Papandreou ''I am particularly pleased with your presence here,'' and thanked him for his help to the Patriarchate.

Following his meeting with the Patriarch, Papandreou, along with Cem who arrived in the afternoon, met with Israeli and Palestinian officials and with members of the ''Coalition for Peace'' organization.

Speaking to reporters earlier, Papandreou reiterated the particular symbolic importance of the initiative he has undertaken with Cem, noting that the message of the visit was that the two countries that face significant problems in their relations, are making an effort to strengthen the prospects for the resumption of peace talks.

Papandreou underlined the particular significance which moderate forces give to the visit, as it gives them a strong argument in their efforts for a dialogue to start with the Palestinian side.

The Greek and Turkish foreign ministers were due to meet in Jerusalem late Wednesday night with EU High Commissioner on foreign and defense policy Javier Solana.

Solana, who met earlier in the day with Arafat in Ramallah, in statements on Wednesday night said he was ''shocked'' by the Palestinian president's living conditions. Solana added that his main mission to the region was to help efforts for an end to the siege of Arafat's headquarters and of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.

Solana described the joint visit to the region by Papandreou and Cem as useful, saying that they will convey to the two sides their experience for a procedure of dialogue and cooperation.

Gov’t spokesman comments on Greek FM's visit to Mideast: In his initiative for the Mideast, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou was acting on behalf of the Greece and not the European Union, government spokesman Christos Protopapas reiterated on Wednesday.

The EU was being officially represented by its foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who was also traveling to the region on Wednesday, Protopapas added.

The spokesman also noted that the important thing was not who arrived first or second but the intervention itself, the substance and the final result.

Papandreou departed for Israel and the Palestinian territories for a visit with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on Wednesday, in a joint initiative for peace that was seen as symbolic due to the traditional rivalry between Greece and Turkey.

[04] Turkish FM expresses importance of visit to Israel with his Greek counterpart

ISTANBUL, 25/04/2002 (ANA - A. Kourkoulas)

Cem noted the particular importance of his joint visit with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou to the Middle East.

He noted that ''it is very important for the ministers of two countries which still have some issues between them but are proceeding towards a solution through dialogue to go to the region.''

In reply to a reporter's question whether this initiative has some direct symbolism in Greek-Turkish relations, Cem said there was no particular relation, but of course this initiative will have a positive influence in relations between Greece and Turkey.

[05] Turkish press lauds Papandreou-Cem Mideast visit

ISTANBUL, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

"Ismail and George in the Middle East", "The Greek-Turkish initiative is beginning," and "Cem goes to the Middle East to meet with Arafat" were some of the front page titles of news-papers here.

Although the newspapers noted that the two men may not secure the end of violence, Cem and Papandreou will underline to both sides the steps toward peace Greece and Turkey made and will stress to both the Israeli and Palestinian sides that they should do the same.

The Turkish press also underlined that U.S. Secretary of State Collin Powell communicated by telephone with Cem in light of his visit to the Middle East. According to the reports, Powell called the Papandreou-Cem visit "a historic mission", adding that "our hearts are with you".

[06] Israel opposes Greek humanitarian mission for West Bank

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The General Secretariat was expecting to receive permission until late on Wednesday, but its request was not granted until press time.

The Greek mission, comprised of an unspecified number of rescue workers and firemen, was to board a C-130 cargo plane at Elefsina military airport. Two ambulances and two cars were also to be aboard the plane.

The rescue workers would have participated in the search for finding possible survivors and the bodies of Palestinians killed during the military operations in the West Bank.

[07] State Dept.'s coordinator for Cyprus issue in Athens this week

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

On Friday, meanwhile, Giannitsis will meet with visiting Lithuanian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rytis Martikonis.

[08] Bulgarian defense minister thanks Greece for its support in NATO candidacy issue

SOFIA, 25/04/2002 (ANA - B. Borisov)

He called the quadripartite initiative for political and defense cooperation between Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania positive, adding ''I would like to underline that in Brussels the Greek representative in the North Atlantic Treaty council supported in a clear, categorical and unreserved way the necessity for Bulgaria to receive an invitation to enter NATO during the Prague summit''.

''For this reason I feel obliged to express my warmest thanks to all our colleagues of the Greek defense ministry,'' Svinarov concluded.

In a related development, Bulgaria's candidacy gained momentum as Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha became the first ever Bulgarian premier to meet with a U.S. president, when he visited Washington and met with President George Bush, at the latter's invitation.

''I feel more calm regarding Bulgaria's candidacy to NATO,'' Saxe-Coburg-Gotha told the Bulgarian mass media, adding ''my impression is that President Bush sees not only favorably but supports our NATO candidacy''.

[09] Campaign finance reform bill approved in principle by Parliament committee

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The discussion on the articles was brought forward following a request by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, who submitted the bill, to enable deputies to be given adequate time to express their opinions on the individual articles.

[10] Athens candidate Bakoyianni meets with out-going mayor Avramopoulos

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Afterwards, as he's done in previous meetings with other would-be successors, including PASOK-supported former EU Commissioner Christos Papoutsis, Avramopoulos declined to reveal whether he will back any of the candidates.

The one-time career diplomat formed his own political movement, the Movement of Free Citizens (KEP), last year and later announced that he will not seek re-election in the country's largest municipality but instead target the next general elections.

Finally, in brief comments to reporters, Avramopoulos reiterated his proposal for the creation of an expanded "metropolitan municipal authority".

On her part, Bakoyianni called her 45-minute talks with Avramopoulos "useful and fruitful".

[11] Rally outside Turkish embassy in Athens marks 1915 Armenian genocide

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Organizers at both rallies, mostly members of Armenian youth groups in Greece, demanded that Ankara recognize the 1915 genocide; immediately lift a blockade against the Republic of Armenia in the Caucasus, as well as to contribute to a just and final resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Minor scuffles broke out at the Athens and Thessaloniki rallies and near the Turkish diplomatic missions when several protesters tried to break police lines and approach the buildings in order to post their resolutions.

[12] Simitis says Papademos' ECB election ''great honor for Greece"

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

After the one-hour meeting, Mr. Simitis told reporters that ''his election for the post was a great honor also for Greece, because it is the result of an effort made by the country to participate in EMU, an effort made by everyone to achieve European Union criteria on stability and preconditions to participate in the eurozone.''

The prime minister said he was certain that ''from his post as vice-president of ECB, Mr. Papademos will contribute effectively to the stability of a European monetary system, to the preconditions of growth, in order our new currency to function properly.''

Mr. Papademos did not make any comments after the meeting.

Commenting on a procedure to select Mr. Papademos' replacement at the Bank of Greece, government spokesman, Christos Protopapas, told reporters that the date for announcing the new governor's name was near. Protopapas noted that it still needed a formal approval of Mr. Papademos as ECB's vice-president by the European Parliament, before the prime minister made a decision over his replacement.

[13] Unemployment falling labor minister says after meeting PM

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

He predicted that unemployment would continue to decline with the assistance of European Union funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework and in view of the Athens Olympics in 2004.

The minister said that a cabinet meeting on Thursday would discuss the national action plan for employment, which summarized government policy for reducing joblessness.

Reppas also ruled out the closure of factories as well as schools to prevent the spread of a viral epidemic, which affected the heart, saying that the findings of scientists did not lead in that direction, while he supported the decision to shut down schools.

[14] Opposition parties criticize Olympic Real Estate bill, gov't defends policy

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

''Any contracts signed by the Olympic Real Estate S. A. will not be binding for the after 2004 government of (now main opposition) New Democracy (ND),'' ND leader Costas Karamanlis said, also accusing the govern-ment's economic policy.

He accused the government for lack of planning the Olympic preparation efforts and the use of European Union third support framework funds and also for the ''methods it is using to cover up issues and fool the Parliament and the citizens, in regards to its fiscal policy''.

Karamanlis called the new company ''a non-transparent creation to be used for advance payments and loans by the government, thus avoiding to write them up in the budget, and thus covering up the fiscal deficit and to move it up to the next governments''.

Last week the government argued for the establishment of the government saying that the funding of the Olympic Games' projects will not be done from the finance ministry, as it was done to date, but it will be managed by the new company, so as to succeed in the payments' scheduling over three years, instead of allocating the fiscal weight to the year of the Games. The Olympic Games projects budget is estimated at 1.4 trillion drachmas (4.1 billion euros).

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) deputy A. Tzekis asked for the articles establishing the company to be withdrawn, justifying his request by saying that such actions lead to the commercialization of the Games and the privatization of the Olympic projects.

On his part, Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) deputy Panayiotis Lafazanis said that with this bill the ''state is transformed into a Societe Anonyme and Greece is going under with the Olympic projects'', adding that the aim of the bill's articles are to cover the state deficit and to squander the projects' money.

Ruling PASOK party deputy and former Sports Deputy Minister Andreas Fouras expressed his strong opposition to the bill, declaring that he would vote against it, if the bill did not include a clause mandating that the projects would be handed over to the sports general secretariat after 2005, which is the only relevant agency concerning sports issues.

The same opinions were declared by PASOK deputy Sifis Valyrakis, who also held the sports portfolio in past PASOK governments.

In response, National Economy and Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis said that Valyrakis' request was covered by his (the minister's) speech in Parliament earlier in the day, when he stressed that the government was creating the company to gain more effective funding terms and also better management of the facilities after the Games.

He stressed that the projects will not be given out to construction firms without public tenders and that the resulting facilities' ownership status will not change, nor will the company raise its share capital.

Also, in his response to ND criticism, Christodoulakis said that ND ''attacks the Greek economy by using disaster mongering with baseless arguments''. The minister accepted Fouras' proposal to maintain the athletic character of the installations.

[15] Intralot announces subsidiary in the US

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The new company will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, and will have an initial capital of 2.0 million US dollars. The company is currently in a process of hiring highly experienced executives from the US market.

The announcement was made by Intralot's vice-chairman and chief executive officer, K. Antonopoulos, during a regular general shareholders meeting on Wednesday.

Mr. Antonopoulos said that the company expected to sign its first contract in the American market in 2003. The US market's annual turnover totalled 46.6 billion drachmas.

Intralot has evolved into a multinational group of 24 companies, of which 20 abroad, with presence in 16 countries, and it is the third largest company in the world behind the US-based GTech and SGI, in turnover terms, and the second largest after GTech, in profits.

Intralot's chairman, Socrates Kokkalis, told shareholders that Intralot's strategy was demonstrated the company's positive prospects.

The company signed contracts with Chile and Peru in 2001 and 2002, respectively, and completed an agreement to purchase a 49 percent equity stake in Euro football, a Bulgarian soccer pool company. Intralot has also the option to buy an additional 2.0 percent stake in the company.

Intralot plans to expand in Latin America, particularly in Argentina and Uruguay, and to strengthen its presence in Asia-Pacific, through its offices in China and Australia.

Mr. Antonopoulos noted that the parent company's turnover rose 100 percent to 14.6 million euros in the first quarter of 2002, compared with the same period in 2001, while pre-tax profits rose 60 percent to 8.0 million euros, up from 5.0 million euros in the first quarter of 2001.

Consolidated turnover rose 20 percent to 75.6 million euros, while profits jumped 30 percent to 19.5 million euros in the January-March period.

Intralot expects this year's parent turnover to rise 40 percent to 83 million euros, and a 25 percent increase in profits to 57.5 million euros. Consolidated turnover is expected to rise 15% to 324 million euros, while profits are projected to rise 20 percent to 75 million euros.

Intralot plans to pay a 0.65 euros per share dividend to shareholders, up 24 percent from last year.

[16] Merchant Marine minister unveils summer passenger shipping program

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The figures exclude shipping lines in the Aegean, local ferry lines and low-traffic lines.

A total of 16,060 ferry arrivals to 49 ports will be carried out from the Piraeus port, another 3,463 arrivals to 10 ports from Rafina port and another 17,990 arrivals to 15 ports from Piraeus to ports in the Argosaronikos gulf.

Mr. Anomeritis said that these figures reflected the amount of effort made by Greek seamen, port authorities and merchant marine ministry to help the country's economy.

"These figures are really impressive," Anomeritis said.

[17] Transport ministry and EU officials discuss Olympic Airways

BRUSSELS, 25/04/2002 (ANA - G. Daratos)

Wednesday's meeting was described by the European Commission as being of ''a purely technical nature'' and was within the framework of the procedure which the Commission initiated on March 6 to ascertain whether Olympic Airways fulfills the criteria for privatization and has not received illegal state funding.

[18] Karatzas re-elected as National Bank governor

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The meeting also approved a board proposal to pay a 1.10 euros per share dividend to shareholders, up from 1.09 euros in 2001.

The bank's governor, Theodore Karatzas, referring to a failed merger plan with Alpha Bank told shareholders: "Unfortunately, for reasons beyond the will of National Bank, this prospect did not succeed. Our bank's board and executives worked systematically to prepare and implement this project."

Karatzas noted that the project failed because of problems in the procedure course of the plan.

Karatzas noted that the bank would continue "implementing a policy that will turn you into shareholders of a larger and stronger organization, with a leading presence in the domestic market, with substantial achievements in the international field."

He left the door open to more takeovers and merger deals, saying: "We will continue to keep our eyes open and our antennas high to be in a position to exploit the right opportunities both in Greece and abroad. Such a prospects, however, is not ensure only by a good view of the environment, it needs the right structure and operating flexibility."

[19] Disagreement in GSEE labor union over social security issue

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The labor union's president proposed a continuation of dialogue with the government for an improvement of the government's proposals, particularly on the financing of funds, payment of the state's debts to the Social Security Foundation (IKA) and coverage of the foundation's debts to the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) and the Labor Housing Organization.

Opposition groups proposed the rejection of the package offered by the labor ministry and strike action in late May.

[20] Gov't publicizes 600-mln euro information society package

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Of the total, 350 million euros would come from the state and the remaining 250 million from the private sector, Tsohatzopoulos said.

The program aims to widen the use of advanced technology in production, helping to maintain high growth rates in the economy of three or four percent annually over the next decade, he added.

[21] Greek tourism firms see no revival in travel to Greece

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

"Some of the main countries from which our tourists come are showing a major delay in bookings to Greek destinations. At the same time, domestic sea and conference tourism have so far failed to recover from the impact," Andreadis told the trade group's annual meeting.

"Hopes have been placed on last-minute reservations, which, however, are accompanied by major price reductions, thus justifying the apprehension of businesses," he added.

[22] Athens bourse overhauls index composition

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Joining the general index are the Football Pools Organization, Vovos International, Motor Oil, Unisystems, Ermis, Hellenic Textiles, Giannousis, Marfin Classic, Teletypos, Eyaps and Fanco.

Leaving the index are Alpha Invest, Duty Free Shops, Hellenic Sugar Industry, National Insurance, Elmec Sport, Halkor, Ergasias Investments, Esha, Balkan Export, Aspis Pronia and Goody's.

New sector indexes to be introduced are Real Estate Management, Refineries, and Television and Entertainment, authorities said in a statement.

[23] Greek stocks end higher on Wednesday

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The index rose 0.76 percent to end at 2,216.80 points, with turnover an improved 86.7 million euros.

The Insurance sector was the only one to suffer losses (1.06 percent), while the Publication, Textile and Wholesale sectors scored the biggest percentage gains of the day (3.26 percent, 3.20 percent and 2.70 percent, respectively).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks rose 1.26 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index ended 1.15 percent higher and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index rose 0.82 percent.

Broadly, advancers led decliners by 243 to 75 with another 47 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded shares in value were Hellenic Telecoms, Folli Follie, Coca Cola HBC, Space Hellas, and National Bank of Greece.

Equity index futures rise: Equity index futures on the Athens Derivatives Exchange finished higher in light trade on Wednesday, tracking the main market.

Turnover was 44.9 million euros.

The underlying FTSE/ASE-20 index for heavily traded stocks and blue chips gained 0.82 percent; and the underlying FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization stocks increased 1.15 percent.

Bond Market Close: Prices rise in active trade: Bond prices in the domestic secondary market on Wednesday finished higher in moderate to heavy trade focusing on five-year paper.

The Greek benchmark 10-year bond showed a yield of 5.55 percent, and the spread over the corresponding German bund was 31 basis points.

Turnover through the central bank's electronic system was 2.0 billion euros.

Buy orders accounted for the bulk of trade.

[24] New Greek Radio & Television boss sets goals in light of Olympic Games

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

He also announced 245 new hires of technicians in light of the needs for modernization of equipment and facilities.

''We need new spaces, modernization of our facilities and above all technicians of all kinds of specialization,'' Stangos said, adding that the special committee to prepare for the Olympics will be headed by journalist Kostas Kekis, who undertook to bring to fruition the efforts of ERT.

The new ERT president also said that he would support in house television productions, while regarding joint productions, he said, that the pricing committee will use market pricing for ERT's work.

Stangos said that he was planning to combat sinecure and to strengthen ERT with TV personalities now in the private sector.

[25] New case of pericarditis on Crete

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

In addition to the woman from Sitia, another man and a woman with symptoms of pericarditis are currently being treated in the hospital's cardiology clinic while tests are being carried out to determine whether the killer virus is to blame.

Two of the three deaths definitely linked to the virus occurred on Crete.

On Tuesday, the health ministry ordered that all schools and universities in the country should close for Easter from Wednesday, three days earlier than usual, in order to limit the spread of a potential epidemic of viral-linked pericarditis and myocarditis.

The three-day closure will run into the 15-day Easter break that would have started on Monday.

While making the announcement, Health Minister Alekos Papadopoulos said the increasing number of cases of heart trouble following viral infections suggested the possible onset of an epidemic.

Apart from the three deaths, two in Crete and one in northwestern Greece, another 32 non-fatal cases of myo- and pericarditis have been reported around the country since last week, 13 of them in Athens.

Pericarditis affects the tissue surrounding the heart, while myocarditis affects the heart muscles themselves. The two conditions can cause a dangerous retention of fluids around the heart cavity that may prove lethal.

The health ministry also advised the public to observe strict personal hygiene and take added precautions when preparing food, and to avoid crowded, enclosed spaces or physical contact such as kissing.

The virus responsible for the three deaths has not yet been identified, but similar symptoms have been described for enteroviruses affecting the intestines, adenoviruses affecting the lymph glands and others.

Government spokesman: Commenting on the government's sudden decision to close schools so soon after his own announcement on Tuesday that there was no cause for concern, government spokesman Christos Protopapas explained that the data released from hospitals was being constantly updated.

The evidence did not point to an epidemic at the time his own announcement was made but this became evident immediately afterwards, he told reporters on Wednesday.

He said the health ministry and the Center for the Control of Special Diseases were monitoring the situation constantly and described Tuesday's decision to close schools as absolutely justified.

Panic a greater hazard than viruses, experts reassure the public: Panic is a greater hazard than the viruses that in rare cases caused heart complications, expert scientists reassured the public on Tuesday after a emergency conference to discuss an outbreak of pericarditis and myocarditis cases tentatively linked to viral infections.

Greece’s top cardiologists and epidemiologists at the Center attended the conference for the Control of Special Diseases.

In statements afterwards, the scientists said that similar symptoms following virus infections had also occurred in the previous years and that there was no particular cause for concern.

The Special Diseases Center, meanwhile, admitted that new reports of myocarditis and pericarditis cases had been coming in from around the country, though nothing had yet been officially announced regarding the outbreak of an epidemic.

The specialists at the conference clarified, however, that the majority of such cases were eminently treatable if they were diagnosed and dealt with promptly.

They advised people to seek medical care if the symptoms of a cold or flu persisted for more than three days, were accompanied by strong aches and pains in the muscles or high fever. Other possible signs of the potentially lethal virus were strong pains in the chest, a change in the rhythm of the heart and pain in the stomach or the back.

On a more positive note, health ministry sources reported that more of the patients affected by the virus had quickly sought medical attention and receive prompt treatment, while the majority had already returned home. Specialists said this was particularly true of pericarditis, where the tissue surrounding the heart was affected, while cases of myocarditis that involved the heart tissue itself occasionally required that a patient be admitted to an intensive care ward.

The virus or viruses responsible for the outbreak had not yet been found, they said, even though nearly every laboratory in the country was now carrying out tests to isolate it.

Experts said the most likely causes were either the Coxsackie virus, enteroviruses affecting the intestines, adenoviruses affecting the lymph glands or the influenza B virus that was common on Crete.

The co-existence of these viruses in the reported cases would most likely show that the epidemic was endogenous but the numbers would confirm this, they added.

Regarding the case of a 30-year-old woman from Volos who died in an Athens hospital after coming down with the flu, doctors said her death was the result of septic shock affecting the lungs and not heart complications. A full range of tests was being carried out, they added, to see if this was the result of a viral or bacterial infection, with the second considered more likely.

[26] Conference on return of Parthenon Marbles to be held at Missouri University

SAINT LOUIS, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Taking part in the conference will be archaeologists and experts from Greece, the U.S., Britain and Canada who will discuss the Greek request for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece from the British Museum in London.

Also taking part in the conference will be representatives of the American, Canadian and British committees for the return of the Parthenon Marbles who will discuss coordinated joint action on an international level.

Among those taking part will be Professor Dimitris Pantermalis and Culture Ministry archaeologist Elena Korka.

The conference, which is open to the public, is financed by the University of Missouri's Greek Studies Department and the Greek Culture Ministry.

[27] Stiffer penalties aimed at forced prostitution, child porn

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The bill, presented to reporters by Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, was drafted in cooperation with the public order ministry and features new provisions to the country's criminal code.

The minister said the government's goal in drafting tougher sanctions stems from international figures listing prostitution-related crime as third behind drug and weapons smuggling in terms of cross-border vice.

Besides migrant smuggling and "white slavery", the minister said other forms of modern-day exploitation, such as human organ trafficking, indentured servitude, as well as recruiting minors for the purpose of engaging in criminal acts, are also specifically outlawed in the proposed legislation.

[28] New museum hours announced

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

The decision excludes July, August and September. Free attendance in May will come on the 12th, as May 5 is Orthodox Easter Sunday.

Additionally, the ministry announced that 35 museums across the country will remain open on Wednesdays until 11 p.m. during the summer months, and 9 p.m. during the off-season.

[29] May Day holiday transferred to May 7

Athens, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

[30] Greece wins three gold, three silver medals in Weightlifting Championship

ANTALYA, 25/04/2002 (ANA)

Leonidas Sambanis won two gold and one silver in the men's 62-kilo category and Natasa Tsakiri won one gold and two silver in the women's 63-kilo category.

Sambanis won gold in the Snatch with a lift of 140 kg. and in the total with 305 kg. and silver in the Clean and Jerk with 165 kg.

Tsakiri won gold in the Snatch with a lift of 105 kg. and silver in the Clean and Jerk with 125 kg. and in the total with 230 kg.

PM Simitis congratulates weightlifters for winning gold medals: Prime Minister Costas Simitis in a statement on Wednesday night congratulated Leonidas Sambanis and Natasa Tsakiri for winning gold medals in the European Weightlifting Champion-ship which is taking place in Antalya, Turkey.

He said that their performance ''confirms the intense efforts of our athletes in view of the Athens Olympic Games.

[31] Kasoulides says following months most crucial for Cyprus

Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on Wednesday that the months to come will be the most crucial due to negotiations between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus to reach a settlement and because Cyprus enters the last stage of its EU accession course. He recommended that all should remain calm, wise and careful in handling issues.

In statements at Larnaca Airport on his return from Spain, where he participated in the fifth EuroMediterranean Conference, Kasoulides expressed satisfaction for the contacts he had on the sidelines of the Conference, which is very important for Cyprus because of its geographical position and its European orientation, he said.

Kasoulides said he was satisfied with his "contacts, Cyprus' presence at the Conference and our intervention on the Middle East issue."

The FM said "in the months to come we will enter an especially crucial period due to negotiations on the Cyprus problem" and the final stage of Cyprus' accession, and said that what is needed is "calmness, wisdom and careful dealings."

Replying to questions, he said "June is not the end of this dialogue nor a deadline but a landmark".

[32] Verheugen says accession timetable not to be pushed back

NICOSIA, 25/04/2002 (CNA/ ANA)

Verheugen was speaking to a group of Cypriot from London, currently visiting Brussels, accompanied by British Member of the European Parliament Theresa Villiers, who noted that the EU Commissioner ''was adamant that the accession timetable would not be pushed back, even if a settlement seemed imminent.''

According to Villiers, Verheugen said that ''the EU could put an enabling clause in the (accession Treaty) to ensure that any settlement coming shortly after accession could be recognized by the EU without further Treaty changes.''

Verheugen also said that the EU Commissioner noted ''the Commission had set aside substantial funds that would be made available for economic regeneration in the north of Cyprus once a political solution is reached.''

''In his view Turkish Cypriots have much to gain from EU membership'', Villiers added.

She said Verheugen said he had very much hoped that the talks would be concluded by June and that he was working closely with UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on Cyprus Alvaro De Soto and US and British emissaries, Tomas Weston and Lord David Hannay, and others ''on this 'most sensitive of issues' on EU enlargement.''

As for Turkey the Commissioner said, according to Villiers, ''it was inconceivable that accession negotiations would even be opened with Turkey unless it reformed its approach to human rights and complied with the human rights requirements of the EU.''

[33] President Clerides celebrates his 83rd birthday

NICOSIA, 25/04/2002 (CNA/ANA)

''Today I turned 83 and from tomorrow I'll be on my way to 84. There is no reason for me to hide my age and I do not intend for this year to be my last on this planet. It will however be the last one in the presidency,'' President Clerides told journalists at birthday celebrations at the Presidential Palace.

Asked where he wishes to spend his next birthday, the president said ''aboard by yacht in the open sea, the Greek islands.''

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