Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 02-11-08

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

CONTENTS

[01] Culture minister meets with IOC Coordinating Committee president

[02] FM to meet with French, UK counterparts in coming days

[03] Gov't announces Erdogan visit on Nov. 18

[04] Christodoulakis, O'Sullivan discuss Greek EU presidency

[05] Alternate FM meets with O' Sullivan to discuss Greek EU presidency

[06] Turkish war-jets harass civilian aircraft

[07] Rumor of dual-name solution for FYROM denied

[08] FM spokesman says ministry considers islet issue as over

[09] ND leader sends message to Chinese Communist Party congress

[10] KKE requests Parliament debate on Cyprus issue

[11] Gov't to use stickers on passports as migrants' residence cards

[12] Nat'l Council on Foreign Policy bill completed

[13] Greek tourism authorities discuss next year's trends

[14] E-business lags in Greece, prospects rosy

[15] Greek-Turkish trade soared in the 1990s

[16] ASE ends lower, follows European markets' lead

[17] IOC Coordinating Committee president meets ND leader

[18] IOC Coordinating Committee members visit Acropolis

[19] Showers cause flooding, traffic jams throughout greater Athens

[20] Athens mayor hands $375,000 cheque to Archbishop for reconstruction of church

[21] Council of Europe conference on youth issues begins in Thessaloniki

[22] Alleged "N17" terrorists to go on 48-hour hunger strike

[23] President Clerides says Annan will decide this week on solution plan

[24] Eckhard says UN Chief still considering actions

[25] Cyprus solution possible by December 12, Denktash's advisor says

[01] Culture minister meets with IOC Coordinating Committee president

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Oswald has arrived in Greece to inspect the progress of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

Following the meeting Venizelos said ''my colleagues and I had a very interesting and long talk with Mr. Oswald, who will hold tomorrow, on Friday, his customary press conference''.

''In any case the first subject on our agenda was our contact with the press,'' he said, adding ''Mr. Oswald himself stressed with emphasis that many a time misunderstandings happen with the mass media and the information on the progress of the Olympic preparations does not reach public opinion''.

''It is only logical that reports in the press and comments are fragmentary and present several problems and do not show the entire picture, which is particularly positive,'' Venizelos noted.

''Mr. Oswald stressed time and again and with great emphasis that the visit is particularly successful, that there is very great satisfaction with the progress of the Olympic preparation. In comparison with the last visit and in comparison with the condition that existed last year, today's picture of the Olympic preparation is really excellent and time and again he congratulated all the ministers that are participating in the Olympic preparations and in the organizing committee,'' the minister stressed. ''I am absolutely certain that tomorrow at the press conference he will reiterate, with a very clear way, these statements,'' Venizelos said.

''Of course, as it was to be expected we spent most of our time in the meeting on issues that needed attention, not on issues that are progressing normally,'' he noted, adding ''we discussed in detail the issues concerning the Hellenikon (site of the former airport of Athens) especially the installations of basketball, the issues that are related to Goudi (a park in Athens) and with the modern pentathlon and other sports that will take place there, as well as the issues of the operational upgrading of the Athens Olympic Stadium''.

''The picture of the road works is very good, we discussed the issue of the tram, which is being dealt with by Mr. (Transport Minister Christos) Verelis, I believe that the plan is developing very well and will be completed in time,'' he added.

[02] FM to meet with French, UK counterparts in coming days

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

According to a foreign ministry spokesman in Athens, Papandreou will subsequently travel to London for talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

The Cyprus issue is expected to be discussed at both of the Greek FM’s meetings, along with the island republic’s EU accession course and EU-Turkey relations, among others.

[03] Gov't announces Erdogan visit on Nov. 18

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Government spokesman Christos Protopapas made the announcement during his regular press briefing, while he also commented on growing media speculation about a pending Cyprus solution being worked on by UN chief Kofi Annan.

“There is nothing showing that the Annan plan for Cyprus will be negative. Of course, it’s a compromise solution, and what’s necessary is for it to fall within the framework of UN resolutions.”

Asked about the matter’s link with Cyprus’ pending EU accession, the spokesman reiterated that it’s preferable for a solution to precede the island republic’s membership in the Union, although its accession is in no way tied to a previous solution.

Along those lines he echoed Greek PM Costas Simitis’ comments on the subject during an official visit to Paris on Wednesday, a more-or-less standing policy expressed by all of Greece’s top leadership.

[04] Christodoulakis, O'Sullivan discuss Greek EU presidency

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

The meeting was also attended by Mr Vassilis Rapanos, chairman of the Council of Economic Experts.

Greece takes over the rotating six-month EU presidency from Denmark on January 1, 2003.

[05] Alternate FM meets with O' Sullivan to discuss Greek EU presidency

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

The two men and their respective delegations discussed the prospects of the Cyprus issue and it was stressed that the Copenhagen summit will conclude the enlargement process, with or without the resolution of the political problem. They also noted that the developments concerning the Cyprus issue over the next few weeks will be crucial.

Discussions also focused on enlargement in general and the signing of the agreement of accession of the ten candidate members in particular, in Athens in April.

They agreed that it would be of great importance to promote issues of security and stability in the EU and support policies of sustainable and cohesive development.

Yiannitsis and O' Sullivan also discussed issues of competitiveness of the economy and job creation, issues of foreign affairs and the great institutional changes proposed by the Conference for the Future of Europe.

In statements to the press, O' Sullivan said 2003 will be called ''Enlargement Year''.

[06] Turkish war-jets harass civilian aircraft

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

According to sources, 18 Turkish F16 in six formations infringed on Greek airspace over the islands of Samos and Hios, while in ten different instances they violated the Athens FIR.

Specifically, two Turkish F 16 war-jets, harassed the Olympic Airways flight 332 that took off from Larnaca and was bound for Athens, about 30 nautical miles west of Rhodes and at an altitude of 34,000 feet.

Ten minutes later, quite possibly the same pair of aircraft harassed Cyprus Airways flight 323 that took off from Athens and was bound for Larnaca, about 35 nautical miles west of Rhodes and at an altitude of 33,000 feet.

[07] Rumor of dual-name solution for FYROM denied

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Beglitis told a press briefing that such statements did not contribute to the ongoing negotiations for finding a name for FYROM acceptable to both sides, in the framework of the UN.

[08] FM spokesman says ministry considers islet issue as over

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

“We continue to stand by the ministry’s announcement (that the islet is under Turkish sovereignty),” spokesman Panos Beglitis said.

He added that “after the examination of all the facts by the relevant services we consider the issue as ended.”

The issue of the Tsuka islet was also the object of a tabled question in Parliament towards the foreign minister by former minister and current independent MP Stephanos Manos on Thursday.

[09] ND leader sends message to Chinese Communist Party congress

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Karamanlis referred in his message to relations of cooperation between the two parties and underlined the considerable and constructive role currently played by China in the world.

He said that China, presiding over the UN's Security Council at present, ''can contribute to the just solution of longstanding problems, which are at a decisive turning point today, to ensure security and peace in the particularly sensitive region of the eastern Mediterranean.''

Karamanlis expressed hope for the Congress' success and certainty that ''the results of the congress will become a starting point for new policies for the prosperity of the friendly Chinese people.''

[10] KKE requests Parliament debate on Cyprus issue

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

In tabling her request on Thursday, Papariga cited what she called the appearance of “negative developments for the future of Cyprus in the upcoming period, ones not found within the framework of UN resolutions”.

[11] Gov't to use stickers on passports as migrants' residence cards

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

According to the announcement, the stickers – printed by the Bank of Greece’s printing presses – will be filled in with the passport bearer’s personal data, thereby serving as a one-year residence permit extension.

The decision was taken in compliance with the European Union-wide practice in place since last June.

Meanwhile, a council of regional directors that convened on Thursday, chaired by Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis, considered the overall issue of illegal immigration as well as the status of recently legalized migrants in the country, in light of the expiration of temporary residence permits, “white cards”, issued six months ago.

According to one top interior ministry official, the goal is for a unified data bank listing foreign nationals’ information to be created in each of the 13 regions and at the ministry itself, with each individual’s ID, gender and profession listed.

[12] Nat'l Council on Foreign Policy bill completed

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Beglitis said that the draft law would be submitted for signature immediately to the ministers of foreign affairs, justice, and national economy, after which it would be tabled before the relevant parliamentary committee.

[13] Greek tourism authorities discuss next year's trends

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Greek authorities expect next year's tourist trends to be evident in a forthcoming International Tourism Trade Fair in London, opening November 11.

The issue was discussed in a meeting held at Greek National Tourist Organization’s offices in Brussels. The meeting was attended by GNTO's country directors in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden.

The meeting concluded that despite negative conditions in international tourist markets, certain main markets of Greek tourism fared satisfactory this year (England), while others recorded increases (Netherlands) and other declines (Sweden).

[14] E-business lags in Greece, prospects rosy

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Speaking to reporters, during a news conference held ahead of a seminar on "e-business" in Thessaloniki, November 14-15.

"Electronic business is largely misunderstood by the majority of Greek businesses and consumer," Mr Kallias, said. He attributed the current situation to a rapid entry of new companies in the sector, a climate of irrational expectations in the market, soaring share prices in international stock markets and a resulting collapse of both shares and companies in the last two years. The Greek executive, however, stressed that these turbulences did not stop e-Business' success in establishing its presence in daily business activity worldwide.

Mr Dimitris Mylonas, chairman of the conference's organizing committee, said that according to data by Forrester Research, the Greek e-market's value totalled 8.0 million euros in 2001, a figure likely to more than double to around 17 million euros this year. The value of the market is projected to reach 722 million euros in 2006 in Greece.

Internet users in Greece accounted for 10.1 percent of total population, a percentage reaching 40 percent in Europe and 70 percent in the US. The global rate of Internet users as a percentage of global population rose to 34 percent in 2002 from 31 percent the previous year.

Mr Mylonas said e-business accounted for less than 1.0 percent of total retail sales in Greece, although it was projected to total 1.5 percent in the next five years.

[15] Greek-Turkish trade soared in the 1990s

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Turkey currently ranks fifth in Greece's list of international trade partners, from 14th in 1990.

Greek imports from Turkey also rose spectacularly, although at slower average growth rate (12 percent) compared with exports (18 percent), ranking Turkey in the 19th position in a list of the country's suppliers.

Bilateral trade jumped to 976 million US dollars in 2000 from 223 million US dollars in 1990, with exports falling significantly in the 1998-1999 period due to a financial crisis in Turkey, the report said.

Greek exports peaked in 2000 (582 million US dollars) to drop in 2001 and stage a spectacular recovery in the first half of 2002, while imports rose 24 percent in 2001 only to drop 6 percent in the first six months of 2002.

Greece recorded trade shortfalls in 1998-1999 and a surplus of 188 million US dollars in 2000.

Fuel and raw materials (mainly cotton) accounted for the biggest part of Greek exports to Turkey, 38 percent and 28 percent, respectively, while manufactured products accounted for 86 percent of Turkey's exports to Greece.

The Panhellenic Exporters' Union said that Turkey was the third most significant competitor of Greece, accounting for 9.4 percent of the country's total international competition.

[16] ASE ends lower, follows European markets' lead

Athens, 08/11/2002 (ANA)

Disappointed investors became net sellers after the two central banks announced their decisions, one day after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points to boost the fragile US economy.

The general index ended 1.05 percent lower at 1,829.10 points, with turnover a low 81.8 million euros.

The Investment and Retail sectors scored gains (5.29 percent and 0.15 percent, respectively), with the first sector supported by an EFG Eurobank Ergasias' decision to absorb all listed investment and closed-end funds under one portfolio.

The Bank, Wholesale and IT sectors suffered the heaviest percentage losses of the day (1.99 percent, 1.79 percent and 1.44 percent).

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavy traded stocks fell 1.62 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index eased 0.83 percent and the FTSE/ASE SmallCap 80 index ended 0.19 percent lower.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 228 to 95 with another 35 issues unchanged.

The most heavily traded stocks in value were Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, EFG Eurobank Ergasias, Informatics, Vardas and Cosmote.

Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 123.4 mln euros Thursday

Equity Index Futures: