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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 03-07-25Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>July,25 2003CONTENTS
[01] PM makes preparations for TIF a top priorityAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Prime Minister Costas Simitis has instructed government ministers to speed up all preparations for the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in September, placing strong emphasis on the need to complete all government programs related to the northern Greek city before that time, sources said on Thursday.Addressing a ministerial meeting focusing on preparations for TIF held immediately after the regular Thursday meeting of the cabinet, Simitis asked the ministers involved to supply specific figures and speed up all projects involving public works, health, employment and public transport for Thessaloniki, including preparations for the EXPO fair that will be hosted by the city in 2008. It has become an established tradition for Greek prime ministers to deliver an annual speech during the Thessaloniki trade fair each September that outlines and sets the tone for the economic policy that the government intends to follow in the coming year. [02] President holds banquet for anniversary of democracy's restorationAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)President of the Republic Kostis Stephanopoulos on Thursday held a banquet to celebrate the anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece in 1974, stressing during his address that ''everyone has to think what he says and what he does and to avoid damaging democracy''.He defended the celebration of this occasion, underlining that it strengthens the will to defend the democratic morals and noted that total effort is necessary to achieve progress and prosperity not just effort on the part of the politicians. Stephanopoulos expressed optimism over the development of democracy, stressing that it is not in need only of good wishes, but in need of common effort and action. Prime Minister Costas Simitis, main opposition New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis other political party leaders and many government ministers were also present at the event. Parliament speaker on restitution of democracy anniversary: In a message to mark the 29th anniversary since the fall of the 1967-1974 junta and the restitution of democracy in Greece, Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis noted that parliamentary institutions and the political world that served them were an invaluable capital of Democracy that should be "augmented through our cooperation and fertile debate''. He also criticized sections of the press and mass media, accusing them of ''acted like a distorting lens to cultivate to diminish the standing of politics and Parliament''. [03] Papandreou and Gul discuss new CBMs agreed via NATOAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul held talks over the phone to discuss an agreement for two new Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) between Greece and Turkey arrived at through talks in the framework of NATO.The two men talked late on Wednesday night after the deal was announced by NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson earlier that day. The new measures concern establishing cooperation between national defense schools in Greece and Turkey and exchanges of staff between military training centers in the framework of the ''Partnership for Peace'' program. Both foreign ministers praised the NATO chief's efforts to achieve this result and reaffirmed their mutual determination that the CBM process continue. The also expressed conviction that this process will produce a positive atmosphere with regard to the Aegean and strengthen understanding and cooperation between Greece and Turkey. [04] Cabinet approves judiciary promotions in three highest courtsAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The Cabinet on Thursday promoted judicial functionaries to fill vacant seats in the country's three highest courts: the Areios Paghos Supreme Court, the Council of State and the Audit Council.Areios Paghos vice-president Dimitris Linos was promoted to Supreme Court prosecutor, while Supreme Court judges Nikolaos Georgilis, Theodoros Lafazanos, Stelios Paterakis and Athanasios Kritikos were promoted to Supreme Court vice-presidents. Council of State councilor Panagiotis N. Floros was promoted to vice-president of the Council, while Audit Council councilor Ioannis Karavokyris was promoted to vice-president. The promotions were unanimous, ratifying the relevant nominations by justice minister Philippos Petsalnikos, who briefed the Cabinet on justice issues and his ministry's planning. Petsalnikos said his promotion recommendations were founded on purely on criteria of meritocracy, adding that the choices had not been easy "since I had to select among very capable judicial functionaries characterized by ethos, professionalism and the necessary administrative qualities". [05] Interior minister briefs ND official on proposed new election systemAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)In a brief meeting lasting just 15 minutes, Interior Minister Costas Skandalidis met main opposition New Democracy sector-head Vyron Polydoras in the framework of the government's briefings of the political parties on its proposals for a new electoral law.Skandalidis had requested a meeting with ND leader Costas Karamanlis, who declined and sent Polydoras in his place. ND also stressed that the meeting was just a formality and that it will not participate in any dialogue on changing the election system. After the meeting, Polydoras said ND ruled out talks on a new election system because the country had entered the period before elections and accused the government and Prime Minister Costas Simitis of having petty party-political motives in raising the issue. Skandalidis stressed that ND had nothing to fear since the law would apply after the coming elections and said the main opposition's reaction was incomprehensible. He said that ND either seemed to believe that the government had no right to govern in its fourth and last year or that it had nothing to contribute to the dialogue and could not prove its claim that the law served ruling PASOK's interests. [06] International socialist youth union festival dedicated to equalityAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The International Union of Socialist Youth's (IUSY) world festival, organized by the ruling socialist PASOK party's youth wing in Kamena Vourla, was dedicated to equality on Thursday.''Socialist forces, and particularly those exercising power, are engrossed in seeking solutions to day-to-day problems and have forgotten that socialism is a revolution,'' said Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou in her address. She referred to economic inequalities between north and south and, after noting that only seven percent of stock exchange transactions all over the world concern the movement of products spoke of unequal development between north and south. The minister also stressed the need for the socialists' initiatives at international organizations to be strengthened for the creation of conditions enabling the handling of problems, primarily of the south. Foreign Minister George Papandreou will be the main speaker on Friday, who will be attending a round table discussion at the festival on ''policies for international peace.'' The festival's activities are continuing with the participation of thousands of young people from all over the world. [07] U.S. embassy in Athens announces visa requirement changesAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The U.S. embassy in Athens on Thursday announced that be-ginning on Aug. 1st U.S. visa applicants under the age of 16 and over the age of 60 will not be required to appear for interviews personally in order to receive their visas.Also the embassy press release noted that those applicants that are renewing their visas within 12 months of the date of expiration will not have to appear in person. It noted, however, that the embassy reserves the right to request of them to appear personally. The press release reiterated that beginning on Aug. 1st the embassy will cease accepting application for visas for all other categories via the mail and will also not accept applications de-livered via travel agents and commercial vendors. [08] EU Commission to take Greece to court over water qualityBRUSSELS 25/7/03 (ANA - A. Simatos)The European Commission on Thursday announced its intention to take Greece and nine other European Union member-states to the European Court over the quality of waters.Specifically, the commission announced that it intends to take Greece to court over the lackluster management of the Athens urban liquid waste. According to the announcement the operating installations on the small island of Psytalia does not use the austere measures set for the management of waste water by an EU directive with a deadline for implementation in 1998. [09] EU Commission to take Greece to court over disposal of dangerous chemicalsBRUSSELS 25/7/03 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)The European Commission on Thursday announced its intention to take Greece and another seven European Union member-states to court over violations of EU directives concerning the management of dangerous waste.The Commission, in its press release, underlined that the violations concerned a directive that regulates the management of waste containing mercury, electric batteries, PCBs and PCTs, as well as used engine oil and other dangerous chemical com-pounds. Specifically for Greece, the Commission will also submit that the member-state is in violation of EU legislation, since it allows the use of a large number of unregulated landfills for the disposal of dangerous chemicals. [10] European Commission ratifies language learning plan for EUBRUSSELS 25/7/03 (ANA - M. Spinthourakis)The European Commission ratified a plan of action on Thursday, concerning the 2004-2006 period, with the purpose of promoting the learning of languages and language plurality in European Union member-states.According to a relevant announcement by the Commission, existing programs on education and training to support a series of specific measures must be used in a better way. The program's main targets are that the learning of languages must take place during an entire lifetime, while teaching must start from a very young age and cover two languages, apart from the mother language, very soon. Schools must pay greater attention to languages, offering a wider choice of languages as possible and without limiting their learning only to language lessons but adopting a more spherical approach. Europeans must have more opportunities to learn languages. This is a matter of policies for the promotion of all languages, including regional and minority languages, through the better utilization of the capabilities of bilingual and trilingual citizens, as well as of temporary residents, for the benefit of the EU. [11] Greece gets rise in EU raisin subsidyAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Greece has secured an increase in European Union subsidies for raisins, with support for sultanas up 17 percent and for currants 10 percent higher, Agriculture Minister George Drys said on Thursday.The minister said modernization in the sector and an improvement in management had led to the rise. The increases were among the largest percentage rises to be a-warded in the farm sector, and were well above inflation, he added. [12] National Bank of Greece shows H1 profit riseAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)National Bank of Greece, a heavily traded stock on the Athens bourse, on Thursday reported group earnings before tax of 260.6 million euros in the first half of 2003, up 14.0 percent on the same period a year earlier.Management attributed the increase in earnings to widening organic sources of profitability, especially from continuing expansion of retail banking operations, and the provision of financing to small and medium sized enterprises. New consumer loans rose by 24 percent against the first half of 2002 with balances from consumer loans and credit cards increasing by 18 percent on an annualized basis, National said in a statement. Mortgages rose by 16 percent in the first half, with new con-tracts up 25 percent against the same period a year ago, the statement said. [13] Bids submitted in government tax office software tenderAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Six companies have bid in a government tender for an information technology specialist to maintain applications software for the finance ministry's tax computer network, develop new applications, and provide know-how and training.Called by the ministry's information systems general secretariat, the three-year project is budgeted at 4,484,000 euros. Bids were submitted by ÉÂÌ Hellas SA, Q & R SA, Intracom SA, Infoquest SA, 01 Information Technology SA, and Logic Dis SA. Environment deputy minister pledges funds for of Evros River installations Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Deputy Minister Rodoula Zisi on Thursday announced a 300,000-euro plan to upgrade the military border-posts in the Evros River, northern Greece region, so that they may become a Balkan Center for Culture. In a meeting with local officials, Zisi also reiterated the commitment of the ministry to provide some 5.5 million euros for the environmental protection of the Dadia Forest on the Evros River Delta, that Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou had pledged in 2002. [14] Deputy minister takes potato, cheese traders to courtAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Deputy Development Minister Kimon Koulouris has taken two traders to court as part of a government drive to curb profiteering and misleading advertising.Due to hear a prosecutor's charges are wholesaler Spyros & Ioannis Marmarinos for allegedly selling imported potatoes from Italy at 30 percent above market prices; and cheese manufacturer Kolios SA for advertising white cheese as feta on its website, misleading the public. Later in the day, management of Kolios said the error in identifying the white cow cheese had appeared in the German section of its website, although an accompanying photo of the product was correctly named. The error had been found eight days after entering the website, and it was corrected immediately, the firm said in a statement. [15] ANEK Lines reschedules its debtAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Athens-quoted ANEK Lines said on Thursday that it had arranged a debt rescheduling with creditor banks.Management executives told a news conference that a debt of 320 million euros was due for repayment over eight years under the new arrangement, which was feasible. [16] Stocks nose up on earnings jittersAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The Athens bourse finished higher on Thursday in volatile trade stemming from jitters over National Bank of Greece's first half earnings, traders said.The general share index gained 0.14 percent to end at 2,079.54 points. Turnover was 167.3 million euros. The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.05 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalization paper 0.17 percent lower and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 0.08 percent. Of stocks traded, declines led advances at 169 to 144 with 54 issues remaining unchanged. Bond Market Close: Sellers outstrip buyers on Thursday Greek Benchmark 10-Year Bond Derivatives Market Close: Turnover at 80.6 mln euros Thursday Equity Index Futures: Stock Futures: FOREIGN EXCHANGE Closing rates of July 24 2003 Parities in euro Banknotes For. Exchange Buying Selling US Dollar 1,155 1,129 [17] N17 a political, revolutionary organization, Koufodinas tells courtAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Opening the next stage of the ongoing ''November 17'' trial, the alleged operations chief of the terror group Dimitris Koufodinas on Thursday made his plea before the court, denying the charges against him as these were laid out in the indictment and stressing that ''November 17'' had been a revolutionary group guilty of political crimes.A burst of applause broke out within the courtroom as Koufodinas, weeping, ended his statement by reciting the verse of national poet Kostis Palamas, where a father urges his son to defend the farm that is his legacy, fearing neither 'fire nor destruction'. As members of the audience broke out into a chorus of ''the passion for freedom is stronger than bars'' presiding judge Mihalis Margaritis was forced to order the courtroom cleared of all the troublemakers, leaving only 120 people inside. Addressing the Three-Member Criminal Appeals Court, Koufodinas said he would not be an accomplice to its attempt to try a revolutionary organization as a criminal outfit. In his hour-long statement, in most of which he referred to N17 in the present tense, Koufodinas described the organization as the ''other Left...the one that, instead of turning the other cheek, aims a kick at the shins and believes that the solution can only be revolutionary...This is the Left of Marx, Lenin and Aris (Velouhiotis, a Greek WWII Communist resistance hero).'' According to Koufodinas, Lenin defined actions such as those undertaken by N17 as ''partisan'' and incorporated them in the framework of revolutionary struggle. ''When N17 broke into the police station in Vyrona, the War Museum and Sykourio (army base) it was carrying out armed revolutionary propaganda. It wanted to show that it was depending on its own strength to secure the means for struggle. When Aris Velouhiotis entered a village, this was an act of armed political propaganda to show that he could act under the noses of the Germans. American occupation is not direct. The nature of N17's action was the same as that of resistance action,'' Koufodinas said. The defendant said that he supported all the actions carried out by his comrades within N17 and made it clear he would not talk about any of the people on trial in the courtroom. He also claimed that the court neither wanted nor could try N17 for what it really was, describing it as an ''emergency-measures'' court set up with special laws and burdened with the task of carrying out a ''scandalous process''. ''Your limits became apparent with your decision about political crime. Our action was political, our goals and our results were political. History will record this trial as political,'' he stressed. He said the terror band's targets were primarily symbolic and chiefly aimed against American imperialism and the capitalist system, with actions that were 'preventative' and sought to make an example. Proclamations were necessary to explain the group's positions and the choice of targets, he added. The only N17 hit that he chose to elaborate on, however, was that on CIA station chief Richard Welch in 1975, whom he called the ''long arm of American domination of our country that directed and controlled social life'' and linked to the ''betrayal of Cyprus''. According to the defendant, the group's action found acceptance in Greek society, where only 2 per cent of the public had considered terrorism a problem in an opinion poll prior to the Piraeus explosion that led to dismantling N17. During cross-examination by the bench, the accused denied that N17 had a leader and said that as a revolutionary organization it was ''allergic to leaders and titles''. ''A fighter that chooses this path cannot accept someone telling him to go out and kill or be killed. It is his own decision,'' he said. Responding to a comment from Margaritis that the group's early hits were a form of 'dark justice', Koufodinas insisted that this applied to all N17's actions. On decision-making within the organization, he said this was either collective or involved the nucleus of the group, while the proclamations were the result of group work and deliberation. He also claimed that there were no specific roles within N17, though people were 'special skills' were used accordingly. Asked whether the terror band had ever brought in 'outside help', he said this was possible for lower-level tasks but not for any key action. He refused to elaborate on how the money taken in robberies had been spent, saying only that the members of the organization knew how its resources were allocated. He also revealed that several people had pulled out of the organization over the years but denied that their lives had been threatened in any way. Throughout Thursday's session, Koufodinas refused to answer questions relating to any of his fellow-defendants apart from Savvas Xiros, whom he called a ''valuable comrade and brother-in-arms''. Xiros is to make his statement before the court on Friday, after his petition to be left until last was refused earlier on Thursday. [18] Greece and Turkey sign cooperation protocol in ophthalmology sectorAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)An official cooperation protocol signed in Istanbul, Turkey, on July 21 opens new paths of cooperation between Greece and Turkey in the ophthalmology sector, according to an announcement by the University of Crete's medical faculty on Thursday.The protocol was signed by the University of Crete's ophthalmology professor Ioannis Pallikaris, director of the Irakleio General Hospital's University Clinic of Ophthalmology and the World Eye Hospital's president Eray Kapicioglou. The cooperation was hailed in a message by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Greek consulate representative G. Alatzas was present, on the part of Greece, since the Greek foreign ministry had been informed of the cooperation and had supported it. [19] Part of OSE line to Peleponnese to have rail replaced on MondayAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) on Thursday announced that on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday its scheduled trains departing for and from Athens to and from the Peloponnese face problems, due to the replacement of the rails.Passengers will be moved by bus between the points of the rails' replacement site. [20] Public works ministry warns motorists of traffic arrangementsAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)The environment, town planning and public works ministry, in an announcement on Thursday, warns motorists to be careful and heed traffic directions since traffic arrangements will take place in various parts of Athens over the next few days due to road works.Traffic will be diverted for as long as work will last at the underpass at Faros in the area of Psychiko. Temporary traffic arrangements will also take place in Democritou street at the Paradeisos junction on Kifisias avenue due to concrete-laying work. The arrangements will be in force until early September. Traffic will also be discontinued in Kifisos avenue in the direction of Lamia, between Pireos and Andreas Papandreou streets, from July 27 to August 9. [21] Policemen, firemen and harbor officials stage protest march in AthensAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)About 2,000 policemen, firemen and harbor officials staged a protest march in downtown Athens on Thursday night to protest the fact the government does not recognize by law their profession as dangerous.The protesters gathered at Evangelismos Square and then marched to Parliament where they staged a sit-down protest holding lighted candles. Representatives of the three federations also went to the Presidential Mansion where they delivered a resolution for President Kostis Stephanopoulos. [22] Greece loses to Hungary in world championship water polo semifinalAthens 25/7/03 (ANA)Greece lost to Hungary 9-8 after extra time in a world champion-ship semifinal match played in Barcelona, Spain, on Thursday night. The score at fulltime was 6-6.The other semifinal between Italy and Yugoslavia was scheduled to be played later in the evening. Greece will play with the loser of the second semifinal for third place. [23] Buttiglione: Connection between Cyprus issue & Turkey's EU courseNICOSIA 25/7/03 (CNA/ANA)There is no doubt that there is a connection between the Cyprus problem and Turkey's European course, Italian Minister of European Affairs Rocco Buttiglione said here on Thursday after meeting Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou.''I would not put a direct link but there is no doubt that there is a connection,'' Buttiglione said when asked if the settlement of the Cyprus problem should be among the criteria for Turkey's accession to the EU. Buttoglione said Italy is ready to do all that it can as an individual nation and also as the presidency of the EU for Cyprus' reunification. ''We are considering which initiatives we shall take and I have come here also to listen to the point of view of your government on possible initiatives. I have the impression that we should have a close cooperation at least with the three presidencies. The Italian, the Irish that will come after us and that of the Nether-lands that will come later, because the time that is needed to spend to have a significant initiative is at least 18 months,'' he said. The Italian Minister noted the solution of the question must come from Cyprus and the two communities, which will overcome old fears, old demands of revenge and mistrust. He also noted that Turkey's democratization will "somehow influence the Cyprus problem and also the solution of the Cyprus problem will influence this general process. And this corresponds to the coming of Turkey towards the EU," Buttiglione added. Furthermore he said the ''friends of the Turkish people must be clearly saying that the conditions must be taken very seriously and there is no possibility to outskirt them and to find only nominal solutions, they must be taken very seriously.'' Buttiglione exchanged views with Iacovou on the Intergovernmental Conference that will discuss the draft EU constitution, combating of illegal immigration and organized crime. As regards illegal immigration the Italian minister said ''Cyprus has a strategic role not only because of its geographic position but also because you know the mentality and the culture the way of being of most peoples and states in this area better than we do.'' Iacovou said that everyone recognizes that due to its geographical position Cyprus has and must have a special interest for Mediterranean issues, for illegal immigration and organized crime. Later on Buttiglione met with Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Giorgos Lillikas where they discussed the goals and priorities of the Italian Presidency and especially the goals regarding competitiveness in the EU. Lillikas said the Italian Minister was positive as regards Cyprus' view that the transport sector should be supported and not be considered by the EU "a state subsidy because for some countries like Cyprus, which is an island, the cost of transport makes exports very difficult and limits the competitiveness of Cyprus goods". Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. [24] President glad Denktash ready to discuss lifting minefieldsNICOSIA 25/7/03 (CNA/ANA)Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Thursday that he was glad Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had responded to ''a request of ours'' and had notified UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that the Turkish occupation regime was ready to discuss with the UN the lifting of minefields around Nicosia.''I am glad that Mr. Denktash has responded to a request of ours submitted two months ago'', the President said. Asked if the Cypriot government had received Denktash's letter, President Papadopoulos replied in the negative, noting that ''we had requested from the UN the lifting of the minefields within a specific program and with other specific arrangements''. [25] Eurocontrol says Cyprus among first in air traffic controlNICOSIA 25/7/03 (CNA/ANA)A report by Eurocontrol for 2002 places Cyprus among ''the most successful countries'' in Europe regarding the control of air traffic.Minister of Communications and Works Kyriakos Kazamias met on Thursday with Eurocontrol Foreign and International Affairs Chief Christos Petrou, who handed him the report for 2002. Kazamias said Cyprus' Civil Aviation Department activity results have shown an improvement in flights to and over Cyprus, which place the island ''above the average in Europe''. He noted that dues for flying over Cyprus are ''the cheapest in Europe'', adding that they are only 25% of the most expensive country in Europe and 50% of the average of the total of European countries. According to these figures, he said, Cyprus has a significant margin to increase its dues, in an effort to improve its services, without burdening public finances. Kazamias said that the Civil Aviation Department operates in a ''very satisfactory'' manner, taking into consideration ''the fact that it is located in a very sensitive area geographically, with Turkey not cooperating with the Civil Aviation Control Tower in Nicosia and with the presence of neighboring Arab countries that are not members of Eurocontrol''. Petrou said that in the sector of civil aviation, Cyprus is ''one of the best member states of Eurocontrol, both regarding delayed flights and the standard of its services and the security it offers, as well as the cost of providing services''. He added that next week, a Eurocontrol delegation would begin negotiations with Cyprus' Civil Aviation Department towards signing an agreement that ''will make Cyprus a regional coordination centre for air transports, in cooperation with Middle East countries''. Petrou noted that this agreement would be ''very important for Eurocontrol, because many of the organization’s programs cannot be implemented without Cyprus playing the leading role'' in the region. He said Cyprus could also play an important part in other programs, such as the Galileo satellite system and the Single European Sky. Petrou expressed certainty that with the purchase of the new air traffic system, which he described as ''one of the most sophisticated in Europe'', Cyprus will be able ''to further improve the services it offers'', adding that the Eurocontrol team was involved in all stages of evaluating the system and agrees with the final conclusions. Kazamias said the system would cost 17.5 million euros plus 2.5 million euros to cover maintenance expenses for the first three to five years. Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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